The Ultimate Labor Day Weekend Playlist (& Fun Drinks To Go With It)

Every year Labor Day never seems to fail to sneak up on us. One minute we’re celebrating Memorial Day and the start of summer, and just like that, it’s September. But hey, time flies when you’re having fun, right?

While Labor Day may mark the unofficial end of summer, that doesn’t mean the party has to stop. In fact, nearly everyone goes all out on LDW for the last hoorah of the summer, and we’re sure you’re no exception.

So, how do you turn up in the best way? With some good music and some even better-tasting drinks of course!

Below, we’re breaking down the best songs to jam out to this LDW and the best drink recipes you have got to try.

The coolest part? These aren’t any basic drinks — they’re mood-inspired cocktails. Yup, that’s that right, whether you’re delighted and grateful that you had the most amazing summer, feeling accomplished that you crossed all those activities off your bucket list, exhausted from work (or the non-stop partying), or even having a pity-party that summer’s coming to an end, there’s a cocktail on our list that was especially created for you, to cater to your needs:

Lana Del Rey vs Cedric Gervais – Summertime Sadness Remix

Calvin Harris – Summer

LFO – Summer Girls

Justin Timberlake – Summer Love

Green Day – Wake Me Up When September Ends

Blissful Lady | Mood: Delighted

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz.  Gin
• 1 oz. Dry Vermouth
• 1/2 oz. Green Chartreuse
• 1 bar spoon Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
• 1 bar spoon Orgeat Syrup

Directions:

• Mix all ingredients in a Boston Shaker
• Add ice and shake
• Strain into a chilled Cocktail Glass

Garnish: Before straining the drink into the glass, twist 2 orange peels into it, discarding the peels afterward. After the drink is strained, twist one more orange peel over the top of drink and use to decorate the rim of the glass.

Three Dots and a Dash | Mood: Accomplished

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Clément V.S.O.P. Rhum Agricole Vieux
• 1/2 oz. El Dorado Dark Rum
• 1/2 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz. Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
• 1/2 oz. Honey Syrup
• 1/4 oz. Allspice Dram
• 1.4 oz. Falernum
• 1 dash Angostura Bitters
• 3/4 cup Crush Iced

Directions:

• Measure all ingredients into a blender, ice last.
• Blend for 5 seconds.
• Pour into Tropical Glass.
• Garnish: 3 cocktail cherries on a cocktail pick.

Island Bounty | Mood: Slow Down, Workaholic!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Plantation Original Dark Rum
• 1/2 oz. Appleton Estate Jamaican Rum
• 1 1/2 oz. Guava Puree
• 1/2 Fresh Banana, chopped
• 1/2 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
• 1/2 Raw Honey
• 3/4 cup Crushed Ice

Directions:

• Measure all ingredients except ice in a blender.
• Blend for 5 seconds or until honey is dissolved.
• Add crushed ice and blend for no more than 5 seconds.
• Pour into a Tropical Drink Glass.
• Garnish: Pineapple wedge and a cocktail cherry with a sprig of mint.

Keep Ya Going | Mood: Fatigue

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Plymouth Gin
• 3 oz. Fresh Tomato Water
• 1/2 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
• 1/4 oz. Raw Honey
• 1 x 4″ Celery Stalk, cut in small pieces
• 3 sprigs Fresh Parsley

Directions:

• Muddle parsley, celery, honey, and lemon juice in a Boston Shaker.
• Add gin and shake.
• Fine strain into a Collins Glass filled with ice.
• Add tomato water and stir to incorporate.
• Garnish: Sprig of celery leaves and an olive.

Counting Blessings | Mood: Grateful

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Hibiscus Infused Vodka
• 1/2 ox. Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
• 1/4 of a Fresh Pear, Seeded and Peeled
• 1/2 oz. Simple Syrup
• 3 oz. Ginger Ale

Directions:

• In a Boston Shaker, muddle pear with syrup and juice.
• Add vodka and ice.
• Shake and fine strain into an ice-filled Collins Glass.
• Add Ginger Ale and more ice as needed.
• Garnish: 3 pear slices, fanned around glass and a lavender sprig.

Subdued Wrath | Mood: Take a Deep Breath

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Lavender Infused Vodka
• 1 oz. Fresh Spiced Grape Juice
• 1/2 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
• 1/4 oz. Simple Syrup
• 7 Borage Flowers
• 2 White Grapes, Quartered

Directions:

• Mix all ingredients in a Boston Shaker.
• Stir to disperse the solids throughout.
• Add ice and gently shake.
• Pour contents into a Double Old Fashioned Glass.

Get some more amazingly delicious Cheers! Just Because mood-inspired cocktail recipes HERE!