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Less Labor, More Cocktails: 20 Easy Drinks for Labor Day

Labor Day weekend is supposed to be a chance to take a pause from work, and enjoy the last stretch of summer. At Mad River Distillers, we love a well-made craft cocktail, but well-made doesn’t have to mean time-consuming. Labor Day is the perfect excuse to keep things simple, including your cocktails, so you can spend less time doing and more time relaxing. We’re taking the “labor” out of cocktailing with a collection of easy drinks that deliver plenty of flavor, without measuring a dozen ingredients or washing a sink full of barware.

Here are our top 20 easy cocktails for Labor Day that don’t take a lot of work to enjoy:

VANILLA RUM SHRUB HIGHBALL
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-1.5 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-1 oz. of a fruit or berry shrub (we used Tait Farm Raspberry Shrub)
-club soda

Instructions:
In a highball or collins glass, add the Vanilla Rum and shrub. Fill the glass with ice. Top with club soda. Express a lemon peel over the top, then add as a garnish.

PINK GRAPEFRUIT HIGHBALL
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
- 1.5 oz. of Rum 44
- Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit
- 3-4 dashes of Strongwater Virtue Bitters

Instructions:
Add the Rum 44 to a highball glass. Fill the glass with ice. Pour the FeverTree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit to fill the glass. Add a few dashes of Virtue Bitters. Add a fresh rosemary sprig as a garnish.

CLASSIC OLD FASHIONED
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-1/4 oz. of Simple Syrup
-2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
In a mixing glass, add all ingredients with ice. Stir for about 15-20 seconds. Strain contents into an old fashioned glass over a large cube. Add an orange peel for garnish.

BOULEVARDIER
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-3/4 oz. of Cocchi di Torino
-3/4 oz. of Campari

Instructions:
Combine in a mixing glass over ice. Stir briefly. Strain contents into a Double Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with an orange peel.

BLOOD ORANGE & BASIL BOURBON SMASH
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-1 oz. of Simple Syrup
-2 oz. of Blood Orange Juice

Instructions:
In a shaker, add all ingredients with ice. Shake for about 8-15 seconds. Strain contents into a glass over fresh ice. Add a basil leaf for garnish.

Maple Mule next to a bottle of Double Tapped Maple Bourbon Whiskey

MAPLE MULE
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Double Tapped Maple Bourbon Whiskey
-1/2 oz. of fresh squeezed lime juice
-ginger beer

Instructions:
In a copper mug with ice, add the Double Tapped Maple Bourbon Whiskey, then lime juice. Top with ginger beer. Add a lime wheel for garnish.

BURNT ROB ROY
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Burnt Rock Bourbon
-3/4 oz. of Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth
-3 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
Chill a coupe glass. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass. Add ice, then stir for 20-30 seconds. Strain and serve up in the chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry.

VERMONT VACATION
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Maple Cask Rum
-1 oz. of Contratto American Vermouth
-2 dashes of Bourbon Bitters

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir well, then strain into a martini glass and serve up. Garnish with Luxardo cherries.

MAPLE CASK RUM OLD FASHIONED
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Maple Cask Rum
-1/2 oz. of simple syrup
-2-3 dashes of Blackstrap Bittercube Bitters

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Add an orange twist as garnish.

KINGSTON NEGRONI
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1 oz. of PX Rum
-1 oz. of Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth
-1 oz. of Campari

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. Stir a few times to incorporate ingredients. Strain contents over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with an orange peel/swath.

Glass filled with Rye Gold Rush cocktail on a bar counter

RYE GOLD RUSH
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Revolution Rye
-1 oz. of Honey Simple Syrup
-1 oz. of fresh squeezed lemon juice

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker, and shake. Strain contents in a glass, over a large ice cube. Add a twist of lemon for garnish.

BOOZY ARNOLD PALMER
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz Straight Bourbon
-1 oz Lemon Juice
-3/4 oz Black Tea Honey Syrup

Instructions:
In a mixing glass, add all ingredients with ice. Stir for about 15-20 seconds. Strain contents into a Highball glass over fresh ice. Top off with bubbles. Add a lemon peel for garnish.

CAMILLO’S MISTRESS
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-3/4 oz. of Cappelletti
-3/4 oz. of Dolin Blanc

Instructions:
Combine ingredients in a mixing glass over ice. Stir briefly. Strain contents into a Double Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with an orange peel.

OLD PAL
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1 oz. of Revolution Rye
-1 oz. of Dolin Dry Vermouth
-1 oz. of Campari

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass over ice, stir briefly. Strain into a small wine glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

RUM 44 DAIQUIRI
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of RUM 44
-1 oz. of Lime Juice
-3/4 oz. of Simple Syrup

Instructions:
Combine ingredients in a shaker over ice. Shake briefly. Strain contents into a chilled Coupe glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

CAIPIRINHA
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Maple Cask Rum
-1/2 oz. of Demerara Syrup
-Half a lime (squeezed)

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a Double Old Fashioned glass. Stir and top with crushed ice.

MAD APPLE MULE
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Mad Apple
-Ginger Ale
-1 dash Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients. Serve over ice in a highball glass. Garnish with lemon.

1794
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Revolution Rye Whiskey
-1.5 oz. of Campari
-1.5 oz. of Carpano Antica Vermouth

Instructions:
Stir Rye, Campari and Vermouth in a mixing glass with ice. Strain contents into a cocktail glass over a large cube. Garnish with an orange swath.

Rye Manhattan on a table in front of straw and corn

RYE MANHATTAN
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-2 oz. of Revolution Rye Whiskey
-1 oz. of Sweet Vermouth
-2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
Shake rye, sweet vermouth, and bitters with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with cherry.

THE MAD HEMINGWAY
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1 oz. of First Run Rum
-1 oz. of grapefruit juice
-1 oz. of Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

Instructions:
Shake rum, grapefruit juice, and maraschino liquor in a shaker with ice. Strain into coupe glass. Add a lime for garnish.

Whether you’re hosting a backyard gathering, heading to the lake, or simply putting your feet up at home, a great cocktail doesn’t need to feel like work. With just three ingredients (including a favorite Mad River Distillers spirit), and a garnish, these easy recipes leave more time for what Labor Day weekend is really about: less labor, slowing down, and savoring the last days of summer. So pick your favorite pour, keep it simple, and raise a glass to a well-earned day off. Cheers!


Written and published by Brianne Lucas on August 30, 2026.

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