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Sweet honey, bright lemon, and belly-warming bourbon combine in the Gold Rush Cocktail for a classic show-stopping drink that’s easy to make, elegant, and fun!
The Gold Rush Cocktail
One thing I absolutely love about making cocktails is the feeling it evokes, especially this Gold Rush Cocktail. Whether its in the name, the presentation, or the simple or magical (hard to find) ingredients.
The Gold Rush cocktail is one of my favorites because it is easy to prepare, features a delicious blend of honey syrup, bourbon, and lemon juice, and is gorgeous to prepare.
I hope you have as much fun as I do when I make the Gold Rush cocktail. Ready to learn all about it? Let’s go!
The Gold Rush Cocktail Ingredients
- Bourbon – see my notes on which bourbon is best for the Gold Rush below.
- Lemon juice – use fresh-squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor
- Honey syrup – here is a simple honey syrup recipe that takes just minutes to make.
What is a Gold Rush Drink?
I like to refer to the Gold Rush drink as the “Honey Syrup Bourbon Cocktail”, or the bourbon honey lemon cocktail.
The Gold Rush drink is a Bee’s Knees with bourbon, or a Whiskey Sour with honey instead of simple syrup.
The History of the Gold Rush Cocktail
You might’ve heard about Milk & Honey, the famed New York bar where bartender Sam Ross invented The Penicillin Cocktail in 2005. He’s also the inventor of the Paper Plane Cocktail. In 1999, a childhood friend (T.J. Siegal) of the owner (Sasha Petraske), at the same famous bar invented the Gold Rush cocktail.
The story goes that Siegal had just finished a long shift at work when he sat down at the bar at Milk & Honey for his usual Bourbon Sour. [1] Siegal asked Petraske to use the honey syrup he had made for a previous order in place of the simple syrup in the Bourbon Sour.
Siegal called it the “Gold Rush.” Of the name, Siegal stated, “I like names that bring a feeling or a thought or a chuckle, not names that have a hidden meaning or connection to the origin of the drink.” After that, the Gold Rush soon became a hit at Milk & Honey, and is now considered a classic.
How to Make a Gold Rush
My favorite thing about making a Gold Rush cocktail? How fancy it looks without being too fussy to make.
- Make this super easy, 5 minute recipe for honey syrup. Then, store it in the refrigerator while you make the Gold Rush.
- Add bourbon, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and honey syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake until very well mixed. The cocktail shaker will be almost too chilly to hold and covered in condensation.
- Strain into a rocks or old fashioned glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a lemon twist and enjoy the best Gold Rush cocktail.
I recommend investing in something like this stainless steel jigger, which makes measuring and pouring so much easier during Cocktail Hour.
Best Bourbon for Gold Rush
The best bourbon for a Gold Rush is one that’s a bit aged, but not too aged. Since bourbon is made in oak casks, the time it spends in there affects its overall flavor.
Some like to use 6 to 10 years-aged bourbon whiskey, while others might find the flavor of oak too strong, and thus, overwhelming the honey and lemon juice.
Thus, the best bourbon whiskey for a Gold Rush is what you prefer—a heavy-oak tinted Gold Rush, or one that has a lighter oak hint, and is more budget-friendly.
Helpful Hint: use a 4-year aged bourbon whiskey for lighter oak, and 10-year for a heavy oak flavor. Try a 6/8-year aged bourbon for something in the middle.
More Recipes
- Bee’s Knees Cocktail
- THE Penicillin Cocktail Recipe
- Honey Syrup – the key ingredient in these cocktail recipes. 🙂
- Extra Dirty Martini • Last Word Cocktail
Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️
The Gold Rush Cocktail
Ingredients
Gold Rush Cocktail Ingredients
- 4 oz bourbon
- 1 ½ oz lemon juice, fresh-squeezed
- 1 to 1 ½ oz honey syrup
Garnish
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice: bourbon, lemon juice, and honey syrup. Shake until chilled and well mixed. Learn how to make honey syrup.
- Strain into a rocks or old fashioned glass(es) filled with ice.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
I made this cocktail for an early happy hour and it was delicious! Perfectly sweet with the honey!
Yes! The honey adds such a delightful flavor, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This was the go-to drink everyone wanted at my husband’s birthday party last weekend! So luxurious!
That’s so cool! I’m glad it was a hit, and wish your hubby a happy belated birthday from me! 🙂
Flavors in this cocktail looks so cool. Thanks for this
Thanks, Suja! I’m glad you like it!
The flavor combination in this cocktail is just fantastic! I also love that it looks so fancy without actually BEING so fancy. Perfection.
Right? It’s so simple to make, but the presentation is always a showstopper!
Anyone have any suggestions on a good bourbon to use, one that is more subtle for those that are not big bourbon drinkers? Thank yoU!
Love how easy this drink is. Can’t wait to try it this weekend.thank you for the recipe!
Aren’t easy cocktails the best? 🙂 Hope you enjoy it, Shadi!
A perfect name for a beautiful cocktail; I love this idea, and the best thing is that this recipe needs only 3 ingredients!
Thank you, Kechi! 🙂 I know, I am a huuuge fan of 3 ingredient cocktails.
I don’t drink often but when I do, this is my go-to! The flavors in this cocktail are incredible!
Woohoo! That’s so awesome to hear!
Truly amazing in taste and flavors in this recipe.
Glad you like it!
Simple ingredients and easy to make this delicious gold rush cocktail sounds perfect.
So glad to hear it, Andrea!