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    Home » Cocktails » Whiskey

    Kentucky Buck Cocktail

    LAST UPDATED: February 27, 2020 PUBLISHED: February 27, 2020 By Pam Greer 7 Comments As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    No need to wait for Derby Day for this delicious bourbon cocktail!  The Kentucky Buck is a delightfully refreshing whiskey cocktail with a hint of fruit from the muddled strawberry!  So easy to make so divine to sip! 

    Click here to pin this Kentucky Buck Cocktail now! 

    Two cocktails garnished with strawberry and lemon.

    Buck cocktails

    It's hard to believe, but there are whole "classes" of cocktails that I've never tried, like daisies and flips. 

    I would add "Bucks" to that list, but now I have been enlightened on the tasty cocktails!

    A buck cocktail is that contains ginger ale or ginger beer, citrus and a base liquor.  It may or may not have fruit or herbs muddled in it. 

    Hmmm... doesn't that sound like a Moscow Mule?  Why, yes it does, a Moscow Mule is a Buck! 

     

    Rye whiskey, ginger beer, simple syrup, angostura bitters, lemon, and strawberries.

    Ingredients 

    • Whiskey or Bourbon - we choose a rye whiskey for our version of the buck.   We also love it, of course, with a Kentucky Bourbon! 
    • Ginger Beer - can use ginger ale.  We like the stronger (and less sweet) kick of the ginger in the ginger beer. 
    • Simple Syrup - you can make this even more gingery by using Ginger Simple Syrup.
    • Angostura Bitters - probably the most used bitters at our house - it's a must for a Maple Old Fashioned.
    • Lemon - try to buy organic especially if you are using the peel.  If you buy a big bag of organic, like we do, be sure and make some Homemade Limoncello! 
    • Strawberries - we always try to buy organic.  Whenever they are on sale, I buy them and freeze them, they make the Best Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri! 

    Photo collage showing the first two steps for making a Kentucky Buck.

    Directions

    Measure 2 ounces of your whiskey.

    Measure ½ ounce of simple syrup.

    Photo collage showing the strawberry. being muddled with lemon juice for a Kentucky buck.

    Measure ¾ ounce of lemon juice.

    Cut the strawberry in half.

    Add lemon juice and strawberry to a cocktail shaker.  

    Muddle the strawberry with the lemon juice.

    Photo collage showing the cocktail in the shaker and then in the glass.

    Add the whiskey and the simple syrup to the cocktail shaker.  

    Fill about ¾ full of ice.

    Shake vigorously for 30 seconds. 

    Strain into an ice filled rocks glass.

    Photo collage showing ginger beer being added to cocktail and then bitters.

    Top with the ginger beer. 

    Add to dashes of Angostura bitters and garnish with a lemon wheel and a strawberry half.

    Two cocktails garnished with a lemon slice and a strawberry.

    This was sooo good!  Way too good to only have it as a Derby Day Cocktail.  I can imagine sitting on the back porch sipping this all summer long.  Though, we had it in the middle of winter and it was perfect!  I just used some strawberries that I had frozen from last summer! 

    If you love this refreshing cocktail (and you will) be sure and give a gander at these Whiskey and Bourbon Cocktails! 

    Pin this now to make it later! 

    Recipe

    Two cocktails garnished with strawberries and lemon.
    Print Pin Save Saved!
    5 from 16 votes

    Kentucky Buck Cocktail

    This bourbon or whiskey cocktail gets a fun fruity burst of flavor from a muddled strawberry. A classic Derby Day cocktail that is perfect for sipping all year long!
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 5 minutes
    Servings 1
    Calories 227kcal

    Ingredients

    • 2 ounces whiskey or bourbon
    • ¾ ounce lemon juice fresh
    • 1 strawberry halved
    • ½ ounce simple syrup
    • 3 ounces ginger beer chilled
    • 2 dashes angostura bitters
    • lemon wheel for garnish

    Instructions

    • Muddle the lemon juice and half the strawberry in the cocktail shaker.
    • Add the whiskey and simple syrup. Fill the shaker ¾ full of ice.
    • Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
    • Strain into an ice filled rocks glass.
    • Top with ginger beer and two dashes of bitters.
    • Garnish with the other half of the strawberry and a lemon wheel.

    Notes

    Use whatever bourbon or whiskey that you like. 
    Always use fresh squeezed lemon juice, not bottled. 

    Equipment

    Muddler
    Rocks Glasses

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 227kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 15mg | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin C: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

    More Whiskey Cocktails

    • How to Make Orange Whiskey
    • How to Make a Classic Old Fashioned
    • How to Make a Japanese Highball
    • 9 Blackberry Cocktails that are Bursting with Flavor!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jerika says

      February 14, 2022 at 10:35 am

      5 stars
      Can't wait to try this Kentucky Buck Cocktail!:) Thanks!

      Reply
    2. Jane Saunders says

      March 17, 2020 at 6:06 am

      5 stars
      This is beautiful. The flavours are sublime and it's so easy to prepare.

      Reply
    3. Kushigalu says

      February 27, 2020 at 5:16 pm

      5 stars
      How gorgeous and refreshing is this drink. Great pics too.

      Reply
    4. Andrea Metlika says

      February 27, 2020 at 4:53 pm

      5 stars
      This sounds so refreshing and wonderful tasting. Yum!

      Reply
    5. Krissy Allori says

      February 27, 2020 at 4:36 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! This is a great cocktail. The friends we had over really enjoyed it too.

      Reply
    6. Pamela says

      February 27, 2020 at 4:12 pm

      5 stars
      I love the fruity taste of this drink! I had to be extra and decorated with a couple strawberries on top too! 🙂

      Reply
    7. Jeannette says

      February 27, 2020 at 3:31 pm

      5 stars
      I love fruity cocktails! The fruit choices and liquid mixes make this drink absolutely wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

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    Pam Greer from Sidewalk Shoes

    Hi, I'm Pam. I'm the person who plans whole vacations around where to eat and drink. Beautiful scenery is optional.

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