How to Make a Camp Cocktail

When it comes to boozing in the backwoods, there’s only one category of libation, in my opinion, that’s fit for camping: hard liquor. Wine is too bulky for the punch it packs, and beer only makes sense if you’re car-camping/glamping with ample ice on hand.

Plus, there are many ways a bottle of hooch—be it whiskey, rum or vodka—can help you out when you're camping. In fact, liquor is the liquid equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, when you think about it. Here are a just a few more things that booze can do:

1. Local anesthetic: A sip for the pain, a splash for the gash.
2. Mouthwash: Erases morning breath—and you don’t have to spit!
3. Fire-starter: Soggy wood can’t compete with cask-strength hooch.
4. Insect repellent: If they bite, they’ll fly home drunk.
5. Sleeping aid: This one you already knew.

As such, I always keep a flask of high-proof spirit in my backpack. But recently I’ve become a supporter of flask cocktails for camping as well. These portable drinks—a favorite among itinerant bartenders—are designed to be drunk at room temperature or, when camping, the clime of the great outdoors.

What makes a good flask cocktail? Let’s start by eliminating anything that contains fresh citrus juice or dairy (save your daiquiris and piña coladas for when you return to civilization—and freezers). Build your drink around a high-quality spirit, keeping in mind that brown spirits (whiskey, brandy, rum, aged tequila) fare better at room temperature than clear ones (gin, vodka). Next, choose a template: brown spirit-heavy drinks—such Old Fashioneds, Sazeracs, Manhattans, and the endless variations they spawn—are a great place to start, as they taste great at almost any temperature.

Try something smoky

You're already cooking your dinner on the campfire. Why not infuse that smoky taste into your camp cocktails, too? A drink with a splash of peaty Scotch will do the trick.

Goodnight, Irene Cocktail

Get This Recipe

Don’t forget about water

For drinks heavy with high-proof spirits, you’ll want to dilute the drink to taste in order to smooth it out (I usually add about 25 percent water, depending on the proof of the base spirit).

Kumbaya Cocktail

Get This Recipe

Load your flask

When backpacking, I leave my metal flask at home and opt for a lightweight plastic one. Stanley makes a great one, as does Nalgene, but I particularly love cheap disposable flasks like this one. Going on a longer trek? Batch a bunch of drinks in a water bottle and know that the faster you consume it, the lighter your load will be the next day.