You've got your boots, sneakers, toothbrush, towels, and blankets. And once you finish running through your packing list, well, you've got a whole lot of stuff. And then it's time to pack food and, of course, a cocktail or two for while you're camping. Luckily, this isn't a guide on how to make fancy cocktails on a camping trip. These are real recipes for actual camping that won't weigh your bag down. Welcome to the last camping cocktails ideas and recipes you'll ever need.
Make-Ahead Maple Syrup Old-Fashioned for Camping
You know that fancy maple syrup bottle you have nearly polished off? Don't use that last little bit for waffles. This is way better! The recipe makes approximately four drinks.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces maple syrup
- 8 ounces bourbon
- 8-10 dashes orange bitters
- 6-8 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a large bottle, add maple syrup, bourbon, and bitters.
- Cap and shake to mix.
- Prior to serving, shake or swirl to mix the ingredients.
- Pour approximately 3 ounces of mix into glass or cup over ice.
- Garnish with an orange slice if desired.
Helpful Hack
Depending on the size of your glass maple syrup bottle, you can build this camping cocktail right in that same bottle.
Batched Camping Cosmo
Martini glasses are optional; in fact, this make-ahead camping cocktail is better in a glass over ice or even in that sturdy travel coffee mug you brought. This makes approximately four camping cosmopolitans.
Ingredients
- 6 ounces citron vodka
- 3 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
- 3 ounces orange liqueur
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a bottle add citron vodka, lime juice, orange liqueur, and cranberry juice.
- Cap the bottle and shake gently to mix.
- Pour approximately 3½ ounces of the mix over ice in a rocks glass or camping mug.
- Garnish with a lime wedge, if desired.
Make-Ahead Negroni
The only thing in-tents about this negroni you're bringing camping is how easy is it not only to make, but enjoy next to the fire. This makes approximately four servings.
Ingredients
- 5 ounces gin
- 5 ounces sweet vermouth
- 5 ounces Campari
- Ice
- Lemon slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a bottle, add gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari.
- Cap the bottle and swirl gently to mix.
- Prior to serving, swirl to mix.
- Pour approximately 4 ounces of mix over fresh ice into a rocks glass or mug.
- Garnish with a lemon slice.
Batched Manhattan Cocktail
Take your Manhattan from the urban streets to the winding country roads. This recipe makes approximately four servings.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces rye
- 4 ounces sweet vermouth
- 6-8 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Cocktail cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a bottle, add rye, sweet vermouth, and bitters.
- Cap the bottle and swirl to mix.
- Prior to serving, swirl the bottle to mix the ingredients.
- Pour approximately 3 ounces of the mix over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a cocktail cherry.
Make-Ahead Mojito
Leave your muddler at home! Make up this mojito before you hit the road - you'll need your strength to set up camp. This recipe makes roughly four mojitos.
Ingredients
- 12-15 mint leaves
- 2½ ounces simple syrup
- 8 ounces white rum
- 2 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Club soda to top off each serving
- Lime wedge for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Muddle the mint leaves with the simple syrup.
- Add to a bottle.
- In the bottle, add rum and lime juice.
- Cap and swirl to mix.
- Just prior to serving, shake well.
- Pour just over 3 ounces of mix over fresh ice.
- Top off each serving with club soda.
- Garnish with a lime wedge, if desired.
Fireside Camping Sangria
With some juice and a bottle (or box!) of wine, you're just a few steps away from a quick and easy sangria when you're camping.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces red wine OR white wine
- 2 ounces cranberry juice OR white grape juice
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, mug, or other vessel, add ice, red wine, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup.
- Stir to mix, or shake if you have a lid.
- Garnish with an orange slice.
Wine Spritzer
Red or white or rosé, this is an easy spritzer to make and even easier to drink.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces wine
- 4 ounces club soda
- 2 ounces white grape juice OR cranberry juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Fresh fruit for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a highball glass or other drinkware, add ice, wine, club soda, juice, and simple syrup.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with fresh fruit, if desired.
Camping Cape Codder Cocktail
You don't need to have been stuck in bridge traffic as you head to the Cape to camp to enjoy this cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1¾ ounces vodka
- Ice
- Cranberry juice to top off
- Lemon or lime slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or other vessel, add ice and vodka.
- Top off with cranberry juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with a citrus slice.
