25 Best Labor Day Cocktails (+ Easy Drink Recipes)

Ready to raise your glasses and toast to the perfect blend of relaxation and celebration? Check out this list of incredibly flavorful Labor Day cocktails. 

Labor Day is always a bittersweet holiday for me. It’s great to enjoy a relaxing long weekend, but it’s sad to bid farewell to summer. 

Of course, imbibing in a few Labor Day cocktails helps ease that pain. And what better way to honor all of our hard work than with a few refreshing libations?

These timeless cocktails will add extra flair to your festivities. And of course, you don’t have to wait until Labor Day to enjoy them.

1. Paloma

The Paloma is a refreshing Mexican classic. It embodies the perfect blend of zesty and thirst-quenching flavors. 

It features tequila’s crispness mixed with the tangy goodness of fresh grapefruit juice. It’s also often enhanced with a squeeze of lime, as in this recipe. 

To balance the taste, add a touch of sweetness from agave nectar or simple syrup. Served over ice, this effervescent concoction is a genuine fiesta for the tastebuds!

2. Tom Collins

This classic, gin-based cocktail uses four ingredients and practically oozes timeless elegance. It’s a dry, refreshing blend of lemon juice, soda water, simple syrup, and gin. 

Pour the drink over ice for an invigorating, tangy experience, perfect for warm days. To make it fancier, jazz it up with a slice of lemon and a maraschino cherry.

3. Texas Roadhouse Strawberry Margarita

Texas Roadhouse has a lot of things I love. But their icy cold strawberry margaritas are one of my favorite things on the menu. 

They’re sweet, tangy, and have a surprising amount of flavor. There’s never a wrong time to enjoy this delicious drink. 

4. Pink Sangria with Rose Wine

Sangria is a staple summer drink. And this pink sangria with rose wine is one of my favorite recipes. 

It takes only 10 minutes to prepare and is absolutely overflowing with fresh fruit. Add some sprigs of mint for a crisp, refreshing aftertaste. 

Remember sangria tastes best when thoroughly chilled. So make it at least a couple of hours ahead of time for the best results. 

5. Mai Tai

Mai Tais are such fun summer drinks. Whether at the beach or just sitting poolside, they’re perfect for the occasion. 

They have a gorgeous sunrise-like appearance and a sweet and citrusy taste. Plus, the combination of white and dark rum is enough to make anyone smile. 

6. Watermelon Crush

This light, pretty-in-pink drink is the ideal choice for watermelon lovers. The recipe uses real watermelon juice, so it doesn’t taste sugary sweet or artificial. 

Top it off with lemon-lime soda for a bit of tart tanginess and plenty of bubbles. It’s a nose-tinglingly refreshing drink with a nice vodka and triple sec kick. 

7. Frose

Looking for a flavorful, fruity drink that doesn’t hit too hard? Frose is the perfect choice. The only alcohol it contains is dry rosé wine, which isn’t overly strong. 

It also contains 1-1/2 cups of frozen strawberries, which gives it that chunky, icy texture.

It’ll give you a pick-me-up without making you want to belt out show tunes. That’s a win-win.

8. Strawberry Whiskey Sour

Like the idea of strawberries but want something stronger? Check out this recipe for the strawberry whiskey sour. It’s a sweet and sour, strawberry-forward summer drink. It’s fresh, fruity, and refreshing.

If you like whiskey, give it a try. It comes together in 5 minutes and tastes surprisingly light and delicious. 

9. Negroni

This sophisticated, bold Italian cocktail perfectly balances bitter and sweet flavors. It’s a somewhat dry cocktail consisting of equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. 

And that’s it. That’s the whole recipe. It’s a simple drink with a complex flavor profile. You won’t regret trying it!

10. Mojito

There’s nothing like the crisp, invigorating taste of a mojito on a hot summer day. Of all the drinks on this list, the mojito is easily my favorite. 

Bright and citrusy with lime juice and mint, it’s dry with a touch of sweetness. Remember to add a stick of sugar cane as a garnish if you have one. 

11. Fuzzy Navel

The fuzzy navel has been around for decades and shines brightest as a brunch cocktail. However, its bright flavor and vibrant orange color make it perfect for Labor Day, too. 

It’s a simple mixture of two parts orange juice to one part peach schnapps. Even the most novice mixologists can whip it up. 

12. Raspberry Lemonade Sangria

Here’s another pretty pink sangria perfect for backyard BBQs. It tastes like slightly tart raspberry lemonade. You’ll barely even notice the wine. 

