As the lazy days of July turn the corner into August our attention slowly shifts to planning for the big Labor Day holiday. It’s a time for barbeques on the deck, beach parties that never seem to end and some bittersweet goodbyes as young people prepare to head back to school. As the unofficial end of summer Labor Day is also the unofficial start of autumn and so any Labor Day festivities should take the rich earthy colors and timeless, contemplative charm of that season into account. We might be biased toward our copper mugs but we can’t think of a better way to create the perfect atmosphere for a Labor Day shindig than by making sure there’s plenty of everyone’s favorite metal around. So below we’ll provide a few suggestions for turning your end of summer bash into a beginning of fall festival no one will soon forget.

Copper Mugs: The Centerpiece of your Labor Day Party

Before we go any further let’s take a moment to remember what Labor Day is all about. Labor Day was created by act of Congress in 1894 to commemorate the hard work and sacrifice of the average man and woman. Without those who toil endlessly to keep our nation safe, clean, forward-looking and free there would be no nation for our leaders to lead. Creating Labor Day was an important gesture that went a long way toward building a sense of common purpose among the different strata of society at a time when America was about to assume a preeminent role on the world stage. So let’s hear it for the salt of the earth, the unsung heroes who keep things moving in the right direction, and let’s get on to creating a first class party in their honor.

Setting the Stage

The first thing your Labor Day bash will need is atmosphere. As the unofficial start to the fall season you’ll want to include plenty of seasonal color and that includes the reddish-orange hues that will soon paint many of the trees. Copper planters from Paykoc sprinkled about the patio, deck or outdoor kitchen will set the tone in a beautifully subtle way. And when it comes to food prep and service don’t forget to break out the copper cookware.

Copper Mugs and the Perfect Labor Day Cocktail

Next you’ll want to make sure you have a cocktail worthy of both the holiday and the season and we’ve got just the one for you. We’re calling it the Labor Day Mule and it’s sure to be a hit. This one allows you to show off your Moscow Mule mugs in a way that’s perfectly in keeping with the atmosphere you’re trying to create and speaks to the fact that fall - and its apple trees laden with fruit - is right around the corner.

What You’ll Need to Make the Labor Day Mule

As you might imagine from the buildup our Labor Day Mule is all about fall’s favorite fruit, the apple. It’s similar to our Apple Pie Mule but with a couple of twists that set it apart. Here’s the ingredient list:

• 2 oz ginger flavored vodka (yes, there is such a thing)
• 2 oz apple cider
• 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 oz club soda
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 apple slice to garnish
• Moscow Mule mugs
• Ice

Putting it Together

• Add the vodka, apple cider and lime juice to a chilled copper mug and stir gently.
• Add ice then add the club soda and stir gently one more time.
• Toss in the cinnamon stick and garnish with the apple slice.
• Serve and enjoy the holiday!

You’ve now got the perfect cocktail to put the finishing touch on the perfect atmosphere for your perfect Labor Day get together. All you need now are a few dozen hard working friends and maybe a preseason football game on the widescreen in the outdoor kitchen and you’ll have memories to last a lifetime. If you’re short on Moscow Mule mugs we’ve got a wide variety to choose from on our website or, if you’re in the Denver area, stop by our Logan Court retail outlet and pick up the copper mugs and other accessories you’ll need for your Labor Day bash.

Not only is copper a great Fall color its durable enough to be used every fall for the years to come. Why not make it resemble Fall all year? At Paykoc Imports we can engrave just about anything you want on our beautiful copper mugs. That includes great Fall scenery, like a beautiful Autumn day, with trees loosing their leaves and gourds everywhere. Its a great way to customize your copper mug cabinet.