After the year we’ve had, we all deserve a 4th of July worth remembering. And what better way to kick off the Independence Day weekend than some delectable red, white, and blue cocktails. Whether you’re hosting a barbeque at your place, popping over to a friend’s, or just enjoying the fireworks from your couch - do it with a 4th of July-inspired drink in hand. 

Red, White, and Blue Frozen Bomb Pop

Recipe by A Wicked Whisk

Red, White, and Blue Frozen Bomb Pop, source: Website

A frozen cocktail is a great way to beat the heat at your 4th of July barbeque. Even better, it’s red, white, and blue! 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1.5 oz Vodka - Lemon flavor (Try Greenbar Lemon Vodka, gold medalist, Bartender Spirits Awards 2021)
• 1.5 oz Vodka - Cherry flavor (Try Recipe 21 Premium Cherry Flavored Vodka, bronze medalist, Bartender Spirits Awards 2021)
• 1.5 oz Vodka - Raspberry flavor (Try New Amsterdam Raspberry Vodka, silver medalist, USA Spirits Ratings 2020)
• 3 oz Grenadine
• 3 oz Blue Curacao
• Lots of ice .. approx 6-8 cups

Start by making a simple syrup by combining sugar and water in a microwave-safe bowl and heating on high for 2 minutes. Remove and stir the sugar until completely dissolved, and then move to the refrigerator to cool completely. 

Once cooled, add 2 oz of the simple syrup to your blender along with the lemon-flavored vodka and 3 cups of ice.  Blend on high until the ice reaches a slushy consistency. You can add more ice if necessary. Move the lemon ice to a glass and place it in the freezer while you prepare the other layers. 

Add 2 oz of simple syrup to the blender with the cherry vodka and the grenadine, and then add 3 cups of ice. Blend on high until it reaches a slushy consistency and then move that to a glass and place it into the freezer. 

Rinse out the blender and add 2 oz of simple syrup to the blender with the raspberry vodka and Blue Curacao. Then add another 3 cups of ice and blend on high until it reaches a slushy consistency.

Take out the other two glasses from the freezer and spoon red white and blue layers into a tall glass.

Smirnoff Ocean Breeze

Recipe by Smirnoff

Smirnoff Ocean Breeze, source: Website

While this recipe might not be solely dedicated to the holiday itself, but the blue reminds us of clear blue summer skies and ocean waves. 

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka
• 1.5 cups Blue Curacao
• 2 cups Lemonade
• Lemon Wheels

Combine Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka, blue curacao, and lemonade into a large punch bowl filled with ice. Stir well and garnish with lemon wheels.

Red, White, and Blue, berry Mule

Recipe by Brooklyn Crafted

Red, White, and Blue, berry Mule, source: Website 

A twist on the classic Moscow Mule, with a little bit of fruity patriotism. 

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Berry (blueberry or raspberry) Vodka (Pinnacle Blueberry Vodka)
• 6 oz Extra Spicy Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beer Mini
• Blueberries
• Blackberries

Muddle blueberries and blackberries in a shaker. Add the vodka and shake. Fill a Moscow mule mug with ice. Pour in the muddled berries and vodka and fill with Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beer (roughly 6oz). Garnish with blueberries and blackberries.

Purple Independence 

Recipe by A Year of Cocktails

Purple Independence, source: Website

Watch the reds, whites, and blues unite in this drink to create a beautiful, delectable, purple concoction.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces raspberry vodka (Try Absolut Raspberri Vodka)
• 1/2 ounce blueberry schnapps
• 1/2 ounce cranberry juice
• 1/2 ounce sweet & sour mix

Fill up a short cocktail glass with ice.  In a shaker, add ice and all of the ingredients above.  Shake and strain into your cocktail glass and enjoy. 

Watermelon-Blueberry Cooler

Recipe by Tasty Trials

Watermelon-Blueberry Cooler, source: Website

The watermelon-blueberry cooler is easy to whip up, and if you’re having guests over, you can make pitchers of this to pour! 

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces watermelon
• 1-ounce blueberry vodka (Try Smirnoff Blueberry Vodka)
• 1-2 lemon wedges
• Ice
• Blue decorating sugar, optional for rim

Purée watermelon, vodka, and juice of one lemon wedge in a blender. Add ice (to desired thickness) and blend until smooth. If sugaring the rim, pour a small amount of blue decorating sugar onto a plate. Run a lemon wedge around the rim of the glass. Dip rim in sugar. Pour the cocktail into a glass.

Cherry Bomb Mimosas

Recipe by Delish

Cherry Bomb Mimosas, source: Website

A mimosa is our weekend brunch staple so this one is a must-have on our list. 

Ingredients:

• 1 c. pineapple juice
• 1/4 c. maraschino cherry juice (from the jar of cherries)
• 1 bottle champagne (Try Champagne Henriot Brut Millésime, gold medalist, USA Wine Ratings 2020)
• Orange slices, for garnish

In champagne flutes, combine pineapple juice and maraschino cherry juice. Top off with champagne and garnish with an orange slice.

Strawberry Lemonade Punch

Recipe by Country Living

Strawberry Lemonade Punch, source: Website

For those looking to cut back on the alcohol this year, this strawberry-lemonade punch is the way to do so! Switch up the sparkling water for sparkling wine for a boozy option. Try the Blanc de Blancs Brut by Szigeti, a gold medalist at the 2021 Sommeliers Choice Awards. 

Ingredients:

• 1 c. fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 c. pure maple syrup
• 1 1/2 strawberries, hulled and halved
• 1 c. sparkling water
• 1 c. blueberries (optional)

Combine lemon juice, maple syrup, 3/4 pound strawberries, and 2 cups water in a blender. Blend until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Combine sparkling water, lemon juice mixture, remaining 3/4 pound strawberries, and, if desired, blueberries in a pitcher. Serve topped with ice.

Red, White, and Blueberry Sangria Pops

Recipe by Nielsen Massey

Red, White, and Blueberry Sangria Pops, source: Website 

A hit amongst everyone, these boozy popsicles will make a great addition to your 4th of July festivities. 

Ingredients:

For the simple syrup:

• ½ cup water
• ½ cup granulated sugar

Sangria Mixture:

• 1 ¼ cups organic Pinot Grigio
• 1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Organic Fairtrade Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
• ¼ teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Organic Pure Lemon Extract
• 1 cup sliced organic strawberries
• 1 cup whole organic blueberries

Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until all sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir and let cool to room temperature. 

In a large measuring cup, stir together simple syrup, pinot grigio, vanilla extract, and lemon extract. Set aside.

Create the red layer: Blend together strawberries and 1 cup sangria base until thoroughly combined. Divide strawberry mixture evenly among 12 popsicle molds, filling them up about one-third of the way. Freeze popsicle molds for 2 hours, or until fully frozen.

Create the white layer: Remove popsicle tray from freezer and pour the sangria base over the frozen strawberry layer, until popsicle molds are two-thirds full. Freeze popsicle molds for 2 hours, or until fully frozen.

Create the blue layer: Remove popsicle tray from freezer and add blueberries on top of the frozen white layer, filling to the brim. Pour remaining sangria base over blueberries, completely filling each mold. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze overnight, or until fully frozen.