10 Red, White, and Blue Drinks to Celebrate the Fourth of July

You've got the flag-decorated sheet cake in the fridge. The burgers were made the night before, and the hot dogs are ready to grill. Your tablescape is planned and you have mini American flags to hand out to all your guests. What's left? A red, white, and blue drink to toast July 4th with!

A backyard BBQ is a must on the Fourth of July, and while beer may seem like the obvious choice for a cookout, a pretty and patriotic cocktail would take your party to the next level. It could be as easy as pitchers of red and blue sports drinks set out on display, or you get really creative and craft cocktails that taste great and make for a pretty picture. While you could serve these in a cocktail glass, we prefer a good ol' mason jar. Even better if you have one with a handle!

We've got an incredible selection of drinks that are red, white, and blue — just in time for your Independence Day party. Which one of these recipes (or two) will you make for your backyard barbecue get-together?

1. Strawberry Lime Agua Fresca

Not all of your guests (especially those under 21) will drink, so having a few non-alcoholic options is a great idea for a July 4th shindig. We recommend this strawberry lime agua fresca, which is simple to make — just blend strawberries, water, and lime juice in a blender, then strain. It's an extremely refreshing drink for a hot July day!

If you want to make the drink alcoholic, try adding light rum. Get the recipe here.

2. Sauza® Watermelon Margarita

If you're planning on making a big batch cocktail, this is the one to serve. It's easy to make and the bright red color- thanks to fresh watermelon juice -  is perfect for a 4th of July party.

While this isn't a full red, white, and blue cocktail, this means you don't have to babysit your guests as they pour themselves a second glass!

•  1 cup Sauza® Tequila
•   ½ cup lime juice
• ½ cup triple sec
•  1 cup watermelon juice
•  Drop of honey

Add ingredients to an ice cube-filled pitcher and stir. Pour into salt or sugar-rimmed glasses, and garnish with a watermelon wedge.

3. Cherry Pie Cocktail

If you want to put some delicious effort into your 4th of July cocktail, you can start with homemade cherry moonshine NOW by infusing cherry simple syrup, cherries, and moonshine together and letting it sit for about a week. Then on the big day, just strain and combine with club soda for a divine, handcrafted cocktail that's truly delicious. But if you're really in a hurry, cherry vodka or store-bought cherry moonshine will work too!

These cocktails would look GREAT served in a mason jar. Get the recipe here.

4. Citrus-Spangled Spritzer

The layered look of this vodka-based spritzer is perfect for a backyard BBQ on the fourth.

Pro tip: When following this alcoholic drink recipe, pour each element over the back of a spoon so they don't mix.

• 1 part Pinnacle Citrus Vodka
• 1 part DeKuyper Blue Curacao Liqueur
• 2 parts lemon soda
• 1 part grenadine
• Lemon for garnish
• Blueberries for garnish
• Mint Sprig for garnish

Lightly mix the vodka and lemon soda in a cocktail shaker with ice and set aside. In a tall glass, add the grenadine slowly to the bottom.

Fill the glass with crushed ice. Strain the vodka soda mixture over the back of a bar spoon, followed by the blue curacao. Garnish this patriotic drink with fresh mint, lemon rind star and berries (optional).

5. Electric Blue Margarita

A vibrantly blue margarita will really make things feel special on Independence Day. Our Electric Blue Margarita is strong, too — made with triple sec, tequila, peach schnapps, and blue curaçao. Imagine a red sugar rim and a maraschino cherry on top of it!

Learn more about blue curaçao and get the recipe for the Electric Blue Margarita here.

6. Skinnygirl® Berry Patriotic

This low-calorie cocktail is perfect for sticking to your meal plan during a party. Get the recipe below:

• 1 part Skinnygirl Bare Naked Vodka
• 1 part DeKuyper Blueberry Schnapps
• Splash of club soda
• 5 muddled strawberries
• 20 blueberries

Add muddled strawberries to a glass and top with ice. Shake Skinnygirl® Bare Naked Vodka and DeKuyper® Blueberry Schnapps in a shaker with ice. 

Strain into the glass and top with club soda and blueberries for a fruity delight.

7. Classic Piña Colada

The wonderful piña colada was invented in Puerto Rico, which is an American territory. This white drink of pineapple juice, rum, coconut milk, lime juice, and sugar will be a huge hit at any summer BBQ, but especially on the Fourth of July. Our recipe can be made shaken or blended, so if you don't have a blender, you're not out of luck!

A tropical-inspired cocktail will always get the party started. Get the recipe here.

8. Feeling Blue

A bright blue cocktail is perfect for sipping poolside on the fourth. Get the recipe below:

• 1-1/2 oz of Van Gogh Blue Vodka
• 1/2 oz orange liqueur
• 1/2 oz blue curacao
• 1 oz orange juice
• 2 splashes of sour mix

Build all ingredients in a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a wedge of orange. If you want to add a little red to the glass, fresh strawberries make a nice addition, too.

9. Red, White, and Blue Lemonade

There's not a drink that screams "Summer in the USA" more than lemonade. But you can inspire patriotism even further with this red, white, and blue lemonade recipe. Take some lemonade and add in blueberries, strawberries, and apple slices shaped like stars for a colorful summertime treat.

You can also spike it with some vodka if you want. Get the recipe here.

10. Boozy Red, White, & Blue Slushies

These boozy slushies rely on your blender and a healthy dose of electrolytes in the form of power drinks for the sweet red, white, and blue colors!

Don't be afraid to hydrate your body, and add some coconut rum to the 4th of July drink all at the same time. Get the recipe here.

READ MORE: All the Stores Open on July 4th for Last Minute Shopping

This post was originally published on June 26, 2020.