As summer rapidly approaches the holiday weekend filled with bonfires, fireworks, and bbq, up your drink game with a 4th of July Cocktail. From sangria to frozen daiquiris, these cocktails are the perfect accompaniment to any 4th of July activity.
Fourth of July Cocktail
Kick things off with a cocktail so fitting it's a namesake for the holiday itself. It's the right amount of sweet with a hearty bite from the rum.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces white rum
- ¾ ounce blue curaçao
- ½ ounce peach liqueur
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, white rum, blue curaçao, and peach liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with cherry.
Watermelon Smash
This colorful cocktail adds a beautiful red hue to any party and would look stunning next to the Fourth of July cocktail or any blue drink you may find in this list.
Ingredients
- 3-4 watermelon cubes
- 2 ounces lemon vodka
- ¾ ounce honey liqueur
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Lemon wheel and lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle watermelon cubes and lime juice until no cubes remain.
- Add ice, lemon vodka, and honey liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with lemon wheel and lime wheel.
Strawberry Margarita
This beautifully pink riff on the classic margarita is well-deserving of a spot at your Independence Day table.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and salt for rim
- 2 ounces tequila
- ¾ ounce strawberry liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ¼ ounce honey
- Ice
- Strawberry slice for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, strawberry liqueur, lime juice, orange liqueur, and honey.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with strawberry slice.
Red Apple of Summer
Take a bite of apple with this boozy cocktail that's not only tasty, but one of the most gorgeous red cocktails to boot.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce red apple liqueur
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Apple slices and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add bourbon, red apple liqueur, cranberry juice, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with apple slices and rosemary sprig.
Berry Sparkler
Unlike the other sparklers that always seem to land on your clothes and in your hair, this sparkler cocktail hits the spot.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tequila
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ¼ ounce chili liqueur
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Rosemary sprig and strawberry slices for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add tequila, orange liqueur, and chile liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig and strawberry slices.
Blue Fireworks Martini
Mirror the firework display in the sky with a martini that will have the same effect on your tastebuds. For an authentic firework experience, add a pop rocks rim to your martini glass.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce tequila
- ½ ounce blue curaçao
- ½ ounce pineapple liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Cherry and lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, blue curaçao, pineapple liqueur, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with cherry and lemon wheel.
Star Spangled Cocktail
Like the stars in that twilight blue sky, this star-spangled cocktail will sweep you and everyone else off of their feet.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces butterfly pea flower-infused vodka
- 3 ounces sweet tea
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- Lemon wheel and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass add ice, butterfly pea flower vodka, and orange liqueur.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with lemon wheel and mint sprig.
Strawberry Mojito
Play up the patriotic color scheme by turning the classic minty mojito into a stunning red cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2-3 fresh whole strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 2-3 fresh mint leaves
- 2 ounces white rum
- ¾ ounce mint simple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce strawberry liqueur
- Crushed ice
- Strawberry slice and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle strawberries and mint leaves with a splash of simple syrup.
- Add ice, white rum, lime juice, strawberry liqueur, and remaining simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into glass over crushed ice.
- Garnish with strawberry slice and mint sprig.
Stars and Stripes
It's a 4th of July cocktail that looks ike the red and white stripes on the American flag.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces vodka
- ¾ ounce raspberry liqueur
- ¼ ounce grenadine
- Ice
- Lemon-lime soda to top off
- Strawberry slice and blueberry for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, vodka, raspberry liqueur, and grenadine.
- Slowly top off with lemon-lime soda to maintain the layers.
- Garnish with strawberry slice and blueberry.
Red Fruit Sangria
This sangria makes all those fruity and refreshing summer flavors the star in this easy-to-make red sangria that makes approximately four to six servings. This sangria is also a great choice to serve alongside any 4th of July foods.
Ingredients
- 750 mL dry red wine, such as rioja or pinot noir
- 6 ounces orange liqueur
- 4 ounces white rum
- 4 ounces watermelon juice
- 4 ounces cranberry juice
- Ice
- 10-12 strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 2 cups watermelon cubes
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pitcher or punch bowl, add ice, prepared fruit, red wine, orange liqueur, white rum, watermelon juice, and cranberry juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Serve in cocktail or rocks glasses over fresh ice garnished with mint sprigs.
Cherry Bomb
Merge fruit flavors with a spicy kick in this unsuspecting cocktail. You can definitely consider this to be in the family of firecracker cocktails.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cinnamon whiskey
- 3 ounces cherry juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Pomegranate seeds and lemon wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cinnamon whiskey, cherry juice, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with pomegranate seeds and lemon wedge.
