As the horrifying events in Ukraine grind on with no obvious end in sight, people around the world are looking for ways they can show their support to the Ukrainian people. Some are sending money to aid agencies working in the country, others are wearing Ukrainian flags on their clothes and still, others are buying Ukrainian products to help the country's economy survive the assault. But there is another way you can show support for the blue and yellow: the Kyiv Mule served in solid copper mugs.

It’s not often that a cocktail can provide emotional, political, and financial support to a given cause, but when you fill your customized Moscow Mule mug with a Kyiv Mule made with Ukrainian vodka, well, you’re not just turning the tables with the drink’s name, and demonstrating you stand by the country in its hour of need, you’re helping a vital Ukrainian industry pull through dark times.

How to Make a Kyiv Mule

The Kyiv Mule is one of the timeliest cocktails ever created and a great way to show your solidarity with the people of that besieged country. It’s also a great way to put your money where your heart is by supporting the Ukrainian spirits industry by using only genuine Ukrainian vodka. (We’ll get into various brands you can look for shortly.)

Creating the Kyiv Mule is simple. Here’s what you will need:

Kyiv Mule Ingredients

• Two ounces of Ukrainian vodka
• Six ounces ginger beer
• 1/4 ounce fresh squeezed (or bottled) lime juice
• Copper mugs
• Lime slices for garnish
• Tiny Ukrainian flags on toothpicks

Kyiv Mule Recipe

• Add ice to your copper mug
• Add the Ukrainian vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer
• Stir gently
• Add lime wedge to garnish
• Plant tiny Ukrainian flag to complete the effect
• Serve proudly

Ukrainian Vodka Brands You Can Use for Your Kyiv Mules

If you are committed to creating Kyiv Mules for yourself and your guests they simply cannot be allowed to include Russian vodka. Let’s be clear: we have no wish to blame and stigmatize all Russian people for the actions of their leaders, but this is not about debating relative levels of culpability. It’s about showing solidarity with a democracy under siege. Therefore, only Ukrainian vodka will do. Here are some of the best brands that you may be able to find at your local liquor store.

Before we begin our list we should mention that some vodkas that are thought of as iconic Russian brands are nothing of the sort. That includes Stoli, Smirnoff, and Absolut. But to avoid confusion, we are going to bypass those brands and focus solely on vodka that is actually produced in Ukraine. Here we go…

Dima’s

This Ukrainian vodka is made using three grains (wheat, rye, and barley) sourced from the vast fields of the Ukrainian steppe. Dima’s proudly asserts that these grains are grown in what it refers to as black super soil that is among the most fertile on earth. That soil, of course, helps explain why Ukraine is considered the breadbasket of Europe.

Khortytsa

Use of Khortytsa vodka in your Kyiv Mule makes a particularly poignant statement. That's because Khortytsa is made in Zaporizhzhia, the capital of Ukraine's Oblast region, which has come under particularly heavy assault during the war. Russian troops have occupied the outlying areas and captured the nearby Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and one of the ten largest in the world. The city, however, remains firmly in Ukrainian control. Using Khortytsa vodka in your Kyiv Mule will help support the beleaguered city both spiritually and financially.

Kruto

Kruto vodka with its distinctive label and robust flavor is said to be the product of a 300-year-old recipe formulated by the Cossacks of central Ukraine. It is known for its toasted honey flavors and floral overtones and is a favorite of mixologists.

Nemiroff

Nemiroff vodka is produced in Nemyriv, approximately 150 km to the southwest of the capital of Kyiv. Nemiroff vodka is allowed to mature in oak barrels which provide it with a pleasing woody aroma and extraordinarily smooth taste. Nemiroff vodka exudes a lot of character in its minerality, its crispness, and its ever-so-slightly chalky aftertaste. It's considered a prime cocktail vodka and is sure to be a hit with your guests.

Zirkova

Zirkova vodka is produced in Zolotonosha in Ukraine’s Oblast region, just downstream from the capital Kyiv on the Dnieper River. Zirkova exudes delicate wheat, pepper, and lemony overtones. It's remarkably smooth and leaves a very pleasing velvety aftertaste in the mouth. While it is often enjoyed straight up it also makes an outstanding choice for your Kyiv Mule, especially given its roots so close to the Ukrainian capital.

Make Sure You Use Beautiful Copper Mugs from Paykoc

Now that you have all the ingredients necessary to create your Kyiv Mule, it's essential to must use a vessel worthy of the drink's historical nature. In this case, that means solid copper mugs from Paykoc Imports. Our mugs are the ultimate delivery method for your statement of support. If you wish, you can take things one step further by creating custom copper mugs with Ukrainian iconography laser engraved on the side. The artisans in the Paykoc workshop will ensure your Kyiv Mule mugs are the talk of the town for all the right reasons.