Holidays

31 Labor Day Cocktails: Patriotic Cocktail Recipes for 2024

Labor Day is the perfect time to get together with family and friends for a cookout or picnic. Whether you plan to serve a crowd or just a few close family members, we’ve rounded up the best Labor Day cocktails to serve at your gathering. From low-prep drinks to non-alcoholic beverages, there’s something for everyone.

1. Strawberry margarita

Type of drink: Tequila cocktails

Flavor profile: Sweet and tart

Take advantage of the sweet summer-end strawberries with our fresh strawberry margarita. In batches, blend 12 ounces of tequila, 6 cups of strawberries, 6 cups of lime juice, 6 tablespoons of honey, 6 ounces of triple sec and 6 cups of ice.

2. No-blend mango margaritas

Type of drink: Tequila cocktails

Flavor profile: Sweet

This recipe is perfect for picnics or campouts where you won’t have access to a blender but still want an icy cold margarita. For each margarita, put the following in a small zip-top bag:

2 ounces of tequila
2 ounces of mango juice
1 ounce of lime juice
1 ounce of agave syrup
1/2 ounce of water

Seal well and freeze. When you’re ready to serve, let the mixture sit out for 15-20 minutes until slushy and pour into glasses. Want to go the traditional blended margarita route? Follow our frozen mango margarita recipe.

3. Classic frozen margarita

Type of drink: Tequila cocktails

Flavor profile: Sweet and tart

This classic frozen margarita takes just five ingredients and is perfect for cooling down on a hot summer day.

If you’re looking for a Labor Day mocktail, use a non-alcoholic spirit or limeade concentrate. Both produce delicious results your guests will love.

4. Classic paloma

Type of drink: Tequila cocktails

Flavor profile: Refreshing and citrusy

When it comes to Labor Day cocktails, you can’t go wrong with a paloma. To follow our classic paloma, all you need is 3 ounces of grapefruit soda, 2 ounces of tequila, 1 ounce of lime juice and sliced grapefruit to garnish. If you want to kick it up a notch, add a splash of mezcal or some jalapeño for some smoky and spicy flavor.

5. Irish cream over coffee ice cubes

Type of drink: Coffee cocktails

Flavor profile: Rich, creamy with a hint of sweetness

While simple to make, this drink requires you to make coffee ice cubes in advance. To make Irish cream over coffee ice cubes, pour cooled coffee into ice cube trays and freeze until solid, about six hours. To serve, put the coffee cubes in a glass and pour in equal parts Irish cream and cream or milk. Coffee cubes can be made up to two weeks in advance and stored in plastic zip-top bags.

6. Iced coffee with coffee liqueur

Type of drink: Coffee cocktails

Flavor profile: Rich, creamy

Iced coffee doesn’t get much better than this adult version. To enjoy your iced coffee with coffee liqueur, mix a cup of iced coffee, a splash of half and half or milk and a couple of tablespoons of coffee liqueur. Chill and serve over ice.

7. Americano cocktail

Type of cocktail: Red amaro cocktails

Flavor profile: Bitter and sweet

Invented in Italy but named after Americans because they loved the combo of sweet vermouth, red amaro and soda water so much. To make a cocktail Americano, combine one part sweet vermouth, one part red amaro and two parts club soda, then stir with ice.

8. Bourbon sweet tea

Type of drink: Bourbon cocktails

Flavor profile: Sweet

Sweet tea is a summer staple, so why not add some booze? All you need is your favorite sweet tea, some bourbon and lemon to throw together this batched bourbon cocktail.

For the perfect pitcher of bourbon sweet tea, combine 7 cups of black iced tea, 1 cup of white sugar, 1/2cup of lemon juice, 6 ounces of bourbon and 12 dashes of bitters. If you’d like, you can add some fresh ginger and mint to make it even more refreshing.

9. Dark and stormy

Type of drink: Rum cocktails

Flavor profile: Spicy

A dark and stormy is a classic rum cocktail that’s a total crowd-pleaser. Use your favorite rum to mix with the slightly spicy ginger beer for a traditional drink that’s perfect for your cookout. To make a dark and stormy, mix one part dark rum with two parts ginger beer and a 1/2ounce of lime juice. Pour over ice and serve with a thin slice of lime.

