Cheers! End of Summer Cocktails

Sayonara summer! As we celebrate Labor Day Weekend and say our last farewells to another summer gone by, we can at least take pleasure in knowing that we will be well fed drinks. From all over the country and multiple different spirits, we have the best end of summer cocktails to keep you going this weekend, and to ease you into fall. Hey, at least we have football to look forward to!

Effen Toasted White Cranberry (Courtesy of Effen Vodka)
1 ½ parts Effen Salted Caramel Vodka
1 ¾ parts white cranberry juice
¼ part fresh lemon juice
¼ part simple syrup
toasted coconut flakes

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Double strain into a highball glass with ice. Garnish with toasted coconut flakes.

Highland Dress (Courtesy of Chris Marty, Untitled & The Black Grouse)
2 oz. The Black Grouse
½ oz. Combier Peche de Vigne
½ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
1 oz. Simple Syrup
1 Egg White

Dry shake to emulsify egg white, then shake all ingredients together with ice to chill. Double strain and serve in an Old Fashioned glass, half-rimmed with Applewood Smoked Sea Salt.

Labor Day Lounger (Courtesy of Shellback Rum)
1 ½ oz. Shellback Silver Rum
½ oz. Lemon Juice
½ oz. Simple Syrup
6 Basil Leaves
4 Pineapple Cubes – 1 ½  x 1 ½ inch roughly
25 Fresh Blueberries
1 oz. Club Soda
Blueberries & Pineapple for Garnish

Muddle basil leaves, pineapple and blueberry in cocktail shaker. Add rum, lemon juice and simple syrup with ice. Shake vigorously to infuse basil flavor well. Strain into large rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with pineapple and blueberries.

Strawberry Moji-tea (Courtesy of Andrea Correale)
4 oz. Tea & Honey Strawberry Acai Tea
1 oz. Tanteo Jalapeno Tequila
Prosecco
Mint
Strawberries

Muddle mint and strawberries in a shaker. Add the Lipton Tea & Honey Iced Tea, tequila and ice in a shaker. Strain into a glass. Top with Prosecco and serve.

Apple Business (Courtesy of Nolet’s Gin)
2 oz. NOLET’S Silver Dry Gin
1 oz. Fresh Apple Juice
½ oz. Fresh Lime Juice
½ oz. Honey

Shake all ingredients, strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with apple slice.

Endless Summer (Courtesy of Skinnygirl)
1 ½ parts Skinnygirl Island Coconut Vodka
3 parts pineapple juice
4 parts sparkling water
1 cup sliced mango, frozen
Mango wedge for garnish

Pour over fruit and ice. Garnish with a mango and enjoy!

Hi-Teq Punch (Courtesy of Jaime Salas & Milagro Tequila)
3 parts Milagro Silver
2 parts lemon juice
2 parts simple syrup
5 parts Hibiscus Tea
1 part ginger juice
1 part Lillet Rose

Build ingredients in a punch bowl over large ice block. Garnish with lemon peels and hibiscus flowers. Stir well for 1 minute to dilute.

Goji Berry Cosmopolitan (Courtesy of The National)
1 oz. Ultimat Vodka
1 oz. Fair Goji Berry Liqueur
1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
1 oz. Cranberry Juice
Touch of Gran Cala Triple Sec

Add all ingredients in a shaker, fill with ice, shake it well, pour into a chilled martini glass and garnish it with a lime wheel.

Kiwi Colada (Courtesy of Shellback Rum)
2 ounces Shellback Spiced Rum
1 ounce Cream of Coconut
1 Kiwi – Skinned & Sliced
6 Fresh Pineapple Cubes
3 Watermelon Cubes
12 ounces Crushed Ice
Kiwi Slice for Garnish

Place all ingredients in blender, saving one kiwi slice for garnish. Blend until completely smooth. Pour into goblet. Garnish with kiwi and watermelon slice.