Fall traditions are simple yet idyllic: pumpkin patches, apple orchards, the arrival of the holiday season. Oh, and we can’t forget our favorite fall pastime — enjoying a cold adult beverage in the parking lot at an outdoor event with our friends and family.
Tailgating in the fall is a rite of passage if you’re a sports or live entertainment fan. According to the American Tailgater Association, tailgating first happened in 1869 prior to a college football game between Princeton and Rutgers where spectators gathered to grill sausages at the “tail end” of a horse. While tailgating has certainly transformed over the years, the ritual remains the same. It’s a seasonal opportunity to spend time with your favorite people, grill food, and enjoy drinks in an unexpected setting — a parking lot.
If you’re planning to tailgate with friends and family this season, you know the usual suspects that will be packed in the community cooler. Domestic beers, hard seltzers, and canned wine; the fast and simple options, of course! But maybe you’re not a fan of brews or bubbly beverages, and that’s just fine by us. So, as tailgating season commences, we gathered some alternative options for your get-togethers from our arsenal of cocktail recipes.
Two- and Three-Ingredient Tailgate Cocktails
The tailgate is the event before the event to socialize with your group. It’s a lively affair, but it’s also quite casual. While we at ReserveBar appreciate a well-rounded and complex cocktail, we recognize that a tailgate is probably not the best time to break out your jigger and Boston Shaker.
To honor the tailgate’s easygoing atmosphere, we rounded up some classic two- and three-ingredient cocktails that you can quickly assemble at a tailgate event or from the comfort of your kitchen. All you’ll need is your spirit, mixers, ice, and a glass (or classic red cup). Our selections are categorized by spirit to help you find the perfect fit, and we included a cocktail recipe suggestion from our Cocktail Lounge.
Brandy
Brandy is distilled from wine or fermented fruit mash, thus providing a floral, acidic, and full-bodied flavor profile. While avid brandy drinkers often enjoy it as an after-dinner digestif, it is a versatile spirit that can be enjoyed on the rocks, at room temp, or with a fruit juice. Common mixers include orange juice and ginger ale, which bring out the sweet and fruity flavor of brandy. While many brandy cocktails require over three ingredients, drinkers of this spirit suggest mixing it up with Cola, lemonade, and even champagne for a quick cocktail.
Give this sweet spirit a shot at the tailgate with a Bertoux Daytime Old Fashioned!
Gin
Gin gets most of its flavor from juniper berries, which is obtained by distilling the berries in a base of grain. Those who enjoy drinking gin describe its flavor as floral, sweet, and earthy. Due to its more floral forward composition, gin can fit into light and refreshing drinks making it ideal for a tailgate event. The most popular gin cocktail is the Gin and Tonic (gin, tonic, lemon and lime juice). However, other popular mixers include grapefruit juice, flavored seltzer (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), and ginger beer.
Refresh your tailgate guests with either a HH Bespoke Gin & Tonic Cocktail or a Koval Gin Gimlet.
Rum
Rum is a spirit distilled from sugar and aged in oak barrels, giving it a sweet taste. Individuals who drink rum describe it as tropical, packed with warmth, spice, and complexities. So when you’re tailgating on a cold day this season and yearning for warmth, mixing up a rum cocktail may just transport you to a summer day. A couple of popular rum cocktails include the Rum and Coke (rum and cola) and the Dark ‘N’ Stormy (rum and ginger beer). You’ll commonly see rum paired with an acidic fruit juice like pineapple or orange; however it’s paired often with Cola, tonic water, and ginger beer.
Give your tailgate a bit of a tropical flair with a classic BACARDÍ Cuba Libre OR BACARDÍ Pineapple Potion
Tequila
Tequila is a distilled spirit made from the blue agave plant which is then used to create three types of tequila: blanco, añejo, and reposado. Tequila aficionados describe the smell as sweet and the taste as citrusy and peppery, although it varies depending on your selection. All three types can be served neat at room temperature, but you’ll frequently see it over ice or blended. At the tailgate, if you’re in the mood for a bold cocktail with a bite, then tequila would be the perfect spirit selection. Each type of tequila pairs well with lime, grapefruit, orange, or pineapple juices. Avid tequila drinkers often pair it with mineral water, club soda, or Bloody Mary Mix.
Get bold at the tailgate with a simple yet rich Herradura Tequila and Sparkling Mineral Water Cocktail OR fantasize about hot, summer days with a 21Seeds Skinnyseed Paloma Cocktail.
Keep It Simple With Some Toddy’s
Pardon the interruption, but we had a thought — Hot Toddy’s! As the name suggests, they’re served hot and made with liquor, water, honey, herbs, and spices. The hot toddy is an ideal alternative to the traditional cocktail at a tailgate event; it’s a slow sipper filled with light and simple flavors designed to keep you warm and comfortable.
Whether you like bourbon, rum, Irish whiskey or cognac, there are plenty of Toddy recipes that will get you ready for the tailgate season — to get started, try the Rémy Martin Hot Toddy!
Vodka
Vodka is a distilled spirit made from grain and everyone’s favorite vegetable — potatoes! This unique spirit is often described as odorless and tasteless, but vodka drinkers declare it to be creamy and smooth with a lasting finish. While the taste of vodka may be subtle, this spirit is ideal for the tailgate because of its versatility. Are you in the mood for juice? Try a Screwdriver (vodka and orange) or a Cape Codder (vodka and cranberry juice). Are you craving something refreshing? Mix up a Vodka Soda (vodka with club soda) or use your favorite flavor of seltzer water. There are many flavored and infused vodkas that pack a flavorful punch for the tailgate as well!
Satisfy your guests specific taste at the tailgate with a straightforward Koskenkorva Workhorse Cocktail OR an crisp, acidic forward Ketel One Oranje Soda Cocktail.
Whiskey
Whiskey, also seen as whisky, is a multi-faceted distilled spirit made from fermented grain mash. As far as American whiskey is concerned, there are six categories with six different flavor profiles. With so much variety available, we’ll just focus on bourbon whiskey cocktails for your tailgate. Bourbon is often served neat or with a couple drops of water.
For the tailgate we recommend savoring this grain forward spirit on the rocks in order to fully enjoy its charred oak flavor profile. The most popular cocktails include Bourbon and Coke (bourbon and cola), Bourbon Buck (bourbon and ginger ale), and The Summer Cooler (bourbon and ginger beer). While the purists enjoy bourbon sans extras, it does mix well with sweet tea, lemonade, and even iced coffee!
Give the grain a go with a zingy Jim Beam Ginger Highball Cocktail OR get into the fall spirit with a sparkling apple cider with a kick by pouring a Maker’s Mark Kentucky Bubbly Cocktail.
In Closing
This fall, we hope you spend a brisk day tailgating before your favorite team’s game, whether it’s at the stadium or from the comfort of your own home. Even though your friends may be digging through the cooler for a craft beer, we hope you found a tasty tailgate cocktail to enjoy as an alternative. Tailgating, just like crafting cocktails, is a hobby we can get behind.
