Gold Rush Cocktail

Grab some bourbon, honey, and lemon juice then enjoy this refreshing and easy-to-make cocktail all summer long!

Essential bourbon cocktail: The Gold Rush served with ice and lemon.
Alison Bickel

Bourbon is typically thought of as a cold weather spirit, but this classic shaken cocktail of bourbon, honey syrup, and lemon is one of my favorite ways to enjoy it all through the summer and into the fall.

It’s sweet, tart, and all too easy to sip. Enjoy it for happy hour on the porch, or even as part of a lazy weekend brunch!

What’s a Gold Rush Cocktail and What’s in It?

A Gold Rush is a simple whiskey-based cocktail that was created at the now-closed New York City bar, Milk & Honey, in the mid-2000s by T.J. Siegel.

The cocktail is essentially a riff on a classic Whiskey Sour, which is made with a whiskey, be it bourbon, rye, or even Scotch, along with lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white, and a dash of Angostura bitters.

A Gold Rush is a pared down version that requires just three ingredients: Bourbon whiskey, honey, and lemon juice. The cocktail became an almost immediate hit at the bar and has since become a modern-day classic.

Two Gold rush cocktails with ice on a wood background.
Alison Bickel

How to Make a Gold Rush Cocktail

The recipe for the cocktail begins by making a honey syrup, which is simply honey that’s warmed with water so that it melts and becomes liquid-y.

While you might be tempted to add honey directly to the cocktail shaker, this extra step is important because honey thickens when it comes in contact with ice, so you need to be sure it will dissolve seamlessly into your cocktail. Making a syrup solves this problem.

After the honey syrup is made, you’ll add some to an ice-filled cocktail shaker, along with bourbon and lemon juice. The ingredients are shaken until well-chilled, then poured into an ice-filled glass.

What Kind of Whisky Should I Use?

Bourbon is a classic choice for a Gold Rush because it’s sweet, caramel-like flavor and full-bodied mouthfeel marry so well with honey and tangy lemon. However, if you'd like to experiment, give this cocktail a try with rye, which lends spicy, peppery notes to every sip.

For bourbon, I like Bulleit best, but Four Roses and Knob Creek are also solid, budget-friendly choices. If you end up trying this cocktail with rye, my favorite is Redemption.

Two Gold rush cocktails with ice on a wood background.
Alison Bickel

The Best Glassware for a Gold Rush

A rocks glass, also known as an old-fashioned glass, is the preferred glassware for a Gold Rush. It allows for the cocktail to sit on ice easily, which makes for easy sipping, too.

Cocktail Garnish Options

A simple lemon peel or lemon slice are classic garnish choices. Both allude to the bright burst of lemon juice in the glass.

I often skip them if I am pulling together a quick happy hour on the couch for my husband and I but love to add one of the two if I am shaking up this cocktail for friends.

How to Scale a Gold Rush

The recipe for this cocktail serves one, but it’s easy to scale up as needed. Simply double or quadruple the cocktail ingredients and shake them altogether in an ice-filled shaker.

You may need to split anything larger than a double recipe into two batches depending on the size of your cocktail shaker.

Essential bourbon cocktail: The Gold Rush cocktail on a cutting board next to halved lemon.
Alison Bickel

What to Do with Leftover Honey Syrup

Though this recipe makes just one cocktail, you’ll actually have enough of the homemade honey syrup to make about eight cocktails.

That means you don’t need to make extra syrup if you’re doubling or quadrupling the recipe. Store the leftover honey syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

It will keep for up to a full month and can be used to make another batch of Gold Rushes, as well as other great cocktails, such as a Bee’s Knees or Penicillin. Or try using it to sweeten lemonade or iced tea!

Gold Rush Cocktail

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 2 mins
Total Time 7 mins
Serving 1 serving
Yield 1 cocktail

Ingredients

For the honey syrup

  • 1/4 cup honey

  • 1/4 cup water

For the cocktail

  • 2 ounces bourbon

  • 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • 1/2 ounce honey syrup

  • Lemon peel or slice, for garnish, optional

Method

  1. Make the honey syrup:

    In a small saucepan over medium heat add the honey and water. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat and stir until the honey and water are fully combined and homogenous, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes.

    Store leftover honey syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

  2. Make the cocktail:

    Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the bourbon, lemon juice, and 1/2 ounce of honey syrup. Cover and shake vigorously until very cold, about 15 seconds.

  3. Strain, garnish, and serve cocktail:

    Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass and garnish with a lemon twist, if desired.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
165 Calories
0g Fat
10g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 165
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 7mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 10g 4%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 3mg 17%
Calcium 3mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 32mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.