Just because you鈥檙e miles away from the nearest bar doesn't mean you have to settle for a crappy cocktail. 鈥淚t makes me want to scream when I hear people are mixing powdered Gatorade and Fireball whiskey,鈥 says Crystal Sagan, owner of , a mobile bar operating in Denver and Boulder. 鈥淚 understand people do it because it鈥檚 convenient and easy when you鈥檙e in the backcountry, but there are so many better options out there.鈥
Sagan is an avid backcountry skier and hiker, and she refuses to sacrifice cocktail quality just because she鈥檚 deep in the woods. 鈥淎ll you have to do is plan ahead and get creative with how you pack and carry the ingredients聽and you can have a good cocktail by your tent,鈥 Sagan says. Her advice for budding backcountry bartenders is to focus on quality over quantity, and remember that the plastic baggie is your best friend.
鈥淐ompanies are making gear for mixing cocktails outside (see below), but most of that is heavy and better suited for car camping,鈥 Sagan says. 鈥淚nstead, portion the ingredients into separate plastic baggies, then put those baggies into a Nalgene bottle so they don鈥檛 bust.鈥
So, if you鈥檙e craving a Manhattan, put an ounce of vermouth, two ounces of bourbon, and a few dashes of bitters in separate bags, and you鈥檒l have everything you need for a Manhattan in the backcountry.
Making a cold cocktail can be a bit trickier. Sagan says to use clean snow if it鈥檚 available to make a slushy-style cocktail, or rest the plastic baggies in a creek to reduce the ingredients鈥 temperature (anchor the baggies with rocks to keep them from floating away). And don鈥檛 shy away from the cans of wine that are all over shelves these days. Here is Sagan鈥檚 recipe for an Aperol Spritz, which is refreshing after a long backpack into the backcountry.
Aperol Spritz
- 3 ounces sparkling wine (Scarpetta makes a good canned sparkling wine that鈥檚 backcountry-friendly.)
- 1 ounce Aperol (in a plastic baggie)
- Splash of soda water (Bring the whole can.)
Directions: Stir the first two ingredients in a cup and top with soda water.
If you鈥檙e looking to make cocktails in a car-camping situation, the sky鈥檚 the limit. You can even have real ice. Here鈥檚 some of the best car-camping cocktail gear on the market.
W&P Cocktail Canteen ($40)

聽is loaded with the essential tools for making the majority of your cocktails on the go. You get a collapsible jigger, telescoping bar spoon, dropper, peeler/zester, and a mini funnel鈥攑lus the insulated shaker everything packs into.
Chillz Ice Molds ($10)

You can get all kinds of ice molds these days, but we like to keep it simple with sphere ice, which melts slower than square, so you can use the same ice for multiple drinks. 聽makes four at a time.
Snow Peak Cutting Board Set (From $40)

Space is an issue even when you鈥檙e car camping. Snow Peak鈥檚 聽also works as a case for the stainless-steel chef鈥檚 knife. The combo pulls double duty for cocktail garnishes (remember to pack the citrus) and food prep without taking up too much room in your camp kitchen bin.
Klean Kanteen Insulated Tumbler ($18)

Insulated tumblers are so hot right now, but we like 聽because it gives you double-wall, vacuum-insulated stainless-steel construction without feeling overbuilt. And it holds eight ounces鈥攅nough to make a G&T or an Old-Fashioned.
Stanley Shot Glass Set ($20)

These 聽come in handy when you want to share your flask of bourbon but don鈥檛 want to share your campmates鈥 cooties. The case they鈥檙e stacked in is pretty slick too.
VSSL Flask Cache ($72)
If you鈥檙e venturing out on a day hike, please remember safety first: Bring your , which holds ten ounces of booze and contains two shot glasses, a bottle opener, compass, and flashlight.