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July 4th recipes
32 Summer Cocktails Perfect for July Fourth

32 Summer Cocktails Perfect for July Fourth

April 15, 2019

Annie Campbell

Get your Fourth of July party started with one of our favorite summer cocktails. From the classics (because who doesn't love a Bloody Mary or a Bay Breeze?) to new favorites (like this White Claw/Kool-Aid mashup rimmed with Pop Rocks), these boozy drink recipes won't disappoint.

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Cherry Berry Cocktail

Photo: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

Cherry Berry Cocktail Recipe

This vodka cocktail is berry bliss. Garnish with a handful of your favorite berries skewered on a cocktail pick or straw.

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The Salty Dog

Photo: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

The Salty Dog Recipe

Say goodbye to screwdrivers, you've just found your new favorite brunch cocktail. It doesn't get much better than this perfect blend of vodka and grapefruit juice.

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Cranberry-Limeade Spritzer

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Cranberry-Limeade Spritzer Recipe

Sweet and tart meet vodka in this refreshing holiday cocktail.

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Strawberry-Lime Rickey

Photo: Greg Dupree

Strawberry-Lime Rickey Recipe

If fresh strawberries aren’t quite at their peak in your market, go ahead and substitute thawed frozen berries. Muddling thoroughly is essential here: The more the berries break down, the more color and flavor they’ll release into the drink. If you’re not a gin fan, vodka or bourbon will work, but we like the subtle fragrance of juniper and other aromatics that gin introduces to the mix. Rickeys are often served alcohol free, and are every bit as refreshing, so omit the gin entirely, if you like.

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Rosé Sangria

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Rosé Sangria Recipe

Perfect for any spring or summer gathering, this bubbly, refreshing rosé sangria is as easy to make as it is to sip. The fruity base of berry puree and vodka could easily be prepped ahead of time and chilled so that all that’s left to do is pour in your sparkling water and rosé right before serving. You could even prepare the sangria in single portions for more of a custom cocktail feel, having a small amount of puree, vodka, and fresh fruit ready to go in glasses when guests arrive; then, simply top each off with bubbly as needed. To switch things up, you could also substitute fresh peaches and/or raspberries in place of the strawberries used to create the puree. Try freezing some of the fresh fruits you plan to include (such as grapes and berries) beforehand in order to keep the beverage cool.

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Boozy Lavender Lemonade

Photo: Hayley Sugg

Boozy Lavender Lemonade Recipe

Refreshing lemonade gets a delightful floral twist with lavender-infused vodka.

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Big-Batch Bloody Marys

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Big-Batch Bloody Marys Recipe

Making bloody Marys for a big crowd doesn’t mean you have to spend your whole brunch or tailgate playing bartender for everyone. Our big-batch recipe makes enough for 10 people and frees you up to enjoy the party. Set out these Big-Batch Bloody Marys in a large punch bowl or glass dispenser with your choice of garnishes next to glasses and a bucket of ice and let everyone help themselves. Even better, you can make this cocktail ahead. You can prepare the mixture up to two days in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator; reserve the vodka and stir it in before serving.

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Cucumber-Lime-Lavender Spritzer

Jennifer Causey

Cucumber-Lime-Lavender Spritzer Recipe

This effervescent, nonalcoholic mocktail refresher offers the perfect balance of floral, tangy, and sweet flavors. If you’d like to turn it into a tipple, try adding a splash of gin or vodka. While we call for dried lavender, if you have access to fresh, steep a few sprigs of it in place of the dried herb—and garnish each drink with a fresh sprig, too, for a lovely, fragrant touch. You can make the syrup and cucumber-lime mixture up to a day ahead; stir in club soda just before serving.

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Bay Breeze

Photo: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

Bay Breeze Recipe

Fruit juices and vodka are all you'll need for this beachy cocktail. Now all you need is a tropical island!

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Cherry-Basil Lemonade Spritzers

Jennifer Causey

Cherry-Basil Lemonade Spritzers Recipe

Instead of the fluorescent cocktail-cherry garnish, fresh cherries take center stage in this refreshing lemon-and-vodka sipper. Macerating the cherries in sugar helps to soften their thick skins and release their juices, which become gorgeously syrupy in the pan.

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Rocket Booster Cocktail

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Audrey Davis

Rocket Booster Cocktail Recipe

This slushy drink blends vodka with Campari and Tang to create a delicious balance of bitter and sweet in a single sip. So refreshing, it's just what you need to keep cool on sun-kissed, summer afternoons.

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Lemon Drop Shot

Photo: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

Lemon Drop Shot Recipe

These delicious shooters go down a little too easy, so make sure to pace yourself!

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Basic Jello Shots

Photo: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

Basic Jello Shots Recipe

You may be tempted to use straight vodka, but don't! By using flavored vodka instead of regular, you can create delicious flavors that actually make Jello Shots taste good! Imagine that.

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Citrus-Lemongrass Vodka

Photo: Stephen Devries; Food Styling: Erin Merhar

Citrus-Lemongrass Vodka Recipe

Citrus-Lemongrass Vodka image

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Strawberry Hibiscus Cooler

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Strawberry Hibiscus Cooler Recipe

With or without the vodka, this sweet-tart drink deserves a spot at brunch.

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Easy Margaritas for a Crowd

Photo: Emma Crist; Styling: Emma Crist

Easy Margaritas for a Crowd Recipe

Look no further than these large-batch margaritas when you're hosting your next big fiesta and can't spend hours juicing limes. This margarita recipe is a revelation--the secret ingredient is a can of frozen limeade concentrate which, once emptied, doubles as a measuring cup for the remaining ingredients. These margaritas are strong, slightly (but not overly) sweet, and have the perfect note of orange flavor. Oh, and did we mention there's beer involved? We prefer to serve in a large glass drink dispenser with plenty of limes on the side.

