4 Patriotic Cocktails to Celebrate the Fourth

With summer creeping around the corner, it’s time to relax, grill up some delicious food, and enjoy a cocktail.

What’s a better occasion to enjoy this wonderful season than at a Fourth of July party? The Fourth of July is a day to celebrate our nation’s independence, usually filled with back yard barbecues and fireworks. This year, it conveniently falls on a Friday, which means you’ll have the whole weekend to celebrate. Show off your patriotic spirit and make these fun red, white, and blue cocktails for your July 4th bash.

Fourth of July Cocktail

This tequila drink will pack a punch to your party with its bright colors and delicious taste. Here is Guy Fieri’s recipe from the Food Network that will be sure to delight your friends.

Ingredients

1 ounce watermelon schnapps

1 big splash cranberry juice

1 very thin slice jalapeno or serrano pepper

1 slice lemon

1 slice lime

1 1/2 ounces tequila

1/4 ounce blue curacao

1/2 ounce simple syrup

Watermelon wedge, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Mix the schnapps and cranberry juice in a shaker; pour into an ice-filled glass.

Muddle the jalapeno pepper, lemon and lime slices, tequila, blue curacao and simple syrup (to make a batch, dissolve sugar in equal parts hot water and chill) in the shaker. Slowly strain into the glass over the red layer. Garnish with watermelon, if desired.

Red, White, and Blue Shot

What’s a better way to celebrate with friends and family than taking a shot? Here is a quick and easy recipe from Punchbowl.com for a red, white, and blue striped shot. Its bold colors will be sure to stand out. Here’s a helpful hint: pour each ingredient slowly so the colors don’t bleed together.

Ingredients:

½ ounce Grenadine

½ ounce Peach Schnapps or Vodka

½ ounce Blue Curacao

Slowly pour each ingredient into a shot glass to create a layered effect. Add them in the order listed above.

Red, White and Blue Sangria

Usually sangria calls for red wine, but this other recipe from Punchbowl.com calls for white. Use your favorite type of white wine, or if you prefer a little bubble, use some sparkling wine instead.

Ingredients:

Strawberries, sliced

Blueberries

Pineapple, cut into star shapes

2 bottles dry white wine

1 cup Triple Sec

1/2 Cup berry-flavored vodka

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup simple syrup

Combine the ingredients in a large pitcher and stir. Chill in the refrigerator for at least four hours.

The Firecracker

This bright cocktail brought to you by Cosmopolitan is a fun and festive twist to your Fourth of July drinks. The blue liqueur and grenadine creates the bold colors that gives this vodka drink its patriotic flair.

1¼ oz. vodka

1 oz. lemon juice

1 ¼ oz. blue curaçao

¾ oz. grenadine

Splash of simple syrup

To make simple syrup, mix equal parts hot water and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Pour grenadine into bottom of an empty Collins glass. Add ice. Gently pour curacao over grenadine. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Strain over curacao and serve with straw on the side, so guests can place straw into glass and see the layers explode.

All of the spirits and wine required for these recipes can be found at Julio’s Liquors in Westborough, Massachusetts. Come by and grab what you need to add a patriotic punch to your Fourth of July party.