Introduction
The gin buck is a cocktail in which the interplay of the ginger from the ginger ale, the acidity of the lemon juice and the aroma of the botanicals from the gin play the main role.
Don’t hold back on the ginger ale it really makes up the aroma of the cocktail. As an alternative to the old fashioned glass, a long drink glass can also be used. Then simply add more ice cubes and fill up with ginger ale.
As a slightly hotter variant, you can also fill up the gin buck with ginger beer instead of ginger ale. This brings the sharper aromas into the glass, which only benefits the cocktail if you can handle it.
The lemon juice gives the gin buck a good portion of fresh taste. Therefore see if you can add lemon juice that is actually freshly squeezed. Ready-made lemon juices, even if it is expressly stated that they contain no sugar, still have a certain sweetness and taste of preservatives. Unfortunately, this is not compatible with most gins and does not match the taste profile of the drink.
Recipe
Gin Buck
Ingredients
- 2 cl gin
- 2 cl lemon juice
- 10 cl – 15cl ginger ale
- ice cubes
Instructions
- Fill an old-fashioned glass with a few ice cubes
- Pour lemon juice directly into the glass
- Top up with ginger ale and stir once
- Garnish with a lemon wedge, or add the lemon wedge directly into the glass
Which gins pair best with the gin buck?
The Duke Munich Dry Gin
Right in front: an ingenious mix. The special botanicals, hops and malt, play a particularly important role in the finish. But also on the palate, the harmony between ginger and the Munich Dry Gin is a real pleasure that you should definitely try!
> The Duke Munich Dry Gin Review
Whitley Neill Gin
The Whitley Neill Gin goes well with the Gin Buck. This gin also plays a major role in the finish. The slightly peppery notes of the gin go very well with the spicy character of the ginger in the ginger ale. This combination is definitely recommended!
> Whitley Neill Gin Review
No. 3 London Dry Gin
The dominant juniper in this gin matches the gin buck and is a more classic variant of the cocktail. The gin itself doesn’t taste too strong that the juniper would be too conspicuous. In the finish, the gin’s own taste comes into play.
> No. 3 London Dry Gin Review
Hendrick’s Gin
Even if you don’t taste the Hendrick’s Gin in the Gin Buck, the dry character of the gin gives the cocktail something special. The sweetness of the cocktail is further reduced, which further balances the drink. This makes the ginger ale more visible than other gins.
> View Hendrick’s Gin
Gin Mare
The herbs like rosemary, thyme and basil sound like good support for the cocktail. However, these are quickly drowned out by the lemon. Therefore 3.5cl instead of 2cl of Gin Mare should be used to intensify the taste.
> Gin Mare Review
Gins that should not be used in Gin Buck
Bombay Sapphire East
The taste of the Ginger Ale is completely overlaid by the Bombay Sapphire East, the drink completely loses its character. Not enough of that, what is left of the drink tastes almost stale and it just doesn’t fit together, even if you appreciate the taste of Bombay East.
> Bombay Sapphire East Review
Tanqueray No. Ten
Overall, the gin buck with the Tanqueray No. Ten actually nothing special. Unfortunately, the individual components harmonize only slightly. The gin has a particularly good finish and convinces with its own aroma. However, this is not enough to turn the overall impression of the gin in the gin buck into something special. View Tanqueray No. Ten
Sipsmith Gin
The aroma profile of the gin does not come from the intense taste of the ginger ale. You get a good gin buck without question, but the special note is simply missing. This actually recommends choosing a different gin for the gin buck.
>> Sipsmith Gin Review
Saffron Gin
The clear fennel taste of the Saffron Gin dominates the taste of the Gin Buck especially in the finish. The lemon in the drink is retained, but the ginger ale is quickly neglected, which means that the actual character of the cocktail is somewhat lost.
> Saffron Gin Review
The Botanist
The gin from Scotland adds another sweet note to the gin buck and takes away the intensity of the lemon in the gin buck. The drink also receives floral elements that go well with the drink. The uniqueness is somewhat missing.
> The Botanist Gin Review