Sweet ’n’ Easy Labor Day Drink Recipes

Here’s the scenario: It’s Labor Day weekend. Friends, family and neighbors are due over in a couple of days. You’re tired and everything in you says, “Make it simple.” But if simple means a case or two of beer and sodas, stop right there.

Can you remember what you drank at the last summertime holiday gathering you attended? Beer is beer, poorly mixed cocktails are nauseating, sodas induce guilt and uninspired wine offerings are forgettable. You don’t want to be that party host.

Seasonal ingredients, affordable liquors and a couple hours of prep for this year's gathering could make your house the preferred destination next year.

Quick tip: Simple syrup can be knocked off the prep list rather quickly. Boil two cups of water with two cups of granulated sugar until sugar is completely dissolved. Let the syrup cool and store in a glass container for later use. Make as much as you’ll need; you won’t want to run out.

White Wine Sangria

Ingredients: One small package of strawberries, one bunch of red grapes, one fresh, pre-cut pineapple package, two apples, two bottles of white wine, one cup of peach schnapps, simple syrup.

Fruit prep: Cut one dozen strawberries into quarters, cut two dozen (give or take) grapes in half, cut one cup of pineapple into half-inch pieces, core and dice apples into half-inch pieces. 

1. Divide fruit equally into two one-liter drink pitchers.
2. Add one bottle of white wine to each pitcher.
3. Pour in one-half cup of peach schnapps in each pitcher.
4. Stir mixture.
5. Taste for sweetness and adjust with simple syrup as needed.
6. Allow finished pitchers to chill for at least two hours prior to serving. (Sangria can be made up to 24 hours in advance.)

Cucumber Martini

Ingredients: Three to four large cucumbers, four ounces of lemon juice, one liter of vodka, one fresh mint bunch, simple syrup.

Cucumber prep: Juice three and a half large cucumbers, reserve or refrigerate. (If juicing is not an option, cucumber slices should be muddled with mint in a mixing glass for each serving. See instructions below.)

Instructions for a pitcher: 

1. Combine cucumber juice with two ounces of lemon juice, 16 ounces of vodka, four ounces of simple syrup, fresh mint leaves, and zest of remaining cucumber in drink pitcher.
2. Stir mixture and reserve.
3. Add ice cubes to glasses or to pitcher right before serving.

Instructions for a single serving:

1. Place three slices of cucumber and three to four mint leaves in mixing glass.
2. Muddle ingredients with wooden spoon.
3. Add ice to mixing glass.
4. Pour two ounces of vodka, one tablespoon of lemon juice, and one tablespoon of simple syrup into mixing glass.
5. Stir or shake mixture.
6. Strain drink into chilled cocktail glasses or iced cups.

The Flight of Wines Game

Purchase three distinct (but inexpensive) wines and cover the labels with cloth or paper that is not see-through. Be sure the wines are different enough that the average wine drinker can distinguish bitterness, sweetness and other characteristics.

Present the three wines at a tasting station, with four-ounce plastic or paper cups. Place a jar, pieces of paper and a few pencils at the tasting station. The object of the game is to guess the wine types. Each taster places a dollar into the jar. The taster(s) with the most correct matches receives the money collected.

Watermelon Lemonade (non-alcoholic)

Ingredients: One large package of pre-cut watermelon, one can of frozen lemonade concentrate, six cups of water.

1. Process watermelon in blender until no large pieces are visible.
2. Add lemonade concentrate to pitcher with water.
3. Stir concentrate and water, slowly adding blended watermelon.
4. Add ice before serving.

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