Cognac in place of vodka.
Why you are pouring this tonight
The French Mule is the cognac mule, and it is a slightly fancier drink than its Russian cousin without ever quite admitting it. VS or VSOP cognac, fresh lemon (not lime, the swap is not negotiable), cold ginger beer, copper mug. The dried fruit and oak in the brandy plays against the spice in the ginger beer like a Charles Aznavour song, which sounds romantic until you realise that song is about regret.
VS is fine. VSOP is the sweet spot. XO is for sipping by a fire and would be wasted in a long drink. Hennessy at the supermarket tier, Pierre Ferrand if you want to spend a bit more. Use a real ginger beer (Bundaberg or Fever-Tree, the proper ones). Build over crushed ice in a copper mug, lemon wheel and slap-mint to finish. Pair with pâté, cornichons, baguette from a French bakery in your closest mainland city. Eat with the kind of butter that has flakes of salt visible.
What to pour it alongside
Pate, baguette, anything with butter. Or a wheel of brie at the end of dinner.
Notes
VS works fine; VSOP is the sweet spot. Save XO for sipping, the ginger beer hides the nuance.
The recipe
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