Laborless Cocktails

It’s hard to believe, but summer is almost over. Before you dig out your fall sweaters and Halloween decorations, there’s one last fleeting taste of the season: Labor Day.

And unlike other holidays, this long weekend is all about taking it easy. We think that should apply to what you’re drinking, too. So for the next three days, no muddling, no tiki recipes that call for a dozen ingredients and no drinks that need five minutes of shaking. (Sorry, that means a ban on Mojitos and Ramos Gin Fizzes.)

While there are plenty of enduring classics that require few ingredients and minimal preparation—the Martini and Manhattan come to mind—we challenged Aisha Sharpe, a Liquor.com advisor and co-founder of drinks consultancy Contemporary Cocktails, to come up with two relatively laborless recipes.

Sharpe was more than up to the task. This weekend, mix up her refreshing Kingston Colada (Appleton Estate Rum, coconut water, pineapple juice, bitters and a squeeze of lime) or her simple 212 (Partida Tequila, Aperol and Ruby Red grapefruit juice). The best part is that neither cocktail requires more than five ingredients. Let’s drink to the fruits of our labor.

Kingston Colada

Contributed by Aisha Sharpe

INGREDIENTS:

• 1.5 oz Appleton Estate Reserve Rum
• 1.5 oz Coconut water
• 1.5 oz Pineapple juice
• 3 dashes Angostura Bitters
• Squeeze of lime
• Garnish: Lime wheel
• Glass: Rocks

PREPARATION:

Add all the ingredients to a rocks glass filled with ice. Stir, and garnish with a lime wheel.

212

Contributed by Aisha Sharpe

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 oz Partida Reposado Tequila
• 1 oz Aperol
• 2 oz Fresh Ruby Red grapefruit juice
• Garnish: Long grapefruit peel
• Glass: Highball

PREPARATION:

Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake, and strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a long grapefruit peel.