The Labor Day holiday always comes as a bit of a shock — where did the summer go? Nonetheless, it’s a time for celebrating and perfect for offering festive and fruity cocktails that make the most of summer’s bounty. Here are nine recipes that we like for Labor Day, and the warm weeks before fall sets in. (And here’s a look back at the Labor Day cocktails we highlighted in 2021.)
Northern Peach
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Crystal Head vodka
- ½ oz. Honey syrup
- 2 oz. Peach nectar
- ½ oz. Fresh lemon juice
- 4-5 Basil leaves
Instructions
- Add all ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
- Gently muddle the basil.
- Add ice and shake for 8-11 seconds.
- Double strain into a rocks glass.
- Garnish with a fresh basil leaf.
Notes
The mixologists at Crystal Head created this recipe.
Jungle Mist
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Don Papa rum
- 1 oz. Passion fruit puree
- 1 oz. Lime juice
- ¼ oz. Simple syrup
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add all the ingredients and shake for several seconds.
- Serve using a strainer in a glass with 2-3 rocks of ice.
- Garnish with blueberry and passion fruit.
Notes
The mixologists at Don Papa created this recipe.
Watermelon Inferno
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. Lobos 1707 mezcal
- ¾ oz. Orange-flavored aperitif
- ½ oz. Lime juice
- ½ oz. Simple syrup
- Splash of club soda
- 4 cubes of watermelon
- Small plate of lime salt
- Mild chili powder and sea salt seasoning
Instructions
- Dip the rim of a highball glass into the plate of lime juice and then into the plate of seasoning.
- Combine all ingredients except one watermelon cube into a shaker with ice.
- Shake together until well chilled and then pour over ice into the highball glass.
- Top with club soda.
- Add a watermelon cube to garnish.
Notes
The mixologists at Lobos 1707 created this recipe.
The Queen’s Road
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. Zacapa No. 23 rum
- ½ oz. Orange juice
- ½ oz. Lime juice
- ½ oz. Ginger syrup
- ½ oz. Honey syrup
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing tin.
- Shake with ice.
- Strain into a chilled rocks glass over ice.
- Garnish with mint and orange peel.
Notes
Mixologist Lynnette Marrero created this recipe.
Sunset by the Sea
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. El Bandido Yankee reposado tequila
- 4 oz. Grapefruit juice
- ½ oz. Blueberry syrup
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake for several seconds.
- Pour over fresh ice into a highball glass.
- Garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry.
Notes
The mixologists at El Bandido created this recipe.
Spicy Mango Pineapple Margarita
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. YaVe mango tequila
- 1 oz. Ancho Reyes chile liqueur
- 1 oz. Mango puree
- ½ oz. Orange liqueur
- ½ oz. Pineapple juice
- 1 oz. Fresh lime juice
- ½ oz. Pineapple demerara syrup
Instructions
- Rim a rock glass with Tajin spice.
- Combine the ingredients into a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake.
- Strain over ice.
- Garnish with a pineapple leaf.
Notes
The mixologists at YaVe created this recipe.
Shady Beach
Ingredients
- 3 oz. Lime juice
- 4 oz. Pineapple juice
- 3 oz. Liber & Co. fiery ginger syrup
- 6 oz. Grey Goose Essences Strawberry & Lemongrass vodka
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a pitcher or carafe.
- Serve over crushed ice.
- Garnish with a sprig of mint and an edible flower.
Notes
The mixologists at Aba restaurant in Austin, TX, created this recipe.
Coco Y Piña
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. Barrilito 2 Stars rum
- 1 oz. Don Q Piña rum
- 1 oz. Coconut cream
- 1 oz. Fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp. Fresh ground ginger
- Coconut flakes for garnish
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker.
- Shake well and pour into a rocks glass.
- Add ice cubes or crushed ice.
- Top with coconut flakes to taste.
Notes
Puerto Rican Chef and Restaurateur Mario Pagán created this recipe.
Grilled Pineapple Bajito (basil-mojito)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. Kōloa dark rum
- ¾ oz. Lemon juice
- 4-5 Medium/large basil leaves
- 4-5 Chunks fresh grilled pineapple ½ inch chunks
- 1 ½ oz. Pineapple juice
- ¾ oz. Honey syrup equal parts honey and water
- 2 oz. Club soda
Instructions
- Muddle basil and grilled pineapple in shaker.
- Add crushed ice, honey syrup, and pineapple juice.
- Shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
- Pour into new glass, fill with ice and add club soda.
- Gently stir the club soda then top with rum.
- Garnish with grilled pineapple fan and basil sprig.
Notes
For grilled pineapple: Fire up the BBQ grill to medium to high heat. Place pineapples on and grill 2-3 minutes on each side or until grill marks appear.
The mixologists at Kōloa created this recipe.
The mixologists at Kōloa created this recipe.
