Summer is in full swing and nothing says “America” quite like those gorgeous red, white and blue layered drinks at a backyard BBQ!
Last year I made some for the adults with vodka and blue curacao and they were a HUGE hit!
But of course as soon as my girls spotted them, the endless chorus of “Mom can I have one?” began.
So this year I’m preparing for battle with a full lineup of both cocktails AND punches/slushies!
I’ve rounded up some super easy recipes that won’t keep you stuck making drinks all day instead of enjoying the party.
Let’s dive into these patriotic sippers that will have everyone feeling festive!
4th of July Drinks – Alcoholic Version
Here are my go-to alcoholic 4th of July drinks I make for any patriotic party!
1. 4th of July Firecracker Cocktail
This eye-catching patriotic sipper is my go-to 4th of July party trick!
What You’ll Need:
- 1 ounce citrus vodka
- 1/2 ounce blue curacao
- 1 1/2 ounces lemon-lime soda
- 1/2 ounce grenadine
- Ice
How to Make It:
- Pour the grenadine into the bottom of a tall clear glass (this creates your red layer)
- Carefully fill the glass with ice cubes
- Slowly pour in the lemon-lime soda over the ice (this is your white middle layer)
- In a cocktail shaker, combine ice, citrus vodka and blue curacao
- Shake well, then very slowly strain this blue mixture over the back of a spoon into the glass so it floats on top
2. Berry Wine Sparkler
Such a refreshing summer drink and 4th of July drink to celebrate the day!
What You Need:
- 2 cups watermelon stars (cut with cookie cutter)
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 bottle chilled dry white wine (I used Chenin Blanc but Fumé Blanc or Vinho Verde work too)
- 1 liter chilled lemon lime soda
How to Make It:
- Place the watermelon stars and blueberries in bottom of a 1-gallon pitcher
- Pour in the white wine
- Add the soda
- Gently mix everything together
3. Red White and Blue Sangria
This is an easy and fun patriotic drink to celebrate with your friends and family!
What You Need:
- 16 ounces strawberries
- 12 ounces blueberries
- 1 lime juiced
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional but makes it yummier)
- 750 mL white wine (I use Pinot Grigio cause its what I always have)
- 1 L sparkling water or club soda CHILLED
- ¼ cup orange liqueur
How to Make It:
- Slice up all those strawberries and toss in a large pitcher
- Add your blueberries and squeeze in that lime juice
- Sprinkle with sugar if using it (I definately do)
- Let everything hang out for about 10 minutes so the strawberries get juicy
- Pour in your wine and triple sec if using it
- Cover and stick in fridge for at least 4 hours (I make mine the night before when the girls are in bed)
- When ready to serve add the cold sparkling water or club soda
- Serve over ice if you want
4. Firecracker Punch
This punch is so good for holiday gatherings!
What You Need:
- 4 cups Cranberry Juice Cocktail
- 2 cups Vodka
- 2 cups prepared Lemonade (store bought is totally fine)
- 2 cups Ginger Ale (chilled)
- Garnish stuff: sliced citrus fruit, fresh cranberries, mint leaves
How to Make It:
- Mix the cranberry juice, vodka and lemonade in a large jar or glass dispenser
- Chill in the fridge for 2-3 hours (perfect time to help with homework or fold laundry)
- Just before your guests arrive add the cold ginger ale
- Add several cups of ice
- Serve in 8 ounce glasses
5. Blue Lagoon Patriotic Cocktail
The blue color is so pretty and summery and perfect for your patriotic bbq!
What You’ll Need:
- 1 shot (1 oz.) Curacao
- 1 shot (1 oz.) vodka
- Lemonade
- Ice
- Maraschino cherry for garnish
How to Make It:
- Fill a tall glass with ice
- Add the Curacao first
- Then pour in the vodka
- Top it all off with lemonade
- Stick a cherry on top for that pretty look
6. Patriotic Vodka Lemonade Slush
Not gonna lie it takes a bit of time to make all three slushies but its worth it for special occasions.
What You Need:
- 9 cups ice (maybe up to 12 cups depending how thick you want it)
- 1 cup grenadine
- 1 cup Blue Curacao
- 1 cup vodka
- 1 cup lemonade
- Food processor or good blender
How to Make It:
- Crush 3 cups of ice with the grenadine in your food processor until slushy
- This red layer needs to be EXTRA thick so add another cup of ice if needed
- Set this mixture aside
- Do the same thing with Blue Curacao and 3 cups ice until slushy
- Make this blue layer extra thick too adding another cup of ice if it needs it
- Set aside
- Mix vodka lemonade and the last 3 cups ice until slushy
- Layer in glasses: grenadine (red) on bottom, then blue curacao (blue) in middle, then vodka lemonade (white) on top
7. Summer Lemonade Cocktail
Love this drink for by the pool and for some fun 4th of July fun!
