Drinking in the wilderness is like sneaking a fifth of booze into a college football game. Your options are limited, to say the least. But with a little ingenuity, you can go far beyond filling a Nalgene bottle with some collegiate concoction of cheap whiskey and flat soda; you can make simple, delicious cocktails, using both foraged and easily packable ingredients. “A backcountry cocktail should be lightweight and acceptable to drink without ice or perishable mixers,” said Emily Nielson, co-founder of Dirty Gourmet, a three-person campsite catering team that creates outdoor-specific recipes and holds outdoor cooking workshops. “Car camping cocktails can be much more complex, with things like ice and sodas.”
The appeal of a proper cocktail in the backcountry is obvious. Something warm and hot to sip by the campfire? Check. Something that won’t pummel you with a brutal hangover the next morning? Double check. But what’s less obvious is how easy backcountry cocktails can be — with minimal ingredients and a handful of packable tools, a perfect campsite night-cap can be whipped up in just a few minutes. Below, Nielson shares three of her favorite backcountry cocktails, perfect for backpacking, camping, bike touring and more.
Mexican Hot Cocoa
Serves 2
Best uses: backpacking, bike touring, camping
Ingredients:
3 ounces Patrón XO Cafe Dark Cocoa
2 packets hot cocoa mix
2 cups water or milk (powdered is fine)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
Cookware:
Small pot
Spoon
Stove
1-2 insulated mugs
