4th of July Cocktails
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Whether you’re firing up the grill, lounging by the pool, or posting up with sparklers and a cooler full of drinks, the 4th of July is the ultimate excuse to gather, indulge, and show off your red, white, and booze. This year, I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite 4th of July cocktail recipes.
IMO, the best 4th of July cocktails have to match the vibe you’re going for. Some of you might need boozy Jello shots. Others might be craving a spritz pitcher for a crowd that actually survives the summer heat. And for everyone, you can’t go wrong with an easy crowd-pleaser that can keep making more batches of as the day drinking turns into sundown debauchery.
No matter how you’re celebrating, there’s something in this lineup for everyone.
New Favorite 4th of July Cocktails
If you want to serve a drink that no one has probably ever had before, start with one of these newer cocktail recipes that the people are loving! They’re super popular, so they’re sure to wow your guests no matter how wild or tame your 4th of July ends up.
Choose Your 4th of July Vibe
Easy 4th of July Pitchers
Nothing is easier that batching up a pitcher of your new signature cocktail. With all the food and decorations you have to prep as the host, let the cocktail be the easy part.
Jello Shots
4th of July is the perfect excuse to make jello shots. It’s hot out, we have the day off work, and we’re celebrating outside with fireworks. Recipe for success.
4th of July Bar Basics
Shop all the basics for making 4th of July cocktails
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Deli Containers
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Pottery Barn Hammered Café Glass Pitcher
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Beast Blender
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A Bar Above Premium Japanese Jigger
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Pretty Simple Cocktails
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Crafthouse by Fortessa Boston Shaker and Strainer
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Fine Mesh Sieve Strainer
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Citrus Juicer Reamer
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Chef’n Citrus Press
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Glass Measuring Cup
Cocktails in a Deli Container
For 4th of July, you’re probably outside. Maybe you’re grilling, maybe you’re camping, maybe you’re on a boat. Wherever you are, sipping a cocktail out of a deli container is absolutely the right move.
4th of July Snacks
4th of July is just as much about eating as it is about drinking. Here are my favorite summertime nibbles to serve alongside your cocktails.
Let’s Talk Syrups
If you can boil water you can make your own simple syrup! Sometimes all it takes to make a classic cocktail with a vibrant or seasonal twist is to add a homemade syrup. For 4th of July, you can make red syrups with tons of different fruits and even blue syrups from blueberries (…sort of).
Frozen Cocktails to Beat the Heat
No matter where you live, 4th of July often feels like the hottest day of the year. For cocktails that truly stay cold even on the hottest day, throw your ingredients in a blender with some ice and enjoy your adult slushies!
4th of July Margaritas
There’s just something about a margarita that keeps me cool and refreshed on a hot 4th of July day. These crowd pleasers are super seasonal and delicious. You can’t go wrong.
Margaritas… Kind Of
As much as I love a margarita, I also love beer and mojitos and sours. Since we love a riff around here, why don’t we mix them all together into a Kind-Of-Margarita?
this land was made for you and me
4th of July Spritzes
Nothing is easier than a spritz for such a laid-back holiday like the 4th of July. Just buy some bubbly, soda water, and a bottle or two of your favorite liqueurs and there you go. You can even have guests make up their own since they’re pretty impossible to get wrong.
4th of July Mocktails
Non-alcoholic drinks that feel just as refreshing as the boozy ones. These 4th of July mocktails are perfect for guests who prefer N/A drinks but still want something fun that feels like an easy celebration drink.
4th of July Cocktail FAQs
I usually drink beer on 4th of July. Can you make beer cocktails?
Of course! I love a beer cocktail! Try these Beergaritas, which you can make individually or in the actual bottles of beer, which is so easy. IMO, these are my ultimate go-to 4th of July cocktails for laid-back camping and backyard BBQ vibes.
Making a layered red, white, and blue cocktail sounds like a lot of work. Got anything easier but still festive?
I’m totally with you on that. You can add the red, white, and blue colors to your 4th of July cocktails with garnishes way easier than you could achieve by layering colored alcohol. The easiest base color for your cocktail would be white (or clear) or red from cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and watermelon. Then add a blue garnish like blueberries. Better yet, freeze a bunch of blueberries and use them as ice to keep the drinks cold!
Do you have tips for keeping cocktails cold?
The 4th of July can turn into a long day of drinking outside in the hot sun. Yay! But that means your drinks can get warm quickly, too. Of course, a cooler filled with ice will work for bottled things like beer and Spritz ingredients. Otherwise, you can make big batches of your go-to signature cocktail in insulated pitchers with pour spouts along with a bunch of ice. And the best way to keep a cocktail cold is to blend it with ice like an adult slushie!
Pro tip: make the cocktails a bit stronger than you normally would to account for all that melted ice and dilution.
What cocktails can I make ahead for a party?
Batch cocktails like a Blue Hawaiian Punch, Margaritas, Spritzes, and a White Linen for the perfect make-ahead cocktail. You could also make a frozen cocktail in a blender so they’re nice a cold for everyone. You can prepare them a few hours in advance and store them in the fridge until serving.
What non-alcoholic drinks can I serve for 4th of July?
4th of July mocktails made with sparkling water, juice, herbs, and seasonal syrups are great non-alcoholic options that still feel festive and special. I love adding a good N/A ginger beer or sparkling soda so it feels like a spritz, or blending up the ingredients so the mocktail feels like a fancy tropical treat.
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