The 4th of July is the peak summer holiday. It is a time to call all the friends and family over to celebrate, party or simply just hangout with good food and maybe a few fireworks. If you are going to or hosting a cookout this year, consider some of these 4th of July cocktails to take with you. They are not only tasty but they are also festive as they reflect the holidays signature red, white and blue. No matter how you choose to spend your holiday, these 4th of July cocktails are easy to make and perfect refreshments for the hot summer as you reflect on whatever this holiday means to you.

Here are Nine 4th of July cocktails to consider making this year.

Red, White and Blue Layered Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 oz grenadine
• 3 oz lemonade
• 1 oz vodka
• 1 oz blue curaçao
• Ice cubes

Instructions:

1. Fill a glass with ice cubes.
2. Pour grenadine into the glass slowly so it settles at the bottom.
3. Mix vodka and lemonade together, then slowly pour it over the back of a spoon to create a layer above the grenadine.
4. Finally, slowly pour the blue curaçao over the back of a spoon to create the top blue layer.
5. Serve immediately without stirring to maintain the layers.

Sparkling Blueberry Lemonade

Ingredients:

• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• 1/2 cup simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, boiled until sugar dissolves)
• 2 cups sparkling water
• Ice cubes
• Lemon slices and blueberries for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a blender, puree the blueberries and strain to remove the pulp, if desired.
2. In a pitcher, combine the blueberry puree, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
3. Add ice cubes and sparkling water.
4. Stir gently and garnish with lemon slices and blueberries.
5. Serve in chilled glasses.

Patriotic Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz silver tequila
• 1 oz blue curaçao
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• Salt for rimming the glass
• Ice cubes
• Fresh lime wedge for garnish

Instructions:

1. Rim a glass with salt by rubbing a lime wedge around the edge and dipping it into salt.
2. In a shaker, combine tequila, blue curaçao, lime juice, and simple syrup with ice.
3. Shake well and strain into the prepared glass filled with ice.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.

Firecracker Punch

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white rum
• 1 cup cranberry juice
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 cup club soda
• 1/2 cup grenadine
• Ice cubes
• Orange slices, pineapple chunks, and maraschino cherries for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a large punch bowl, combine the white rum, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and orange juice.
2. Add ice cubes and stir well.
3. Slowly add the club soda and grenadine.
4. Garnish with orange slices, pineapple chunks, and maraschino cherries.
5. Serve in punch glasses.

Star-Spangled Sangria

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
• 1/2 cup triple sec
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup simple syrup
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• 1 apple, cut into star shapes using a small star cookie cutter
• Ice cubes

Instructions:

1. In a large pitcher, combine the wine, triple sec, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
2. Add the blueberries, strawberries, and apple stars.
3. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to let the flavors meld.
4. Serve in glasses filled with ice.

Independence Day Punch

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white rum
• 1 cup blue curaçao
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup lime juice
• 2 cups lemon-lime soda
• Ice cubes
• Pineapple slices and cherries for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a large punch bowl, combine the white rum, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, and lime juice.
2. Add ice cubes and stir well.
3. Top with lemon-lime soda.
4. Garnish with pineapple slices and cherries.

Stars and Stripes Martini

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz blue curaçao
• 1 oz cranberry juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• Ice cubes
• Lemon twist for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a shaker with ice and add vodka, blue curaçao, cranberry juice, and simple syrup.
2. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass.
3. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Patriotic Piña Colada

Ingredients:

• 2 oz white rum
• 1 oz coconut cream
• 1 oz heavy cream
• 6 oz fresh pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup crushed ice
• 1/4 cup strawberries, pureed
• 1/4 cup blueberries, pureed

Instructions:

1. Blend white rum, coconut cream, heavy cream, pineapple juice and crushed ice until smooth.
2. In a tall glass, layer the pureed strawberries at the bottom, then add the blended piña colada mixture, and top with the pureed blueberries.
3. Serve immediately without stirring to maintain the layers.

Liberty Bell Lemonade

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• 1/2 oz grenadine
• Club soda
• Ice cubes
• Lemon wheel and cherries for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a shaker, combine bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and grenadine with ice.
2. Shake well and strain into an ice-filled glass.
3. Top with club soda.
4. Garnish with a lemon wheel and cherries.