A whiskey camp cocktail for every season

Whether you’ve been hiking all day or setting up camp under the stars, there’s something so rewarding about pausing at the end of it all to savor the view and enjoy quality time with good friends. You can make that moment extra special for your hiking buddies by packing in ingredients for a surprise camp cocktail.

Here are four whiskey cocktails — one for every season of Washington hiking — to enjoy once you’ve settled in at camp (or back at home) after a day on the trail.

There's nothing like kicking back with friends after a long day of hiking. Photo by Carson Artac. 

Recipes

Please enjoy the outdoors, and the beverages that follow, responsibly. If you are hiking, driving or prefer a non-alcoholic option, all of these can be enjoyed without the whiskey or with an alternative, like well-steeped black tea.

Summer: Mountain blueberry whiskey-soda

Combine a chilled soda with a splash of whiskey in an insulated bottle, and plunk some ripe mountain blueberries into the bottle as you hike. At the end of the day, you’ll get to kick back with a cool, refreshing treat! 

INGREDIENTS

1.5 ounces whiskey
1 chilled can of soda (e.g. ginger ale or citrus soda)
Mountain blueberries you can easily pick from the trail

Fall: Crisp autumn whiskey with apple cider

This simple, versatile cocktail is perfect for an unpredictable shoulder season — since it can be enjoyed cold during “second summer” or hot on chillier days. A cocktail is also a great way to warm up from the inside out when the weather cools but burn bans are still in place. 

INGREDIENTS

1 cup Washington apple cider
1.5 ounces whiskey
Cinnamon stick

Winter: Snowshoer’s hot toddy

Ah, the classic hot toddy. When you’re chilled to the bone after romping in the highcountry snow, this drink can warm your body and soul alike. And for winter backpackers wanting to keep their packs as light as possible, it’s a delightfully lightweight treat to bring. Just make sure you remember your stove to boil snow for the tea. Enjoy in a covered, insulated mug to keep your bevy hot. 

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup boiling water
1 honey stick
1 herbal tea bag
1.5 ounces whiskey
1 lemon slice (or lemon juice packet to minimize space and weight)
Cinnamon stick 

Spring: Springtime smash

As you revive your hiking habit, you can revive your senses with the aromatic mint and tart lemon or a whiskey smash. If you’re backpacking, you can keep pack weight down by bringing sugar cubes instead of simple syrup. Enjoy in a tin cup or insulated camp mug to keep your drink cool. 

INGREDIENTS

4 fresh mint leaves
1.5 ounces whiskey
3 lemon wedges (or lemon juice packets)
1-2 sugar cubes
⅓ cup water (cool, if possible, if ice is not an option)

Thank you to our sponsor

Washington Trails Association thanks Westland Distillery for their corporate partnership, which helps fund our work to protect and steward the trails you love. Rooted in the Pacific Northwest, Westland has always been proud to honor the landscapes that inspire them.

Westland Distillery is donating $1 for every bottle of Watchpost Whiskey sold over the next two years to WTA.

Now, with the launch of Watchpost, Westland is taking that commitment a step further and directly supporting the trails that connect us all to the land by donating $1 for every bottle of Watchpost sold over the next two years to WTA. 

“Our partnership with WTA protects the places I hold dear. It's is a natural extension of what Westland Distillery represents: respect for place. This is a whiskey meant for the trail, and one that intends to make a long-lasting impact in the state we’ve been proud to call home for the last fifteen years,” said Westland’s Managing Director Jason Moore. 

Guided by the ethos of “Good Friends, Safe Travels,” Watchpost is made by and for people who love to explore and give back to the public lands they love. Photo by Victoria Obermeyer.

To celebrate Watchpost, Westland Distillery is offering a green camp hat with any Watchpost purchase made by August 22, as well as an exclusive opportunity for members of the WTA community to receive a free distillery tour.

Washington Trails Association is proud to partner with companies like Westland Distillery that share our commitment to protecting trails and getting people outdoors. If your company is interested in supporting our work, we hope you’ll learn more about our corporate sponsorship opportunities.