March 12, 2024

Kentucky Buck

Name: Kentucky Buck (Non-Alcoholic)
Ingredients: 2 strawberries; 2 ounces non-alcoholic whiskey; ¾ ounce lemon juice; ¼ ounce rich simple syrup; 3 dashes All The Bitter Aromatic bitters; 3 ounces ginger beer (to top)

Aromatic bitters · Easy · Fruity · Ginger beer · Lemon · Modern · Refreshing · Strawberry · Whiskey

The Kentucky Buck was created in 2009 by bartender Erick Castro for Rickhouse in San Francisco, and it immediately became a modern classic. Its combination of strawberry, lemon, bourbon, ginger beer, and bitters manages to pack a punch while still being soft and enjoyable. It's a definite crowd-pleaser, and because the zing of ginger beer tends to work well in non-alcoholic cocktails, this drink works surprisingly well as a mocktail.

This mocktail recipe requires you to gather a few ingredients, but it's worth it. To make our non-alcoholic Kentucky Buck you'll need a non-alcoholic whiskey—we like the oaky-kiss of Kentucky 74 for this cocktail—plus our Aromatic bitters, ginger beer, fresh strawberries, and lemon juice.

Kentucky Buck (Non-Alcoholic)

Rated 4.8 stars by 16 users

Calories

100

Satisfying and easy to make, the Kentucky Buck is a delightful crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

2 strawberries
2 ounces non-alcoholic whiskey
¾ ounce lemon juice
¼ ounce rich simple syrup
3 dashes All The Bitter Aromatic bitters
3 ounces ginger beer (to top)

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Directions

Muddle strawberries in a cocktail shaker.
Add whiskey, lemon, simple syrup, bitters, and ice, and shake until chilled.
Fine strain over fresh ice in a highball glass, top with ginger beer, stir briefly and garnish with a fresh strawberry.

Recipe Note

WHAT'S A BUCK?
If you've ever enjoyed a Moscow Mule or a Dark 'n' Stormy, what you really had was a type drink called a "buck": a cocktail containing a spirit, citrus, and either ginger ale or ginger beer. While those are two of the most famous examples, there are other classics in the category like the Mamie Taylor (made with Scotch), or the more recent addition, the Kentucky Buck, made with bourbon and strawberries.

WHAT IS RICH SIMPLE SYRUP?
While regular simple syrup is a 1:1 combination of sugar to water, rich simple syrup calls for 2 parts sugar to 1 part water. The resulting syrup is sweeter (but not twice as sweet), thicker, and will last longer in the fridge. If using regular simple syrup in this recipe, use 1/2 oz. It won't taste exactly the same, but it'll be close.

MAKE IT MINDFULLY LOW ALCOHOL
It's easy to make the Kentucky Buck anywhere on the ABV spectrum, from zero to full proof. Simply split the whiskey portion half and half with regular and non-alcoholic whiskey for a low-ABV cocktail, or go even lower for a buck with just a little kick.

MORE WHISKEY MOCKTAIL RECIPES
Want to explore some more non-alcoholic whiskey cocktails? Check out our spirit-forward Black Manhattan or this delightful non-alcoholic Amaretto Sour recipe.

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