Make. It. Before. You. Go. Bring the perfect cocktails out to the wild!
There are few things in life I love more than being outside. Summer sun on my face. Dirt in my socks. A mosquito in love with my left ankle. That’s the dream. Whether I’m hiking, camping, or executing a perfectly awkward cannonball into a freezing mountain lake, I am in my element. And yes, sometimes that element involves a cocktail. Because while I may be one with nature, I’m also one with a well-balanced drink.
But let me be clear: I don’t lug around a mahogany bar cart and a tuxedoed bartender named Pierre. I have two sacred, Moses-on-the-mountain rules for drinking in the wild:
It must be EASY.
It must be DELICIOUS.
Here, my thirsty trailblazers, are the tips and tricks I’ve gathered through years of boozy adventures and questionable decisions.
Pre-Made or Perish: The Cocktail Commandment
Sure, it sounds adorable to bartend in the woods. You imagine applause, birds chirping in sync, someone crying tears of joy as you craft a Negroni by firelight. Reality check: you’re sticky, sweaty, swatting wasps, and wondering how to rinse a strainer in a river full of fish that now think you’re an idiot.
Here’s the fix: Make. It. Before. You. Go.
Show up with a gallon of margaritas in a retro Coleman jug, and you, my friend, are suddenly the Beyoncé of the backcountry. I also pack Mason jars half-filled with cocktails. Come happy hour, just add ice, shake like you’re doing backwoods CrossFit, and sip straight from the jar like the classy hiker you are.
Grocery Store Mixology: MacGyver Would Be Proud
I love fresh-squeezed citrus… but not enough to zest a lemon with a pocketknife. When I’m out in nature, I want to relax, not run a cocktail bar for squirrels.
So what’s my hack? Frozen Minute Maid concentrate. That’s right. It’s pre-squeezed, pre-strained, and pre-sweetened. Basically, cocktailing on easy mode. Mix that frozen gold with booze, ice, and maybe a splash of soda, and boom: instant party.
Bonus pro move? Grab a ginger wellness shot from the store fridge. Toss that into your mix and pretend you studied at a prestigious mixology monastery in the Himalayas. Fancy AND lazy? You’re living my dream.
The DIY Highball Cooler of Joy
Want to become a legend at your next outdoor gathering? Roll up with a cooler full of mini booze bottles and cans of soda. That’s it. No doctorate in mixology required.
Let people choose their fate:
- Bourbon + cola = Cowboy Happy Hour
- Tequila + grapefruit soda = Backyard Riviera
- Vodka + ginger beer = Wilderness Mule
Pour the mini right into the can. Laugh. Toast. Repeat. Everyone feels like a rebel. It’s mildly chaotic and extremely fun. No glassware, no problem—just sweet, fizzy freedom in a can.
Frosé, But Make It Wilderness
I know what you’re thinking: “Frozen drinks at a campsite? Are you high on pine needles?” Maybe. But also: yes, it’s possible.
Behold, the Backcountry Frosé Hack™:
- Blend rosé, strawberries, and a bit of simple syrup at home.
- Freeze that magic in Mason jars.
- Pack it in a cooler with dry ice (or regular ice if you’re quick).
Voila! Slushy deliciousness with no need to plug in your Vitamix behind a tree stump.
Friends will weep. Deer will applaud. Even the raccoons will ask for a sip (decline politely).
When All Else Fails: Bourbon + Fire
Let’s not overthink it. Sometimes the best cocktail is just whiskey + cup + firelight + stars. No garnish. No ice. No judgment. Just you, your drink, and the great outdoors silently admiring your impeccable taste.
When: Cool nights, ghost stories, long stares into the fire.
Make-at-home mix:
- 1 part bourbon
- 1 part honey syrup (equal parts honey + hot water)
- ½ part lemon juice (store-bought is fine)
Pack it in a thermos.
At camp, just add hot water from your kettle. It’s comforting, it’s boozy, and it’ll warm your soul faster than a fleece blanket named Chad.
The Lazy Lemon Shandy
When: Afternoon hike, hammock time, feet-in-river bliss.
In your pack:
- Mini bottle of vodka or gin
- Can of lemon soda or hard lemonade
Trail technique:
Open soda, take a sip to “make room,” pour in the booze. Swirl, sip, recline like a woodland deity.
Pineapple Tin Can Express
When: You’re feeling tropical, even 12 miles from the nearest palm tree.
Ingredients:
- Mini bottle of rum
- Small can of pineapple juice
Optional: coconut water or a dash of lime if you fancy
In the field: Crack can, add rum, stir with a twig (sterilize if you’re feeling classy). Tropical vibes in seconds, and it won’t attract bears. Probably.
The Sunset Jar (a.k.a. Trailside Tequila Sunrise)
Make-at-home:
- 2 oz tequila
- 2 oz orange juice concentrate (Minute Maid MVP)
- ½ oz grenadine (add last)
Pack in jars.
At happy hour, give it a gentle shake to swirl that sunrise sky. Sip while contemplating the meaning of life or whether you packed enough snacks.
The Berry Bush Smash
When: You’re surrounded by berries and feeling a little forage-core.
At home:
- 2 oz gin
- Frozen berries (blueberries, blackberries, etc.)
- 1 oz lemon juice or concentrate
- ½ oz simple syrup
Trail magic: Shake in a Mason jar, then strain or just embrace the berry bits.
Final Word
Always pack:
- Ice (or frozen water bottles to double as hydration later)
- A few jars
- A towel (for spills, or existential beach moments)
A willingness to share—unless your friends didn’t help carry the cooler, in which case… sip in solitude, legend.
Need printable cocktail cards for your camping crew or trail cocktail name ideas like “The S’moretini” or “Spruce Juice”? Say the word. I gotchu.
So there you have it—cocktailing in nature without losing your mind or your jigger. Remember: the world is your tiki bar, the trail your happy hour, and the cooler your portable speakeasy. Drink smart, pack out what you pack in, and never—ever—trust a man who brings a muddler on a hike.
Don’t drink and drive. Enjoy responsibly.