After working hard all summer, I’ll be damned if I’m going to do much of anything on Labor Day. Nope. This day is all about grilling and chilling. That means letting my significant other or friend who swears he can get down on the grill do the cooking, while I take care of the beverages. Now what I know, that he doesn’t is, there are plenty of great looking, great tasting end-of-summer sippers that don’t require a lot of ingredients or effort. Don’t believe me? Check these out, mix them up and enjoy this beautiful day off.
Basil Hayden’s Market Street Smash
By Benjamin Schiller, Chicago
2 parts Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
¾ parts simple syrup
½ part fresh squeezed lemon juice
6-7 fresh blackberries (2-3 for garnish)
Sprig of mint (for garnish)
Combine all ingredients in a mixing tin and muddle the blackberries. Add ice, shake and strain over crushed ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint and 2-3 blackberries.
Black Raspberry Margarita
1 oz. Tequila Herradura Silver
1 oz. Fresh lime juice
½ oz. Agave nectar
½ oz. Chambord Liqueur
lime wedge
blackberries
Add ingredients to a blender with a handful of fresh ice. Blend until all ingredients are combined and frothy. Or, combine liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a frosted glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a lime and blackberry.
Cruzan Pineapple Sipper
1 part Cruzan Pineapple Rum
½ part Fresh Lime Juice
2 parts Lemonade
2 parts Iced Tea
Build I\ingredients over large ice cube in rocks glass. Garnish with lime and mint.
