Hannah Engelson
The State News
Let's face it: We don't all have a stocked liquor cabinet. With this in mind, the average college student often finds on a weekend night, the best drink is the simplest drink.
The Gin Buck is a perfect example of a tasty drink that isn't too complicated.
The Gin Buck is made up of two common ingredients: Vernors and gin. The beauty of the Gin Buck is the way in which the combination creates a flavor different from what people expect out of a gin drink.
When tonic water is mixed with gin, it accompanies and brings out the gin's flavor. In the Gin Buck, the gin takes the backseat to the Vernors. The gin pushes forward the harsh ginger flavor of the soda, while providing a dry aftertaste.
Don't be fooled into thinking the Gin Buck is a sweet drink. Soda might make up the majority of the mix, but the gin does a great job tempering the sweetness and leaving only a unique flavor of ginger and pine.
A twist of lemon brings a slight citrus flavor to the mix, interacting perfectly with the alcohol and soda. The lemon also can help bring color to a fairly classic-looking cocktail.
If the flavor of the Gin Buck is harsh for your palette, substituting classic ginger ale for the Vernors can soften the harshness. The drink's simplicity also allows a person to play with the ratio of soda to gin, creating different tones of the same drink.
For those looking for a drink with a unique and interesting flavor, but wanting to avoid the classic sweet drinks, the Gin Buck should be the perfect solution. It's a drink you won't be ashamed to carry around.