LUXE FILE LOVES: Labor-Free Holiday Sips

Some things require no revision. Others need thirteen decades to get it right. Case in point: we seriously doubt Labor Day’s founding fathers ever dreamt their working class celebration would become a lost weekend of Bobby Flay-inspired BBQ cook-offs, lingerie-clad football games (you go, Bliss girls) and fraternity-style drinking contests. Hey, nobody’s perfect.

So in honor of everyone's favorite holiday-cum-booze-fest, we rustled up our favorite labor-free cocktails from the city’s top mixologists and watering holes. No beer bong required.

MEXI MULE

¡Ay Chiwowa!

1½ ounces Lunazul Blanco Tequila

4-6 ounces diet ginger beer

2 orange wedges for drink and garnish

Directions: Combine tequila and juice of an orange wedge. Stir. Pour over ice into a glass. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with an orange wedge. 

MOSCOW MULE

Crafthouse

1 cup Crafthouse Moscow Mule mix (features premium vodka, ginger beer, lime, and pure cane sugar)

Mint sprig or lime wheel for garnish

Directions: Gently roll the bottle to mix. Serve over ice. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig or lime wheel. 

SOUTHSIDE

Crafthouse

1 cup Crafthouse Southside (features premium gin, lime, pure sugar cane, and natural mint flavors)

Mint sprig for garnish

Directions: Gently roll the bottle to mix. Serve over ice. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig. 

A6

Cask & Courtesy

1 ounce Templeton Rye

1 ounce Luxardo Apertivo or Aperol

1 ounce dry vermouth

Orange peel for garnish

Directions: Combine ingredients. Stir and serve straight up or over ice. Garnish with an orange peel. 

THE ITALIAN INFLUENCE

Cask & Courtesy

1 ounce Candolini Bianca Grappa

¾ ounce St. Germaine

¼ ounce Luxardo Apertivo or Aperol

Splash of Prosecco

Lime wedge for garnish

Directions: Combine ingredients in a shaker. Shake 5-10 times. Pour into a tall glass. Top with Prosecco (Sec or Demi-Sec). Garnish with a wedge of lime.

MARZEMINO CITRUS PUNCH

Good Vines

1½ ounces Good Vines Marzemino

1½ ounces gin

¾ ounce Campari

¾ ounce lemon juice

¼ ounce simple syrup

2 dashes Angostura Orange Bitters

Orange peel for garnish

                   

Directions: Combine all ingredients (except for Marzemino) in shaking glass with ice. Shake for 10 seconds. Add Marzemino. Serve in rocks glass with ice. Garnish with an orange peel.

SANGRIA

Good Vines

4 ounces Good Vines Cabernet

1 ounce lemon juice

1 ounce orange juice

2 ounces brandy

1½ ounces simple syrup

4 ounces Good Vines Marzemino

Apple ice cubes*

*Apple ice cubes: Fill an ice cube tray with water and minced apples. Freeze overnight.

Directions: Combine all ingredients, except for Marzemino, in a pitcher and stir vigorously. Pour into iced wine glass and top off with Marzemino. Gently stir and garnish with frozen apple ice cubes.