If you're looking for a cocktail with that little extra something, try making a firecracker. In fact, on the Fourth of July, it may actually be your patriotic duty to make and share one of these cocktails with friends and family.
Big Boom Firecracker
There are many variations of the firecracker, but this one is based on its fiery flavor and not the coloring. Strain it into a margarita or martini glass. It serves one.
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 chunks of seedless watermelon
- 3 ounces rum
- 1 ounce orange liqueur
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle watermelon.
- Add ice, rum, orange liqueur, lime juice, simple syrup, and cayenne pepper.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into martini or margarita glass.
- Garnish lime wedge.
Firecracker Flag
While it's undoubtedly a beverage for Independence Day, this red, white, and blue firecracker can work for any patriotic occasion, such as Memorial Day or other celebrations of America. The recipe makes one drink served in a collins glass.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce grenadine
- 1½ ounces blue curaçao
- 1½ ounces vodka
- 1 tablespoon simple syrup
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- Crushed ice
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a collins glass with crushed ice.
- Add grenadine.
- Carefully and slowly, add blue curaçao, creating a layer by pouring down the back of a spoon.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, simple syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain on top of the blue curaçao layer, pouring down the back of spoon.
- Garnish with cherry.
Boozy Firecracker
This version is a firecracker because it contains a lot of alcohol, including 151 rum and sloe gin.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces dark rum
- ½ ounce sloe gin
- Ice
- Orange juice to top off
- ½ ounce 151 rum float
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a collins glass, add ice, dark rum, and sloe gin.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with orange juice, leaving space for float.
- Float 151 rum on top.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
M-80 Firecracker
This cocktail packs even more of a bang than its cousin, the French 75.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ½ ounces Amaro Montenegro
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Prosecco to top off
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, Amaro Montenegro, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with lemon ribbon.
Cherry Bomb
This cocktail is just the right amount of sweet, but beware; it'll really knock you off your feet if you're not careful.
Instructions
- 1¾ ounces rum
- ¾ ounce cherry liqueur
- ½ ounce grenadine
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, rum, cherry liqueur, grenadine, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with cherry.
Watermelon Firecracker
Don't be fooled by the pink hue of this cocktail. It'll definitely be lighting a fire.
Ingredients
- Lime and salt for garnish
- 2 ounces watermelon juice
- 1½ ounces silver tequila
- 1 ounce watermelon schnapps
- ¾ ounce red apple schnapps
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Watermelon wedge for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the rocks 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, watermelon juice, tequila, watermelon schnapps, red apple schnapps, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with watermelon wedge.
Blue Bomb
This blue-hued firecracker is deceptively boozy.
Ingredients
- 1¾ ounces coconut rum
- ¾ ounce blue raspberry vodka
- 1 ounce blue curaçao
- 1 ounce pineapple juice
- Ice
- Lemon-lime soda to top off
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, coconut rum, blue raspberry vodka, blue curaçao, and pineapple juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with lemon-lime soda.
- Garnish with cherry.
Sunrise Firecracker
Whether you're ambitiously stirring up a morning cocktail or you're adding to your afternoon menu, this hits the spot.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- ¾ ounce white rum
- 3 ounces pineapple juice
- Ice
- ¼ ounce grenadine
- Orange slice and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, silver tequila, white rum, and pineapple juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball or hurricane glass over fresh ice.
- Slowly add in grenadine, allowing it to sink to the bottom, do not stir.
- Garnish with orange slice and cherry.
Bring a Little Boom
These distinctly different cocktails all have one thing in common. Like their namesake, they bring a little boom to anyone who drinks them.
