Labor Day Libations

Labor Day Libations: Refreshing Drinks for a Relaxing Day

Ready to say goodbye to summer? Neither are we. Luckily, we still have Labor Day weekend to look forward to, and there’s no better way to say so long to summer than getting together with friends. We’ve put together several summer drink recipes that can be made in advance, chilled, and served in big batches.

Fruitalicious

Sangria is a drink for all seasons, and the end of summer is no exception. It’s refreshing on a hot, summer day and perfect for lakeside get-togethers. Here are a couple of variations to get you started.

Rosé Sangria

Classic and classy, this sangria is a little lighter and fruitier than traditional red sangria.

Ingredients:

1 bottle (750 ml) Rosé wine
¼ cup brandy (optional)
¼ cup orange liqueur
3 cups fruit, fresh or frozen (sliced strawberries, sliced peaches, berries)
1 orange, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
2 cups sparkling water or lemon-lime soda
Ice cubes
Garnish: Fresh mint leaves

Instructions:

Combine the fruit and gently muddle it to release some juice. Add the wine, brandy, and orange liqueur and stir. Chill, and then just before serving, stir in the sparkling water or lemon-lime soda. Provide mint as a garnish.

Mix it up:

How about a little spice? Just omit the orange liqueur, and swap the fruit for 1 cup pomegranate seeds and 1–2 cups diced apple. Combine everything in a pitcher and toss in a cinnamon stick for added spice. Let it infuse for a few hours and then top it with sparkling water or lemon-lime soda.

Make it a mocktail:

In a blender, combine the strawberries and 1/4 cup of water and blend until smooth. If tiny seeds aren’t your thing, strain the strawberry purée through a fine mesh sieve to remove them (but it's totally optional). Then, in a large pitcher, combine the lemon juice and sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Add the strawberry purée to the pitcher and stir well. Pour in the remaining water and stir one more time until fully combined. Serve over ice, and garnish with lemon slices or extra strawberries.

Watermelon Mint Sangria

When it comes to fruit, watermelon is the star of summer. Its bright color and fruity crispness are perfect for sangria, especially when paired with refreshing mint.

Ingredients:

1 bottle (750 ml) Rosé wine
¼ cup vodka (optional)
2 cups cubed watermelon
1 cup sliced strawberries
½ cup fresh mint leaves
2 cups sparkling water or lemon-lime soda
Garnish: Fresh mint leaves

Instructions:

BIend half the watermelon into a purée. In a large pitcher, mix the purée with the wine and vodka. Add the remaining watermelon, strawberries, and mint and gently stir. Cover and chill for at least two hours. Just before serving, add the sparkling water or lemon-lime soda and gently stir. Provide mint as a garnish.

Mix it up:

Try it tangy! Use tequila instead of vodka and sliced lime instead of strawberries. For a little saltiness, use club soda instead of sparkling water or lemon-lime soda.

Make it a mocktail:

Gently muddle 4 cups cubed watermelon, 1 cup sliced strawberries, and 1 cup sliced cucumber. Stir in 1 cup of white grape juice. Before serving, stir in 2 cups sparkling water or lemon-lime soda and some fresh lime juice for zest.

Feeling Punchy

You can never go wrong with a peppy party punch. Like sangria, punch can be prepared in advance in big batches and served with fun garnishes on the side. Here are two of our favorites!

Bourbon Iced Tea

Nothing says summer like iced tea, and adding bourbon to the blend offers a luxurious sweetness that will both impress and charm your guests.

Ingredients:

4 cups brewed black tea, cooled
2 cups lemonade
1 cup bourbon
1 cup peach schnapps
Garnish: Fresh peaches and mint

Instructions:

Combine the tea, lemonade, bourbon, and schnapps and chill for at least an hour. Provide peach slices and sprigs of mint for garnish.

Make it a mocktail:

Use ginger ale or club soda instead of bourbon and peach nectar or soda instead of peach schnapps.

Tropical Rum Punch

If you’re aiming for a beachy vacation vibe, you can’t go wrong with rum, the quintessential summer beverage. It works perfectly in a punch because it blends so well with other tropical flavors.

Ingredients:

2 cups light rum
2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups orange juice
1 cup grenadine
4 cups club soda
Garnish: Pineapple slices and cherries

Instructions:

Combine the rum, juices, and grenadine, and chill for at least an hour. Before serving, add the club soda. Provide pineapple slices and cherries for garnish.

Make it a mocktail:

Use coconut water or coconut-flavored soda instead of rum.

Tomato, tomahto

Love the rich taste of tomato but want something lighter than a Bloody Mary? How about a classy heirloom tomato martini? Okay, so this one is single serve, not big batch, but its summer garden goodness truly celebrates summer.

Heirloom Tomato Martini

Ingredients:

2 oz fresh heirloom tomato juice
1.5 oz vodka
0.5 oz dry vermouth
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish: cherry tomatoes, fresh basil

Instructions:

Blend ripe heirloom tomatoes until smooth and strain it through a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds and pulp. In a cocktail shaker, combine the liquids. Add a pinch of salt and pepper, fill the shaker with ice, and shake. Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a cherry tomato and a basil leaf.

Mix it up:

Want something smoky? Replace the lemon juice with a dash of hot sauce and the salt and pepper with a pinch of smoked paprika. Garnish with a jalapeno slice.

Make it a mocktail:

Replace the liquids with 3 oz of tomato juice, 1 oz lemon juice, and a splash of white grape juice.

Any one of these refreshing recipes will add zest to your Labor Day celebration. Sure, they won’t stop summer from ending, but they’ll make the farewell a lot more fun!