Kentucky Buck Cocktail Recipe

The Kentucky Buck is a bright and fruity whiskey-based modern classic composed of bourbon, fresh lemon juice, ginger syrup, muddled strawberries, Angostura bitters, and club soda. Inspired by seasonal strawberries, bartender Erick Castro created this buck variation for the 2009 spring menu at San Francisco’s influential cocktail bar Bourbon & Branch.

The cocktail’s name is a nod to Kentucky’s heritage as the birth state of bourbon, as well as the historic “buck” family of cocktails. This older category of drinks, from which the “mule” cocktail — most famously, the Moscow Mule — derives its name, typically features a base spirit, citrus juice, and either ginger beer or ginger ale. A fan of the category, but wanting to differentiate from the Kentucky Mule, Castro developed a seasonal, fruit-forward take on the drink and opted for the buck moniker. 

The refreshing highball was only offered through the spring season at Bourbon & Branch, but the drink saw new life and ultimately flourished when Castro took it to another whiskey-focused bar in San Francisco, Rickhouse, six months later. At the newly opened bar, where Castro led the beverage program in the heart of the city’s Financial District, the Kentucky Buck became the signature drink and sold — by his estimation — more than 30,000 that first year.

Why the Kentucky Buck works

There’s a reason why buck and mule cocktails are some of the most popular highballs. The simple combination of sweet ginger spice with fresh citrus, a strong spirit, and bubbles makes for a restorative and balanced drink with a signature kick. This variation takes the zesty buck blueprint and puts a muddled strawberry spin on it. 

According to Castro, Angostura bitters is the sneaky addition that takes the drink to the next level. The concentrated formula adds layers of complex spice notes such as cinnamon, clove, and gentian, as well as a hint of citrus. The aromatic botanicals help to showcase the ginger spice and fresh lemon juice, and enhance the oaky qualities in the bourbon.

This recipe calls for homemade ginger syrup along with club soda to express the freshest ginger flavors and pronounced effervescence. A quality ginger beer could be used in its place, but it will result in a slightly different drink. If fresh strawberries are not in season, thawed organic frozen berries are a sufficient substitute.