Campfire Sour (Bourbon) - (21+)

Campfire Sour

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By the FIre

A good sour wakes you up. Bourbon for backbone, citrus for bite, and sweetness to keep it all balanced. But take that lemon, drop it cut-side down on a hot grate, and suddenly you’ve got a drink that doesn’t just wake you — it lingers like smoke on your shirt after a night by the fire.

That grilled lemon is the secret. It takes the sharp edge off the sour and folds in a smoky sweetness that plain citrus just can’t deliver. One sip, and it feels like a porch light burning late while the coals still glow.

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Ingredients

• 2 oz bourbon

• 1 oz grilled lemon juice (2–3 halved lemons, charred cut-side down)

• ¾ oz simple syrup

• Ice

• Lemon wheel garnish

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PitMaster’s Way

Step 1 — Fire the Fruit

Grill lemon halves cut-side down until the edges char and the juice bubbles — 3 to 4 minutes.

Step 2 — Shake it Up

In a shaker with ice, combine bourbon, grilled lemon juice, and syrup. Shake hard, let it frost.

Step 3 — Pour with Confidence

Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a fresh or grilled lemon wheel.

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Hosting Notes

✦ For flair: Use a grilled lemon wheel as garnish — it looks as good as it smells.

✦ For garnish: Add a sprig of mint for a sharp green note against the smoke.

✦ For elevation: Swap simple syrup for honey syrup — richer, softer balance.

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Pitmaster’s Pour

Want to carry the fire deeper into the glass? Make a smoked honey syrup. Set a jar of honey in a smoker for 20 minutes, then stir equal parts with hot water. Use that instead of plain syrup, and suddenly your Campfire Sour doesn’t just sip smoky — it breathes it.

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From the Porch

The Campfire Sour belongs to those moments when the night hasn’t settled yet — when sparks are still popping out of the fire and kids are running barefoot through the yard. Someone’s tending a skillet of cast iron cornbread on the grate, neighbors wander up with plates, and laughter rises as fast as the smoke. That grilled lemon on the rim isn’t just garnish — it’s part of the fire that holds the whole gathering together. It’s bright, lively, and meant for the middle of the evening, when the food keeps coming and the stories are just hitting their stride.

 

These recipes are intended for adults of legal drinking age (21+ in the United States; please follow the laws in your region). Fire up the grill, not the driver’s seat. Stoking the Coals encourages moderation, community, and safe enjoyment of food and drink. Please never drink and drive, and always respect your health, your guests, and the law.