When you're not thinking about America's current state, the Fourth of July is an excellent excuse for BBQs, a socially-distanced party on the beach, endless rounds of cocktails, and an unapologetic round (or five) of Miley's "Party in the U.S.A." After all, July 4 is the only holiday where you can wear red, white, and blue in one outfit without the fear of clashing. So, sure, your celebration might look a little different this year, but that doesn't mean you can't celebrate in style. Whether you're registering to vote for the upcoming election, shopping one of the many great sales of the long weekend, or even just chilling on the couch with your good ole' friend Netflix, we got just the cocktail drink for you. Make sure your at-home (or six-feet-apart) celebration is a banger with these drinks that you'll actually make because 1) they're delicious and 2) they require so little effort. Ahead, here are deliciously cool cocktails sure to make you kick off the patriotic holiday in style.
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Red Rum Punch
Ingredients:
¾ parts BACARDÍ Limon
¾ parts BACARDÍ Raspberry
¾ parts BACARDÍ Superior
½ parts Grenadine
2 parts Sweet & Sour
1 parts Cranberry Juice
Garnish with Lemon Wedge or Mint
Directions:
Pour all ingredients into a punch bowl filled with ice blocks. Stir. Garnish the bowl with lemon wheels and raspberries.
Courtesy of BACARDÍ Rum
Sparkling Shed Berry
Ingredients:
1.5 oz.Broken Shed Vodka
Splash of cranberry juice
Fresh seasonal berries
Club soda
Directions:
Top up with club soda. Serve over ice and garnish with berries.
Courtesy of Broken Shed Vodka
Berry United Lemonade Punch
Ingredients:
2 cups Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva
3 cups lemonade
1 cup cold water
4-6 dashes of Angostura bitters
Lemons
Blueberries
Ice
Directions:
In a pitcher with ice, combine your Diplomatico Rum, lemonade and water. Add in your lemon and bitters. Finally, garnish with lemon slices and blueberries.
Courtesy of Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva
Berry Bubbly
Ingredients:
6 oz. Chandon Brut
3 frozen blueberries
3 frozen raspberries
Directions:
Put your frozen fruit into a wine glass or flute. Pour the Chandon Brut in slowly.
Courtesy of Chandon
Recuerdo Mezcal Blues
Ingredients:
1 ½ oz. Recuerdo Joven Mezcal
1 oz. Blue Curaçao
1/2 oz. lime juice
1 oz. mint syrup (1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 2-3 bunches fresh mint if you're making it.)
5 fresh raspberries
Tonic water
Directions:
Heat the water, sugar, and mint to a gentle boil. Reduce to a simmer for one to two minutes while stirring. Pull off the heat and allow to sit for 30 to 60 minutes so the mint infuses. Cool and strain the mint.)
Then muddle a couple of raspberries with the Mezcal, lime juice and syrup. Serve with ice, adding the curaçao, and then filling with tonic water. Top with three fresh raspberries to garnish.
Courtesy of Recuerdo Mezcal
Clara Bow
Ingredients:
½ oz of Grenadine
½ oz. St. Germain elderflower liqueur
¾ oz. fresh lemon juice
1 ½ oz. Bourbon
5 to 6 mint leaves
Directions:
Combine all cocktail ingredients except for the mint in a shaker. Add 4 to 5 ice cubes and shake. Using a Hawthorne strainer and a fine-mesh strainer, pour the contents into a glass and garnish with mint.
Courtesy of Lynnette Marrero, Co-Beverage Director of Wonderbar
Smirnoff Blackberry Smash
Ingredients:
4 blackberries
5 mint leaves
Juice from 1/2 lemon
6 oz. Smirnoff Ice Zero Sugar Original
Directions:
Add blackberries, mint, and lemon juice in a glass. Using a muddler, crush all of the ingredients together to release their juices and flavors. Stir in the Smirnoff Ice Zero Sugar Original. Pour the cocktail over ice and garnish with blackberries and fresh mint.
Courtesy of Smirnoff
Collinzz Fizz
Ingredients:
1 oz. Gin
1 oz. Triple sec
½ lemon, freshly squeezed
Top with SpikedSeltzer Ventura Lemon
Serve over ice
Directions:
Build ingredients in a Collins glass over ice, top off with SpikedSeltzer Ventura Lemon, and stir.
Courtesy of SpikedSeltzer
Tequila Blackberry Punch
Ingredients:
4 Blackberries, plus more for garnish if desired
3⁄4 oz Raspberry or blackberry liqueur
1⁄2 oz Agave nectar
1 1⁄2 oz Cazadores blanco tequila
3⁄4 oz Fresh lime juice
Directions:
Combine the blackberries, berry liqueur, and agave nectar in a shaker and muddle. Add the tequila, the lime juice and ice, and shake well. Strain into a stemless wine glass, and garnish with 3 skewered blackberries and an orange peel.
