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Home » Drink Recipes

Gold Rush Cocktail

Modified: Dec 19, 2025. Published: Dec 19, 2025 by Lindsay Moe.

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This Gold Rush Cocktail is simple, festive, and made for celebrating! Ready in minutes with just three ingredients, it's the perfect drink for holiday gatherings or at-home happy hour.

Gold rush cocktail in a glass.
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This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are my own.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • How to make a Gold Rush Cocktail
  • Top tips
  • Tips for customizing
  • FAQ
  • Recipe

How has it taken me this long to share a bourbon cocktail recipe on the blog?

If you've made my buttery bourbon cherry cookies, you already how how good bourbon is in dessert form. They're basically a cocktail disguised as a cookie. And yet, I somehow hadn't turned that same love into an easy bourbon cocktail...until now!

This Gold Rush Cocktail felt especially perfect for New Year's Eve. Everyone is celebrating, throwing around glitter and confetti, and you deserve a golden drink in your hand after a long year.

This cocktail sounds fancy, but it couldn't be simpler! All you need is three ingredients, five minutes, and a mason jar to shake it all up.

Ingredients

  • Bourbon
  • Lemon Juice
  • Honey Syrup

How to make a Gold Rush Cocktail

  1. Pour all ingredients into a small mason jar, or cocktail shaker, cover, and shake to mix. Pour over ice in a rocks glass. Enjoy!
Honey on a plate with a honey stirrer.

Top tips

How to make honey syrup

The honey syrup is a simple syrup made of honey and water in order to allow the honey to be easily mixed into the cocktail. You can combine the honey and water in any ratio you prefer, but I like two parts honey to one part water.

How to measure cocktail ingredients

I used a little jigger I've had around my house forever to measure the whiskey and cider (here's an affiliate link to a similar one), but you could use anything in your kitchen that will measure in milliliters, or simply keep the apple cider and whiskey in a 2:1 ratio.

The best glass for an old fashioned

The best glass to use for an old fashioned cocktail will depend on if you're adding a mixer or not. I like mine straight with one big ice cube, so a smaller 8 ounce glass (affiliate link) might be preferable.

If you plan to add more ice and/or mixers, I'd recommend a regular rocks glass. These glasses are short and wide, allowing you to smell that beautiful whiskey as you sip.

Tips for customizing

  • Swap the honey syrup for ginger liqueur
  • Shake with ice in a cocktail shaker for an extra cold cocktail
  • Experiment with other types of whiskey
  • Multiply by how many people you'd like to serve to prepare a gold rush pitcher for a party
  • Make it into a mocktail by using a zero-proof bourbon alternative

FAQ

What's the best bourbon for a Gold Rush Cocktail?

My rule of thumb is to use a bourbon you would enjoy drinking on its own. I like Woodford Reserve because it has a rich, bold, and well-balanced flavor.

Can I make this cocktail into a batch drink?

Yes! This recipe can easily be scaled up for a crowd. Multiply the ingredients, mix in a pitcher, and chill until ready to serve. Add ice to individual glasses when serving.

Top down view of a gold rush cocktail in a glass.

More cocktail recipes

  • Maple Old Fashioned
  • Buttery Nipple Shot
  • Sparkling Greyhound Cocktail
  • Lemon Drop Shot
  • Strawberry Lemonade Vodka
  • Blackberry Gin Smash
  • Gin and Tonic
  • Mojito Pitcher
  • Margarita Pitcher
  • Pineapple Margarita
  • Apple Cider Cocktail
  • Vegas Bomb

If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!

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Recipe

gold rush cocktail in a glass with a lemon twist

Gold Rush Cocktail

A simple bourbon cocktail made from bourbon whiskey, lemon juice, and honey.
4 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 1
Calories: 178kcal
Author: Lindsay Moe
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ¾ ounce honey syrup, (see notes)

Instructions

  • Pour all ingredients in a small mason jar or cocktail shaker, cover, and shake to mix. Pour over one large or a 2-3 normal sized ice cubes in a rocks glass.

Notes

To make honey syrup, combine two parts honey to one part hot water in a mason jar, seal, and shake until thoroughly combined. Store at room temperature indefinitely.

Nutrition

Calories: 178kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Sodium: 1mg | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin C: 8.3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @theliveinkitchen or tag #theliveinkitchen!

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Comments

    4 from 7 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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  1. Charlie says

    December 30, 2018 at 11:13 am

    5 stars
    Good idea! I'll give it a go tomorrow night, thank you.

    Reply
  2. Annette says

    January 01, 2019 at 5:21 pm

    5 stars
    Great recipe and loved the video using a mason jar. I tested it out Sunday night and made for friends New Year's Eve. Good for both men and women's tastes Thank you!

    Reply
    • Lindsay Moe says

      January 02, 2019 at 9:53 am

      I agree that it's great for everyone, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  3. Gloria Tartaro says

    March 08, 2019 at 6:32 pm

    Hi I plan on making this tomorrow.... just wondering if you think it would be good with ORANGE instead of lemon? Crazy idea. Thanks for the great recipe.

    Reply
    • Lindsay Moe says

      March 08, 2019 at 9:25 pm

      I think orange is a great idea! I have added orange bitters to this drink before. It might have a stronger flavor, so maybe start with a little and add more to taste. Let me know how it is!

      Reply
  4. Sharlee says

    April 17, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    5 stars
    Really good! Definitely a keeper!

    Reply
lindsay moe in a kitchen with glasses on shelves behind her

Hi, I'm Lindsay! I've been creating easily customizable vegetarian recipes since 2011. I love the outdoors, brownies, and brand new books. I live and work in La Crosse, Wisconsin and founded Wild Flour Media to expand on my love for food photography and videography to my community and beyond.

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