White Sangria
A white sangria might be a little more approachable, as it's a bit lighter and sweeter. It's perfect for a large group gathering for the 4th of July. This recipe serves approximately six, but you can easily double.
Ingredients
- 750 mL pinot grigio
- 6 ounces grapefruit juice
- 6 ounces white grape juice
- 4 ounces orange liqueur
- 2 ounces honey liqueur
- Ice
- 2 grapefruits, sliced
- 6-8 strawberries, hulled and sliced
Instructions
- In a large pitcher or punch bowl, add ice, prepared fruit, pinot grigio, grapefruit juice, white grape juice, orange liqueur, and honey liqueur.
- Stir to mix.
- Serve in rocks glasses over fresh ice.
Cherry Margarita
Few things proclaim summer as much as a classic margarita. The cherry margarita, well, serves as the cherry on top for any summer soiree, especially a Fourth of July party.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and sugar for rim
- 2 ounces cherry-infused tequila
- 1 ounce cherry juice
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce honey
- Ice
- Cherry and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cherry tequila, cherry juice, orange liqueur, lime juice, and honey.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with cherry and mint sprig.
Strawberry Aperol Spritz
The Aperol spritz is a classic cocktail that, with a little bit of a makeover, is an incredible summer cocktail, specially made for the 4th of July.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces prosecco
- 2 ounces Aperol
- ¾ ounce strawberry liqueur
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Strawberry slice, lemon slice, and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, prosecco, Aperol, and strawberry liqueur.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with strawberry slice, lemon slice, and mint sprig
Nantucket Island Iced Tea
A softer, gentler cousin of the Long Island Iced Tea, this recipe looks to replicate that flavor and experience without as much of a boozy kick. This will make roughly eight servings.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces bourbon
- 8 ounces rye
- 6 ounces orange liqueur
- 4 ounces vodka
- 4 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 8 ounces sweet tea
- Ice
- Lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, add ice, bourbon, rye, orange liqueur, vodka, lemon juice, and sweet tea.
- Stir to mix.
- Serve over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lemon slices.
Pimm's Cup
Although this drink has roots in London that you can trace back all the way to the mid-1800s, it still makes for an excellent cocktail to beat the heat without being too strong.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Pimm's
- 2 ounces lemonade
- Ice
- Ginger ale to top off
- Cucumber wheels, orange slice, and strawberry slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, Pimm's, and lemonade.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with ginger ale.
- Garnish with cucumber wheels, orange slice, and strawberry slice.
Blueberry Vodka Lemonade
You can skew this cocktail as tart as you'd like by using additional lemon juice or as sweet as you'd like by adding a little extra simple syrup or even blueberry simple syrup.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces blueberry vodka
- 2 ounces pink lemonade
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Blueberries, lemon wedge, and thyme sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, blueberry vodka, pink lemonade, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with blueberries, lemon wedge, and thyme sprig.
Fourth of July Picnic
This picnic in a glass, with the red, white, and blue with the green mint, is also easy to make as a mocktail to have on hand for hydration.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- ¾ ounce almond syrup
- ¼ ounce strawberry syrup
- Ice
- Berry flavored club soda to top off
- Blueberries, strawberry slices, and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, almond syrup, and strawberry syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into cocktail glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with berry club soda.
- Garnish with blueberries, strawberry slices, and mint sprig.
Watermelon Paloma
Marry the fresh summer flavors you find in a classic paloma cocktail with the refreshing crispness of watermelon in this tequila sipper.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tequila
- 1½ ounces watermelon juice
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Grapefruit soda to top off
- Watermelon wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, watermelon juice, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with grapefruit soda.
- Garnish with watermelon wedge.
Melon Rum Punch
Bring your summery rum punch flavors to the United States with a smooth and beloved melon flavor.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces watermelon-infused rum
- 1 ounce coconut rum
- 2 ounces watermelon juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce grenadine
- Ice
- Watermelon wedge and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, watermelon rum, coconut rum, watermelon juice, lime juice, lemon juice, and grenadine.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with watermelon wedge and mint sprig.
Watermelon Margarita
It wouldn't be a proper bbq for the holiday without the watermelon margarita in your 4th of July alcoholic drink lineup.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and sea salt for rim
- 2 ounces tequila
- 1 ounce watermelon juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce agave
- Ice
- Watermelon wedge for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
- With the sea salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sea salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, watermelon juice, lime juice, orange liqueur, and agave.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with watermelon wedge.
