May the Fourth Be With you

Throwing An Independence Day BBQ? Serve These Boozy 4th Of July Drinks

These cocktails will have you seeing fireworks.

by Simone R. Johnson
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
MelanieMaya/E+/Getty Images

Sure, the grill is covered, but what about the cocktails? No worries, these 10 drinks will have your guests seeing stars and add a bang to your 4th of July BBQ. A mix of old-school classics (our founding fathers would be proud) and festive libations, they’re the perfect way to raise a glass to the freedom of summer.

Thomas Liggett/Moment Open/Getty Images

Watermelon Sangria

Watermelon sugar, indeed

  • 1 cup of cubed watermelon
  • 1 bottle of white wine
  • 1 cup of vodka
  • 1 lime
  • orange wedges
  • 1 cup of blueberries

Pour the white wine into a pitcher along with the vodka. Add the fruits and stir.

Carmen Vlasceanu/500Px Unreleased/Getty Images

Blackberry Mojito

A berry explosion

  • 4 teaspoons of sugar
  • 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon of lime juice
  • 1 cup of seltzer water
  • 1 cup of vodka or rum
  • 10 blackberries
  • 12 large mint leaves
  • ice cubes

Drop the blackberries, mint leaves, sugar, lemon juice, and lime juice into a glass. Stir gently and add seltzer, vodka/rum, and ice.

Sandra Stoiber /EyeEm/Getty Images

Strawberry Daiquiri

It’s strawberry o’clock somewhere

  • 6 cups of ice
  • 1 cup of white sugar
  • 4 ounces of frozen strawberries
  • Half a cup of lime juice
  • Half a cup of lemon juice
  • 1 cup of rum

Blend all the ingredients together and serve.

South China Morning Post/Getty Images

Blueberry Burst Mojito

Blended bluey goodness

  • 6 cups of ice
  • Frozen blueberries
  • 1 tablespoon of lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon of sugar
  • Mint leaves
  • 1 cup of white rum

Coat the rim of the glass in sugar. Smush your blueberries, sugar, and mint leaves at the bottom of the glass. Then add ice, rum, lime juice, and serve.

GMVozd/E+/Getty Images

Vodka & Coke

A classic

  • 2 ounces of vodka
  • 4 ounces of cola
  • 1 tablespoon of lime juice
  • 1 lime
  • cherries

Pour vodka and cola into a glass. Add lime juice and stir. Use cherries and lime wedges as garnish.

Penpak Ngamsathain/Moment/Getty Images

Maraschino Jell-O Shots

Give it the old college try

  • 3 ounces of cherry Jell-O mix (1 box)
  • 1 cup of boiling water
  • 1 cup of cold cherry vodka
  • Jar of stemmed maraschino cherries

Make your Jell-O mix and add vodka. Place a maraschino cherry in each two-ounce shot cup. Then pour the Jell-O mix into each one and place it in the fridge for four hours.

stphillips/E+/Getty Images

Strawberry Mimosa

A solid frozen treat

  • 2 cups of frozen strawberries
  • 1 cup of orange juice
  • 1 bottle of prosecco, champagne, or sparkling wine
  • 2 tablespoons of maple syrup

Add strawberries, orange juice, and maple syrup into the blender. For each glass, pour half a cup of prosecco or champagne.

Thomas Brill/E+/Getty Images

Spiked Root Beer Float

A yummy throwback

  • Vanilla vodka
  • Vanilla ice cream
  • Root beer

Fill a mug with three scoops of vanilla ice cream and halfway with root beer. Add a cup of vodka and stir.

LauriPatterson/E+/Getty Images

Salty Dog

A sour surprise

  • 2 ounces of gin or vodka
  • 3 ounces of grapefruit juice
  • Salt
  • Grapefruit slices

Coat the rim of the glass in salt and add the alcohol and grapefruit juice. Stir and then garnish with the grapefruit slices.

Aperol Spritz

An amazing orange delight

  • Ice
  • 3 ounces of Aperol
  • 3 ounces of dry prosecco
  • 1 ounce of club soda or unflavored sparkling water
  • Orange slices

Fill the glass with ice and fill halfway with Aperol. Fill the rest of the glass with prosecco and add a splash of club soda. Garnish with orange slices.

Oleg Breslavtsev/Moment/Getty Images

More from Scary Mommy

Cinco de Mayo Drinks That Are Perfección
By Simone R. Johnson
10+ Easy Potato Recipes That Are Better Than French Fries
By Simone R. Johnson