4th of July cocktail recipes

If you are having a BBQ this Fourth of July, instead of serving the same old tired cocktails, beer, and wine, create some new and interesting beverages with an all-American theme and some sparkle.

Sparkling Cocktail Tips

• Red, White, and Blue: To make all-American red, white, and blue cocktails you can use liquor that is colored such as blue curacao, Hpnotiq, strawberry schnapps, or a splash of red or rosé wine. Or you can use colored fruit juices like cranberry and pomegranate juice, or grenadine. For the white, you can float any clear liquor on top of a heavier juice. You can even use fresh fruit to represent the flag like adding cherries, blueberries, and bananas or “white” grapes to the cocktail.

• Make it Sparkle: To make a sparkling cocktail you can of course add Champagne, sparkling wine, or club soda for some fizz. If you want your cocktails to really sparkle then you can also add sparklers to your beverage. Just be careful!

• Firecracker Cocktails: For some fiery kick to your cocktails, add some jalapeno or serrano peppers to the mix. Even a splash of hot sauce will add a bit of fire and some red color. There are even pepper-flavored liquors available that will give your drink some spice.

Waving American Flag

Makes 1 cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce cranberry juice
• 2 ounces Hpnotiq
• 1 ounce watermelon vodka
• Splash of club soda

Directions:

• Pour cranberry juice into the bottom of a martini glass
• Shake Hpnotiq with watermelon vodka and slowly pour over cranberry so it floats on top creating a layer
• Pour club soda over top of blue layer

Red Raspberry Sparkler

Makes 1 cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce raspberry vodka
• 1 ounce elderflower liquor
• Splash of sparkling rosé wine

Directions:

1. Pour raspberry vodka and elderflower liquor into a champagne glass and top off with sparkling wine

Serrano Firecracker

Makes 1 cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 lime, quartered
• 1/2 serrano chile, seeded
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 3 ounces tequila

Directions:

1. Muddle lime with chile and sugar until well combined
2. Add ice and tequila and shake well
3. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice
4. Garnish with a lime slice if desired

More 4th of July Recipes

• Patriotic Cocktails
• Easy American Flag Cake
• All-American BBQ