There's no better way to celebrate a birthday than with a ice-cold drink in hand—and America's big day is no exception. Whether you’re in the mood for bubbly spritzers, frozen drinks, or festive red, white, and blue sips, these 4th of July drinks bring plenty of fun to the party. They’re the kind of drinks that fit right in at backyard barbecues, pool hangs, and fireworks-filled nights.
Here, you'll find easy cocktail recipes for a patriotic party like blueberry mojitos, berry sparklers, Shirley Temples, and more. See, a lot of these recipes highlight summer fruits. Watermelon margarita, anyone? There are also plenty of versatile options that start as mocktails and easily turn into grown-up sips with a splash of spirits.
And if you still can't decide which summer drink to serve, just take a cue from Ree Drummond! She likes to mix up a big batch of sangria for her BBQ feast. "Sangria just screams summer, don't you think?" she says, "I usually make a batch or two for the 4th of July." Ahead, find her favorite recipe and other 4th of July cocktails to celebrate America!
1
Blueberry Mojitos
Gordon Sawyer
The vibrant hue will make these drinks especially fun for a patriotic holiday. All you need is a quick homemade blueberry syrup, fresh mint, lime, silver rum, and sparkling water.
This marg tastes like fireworks in a glass: sweet, smoky, citrusy, and finished with a lively jalapeño kick. The pineapple keeps it sunny and tropical, and the mezcal or tequila gives it just enough edge to stand out.
With its jewel-toned berries, bright lemony tang, and fizzy finish, this drink was made for the 4th! The mix of blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries keeps every sip fresh and summery.
Lemonade is so nostalgic for the summertime! Blended with fresh lemon juice, frozen strawberries, and plenty of ice, this drink is sweet, tart, and extra refreshing on a hot summer afternoon.
If you want to give your patriotic event a little upgrade, go with this sweet, herbaceous mocktail. Juicy strawberries bring peak-summer flavor, while fresh basil adds a garden-fresh twist for an extra special finish.
Inspired by a margarita but made with fresh watermelon and grenadine for color—this patriotic cocktail is even more festive when garnished with a skewer of star-shaped melon.
This isn't your average margarita—it's a brilliant batch cocktail hack! Made with tequila, orange liqueur, fresh lime juice, and a touch of simple syrup, this cocktail lives right in your freezer door, ready to pour whenever your crew's cravings hit.
Watermelon cubes make a great standalone snack for the 4th of July, but freeze them and stir them into a refreshing watermelon sweet tea, and you've got something even better.
If you like piña coladas and sunny summer days, this is the perfect 4th of July sip! Made with creamy coconut, sweet pineapple, and a splash of rum, this classic cocktail will transport you to the tropics—one sip at a time.
The 4th of July may be all-American, but that doesn't mean you can't add a little European flair to your celebration. Enter the Aperol spritz: a crisp, citrusy Italian cocktail that's perfect for sipping in the summer sun.
Fruity, fizzy, and perfectly red for the holiday, you'll love every sip of this refreshing summertime sangria. It contains rosé wine, orange-flavored vodka, prosecco, and of course, fresh strawberries.
This simple cocktail may have the red and white going on, but you'll be anything but blue once you sip it! The bubbly beverage has a slight citrusy sweetness that pairs perfectly with herbaceous gin, lemon juice, soda, and simple syrup.
This crowd-pleasing treat is also a great summer eat thanks to the crunchy, refreshing watermelon ball garnish! All you need is seedless watermelon, dry white wine or rosé, and a dash of watermelon- or berry-flavored seltzer.
There's just something so nostalgic about a Shirley Temple. It reminds us of summer days as a kid. It's sweet, bubbly, refreshing, and so much fun to drink.
Sip on a drink that pops like the fireworks overhead! Featuring Campari, prosecco, sparkling water, and orange juice, this simple cocktail is refreshingly bittersweet.
This summertime classic is all the more refreshing when made with fresh-squeezed lemons. The strawberries sit in the lemon juice and sugar to get infused with flavor, before being blended and strained.
Crisp white wine and fresh fruit are mixed together for an easy batch cocktail. What distinguishes this from your typical sangria is it's topped with a splash of prosecco!
Batch cocktails are perfect for any celebration where you're hosting a crowd. Opt for a chilled crisp or soft white wine (depending on your taste), and add sparkling water and fresh fruit. On July 4th, you can use strawberries and blueberries for the fruity ice cubes to make the drink fit a red, white, and blue color scheme.