In a cocktail landscape growing ever more crowded with Spritzes and Highballs, it’s easy to lose sight of the Buck – that timeless, foolproof cousin of the Collins, which brings a spirit together with citrus and ginger beer over ice. It’s a category that’s given rise to undying classics including the Moscow Mule and Dark ‘n’ Stormy, but the absurdly simple formula leaves it open to all manner of reinvention.
This family of drinks is thought to have sprung to life somewhere in the mid-to-late 1800s, as ginger beer became increasingly popular as a digestive aid. Among the more famous variations to emerge is the Mamie Taylor, a Scotch and ginger number often considered to be the Moscow Mule’s precursor.
To welcome guests to GT’s Annual Restaurant Awards at Sydney’s Brasserie 1930, sommelier Nick Hildebrandt rejigged the turn-of-the-century favourite by adding crème de mûre for colour and contrast.
“We like the combo of Glenlivet and blackberry,” he says. “The roundness of the fruit sits nicely below the heat of the whisky, making it full flavoured and very appealing.”
How to make a Blackberry Buck at home
In a Collins glass, combine 45ml Glenlivet 12-year-old single-malt Scotch whisky, 2 tsp blackberry liqueur and 2 tsp of freshly squeezed lime juice. Fill the glass with ice, top up with ginger beer and stir gently to combine. Garnish with a lime wheel and crystallised ginger on a cocktail skewer.
Blackberry liqueurs to try
Bertrand Crème de Mûre
Bertrand Crème de Mûre
A big name in Alsace since 1874, Bertrand bows to tradition in the best of ways with this pure, fruit-forward liqueur.
$61 for 700ml, spiritsoffrance.com.au
Marionette Mûre
Marionette Mûre
Ultra-ripe Tasmanian blackberries form the base of this iteration, which balances barely there sweetness, creamy texture and clean acidity.
$49 for 500ml, marionette.com.au
G.E. Massenez Crème de Mûre
G.E. Massenez Crème de Mûre
One sip of Massenez’s rich crème de mûre makes it clear why the distillery has long been synonymous with concentration of flavour.
$45 for 500ml, danmurphys.com.au
