Labor Day weekend might signal the end of summer, but there’s still plenty of warm summer nights and bright fruits and veggies to squeeze out before fall. If you’re not going anywhere this weekend, sometimes all you need is a mixed drink to make a day at home feel like the vacation you deserve.
We searched high and low for innovative cocktails that feature our favorite Jewish flavors, drawing inspiration from Eastern Europe, Israel, North Africa, and our own backyards. We think you’ll find a drink (or three) that will help you savor summer for a little while longer!
Smoked and Salted
Smoked Lemon-Lime-Ade from Saveur
Roasted Grapefruit Margaritas with Smoked Sea Salt (bottom right, above) from Heather Christo
Grilled Summer Smash (top right, above) from Serious Eats
Celery Soda Cocktails
Homemade Celery Soda from Food52
Cel-Ray Spring Tonic (above) from Imbibe Magazine
Celery, Mint and Gin from Pop Sugar Food
Beet, Celery, and Horseradish Shrub with Gin from Serious Eats
Pickle-Inspired Cocktails
Dill Pickle Bloody Mary from Bon Appetit
Beety Bloody Mary (above) from Food 52
Dill Gin and Tonic from Saveur
Cucumber, Lime Juice and Pickle Juice Cocktail from Bon Appetit
Harissa Cocktails
Leaf and Spear (above: cilantro, parsley, cumin and caraway syrup) from Saveur
Middle Eastern Michelada by Amir Nathan
Harissa Margarita from Stir and Strain
Harissa Bloody Mary
Sour Cherries
Sparkling Sour Cherry Apertivo (above) from Bon Appetit
Sour Cherry Yuzu Bellini from Food and Wine
Sweet and Sour Cherry Sparkler from The Kitchn
Boozy Egg Creams
Double Chocolate Bourbon Egg Cream (above) from TheKitchn.com
Spiked Brooklyn Egg Cream from Big Girl Small Kitchen
Slushies
Manischewitz Red Wine Slushy from What Jew Wanna Eat
Frozen Mint Lemonade (Limonana) from Tasting Table
Sephardic-Inspired Cocktails
Sephardic-Inspired Sangria-Two Ways from The Nosher
Pomegranate Honey Coolers from Martha Stewart
Rosewater Manhattan (above) from Country Cleaver
Cardamom Blush Cocktail from Food Republic