Barranquilla Buck

A Buck is a fizzy short drink, often made with rum. This cocktail is exactly that and a typical serving you might find in Barranquilla, Columbia. The exception however is that this particular cocktail was made with Vitae Platinum Rum, not a Colombian offering.

It is light, a little dry, but the falernum helps with balance. You really taste the rum, which is a good thing. It should be a little rustic tasting, like most South American rum cocktails. Not fussy, and easy to make and drink.

• 1 1/2 oz. light rum (Vitae Platinum Rum used)
• 1/2 oz. falernum 
• 1 oz. lemon juice
• club soda
• orange slice

Combine all ingredients except soda and orange slice in a shaker with ice. Shake and pour into a chilled Old Fashioned glass. Top with soda and stir. Garnish with the orange slice.

New Orleans Buck

I've not been a big fan of the Buck series of cocktails (like the Peach Buck, Gin Buck, Brandy Buck and Rum Buck, that usually include a spirit, lime juice and ginger ale.) But I think my lack of enthusiasm for these drinks comes from using Bacardi rum and cheap ginger ale.

Q Ginger Ale really resurrects these drinks. I'm a huge fan of this cocktail when made with Vitae Platinum Rum, which has a lovely sugary, marshmallow flavor of its own to add. In addition to these, there's lime juice and orange juice--which I think is what makes this cocktail "New Orleans." I'm not surprised at this. Often a bit of orange juice sneaks into a location-specific drink to make it more special (read less tart). This is one long drink that you can enjoy at any time or any place, however. It is rich enough for winter weather, but cooling enough for Mardi Gras celebrations.

• 2 oz. light rum (Vitae Platinum Rum used)
• 1 oz. lime juice
• 1 oz. orange juice
• ginger ale (Q ginger ale used)
• lime slice

Combine all ingredients except ginger ale and lime slice in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled highball glass full of fresh ice. Top with ginger ale and stir gently. Garnish with the lime slice. 

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New Orleans Buck

I'm not sure what make's this Buck "New Orleans." Maybe it is the addition of orange juice, since that is the only variation to the Rum Buck recipe: New Orleans drinks tend to be juicier and orange is an American and Southern flavor, for sure.

The recipe calls for light rum. I'm glad I chose Plantation 3 Stars. It has an interesting flavor of its own that stands apart from cheap white rums (that taste like alcohol and burning!) For all of it's 41.7% alcohol, Plantation has a lot of sugar cane character similar to cachaça.

There's no sugar added, so all in all, an easy drink to make.

• 2 oz light rum
• 1 oz. lime juice
• 1 oz. orange juice
• lime slice
• ginger ale

Combine all ingredients except ginger ale and lime wedge in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a highball glass full of fresh ice. Top with ginger ale and garnish with lime slice.