This non-alcoholic Gold Rush has three ingredients: No. 86, honey, and lemon. A balanced drink that proves simple is often best.
What You Need
- 2 oz No. 86 Non-Alcoholic Spirit
- ¾ oz honey syrup (2 parts honey, 1 part warm water, stirred to combine)
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
- Ice
- Rocks glass
- Lemon twist to garnish
How to Make It
- Make honey syrup: stir 2 tablespoons honey with 1 tablespoon warm water until fully combined. Thin honey incorporates much better into cold drinks than straight honey.
- Combine No. 86, honey syrup, and lemon juice in a shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for 10 seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
Why This Drink Works
The Gold Rush is built on the sour template — spirit, sweet, sour in roughly equal measure. What makes it distinctive is the honey instead of simple syrup. Honey adds floral complexity and a slightly thicker texture that coats the glass differently than sugar syrup.
No. 86's oak and vanilla notes connect naturally to the honey — they come from the same flavor family. The lemon cuts through and keeps the drink from being cloying.
The Ratio
Equal parts sweet and sour is the classic Gold Rush ratio: 2 oz spirit, ¾ oz honey syrup, ¾ oz lemon. If you want it slightly sweeter, go ¾ oz honey to ½ oz lemon. If you want it more tart, reverse it. The balance point is personal — start equal and adjust.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a Gold Rush and a Bee's Knees?
Both use a honey-lemon-spirit formula. This non-alcoholic Gold Rush gets its oak and vanilla base from No. 86.
Can I use agave instead of honey?
Yes. Agave syrup works well and is thinner, so it incorporates more easily when cold. The flavor is slightly more neutral — you lose the floral note but gain a cleaner sweetness.
Do I have to make honey syrup or can I use straight honey?
You can use straight honey but it won't dissolve properly in a cold shaker — you'll end up with honey sticking to the bottom of the tin. Taking 30 seconds to thin it with warm water makes the drink noticeably better.
Three ingredients. No shortcuts.
No. 86 makes a Gold Rush worth making — honey, lemon, and the ritual.
→ Shop No. 86 — from $35.99
Make this recipe with No. 86 non-alcoholic spirit — built for cocktails like this one.