You're cool. You're confident. You're ready for Labor Day libations.
Being cool means you want a hip and trendy drink. Being confident means you are happy for that drink to be crazy strong, crazy weak, or alcohol free. You have come to the right place because we have a terrific Labor Day libations line up.
The hot cocktail this summer is New York City's Eel Bar's Sharona. A twist on the Negroni, Eel's recipe tinkers with the Italian favorite's ratios and swaps out gin for Manzanilla sherry. This bumps down the alcohol content substantially and gives the beverage an even more bittersweet profile.
To make things simple (and to really lean into the Campari), we keep the one-to-one-to-one ratio of Campari, vermouth, sherry. We also mixed things up with the light, tangy, fresh fruity Bodegas Gutiérrez Fino Colosia sherry ($25) and dry, nutty, big bodied Bodegas Dios Baco Amontillado sherry ($30). We used our fav sweet vermouth, the perfect-for-any-cocktail Elena Penna Vermouth di Torino Rosso ($30). Try the original recipe, then start to experiment.
Another way to keep flavor and bump down the alcohol content is FRE Sparkling Brut ($11). You can go alcohol free with a nice cold flute of the brut, or you can mix up some spritzes with your favorite aperitif. The Aperol Spritz is the champion of Italian happy hour. The Campari Spritz has more punch. The Hugo Spritz is all the rage with elderflower liqueur giving it a botanical sweetness. Just add FRE and save on calories and cash.
Gin is the ultimate summer liquor. We don't make the rules, we just like them. Our favorite gin from last summer is our favorite gin this summer: Four Corners ($37). Four Corners' mix of Washington wild juniper, Florida cherry bark, California yerba santa, Maine cranberries, and more gives it a unique herbal punch that elevates an average gin and tonic to a revelation.
One new fav is Magellan Gin ($30). Magellan's unique, very-French blend of herbs also bumps up the G&T in fresh ways -- it's a bit peppery, a little floral, the right amount of juniper essence, and very yummy.
Do you love a cold red? Don't be ashamed, chilled reds are perfect for summer. If you're willing to try a bottle on ice, go with Chill Ya Jola ($19) from Tuscany estate Badia a Coltibuono. Both a phonetic English spelling of the Ciliegiolo grape and serving instructions, Chill Ya Jola is fresh and juicy, just right to pair with all your grilling favorites.
Maybe you don't want to do any work. Maybe you want a drink without having "a drink."
Premade cocktails can be a real gamble (most rate between average and lousy), but Via Carota Craft Cocktails (variety six-pack $69) are excellent. And they make a huge range of drinks. The Classic Margarita is, well, classic. The Signature Manhattan tastes like it was shaken up by Frank Sinatra's personal bartender. The White Negroni -- an artisan white aperitivo with dry gin and vermouth -- is a fun twist on a favorite that you should try with a twist.
Like premade cocktails, ready-to-drink mocktails aren't always as good as advertised. Mingle bucks that trend (12-pack $40.95). The Cucumber Melon Mojito Mocktail may be a mouthful, but it's a delicious mouthful. Blood Orange Elderflower is just as good. With half a dozen more flavors, all you need is ice and some choice garnishes.