What’s better than lounging beneath the stars in your favorite camping chair? Doing it while you sip on a delicious cocktail.
There’s nothing like a stiff drink to turn a great day into a transcendent camping experience. You’ve already got the flask. Now you can level up your drinking game by adding a few simple ingredients to your favorite liquor. There’s no need to haul in a bunch of heavy beer or wine. Save your energy for the good stuff—fireside chats and wilderness adventures.
Whether you’re staving off the cold or chilling the summer heat, these cocktail recipes will leave you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready for action. You can bring the bar to your campground and sip in nature. These are the best cocktail recipes for your camping enjoyment and beyond.
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8 Best Camping Cocktails for Every Season
While nothing beats a good old-fashioned flask, sometimes you want a little complexity with your liquor. These simple cocktail recipes are sure to make your next camping trip the best one yet.
1. Irish Coffee
Irish Coffee is the ultimate cold-weather cocktail, warming you from the inside out. It’s perfect for early morning adventures and fireside stories. The creamy texture soothes the body while the whiskey soothes the mind.
As the name suggests, this timeless drink originated in Ireland as a spinoff of other boozy coffee blends. It quickly spread through the United States thanks to the constant praise of a Pulitzer-prize winning columnist. It’s traditionally made with Irish whiskey, but you can also use bourbon, rum, or brandy. If it’s too late in the day for coffee, you can substitute with cocoa and top it off with a toasted marshmallow.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Irish whiskey
- 8 oz hot water
- 1 tsp (or travel-sized packet) instant coffee
- 1 tbs coffee creamer (optional)
Directions
- Pour six to eight ounces of water into a pot and place it on a camping stove
- Bring the water to a boil
- Pour the boiling water into a mug
- Add a teaspoon (or travel-sized packet) of instant coffee, stir to mix
- Top it off with about two ounces of whiskey
- Add a dollop of creamer for extra thickness
- Stir again and enjoy
Backcountry version: Pour the water into a backpacking stove (like a Jetboil). Once it’s hot, add the instant coffee and whiskey. Shake vigorously and enjoy.
2. Margarita
The Margarita is one of the most popular cocktails throughout the Americas. The tangy fruit flavors and distinctive kick of tequila are a potent combination. The origins of the Margarita are unknown, but it likely started in Mexico. Making a blended margarita isn’t practical for most camping scenarios, but you can still enjoy the original version of this tasty cocktail.
As a bonus, it comes packed with electrolytes, making it an excellent post-adventure drink. For best results, serve chilled with a few ice cubes or a handful of snow. If you’re not a fan of Gatorade, swap it out for grapefruit juice to make it a Paloma.
Ingredients
- 6 oz tequila, preferably blanco tequila
- 8 oz lemon-lime flavored Gatorade
- Pinch of salt (optional)
Directions
- Pour five to six ounces of tequila into a cup or bottle
- Add eight ounces of lemon-lime flavored Gatorade
- Add a pinch of salt
- Stir or shake, and enjoy
Backcountry version: Mix one packet of flavored Kool-Aid with ten to twelve ounces of water. Add tequila, shake, and enjoy.
3. 7&7
The 7&7 is a simple whiskey highball that offers a refreshingly sweet taste with a creamy vanilla finish. It was popularized in the 1970s by Seagram’s to highlight their 7 Crown whiskey. The 7&7 delivers an effervescent punch, making it a great cocktail for summer days. The invigorating balance of sugar and alcohol gives it a stimulating flavor profile with a smooth finish.
You can substitute the 7-Up with club soda, ginger ale, or another lemon-lime soda for a similar flavor. To maximize this cocktail’s refreshing taste, it should be served chilled with a few ice cubes.
Ingredients
- 2 oz blended whiskey, ideally Seagram’s 7 Crown
- 6 oz lemon-lime flavored soda, such as 7-Up
- 1 lime wedge (optional)
Directions
- Pour two ounces of whiskey into a cup or bottle
- Add four to six ounces of 7-Up
- Garnish with a lime wedge
- Lightly stir or shake, and enjoy
Backcountry version: Pre-mix your drink before starting your adventure. When you’re ready to drink it, give a little shake and enjoy.
4. Dark and Stormy
The Dark and Stormy (also known as the Dark ‘N’ Stormy) was invented in Bermuda as an island drink for weary sailors. It was the brainchild of a partnership between Gosling Black Seal Rum and Barritt’s Ginger Beer. The trio of ingredients in this highball presents a complex flavor that’s bold and exhilarating.
If you’re not a rum person, you can substitute the rum with vodka to make a Moscow Mule. The Dark and Stormy is best served chilled with a few ice cubes or a little bit of snow.
Ingredients
- 2 oz dark rum, preferably Gosling’s Black Seal rum
- ½ oz lime juice
- 6 oz ginger beer
- 1 lime wedge (optional)
Directions
- Pour two ounces of dark rum into a cup or bottle
- Add about a half-ounce of lime juice
- Top it off with four to six ounces of ginger beer
- Garnish with a lime wedge
- Stir or shake, and enjoy
Backcountry version: Mix the cocktail before heading out onto the trail. For a simpler version, you can omit the lime juice. When you’re ready to drink it, shake and enjoy.
