To stay cool during a cookout, consider these refreshing whiskey, rum and vodka cocktail recipes to liven up your party and beat the heat with these four Independence Day Cocktails.
Fourth of July is a joyous celebration of American independence which is famously accompanied by good food, cocktails, and fireworks. Every year the barbecue invites roll in and friends and family come together to stuff their faces with hot dogs, burgers and other grilled favorites, all while enjoying the summer heat. Here are a few of our favorite summertime cocktails from across the USA.
Yes, Way Rosé
Cassandra Rosen, Crave Local Test Kitchen
- 2 oz Ruffino Sparkling Rosé (prosecco)
- 1 oz gluten free vodka
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- 1/2 oz orange juice
- 1/2 oz pomegranate grenadine syrup (recipe on the link)
- Sugar half rim (optional)
- Garnish: Orange peel, rosemary
Pour vodka, juices, and syrup into a shaker with ice. Shake for one minute, strain into a rocks glass with ice. Top with rosé wine, stir gently, so as not to flatten the bubbles. Garnish, serve.
Summer Prosecco Melon Sangria
Cassandra Rosen, Crave Local Test Kitchen
- 3 cups Prosecco
- 4 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
- 2 oz orange liqueur
- Handful of large mint leaves
- 1 ½ cups sparkling water
- 3 limes, sliced
- 1 cup watermelon, cubed
- 2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
Combine juice, mint leaves, sparkling water, melon, and kiwis in a pitcher. Gently stir in the prosecco. Served chilled, either on the rocks, or in flutes. Garnish.
Italian Stallion
From Bottiglia Cucina & Enoteca
Ingredients:
- 2 Dashes Scrappy’s Chocolate Bitters
- 1 Small Rosemary Sprig
- 1 oz. Casamigos Reposado Tequila
- 1 oz. Lazzaroni Amaretto
- ½ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
- ½ oz. Fresh Lime Juice
- ¾ oz. Egg Whites
- ¼ oz. Agave Syrup
Directions:
Add all ingredients into mixing tin, dry shake without ice. Add ice and shake vigorously. Double strain with tea strainer, into martini coupe.
Glass: Martini Coupe
Garnish: Rosemary Sprig Skewered Lemon Peel, Edible Flowers
Negroni
From Salute
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Plymouth Gin
- 1 oz. Campari
- 1 oz. Cocchi di Torino Vermouth
Directions:
Add all ingredients into mixing glass. Add ice and stir for 20 seconds. Now strain into rocks glass, over fresh ice.
Glass: Etched Rocks
Garnish: Orange Peel
Stars & Stripes Smash
- 2 oz. 1800® Coconut
- 3 slices papaya
- ¼ oz. honey
- Pinch of basil
- 1/4 lime
Directions: Add all ingredients to shaker. Shake and strain into highball glass. Garnish with basil sprig.
Louie Bossi’s Old Fashioned
- 2 Oz Bourbon
- 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
- 2 Dashes Orange Bitters
- 1.5 Oz Simple Syrup
- 3 Amarena Cherries
- Orange Peel
- 1 Large Ice Sphere
In mixing glass add bourbon, simple syrup, orange bitters and angostura bitters. Fill with ice and stir with bar spoon. Strain into highball glass with large ice sphere. Garnish with cherries and orange peel.
Tilted Tom Collins
From Tilted Kilt
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz. Hendrick’s Gin
- 1 oz. Sun Orchard Lemon Juice
- .5 oz Monin Sugar Cane
- 1 – 2 oz Goslings Ginger Beer
- Lemon Wedge Garnish
Directions:
Pour 1 – 3 ingredients (no Ginger Beer) into mixing tin & add ice. Shake (no Ginger Beer). Strain over fresh ice into 12 oz Highball Glass then top with Ginger Beer. Garnish Lemon Wedge.
Glass: 12oz Highball Glass
Raging Bull
From The Still
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ oz. 50 Bleu Vodka
- 1 ½ oz. Cranberry Juice
- ½ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
- ¼ oz. Simple Syrup
- 3 oz. Red Bull Yellow Edition
Directions:
Add all ingredients into mixing tin, except for the Red Bull Yellow. Add ice and shake vigorously.
- Now add 3 oz. Red Bull Yellow Edition into mixing tin, and strain over fresh ice.
Glass: Mason Jar
Garnish: Skewered Lemon Wheel
Strawberry & Spice Margarita
Cassandra Rosen, Crave Local Test Kitchen
- 2 oz Hornitos Plata (blanco) Tequila
- 1/2 oz Soltado Spicy Añejo Tequila, Serrano & Cinnamon
- 1/2 oz orange liqueur
- 4-5 fresh strawberries
- One lime, juiced
- 2 tbs agave nectar
- Ice
- Sea salt for rim
- Garnish: Lime and strawberry slices
Directions
Put strawberries in a blender, along with the tequila, orange liqueur, lime, and agave. Blend well. Serve in salt rimmed glasses, garnish.
Red, White, and Blue PavoRita
Cassandra Rosen, Crave Local Test Kitchen
- 3 oz Pavo Real White Wine
- 1 splash Pavo Real Red Wine
- 1/2 oz Agave Syrup
- 3/4 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 1/2 oz St. Germain Liqueur
- Garnish: blueberries, citrus, apples, strawberries
Mix all ingredients with ice, shake. Strain over ice into chilled glasses. Serve.
Read more ideas to celebrate Independence Day this 4th of July.
