The Gold Rush cocktail recipe gets a Tequila makeover with the Tequila Gold Rush. The original gold rush cocktail is a whiskey sour that uses honey rather than granulated sugar as the sweetener. My Tequila gold rush recipe has Grand Marnier and Meyer lemon along with the aged, Anejo Tequila, and honey. Tequila and honey are a great combination. Most Tequila cocktails use agave nectar as the sweetener, which makes sense since Tequila is distilled agave. However, honey adds a very distinctive flavor to this Tequila sour recipe that totally makes the drink.
I love the Tequila sour. I make the cocktail with the same ingredients as a whiskey sour only substituting Tequila for whiskey. The honey just takes it one step further, and it makes all the difference. I originally called this cocktail the Acapulco Gold Rush, but my mom didn’t like the name, lol.
Gold Rush Cocktail made with Tequila
I used a Meyer lemon in this recipe, but regular lemons are a great substitute. Lemons are the normal ingredient in a whiskey gold rush, so they are fine in the Tequila gold rush as well. The traditional gold rush cocktail does not have orange liqueur in the recipe. I added the Grand Marnier to the cocktail as a nod to the top-shelf Margarita. Tequila and orange are a great combo, and this Tequila sour definitely benefits from the addition. If you don’t have Grand Marnier or Triple Sec, you can omit it from the recipe, however, I personally like it in the cocktail.
Tequila Gold Rush Ingredients
- Tequila: I used an aged Anejo Tequila in this recipe. I strongly encourage using a good quality Tequila, hangovers from cheap Tequila are a killer. Better to spend a little extra upfront.
- Orange Liqueur: I like the combination of orange and Tequila, it’s a very classic combo. The Grand Marnier is a great compliment to the Meyer Lemon in this cocktail.
- Meyer Lemon: Meyer Lemon is a hybrid of lemon and Mandarin orange. When in season, I use it all the time and love its slightly sweet and sour flavors. Not only does it make a great Tequila sour, like this gold rush recipe. But the Meyer lemon Margarita is pretty spectacular as well.
- Honey: The trick to adding honey to any cocktail is to place all of the room temperature ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice. Give it a good shake to dissolve the honey completely, then add ice to chill. If you add honey to cold ingredients, it will never dissolve.
Here is my recipe for a Tequila Sour with Honey, the Tequila Gold Rush
Tequila Gold Rush
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
- 2 Ounces Tequila Anejo is the aged version I like
- 1 Ounce Orange Liqueur Grand Marnier or Triple sec
- 1 Ounce Meyer Lemon Juice only
- 1/2 Ounce Honey
Instructions
- Add all components to a cocktail shaker without ice. Shake 40-50 times to dissolve honey. Add ice to the shaker and shake until ice cold.
- Pour into an old-fashioned glass over ice.
- Serve garnished with a slice of Meyer lemon
