By Hayden Walker & Nicole “VodkagirlATX”
Whether planning a barbecue, picnic or just watching fireworks, the party is not complete without thirst-quenching and patriotic cocktails to celebrate America’s day of independence. Mix up a smooth, fresh, and colorful drink with these refreshing cocktails all summer long as all of these festive cocktails will go perfectly with any type of Fourth of July celebration!
Fraternity Punch
Fresh Strawberries
Mint
Fraternity Punch
Cucumber
2 parts lemon juice
2 parts simple syrup (1:1)
1 part orange liqueur
2 parts Hendricks gin (or any modern-style gin)
6 parts Lillet Rouge
Punch ice Block or ice ring frozen overnight in a plastic lined bundt or bread pan.
Lightly muddle the amount of 1 strawberry, 4 mint leaves, 2 slices cucumber per guest or serving along with the orange liqueur and syrup at the bottom of a punch bowl. Add all other ingredients to the bowl with the large ice. Give a gentle stir to incorporate. Top with seltzer water to taste for a bit of sparkle, but remember that the ice will melt down so don’t water it down too much! Feel free to top with more fruit and mint for garnish and let guest ladle into glasses.
Lavender Paloma
2 parts Milagro Silver
1 part Fresh Grapefruit Juice
½ part Lavender and Vanilla Syrup
½ part Fresh Lime Juice
Top with Dry Lavender Soda
Garnish: Grapefruit Peel, Lavender, and Kosher salt
In a shaker filled with ice, pour the Milagro, grapefruit juice, syrup and lime juice, and shake vigorously. Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Top with dry lavender soda, and garnish.
Travaasa’s Patriot’s Punch
Icenhauer’s The Betsy Ross
Icenhauers Betsy Ross
.75 oz mango puree
.75 oz simple syrup
1 oz lemon juice
splash of water
3 mint leaves
Shake and Strain
Garnish w/ lemon
KETEL ONE APPLE KICKER
1 ¼ ounces- Ketel One Vodka
¼ ounce- Lillet Blanc
½ ounce- Fresh Lemon Juice
3 ounces- Organic Apple Juice
1 dash- Organic Apple Bitters
Combine ingredients in a mixing glass. Shake with ice and strain into a Collins glass filled with ice.
Top with club soda. Garnish with a fan of golden apple slices.
CITROEN PEACH JACOBUS
1 ½ ounces- Ketel One Citroen Flavored Vodka
¼ ounce- Applejack Brandy
½ ounce- Peach Puree
2-3 dashes- Rhubarb Bitters
Combine ingredients in a mixing glass. Shake well with ice and double strain into a coupe glass.
Garnish with a fan of peach slices.
KETEL ONE DUTCH SUMMER
¾ ounce- Ketel One Oranje Flavored Vodka
¾ ounce- Ketel One Citroen Flavored Vodka
½ ounce- Asian Pear
1 ounce- Fresh Lemon Juice
¾ ounce- Honey Syrup (2:1)
2 ounces- Ginger Beer
Muddle pear in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add Ketel One Oranje, Ketel One Citroen, lemon juice and honey syrup and shake with ice. Double strain into a pilsner glass over crushed ice. Stir in ginger beer. Top with more crushed ice and garnish with fresh shaved ginger and lemon zest.
KETEL ONE DUTCH MULE 
1 ¼ ounces- Ketel One Vodka
¾ ounce- Fresh Lime Juice
Ginger Beer
Build in a copper mug over ice. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Watermelon Cocktail
2 parts Tequila Avión Silver or Avión Reposado
1 part Fresh Lime Juice
4 One-Inch Cubes Fresh Watermelon
Squeeze Agave Nectar
Muddle watermelon with agave nectar in a mixing glass. Add remaining ingredients, and shake vigorously with ice. Fine strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and garnish as desired.
Red, White, and Blue Sangria
Red, white and blue lemonade with strawberry, blueberry and pear
Ingredients:
- Strawberries, sliced
- Blueberries
- Pineapple, cut into star shapes
- 2 bottles dry white wine
- 1 cup Triple Sec
- 1/2 Cup berry-flavored vodka
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup simple syrup
Combine the ingredients in a large pitcher and stir. Chill in the refrigerator for at least four hours.
recipe and photo credit https://www.punchbowl.com