History & Heritage
“Milk & Honey bartender T.J. Siegel introduced the Gold Rush in the early 2000s by swapping sugar in a Whiskey Sour for honey syrup. The drink's simplicity and rich sweetness quickly made it a modern staple and a gateway to other honey-forward recipes.”
Ingredients
Quality ingredients make all the difference. Each component plays a crucial role.
Method
Technique transforms ingredients into something extraordinary.
Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice
Shake vigorously for 15 seconds
Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice
Garnish with lemon wheel
Glassware
Served over ice in a rocks glass
Garnish
Fresh lemon wheel
Flavor Journey
Every great cocktail tells a story through its flavors. Here's the sensory experience you can expect.
Sweet
out of 10
Sour
out of 10
Bitter
out of 10
Strong
out of 10
Master's Tips
Professional insights to elevate your craft
Use 2:1 honey:water syrup
High-quality honey makes a difference
Shake hard to fully dilute the viscous honey
Variations & Riffs
Classic cocktails inspire countless variations. Here are some popular riffs on the Gold Rush.
Ginger Gold Rush
Incorporates ginger liqueur for spicy bite.
Changes
Hot Gold Rush
Served warm with hot water for toddy vibes.
Changes
Brown Derby
Uses fresh grapefruit juice instead of lemon, a classic Hollywood cousin.
Changes
More to Explore
If you enjoyed this cocktail, these similar creations might capture your interest.
Ginger Gold Rush
A spicier Gold Rush—bourbon shaken with ginger‑honey syrup and lemon.
Bee's Knees
Prohibition-era gin, lemon, and honey shaken into a bright, velvety sour whose sweetness once softened rough bathtub gin.
Brown Derby
A quintessential cocktail of Hollywood's Golden Age that perfectly balances the robust spice of bourbon with the tart brightness of fresh grapefruit juice, all seamlessly bridged by the floral sweetness of honey. This deceptively simple yet remarkably complex drink embodies the glamour and lore of 1930s Los Angeles.