I grew up in a family of teetotalers. It's not all that uncommon in the South, what with the proliferation of the Southern Baptists and all.

My mother would always tell me I would meet my husband in church. Much to the chagrin of my mother, I met my husband in a bar. I was less than sober, and it was not my finest moment. In polite company we just say we met through mutual friends which isn't nearly as fun as the whole truth, but not everyone appreciates the whole truth. Such is life...

Alcohol was always taboo when I was growing up. My mother wouldn't even cook with wine (and her pot roast always paid the price). She has since seen the error of her ways when it comes to cooking with alcohol, but that may just be because she no longer has a house full of teenagers who might have been tempted by the Devil's Tea... but I digress.

It was really only a matter of time before bourbon became my preferred liquor. I married a boy from Kentucky who grew up in the old distiller's mansion for Woodford Reserve. Not surprisingly, we drink bourbon.

In college I'd drink vodka, and no offense to vodka drinkers, but it really is the liquor for people who don't enjoy the taste of alcohol. It wasn't really until I married my husband that I began to love bourbon. It took time, and one or two sisters-in-law who patiently showed me what I was missing.

This mule is a play on a Kentucky Mule, which is a play on the inferior (in my humble opinion) Moscow Mule. It's simple and delicious.

Kentucky Mule

What you'll need:

2 oz. of bourbon (I prefer Woodford for cocktails, but any decent bourbon will do)
1/2 a lemon (juiced)
Ginger ale

Directions:

Fill a mule mug, or rocks glass with ice. Pour bourbon, and lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into mug. Float ginger ale on top. Garnish with a lime.

Enjoy!