Campfire Drinks and Storytelling

If you're a whiskey lover the name "Pappy" will certainly ring a bell - the Van Winkle family has been making whiskey for 4 generations and their bottles are now notoriously sought-after.

This story should have been about the perfect cocktails for a Moab trip in April, then it was Whistler in June, then Downieville in August… This cocktail collaboration with Pivot Cycles was to be my anti-bachelor party - for the guys in our High Camp riding crew who didn’t want the traditional tomfoolery of a bachelor party - who just wanted to go somewhere epic and ride. We envisioned a much different storyline for our first promotion with Pivot, but eventually 2020, as we know it, arrived. We postponed our weddings, got refunds for our flights, and then the fear and uncertainty of our new-normal set in. 

In collaboration with Breckenridge Distilling, we tested a bottle of their new Rum Cask Finish Whiskey in one of our go-to cocktails: The Blood & Sand. It calls for Scotch, but this year was all about adapting our appetite to domestic possibilities. The resulting substitution of a smokey scotch for an apple-cinnamon laced whiskey teleported this cocktail into the tiki-verse. After a hot and dusty ride, this cocktail doubled-down on our sentiment that paradise is where you take it.

Doris and Fred are derisive terms used by “serious” cyclists to describe, well, everyone else. This cocktail is for those who choose to ride to have fun, and pack a drink for the finish line. This collab comes straight from the folks at Pivot Cycles and the 105 proof whiskey of Breckenridge Distillers High Proof. It’s loaded with notes of caramel, almonds, and orange peel to complement the tannins in the tea used in this unique group of mixing agents. She’s No Doris is a hell of an apres-ride.

There's nothing more refreshing than a sea breeze in your hair and the smell of the ocean. While most gin usually evokes wintery, pine filled surroundings, we find this aptly named drink reminds us more of a day at the beach... and we love it.

In honor of Mezcal week and the launch of our Oaxacan Excursion Bundle, we teamed up with Ilegal Mezcal to make this simple, but delicious, recipe. Aptly name "Love Your Neighbor" because in these tough times we're all about spreading the love. As they say in Oaxaca, SALUD!

When the summer ends and the nights start cooling down, it's the perfect time to go camping. Sitting by the fire on a brisk fall night is a great excuse to camp and we love the smell of the smoke in our hair. Our friends at Outwesty Camper Vans sent us this tasty recipe, best enjoyed off the beaten path - which you can travel to in one of their awesome vintage Westies. 

Mules are not known for being the nicest of animals, but as a drink they go down smooth. This one's got a little more kick to it with the combo of spice from Sonoma Coast Spirit's Jalapeno Lime Vodka and the classic ginger beer bite. This is a great cocktail to wrap up summer.

After a day out on the river, hopefully you'll be coming home with a good catch and looking for a way to serve up your trophies for dinner. We have the perfect combo - it's easy to grill up this river trout recipe, pair it with Tank Garage Winery's Going Home carbonic white, and pour it in your 750 flask (it fits a whole bottle) to keep it chilled.

The fresh combo of strawberry and basil is delicious - add vodka and you've already got the start of a tasty cocktail. We're taking it one step further by mixing in some kombucha. This healthy carbonated beverage makes a lower sugar option as a mixer than most processed juices out there. Plus, all the positive health benefits of kombucha outweigh the booze and make this guilty pleasure less guilty, right? 

You can't go too wrong with a classic margarita, so this variation is simply an improvement - especially if you use a quality mezcal like Sombra Espadin. The sweet-tartness of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice is balanced and heightened by the piney, herbal notes of fresh rosemary. This woodsy and refreshing drink is perfect for summit sipping.

The original authentic Mai Tai wasn't the sugary tropical tiki drink most people think of today. There were no pineapple juice sweeteners, umbrellas, or dark rum floats in this drink... the highlight was just delicious golden rum. It's still refreshing and summery, without the being cliche.