Fireworks, hamburgers and beer are a must for any Independence Day celebration — but some well-mixed cocktails just might make for a party worthy of the Founding Fathers.
We reached out to Joe Bruno, professional mixologist and director of New York’s American Bartenders School, to find out which drinks would work best at a July Fourth celebration.
Some of Bruno’s choices look patriotic when poured, while others simply go down easily in the summer sun. Try these seven cocktail recipes while celebrating America’s birthday.
STARS AND STRIPES
Blend Blue Curacao with ice
Blend rum and pina colada mix with ice
Blend grenadine with ice
Layer in a hurricane glass
FIRECRACKER JELL-O SHOTS
Cherry gelatin powder
Blueberry gelatin powder
Mix Jell-o according to package instructions, substituting vodka for water
Add Jell-o/vodka mixtures to small cups and refrigerate to set
Add fresh blueberries and cherries to each cup
PATRIOT COCKTAIL
1 part grenadine
1 part Hypnotiq
1 part Absolut Citron
Layer in a martini glass
WATERMELON MARGARITA
2 ounces tequila
1/2 ounce watermelon schnapps
2 ounces sour mix
Blend with cubes of fresh watermelon
MANGO MOJITO
1 ounce light rum
2 ounces mango nectar
Muddle a few fresh mint leaves with simple syrup in a collins glass
Add ice
Top with club soda
M-80
1 ounce Gosling's Black Seal rum
1 teaspoon almond syrup
Squeeze of fresh lime juice
Dash of bitters
Mix ingredients in pint glass
Top with Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy
SOAKING UP RAYS
1 ounce Don Q Anejo rum
Drop rum into a pint glass of Corona beer
Recipes by Joe Bruno, American Bartenders School of New York.
Clint Davis covers entertainment and trending news topics for the Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.