The Gold Rush Cocktail is a modern classic that combines the perfect balance of bourbon, honey syrup, and lemon juice.
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Gold Rush Bourbon Cocktail
The Gold Rush Cocktail is a modern drink that quickly became welcomed as a timeless classic into the cocktail community. Invented along with the now classics, the Penicillin and the Paper Plane cocktail in NYC's Milk & Honey a small bar that opened in 1999.
This delicious bourbon cocktail is a riff off a whiskey sour, essentially swapping out the simple syrup for honey syrup instead. Which in my opinion opens up all of the flavor naturally found in bourbon making it an amazing drink.
Easy to make because it only takes 3 simple ingredients, as long as you keep a stocked bar and a few lemon sitting around you will always be ready to make this one!
Equipment Needed
- Cocktail shaker: for mixing and chilling the ingredients to perfection.
- Citrus Juicer: for squeezing fresh lemon juice.
- Jigger: for precise measurement of your ingredients.
- Rocks glass: the vessel of choice for serving this timeless cocktail.
Bar Equipment
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Ingredients
- Bourbon: Choose a high-quality bourbon to create the rich and robust base of your cocktail. Due to the nature of bourbon the flavors can vary, so play around with different brands to see which one you like best with this drink. When making this drink I personally tend to use Maker's Mark.
- Honey Syrup: You will need to make the honey syrup, just sticking honey in the shaker won't work (it won't mix). To make honey simple syrup you will mix equal parts honey and hot water until fully dissolved, for more in-depth information check out my blog post on Honey Simple Syrup. Keep in mind that different varieties of honey will have different tasting notes, so you can play around with that as well!
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Needs to be fresh! The zesty lemon juice provides the perfect citrusy balance to the bourbon and honey.
How to make a Gold Rush Cocktail
Fill your cocktail shaker with ice. Add the bourbon, honey syrup, and fresh lemon juice into the shaker.
Shake vigorously until the mixture is well-chilled. Strain the cocktail into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a lemon twist if desired.
Tips, Tricks and Questions
Can I substitute bourbon with another type of whiskey?
While bourbon is the traditional choice, you can experiment with other whiskeys like rye or Tennessee whiskey. However, this may alter the cocktail's flavor profile.
What's the difference between honey syrup and plain honey in the cocktail?
Honey syrup is used for easier mixing, plain honey won't blend into the drink. To make honey syrup, simply whisk equal parts honey and hot water until dissolved.
Can I make a large batch of Gold Rush Cocktails for a party?
Absolutely! To make a batch of 8 you need 2 cups bourbon, ¾ cup honey simple syrup, and ¾ cup fresh lemon juice. Mix them in a larger container. Keep it chilled until serving.
Gold Rush Cocktail
This modern classic, the Gold Rush Cocktail only uses 3 simple ingredients bourbon, lemon juice, and honey simple syrup. Perfect for bourbon lovers!
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- ¾ oz honey simple syrup
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Fill your cocktail shaker with ice. Add the bourbon, honey syrup, and fresh lemon juice into the shaker.
- Shake vigorously until the mixture is well-chilled. Strain the cocktail into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a lemon twist if desired.
Notes
I like to use 1 large ice cube for this cocktail if you have that available to you.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1 drinkAmount Per Serving: Calories: 5Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 0g
Nutritional data is automated and might not be 100% accurate, final nutritional information will depend on ingredients used and any changes made.
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