Labor Day is just around the corner, which means it’s time to start thinking about what drinks and dishes you’re going to whip up for the holiday weekend.
Choosing Labor Day drinks can be tricky, as Labor Day falls right at the end of summer and the beginning of fall. To take the guesswork out of your Labor Day weekend menu, we’ve put together a list of the five best Labor Day drinks you need in 2021.
Read on to learn more.
Related: The Best Refreshing Alcoholic Drinks for Hot Weather
1. Margarita
Many people think of margaritas as traditional Mexican cocktails. However, no one actually knows the origin story of the margarita.
There are stories that place the invention of the margarita in Mexico, while others place it in the US. Either way, margaritas are a great drink to enjoy over Labor Day weekend. You can enjoy the classic margarita made with lime, tequila, and orange liqueur, or, you can put a spin on your margarita by trying out a new flavor.
Some of the top margarita flavors we recommend trying during your holiday weekend include:
- Peach
- Mango
- Strawberry
- Watermelon
If you’re not up to the task of making your own margaritas, you can purchase canned margarita cocktails or bottled wine cocktails for the holiday weekend. If the weather is still going to be warm over the weekend, you can also purchase some margarita popsicles.
We recommend pairing your Labor Day weekend margaritas with dishes that complement the lime flavor, such as chicken with lime or shrimp with lime. Margaritas also go great with chopped salads, ceviche, and carne asada.
Related: Our Best Ready-to-Drink Margaritas
2. Watermelon Sangria
If you’re looking to enjoy some fresh summer cocktails over Labor Day weekend, then we recommend whipping up some watermelon sangria.
Not only is this drink sweet and refreshing, but it’s also a real crowd-pleaser. Here’s what you need to make watermelon sangria:
- 1 large watermelon
- 1 bottle of chilled white wine
- 2 cups of white rum
- 1 cup of seltzer
- 2 thinly sliced limes
- ⅓ cup of freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 cups of assorted frozen fruit, such as blueberries, strawberries, pineapple, or raspberries
Once you have your ingredients, here’s how you make watermelon sangria:
- Slice off the top third of the watermelon lengthwise, and use a knife to score the fruit.
- Blend the watermelon in a blender until it’s smooth (Strain the seeds if desired).
- Add the rum, seltzer, white wine, and lime juice to the watermelon, and stir until combined.
- Add in the limes and fruit.
- Refrigerate the sangria for about 2 hours, or until chilled.
We recommend pairing your sangria with a scalloped-based dish, such as crab, lobster, or oysters. Fresh white fish, such as tilapia or haddock, also goes well with sangria. You can also make a salad with some lightly seared fresh tuna.
3. Mojito
You really can’t go wrong with the classic mojito. Filled with flavor, a mojito is one of the most refreshing drinks around, and it pairs well with many classic Labor Day dishes.
Here’s what you need to whip up a mojito:
- ¼ cup of golden rum
- ½ cup of plain seltzer
- 1 cup of ice cubes
- 2 teaspoons of sugar
- 3 tablespoons of fresh lime juice
- 6 sprigs of fresh mint
- Lime wedges
Here’s how to make a classic mojito:
- Use a wooden spoon to crush the lime juice, mint, and sugar in a cocktail shaker.
- Add golden rum and ice cubes.
- Shake the mojito ingredients well until blended.
- Fill one tall glass with ice, and strain the drink into the glass.
- Top off with seltzer, and garnish with mint sprigs and lime.
We recommend pairing your mojito with some fresh and chunky salsa. It also goes great with homemade tacos, ceviche, or Cuban braised pork.
Are you looking to learn some drinking songs for Labor Day weekend? Check out these drinking songs that will change your life!
4. Tom Collins
If you’re looking for a recipe that’s super tasty and straightforward, then we recommend trying a Tom Collins. A gin-based drink, Tom Collins is the perfect combination of citrus and sweet.
Here are the ingredients you need to make a Tom Collins:
- 2 ounces of gin
- 1.5 cups of ice
- ¾ fluid ounces of lemon juice
- 2 ounces of club soda
- ½ ounce of simple syrup
To make a Tom Collins the right way, we recommend investing in a Collins glass. A Collins glass is slightly taller than a highball glass, and it holds about 12 ounces of liquid. Once you have your Collins glass ready, here’s how you make the drink:
- Fill your Collins glass with ice, and set the glass aside in the freezer.
- Combine the lemon juice, gin, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker.
- Add one cup of ice to the cocktail shaker, and cover the cocktail shaker and shake until the drink has chilled.
- Strain the Tom Collins into the Collins glass.
- Top the Tom Collins with club soda, and garnish the drink with a lemon wedge.
Related: The Best Drinks for First-Time Drinkers
5. Long Island Iced Tea
If you’re ready for a really boozy drink to sip on over Labor Day weekend, then you need to mix yourself a Long Island iced tea.
Made with four kinds of alcohol, the Long Island iced tea is not for the faint of heart. Here are the ingredients you need:
- ¾ ounce silver tequila
- ¾ ounce white rum
- ¾ ounce vodka
- ¾ ounce gin
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- ¾ ounce tripe sec
- ¾ ounce lemon juice
- Cola and lemon juice to top
Here’s how you make a Long Island iced tea:
- Add the tequila, rum, vodka, gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a Collins glass filled with ice.
- Top the drink with a bit of cola and stir.
- Garnish your Long Island iced tea with a lemon wedge and serve!
Labor Day Drinks: Time to Start Mixing!
As you can see, there are many great drinks you can make for Labor Day! Now, you just need to buy the ingredients so you can start whipping them up!
Are you looking to buy some Rancho La Gloria premade cocktails for Labor Day? If so, click here to learn where to buy!