Rum Buck Cocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Rum Buck sits in the “buck” family of cocktails: a spirit-forward long drink brightened with citrus and lengthened with ginger ale. It’s a simple, highball-style idea that has been adapted across spirits for generations, and this version leans into rum’s natural range by pairing light and dark styles in one glass. You’ll find it reads as both refreshing and gently warming, with enough structure to feel like more than just a rum-and-ginger.
On the palate, white rum keeps the base clean while dark rum adds deeper molasses-like richness. Cointreau brings a clear orange sweetness that bridges the rums and lifts the drink’s aroma, while a small measure of lemon juice tightens everything with a crisp, tart edge. Ginger ale ties it together with soft sweetness and ginger spice, stretching the citrus and rum into a bright, easy sip.
Serve it when you want something tall and lively but still rum-led—ideal for casual get-togethers, warm evenings, or as a crowd-pleasing aperitif. If you enjoy citrusy drinks with a gentle ginger kick and a touch of orange liqueur polish, this one lands squarely in your wheelhouse.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Tags
Cocktail Colin says:
White rum and dark rum lead with a clean molasses-tinged backbone, while Cointreau adds bright orange lift and lemon juice sharpens the edges; ginger ale floods the glass with bubbly ginger snap that keeps the rums from feeling heavy. The citrus and orange tighten the rum sweetness as the ginger ale’s spice and fizz stretch everything into an easy sipper, ideal for rum fans who want a lively, not-too-sour long drink.
Method
How to make a Rum Buck
- White rum 30ml, Dark rum 22.5ml, Cointreau 15ml, Lemon juice 7.5ml, Ginger ale 120ml
-
- Add all ingredients except ginger ale to an ice-filled glass
-
- Stir ten times
-
- Top up with ginger ale and stir once
-
- Garnish with a lemon slice and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Rum Buck with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Upgrade to premium to receive power tips from top bartenders around the world. Raise you mixology game.
- Read the tweaks that take this simple cocktail to the next level of greatness. Become the next best mixologist which people all talk about.
Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
Why is the Rum Buck stirred and not shaken?
The Rum Buck is stirred instead of shaken to gently combine the flavors without overly diluting the cocktail. Stirring preserves the carbonation of the ginger ale, maintaining its effervescent quality for a refreshing taste.
Can I use a different type of rum if I don't have both white and dark rum for a Rum Buck?
Yes, you can use either all white or all dark rum if you don't have both. The taste will vary slightly; white rum will make a lighter, crisper drink, while dark rum will give it a richer, more robust flavor.
What is the best way to serve a Rum Buck for maximum enjoyment?
A Rum Buck is best served in a brandy glass over ice. Garnishing with a slice of lemon or lime can add a fresh, citrusy note that complements the spicy ginger ale and the complexity of the rum.
What garnishes work well with a Rum Buck to enhance its flavor?
A slice of lemon or lime, a sprig of mint, or even a few dashes of Angostura bitters can be used to garnish a Rum Buck. These garnishes can enhance the drink's aroma and add complexity to its taste.
How does the alcohol content of a Rum Buck compare to other cocktails?
With an alcohol content of 13.88%, the Rum Buck falls into the medium category of alcoholic strength for cocktails. It's stronger than light cocktails like a Mimosa but less potent than high-alcohol content drinks like a Martini.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Dive into this creamy coconut and pineapple blend.
Bahia
White rum, Pineapple juice, Coconut cream
Discover this rich fusion of sherry and vermouth
Dolores
White rum, Sherry (sweet), Red vermouth
Discover this Caribbean twist on a classic Bloody Mary
Jerk-Spiced Bloody Mary
White rum, Lime juice, Tomato juice, Salt, Sugar, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco Sauce, Lime, Water, Salt
Experience this zesty pineapple twist on a classic.
Pineapple Daiquiri
White rum, Sugar / simple syrup, Lime juice, Pineapple
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments