Campfire Memories from Camp Runamok
For the first time, See the Elephant was able to hang with the crazy squirrels at Camp Runamok! See the Elephant brought the cozy campfire vibes for both June and August sessions where hundreds of bartenders enjoyed amaro cocktails and partied late into the night with Mr. Spreadlove our favorite spoken word poet, aka Lance Newman.
See the Elephant Amaro and Mr. Spreadlove spread some joy to Camp Runamok campers at the fire.
Campers Said "You won't know until you go." And we couldn't agree more.
Camp Runamok is something you just need to experience firsthand, kind of like an amaro made from arugula.
Every summer, a few hundred of the country's best bartenders make their way to Bardstown, Kentucky for Camp Runamok: a week of distillery visits, hands-on education, and bartender friends old and new catching up around a fire. This year marked the camp's 15th anniversary with alumni campers from all over the country so we packed up our bottles, minis too!, and went along for it.
Our job for the week: host Campfire, the late-night gathering where the day finally meets it's punctuation. So we set up shop with Adirondack chairs, a neon elephant sign, and two drinks built for sipping slow while the fire burns down.
Beyond the bar, we were here to help connect, so postcard-writing, storytelling prompts, poetry with Mr. Spreadlove and a few quiet moments built into a very loud week. Equal parts cozy, curious, and genuinely memorable. Less a party, more one of those nights you carry home with you.
Did you send a postcard home from camp?
The Drinks We Poured
Two easy, playful serves — built for a fire pit, but just as good on your porch.
The Grown-Up Root Beer Float
•See the Elephant Amaro•Root beer•Vanilla ice cream
Pour the amaro over ice, top with root beer, and float the ice cream on top. It tastes like summer camp!
Long Drink
•See the Elephant Amaro•Balsamic Vinegar•Strawberry Cream Soda
Garnish that with a strawberry and mint - it's like that fresh fruit in a bowl and savory too!