5. Hot Toddy
The Hot Toddy—known more simply as “hot whiskey”—is the Mac Daddy of hot drinks. It’s so popular it has its own holiday (January 11th is National Hot Toddy Day). This comforting cocktail was first concocted in 18th-century India to cure cold symptoms. It goes down smooth and relaxes you instantly.
This simplified version of the classic recipe is perfect for cold-weather adventures and frigid nights. You can steep a teabag in the cocktail or drop in a few cloves for extra flavor. It tastes best with bourbon whiskey, but you can also use rye or scotch.
Ingredients
- 4 oz bourbon whiskey
- 4 oz hot water
- 2 travel-sized honey packets
- 1 lemon wedge (optional)
Directions
- Pour about four ounces of water into a pot and place it on a camping stove
- Bring the water to a boil
- Pour the boiling water into a mug
- Break open the honey packets and pour them into the water
- Add two to four ounces of bourbon whiskey
- Top it off with a lemon wedge or squirt of citrus juice
- Stir and enjoy
Backcountry version: Pour the water into a backpacking stove. Once the water is hot, add the honey packets, whiskey, and citrus. Shake well and enjoy.
6. Cape Codder
You probably know the Cape Codder by its generic name, the “vodka cranberry.” It’s a simple recipe with a consistent flavor, whether you make it fireside or in your kitchen. It was first invented in 1945 by the Ocean Spray cranberry cooperative, to promote their cranberry juice. It’s since become one of the world’s most popular cocktails.
The juice’s sweet and tangy flavor compliments the vodka, creating a smooth concoction that goes down easily. Cape codders are best served chilled. If you have access to cold water, use that. Otherwise, feel free to drop in a few ice cubes or a handful of snow.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 6 oz cranberry juice
- 1 lime wedge
Directions
- Pour two ounces of vodka into a cup or bottle
- Add four to six ounces of cranberry juice
- Top it off with a lime wedge or a squirt of citrus juice
- Stir or shake, and enjoy.
Backcountry version: Mix one teaspoon of dried cranberry powder with four to six ounces of water. Add vodka, shake, and enjoy.
7. Whiskey Sour
The Whiskey Sour is a classic cocktail that combines three powerful ingredients for a zesty balance of sweet and sour. It’s suggested that the first Whiskey Sour recipe was in 1862, as part of the “Jerry Thomas Bartenders Guide.” Adding an egg white gives the cocktail a creamy texture (often referred to as a Boston Sour) and extra protein.
Some people prefer it with a dollop of red wine, making it a New York Sour. It’s an excellent drink for any camping environment, soothing the body into a restful state. You can substitute the last three ingredients with ginger ale to make a Whiskey Ginger.
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon whiskey
- ¾ oz lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- 1 egg white (optional)
Directions
- Pour about two ounces of bourbon into a cup or bottle
- Add three-quarters of an ounce of lemon juice
- Further add a half-ounce of simple syrup
- Stir or shake vigorously for thirty seconds
- If possible, drop in a few ice cubes, shake again, and enjoy
Backcountry version: Replace the simple syrup with a dash of sugar. Substitute the egg white with egg white powder, or omit. Combine the bourbon with a packet of dried sour mix and add the remaining ingredients. Shake vigorously and enjoy.
8. Vodka Lemonade
Vodka and lemonade go together like tinder and fuel. The refreshing combination of ingredients makes it perfect for summer days, lounging in your camping tent. The easy balance of sweet and tart will leave you wanting more. The first iteration was invented by accident in 1978 in England. It’s since gained popularity for its simple recipe and delicious payoff. If you don’t like the flavor of traditional lemonade, you can substitute it with any tart juice (like cherry, peach, or strawberry).
If you add two ounces of tea, you can make it a John Daly (otherwise known as a Boozy Arnold Palmer). Since Vodka Lemonades are the quintessential summer drink, they’re usually served chilled. Toss in a few ice cubes or a handful of snow.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 6 oz lemonade
- 1 lemon wedge (optional)
Directions
- Pour about two ounces of vodka into a cup or bottle
- Add four to six ounces of lemonade
- Top it off with a lime wedge or a squirt of citrus juice
- Stir or shake, and enjoy.
Backcountry version: Mix one packet of lemon (or lemonade) powder with four to six ounces of water. Combine with vodka and, if possible, add ice cubes. Shake thoroughly and enjoy.
5 Tips for Drinking While Camping
- Be selective about your alcohol. Pick one type of alcohol and a few compatible ingredients. You can bring the whole bottle or fill up a flask. Either way, keeping your choices limited simplifies the process and allows you to enjoy what you have.
- Have plenty of ice on hand. If you’re bringing a cooler, make sure you preserve some ice to chill your drinks. Some cocktails taste fine at forest temperatures, but it’s refreshing to sip on a cold beverage after a long day in the wilderness.
- Prepare your drinks ahead of time. You can save precious time and energy while you’re camping by precutting citrus fruits, measuring out ingredients, or pre-mixing drinks at home. That way, you’ll have plenty of room in your bag for gear and food.
- Take advantage of your fire. You can use a camping stove and saucepan to heat your drinks, but there’s something to be said about heating the liquid on the campfire.
- Drink responsibly. There’s nothing wrong with getting a buzz, but you put yourself (and others) at risk if you become stumbling drunk. Keep it fun for everyone.