What You Need:
- 6 fl oz Minute Maid Zero Sugar Lemonade
- 3 fl oz Talking Rain Sparkling ICE Strawberry Watermelon
- 1-3/8 fl oz Malibu Coconut Rum
- Ice cubes
- Fruit for garnish (I use whatever the girls havent eaten)
How to Make It:
- Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice
- Shake it up real good (I usually do a little dance in the kitchen when no ones looking)
- Pour into a pretty glass
- Add some fruit on top to make it look fancy
8. Bomb Pop Cocktail
So festive with the red white and blue layers!
What You Need:
- 12 ounce Mike’s Hard Lemonade
- 2 ounces blue raspberry vodka
- 2 ounces grenadine
- 2 mini bomb pop popsicles
- 2 cups ice
How to Make It:
- Pour one ounce of grenadine into a tall glass (try to pour right in the center so it doesnt get on the sides)
- Carefully fill the glass with ice
- Pour in half the bottle of Mike’s Hard Lemonade leaving about 1 inch at the top
- The grenadine should stay at the bottom since its heavier
- Carefully layer blue raspberry vodka on top
- You can use a pour spout OR flip a spoon over and slowly pour vodka over the rounded part
- Stick a mini bomb pop in as garnish!
9. 4th of July Jello Shots
What You Need:
- 1 package (3 oz) watermelon jello
- 1 package (3 oz) berry blue jello
- 2 cups Malibu coconut rum
- 2 cups boiling water
- 8 oz heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 – 3/4 cup sugar (I use the full 3/4 cup cause I like em sweet)
How to Make It:
- Boil 1 cup of water
- Empty watermelon jello packet into a large bowl
- Pour boiling water over jello powder and stir until dissolved
- Add one cup of coconut rum and stir
- Pour into shot glasses filling only 1/3 of the way
- Refrigerate for 4-8 hours until firm
- Boil another cup of water
- Empty berry blue jello packet into a large bowl
- Pour boiling water over jello powder and stir until dissolved
- Add the other cup of coconut rum and stir
- Pour over the red jello filling glasses 2/3 of the way
- Refrigerate another 4-8 hours until firm
- In a large bowl beat heavy whipping cream and sugar until stiff peaks form
- When ready to serve top shots with the whipped cream
10. Raspberry Vodka Lemonade
This drink is perfect for any summer bbq or party you throw! The syrup takes a little extra time but its SO worth it and you can make it ahead.
What You Need:
- Ice
- 2 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 oz. water
- 2 oz. raspberry simple syrup (recipe below)
- 1 ½ oz. vodka
- Fresh raspberries for garnish
For the Raspberry Simple Syrup:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup fresh raspberries
How to Make the Syrup:
- Put sugar water and raspberries in a medium saucepan
- Bring mixture to a boil
- Lower heat and let simmer about 10 minutes until it thickens a bit
- Strain into a bowl pressing down on berries to get all the juice
- Put in fridge to cool completely (it keeps thickening as it cools)
How to Make the Cocktail:
- Fill a shaker with ice
- Add lemon juice water raspberry syrup and vodka
- Shake really well
- Pour into glasses with ice
- Add some fresh raspberries on top
More Easy 4th of July Drinks for You
Here are some more fun and easy 4th of July alocholic drinks you can make.
11. Red, White Booze Slushie
For this tasty Red White and Booze Slushie you need vodka fruit punch frozen strawberries and vanilla ice cream.
Just blend the fruit punch with strawberries and vodka for the red layer then wash the blender and blend vanilla ice cream with a splash of vodka for the white layer.
Pour the red layer first then top with the white for a festive drink that looks fancy but takes like 5 minutes to make.
12. Firecracker Margarita
To make a Firecracker Margarita, it’s super simple since you only need tequila triple sec lime juice and blue curacao.
Rim your glass with salt and fill with ice then shake the tequila triple sec and lime juice together and pour it in.
Carefully drizzle blue curacao over the top so it sinks to the bottom creating that red white and blue effect that the girls always say looks like magic.
13. Sparkling Berry Punch
For this Sparkling Berry Freedom Punch you’ll need champagne strawberry vodka blueberries strawberries and sprite.
Slice the strawberries and add them with blueberries to a punch bowl then pour in champagne vodka and sprite right before serving.
14. Stars and Stripes Sangria
Stars and Stripes Sangria needs white wine triple sec brandy peach slices blueberries and star-shaped watermelon pieces.
Mix everything except the fruit in a pitcher the night before then add the fruit about 4 hours before serving.
15. Patriotic Pina Colada
For Patriotic Pina Colada you’ll need coconut rum pineapple juice cream of coconut blue curacao and grenadine.
Blend the rum pineapple juice and cream of coconut with ice then pour into glasses.
Carefully drizzle grenadine down one side and blue curacao down the other to create red and blue streaks against the white colada base that look super impressive but are actually so easy to make.
