Home Sipping Post 

Irish Buck Cocktail

ChrisB , , ,

Looking for a new way to go Irish this month? If you’re the type that does not care for a tall, rich, heavy pint of Guinness and straight whiskey just is not your thing; try ordering an Irish Buck. This classification of cocktail goes back quite a while and there is a reason why we are still talking about it today.

It is worth mentioning that the “Buck” is a classification of highball. From whisky to vodka a buck can make use of any spirit under the sun. The main criteria for a buck, depending on how much of a purist you are, include a splash of citrus and a ginger based soft drink. Some people say that a true buck can only be made with ginger ale, however there are enough who would say using a ginger beer would be acceptable. The puritans of the cocktail world say that only the use of ginger ale creates a true buck, where ginger beer is the soft drink of mules. (The classification of cocktail, not the horse-like animal)

The Irish Buck is a drink that is light in spirit, moderate in intensity while holding onto the cornerstones of cocktail creation, and a great drink to have any time of year. This highball blends together the clean and complex combination of Irish whiskey, the bite of any good ginger ale and a touch of citrus for contrast.

Recipe

Ingredients:

2 oz. Irish whiskey

½ oz. lime juice

Ginger ale

Ice

Directions:

  • Fill a highball glass with ice.
  • Pour whiskey and lime juice over ice and stir well.
  • Top with ginger ale
  • Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge. (optional)

The relative simplicity of highballs cannot go unsaid. Most of us when starting on our journey stumbled onto this category of drink unknowingly. The vodka cranberry, the rum and coke and the rye and ginger are all highballs; although not always served as such. This highball buck cocktail featuring Irish whiskey just might be the perfect non-green drink for you on St. Patrick’s Day. This drink is definitely worth knowing, the ease of construction alone would be ideal for anyone who is hosting a party, St. Patrick’s Day or not.