Hot Pink Labor Day Weekend Beverages
The highly anticipated Barbie movie is set to hit the theaters in 2023, creating a vibrant pink sensation on the red carpet, fashion and beverages. Now is the time to stock your fridge for a Labor Day Weekend celebration. Here is a list of some fun pink wines, beverages and cocktails that will have you singing, “Come on Barbie, let’s go party!”
Pretty Pink Wines
Start the party off with The Beach by Whispering Angel 2021 ($17.99) This energetic ‘little sister’ to Whispering Angel, is perfectly balanced with subtle, fruity notes and exceptional length. Clad in a lighter glass bottle, when this new wine was launched last Spring, the company hosted a coastline-cleanup initiative aimed at preserving the world’s beaches.
Avaline Rosé 13% ABV ($24.99) is a vegan-friendly wine by actress Cameron Diaz and her business partner and friend Katherine Power. This pretty-in-pink color offers a light and fresh mouthfeel with flavors of melon and citrus zest. The light pink hues are from organic grapes without any extra sugars, colors, or concentrates. It’s a fruit-forward French wine ideal to serve with crudités and dip or veggie burgers hot off the grill.
Sonoma-Cutrer Rosé of Pinot Noir 2021 ($25; 11.9% ABV) has been crafting wines since 1981 in the esteemed Russian River Valley growing region of Sonoma County, California. Today, their female-led winemaking team produces sustainable certified wines. The 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir is a beautiful and delicate example of why Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs make a wonderful rosé. The light salmon color produces aromas of tangerine, pink grapefruit, strawberry, raspberry and a light hint of rose petal. Its crisp, refreshing mouthfeel accentuates the fresh fruit flavors of citrus, red berry fruit with a tropical twist that leads to a long, juicy and tangy finish.
Rosa Regale Sparkling Rosé 2022 (Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG) 10% ABV ($19.99) is a sweet sparkling wine with a fine and persistent perlage. Made from the Brachetto grape in Piedmont, northern Italy, Rosa Regale has a soft pink color, with hints of grapefruit and orange blossom on the nose with well-balanced sweetness, fresh acidity, and melon notes on the palate. Rosa Regale’s complex finish makes it a perfect pairing for pastries and cheeses & charcuterie.
Festive Cocktails
Those looking for a signature Labor Day cocktail to serve will want to make The Water Melon with Mulholland Distilling Sliver Vodka. This spirit earned a medal for it’s gluten-free vodka that is distilled from 100% non-GMO corn in Missouri and finished at the bottling facility in California. Blended in crystal clear purified water to 86 proof (ABV 43%), it’s screened and double charcoal filtered before bottled in signature Mulholland Vodka bottles.
Mulholland Vodka offers a silky mouthfeel with rich vanilla and evergreen notes, ending with a hint of pepper and mint. Since you will be serving watermelon during your festive Labor Day picnic dinner, this cocktail is easy to make. Here’s the recipe:
“Mulholland Distilling’s The Water Melon”
Photo by Matthew Alper
1.5 oz Mulholland Vodka
.75 oz lime juice
.50-.75 oz agave syrup to desired sweetness
.75 cups watermelon chunks
Directions: Shake until chilled and strain over ice in your favorite glass. Garnish with Watermelon and Tajin for a spicy kick!
Another cocktail for the Gin drinkers that is pink-o-luscious is a Rose colored Gin & Tonic. Glendalough Distillery makes a Rose Gin that is aromatic on the nose with soft juniper notes, and perfumed with fresh roses. It offers soft and sweet spice, bright berries and a distinctive rose petal finish. Here’s how to make wonderfully pink Rose Gin and Tonics:
Rose G&T
2 oz. Glendalough Rose Gin
Tonic Water
Lime wedge, garnish
Mint sprig, garnish
Add Rose Gin in an ice-filled wine glass. Top with tonic water and garnish with a slice of lime and a fresh sprig of mint.
