A buck is a cocktail that is made with ginger ale or ginger beer, citrus juice, and any of a number of base liquors.[1] Buck cocktails are sometimes called "mules" due to the popularity of a vodka buck that is known as a Moscow mule.
| Cocktail | |
|---|---|
| Type | Cocktail family |
| Common alcohol(s) | |
| Served | On the rocks: poured over ice |
| Standard garnish | Any common garnish may be used |
| Standard drinkware |  |
| Commonly used 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 |
| 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. |
History edit
The buck is believed to have gotten 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.[2]
Variations edit
Variations include:
- Bourbon, rye, or whiskey buck.[1]
- Kentucky Buck, containing bourbon and strawberry.[3][4][5][6]
- Gin buck, containing gin. Sometimes known as British Buck or London Buck.[7][8]
- Gin Gin Mule, containing gin and mint.[9][10] Also known as a Ginger Rogers[11][12] (after the actress of the same name.)
- Irish buck, containing Irish whiskey[13]
- Mamie Taylor, containing scotch whisky.[14][15][16]
- 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.[1]
- Shanghai buck, made with light rum, and served at the Shanghai Club in the 1930s.[1]
- 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.[1]
- Chilcano, made with Pisco.[17][18]
- Variations using brandy and other liquors[1]
- Addition of syrups, different types of juice, fresh ginger, mint, and various garnishes[1]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g Camper English (24 July 2009). "Ginger beer gives a buck more bang". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ "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.