fourth of july cocktails

Summer is in full swing and it’s almost impossible to walk around and not smell the delicious scent of barbecue  With Independence Day just around the corner, there’s no better way to celebrate than some grilled food and delicious  cocktails. Make one or all of these cocktails to impress your guests and enjoy the fireworks.

 

4th of July

4th of july cocktails

image via food network

It might not be the most original name, but a couple of these cocktails will have you humming the national anthem as you take a sip. The little bit of pop will also have your tastebuds singing as well.

Ingredients

  • 1 oz of cranberry juice
  • 1.5 oz of jalapeño infused tequila
  • 0.5 oz of simple syrup
  • 0.25 oz of blue curaçao
  • 1 lemon wedge
  • 1 lime wedge

Equipment

  • jigger
  • muddler
  • cocktail shaker
  • strainer
  • collins glass
  • ice

Directions

  1. Muddle the lemon, lime in a cocktail shaker. Add tequila, simple syrup and blue curaçao and top with ice.
  2. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds
  3. Fill a collins glass with ice and add cranberry juice to the bottom.
  4. Slowly strain the tequila/curaçao mixture into the glass, making sure that the cranberry juice and blue mixture do not mix.

Red and Blue Margarita

watermelon margarita cocktails

image via tasty trials

Ok, so technically margarita cocktails are not “patriotic.” But come on. Who doesn’t love a little tequila with their barbecue? This delicious margarita perfectly envelops all that is summer and also does a great job cooling you down during the summer  heat waves.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz of pureed watermelon
  • 1.5 oz of silver tequila
  • 1 oz of simple syrup
  • 2 lime wedges

Equipment

  • Jigger
  • blender
  • cocktail shaker
  • strainer
  • rocks glass
  • ice
  • blue decorating sugar

Directions

  1. Puree a fresh watermelon until the chunks are gone.
  2. Muddle the two lime wedges in a cocktail shaker and then add the watermelon puree, simple syrup and tequila. Top with ice.
  3. Vigorously shake for 10 seconds.
  4. Wet mouth of the rocks glass with a lime wedge and the rim with the blue sugar.
  5. Top the rocks glass with ice and then pour the contents of the cocktail shaker into the glass.

 

Lychee-Pomegranate Sparkler

lychee-pom sparkler cocktails

image via about.com

Here in New York it’s illegal to set off fireworks (though people do it anyway) so why not have create some firework inspired cocktails? These drinks are sure to make your tastebuds tingle but is far less dangerous and not illegal.

Ingredients

  • 0.5 oz of pomegranate juice
  • 0.5 oz of lychee vodka
  • 0.5 oz of pomegranate vodka
  • 3.5 oz of champagne

Equipment

  • Jigger
  • champagne flute

Directions

  1. Combine the juices and vodka into the champagne flute.
  2. Top slowly with champagne. Garnish with lemon wedge if desired.

Jasmine Greene

Jasmine Greene has been a freelance writer for over four years with experience in video game, book and movie reviews. She lives in Manhattan. Nardio is her second of hopefully many (successful) web ventures. When she is not working as an executive assistant or at Nardio, Jasmine volunteers at Kitty Kind so that she can get her crazy cat lady on.

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