Pumpkin, but make it a mule. The first great cocktail of fall.
Welcome back to The Friday Fill, our every-other-Friday excuse to batch something delicious and drink it outside. It's mid-September, which means the mornings finally have a little bite, everything on every menu is suddenly pumpkin, and half of it is terrible. We're here to fix that.
Today's recipe comes from our friend Katie from @gimletsandgardens who just wrapped her fall garden reset and celebrated the only reasonable way: with a Pumpkin Thyme Mule. It's what happens when a Moscow Mule wanders into the pumpkin patch and decides to stay. Real pumpkin puree (not the syrup from the coffee shop), a thyme simple syrup you can make in ten minutes, bright lime, and a spicy ginger beer topper that keeps the whole thing lively. It's cozy and cold at the same time, which is exactly the trick you need when it's 80 at noon and 50 by the time the sun goes down.
Tailgate, back porch, bonfire, the last camping trip of the year. Wherever you're heading this weekend, one shake makes a round for the whole crew. It's time to rally the group chat.
Want more great recipes & hosting tips? Check out every episode of The Friday Fill here >>
The Recipe: Pumpkin Thyme Mule
This batch pours 4 to 6 mules in one shake, depending on how heavy you go on the ginger beer.
- 6 oz Vodka
- 4 oz Pumpkin Puree (100% pumpkin, not pie filling)
- 2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 2 oz Thyme Simple Syrup
- Ice for shaking and serving
- Ginger Beer to top
Garnish
- Dehydrated lime wheels
- Fresh thyme sprigs
- Squash blossoms
How to Make It:
- Make the Syrup: Simmer equal parts sugar and water with a generous handful of fresh thyme sprigs for about 5 minutes. Pull it off the heat, let the thyme steep while it cools, then strain out the sprigs.
- Combine: Measure the vodka, pumpkin puree, lime juice, and thyme syrup straight into your Highball Shaker using the jigger cap.
- Shake Hard: Add ice, cap it, and shake like you mean it. Pumpkin puree is thick and needs a real shake to smooth out.
- Pour: Strain through the built-in strainer top into ice-filled Parkside Tumblers, leaving a little room at the top.
- Top: Finish each tumbler with a splash of ginger beer and a gentle stir.
- Garnish: Lime wheel, thyme sprig, and a squash blossom if you're feeling fancy.
Built for Wherever Fall Takes You
Fall drinking happens outside: the tailgate lot, the fire pit, the trailhead, the porch at dusk. The Highball Shaker is the whole bar in one hand for all of it. Measure with the extra large jigger, shake, and let the built-in strainer lid hold back the ice (and any stray thyme) on the pour. It's vacuum insulated, so a second batch stays cold in the shaker until someone asks for a refill. Someone always asks for a refill.
Pour into double-wall insulated Parkside Tumblers and your mule stays ice-cold and sweat-free from the first sip to the last. Stainless steel, no metallic aftertaste, and they come as a 2-pack in a soft case so they're ready to toss in the truck. Grab a couple of colorways and you've got a proper portable bar without a single piece of glass to worry about.
Mix up a batch, hand one to whoever got the fire going, and cheers to the season ahead.
🥂 Don't Miss The Next Round!
Want more foolproof batch recipes and hosting hacks? Sign up for our email and SMS list to get the next episode of The Friday Fill delivered straight to you.
By providing your number and clicking the button, you agree to receive recurring auto-dialed marketing SMS (including cart reminders; AI content; artificial or prerecorded voices) and our TERMS OF SERVICE (including arbitration). Consent is not required to purchase. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies. Reply HELP for help; STOP to opt-out. View PRIVACY POLICY.
