13 In-Demand Cocktails I Bring to Labor Day Cookout So I Don’t Have to Bring a Dish
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Showing up with cocktails instead of a casserole is my secret weapon for surviving Labor Day cookouts. These drinks are easy to make, wildly popular, and way more fun than another pasta salad. They save me from kitchen stress, keep things festive, and guarantee I’m everyone’s favorite guest.
Electric Lemonade
Electric lemonade is always the first thing I make when I want to skip bringing food but still wow the Labor Day crowd. The tropical mix of vodka, lemonade, blue curaçao, and fizzy lemon-lime soda looks like summer in a cup and tastes even better. People grab it so fast, I never have to explain why I didn’t show up with a casserole.
Get the Recipe: Electric Lemonade
Frozen Cranberry Margarita
When I roll into a Labor Day cookout with frozen cranberry margaritas, no one asks where the chips and dip are. It’s tart, slushy, and just sweet enough to feel like a treat, plus the bold red color makes it look fancy without any extra effort. I blend it up in minutes, and suddenly I’m the one everyone’s asking for the recipe.
Get the Recipe: Frozen Cranberry Margarita
Espresso Martini
I bring espresso martinis when I want to keep the energy up and the compliments coming without turning on the oven. It’s strong, smooth, and just sweet enough to double as dessert, which no one minds when the party starts winding down. Showing up with these instead of a side dish makes me feel like the most prepared guest there.
Get the Recipe: Espresso Martini
Cranberry Margarita
Every time I make these cranberry margaritas for Labor Day, they disappear faster than any dip I’ve ever brought. The sweet-tart flavor hits perfectly on a hot day, and the bright red color makes it look festive even without decorations. It’s easy to mix up on the spot, and it totally earns me a pass on food duty.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Margarita
Lemon Drop Martini
A lemon drop martini is my secret move for skipping the store-bought cookies and still being everyone’s favorite at the BBQ. It’s tart, refreshing, and just fancy enough to make it feel like I put in effort when I really didn’t. I pour one for myself, hand out a few, and no one even notices I didn’t bring a dish.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Drop Martini
Raspberry Mojito Cocktail
My raspberry mojito is the cocktail that disappears fastest at any Labor Day gathering, and I’m not mad about it. The fresh raspberries, cool mint, and splash of lime make it the ultimate hot-weather drink that everyone reaches for. By the end of the day, I’m the one who brought the most in-demand “dish” and all I had to carry was a pitcher.
Get the Recipe: Raspberry Mojito Cocktail
Healthy Mint Julep
I’ve learned that if I show up with a pitcher of healthy mint juleps, I don’t have to show up with anything else. The cold bourbon and fresh mint combo makes it taste way more complicated than it is, and it’s perfect for sipping on a hot afternoon. Everyone’s too busy asking for refills to care what I didn’t bring.
Get the Recipe: Healthy Mint Julep
Montana Mule
Montana mules are my go-to Labor Day trick when I want to contribute something special without firing up the oven. The huckleberry vodka gives it a fresh, fruity twist that gets people talking, especially with a few real huckleberries floating on top. It’s a total crowd-pleaser, and I always catch someone asking for the recipe before the second round.
Get the Recipe: Montana Mule
Banana Daiquiri
Banana daiquiris hit the sweet spot between cool, creamy, and just strong enough to count as “bringing something.” With just four simple ingredients and a quick blend, it’s a drink that has friends circling back to the cooler. I’ve stopped bringing food entirely because this is what they’re all hoping I’ll show up with anyway.
Get the Recipe: Banana Daiquiri
Champagne Pomegranate Cocktail
I never show up to Labor Day without my champagne pomegranate cocktail because it’s festive, bubbly, and feels like a celebration in a glass. The combo of sweet pomegranate juice with a hint of orange liqueur makes it bright, refreshing, and completely irresistible. People think I’ve pulled off something fancy, but really, it’s my easy way to skip bringing food while still looking like I brought the party.
Get the Recipe: Champagne Pomegranate Cocktail
Vodka Cranberry
Vodka cranberry is my go-to when I want to contribute to the party without turning on the oven or stressing over a side dish. It’s crisp, refreshing, and barely takes five minutes to throw together, which is all anyone wants in a summer cocktail. Add a few fresh cranberries on top, and I’ve got a no-fuss drink that always gets attention.
Get the Recipe: Vodka Cranberry
Empress 1908 Gin Sour Cocktail
I love showing up to the Labor Day cookout with an Empress 1908 Gin Sour because it’s an instant conversation starter. The color-changing gin makes it look like I spent way more time on it than I actually did, and people can’t help but ask how it’s done. It’s smooth, citrusy, and classy enough to make me look like the one who brought the most impressive “dish” without ever turning on the oven.
Get the Recipe: Empress 1908 Gin Sour Cocktail
Vodka Watermelon Punch
Vodka watermelon punch is the reason I never show up to a Labor Day cookout with a casserole anymore. It’s bright, juicy, and just boozy enough to keep things fun without going overboard, thanks to the mix of watermelon, pineapple juice, and limeade. Everyone’s always impressed, and I get to breeze in looking like I planned it all week.
Get the Recipe: Vodka Watermelon Punch
