Non-Alcoholic Kentucky Buck cocktail recipe

Every member of the Buck cocktail family consists of a spirit, ginger beer and citrus. The most famous Bucks in town are the Moscow Mule and Dark 'n' Stormy, the former being made with vodka, the latter with rum. The Kentucky Buck is made using bourbon – or the alcoholic version is, at least – which is Kentucky’s state spirit. Bourbon, for those who are interested, is a style of whiskey made with at least 51% corn, whereas Scotch, for example, uses barley.

This recipe is a twist on the Bourbon Buck, adapted by US bartender Erick Castro. He simply added muddled strawberries and a couple of dashes of bitters to make what some call a modern classic. It’s tough to disagree, given how deliciously refreshing the Kentucky Buck is – yes, the non-alcoholic version included. It’s dry and spicy, with the strawberries adding a sweet fruitiness balanced by the bitters and ginger beer.

There are now more options than ever when it comes to choosing a non-alcoholic whiskey. If you’re hoping to mirror the Kentucky Buck cocktail, your best bet is to look for something that emulates a bourbon, with flavours of vanilla and caramel being crucial. It’s important to note, however, that most bitters do contain alcohol, so this recipe isn’t completely alcohol-free, but there is no more than 0.5%.

If you’re loving your Non-Alcoholic Kentucky Buck, then it’s time to taste the other members of the Buck family. They’re all refreshing, ginger-based cocktails, several of which can be made as mocktails using non-alcoholic* spirits. A gin buck mocktail is simply non-alcoholic* gin with ginger beer and a lemon wedge, while a rum buck, unsurprisingly, would make use of non-alcoholic* rum with ginger beer and lime. Add lime juice and you’ve got yourself a delicious Dark 'N' Stormy, sans alcohol.

When it comes to food pairings, ginger beer goes well with anything spicy, as does a cocktail that makes use of ginger beer. Spicy wings, Asian dishes and Mexican food are all excellent options to serve at your next dinner party – along with this non-alcoholic Kentucky Buck, of course.

*In this article, “Non-alcoholic*" and "Alcohol Free*” mean the product contains not more than 0.5% ALC/VOL