10. Mojito

Type of drink: Rum cocktails

Flavor profile: Refreshing and minty

The lime and mint in a mojito create a wonderful flavor to give you a refreshing way to cool off on a hot day. Mix the drinks one by one or make a big batch for the pitcher!

For a classic mojito, muddle some fresh mint (about 10 leaves), three lime wedges and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a glass. Then add your ice, 1 1/2 ounces of light rum and 1/2 a cup of soda water.

11. Blue Hawaii

Type of drink: Rum cocktails

Flavor profile: Sweet

Blue Hawaiis were invented in 1957 by a bartender due to a liquor rep’s request to make a drink that used new-at-the-time blue curaçao. More than half a century later, it’s still a well-loved drink and tastes great blended or over ice. To enjoy a blue Hawaii, use about 1 cup of ice, 2 ounces of pineapple juice, 1 ounce of light rum, 1 ounce of blue curaçao, 1 ounce of cream of coconut and blend it all together.

12. Painkiller

Painkiller cocktail with slice of pineapple

Type of drink: Rum cocktails

Flavor profile: Sweet

Sweet and delicious, painkillers are an orangey twist on piña coladas and a great way to beat the heat. All you’ll need for this Tropical Bliss Painkiller is 4 ounces of pineapple juice, 2 ounces of dark rum, 1 ounce of orange juice and 1 ounce of cream of coconut. Garnish with some nutmeg, a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry to keep it classic.

13. Boozy strawberry daiquiri

Type of drink: Rum cocktails

Flavor profile: Sweet and tart

One of the best patriotic cocktails, strawberry daiquiri, is always a hit. This drink consists of just rum, strawberries and lime juice, so it’s perfect for making in large batches. Add some fresh basil or a lime garnish to make this drink stand out at any Labor Day gathering.

We recommend muddling some fresh strawberries into your serving glasses for an extra vibrant treat.

14. Tom Collins

Refreshing Gin Tom Collins Cocktail with Lemon

Type of drink: Gin cocktails

Flavor profile: Refreshing and citrusy

There’s something for everyone in this classic cocktail. The lemon juice adds a hint of tartness, the simple syrup gives it sweetness and the soda water adds the fizz. To make a Tom Collins, just add 2 ounces of gin, 3/4 ounce of lemon juice and 1/2 ounce of simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Add some ice and club soda, then stir before serving.

15. Bee’s knees

Type of drink: Gin cocktails

Flavor profile: Sweet and tart

This Prohibition-era favorite is a crowd-pleaser and super easy to customize with different garnishes or add-ins. The basic version comes together quickly with some cocktail and pantry staples — you just need gin, lemon and honey.

To make the honey syrup, combine equal parts honey and water, then microwave in small increments and stir until the honey dissolves. To make your bee’s knees cocktail, shake 2 ounces of gin, 1 ounce of lemon juice and 1/2 ounce of honey syrup in a cocktail shaker with some ice.

Grab it now on Instacart:

Smirnoff Triple Distilled Vodka

Coors Banquet Beer Can

Fee Brothers Bitters, Old Fashion Aromatic

Tanqueray Imported London Dry Gin

Jameson Irish Whiskey

Cutwater Soda Water

Heritage Store Fine Liqueur, Triple Sec

St. Pauli Girl Lager

Korbel Brut California Champagne

Stirrings Simple Syrup

16. Singapore sling

Type of drink: Gin cocktails

Flavor profile: Fruity and sweet

Considered the national drink of its namesake country, the Singapore sling is fruity and sweet with pineapple and cherry flavors. Combine the following ingredients in a cocktail shaker:

4 ounces of pineapple juice
1 1/2 ounces of gin
1/3 ounce of grenadine
1/2 ounce of lime juice
1/2 ounce of cherry heering
1/4 ounce of triple sec
1/4 ounce of Bénédictine
One dash bitters

Serve over ice and enjoy!

17. Gin basil smash

Type of drink: Gin cocktails

Flavor profile: Refreshing and herbal

If you like fresh, herbal drinks, gin cocktails are the way to go. All you need for this gin basil smash is some fresh basil to muddle (eight to 10 leaves per serving), 2 1/2 ounces of gin, 3/4 ounce of lemon juice and 3/4 ounce of simple syrup. Top with soda water if you’re looking for some fizz.