Dear Natalie,
Okay so – like – okay but have I told you that I love you? Oh my GOSH, this song is my JAM! Come dance with me. Come on. Come on. Karaoke? Come on. Ugh, why are you always so borrrrrring? Oh, look, tacos! Wait, like, but have you thought, like, ummmm…
…
…Huh? Oh we leave now? How come? No! I don’t want to go home! Wait, where is my left shoe?
Oh hey, did we meet yet? I’m not drunk, I swear. Kind of. *burp*
_____________________________________________________________________
Dear Boozy,
What the hell… ?
Anyway, so I know that many of you hail from regions known for producing delicious wines, tasty beers, and liquors that taste like nectar. I know you, dear people, can appreciate a good drink in celebration of a feat. This, my friends, is why I sometimes slip into my backpack an airline bottle of spirits or a teensy, plastic jug of wine when I’m setting off for a major hike. There are plenty of reasons why this isn’t a logical practice. For one, why spend hours doing something healthy and athletic, only to celebrate with something not-so-healthy? Cocktails are full of empty calories. Secondly, this adds weight to my pack, and when I’m going for distance, who wants to lug extra stuff? Thirdly – oh forget it, I’m not even convincing myself here.
Who wants to summit a peak or reach a beautiful waterfall, set down their pack, open their snack, and toast with a long gulp of filtered water? Maybe it’s because I’m Irish American. Maybe it’s because I grew up thinking whiskey was not just a grown-up drink, but also an excellent cure for babies’ teething pain. Maybe it’s because I think all good deeds should be rightfully celebrated. No matter the reason, I think cocktails in the backcountry is arguably one of the best ways to toast a beautiful, strenuous day in nature.
Enter BarCountry Cocktails’ line of Pocket Cocktails. These cocktail mixes come in lightweight, neat packets you tear open, much like hot chocolate mix. The mix is powdered and comes in several delicious flavors: Coconut Lime Margarita; Pickled Bloody Caesar; Cherry Infused Old Fashion; and All-Dressed Bloody Mary. Making a cocktail is as simple as shaking the mix into a few ounces of water – which can be conveniently measured with the empty mix pouch – and adding the appropriate liquor. Plus, the founders of BarCountry are outdoorsmen and, get this – bartenders. They know real drinks.
BarCountry sent me the Coconut Lime Margarita to try. Admittedly, I am not a sommelier or a cocktail version of it – is there one? But! I have to tell you, the moment I opened the mix pouch, I smelled margarita.
Into my empty Nalgene it went, along with four pouches full of water and an eyeballed shot’s worth of tequila.
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How did it taste? Two words: Freakin’ delicious.
Was it a genuine margarita? No, of course not. I didn’t salt the lip of my water bottle, and I made the drink in a Nalgene bottle covered in stickers from my travels. Did it taste close to a margarita? Yes. For sure. And did it work better as a celebratory drink at the end of my hike than a low-quality wine in a small plastic bottle would have? Yes.
I can’t wait to try the other mix flavors. They’re super affordable (under $10 USD for a box of four packets). Plus, they’re all vegan, allergen free, and naturally flavored, and they have no preservatives. Unless you’re a teetotaler, there’s no reason not to try Pocket Cocktails.
Salud! 乾杯! Sláinte! לחיים! Prost!
На здоровье! Maisha marefu! ښه صحت ولری
乾杯! Manuia! ไชโย! Mauri ora! ചിയേഴ്സ്!
Cheers!
Note: Anyone who is interested in trying these out for themselves can order directly from http://eartheasy.rurl.me/barcountry
“Ask Natalie” host, Natalie McCarthy was born and raised in the urban American rust belts of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Cleveland, Ohio, in a not-particularly-outdoorsy family. She discovered the outdoors in her early 30s and now seeks out new ways to adventure.
Natalie earned her master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Social Work. She works as a licensed supervisory clinical social worker specializing in the treatment of co-occurring substance use, general mental health, and trauma-related disorders. While her professional practice is where Natalie spends most of her time helping people with their problems, she was an online advice columnist in the past.
In the early 2000s, she was the go-to answer girl on a now-defunct website called New Girl Order. Her column there led her to research a diversity of topics, from May-December romances to why on Earth plucking our eyebrows makes us sneeze.
