6 Red, White and Blue Drinks to Make Your 4th of July Celebration Even More Fun!
Wow your crowd with these easy-to-make mocktails and cocktails!
Whether you’re celebrating the Independence Day with friends or family — or both! — these red, white and blue July 4th drinks are a surefire way to make your gathering more festive. From a creamy nonalcoholic milkshake to fruit-packed cocktails and a delicious fresh, fruity sangria, you’re sure to find a drink — or two — to make your crowd happy!
Americans are certainly celebrating July 4th in style in 2023! After a few years of quieter celebrations, this year more than 87% of Americans are planning a celebration — with barbecues, picnics and cookouts topping the list, according to the latest survey from the National Retail Federation.
Keep reading for the best drink recipes from the Woman’s World Test Kitchen for your get-together!
Red, White and Blue Vodka Slushie
Layers of red, white and blue slush bring to mind a classic summer Popsicle — with a grown-up twist!
Ingredients:
- 9 cups ice
- 8 oz. grenadine
- 8 oz. blue curaçao
- 8 oz. vodka
- 8 oz. lemonade
Directions:
Crush 3 cups of ice in a blender with grenadine, then pour into a freezer bag; freeze. Crush 3 cups of ice with blue curaçao, then pour into a freezer bag; freeze. Add 3 cups of ice, vodka and lemonade to a blender until ice is crushed, then pour into a freezer bag; freeze. When ready to use, drop the bags on a table to break the ice apart. Pour the slush into mason jar cups: add a layer of red slush, a layer of white slush and a layer of blue slush; serve. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Red, White and Blue Milkshake
Ingredients:
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream
- 2 3.25-4 oz containers ready-to-serve vanilla pudding snacks
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 ts. vanilla extract
Directions:
Cover and blend all ingredients in blender until smooth, holding lid. Divide mixture into thirds. Tint one portion with 2 drops of red liquid food coloring and another with 2 drops of blue food coloring. Layer glass with red portion, white portion and blue portion. Garnish as desired. Makes 1 shake
Star-Spangled Spritzer
This easy sangria from the Woman’s World mixologists is light, fizzy and subtly sweet —
a perfect contrast to heavier picnic foods. Add some festive straws for even more fun!
Ingredients:
- 1⁄2 cup blueberries
- 1⁄2 cup chopped strawberries
- 2 red apples (sliced and cut into 2″ stars)
- 1 (750 ml.) bottle white wine
- 1 cup tonic
- 2 Tbs. lime juice
Directions:
In a large pitcher with ice, combine all ingredients. Chill in the refrigerator; serve Makes 6 drinks
Red, White and Blue Martini
What better way to kick off your celebration of America’s birthday than with a festive red and blue cocktail? This delicious test kitchen recipe puts a sweet twist on a classic martini.
Ingredients:
- Lemon juice
- Blue sanding sugar
- 2 mint sprigs
- 2 Tbs. lime juice
- 1 Tbs. of sugar
- 4 oz cranberry juice
- 4oz pomegranate juice
- 2 oz. gin
- Tonic water
- 2 maraschino cherries
Directions:
Wet the rims of 2 martini glasses with lemon juice; press into blue sanding sugar. In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint sprigs, lime juice and sugar. Stir in cranberry juice, pomegranate juice and gin. Strain into ice-filled martini glasses and add a splash of tonic water and a cherry garnish.
Berry-Sweet Vodka Bliss
Packed with three fruit juices, fruit and raspberry-infused vodka, this sweet sip is sure to impress! Tip: using frozen raspberries keeps the sip cold and infuses it with more sweetness as the fruit thaws!
Ingredients:
- 6 oz. cran-raspberry juice
- 4 oz. white grape juice
- 4 oz. pomegranate juice
- 1 cup raspberries
- 12 oz. raspberry vodka
- 6 mint leaves
Directions:
Combine cran-raspberry juice, white grape juice, pomegranate juice, raspberries, raspberry vodka, mint leaves and sprigs in a large pitcher. Chill in the fridge for 4 to 6 hours. Serves 6.
Red, White and Blue Sangria
Toast to America’s independence with a refreshing pitcher of sangria! The festive fruit stars and balls make it extra fun!
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle chilled white wine
- 2 oz. chilled citrus rum
- 1⁄4 cup superfine sugar
- 1 cup lemon-lime soda
- 10 watermelon balls, scooped from the flesh of the fruit
- 8 stars made from pineapple slices using a cookie cutter
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 cup blueberries
Directions:
In a large pitcher, stir white wine, rum and sugar until sugar dissolves. Top off with lemon-lime soda. Add watermelon balls, pineapple stars, raspberries and blueberries to pitcher. Makes 8 servings
A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.