As with all sangria recipes, it needs time to chill. So be sure to make it in advance. 

13. Hurricane Cocktail

Wish you were spending your Labor Day weekend in New Orleans? Whip up the city’s signature hurricane cocktail!

It’s a tropical delight that’ll whisk you away to New Orleans’ vibrant streets. (At least mentally, anyway.) It’s a flavorful drink featuring passion fruit, orange juice, and lime juice. 

It’s citrusy, bright, and delicious. There’s a little bit of the Big Easy in every sip. 

14. Classic Aperol Spritz

Like the negroni, the Aperol spritz is another classic Italian cocktail. It’s a dry, bittersweet drink with a gentle citrus twist. 

Garnished with a slice of orange, this cocktail is the perfect way to savor life’s simple pleasures.  

15. Watermelon Punch

Although you can add watermelon juice to this cocktail, you don’t have to. You will, however, scoop out watermelon balls and add them to the drink. 

Serve it in a mini watermelon shell. This makes it a lot of fun. It tastes like spiked lemonade with chunks of juicy watermelon. And there’s nothing wrong with that. 

16. Skinny Margarita

The skinny margarita offers a guilt-free twist on the classic. It’s perfect for those seeking a lighter option. It features a blend of tequila, freshly squeezed lime juice, and a splash of orange liqueur. 

Reduce the calories by replacing sugary syrup with natural agave nectar. Then, simply give it a shake and serve it over ice in a glass with a salted rim. 

It’s a tangy, zesty creation that proves you can enjoy cocktails without ruining your diet.

17. Blueberry Moscow Mule

This drink is just what it sounds like: a Moscow Mule with a blueberry twist. It’s a refreshing, minty fresh drink anyone can appreciate. 

It can also be whipped up without making a simple syrup. Simply add maple syrup if you want to sweeten it. It’s definitely a hassle-free way to enjoy a stiff drink.

18. Spiked Strawberry Lemonade

Are you a big strawberry lemonade fan? Wait until you try it spiked with vodka. It has all the same sweet, tart flavor but adds a nice little kick. 

Simply leave out the vodka if you want to make some for the kiddos. 

19. White Wine Spritzer

White wine spritzers are like sangrias for people who don’t enjoy making things in advance. They have a similar fruity, not-too-alcohol-heavy flavor, and lots of berries. 

They take just a few minutes to mix up and taste absolutely divine. Plus, they look elegant and give you fruit to snack on, too! Bonus! 

20. Spicy Margarita

This spicy margarita is a tart and tangy lime-flavored drink with jalapenos for kick.

Use the recipe for a skinny margarita, so it’s lower in calories, too! 

21. Dark and Stormy

Looking for a captivating cocktail that’ll evoke the spirit of the Caribbean? The dark and stormy is just what you need. 

It features a rich, bold black rum base and a splash of spicy ginger beer. Add a little lime juice to lighten it up, and you’re all set. 

It’s a sweet and spicy masterpiece that even Captain Jack Sparrow would approve of. 

22. Rum Sunset

This 5-minute, 3-ingredient drink is another must-try for rum lovers. It combines spiced rum, orange juice, and grenadine with a lime slice garnish. 

It has a lovely orange sherbet color and a sweet spiked OJ taste. If you don’t want to try it on Labor Day, it also makes a great addition to any brunch table. 

23. Pina Colada

If you like pina coladas! Then you’ll love this recipe. I’m not much of a singer, but I know how to make good mixed drinks. And this recipe for an easy pina colada is the best. 

It turns out perfect pina coladas in under 5 minutes require only three ingredients. (Plus ice!) It’s a sweet, tropical drink that’ll have you wishing summer would never end. 

24. Planter’s Punch

There’s a little bit of everything in this sunset-colored cocktail. Dark rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine, lime juice, lemon juice… It has it all. 

And all those ingredients make for a citrusy, flavorful drink that’s impossible to resist. It’s a tasty way to cool down on a hot day. Plus, you can leave out the rum for a kid-friendly version.

With or without the alcohol, it’s a super scrumptious punch. 

25. Whiskey Smash

The whiskey smash is another refreshing cocktail. It combines robust whiskey, fresh mint, zesty lemon, and simple syrup. 

Serve it over crushed ice for a harmonious balance of sweetness and herbal freshness. It’s perfect for Labor Day or any other time you want to celebrate.