4 Drinks for Golfing

Though today may not be the sunniest day, it is officially summer. And that means there will be (I promise!) more sunny days and mellow evenings on the horizon, which means more opportunities to get out and play golf. And while golf is fun, it’s the golf-related drinks that really kick up the summertime enjoyment. The Pacific Northwest is set to host the U.S. Open next June for the very first time ever at Chambers Bay golf course near Tacoma, so you’ll want to be sure you are well prepared to make the right cocktails.

The Hole in One Cocktail
This is probably my favorite golfing cocktail – and so many people don’t know about it! A crying shame. In the below, I make it with Cutty Sark’s newish Prohibition Edition blended Scotch, which has a lovely toffee and pepper flavor, and a super smooth and warm (it’s 100 proof) finish. If you can’t find it, sub in another blended Scotch. Oh, also, if you use Peychaud’s bitters instead of the orange bitters, call it the Ace.

Ice cubes
2 ounces Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition scotch
3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
1/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 dashes Scrappy’s orange bitters

1. Fill a cocktail shaker half way with ice cubes. Add the scotch, vermouth, lemon juice, and bitters. Shake well, while thinking about the proper place to use a 3 iron.

2. Strain into a cocktail glass.

Golf Links Highball
This is a refreshing mix – heck, you may want to have the ingredients ready in your golf cart, depending on how the course you play feels about golf carts full of rye, sweet vermouth and dark rum. Yep, this recipe from Good Spirits has two base spirits (the rye and the rum) and packs a bit of a kick. But sometimes golf demands it.

Ice cubes
1-1/2 ounces rye
3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
1/4 ounce dark rum
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 ounce pineapple juice
Chilled club soda

1. Fill a highball glass three quarters up with ice cubes. Add the rye, vermouth, rum, and juices.

2. Top off with club soda. Stir 18 times. Or 9 times, if playing on the smaller course. 

The Clover Club
This isn’t specifically a golfing drink, but according to the reliable Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book, the Clover Club once upon a time was a favorite in Philadelphia. Hall of Fame golfer Betsy King is from Philly. And for some reason I’ve always loved this as a morning drink before golfing. Put all those facts together and, well . . . just trust me, this drink goes great with golfing.

Ice cubes
1-1/2 ounce gin (try Voyager gin here)
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 ounce grenadine
1 egg white

1. Fill a cocktail shaker three-quarters full with ice cubes. Add all of the ingredients. Shake very very well.

2. Strain into a cocktail glass. Drink up. 

Mint Cooler
Though perhaps some golf-like pastimes from the Netherlands pre-date any other hit-a-ball-with-a-stick-into-a-hole games, the modern game of golf started in Scotland. This history combined with the fact that golfing usually takes place under the bright sun is why this drink from Ginger Bliss and the Violet Fizz – which both contains Scotch and is incredibly refreshing – makes such a perfect match with the finish of a long round.

Ice cubes
2 ounces Scotch
1/2 ounce crème de menthe
Chilled club soda

1. Fill a highball glass three quarters full with ice cubes. Add the Scotch and crème de menthe. Stir briefly.

2. Fill the glass with chilled club soda. Stir again. Sit back and watch the sun set.