37 Fourth Of July Drinks That Are As Festive As The Fireworks
Red, white, and boozy.
Throwing a 4th of July party? Don't forget the fun drinks! The way we see it, there are two directions you can go: 1) stick hard to the theme (think fireworks, red, white & blue everything, etc.), or 2) go with everyone’s summer favorites (think super-refreshing frozen drinks, hard seltzers, beers, etc.). We’re big fans of either, so we’ve included recipes for both here (yep, even ways to jazz up those store-bought canned and bottles).
Whether you’re super-patriotic or just love a theme, we’ve got lots of colorful drinks to serve your 4th of July BBQ crowd. Frozen drinks are the BEST when it’s hot out, so go with our frozen strawberry margarita or our frozen watermelon margarita for red; our frozen blue moscato margarita or our mermaid lemonade for blue; or go with all three colors, like in our layered red, white, and boozy margaritas. No blender? No problem. Try one of our sparkly firework-inspired drinks, like our confetti Champagne or Champagne Jell-O shots. Speaking of Jell-O, the jiggly, fruity confection is great for turning things red, white, and blue. Try our rocket Jell-O shots or our giant watermell-O shot. Not a fan of Jell-O but love the fruity taste? Dip your fruit straight into the alcohol, like in our firecracker strawberries or our boozy cherry bombs, and get inspired to booze-up all your favorite fruits.
Not feeling wildly patriotic this year? Skip the colorful themed drinks and instead stick to easy summer cocktails. We’re totally here for just chucking a bunch of beer and hard seltzers in a tub and covering them with ice, but if you want to elevate your alcohol options just a bit, check out our recipes that incorporate soda, seltzer, or beer to give your guests alternative options. Want something light? Try a michelada, a spiked seltzer slushy (we like White Claw, but whatever works!), or our summer shandy punch. Want a little more alcoholic bang for your buck? Try our Long Island iced tea, our salty dog, or our red sangria (with wine and brandy).
Looking for something non-alcoholic? We’ve got you too. Try our triple berry sparklers or our watermelon agua fresca, then check out the rest of our fave mocktail recipes and non-alcoholic drinks too.
Rocket Jell-O Shots
While the fireworks are popping, you should be popping off with these rocket Jell-O shots. With festive layers of Jell-O, these vodka-infused shots are the best way to keep your party guests satisfied this July 4th.
Get the Rocket Jell-O Shots recipe.
Aperol Spritz
Herbal, floral, and subtly sweet with just the right amount of bitterness, this 3-ingredient Italian cocktail is not only perfect during the summer months, but couldn’t be simpler to make at home.
Get the Aperol Spritz recipe.
Summer Shandy Punch
Think of this as the boozy version of an Arnold Palmer—1/2 beer, 1/2 lemonade. We jazzed it up for summer with some fresh fruit and ginger beer too.
Get the Summer Shandy Punch recipe.
Boozy Cherry Bombs
These aren't exactly a cocktail, but they're full of Fireball whiskey and whipped cream-flavored vodka, so we're counting them anyway. These patriotic cherries are exactly what your 4th of July has been missing!
Get the Boozy Cherry Bombs recipe.
Frozen Blue Moscato Margaritas
Triple-Berry Sparklers
Words of 4th of July wisdom: Don't get tanked if you're planning on playing with fire(works). When we need something that'll keep the whole fam—from the kids to the grandparents—hydrated, we reach for this super-light, patriotic refresher.
Get the Triple-Berry Sparklers recipe.
Michelada
If you've never had a Michelada, you're in for a treat. The addition of hot sauce and lime juice add a spicy/sour kick that takes your average light beer from good to great. Thanks to our secret ingredient (soy sauce!), there's also a hint of umami flavor that'll keep you coming back for more.
Get the Michelada recipe.
Red Sangria
Fruity, refreshing, and perfect for serving a crowd, sangria is one of our go-to cocktails for 4th of July. If you’re planning a dinner party, a late-night fireworks watching sesh with your friends, or just craving the most refreshing summer drink, our sangria recipe won’t let you down.
Get the Red Sangria recipe.
Rainbow Candy Pops
These boozy rainbow stunners are so easy to make with a mold of any shape. Simply wind your sweet or sour ropes around the mold, pour in your vodka and lemon-lime soda, and freeze!
Get the Rainbow Candy Pops recipe.
Classic Margaritas
The margarita, now one of the most popular cocktails in the world, is thought to have started out as the variation on another Prohibition-era drink called the "Daisy." Spanish for "daisy," the marg swapped in tequila for brandy and lime juice for lemon juice, and a classic was born. TMYK!
Get the Classic Margaritas recipe.
Homemade Lemonade
Does anything scream summer more than an ice-cold glass of homemade lemonade? While we love adding fruity twists to this warm-weather drink, this recipe is our go-to when we’re looking for simple, classic, and ridiculously refreshing.
Get the Homemade Lemonade recipe.
Strawberry Jalapeño Mint Juleps
Don’t let Derby Day be your only excuse to make these mint juleps; they’re worthy all summer long. If you’re into spicy margaritas, then you’ll be able to handle the heat here; the jalapeño-infused simple syrup mellows out once it hits the cool mint and sweet berries.
Frozen Sangria Margaritas
This drink alternates frozen layers of two of our favorite drinks—red wine sangria and tequila margaritas— for the the perfect boozy 4th of July sipper.
Get the Frozen Sangria Margaritas recipe.
Giant Watermell-O Shot
This party-size watermelon Jell-O shot is the party. Be sure to save all the juicy watermelon for frozen watermelon mules and watermelon daiquiris!
Get the Giant Watermell-O Shot recipe.
Spiked Seltzer Slushies
If you thought a can of White Claw was perfect on its own, you haven't given it a whirl in your blender. This recipe can be easily customized based on whatever flavors and fruits you prefer. Our favorite combo: lemon-flavored spiked seltzer + frozen strawberries or mango + frozen pineapple.
Get the Spiked Seltzer Slushies recipe.
Prosecco Mint Juleps
This festive sparkling drink is perfect for a classy 4th of July. A sort of lightened-up mint julep, the addition of a dry sparkling wine provides a pleasant brightness and effervescence that plays well with the rich, caramelized tones of bourbon whiskey.
Get the Prosecco Mint Juleps recipe.
Frozen Strawberry Margaritas
This fruit-forward margarita works best with frozen strawberries, so it'll never get watered down. We love adding fresh basil for some sweet anise-y flavor, but other fresh herbs like mint or even cilantro can kick up the flavor of this sunny cocktail.
Get the Frozen Strawberry Margaritas recipe.
Long Island Iced Tea
How does this classic cocktail, with its combination of 5 alcohols, manage to taste incredible and resemble the taste of a lemony sweet iced tea? Other than those spirits and the all-important splash of Coca Cola, most bartenders utilize a sour mix to add a dose of acid. Use store-bought, or make your own!
Get the Long Island Iced Tea recipe.
Red, White & Boozy Margaritas
These are the perfect frozen margaritas for 4th of July or for sipping on all summer. Be sure your mixtures are nice and slushy! The thicker the mixture, the easier it will be to layer.
Get the Red, White & Boozy Margaritas recipe.
Firecracker Strawberries
When brainstorming what to make for July 4th, we all know there needs to be booze. These red, white, and blue strawberries are first soaked in vodka, then dunked in marshmallow fluff and sprinkles for the most patriotic look ever.
Get the Firecracker Strawberries recipe.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
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