Strandshas presented yet another difficult word-search puzzle. To complete it, you will need to find all the themed words that are hidden in the jumbled up letters. There are seven words to find in this one, and they are all themed around a very specific thing.
For anyone who knowshow to playStrands, you know that the puzzles can be extremely challenging. If you are unable to pick up on the theme yourself, but you don’t want to use the in-game hint system, you can find all the help you need in the article below instead.
The NYT Games Strands Puzzle #196 June 30, 2025
TheStrandspuzzle for today has the clueOn the Rocks. There are six themed words and a Spangram to find, making a total of seven hidden items.
New York Times Games Strands Clues
There are three general hints, one in each of the sections below. If you want some spoiler-free clues for thispuzzle game that can make you smarter, open them up and look inside.
Hint 1: A mixed drink.
General Hint 2
Hint 2: A mixed drink that is always made with a specific kind of liquor.
General Hint 3
Hint 3: All the items needed to complete the recipe for a specific mixed drink made with liquor and mix ins.
Spoilers for Two of the Words in Today’s Strands
Spoilers can sometimes be helpful to get you on the right track. Each of the two sections below contains a themed word and a screenshot of where it belongs in the puzzle’s letter grid.
Word 2: Bitters
The Answer to Today’s New York Times Games Strands
If you need the answer to thisPC puzzle game, you can find it in the section below. It contains all the themed words, the Spangram, and a screenshot of a completed puzzle.
The category for today isOldFashioned. The words are Whiskey, Bitters, Sugar, Cherry, Orange, and Water.
Today’s Strands Explained
If you are looking for an explanation for how the themed words, the Spangram, and the clue all fit together, you can find it below. Open it up to see the explanation for thischallenging puzzle game.
The clueOn the Rocksis about how you can serve anOld Fashionedon ice. All the themed words are items used in the recipe for an Old Fashioned.
Want to play? Check out theNew York Times Games Strandswebsite, available on almost any device with a browser.
