The Gold Rush Cocktail Recipe

The Gold Rush cocktail, a modern classic, was created at the famed New York City bar Milk & Honey in the early 2000s. This simple yet elegant blend of bourbon, honey syrup, and fresh lemon juice offers a smooth, sweet, and tangy profile that quickly gained popularity. The origins of the Gold Rush can be traced back to the bartending revolution of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, a period marked by a renewed interest in classic cocktails and high-quality ingredients. Milk & Honey, known for its innovative and expertly crafted drinks, played a significant role in this movement. The bar's founder, Sasha Petraske, and his team, including T.J. Siegal who is often credited with creating the Gold Rush, focused on creating modern cocktails that honored traditional techniques and flavors. The Gold Rush is essentially a contemporary twist on the classic Whiskey Sour, substituting honey syrup for simple syrup. This simple substitution adds a rich, floral sweetness to the drink, perfectly balancing the boldness of the bourbon and the tartness of the lemon juice. The honey syrup used in the Gold Rush is made by mixing honey with hot water, allowing it to blend smoothly into the cocktail.