At the end of the day, we enjoy sipping a great drink under the stars. And when we are camping, that drink needs to be simple.
Once upon a time we pretty much stuck with beer and/or wine for any drinking we did because it was easy to transport. While we weren’t against other alcohols, it just seemed more respectful of the campgrounds to not bring in liquor even if they allowed alcoholic beverages.
However, somehow along the way we fell in love with gin and tonics. These were still easy to pack and bring along while camping (again, only if the campsite allows alcohol on site!) since they don’t require a lot of fancy ingredients. But then I started to hear about other cocktails like the Bramble and thought…I want to try that. Spoiler Alert: it’s good! So, we started to think about what other drinks are camping friendly and decided that, for us, they needed to be low-prep, require few ingredients, and be easily portable.
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Essentials for Camping Mixology
Gear You Need for Camping Cocktails
- Lightweight shaker (or mason jar with lid)
- Reusable cups or mugs
- Small cooler or insulated bag
- Portable muddler or spoon
- Jigger (or shot glass)
When we are making our cocktails, we are fans of our Stanley Cocktail Shaker Set, our Shot Glass Measuring Cup, and our Moscow Mule Copper Cups. They make creating our camping cocktails much easier.
The Stanley Cocktail Shaker Set features a removeable reamer to juice and strain directly into the jigger cap, reusable cups, or the shaker encompassing the majority of the gear we need.
By adding in our shot glass measuring cup, we can increase the variety of drinks we can create at the campsite.
As for the Copper Cups, well the copper mug helps drinks maintain their chill due to copper’s excellent heat conductivity. Additionally, some believe that there are health benefits due to the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties present in copper. Take from that what you will.
Pantry Basics to Pack for Camping Cocktails
- Citrus (lemons & limes are most common)
- Simple syrup or honey
- Seltzer or Tonic water
- A few mini liquor bottles or boxed wine
- Salt, sugar, or tajin for rimming
- Fresh herbs (optional: mint, basil)
Go ahead and pre-cut your citrus at home if you want. It can make it easier (and less sticky) at the campsite. With the above, you can make a huge variety of drinks such as Gin & Tonics, the Classic Gimlet, and Basil Lemon Vodka Spritz.
Other simple drinks that we love to enjoy around a campfire? Malibu Cranberry (coconut rum and cranberry juice), Moscow Mules (vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice), Sangria (wine and fruit), Strawberry Gin Fizz (gin, strawberries, lemon or lime juice, and seltzer), and Summer Shandys (beer and lemonade).
Camping Mocktails
We can’t forget the underage crowd though. They need fun drinks too so here are some of our favorite mocktails for them to enjoy.
Cucumber Mint Sparkler
What about a cucumber mint sparkler? Combine cucumber slices, mint leaves, lemon juice, and soda water to create a sophisticated mocktail!
Pineapple Ginger Fizz
Have you considered a pineapple ginger fizz? For this we mix ginger ale and pineapple juice and garnish it with a lime wedge and a pineapple ring. If you use canned pineapple rings, the leftovers are a great side dish with sprinkled cinnamon!
Watermelon Slush
Our child enjoys the watermelon slush. We blend watermelon chunks with lime juice and ice and if he is feeling fancy we garnish it with basil or mint. We do recommend a fridge or a cooler for this one.
Citrus Cooler
His other favorite? The Citrus Cooler. It combines lemon or lime juice with honey or agave, and water or sparkling water. If you have been out hiking or indulging in other sweaty activities, add a dash of salt for an electrolyte boost.
Apple Campfire Cider
For those fall days, nothing is better than an apple cider and this one is so easy. Add a lemon slice and a cinnamon stick to some apple juice and serve it warmed or cold.
Don’t forget fun lemonades and limeades as well. We love the basic drink, and we also enjoy enhancing them with in season fruit.
Tips for Keeping It Chill
How to Keep Drinks Cold Without a Fridge
- Freeze juices and water bottles ahead of time
- Use frozen fruit when possible
- Use insulated growlers or thermoses
- Store perishables in shaded spots or bear lockers
While we are lucky in that we have a fridge in our Class C RV, we used to tent camp and had to be creative. We found that freezing our mixers in advance helped on the longer camping trips.
Easy Prepping at Home
- Pre-mix and bottle cocktails in labeled jars
- Make simple syrup ahead (store in a travel bottle)
- Freeze fruit/herb ice cubes for easy flavor boosts
We love the make ahead philosophy and utilize it throughout all of our camping plans. So it just stands to reason that we are going to pre-mix items like simple syrups and other mixers whenever possible.
Looking for more camping cocktails to try?
I was at the library finishing up summer reading club and came across the book Campfire Cocktails from Cider Mill Press. It includes 100+ drinks based on alcohol: whiskey, rum, tequila, gin, vodka, or wine & other spirits. Now the husband will drink any of these, but the wife is not a fan of whiskey or tequila. So, she focused on the rum, gin, and vodka drinks as she selected options to try.
On our last camping trip we tried the vodka-based Amelia which they claim is a simpler version of the Bramble. It is also very tasty. And we tried the gin-based Elder Fashion. If you don’t have orange bitters, you might still like it, but we didn’t. However, once we bought the orange bitters, it quickly became a favorite.
Still, it was after we got home that we tried the Gin Basil Smash and fell in love! It helps that we have a prolific basil plant in our beds and I’m always trying to find new ways to use it. Which might be why you see it pop up in so many of our recipes: caprese brie, pressed picnic sandwich, roasted veggies with orzo pasta, etc.
Savor the Moment
One of the reasons why we enjoy cocktails and/or mocktails while camping is it encourages us to slow down. After all, it is a perfect way for us to unwind while the fire is getting to the point that we can cook dinner. Plus, having a “mocktail hour” for all ages allows us to make friends and connect with fellow campers regardless of if they drink alcohol or not.
Say Cheers to Camping!
Tell us, what cocktails and/or mocktails do you enjoy drinking while camping or around the bonfire in your backyard? Tag us on Instagram @campinganswer. We are always on the lookout for new tasty tipples to try.