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Elevate Your Outdoor Adventures with These Expert Camping Cocktail Tips

When venturing into the great outdoors, it’s not just about eating well – it’s about drinking well too. With a little planning, you can enjoy top-shelf cocktails while camping, even when backpacking. Here’s how to elevate your outdoor adventures:

Streamline Your Bar

Backpackers need to travel light, and car campers can benefit from simplicity too. Bring a few essential bottles of alcohol, like vodka, whiskey, or bourbon, and a liqueur that can be combined in various ways or sipped straight. Choose mixers that are enjoyable on their own, such as soda, fruit juice, or iced tea.

Stirred, Not Shaken

Camping cleanup can be a hassle, so opt for cocktails that are stirred right in the glass. If you want to get fancy, use a Nalgene bottle or a stainless steel shaker with nesting cups designed for camping.

Room Temperature Cocktails

If you don’t have a cooler, choose drinks that don’t require chilling. A Manhattan works well, but a daiquiri might not be the best choice. You can also get creative and chill bottles in lakes or streams if available.

Scale Down Your Booze

If you’re hiking in, consider bringing miniature bottles of booze or decanting various alcohols into tightly sealed plastic bags. This way, you can bring a bigger variety without the weight.

Pre-Mix and Pour

Craft your cocktails ahead of time and store them in flasks or canteens. Choose a cocktail that won’t suffer from being stored and doesn’t need to be chilled. Just be cautious when batching drinks with bitters and citrus.

Add a Fresh Touch

Pack a few fresh extras like lemons, oranges, or Luxardo cherries to add a burst of flavor to your cocktails. Fresh herbs can also elevate your drinks. For a morning pick-me-up, assemble miniskewers of garnishes ahead of time.

Harness the Power of Fire

Your campfire isn’t just for cooking and relaxation. You can make hot drinks too! Try campfire coffee, mulled cider, or hot cocoa with a splash of booze. Alternatively, grill your limes or lemons for an extra smoky squeeze of acidity.

Drink Responsibly

Remember to pace yourself, especially since many camping cocktails are undiluted. Drink plenty of clean water to stay hydrated, particularly if you’re exerting yourself or at high altitude.

Try These Camping Cocktail Recipes

From Pine Cone Punch to S’mores Hot Chocolate, we’ve got you covered with these expertly crafted camping cocktails. Whether you’re in the woods or by the lake, these recipes will elevate your outdoor adventures.

Pine Cone Punch: Mix pine liqueur with dark rum and fruity pineapple juice for a refreshing post-hike sip.

Tinto de Verano: Doctor up your Sprite with red wine and a spritz of lemon for a simple yet satisfying camping sangria.

Gold Rush: Combine bourbon, lemon juice, and a make-ahead honey syrup for a smooth and easy-drinking cocktail.

The Corsican Cocktail: Mix limoncello, Lillet, elderflower, and more for a potent and refreshing drink perfect for camping.

Rob Roy in a Flask: Enjoy scotch, vermouth, and Angostura bitters diluted with water, either with or without ice.

Rye Whiskey and Marshmallow Simple Syrup: Combine spicy rye whiskey with sweet marshmallow syrup for a simple yet satisfying cocktail.

Camping Margaritas: Make frozen margaritas ahead of time and bring them along for a delicious first-day drink.

S’mores Hot Chocolate: Indulge in this s’mores-inspired hot chocolate with a touch of honey and a shot of whiskey for extra warmth.