EASY IN A CAN
Since Barbie is a BABE, celebrate the end of the summer serving cans of BABE 100 Rosé (SRP: $9.99/4 pack). Its pinkish lavender color rosé wine is light and refreshing like a seltzer, and has only 100 calories and zero grams of sugar, plus 6.9% ABV. Each can of BABE 100 is equal to one full glass of wine. Since it’s in a can, you can pack it in ice and bring it anywhere during Labor Day Weekend.
San Diego-based SouthNorte, the maker of Mexican style craft beers, has branched out to offer three premium RTD cocktails to bring the flavors of Mexico to your Labor Day party. Enjoy premium tequila ginger beer and fresh lime in the Mexican Mule and in the Paloma with tequila, fresh lime and grapefruit. The Matador matches these two mainstays with pineapple. SouthNorte’s brewmaster, Ryan Brooks, honed his craft in Baja before returning home to San Diego, and got creative with flavors to be filled into canned craft cocktails.
Non-Alcoholic beverages
Founded by actress and singer Vanessa Hudgens and actor/entrepreneur Oliver Trevena, Caliwater has launched their newest flavor Watermelon just in time for Labor Day. They also have two other flavors: Wild Prickly Pear and Ginger & Lime. Each Caliwater can is filled with organic, non GMO, vegan, kosher, and gluten free ingredients. At only 25 calories per can, you can sip all three flavors in one day. The superfood Prickly Pear cactus base is packed with antioxidants to boost hydration, skin health, and digestion. Purchase in a 4 or 12 pack. As part of Caliwater’s mission, a portion of proceeds from all sales are currently donated to No Kid Hungry.
Another non-alcoholic beverage that delivers on flavor and quality is the low-calorie Partake. It’s a vegan beer that is transforming the non-alcoholic beer experience. They come in a variety of flavors:
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Partake PALE blends fruity and floral hops to infuse the brew with bright flavors of orange zest, grapefruit, and a whisper of pine. It’s dry on the palate with a delightfully crisp finish.
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Partake IPA balances citrusy hops with a subtle malt backbone. Its light, bubbly body and dry finish make it an all-day sipper that packs an incredible amount of flavor.
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Partake BLONDE is a golden, bubbly and easy-drinking brew. A full body and balanced flavor profile make it an instant classic.
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Partake RED is crafted with a complex mix of malts to create its distinctive amber-hue and notes of caramel, cherry blossom and roasted almonds. This expertly balanced brew is sure to be a hit with lovers of classic English and Irish ales.
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Partake DARK pours a deep brown with notes of roasted coffee, walnuts, and plum. Full of flavor from start to finish, it’s time to add this beauty into your rotation!
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Partake PEACH is crisp and refreshing with a hint of tartness. Brewed with various malts, coriander, sea salt, and natural peach flavoring it adds a fun and fruity twist to the beloved sour style.
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Patake HAZY IPA bursts with flavor, offering a generously dry-hopped taste while low on bitterness. Each sip is juicy and smooth with notes of ripe apricot, sweet mango, and luscious berries.
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Partake LIME is light, fresh, and flavorful with hints of zesty citrus. Each sip is met with a crisp zing and a clean finish. Available online only.
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Partake CHERRY GOSE is subtly sweet with a twist of tartness. Brewed with coriander, sea salt, and natural flavoring to create the perfect balance of sour and sweet, it’s fun and fruity from start to finish. This limited-edition beer has only 15 calories, 2g carbs and Og sugar.
Hiball Energy Seltzer (SRP: $23.99/8-pack; $44.98/12-pack provides good energy. This refreshing beverage is made with zero sugar, zero calories, organic caffeine and a hint of natural flavor. Flavors include Blood Orange, Grapefruit, Watermelon Mint, Wild Berry, Blackberry, Lemon Lime, Peach and Vanilla with 160mg caffeine to enjoy Labor Day festivities late into the evening.
Cheers!
Please drink responsibly.
