Cocktails for Camping
By Marie Gorbenko Published November 2021
Camping is a captivating and immersive experience that can be complemented with easy-to-make cocktails. For many, leaving the city lights is nostalgic and invokes treasured childhood memories, flavors of open-flame cooking, roasted marshmallows and sleeping under star-filled skies. Now as adults, we get to recreate those moments along with delicious campsite cocktails that can be sipped and savored fireside. From stress reduction to relationship building or disconnecting from everyday demands - the benefits of camping are wide-ranging and plentiful. An unplugged evening with a drink in hand is calling. And with the muggy nights now yielding to cooler and more pleasant evenings, the Florida camping season is in full swing again. But as you load up the car for a weekend away with family and friends, don’t forget to pack a few cocktail ingredients for some nature-based bar fun. That’s right! Just because you’re away from home base, doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in a tipple or two. Here are our pair of easy peasy, outdoor-friendly camping cocktails to brighten up any bonfire night.
Mr Black Cold Brew Dalgona Coffee
While most of us know dalgona coffee as the “it” viral challenge of 2020 - the original dalgona dates back to the mid-20th century and is actually a sweet Korean street food that resembles honeycomb toffee and tastes a bit like butterscotch. Luckily, recreating this delightful confection in drink form and saucing it with coffee liqueur has never been easier to do on the go with the help of a portable whisk or a mason jar. And since the recipe calls for instant coffee, there’s no need to boil it from scratch. Quick, easy and caffeinated; this Korean-inspired cocktail is the perfect post-tent pitching treat to share with friends around warm campfire flames.
NEEDED INGREDIENTS:
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2 tablespoons granulated sugar
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2 tablespoons instant coffee
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2 tablespoons cold water
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2 ounces Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
MATERIALS:
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Medium mixing bowl and kitchen whisk
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Or alternatively, Mason jars with lids
METHOD:
In a medium bowl - combine sugar, instant coffee and water. Using a whisk, vigorously whisk until mixture turns silky smooth and shiny. Continue whisking until it thickens and holds a lofty, foamy peak. If whisking by hand, this will take 8 to 12 minutes. Alternatively, place the sugar, instant coffee and water in a mason jar and shake vigorously. The jars can be prepared ahead of time, if desired, and passed out fireside to shake while sharing in conversation. Following, fill a glass most of the way full of ice and add liqueur. Dollop and swirl the whipped coffee mixture on top and enjoy.
Looking for a fun mocktail match for the campsite kiddies? You can prepare mason jars with one cup of cold heavy whipping cream (it helps to chill the jars in a cooler of ice first) and 2-3 generous tablespoons of sugar – then, let them shake their hearts out. In about five minutes, they will have homemade, fresh, whipped cream to top campfire hot chocolate.
Classic Can Shandy
Also known as a shandygraff or a radler - a can shandy is a refreshing two-ingredient cocktail comprised of beer and lemonade that is a perfect campsite thirst-quencher. A great way to dress up a glass of beer while also creating a drink that’s lighter in alcohol, can shandies are a great option when you’re looking to indulge in a cool cocktail while still being able to enjoy other activities and adventures in the great outdoors.
NEEDED INGREDIENTS:
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A can or bottle of your favorite wheat beer (try our Funky Buddha Floridian pick)
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Lemonade to taste
METHOD:
Take two swigs from your favorite wheat beer and top off with lemonade. Simple, delicious, and light enough to enjoy throughout your day.