The lake is glassy in the morning, dotted with fishing boats and the first light of day. By afternoon, it’s alive with laughter, splashes, and the occasional hum of a pontoon. And when evening falls, the air turns cooler, the sky glows amber, and conversation drifts easily between the crackle of the fire and the clink of ice in your glass.
At Fox & Oden, we believe moments like these deserve a worthy companion. Not to steal the spotlight, but to complement the view, adding depth, richness, and just the right amount of warmth to memories that will last long after the season fades. And while we’re partial to a neat pour of our bourbon or rye, summer also calls for cocktails that bring a fresh, vibrant twist to tradition.
So whether you’re hosting friends for a lakeside weekend or savoring a quiet evening on the dock, here are five whiskey cocktails that belong at your Michigan getaway – or anywhere the water meets the sky.
1. Great Lakes Highball
Bright, effervescent, and perfect for long afternoons.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Fox & Oden Straight Bourbon
- 4 oz chilled club soda or sparkling mineral water
- Lemon wedge
- Ice
Method:
Fill a tall glass with ice. Add bourbon, top with sparkling water, and stir gently. Squeeze a lemon wedge over the top and drop it in.
Pair it with: A sunny afternoon on the dock and a book you’ve been meaning to read.
2. Up North Smash
Refreshing, herbaceous, and bursting with summer flavor.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Fox & Oden Rye Whiskey
- ¾ oz simple syrup
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
- Handful of fresh mint leaves
- Seasonal berries (blueberries or blackberries work beautifully)
- Ice
Method:
In a shaker, muddle mint and berries with simple syrup and lemon juice. Add whiskey and ice, then shake until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a few berries.
Pair it with: Grilled fish fresh from the day’s catch.
3. Campfire Old Fashioned
A smoky twist on a classic, best enjoyed after sunset.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Fox & Oden Double-Oaked Straight Bourbon
- ¼ oz maple syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange peel
- Ice
Method:
In a mixing glass, combine bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters with ice. Stir until chilled. Strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass. Express an orange peel over the drink and drop it in.
Pair it with: A clear night sky and a chorus of crickets.
4. Lakeshore Lemonade
Light, citrusy, and perfect for a crowd.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Fox & Oden Straight Bourbon
- 3 oz fresh lemonade
- Splash of ginger beer
- Lemon wheel
- Ice
Method:
Fill a highball glass with ice. Add bourbon, lemonade, and top with a splash of ginger beer. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Pair it with: A long picnic table full of friends and fresh summer fare.
5. Michigan Cherry Manhattan
A nod to the state’s famous fruit harvest.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Fox & Oden Rye Whiskey
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Michigan cherries for garnish
- Ice
Method:
Stir whiskey, vermouth, and bitters with ice until well chilled. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a Michigan cherry.
Pair it with: The last toast of the night before heading inside.
To the Wild, and to the Water
There’s something about summer at the lake that invites us to slow down, to take in the sweep of the horizon, and to be present with the people – and the place – we love most. Fox & Oden isn’t here to create that moment for you. But in the same way the wind moves across the water or the sun warms your shoulders, it’s here to enhance it.
So here’s to a season worth remembering, a glass worth raising, and the water that keeps us coming back.
Shop Fox & Oden now and bring the spirit of the lake to your next getaway.
