28 Delicious Cocktails Perfect For Celebrating Labor Day Weekend
Soak up the last of summer with these festive sips.
For many, Labor Day weekend is the final farewell to summer and the unofficial kickoff to football season. It's the perfect opportunity to savor summertime's fresh-fruit flavors and dip your toes into the fireside-worthy spirits of fall (looking at you, bourbon). Wherever you're spending your Labor Day weekend, whether it's in a swing on your front porch, a rocking chair the end of the dock, or beneath a tailgate tent, we've got a cocktail recipe worth pouring, shaking, or stirring for the occasion.
From watermelon frosé that's just right for summer's last beach day to a basil bourbon orange smash best enjoyed while watching the game, these drinks are sure to be a hit with your 21-and-up crowd. Plus, a number of these recipes can be made sans booze (like the vodka cherry limeade) to satisfy a crew of all ages. Here, we've rounded up 30 refreshing cocktails that are as deliciously suited for lake days as they are for backyard game-day gatherings.
Rum Swizzles
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Thom Driver; Food Stylist: Tina Stamos
Treat yourself to the tropical flavors of the islands with this classically Caribbean cocktail, which combines shaved ice, light rum, fresh lime juice, and Angostura bitters.
French 76
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
A quality vodka for this drink, like Tito's, will ensure a good foundation for the rest of the ingredients. For the most refreshing sip, take the time to chill the glasses in the freezer before pouring it out.
Blackberry Mojito
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Put a tart spin on the mint-and-lime drink with the addition of fresh blackberries. (We recommend picking some up from your farmer's market when available!)
Watermelon Sangria
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
For an easy big batch cocktail, there's no easier option than this twist on the traditional Spanish drink, which is made with rosé rather than the usual red wine.
Sweet Tea Mule
Bring spirited tea to your front porch rotation with this Southern variation on the mule, which replaces vodka with bourbon.
Frozen Margarita
Orange liqueur, like Grand Marnier or Cointreau, is the zesty secret to these blended sippers, which pair especially well with shrimp tacos.
Salty Dog Cocktail
While this grapefruit-gin drink is typically served straight up in a highball, we love pouring this zippy combo over ice for an extra-refreshing summer cocktail.
Big- Batch Bloody Marys
We love the fuss-free nature of a pitcher drink for entertaining a crowd. Set up a tray of garnishes (like pickled okra, celery, and hot sauce) nearby so that your guests can garnish the zingy cocktails themselves.
Summer Cobbler Cocktail
A combination of fresh blackberries and blackberry preserves gives this white whiskey cocktail a flavorful boost.
Lemon- Basil Spritzer
The recipe calls for bubbly, but trade it with lemon-flavored seltzer for a citrus drink that'll delight the whole crew.
Spicy Watermelon Refresher
Level up a watermelon margarita with the heat of serrano-chile-flavored simple syrup. Garnish with a sliced chile for added spice.
Cucumber- Honeydew Cooler
For an especially light and easy afternoon cocktail, look no further than this combination of floral gin, melon, and English cucumbers.
Strawberry and Peach Sangria
Mint ice cubes layer in an unexpected burst of herby freshness to this fruity, boozy concoction.
Southern Sunrise
Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
With just three ingredients (orange juice, tequila, and grenadine), this cocktail is simple to make—and equally easy to commit to memory.
Basil Bourbon Orange Smash
A basil-infused simple syrup and orange juice elevate this much-loved lemon-bourbon cocktail.
Watermelon Frosé
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Capture the nostalgia of slushies from the corner store with this grown-up take, which pairs frozen watermelon chunks with chilled rosé.
Mojitarita Cocktail
When you can't choose between mojitos and margaritas, this two-for-one drink fits the bill. Add fruit or a few slices of jalapeño to further customize it to your liking.
Watermelon- Ginger Mojitos
Ginger beer layers in some spice to this watermelon-flavored mojito.
Texas Ranch Water
Summer's easiest cocktail is also one of the season's most refreshing. Topo Chico is the Lone Star State's old-faithful ingredient.
Bama Breeze Cocktail
Created by restaurateur Lucy Buffett, this beachy libation was inspired by her brother Jimmy's song of the same name and includes grapefruit-flavored vodka, coconut rum, and cranberry juice.
Coconut Bourbon Spritz
Send bourbon on a tropical vacation with the addition of coconut syrup and a rim rolled in finely chopped coconut.
Raspberry Beer Cocktail
This easy, big-batch drink can be made up to three days in advance and chilled; depending on their availability, fresh or frozen raspberries may be used.
Vodka Cherry Limeade
You can't go wrong with a dose of summertime nostalgia, and this spiked cherry limeade hits all the right notes. Ditch the vodka for a kid-friendly party drink.
Classic Transfusion Cocktail
Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke
Even the golf averse can appreciate the sport's greatest drink: a fizzy combination of vodka, grape and lime juices, and ginger ale that tastes best on a hot summer afternoon.
Strawberry Spritzers
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl
Homemade strawberry shrub, complete with apple cider vinegar and fresh ginger, is the base for this effervescent cocktail, which is topped with sparkling mineral water.
Paloma
Dotdash Meredith
Looking for a fruity version of your usual margarita? Try the paloma, a tequila cocktail made zestier with the addition of grapefruit juice.
Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktails
Mississippi's Cathead Distillery captures the essence of summertime in their honeysuckle vodka, which lends sweetness to this watermelon sipper.
Azalea Cocktail
Photographer: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
While most commonly associated with the Masters Tournament, this drink with lemon and pineapple juices and grenadine, plus vodka or gin, suits summer just as well.
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