Kentucky Buck

The Kentucky Buck is bucking all of the cocktail rules.

The Kentucky Buck is a bright and fruity bourbon cocktail filled with fresh strawberries, bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, a few dashes of bitters, and a glug of ginger beer. At first glance these days, you might be tempted to call it a variation on Mule, but that’s where might be a bit surprised.

Mule cocktails are a big hit on summer bar menus today, with the Moscow Mule being known as the original mule. Of course, now every spirit has its own mule including our personal favorite, the Kentucky Mule. And although it might feel like mules have been around forever, they were actually invented in the 1940s by a Smirnoff executive. Even worse? The mule category is just a misnomer for the buck cocktail family.

To be called a “buck,” a drink needs to contain ginger beer, spirits, and a burst of citrus to tie it all together. Sounds awfully similar to a mule doesn’t it? The buck does predate the mule, but that rule might not hold true for the Kentucky Buck. As much as we’d love to tell a centuries-old story about how this drink is steeped in Kentucky history or lore, that’s sadly pretty impossible. This bubbly beverage is only about a decade old and is the product of the Golden State, not the Bluegrass one. But that pandering doesn’t make it any less delicious.

Whether you call it a mule or call it a buck, the Kentucky Buck’s combination of ginger beer, citrus, and bourbon is the perfect complement to fresh strawberries. It’s a great summer sipper that can be enjoyed all summer long. Buckle up Moscow Mule – there’s some serious buck competition with the Kentucky Buck.