Cranberry Margarita
Just a skip away from the Cape Codder? The cranberry margarita. And the cranberry margarita is the perfect afternoon drink among the trees.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces silver tequila
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a short glass, add ice, tequila, cranberry juice, lime juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
A Tequila Sunrise in the Forest
This isn't quite the tequila sunrise you're used to, but that's because you want to make the most of the mixers you do bring, so the pineapple juices stands in the orange juice and the cranberry juice takes the place of the grenadine.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces tequila
- 3 ounces cranberry juice
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- Ice
- Orange wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or another short glass, add ice, tequila, and cranberry juice.
- Slowly add pineapple juice.
- Garnish with an orange wedge.
Pineapple Screwdriver
This may call for rum, but don't worry, you can still use your usual vodka if that makes you happier.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces white rum
- 4 ounces pineapple juice
- Ice
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or other small glass, add ice, rum, and pineapple juice.
- Stir to mix.
Pinecone Punch
No pine trees will be harmed in the making of this punch - it's just a twist on the classic rum punch.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce white rum
- 1 ounce dark rum
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Pineapple wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or another small glass, add ice, white rum, dark rum, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with a pineapple wedge.
Hopefully It's Not Dark and Stormy
This is the only time you'll be happy to enjoy the dark and stormy feeling when you're camping.
Ingredients
- 5 ounces ginger beer
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces dark rum
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball or pint glass, add ice, ginger beer, and lime juice.
- Stir briefly to mix.
- Top off with dark rum.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Quick Tip
Grab a few cans of ginger beer; you can put it to use in a mule as well as many riffs on the classic mule and with cider.
Take a Mule Camping
Like the dark and stormy, you don't need much to whip up a refreshingly spiced cocktail while you're camping.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces vodka
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a copper mug, camping mug, or rocks glass, add ice, vodka, and lime juice.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Apple Cider Mule
Whip out your apple cider and ginger beer to make a mule that'll please both the vodka and bourbon lovers.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka OR bourbon
- 3 ounces apple cider
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Apple slices for garnish
Instructions
- In a copper mug, camping mug, or another short glass, add ice, vodka, and apple cider.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Stir briefly to mix.
- Garnish with apple slices.
Helpful Hack
You'll find you can use the apple cider in the bourbon and cider cocktail as well as a classic apple cider cocktail with spiced or dark rum.
Bourbon and Cider Camping Cocktail
A little bourbon, some apple cider, maple syrup, and lemon juice, and you have a delicious cocktail ready to go.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon OR cinnamon whiskey
- 3 ounces apple cider
- ¾ ounce maple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or another short glass, add ice, bourbon, apple cider, maple syrup, and lemon juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
The Perfect Apple Cider Cocktail for Camping
This is a BYO-style cocktail for when you have a variety of liquors and ingredients, but you're looking for an apple cider cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces whiskey, dark rum, spiced rum, OR vodka
- 4 ounces apple cider
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- 2-3 dashes cinnamon bitters
- Ice
- Cinnamon stick and apple slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, camping mug, or another short glass, add ice, liquor, apple cider, orange liqueur, and bitters.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick and apple slice.
Marshmallow Old-Fashioned
The marshmallow old-fashioned is for when you're in the mood for some toasted marshmallow, but you're not ready to jump all the way in with a s'more.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes orange OR vanilla bitters
- 1-2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Toasted marshmallow for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, camping mug, or another short glass, add ice, whiskey, simple syrup, and bitters.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with toasted marshmallow, allowing some to fall into the drink.
Camping Lemon Drop Martini Cocktail
If you want a taste of luxury, or you want to enjoy a lemon drop martini while camping and enjoying the sounds of nature, this cocktail does the trick.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces lemonade
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or another short glass, add ice, vodka, lemonade, simple syrup, and orange liqueur.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Camping Cocktail Tips
You don't need fancy tools, a long list of ingredients, or even a garnish when you're camping. Keep these tips in mind:
- You can use a travel coffee mug or mason jar as a cocktail shaker
- You don't need to bring along a fancy bar spoon for stirring, you can use a regular spoon or a butter knife - even a fork!
- You absolutely don't need to use a garnish, especially if it only adds to your packing list.
- No proper glassware? No problem, go ahead and use a camping mug, travel mug, pint glass, or whatever you have handy.
- Consider making cocktails that use similar mixers to cut down on what you need to pack.
- Squeeze your citrus juices ahead of time, or use pre-made citrus juice.
Mixing Nature and Spirits With Camping Cocktails
Don't drag those martini glasses, the 14 ingredients for a single cocktail, or even your cocktail shaker to your campsite or keep them in your charming camper. Instead, these are the cocktails that'll take your camping from average to sparkling. Just don't share any with the bears!