Courtesy of Manny Hinojosa, global brand ambassador for Tequila CAZADORES
Soaked Watermelon Slice Popsicles
Ingredients:
¾ cup tequila
½ cup Sparkling Ice Strawberry Watermelon
¼ cup lime juice
1lb watermelon
Directions:
Stir together tequila, Strawberry Watermelon Sparkling Ice, and lime juice in a large bowl. Cut watermelon into wedges and soak in Sparkling Ice mixture for 15 minutes. Insert popsicle sticks into wedges then freeze on a rack-lined baking sheet for 1 hour.
Courtesy of Sparkling Ice
Pomegranate Mojo Lemondrop
Ingredients:
6 blackberries
4 oz pomegranate juice
1 oz lemon juice
1 oz vodka
Sipp Mojo Berry
Directions:
Muddle blackberries and place in shaker with ice, juice, and vodka. Shake for 20 seconds, strain into glass, and top with Mojo Berry. Garnish with blackberries.
Courtesy of Sipp
Red, White, and Blueberry Mule
Ingredients:
2 oz berry Vodka (blueberry or raspberry)
6 oz Extra Spicy Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beer Mini
Blueberries
Blackberries
Directions:
Muddle blueberries and blackberries in shaker. Add vodka and shake. Fill Moscow mule mug with ice. Pour in muddled berries and vodka and fill with Brooklyn Crafted (roughly 6oz). Garnish with blueberries and blackberries.
Courtesy of Brooklyn Crafted
Red Lady
Ingredients:
2oz The Botanist Gin
1oz Cointreau
1oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
6 strips Julienned Red Bell Pepper
3 drops Homemade Orange Bitters
Directions:
In a shaker, muddle the red bell pepper, then add all remaining ingredients. Shake without ice vigorously, then add ice and shake briskly. Double-strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a strip of julienned red bell pepper.
Courtesy of The Botanist Gin
Firecracker Daiquiri
Ingredients:
3 oz. light rum
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 bottle Lemon Flower Sipp, chilled
Juice of 1 lemon
Directions:
Add rum, frozen strawberries, lemon and Lemon Flower Sipp in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into two glasses and garnish with lemon and strawberries.
Courtesy of Sipp and Mia Syn, MS, RDN
Peach Nectar Ginger Beer
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Handcrafted Peach Vodka
3.5 oz. Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beer Mini in Mango
Peach slices
Mint for garnish
Directions:
Mix peach vodka and Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beer Mini in Mango. Garnish with sliced peaches and mint over ice.
Courtesy of Brooklyn Crafted
Spiked Triple Berry Basil Lemonade
Ingredients:
1.5 cups Smirnoff Red, White & Berry
8 cups Lemonade
1 cup Basil Syrup
4 Berry Lemonade Ice
Directions:
In a pitcher combine lemonade, vodka, and basil syrup. Stir to combine. To serve, place 4 ice cubes into a high ball glass and top with lemonade cocktail.
Created by Megan Marlowe of Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
Blueberry Mojito
Ingredients:
10-15 Blueberries
1/2 Lemon
1-1/2 oz. Purus Organic Vodka
1/4 - 1/2 oz. Agave Nectar or Simple Syrup
2-3 Sprigs of Fresh Thyme
Directions:
Muddle berries and lemon in mixing cup. Add Purus vodka, agave nectar, and ice. Shake for 20-30 seconds. Bruise 2 sprigs of thyme and place in the bottom of a highball glass with ice. Strain the cocktail into glass and add thyme and blueberries to your liking.
Courtesy of Purus Organic Vodka
Blueberry-Thyme Gin Smash
Ingredients:
1 ½ oz. Prairie Organic Vodka
½ oz. Elderflower Liqueur
½ oz. Simple Syrup
Muddled Blueberries
Directions:
Mix all ingredients.
Courtesy of Prairie Organic Vodka
The Picnic Basket
Ingredients:
Two 1-inch cubes of Watermelon (muddled)
2 oz. London Dry Gin
3/4 oz. Lemon Juice
1/2 oz. Simple Syrup
Pinch of Salt
Directions:
Mix together in a mason jar and add a slice of watermelon and a blueberry for garnish.
Courtesy of Bankers Hill Bar and Restaurant
Blue Grapefruit Cosmo
Ingredients:
2 oz. Blue Ice Vodka
1 oz. Blue Curacao Liqueur
1 Tblsp. Grenadine
0.5 oz. Grapefruit Juice
0.5 oz. Simple Syrup
Directions:
Combine Blue Ice Vodka, Blue Curacao, grapefruit juice, and simple syrup in a mixing glass. Stir to combine and to prevent cloudiness. Strain into chilled martini glass. Add tablespoon of grenadine.
