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.)

Print Pin

Northern Peach

Course Drinks

Keyword basil, honey syrup, lemon, Peach nectar, vodka

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.

Print Pin

Jungle Mist

Course Drinks

Keyword lime, Passion fruit, rum

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.

Print Pin

Watermelon Inferno

Course Drinks

Keyword lime, mezcal, Orange-flavored aperitif, watermelon

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.

Print Pin

The Queen’s Road

Course Drinks

Keyword ginger, honey, lime, orange, rum

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.

Print Pin

Sunset by the Sea

Course Drinks

Keyword blueberry, Grapefruit juice, tequila

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.

Print Pin

Spicy Mango Pineapple Margarita

Course Drinks

Keyword Ancho Reyes chile liqueur, lime, mango, orange, pineapple, tequila

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.

Print Pin

Shady Beach

Course Drinks

Keyword ginger, lime, pineapple, vodka

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.

Print Pin

Coco Y Piña

Course Drinks

Keyword coconut cream, ginger, lemon, rum

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.

Print Pin

Grilled Pineapple Bajito (basil-mojito)

Course Drinks

Keyword basil, dark rum, honey syrup, lemon, pineapple

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.