Buck (cocktail)
| Type | Cocktail family |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | ginger beer for a classic buck, deeper more complex cocktail, or ginger ale, for a neutral/sweet, dive bar style buck. Lime or other citrus juice
|
Standard drinkware | Collins glass |
Standard garnish | Any common garnish may be used |
| Served | On the rocks: poured over ice |
| Preparation | May be mixed or muddled if mint, syrups, or fresh fruit is added; shaken vigorously with ice, then strained into the glass. Topped with ginger ale or ginger beer. |
A buck is a cocktail that is made with ginger ale or ginger beer, citrus juice, and any of a number of base liquors. Buck cocktails are sometimes called "mules" due to the popularity of a vodka buck that is known as a Moscow mule.
History
The buck is believed to have acquired its name when someone added a shot of whiskey to the previously nonalcoholic Horse's Neck, which consisted of ginger ale with lemon juice. The added alcohol gave the horse a "kick" – hence, a bucking horse.
Variations
Variations include:
- Bourbon, rye, or whiskey buck
- Kentucky Buck, containing bourbon and strawberry
- Gin buck, containing gin; sometimes known as British Buck or London Buck
- Gin Gin Mule, containing gin and mint Also known as a Ginger Rogers (after the actress of the same name.)
- Irish buck, containing Irish whiskey
- Mamie Taylor, containing scotch whisky
- Rum buck, also called a Barbados buck or Jamaican buck to indicate the origin of the rum. Adding lime to a Dark 'n' Stormy creates a rum buck.
- Shanghai buck, made with light rum, and served at the Shanghai Club in the 1930s.
- Vodka buck, also known as a Moscow mule, invented in Los Angeles, California, US, and largely responsible for the popularity of vodka in the United States from the 1940s through 1960s.
- Chilcano, made with Pisco
- El Diablo, made with tequila, lime juice, and crème de cassis
- Variations using brandy and other liquors
- Addition of syrups, different types of juice, fresh ginger, mint, and various garnishes
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Camper English (24 July 2009). "Ginger beer gives a buck more bang". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ↑ "The Moscow Mule Is A Simple Cocktail with a Complicated History. Here's Why". Liquor.com. Archived from the original on 16 September 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ↑ "Bourbon Cocktail & Drink Recipes | Maker's Mark". www.makersmark.com. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ↑ "Kentucky Buck". Saveur. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ↑ English, Camper; Chronicle, Special to The (26 July 2009). "Ginger beer gives a buck more bang". SFGate. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ↑ "Kentucky Buck Cocktail Recipe". www.diffordsguide.com. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ↑ Imbibe (2 May 2014). "Kentucky Buck Recipe". Imbibe Magazine. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ↑ "London Buck with Thomas Henry Spicy Ginger | Drinks with Gin | Recipes". Thomas Henry. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ↑ "British Buck | Kindred Cocktails". kindredcocktails.com. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ↑ "Gin Gin Mule". Washington Post. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ↑ "Gin-Gin Mule". Los Angeles Times. 26 April 2006. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ↑ Imbibe (15 September 2015). "Ginger Rogers Cocktail". Imbibe Magazine. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ↑ Punch. "PUNCH | Ginger Rogers Cocktail Recipe". PUNCH. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ↑ Graham, Colleen (19 October 2019). "The Classic Whiskey Highball Is Easy and Refreshing". The Spruce Eats.
- ↑ "If You Love the Moscow Mule, Try a Mamie Taylor". Liquor.com. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ↑ Imbibe (4 December 2009). "Mamie Taylor Cocktail". Imbibe Magazine. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ↑ Felten, Eric (19 July 2008). "Maybe Mamie, Maybe Not". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ↑ "The Chilcano is the Pisco Cocktail You're Craving". Liquor.com. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ↑ Imbibe (16 August 2016). "The Chilcano Cocktail". Imbibe Magazine. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ↑ "How to Use Cassis in Cocktails". Punch. 2 March 2023.
- ↑ "El Diablo". Difford's Guide.