A buck is a

cocktail A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink. Most commonly, cocktails are either a combination of spirits, or one or more spirits mixed with other ingredients such as tonic water, fruit juice, flavored syrup, or cream. Cocktails vary widely across ...

that is made with ginger ale or ginger beer,

citrus ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering plant, flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as Orange (fruit), oranges, Lemon, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and lim ...

juice, and any of a number of base

liquor Liquor (or a spirit) is an alcoholic drink produced by distillation of grains, fruits, vegetables, or sugar, that have already gone through alcoholic fermentation. Other terms for liquor include: spirit drink, distilled beverage or hard ...

s. Buck cocktails are sometimes called "mules" due to the popularity of a vodka buck that is known as a

Moscow Mule A Moscow mule is a cocktail made with vodka, ginger beer and lime juice, garnished with a slice or wedge of lime. The drink is a type of buck and is sometimes called a vodka buck. The Moscow mule is popularly served in a copper mug, which ta ...

History

The buck is believed to have gotten its name when someone added a shot of whiskey to the previously nonalcoholic Horse's Neck, which consisted of ginger ale with lemon juice. The added alcohol gave the horse a "kick" – hence, a bucking horse.

Variations

Variations include: *Bourbon, rye, or whiskey buck. *Kentucky Buck, containing bourbon and strawberry. *Gin buck, containing gin. Sometimes known as British Buck or London Buck. *Gin Gin Mule, containing gin and mint. Also known as a Ginger Rogers (after the actress of the same name.) *Irish buck, containing Irish whiskey *Mamie Taylor, containing scotch whisky. *Rum buck, also called a Barbados buck or Jamaican buck to indicate the origin of the rum. Adding lime to a Dark 'n' Stormy creates a rum buck. *Shanghai buck, made with light rum, and served at the Shanghai Club in the 1930s. *Vodka buck, also known as a

Moscow mule A Moscow mule is a cocktail made with vodka, ginger beer and lime juice, garnished with a slice or wedge of lime. The drink is a type of buck and is sometimes called a vodka buck. The Moscow mule is popularly served in a copper mug, which ta ...

, invented in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, US, and largely responsible for the popularity of vodka in the United States from the 1940s through 1960s. *Chilcano, made with Pisco. *Variations using brandy and other liquors *Addition of syrups, different types of juice, fresh ginger, mint, and various garnishes

References

Cocktails Spicy cocktails Sweet cocktails Cocktails with Scotch whisky {{Mixed-drink-stub

History

Variations

See also

References