Mezcal Buck
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz mezcal
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon simple syrup
- 3 to 4 oz chilled ginger beer
INSTRUCTIONS
Shake all ingredients but the ginger beer vigorously with ice. Strain into an ice-filled highball glass, and top with ginger beer.
VIDEO HOW-TO
NOTES
The "Mezcal Buck Cocktail" is a variant of the classic "Buck" cocktail family, which typically includes a base spirit, citrus juice (like lemon or lime), and ginger ale or ginger beer. The history of Buck cocktails dates back to the late 19th century, and they are sometimes referred to as "Mules" when made with vodka, as in the famous Moscow Mule.
The specific history of the Mezcal Buck isn't well-documented, but it's a more recent innovation, riding the wave of mezcal's growing popularity in the global cocktail scene. Mezcal, a distilled alcoholic beverage from Mexico, is made from the cooked and fermented juices of the agave plant. It's known for its smoky flavor, which comes from the traditional process of roasting the agave hearts in pits in the ground.
The combination of mezcal's smokiness with the spicy-sweet flavors of ginger and the tartness of citrus juice creates a complex and refreshing cocktail. The Mezcal Buck is part of the broader trend of bartenders and mixologists experimenting with traditional cocktail formulas by incorporating new and diverse spirits from around the world. As mezcal has become more popular outside of Mexico, it has found its way into a variety of classic cocktail recipes, leading to the creation of new favorites like the Mezcal Buck.
