Our Most Patriotic Drinks and Cocktails
If you’re hosting a Fourth of July cookout this year then you’ve likely already spent some time planning appetizers, picking side dishes to fill out your spread and whipping up at least one patriotic dessert. But no Independence Day celebration is complete without a cocktail or two—which is why we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites. You’ll find easy-to-mix drinks full of summery flavor as well as festive sips that feature plenty of red, white and blue.
We’ve even included these fun gelatin shots, flavored with Blue Curaçao and grenadine.
The patriotic theme is finished with a cloud of whipped cream and a flag-inspired topper.
Get the Recipe: Firecracker Shots
Moscow Mule
This classic cocktail combines vodka with a heady kick of fresh ginger and tonic water. It’s traditional to serve these summer refreshers in copper cups, but they’ll be popular no matter what glasses you choose to serve them in.
Get the Recipe: Moscow Mule
Red-White-and-Blue Cocktails
Get the sensation of fireworks in your mouth with this simple cocktail that features Pop Rocks-coated rims.
Get the Recipe: Red-White-and-Blue Cocktails
Coconut Pineapple Spritzer
This light cocktail couldn’t be simpler to make and combines the flavors of a piña colada without the added calories. The secret is using coconut seltzer and pineapple vodka, which are both packed with flavor.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Pineapple Spritzer
Sweet Fallen Angel Cocktail
Here’s one for the gin lovers (and there’s always one in every group). Gin, grenadine, lime juice and club soda make for a refreshing cocktail that’s halfway between a Collins and a Cherry Lime Ricky.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Fallen Angel Cocktail
Mezcal Sunrise
If you’re a fan of tequila sunrises, then you’ll fall for this mature version of the classic drink that replaces the tequila with smokey mezcal.
Get the Recipe: Mezcal Sunrise
Rosé Spritz
This sunset-hued cocktail combines pink Italian bubbly with bitter orange liqueur and sharp grapefruit juice with a splash of seltzer to make a refreshing yet interesting summer drink.
Get the Recipe: Rosé Spritz
Guy Fieri’s Fourth of July Cocktail
This red and blue cocktail features a complex medley of ingredients that will take you straight to Flavor Town this Independence Day. Watermelon schnapps, cranberry juice, tequila and slice of jalapeño make for one unforgettable backyard cocktail.
Get the Recipe: Fourth of July Cocktail
Blue Lagoon Cocktails
Prepare this tropical blue cocktail to counter a red cocktail at your July 4th party. The combination of coconut rum and Blue Curaçao is a match made in heaven.
Get the Recipe: Blue Lagoon Cocktails
Watermelon Cosmo Punch
Few fruits embody the spirit of summer than a juicy red watermelon. Geoffrey Zakarian’s cosmo punch recipe is simple to make and focuses on that ripe watermelon flavor.
Get the Recipe: Watermelon Cosmo Punch
Red Wine Slushie
Molly Yeh’s recipe for a boozy berry slush is tasty enough for even the most ardent wine-haters to enjoy. These slushies are finished with a decadent drizzle of condensed milk à la Hawaiian shave ice or New Orleans snoballs.
Get the Recipe: Red Wine Slushie
Fireworks Red, White & Blue Daiquiris
This boozy layered slush features some surprising flavors in each color of the American flag. The blue layer is flavored with passion fruit liqueur, while the red layer features strawberry and juicy watermelon. The white layer balances the fruitiness with creamy coconut sorbet.
Get the Recipe: Fireworks Red, White and Blue Daiquiris
Blackberry Spritzer
Blackberries, basil, and black currant liqueur make the chief flavor profile of this refreshing summer cocktail. Plus, its deep color is a reminder of the blue backgrop of the beloved Stars and Stripes.
Get the Recipe: Blackberry Spritzer
More Fourth of July foods
Fourth of July desserts that will steal the show