Moscow Mule was created in New York in 1941 by the then head of Smirnoff vodka. In the 1940s, vodka was being marketed heavily in the US, before that time gin was the clear liquor of choice. Vodka was considered a distinctly Russian spirit hence the name of the drink. Moscow Mule is a refreshing drink combining vodka with ginger beer and fresh lime juice. Ginger beer is a brewed beverage that is made with the same process as beer, while ginger ale is a carbonated beverage.