Sour Pucker
Few things are more misunderstood and undervalued than a beertail. You don't even need to enjoy this in a separate glass. Simply add the ingredients to the beer can or bottle after consuming approximately half.
Ingredients
- 6 ounces sour berry beer
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- Ice
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, sour beer, vodka, and pineapple juice.
- Carefully stir to mix.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
Salty Paloma
Sip a classic grapefruit and tequila cocktail while you revel in the 4th of July celebrations.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and salt for rim
- 2 ounces tequila
- ¾ ounce grapefruit juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Grapefruit soda to top off
- Grapefruit slice for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, grapefruit juice, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Top off with grapefruit soda.
- Garnish with grapefruit slice.
Star Spangled Spritzer
Whip up an easy and colorfully on-point white wine spritzer as you lounge by the pool -- or at least take it easy in the shade.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce cranberry juice
- Ice
- 2 ounces club soda
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a wine glass, add ice, white wine, lemon juice, and cranberry juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Add club soda.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
Old Glory Slushie
Combine the flag's red, white, and blue into an elegantly layered cocktail slushie.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces blue curaçao
- ½ ounce white rum
- 1½ ounces berry vodka
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1½ ounces raspberry liqueur
- ½ ounce elderflower liqueur
- 1½ cups ice
- Decorative straw for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, add half cup ice, blue curaçao, and white rum.
- Blend until smooth and pour into glass.
- In a clean blender, add half cup ice, berry vodka, and lemon juice.
- Blend until smooth and pour onto blue layer, slowly to create a second layer.
- In a clean blender, add remaining ice, raspberry liqueur, and elderflower.
- Blend until smooth and pour onto white layer, slowly creating a third layer.
- Garnish with decorative straw.
Betsy Ross's Martinis
You can make up a large batch, or just one for you, and change the hue of the martin at the very end, making it easy to customize and a total crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce blue curaçao for blue martini
- ½ ounce raspberry liqueur for red martini
- ½ ounce elderflower liqueur for white martini
- Ice
- Cherry for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, lime juice, and preferred color ingredient.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with cherry, if desired.
Red, White, and Blue-garita
The most 4th of July cocktail of all, this margarita captures all the flag colors in a simple yet out-of-this-world margarita.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and salt for rim
- 2 ounces coconut tequila
- ¾ ounce blueberry liqueur
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce agave
- Ice
- Blueberries for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, coconut tequila, blueberry liqueur, lime juice, and agave.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with blueberries.
Kaboom Highball
Like the fireworks, sparklers, and bonfires on the 4th of July, this boozy highball will have you feeling the same way.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces blackberry brandy
- ½ ounce vodka
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- 1½ ounces cranberry juice
- Ice
- Apples sliced into star shapes, blueberries, and watermelon cubes for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, blackberry brandy, vodka, orange liqueur, and cranberry juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with apple stars, blueberries, and watermelon cubes.
July Mule
Craft a one-of-a-kind mule riff with a bit of sparkle and some caution.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Kentucky bourbon
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce mint simple syrup
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Blueberries, star-shaped watermelon, mint sprig, and sparkler for garnish
Instructions
- In a copper mug or rocks glass, add ice, bourbon, lime juice, and mint simple syrup.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with blueberries, star watermelon, mint sprig, and sparkler.
Note: Extinguish sparkler before imbibing.
Beergarita
Like the sour beer cocktail, you can slowly enjoy half a beer before transforming the remaining half into a cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce silver tequila
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ¼ ounce agave
- Ice
- 4 ounces pilsner or light lager
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, silver tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, and agave.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Add beer.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
Frozen Banana Daiquiri
Cool off with a frozen, summery, and perfectly sweet frozen banana daiquiri. Keep it closer to its roots by following the recipe for a classic daiquiri, but add a splash of banana liqueur.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces silver rum
- 1½ ounces banana liqueur
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 cup crushed ice
- Lime wheel for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Chill a coupe or cocktail glass.
- In a blender, add crushed ice, silver rum, banana liqueur, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Blend until just mixed or until desired consistency.
- Pour into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lime wheel, if desired.
Igniting the 4th of July With a Cocktail
There's no reason not to reserve the fireworks and sparkling show for nightfall. Turn instead to any of these patriotic-hued 4th of July cocktails (or try some 4th of July jello shots) that'll just about steal the show. From alcoholic beverages to a quick mocktail, these are sure to brighten up any bbq. Next, prepare to be tempted with more summer alcohol drinks that are perfect for the season.
