15 Beach-Ready Cocktails for Labor Day Weekend

by Natasha Wolff | September 1, 2016 12:00 pm

Drink in these beautiful summer days with a refreshing cocktail in hand. There’s no better way to soak up the sun than with your feet up and some tasty beach drinks to cool you down. Even if you can’t jetset off to Jamaica or boat over to the Bahamas, you can spend the day living like you have. Beat the heat with a blended margarita or kick back with a coconut and a straw.

There’s no wrong way to sip on something fun this summer, so what are you waiting for? Here are 15 cocktails to get you ready for the beach.

1. LITTLE HUNT ON MITCHELL ROAD – Tavern Road (Boston)[1]

At Tavern Road, The Little Hunt on Mitchell Road — made with Privateer Rum, Merlet Lune d’Abricot Blue orgeat, coco-pineapple milk and Peychaud’s bitters — will give you a taste of the tropics in Boston this summer.

Photo provided by Tavern Road. Photo by Tenzin Samdo.

2. PINEAPPLE – ZZ’s Clam Bar (New York City)[2]

The simply named “Pineapple” at ZZ’s Clam Bar in NYC is a mix of gin, orange and a mysterious blend of spices, all served in a ice cold brass pineapple, fitting for the warm weather.

Photo provided by Major Food Group.

3. UP IN SMOKE – A-FRAME (Los Angeles)[3]

In Los Angeles, the Up in Smoke at A-Frame is a bracing blend of Vida Mezcal, Altos Tequila, lime, habanero and pineapple to cool you down.

Photo provided by A-Frame. Photo by Eric Shin.

4. IF YOU’RE LUCKY – The Lucky Bee (New York City)[4]

“If You’re Lucky” at The Lucky Bee in NYC is sure to help you imagine yourself enjoying a lazy beach day, with a mix of fresh coconut water and clove, star anise and cinnamon-infused rum served in young coconut.

Photo provided by The Lucky Bee.

5. CUCUMBER MARGARITA – Bar Takito (Chicago)[5]

A refreshing way to sink into the season, Bar Takito in Chicago makes a classic drink even better with a Cucumber Margarita — made with Corazon Blanco tequila, Combier (orange liqueur), cucumber, lime and some agave to sweeten the deal.

Photo provided by Bar Takito.

6. THE WEST SIDE – Preux & Proper (Los Angeles)[6]

Preux & Proper in Los Angeles gives us a taste of the West Coast with an appropriately named cocktail called The West Side — a mashup of Grey Goose vodka, lime, Orgeat syrup, cucumber, mint and Angostura bitters.

Photo provided by Preux & Proper.

7. PISCO PUNCH – Sunny Spot (Los Angeles)[7]

Make it a cold one at Sunny Spot in LA with a Pisco Punch, bursting with pisco, habanero pineapple shrub, lemon, lime and Angostura bitters.

Photo provided by Sunny Spot.

8. PHIL KALLINS – Mission Chinese Food (New York City)[8]

The Phil Kallins at Mission Chinese Food in New York is an Asian-inspired riff on a traditional Tom Collins and the creamy Tom Kha coconut soup — made from gin, coconut, kaffir lime, ginger, fried chilies and sesame oil, and served in a festive Chinese soup bowl.

Photo provided by Mission Chinese Food.

9. COBBLER – Salt Air (Los Angeles)[9]

The Cobbler — a citrusy blend of Peychaud’s bitters, hibiscus, Carpano Antica (Italian vermouth), lemon and orange — is a perfect, breezy drink to take in at Salt Air in LA.

Photo provided by Salt Air. Photo by Jakob Layman.

10. THE BIG KAHUNA – Empire (Boston)[10]

Serving four or more, The Big Kahuna at Empire in Boston is the ultimate party drink for a warm summer’s day out with friends, made with Grey Goose, fresh watermelon juice, mint and ginger.

Photo provided by Empire.

11. VARIOUS COCKTAILS – Llama Inn (New York City)[11]

Refreshing cocktails as well as punch on draft is ready for the sipping at Llama Inn in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where the perfect summer day can be spent enjoying inventive drinks among friends.

Photo provided by Llama Inn.

12. GOLDEN GALLEON – Dove’s Luncheonette (Chicago)[12]

The Golden Galleon at Dove’s Luncheonette in Chicago is made with Marie Brizard Orange Curacao (orange liqueur), lime, egg yolk, mole bitters, house Orgeat (sweet syrup), El Pelotón de la Muerte Mezcal and garnished with a sweet tropical flower.

Photo provided by Dove’s Luncheonette.

13. COCONUT – ZZ’s Clam Bar (New York City)[13]

Simply called “Coconut,” ZZ’s Clam Bar in New York shakes up a tropical treat of Trinidadian rum, acacia honey and smoked cinnamon and serves it in a real coconut on ice.

Photo provided by Major Food Group.

14. VARIOUS MIXED DRINKS – Bread & Wine (Chicago)[14]

There is a whole lot more going on at Bread & Wine in Chicago than the name implies, including a list of creatively named cocktails made with gin, tequila, vodka and rum to get the summer party started.

Photo provided by Bread & Wine.

15. MOJITO – Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Jazz Club (Los Angeles)[15]

Duck into the cool scene at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Jazz Club — with drinks as lively as its music — and enjoy a refreshing mojito to help you relax and soak in the sounds of summer.

Photo provided by Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Jazz Club.