Summer isn’t over yet. As Labor Day comes and goes, it’s time to gather your friends and family for one last taste of holiday fun. Set out the candles on your deck or patio and get ready to toast to one final round of summer—with some fall twists.
How to Choose the Perfect Cocktail for an End-of-Summer Outdoor Party
The first rule of the perfect summertime cocktail is to choose something fresh and delicious. Pair that with a touch of bitter or sour, and you’ve got the makings of an ideal end-of-summer option. Throw in some fall colors, and your evening will be Instagram-worthy.
The key to outdoor cocktails always lies in simplicity. You want something that is easy to make, easy to clean up (meaning nothing that goes in the blender), and easy to drink.
End of Summer Cocktail Recommendations
You don’t have to be the best-ever bartender to serve your friends and family top-notch cocktails. We’ve picked out simple options so that even the host can enjoy the party. Just don’t forget to drink responsibly and respect any friends or family that don’t care or partake.
Vermouth and Soda
Vermouth is bittersweet, just like the end of summer. Add some soda, ice, and a few garnishes, and you have one of the most accessible options to present to your guests as you ring in the beginning of fall and spend another memorable evening on your back deck.
Ingredients:
Vermouth (ideally Rossi, D’Oro, or Rosato)
Soda water
Garnish such as orange or olive
Ice
Instructions:
Add ice and garnish to the outdoor glassware of your choice
Pour vermouth as preferred
Add soda water as preferred
Stir
Why we love it:
A Vermouth Soda can be made with as much or as little vermouth as you like. Each guest can choose their own adventure. Using red, orange, or pink vermouth creates the perfect color for your end-of-summer cocktail.
Sangria
Sangria is a classic summer beverage, yet, given the abundance of juicy red and gold apples also hints at the fall to come. Sangria is easy to make an can be served to guests from a giant pitcher, meaning less trips back inside to the kitchen if you don’t have a bar built-in to your patio or deck.
Ingredients:
Apple
Orange
Sugar
Orange juice
Brandy
Dry red wine (ideally from the Rioja region of Spain)
Ice
Instructions:
Chop one apple and one orange
Add apple, orange, and appropriately 2 Tbsp sugar to a pitcher
Muddle
Add ½ - 1 cup of orange juice, depending on your preference
Add ⅓ - ½ cup of brandy, depending on your preference
Muddle
Add red wine and stir
Add ice
Why we love it:
For red wine lovers, Sangria is the perfect balance of summer fun and cozy autumn. Plus, a beautifully presented pitcher of Sangria is never not a crowd-pleaser!
Grapefruit Vodka Soda
Vodka soda fans unite! This is a twist on the party-girl classic. If you, your friends, and your family are feeling bummed about the days getting shorter, this is the perfect pick-me-up.
Ingredients:
Grapefruit vodka
Soda
Grapefruit juice
Grapefruit or mint garnish
Instructions:
Start with ice in the outdoor glassware of your choice
Add 1 ½ oz of grapefruit vodka, 3 oz of soda, and 3 oz of grapefruit juice
Stir
Add garnish
Why we love it:
The classics will always make the list. The grapefruit gives the drink a sour twist, making this traditionally bland combination a little more tangy.
Garibaldi (Campari Orange)
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Yes! Another Italian aperitif. What is there to say? It’s a smooth and relaxed beverage, perfect for outdoor socializing.
Ingredients:
Campari
Orange juice
Orange garnish
Instructions:
Pour 1 ½ oz and 4-6 oz of orange juice
Stir
Add garnish
Why we love it:
It looks beautiful, like watching the last summer sunset from your deck or porch.
Preparing for the Party
Be sure to prep your space so it’s safe and clean. Just because summer is almost over doesn’t mean you should neglect your deck or porch. Call a professional cleaner, custom deck builder specialist, painter, or whoever you have on speed dial.
Spruce up your space with some fairy lights. If it’s already cold in your region, grab some extra blankets to drape over the back of your seats. Candles can make a space feel cozier, and mosquito candles are your friends, even as the summer months wane away.
Conclusion
Your home’s outdoor space is meant to be used. The end of the season is the perfect time to celebrate. If drinking’s not your thing, grab some of your favorite summer snacks to enjoy on that beautiful deck or porch before pumpkin spice hits the shelves. Mocktails also make a great addition to any non-alcoholic party. The goal is to enjoy hosting your friends in your home!
