The Kentucky Buck: The Most Refreshing Bourbon Cocktail You Can Make

The Kentucky Buck is a strawberry-forward bourbon highball that lands somewhere between a whiskey sour and a mule. Bartender Lui Fernandes calls it one of the most refreshing bourbon cocktails he has ever had, and the build supports that claim. Fresh muddled strawberry, citrus, and bitters get shaken with bourbon, then strained over ice and topped with ginger beer. The result is a bright, slightly spicy, easy-drinking cocktail that works year-round.

Recipe

Kentucky Buck

Ingredients:

• 1 whole strawberry
• 2 oz bourbon (Lui uses Eagle Rare, but any solid bourbon works)
• 0.5 oz simple syrup
• 0.75 oz lemon juice
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Ginger beer, to top

Garnish: Lemon wheel and a strawberry

Method:

1. Drop a whole strawberry into your shaker tin and muddle it thoroughly.
2. Add the simple syrup, lemon juice, Angostura bitters, and bourbon.
3. Add ice and shake hard.
4. Fill a highball glass with fresh ice.
5. Double strain the mixture into the glass to catch the strawberry pieces.
6. Top with ginger beer.
7. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a strawberry.

Key Takeaways

• Double strain is not optional. Muddled strawberry leaves pulp and seeds behind. A fine mesh strainer keeps the drink clean in the glass.
• Do not overthink the bourbon. Lui used Eagle Rare and pointed out it was the well bourbon at a bourbon-focused bar where he worked. A mid-range bourbon with some sweetness will do the job. Save the single barrel picks for neat pours.
• Ginger beer ties it together. Without it, this is a shaken strawberry sour. The ginger beer adds carbonation and a spicy bite that makes the drink genuinely refreshing instead of just fruity.
• Seasonal range is wider than it looks. Lui describes it as perfect for summertime but also "perfect for any time." The bourbon and bitters give it enough backbone for cooler weather. The strawberry and ginger beer keep it light enough for heat.