KENTUCKY BUCK

MADE WITH MAKER'S MARK®

The definition of fresh, the Kentucky Buck brings sweet strawberries together with the effervescent zip of ginger beer and, of course, Maker's®.

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About the

Kentucky Buck

This cocktail combines ginger beer, citrus and the spirit of your choice – you know ours. This Buck was kicked up in 2009 by bartender Erick Castro. It has since become one of our favorites and is widely considered a modern classic.
Difficulty
Easy
Preparation Time
4 min
Flavor Profile
Light and Bright
Strawberry
Ginger
Citrus

Ingredients

  • 2 parts

    Maker's Mark® Bourbon
  • 1/2 part fresh lemon juice
  • 2–3 whole strawberries, hulled
  • 1 dash Angostura® Bitters
  • Ginger beer
  • Fresh strawberry for garnish
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Preparation 
Instructions

  • Step 1
    Muddle the fruit
    Muddle strawberry in a shaker.
  • Step 2
    Shake it all up

    Add Maker’s Mark®, lemon and bitters and shake.

  • Step 3
    Strain carefully
    Strain into an ice-filled glass.
  • Step 4
    Add some fizz
    Top with ginger beer.
  • Step 5
    Finish with a fruit garnish
    Garnish with a strawberry.
A bottle of Maker's Mark bourbon whisky behind a tall glass with a Bourbon Bloody Mary over ice and a pickle, celery, and lime garnish. A small bowl of lime slices is to the left.

TIPS FOR A GREAT  
Kentucky Buck

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To hull with it

Hulling is a great knife technique. It allows you to retain the best of the strawberry while removing the unwanted green. Simply insert a paring knife under the leaves at a 45° angle and rotate the fruit to pop off the top.
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Shake & break

Avoid adding fizzy ingredients, like soda and sparkling wine, to your shaker. These are best poured into your glass as a finisher, just before serving.
Red icon on a cream-colored background, representing a strawberry.

Do get fresh

Frozen fruit and bottled juices will work in a pinch, but your drink will really come to life when using the fresh and natural.
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Muddle on

It is hard to over-muddle berries, so have at it! When muddling citrus and herbs, however, overdoing it can release unwanted bitter flavors and cause bruising.

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Sweet with balance of oak, vanilla and fruity essences 

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