It’s the end of summer and there’s no better way to wave goodbye to the sunshine than with a cool, tasty beverage.
On Labor Day you’ll likely have your cold beers stacked in the refrigerator waiting for you to crack them open, but there’s more to life than Corona and Bud Light.
The following spirits will all liven up your Labor Day party in the best possible way, ensuring you provide your guests with the perfect drinks menu as you catch the last rays of the summer months before you bunker yourself up for winter.
Check out our favorite picks for a true summer send-off in the image gallery below:
10 Labor Day Drinks
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Sazerac Rye
A distinguished, crispy rye, the "One and Only New Orleans Original" impresses on all counts. Dating back to the 1800s, in the world of rye and whiskey longevity means quality, and this is the case here.
Made by Buffalo Trace, one of the oldest distilleries in America, Sazerac Rye contains a subtle task of citrus fruits, alongside a smooth finish of licorice. With a versatility that will lend itself to a myriad of cocktails, this velvety rye should be the center piece of your summer send-off.
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Tequila Don Julio Reposado
Tequila is almost exclusively a summer drink, and there's none finer than Don Julio's Reposado.
With a citrus aroma and a dark chocolate/vanilla taste, there's no off-putting edge to this silky smooth drink. Mix with grapefruit juice and a dash of lemon/lime soda to bring the spirit of Mexico to your end-of-summer party.
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Tub Gin
Tub Gin was inspired by the prohibition era, immediately making this a priority on your Labor Day drinks list.
Taking its cues from the bathtub gin brewed in the homes of US citizens when the sale of alcohol was made illegal, the great thing about Tub Gin is that while its roots are in this dark part of America's history, it doesn't taste like bathwater at ALL. It tastes quite nice actually. Give it a try, and impress your guests with its suitably vintage packaging.
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Deep Eddy Grapefruit Vodka
Column-distilled ten times and made with the finest water in Texas, Deep Eddy knows how to make good vodka. While vodka isn't considered the ideal summer drink, Deep Eddy has two flavors that perfectly complement a warm, sunny afternoon, in the form of its grapefruit and cranberry drinks.
Either one is a great choice, though we'd opt for the grapefruit vodka, if only for its appealing color. Sure, that's a superficial reason to plump for a beverage, but nothing will look better in your hand while your chilling out in your sunglasses and shorts than a glass of cool, orange vodka.
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Ole Smoky Moonshine
Nothing says "AMERICUH!" like moonshine, and Ole Smoky Moonshine embodies the spirit of the homemade booze without the illegalities - or the deadly alcohol percentage.
Disarmingly tasty, the cherry-flavored Ole Smoky Moonshine perfectly complements a glass of coke or a Shirley Temple, and will also make for a rather interesting party piece.
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Flor de Cana
Flor de Cana produces some delicious 4-year-old white rum that would perhaps seem more alluring for your end-of-summer celebrations, but for our money there's nothing better than the celebrated producers' 4-year gold rum.
Incredibly easy to drink, this gold rum is light and tasty, making it the perfect drink for a chill-out session in the sun. Boasting a medium-bodied palate infused with caramel, and finished off with coconut shavings (you can't get much more summery than coconut, after all) this will prove to be immensely popular among you and your guests. Be careful, though - given the ease in which you can guzzle it, this stuff may go down far too quickly if you aren't keeping tabs on it.
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Maker's Mark Mint Julep
Maker's Mark Mint Julep is essentially a cocktail in a bottle, though not as tacky as that selling point would suggest.
With the mint julep, Maker's Mark are celebrating the tastes of the southern states, creating a perfect, sweet drink for the those long summer days. With a touch of mint and a dash of sugar, Maker's Mark's traditional whiskey tastes like a different drink, and when poured over some crushed ice it will ensure you're giving your summer the send-off it deserves. The perfect drink to enjoy with friends after a day spent rustling up some burgers on the BBQ.
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Tanqueray
This London dry gin has a classic taste that will be immediately distinguishable in any drink you concoct using it.
While the gin & tonic is the obvious choice here, sometimes the obvious choices are the best, and that's certainly true when it comes to Tanqueray. Powerful without becoming overbearing, this fine gin, accompanied by a slice of lime, is a dependable beverage to wave goodbye to the summer with your friends and family.
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Tanteo Jalapeno Tequila
Made from 100% agave with fresh jalapenos, this unique mix from Tanteo is spicy but also remarkably well-balanced.
For those of you who love tequila, you'll know that it's best enjoyed in the summer months. This drink is the perfect addition to a Margarita, what with its unique taste and natural kick.
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Mount Gay Rum Eclipse Silver
White rum is the most preferred rum to indulge in on those lazy summer afternoons, and you can't get much better than the Mount Gay's Eclipse Silver.
Mount Gay pride themselves on being the longest-running rum producer in the world (they were founded in the early 18th century), and their experience shows in the craftsmanship put into each bottle. This particular blend was named after a solar eclipse that occurred in Barbados in 1910, which you can feel free to use as a slice of trivia to dish out to your guests while you're pouring them a glass.
