How to Make the Most American Drink for the 4th of July
Impress your guests with your new mixology skills by shaking up the most American drink ever. This Barillio red, white and blue cocktail recipe is the best addition to any 4th of July party drinks menu! Best of all, you only need a handful of ingredients to make this easy American cocktail recipe.
Ingredients and Bartender Kit Checklist:
- Honey
- Poprocks
- Lemonade
- Vodka
- Blue curacao liquor
- Grenadine
- Ice
- Optional: mint leaves, cherries
- Barillio bartender kit
- Large cocktail glass or pint glass
- Shallow dish or plate
What Does This 4th of July Cocktail Taste Like?
This cocktail is semi-sweet with a slightly tart and bitter undertone with strong notes of lemon and orange peel. The red color comes from the grenadine, a thick fruity syrup with a sweet and tart flavor. The blue curacao liquor adds that iconic blue twist and its sweet orange peel flavor enhances the sweetness of the lemonade, while the bitter finish rounds off this cocktail to make it oh so drinkable.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Pour the grenadine slowly and steadily onto the side of the glass so it can flow through the blue liquid to the bottom of the cocktail. Grenadine is a thick, syrupy liquid that will sink to the bottom of the drink if you pour it correctly.
- Shake your cocktail for at least 10 seconds to chill the drink before serving. Read our handy guide on how to use ice in cocktails for more information about mixology with ice.
- Use runny, clear honey for best results sticking your Pop Rocks to the glass (bonus points for using a mix of red and blue Pop Rocks).
- Garnish with mint leaves to add a fresh twist, or place a cherry on the top to provide another pop of patriotic red color.
How To Host The BEST Patriotic Cocktail Party
As a brand that makes mixology sets, we know a thing or two about hosting a fabulous cocktail party. Here are our top 5 tips for hosting an Independence Day garden or house party:
- Create a menu: Use a chalkboard or print out menus, so guests know the details of all the 4th of July recipes being served at the party.
- Overestimate how much you need: There’s nothing worse than hosting a party with a shortage of food and drink and then having to miss the fun to run to the local store to top up. So overestimate how much you will need, and don’t assume your guests will bring drinks with them to ensure your bar never runs dry.
- Provide mocktails or alcohol-free options: Not everyone is a fan of alcohol, and some of your guests may be driving, pregnant, or underage. Help everyone feel welcome and part of the action by providing an alcohol-free alternative for them to enjoy.
- Decorate: Grab some flags, patriotic bunting, balloons, colorful pillows, picnic blankets, confetti pops, and red, white, and blue tableware to set the scene for your Independence Day gathering.
- Plan for kids: If you have children or your friends are likely to bring their little ones, ensure they have something to keep themselves busy so the parents can catch up and enjoy the event. Think things like bubble blowers, face painting, giant Jenga, and Twister, and if you have space, why not get a small paddling pool and a waterslide so they can cool off from the heat.
Red, White and Blue Cocktail
Equipment
- Barillio bartender kit
- Large cocktail glass or pint glass
- Shallowdish or plate
Ingredients
- 3 oz Lemonade
- 1 oz Vodka
- ¾ oz Blue Curacao Liquor
- 1⁄2 oz Grenadine
- Ice
- Honey
- Pop Rocks
- Optional Garnish: FreshMint Leaves or Cherries
Instructions
- This step is similar to adding salt to the edge of a margarita glass. Simply squeeze some runny honey onto a plate and add Pop Rocks to a separate plate or shallow dish. Dip the lip of your glass in the honey and rotate the glass till the lip is fully covered in a small layer of honey. Then press the rim of the glass into the pop rocks for a pop of flavor and color.Honey, Pop Rocks
- Fill your shaker with lemonade, vodka, and Blue Curacao.3 oz Lemonade, ¾ oz Blue Curacao Liquor, 1 oz Vodka
- Add a few ice cubes to the shaker and fill the glass to approximately ⅔ full with ice.Ice
- Pop on the shaker’s lid and release your inner bartender as you shake well to combine
- Pour the blue drink into your glass over the ice.Ice
- Slowly add grenadine to the slide of the glass to create the red layer at the bottom of the cocktail.
- Garnish with mint leaves or a cherry. Cheers!Optional Garnish: FreshMint Leaves or Cherries
FAQ
How much alcohol is in this 4th of July Cocktail?
This cocktail contains two ingredients which contain alcohol: 1 oz vodka and ¾ oz blue curacao. This is about ⅔ of a shot of vodka and half a shot of blue curacao per serving.
Can I make this cocktail alcohol-free?
Absolutely! Simply switch out the blue curacao liquor for a blue curacao syrup and alcohol-free vodka to create a mocktail version of this tasty cocktail. This is also an excellent way to get the kids involved and help them feel part of the celebrations.
Some people even swear by using 2 tbsp water mixed with a dash of apple cider vinegar and lime juice instead of the vodka to achieve that tart and acidic twist in their mocktails.
Which Pop Rocks should I use in this recipe?
Mix a packet of blue raspberry and original cherry Pop Rocks to give this cocktail some blue and red accents and enhance the ‘wow!’ factor!
Are you supposed to mix this cocktail before drinking it?
Totally up to you! If you prefer to mix the drink and enjoy all the flavors together, use the Barillio spoon to give your cocktails a quick mix after appreciating the colors and sip on the gorgeous deep purple cocktail. However, we recommend you can enjoy it as it comes to appreciate the patriotic colors in the drink, but it is all down to personal preference!
Happy 4th of July!
That’s a wrap from the Barillio team, and we all wish you a fabulous Independence Day with your nearest and dearest.
If you do try out this red, white and blue drink using your Barillio cocktail mixology set, be sure to send us a quick snap on Instagram or Facebook so we can share your creation with our community of cocktail lovers!