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
- Natalie McCarthyhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/natalie-mccarthy/
Oh my gosh, this is such a great idea for the holidays! I’ll be picking these up as stocking stuffers for Christmas. 🙂
A pocket cocktail! I love that. What a fun idea! Gonna have to get a few 🙂
Whoa!? that is something new to me to be honest. We should have it here too!
What a novel idea! This seems like a great way to have a celebratory drink whenever and wherever life happens to take you, and you can’t complain much about the cost, either!
I’ve never heard of this brand before, but it sounds like something I would use with my travel. I’ll definitely have to check it out now. Thanks so much for the review!
Wow, this is so great and I like the idea of this on the go pocket cocktail, you can now enjoy drinking a cocktail anywhere you want.
Yes! Even in the middle of nowhere!
This is an amazing thing I didn’t know existed. Aside from the idea of these being used when you camp, these would be perfect for when I have to take my kids to Little League. (Not even kidding. Lol)
Hahahahaha so many activities can be made more entertaining!
I think this is an easy way to prepare and enjoy a delicious cocktail. You just need one sometimes to end the week.
I hear that!
Pocket cocktails are a new concept to me! Glad you enjoyed!
They were new for me too – what a trip!
Oh this is such a fun idea! Plus it’s super portable. And I’m cracking up that you mixed it in your Nalgene 🙂
Hahaha only the classiest of drinkware for me!
This sounds so cool! I really like this idea!
So convenient!
What a unique idea! It would make the perfect holiday gift and stocking stuffer!
I plan to get some for friends!
This is such a cool and innovative idea! Indeed, who wants to celebrate conquering a peak with a glass of water? I’d love to try these! I have actually bought mix for pisco sour when I left Peru and it came out delicious. I can imagine that these are the same.
Oh what a great way to remember Peru!
Peaks and drinks go together like… tequila and lime!
I love the concept of pocket cocktails. I would love to try Coconut Lime Margarita, too!
It is delicious! ?
Sayyyy what ? Pocket cocktail? I never heard of this before. And for under 10 bucks, that is super affordable and convenient at the same time.
There’s, like, no reason to not get them.
You had me at pocket cocktail! I bet these would be great as gifts- so much fun!
I love the idea of putting them in a small gift bag with an airline bottle of tequila and maybe a lime candy. ?
What an interesting idea! After a long day fo hiking it might be nice to sit back with a pocket cocktail.
It’s relaxing for sure!
Whoa this concept is ingenious! Can use it practically everywhere I think… waiting for the kids to finish school… sneaky couple in the office cubicle… pick-me-up before meeting the in-laws, possibilities are endless!
I like your thinkin’! Grocery shopping suddenly became much more entertaining.
Disclaimer: Camping for Women and Ask Natalie do not advocate public intoxication. Most of the time.
Ohh! Love the idea! This is perfect for camping! Perfect gifts for moms and dads this christmas season!
Yes! Great stocking stuffer!
Pocket cocktails???? I can think of so many uses for these that don’t involve camping.
Hahahahaha right?!?
What a cool idea, these would work perfectly at the beach! We live in South Florida where we spend many days at the beach, going to try these out.
Oh, they’ll be perfect for beach days! (Also, south Florida? I’m jealous!)
I’ve heard of items like this before and think they are such a great idea! I am more of a wine drinker but definitely crave a cocktail during special occasions! Like once I am not pregnant anymore haha
Brit, haha! Hey, congratulations! I’ll drink your pocket cocktail for now, okay? No worries, I have you covered.
What a fantastic idea! Pocket cocktails? Yes please! I could take them with me when I watch my sons play baseball, or while I wait until my daughter is done with her dance lessons. Thanks for introducing me to these pockets of deliciousness!
Really, truly, honestly – the pleasure was mine!
We always used to carry a wine sack when we went cross country skiing to help us keep warm. That Coconut Lime Margarita mix sounds delicious!
It really was tasty. I have a friend who carries a camelbak of wine with her on travels – not a bad idea!
Umm this is amazing! Pretty sure I need to get these for myself and maybe some holiday gifts
Yes! Spread some lightweight, pocket sized cheer!