Courtesy of Blue Ice Vodka
The Angry Firework
Ingredients:
Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Hard Cider
1 oz. Blue Curaçao
1 oz. Raspberry Schnapps
Directions:
In a pint glass, combine the Blue Curaçao and the Raspberry Schnapps over ice. Fill with Angry Orchard Crisp Apple. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Courtesy of Angry Orchard
The Sparkler
Ingredients:
3 oz. Tropicana Strawberry Peach Drink
1 ½ oz. Bourbon
½ oz. Lime Juice
Ginger Beer
Fresh Raspberries or Blueberries, for garnish
Directions:
Combine all ingredients except ginger beer in a mixing glass. Add 2-3 ice cubes and stir well to combine. Pour into an ice-filled Collins glass. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with fresh raspberries and blueberries.
Courtesy of Tropicana
Boozy Slush Pink Heels
Ingredients:
Blue Slush Layer:
2 cups Ice
2 oz. Blue Curacao
1 cup Homemade Lemonade
White Slush Layer:
2 cups Ice
2 oz. SMIRNOFF Red, White & Berry vodka
1 cup Homemade Lemonade
Red Slush Layer:
1 ¼ cups Strawberries, quartered
2 oz. SMIRNOFF Red, White & Berry vodka
¼ cup of Homemade Lemonade
Directions:
Blend each layer separately until smooth. Store in freezer until ready to build your cocktail. Pour each layer into a highball glass and serve immediately.
Created by Taylor Bradford of Pink Heels Pink Truck
Cherry Lime Float
Ingredients:
2 oz. IZZE Sparkling Cherry Lime
1 scoop of Cherry Ice Cream
½ oz. Rum Cream
1 oz. Rye Whisky
Directions:
In a milkshake glass add rye whiskey, cream rum, and ice cream. Top with IZZE Sparkling Cherry Lime. Garnish with whipped cream and a cherry.
Courtesy of IZZE
Strawberry Moscow Mule
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Smirnoff Vodka
1 Lime
4 oz. Ginger Beer
Ice
Scoop of Strawberry Sorbet
Directions:
Into the bottom of a copper mug, add vodka, lime juice, and ice. Top with ginger beer and a scoop of sorbet.
Created by Megan Marlowe of Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
Wild Berry Smash
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Belvedere Wild Berry
Half Lemon, cut into quarters
1 oz. Simple Syrup
1/4 cup Fresh Berries (could be blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, or a combination of any and all.)
Directions:
In a mixing glass, muddle the lemon quarters and berries with the simple syrup. Add the Belvedere Wild Berry. Top with ice and shake vigorously. Strain contents over ice. Garnish with fresh berries and serve.
Courtesy of Belvedere Vodka
Bottle Rocket
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Absolut
.5 oz. Chipotle-Agave Nectar*
1 oz. Pineapple Juice
.5 oz. Lime
Directions:
Shake all ingredients, strain into a bottle, funnel smoke into bottle, and garnish with a faux bottle rocket stick.
*Combine 1 cup of agave nectar with 1 oz. of liquid from canned chipotle peppers (adobo) and strain. If canned chipotles are unavailable, use one teaspoon powder, blend vigorously, and strain.
Courtesy of Absolut
Born in the LES
Ingredients:
2 1/4 Flor de Cana Extra Dry
3/4 Mint Simple Syrup
1/4 Blue Curaçao
1 Lime Juice
Directions:
Add blue curaçao to empty glass. Shake remaining ingredients in tin and pour slowly over crushed ice. Dash angostura and peychauds bitters liberally over the top. Optional: garnish with American paraphernalia and mint leaves.
Star Spangled Sangria
Ingredients:
3 cups Martini & Rossi Prosecco
1/4 cup Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice or Lemonade
6 large Mint Leaves
1/2 cups Sparkling Water
3 Lemon Slices
5 Fresh Strawberries (sliced)
3 Cucumber Slices
Directions:
Combine lemon juice, mint leaves, sparkling water, lemons, strawberries, and cucumbers in a pitcher. Gently stir in chilled Martini & Rossi Prosecco just before serving. Garnish each glass with a sprig of mint.
Courtesy of Martini & Rossi Prosecco
National Anthem Negroni
Ingredients:
1 oz. Plymouth Gin
1 oz. Campari
1 oz. Cocchi di Torino Vermouth
Directions:
Add all ingredients into mixing glass. Add ice and stir for 20 seconds. Now strain into a glass, over fresh ice, and garnish with an orange peel.
Courtesy of Salute Trattoria Italiana
McCarren Margarita
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz. El Jimador Blanco Yequila
3/4 oz. Cointreau
3/4 oz. Lime Juice
1/2 oz. Red Chili Agave Syrup
Directions:
Shake all ingredients and double strain in a rocks glass over ice.
*Red thai chili agave syrup: make one quart of agave syrup (1:1) and add one red chilli in blender, blend, fine strain and refrigerate. Will last for 1 month.
Courtesy of McCarren Hotel & Pool, NYC