By CampAtelier Editorial
There is a short window each evening when the light turns amber, the camp goes quiet and a good drink makes the moment feel finished. You do not need a bar kit for it. Three simple recipes and a little ice are enough.
Keep the kit small
One jar, one spoon and one sharp knife cover almost everything. Decant spirits into small flasks, carry syrups in squeeze bottles and keep a handful of citrus for aroma and brightness.
- A lidded jar that doubles as a shaker and a mixing glass.
- A small bottle of simple syrup made with equal parts sugar and hot water.
- Two lemons or limes and a few sprigs of fresh herbs.
- Enamel mugs, which keep drinks cooler than glass and never break.
Three drinks that travel well
Camp spritz
Pour a measure of bitter orange aperitif over ice, top with sparkling water and finish with an orange slice. It is light, bright and nearly impossible to get wrong.
Smoked old fashioned
Stir whiskey with a teaspoon of syrup and a dash of bitters over ice. Hold an orange peel over the fire for a second before dropping it in. The faint smoke does the rest.
Herb and citrus cooler
Muddle mint and lime in a mug, add cold water and a spoon of syrup, then shake with ice. It works equally well with or without a spirit, so everyone at the fire has something to hold.
The best camp drink is the one that takes two minutes to make and leaves you more time by the fire.
CampAtelier field notes
A word on ice
Ice is the one thing that separates a good camp drink from a warm one. Freeze water in a clean bottle at home and use it as both cooler and ice block, then refill it from a stream you have treated. Large cubes melt slowly and keep drinks cold without watering them down.
If you are staying more than a night, keep your bottles in the shade, wrap them in a wet cloth and let the evening air do the rest.
Whatever you pour, drink water alongside it, keep it modest at altitude and never make a habit of mixing alcohol with a long walk the next morning.
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