Kentucky Buck
ClassicBourbon, strawberry, and ginger beer. A summer porch drink.
Fruity and refreshing, with juicy strawberry and warm bourbon leading the way. Ginger beer adds a spicy fizz, lemon keeps it tart, and a dash of Angostura lends aromatic depth — bright and summery without tipping into sweet.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Bourbon
- 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 0.5 oz Simple Syrup
- 1 Strawberry
- 1 dash Angostura Bitters
- 2 oz Ginger Beer
- Strawberry · optional garnish
- Mint sprig · optional garnish
Method
- 1
Muddle the strawberry with the simple syrup in a shaker.
- 2
Add the bourbon, lemon juice, bitters, and ice, then shake.
- 3
Strain into an ice-filled highball glass and top with ginger beer.
- 4
Garnish with a strawberry and a mint sprig.
The Story
The Kentucky Buck was created by bartender Erick Castro during his time at San Diego's Polite Provisions in the early 2010s, and it quickly spread onto menus across the country. It dresses the classic "buck" template — a spirit lengthened with citrus and ginger beer — in ripe muddled strawberry and a dash of aromatic bitters. It has become a go-to modern whiskey cooler.
Recipe card
The whole recipe in one shareable image.
