Kentucky Buck
The Kentucky Buck: Strawberries Meet Bourbon
The Kentucky Buck came out of San Francisco in 2009 when bartender Erick Castro was preparing to open Rickhouse, a whiskey-focused bar in the Financial District. He needed crowd-pleasing drinks that would appeal beyond just whiskey enthusiasts, so he created something that combined familiar flavors in a new way.
Castro took inspiration from the buck family of cocktails - drinks that mix a spirit with citrus and ginger beer, dating back to the 1890s. The Moscow Mule is probably the most famous example, but Castro wanted something different. He added muddled strawberries and bitters to the traditional bourbon buck formula, creating a drink that was approachable, refreshing, and still clearly bourbon-forward.
The drink became a hit immediately. Imbibe Magazine named it a modern classic in their 2014 issue, just five years after it was created. That's basically lightning speed for cocktail recognition.
The recipe is straightforward: muddle one strawberry with simple syrup in a shaker, add two ounces bourbon, three-quarters ounce fresh lemon juice, and two dashes of Angostura bitters. Shake with ice, strain into a glass filled with fresh ice, then top with ginger beer. Garnish with a strawberry or lemon wheel.
Any mid-shelf bourbon works here - Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, Maker's Mark. The strawberry and ginger provide enough flavor that you don't need top-shelf stuff. Fresh strawberries are important though - frozen ones won't muddle properly and lack that bright berry flavor.
Ginger beer matters too. Use actual ginger beer, not ginger ale. The sharper ginger spice is what makes the drink work. Fever-Tree or Q Ginger Beer are solid choices.
What makes the Kentucky Buck special is how well-balanced it is. The strawberry brings sweetness, lemon adds tartness, bourbon provides warmth, and ginger beer gives it that spicy kick. Everything works together without any single flavor overpowering the others.
The drink spread quickly from San Francisco to bars nationwide because it hit that sweet spot of being easy to make while still tasting sophisticated. The equal appeal to both bourbon lovers and people who think they don't like bourbon helped too.
RECIPE:
2 oz bourbon
2–3 fresh strawberries, hulled
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz simple syrup
Ginger beer (to top)
Strawberry or lemon wheel (garnish)
Method:
In a shaker, gently muddle the strawberries with the simple syrup.
Add bourbon and fresh lemon juice.
Add ice and shake briefly to combine.
Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice (fine strain optional).
Top with ginger beer and gently stir.
Garnish with a strawberry or lemon wheel.