Tired of regular (although delicious) Whisky Sours? Give it a twist with this Gold Rush Cocktail recipe! Bourbon, lemon juice, and honey syrup blend together to create a just right drink for all bourbon lovers.
Prep time: 1 minute minute
Mixing time: 1 minute minute
- 2 oz Bourbon
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 oz honey syrup
- Ice cubes
- Lemon wheel or twist - for garnish, optional
Cocktail Shaker
Strainer & Fine-strainer
Rocks Glass
Measuring Jigger
Fill a rock glass with ice cubes and set it aside.
Pour 1 oz fresh lemon juice into the shaker.
Measure and pour 1 oz honey syrup into the shaker.
Add 2 oz Bourbon to the mix.
Shake vigorously.
Take the rocks glass and, using the cocktail strainer, discard the extra water from the ice cubes. Add more ice cubes if necessary.
Using the cocktail strainer, strain the mixture from the shaker into the ice-filled glass. Add more ice if necessary.
Garnish with a lemon wheel or twist.
Substitutes:
- Bourbon: If you don't have bourbon, rye whiskey can be a good substitute. It has a spicier profile than bourbon, but it still works well in this cocktail. For a smoky flavor, try using Scotch whisky instead. The one from the island of Islay will give you an intense peated flavor: you can either use it alone or experiment by blending it with another type of whisky (½ oz of Islay Scotch whisky and ½ oz of bourbon can be a great combination for example).
- Lemon Juice: Lime juice can be used as a substitute if you run out of lemons. It will give the cocktail a slightly different taste but still delicious.
- Honey Syrup: If you're not a fan of honey or don't have it available, simple syrup or agave nectar can be used as substitutes. Maple syrup can also be used as a twist.
Making a Pitcher of Gold Rush Cocktail:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 16 oz of bourbon, 8 oz of lemon juice, and 8 oz of honey syrup.
- Mix: Combine the bourbon, lemon juice, and honey syrup in a large pitcher. Stir well.
- Serve: Pour the mixture into ice-filled rocks glasses, garnish with a lemon wheel or twist, and serve immediately.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Bourbon Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic bourbon substitute; several brands are available that mimic the flavor of bourbon without the alcohol. You can also use apple juice as a substitute for the bourbon.
- Proceed As Usual: Use this non-alcoholic substitute instead of the regular bourbon, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.
Making it Vegan:
- Honey Syrup Substitute: To make this cocktail vegan, replace the honey syrup with agave nectar or maple syrup. Both are plant-based sweeteners that can be used in place of honey.