Gold Rush Cocktail

Bourbon, lemon, and honey combine for a cocktail that's perfect in all seasons.

By
Michael Dietsch
Headshot of Michael Dietsch, a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Michael Dietsch
Michael Dietsch is a barfly, boozehound, book hoarder, jazz fiend, and technographer. He has two cookbooks and writes about cocktails for Serious Eats.
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Updated December 11, 2025

Why It Works

  • Bourbon, lemon juice, and honey syrup come together in an easy, well-balanced cocktail that’s rich, bright, and smoothly sweet.
  • High-proof bourbon brings extra punch, but the honey syrup keeps it in check.
  • Inspired by the Bee’s Knees, this drink gives the classic a whiskey-forward twist that still feels totally approachable.

This simple sour has a name that calls to mind a 19th-century classic, but it's much more modern than that. Bartender T. J. Siegal created it for New York's Milk & Honey in the mid-2000s.

Gold rush cocktail

Liz Voltz

The cocktail blends bourbon, lemon juice, and honey syrup for a whiskey-laced spin on the Bee's Knees. I like a high-proof bourbon for this: Old Grand Dad Bonded is a good choice.

March 2015

Recipe Details

Gold Rush Cocktail Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Active 5 mins
Total 5 mins
Serves 1 cocktail
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Ingredients

  • 2 ounces bourbon

  • 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed juice from 1 lemon

  • 3/4 ounce honey syrup (see note)

Directions

  1. Combine all ingredients in an ice-filled shaker. Shake until well chilled, about 10 seconds. Strain into an ice-filled double old fashioned glass.

    gold rush cocktail in a cocktail mixer

    Liz Voltz

Special Equipment

Cocktail shaker, cocktail strainer

Notes

To make honey syrup, combine 1 cup water with 1 cup honey in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until honey is dissolved. Cool before using. The syrup will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
53 Calories
0g Fat
15g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 53
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 15g 5%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 14g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 9mg 45%
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.)

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