Cheers to the Great Outdoors: Crafting Camping Cocktails

Arnold Who cocktail in a mason jar — Arnold Who cocktail

Sure, beer and seltzers are easy to grab for a camping weekend, but what if you want authentic cocktails made for sipping around the campfire? Of course, you can't schlep tons of cocktail ingredients to the campsite, but what if you could have a delicious, campsite-ready cocktail without the fuss and muss? Here's a guide to make your next camping trip ten times happier with cocktails in tow.

Mason Jar Mixes

Mason jars are an excellent tool for drinks and are good when camping. The better sealed your snacks are, the less likely bugs and bears will be interested. The same goes for drinks, and since mason jars are reusable, they also make an eco-friendly option for storage. When it comes to cocktails, mason jars are also great to use as cocktail shakers, and as a bonus, you can drink right out of the jar.

Camping Cocktail Recipes

Old Fashioneds On The Go

Pre-batched Old Fashioneds are easy to craft in mason jars and need no refrigeration; just add ice. What's better than an Old Fashioned after a long day hiking or kayaking? It's quick and easy to make eight Old Fashioneds in a 24-ounce mason jar.

16 ounces of your favorite whiskey

1 ounce of orange bitters

1 ounce of filtered water

4 ounces of simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water)

Shake the jar before pouring into a cup filled with ice. Garnish with a dehydrated orange if you'd like.

Paloma Like It's Hot

Another fun pre-batched mason jar mix that's perfect for camping is the Paloma. If you're looking for a cocktail to cool you off on a hot summer day, the Paloma is the perfect answer for all you agave spirits lovers. Make eight cocktails in a 24-ounce mason jar.

12 ounces of your favorite tequila or Mezcal

5 ounces of grapefruit syrup

Canned lime soda or sparkling water like Topo Chico Sabores Lime

Dehydrated lime slice

Shake the jar and pour it into a cup over ice. Top it with a lime soda or sparkling and add a dehydrated lime slice. Alternatively, skip the grapefruit syrup and top with a 50/50 split of Fever Tree's Sparkling Pink Grapefruit & Lime Yuzu soda.

Big Batches - Arnold Who

Who doesn't love a cool, refreshing glass of iced tea or lemonade on a hot day? When I'm spending my days outdoors, I always have iced tea on hand, and if I can, I'll bring a bag of lemons to squeeze fresh lemonade. There's nothing like sipping a delicious boozy tea cocktail from a hammock with some good tunes in the background. Here's a favorite go-to Arnold Palmer-esque cocktail that pleases almost any crowd.

This recipe can be made with any base spirit. Gin adds a more botanical flavor profile while whiskey and tequila add earthy and spicy notes. Vodka creates a lighter profile for this cocktail, and rum gives it a tropical vibe. Make it with your favorite spirit, you can't go wrong.

I make my own brewed iced tea in milk jugs, and the same for my fresh lemonade. So, this recipe is based on 2 gallons of each iced tea and lemonade—enough for everyone.

2 ounces iced tea

2 ounces lemonade

1.5 ounces Du Nord Mixed Blood bourbon

1 ounce cocktail mix

Add all ingredients to a jar or tin cup, over ice, stir, and garnish with fresh mint leaves.

Make the cocktail mix in advance, and add these ingredients to a warm pan on medium heat.

4 peeled and finely diced peaches (fresh is best, canned is okay, be sure to rinse canned peaches thoroughly). Cook the peaches down until they are completely mushy, then add the rest of the ingredients on low heat:

3 cups raw honey

½ cup fresh lemon juice

1 Tbsp ginger paste

1 Tbsp orange bitters

4 cups filtered water

Stir well until all items are incorporated and the honey is liquid. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Store in a large mason jar.

Sun Down, Fun Up

Sun Down cocktail by the fire — Sun Down

When the sun goes down, it's time for S'mores by the fire. This is a great time for coffee cocktails and S'mores cocktails. Cold-brew coffee cocktails are also easy to prepare in advance and can be served hot or cold. Try this recipe to add a little kick to your evening festivities.

3 ounces cold brew coffee

1 ounce Ancho Reyes Liqueur

2 ounces Still Austin Straight Rye whiskey

2 dashes orange bitters

1 pinch of cinnamon

Stir with ice or enjoy with hot coffee instead of cold brew.

You can prepare it in advance by adding all ingredients to a 64-ounce mason jar to make eight cocktails. Shake the jar before serving.

24 ounces cold brew coffee

8 ounces Ancho Reyes Liqueur

16 ounces Still Austin Cask Strength Bourbon

.5 ounce orange bitters

1 tsp cinnamon

Lip Smacking S'mores

Do you love S'mores? When I am enjoying my time around a campfire, I need two things: a good drink and some gooey S'mores. I have worked on perfecting S'mores cocktail recipes for years and have created some super fun concoctions. Throughout the years, this recipe has been the fan favorite.

This recipe is delicious with any brown spirit, aged tequila, whiskey, or aged rum.

1 oz Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey

1 oz Ten to One Dark Rum

.5 oz Borgata Marshmallow Liqueur

3 dashes chocolate bitters

1 toasted marshmallow

Pinch of chocolate shavings

Add the whiskey, rum, bitters, and liqueur to the glass with cubed ice and stir well. Strain into a tin cup. Garnish with a toasted marshmallow and top with chocolate shavings.

Camping cocktails can take your outdoor experience to the next level, turning a simple evening by the fire into a memorable gathering. The beauty of these drinks lies in their ease of preparation, versatility, and the joy of sharing them with friends. Whether you prefer refreshing iced tea concoctions, rich coffee blends, or indulgent S'mores-inspired mixes, there's something to please every palate. Raise a toast to the great outdoors!