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Pineapple-Citrus Punch

Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: Megan Hedgpeth

Pineapple-Citrus Punch Recipe

Break out the punch bowl for a sparkly, citrusy, pineapple punch fun for crowds of all ages. This also makes a great spiked punch; simply subsitute seltzer chilled vodka.

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Grapefruit Beergaritas

Photo: Greg DuPree

Grapefruit Beergaritas Recipe

This fruity beer cocktail falls somewhere between a shandy, a margarita, and a radler. Serve with citrus slices and a half-salted rim, if you'd like, or omit the salt for a straight-up refreshing sipper.

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Summer Melon Rosé Sangria

Photo: Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Claire Spollen

Summer Melon Rosé Sangria Recipe

For a playful presentation, use a melon baller to scoop the fruit into bobbing orbs.

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Cucumber-Lime Infused Gin and Tonic

Photo: Jennifer Causey Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Cucumber-Lime Infused Gin and Tonic Recipe

Make the gin mixture ahead or let stand at room temp 3 hours.

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Berry Limoncello

Photo: Caitlin Bensel Styling: Lindsey Lower

Berry Limoncello Recipe

Raspberries and strawberries really brighten up the flavors in one this berry cocktail. Serve it up at a party for a perfectly summery and refreshing sip.

Sugars 18g (est. added sugars 17g)

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Marionberry Mojito

Photo: Neil Dacosta

Marionberry Mojito Recipe

Marionberries, an exceptionally juicy, slightly tart blackberry variety developed by Oregon State University, are perfect for this fizzy summer refresher. You can also use regular blackberries.

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Watermelon-Mint Margarita

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Watermelon-Mint Margarita Recipe

Try a new twist on a classic margarita with watermelon and mint flavors.

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Sparkling Elderflower Lemonade

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Sparkling Elderflower Lemonade Recipe

Elderflower liqueur is sweet, delicate, and floral, like nectar from a spring bouquet.

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Sweet Heat Arnold Palmer

Photo: Jennifer Causey Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Sweet Heat Arnold Palmer Recipe

The trick to layering beverages is to add liquids to the glass in order of most to least dense. We put most of the sugar into the lemonade (the denser liquid), so be sure to swirl before swigging.

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Grapefruit Elderflower Cocktail

Photo: Greg Dupree Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Grapefruit Elderflower Cocktail Recipe

Elderflower is the hidden treasure in this rum-spiked take on the traditional Salty Dog.

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Strawberry and Watermelon Punch with Lime and Tarragon

Photo: Christopher Testani; Styling: Thom Driver

Strawberry and Watermelon Punch with Lime and Tarragon Recipe

You can buy strawberry puree or make it yourself, simply blend 16 ounces thawed frozen strawberries in a food processor and strain.

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Boozy Cherry-Basil Lemonade Spritzers

photo by jennifer causey

Boozy Cherry-Basil Lemonade Spritzers Recipe
Way better than whatever that kid next door is selling

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Jungle Juice Mimosas Are Frat House Fancy

Photos by Teresa Sabga

Jungle Juice Mimosas Are Frat House Fancy Recipe

Everclear, Tang, and sparkling wine are boon companions. Who knew?

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White Peach Sangria

Greg DuPree

White Peach Sangria Recipe

Instead of a traditional red sangria, make a refreshing summer version with white wine and fresh peaches.

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Paradise Punch

Photo: Stephen Devries; Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty

Paradise Punch Recipe

There's nothing more indulgent (and, we hate to say it, practical) than a big, boozy bowl of punch for a brunch! Punch is always a fancy to-do; moreover, it can quench the thirstiest crew. Sure, you could blow the bank on organic fresh-pressed guava nectar and a bottle of Dom, but our Paradise Punch is simple and still seriously tasty!

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Strawberry Bellini

Strawberry Bellini Recipe

The original version of this cocktail hails from Harry's Bar in Venice. Our rendition substitutes strawberries for the traditional peaches. You can prepare the strawberry base up to one day ahead. Make sure to give it another spin in the blender just before mixing the cocktails.

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The Pop Rocket

Annie Campbell

The Pop Rocket Recipe

Add a little pop, twist, and fizz to your Independence Day celebration with this sweet and sour cocktail. The Pop Rocks rim is like a firework show in your mouth, and it's guaranteed to make your guests smile. Reach for this red, white, and blue raspberry cocktail to keep you refreshed and satisfied all Fourth of July long.

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32 Summer Cocktails Perfect for July Fourth

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Cherry Berry Cocktail

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The Salty Dog

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Cranberry-Limeade Spritzer

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Strawberry-Lime Rickey

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Rosé Sangria

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Boozy Lavender Lemonade

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Big-Batch Bloody Marys

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Cucumber-Lime-Lavender Spritzer

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Bay Breeze

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Cherry-Basil Lemonade Spritzers

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Rocket Booster Cocktail

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Lemon Drop Shot

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Basic Jello Shots

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Citrus-Lemongrass Vodka

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Strawberry Hibiscus Cooler

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Easy Margaritas for a Crowd

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Pineapple-Citrus Punch

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Grapefruit Beergaritas

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Summer Melon Rosé Sangria

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Cucumber-Lime Infused Gin and Tonic

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Berry Limoncello

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Marionberry Mojito

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Watermelon-Mint Margarita

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Sparkling Elderflower Lemonade

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Sweet Heat Arnold Palmer

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Grapefruit Elderflower Cocktail

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