The Best Whiskeys to Drink Around a Campfire, According to Bartenders

If you’re a fan of camping and also a whiskey enthusiast, you probably enjoy sipping the good stuff while roughing it.

“Good weather, no responsibilities, and drinking with friends. What could be better?” says Josh Goldman, Los Angeles-based bartender and beverage consultant.

Aside from finding refuge in the beauty of the natural world and sleeping under the stars, the best part of camping may be staying up late, sipping whiskey with your buddies, and telling stories around a campfire.

“Nothing beats sharing an exquisitely crafted whiskey with friends while sitting in a circle around a fire, hearkening back to our earliest ancestors who broke bread and built the bonds of community surrounding an open flame.” — Lisa Belczyk, beverage manager with Lucky Sign Spirits

“Nothing beats sharing an exquisitely crafted whiskey with friends while sitting in a circle around a fire, hearkening back to our earliest ancestors who broke bread and built the bonds of community surrounding an open flame,” says Lisa Belczyk, beverage manager with Lucky Sign Spirits.

There are a few different routes you can go when selecting the ideal whiskey to bring with you on your camping trip. Do you want to lean into the experience and amplify the woodsy aromas around you? Do you want to juxtapose your rugged exploits with a touch of luxury? Or do you want to pick a crowd-pleasing favorite you know most everyone will enjoy?

We spoke to several spirits experts about their favorite bottles of whiskey to pair with a campfire in the woods.

Eagle Rare

Food & Wine / Buffalo Trace Distillery

Among bourbon enthusiasts, Eagle Rare is a frequent favorite. Produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery, this 10-year-old, single-barrel bottling is rich and full-bodied with flavors of caramel, toffee, and vanilla. It’s easy to sip on its own, and at 90-proof, is strong enough to stand up to a bit of ice in the glass.

“It’s a great choice for camping because the bold flavors can stand up to the outdoor environment and complement the savory flavors of grilled campfire meals,” says Mcson Salicetti, founder of the consulting group Bar Libations & Co.

As an allocated spirit — with limited supplies and high demand — Eagle Rare can be difficult to source, but if you’re lucky enough to get your hands on a bottle, your fellow adventurers will be happy campers, indeed.

Warbringer Mesquite Smoked Bourbon

Food & Wine / SESPE CREEK DISTILLERY

Part of the appeal of camping is escaping from modern trappings and getting back to the basics. Cooking with fire still speaks directly to our collective primal spirit. Whether it comes from charred oak barrels, or peat, fire and smoke are tools crucial to the whiskey-making process.

Warbringer’s Mesquite Smoked Southwest Bourbon leans into the flame by using mesquite wood to smoke the corn used to distill their whiskey, giving the spirit a rich smoky character.

“This is like a campfire in a glass, wonderful bourbon with flavors from mesquite smoked corn and mesquite charcoal filtration,” says Goldman. “It’s a big ol’ beast of a bourbon.”

St. George Spirits Baller Single Malt

Food & Wine / St. George Spirits

If the outdoor festivities require something more refreshing, Kevin Diebold, head bartender at Predalina in Tampa, Florida, recommends making Whiskey Highballs with the Baller single malt from St. George Spirits.

“The Japanese-inspired whiskey is perfect for the heat of the day with some ice, soda, and some grapefruit zest,” says Diebold.

Baller, as its name implies, was specifically designed to be mixed in a classic Whisky Highball. It has a sweet, balanced profile that is directly inspired by some of the most delicate, nuanced Japanese single malts.

Burnside Oregon Oaked Rye

Food & Wine / EASTSIDE DISTILLING

Without trees, we couldn’t have whiskey — all whiskey has to come in contact with wooden barrels, for however long, to meet certain legal definitions. Portland, Oregon producer East Side Distilling has crafted the ideal deep-woods whiskey with their Burnside Oregon Oaked Rye.

This sweet and spice-forward rye whiskey is finished in quercus garryana, an oak species native to the Pacific Northwest, also known as Oregon white oak.

“The woody notes of this Pacific Northwest tree invoke memories of a cozy night sleeping in the aromatic forests of the region,” says Belczyk.

Laphroaig 10

Food & Wine / Laphroaig

For seasoned Scotch whisky enthusiasts, Laphroaig 10 needs no introduction. This iconic single malt from the Hebridean island of Islay is known for its complex flavor profile of smoky peat, seaweed, and a balancing touch of sweetness.

“I love bringing it camping because the smoky, earthy flavors really add to the outdoor experience, especially when paired with grilled meats,” says Salicetti. “It’s a whiskey to be savored slowly, perfect for enjoying a quiet moment in nature.”

Elijah Craig Small Batch

Food & Wine / Heaven Hill Distillery

When it comes to bourbon, there isn’t a much better bang for your buck than Elijah Craig. This 94-proof offering from Heaven Hill Distillery delivers a balanced and rich flavor profile with the caramel, vanilla, and sweet oak flavors that typify Kentucky bourbon.

It’s a great whiskey to sip on its own, but in the event you’d like to whip up batched Old Fashioneds for your camping trip, Elijah Craig is the perfect choice.

“It’s got the balance, the proof, and pairs phenomenally in any prebatched whiskey cocktail,” says Diebold.

Jameson Irish Whiskey

Food & Wine / Irish Distillers International Limited

If you’re camping with friends who might not be the most seasoned whiskey drinkers, it might be a good idea to bring a tried-and-true classic. Jameson is found in every bar for a reason — it’s a people pleaser.

This iconic Irish whiskey has a smooth, slightly creamy texture with notes of vanilla, caramel, and a subtle hint of citrus that makes it satisfying, but not too intense.

“Jameson is my go-to for camping because it’s easy to drink and goes well with all sorts of campfire snacks,” says Salicetti. “Plus, its approachable flavor makes it a hit for sharing with friends around the campfire.”

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