Patriotic Drink Ideas

For picnics, pool parties, and presidential birthdays, add a dose of national pride and keep those American spirits high when you raise your glass with these alcoholic and non-alcoholic patriotic party drink recipes:

Relax and refresh with:

Spirituous

Bourbon Punch

Prep Time: 30 mins
Chill Time: 2 hours
Yield: 6-8 servings

Ingredients

• 1 Liter bourbon
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 lemons, juiced and peeled
• 1 orange, juiced and peeled
• 1 Liter green tea
• 250 mL champagne or club soda, chilled
• Sprinkle of grated nutmeg

Directions

1. Muddle together citrus peels and sugar until clumps form.
2. Brew tea for 30 minutes, then remove tea bags and allow to cool.
3. When tea has cooled, add to a large pitcher with sugar and peels, then stir in fruit juice and bourbon.
4. Chill for at least 2 hours.
5. Fill each glass 2/3 full, then top off with champagne and grated nutmeg just before serving.

TIP: Brew the tea the day before and refrigerate overnight for easy preparation.

Source: refinery29.com

Red & Blue White Sangria with Apple Stars

Keep it cold without watering down the flavor by adding frozen fruit when serving.

Prep Time: 15 mins
Chill Time: 2-8 hours
Yield: 10-12 servings

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• 1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled, sliced
• 1 cup white grape juice
• 1 bottle (750 mL) dry white wine, chilled
• 3/4 cup elderflower liqueur
• 1 bottle (750 mL) champagne or sparkling wine, chilled
• 3 to 4 medium to large Granny Smith apples, cut into 1/2 inch slices
• 1-inch star cookie cutter

Directions

1. Add blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, grape juice, white wine, and liqueur to a large pitcher.
2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 and up to 8 hours.
3. When ready to serve, slowly add champagne to pitcher.
4. Cut apple slices with 1-inch star cookie cutter.
5. Pour sangria into glasses.
• Add frozen fruit, and/or
• Spoon fruit from pitcher
6. Garnish with apple stars

Vodka Variation

Ingredients

• Add
• 1 cup berry-flavored vodka
• 12 ozs berry-flavored sparkling water
• Remove
• 1 bottle (750 mL) champagne or sparkling wine, chilled

Directions

1. Add vodka to pitcher with fruit before chilling
2. When ready to serve, slowly add sparkling water instead of champagne to pitcher

Source: makeitgrateful.com

Rocket Jello Shots

Prep Time: 20 mins
Chill Time: 2 hours, 25 mins
Yield: 20 servings

Ingredients

• Blue Layer
• 1/2 cup water, boiling
• 1 box instant blueberry Jell-O
• 1/2 cup vodka
• Red Layer
• 1/2 cup water, boiling
• 1 box instant cherry Jell-O
• 1/2 cup vodka
• White Layer
• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
• 1 cup milk, divided
• 3 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup vodka

Directions

1. In a small bowl, combine boiling water and berry Jell-O mix and stir until dissolved.
2. In a separate small bowl, repeat with cherry Jell-O mix. Let both mixtures cool.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup milk.
4. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring 3/4 cup milk to simmer. Turn off heat and stir in sugar and vanilla.
5. Pour heated mixture over gelatin mixture and stir until completely dissolved. Let cool for 10 minutes.
6. Lightly spray 20 two-ounce plastic shot glasses with cooking spray.
7. Add 1/2 cup vodka to the cooled blue berry mix and stir. Repeat for the red & white mixes.
8. Spoon about 1 tablespoon blue berry mix into each plastic shot glass. Refrigerate until set but not completely firm, about 15 minutes.
9. Top with about 1 tablespoon white mix. Refrigerate until set, about 10 minutes.
10. Finish with about 1 tablespoon red mix. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.

Use coconut milk to make a more tasty white layer, directions @ myminiadventurer.com

Source: delish.com

Red, White & Blue Garnish

Instantly add a spike of patriotism to drinks & cocktails with skewered or free-floating garnishes of blueberries & strawberries and/or USA flag toothpicks.

Non-Alcoholic

Country Lemonade

Delicious and refreshing, lemonade is the perfect party drink because of its popularity and versatility. Fresh lemonade is a welcome treat on its own, and also is a well-served base for a number of cocktails (for inspiration, check out this list: www.huffingtonpost.com).

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 5 mins
Yield: 2 quarts

Ingredients

• 8 lemons, plus garnish
• 1-1/2 to 2 cups sugar, to taste
• 6 cups water, divided
• Optional: 1/2 cup fresh mint, chopped

Directions

1. Wash lemons thoroughly.
2. Roll lemons firmly on a hard surface until they are soft to make them easier to juice.
3. Zest 2-3 lemons and set aside.
4. In a large saucepan over medium heat, add sugar, lemon zest and 2 cups of water.
5. Simmer lightly for 5 minutes or until sugar has dissolved and the mixture turns a light yellow color, then remove from heat. Do not boil.
6. Juice lemons, then strain juice into a large serving pitcher.
7. Strain the sugar mixture into the large pitcher.
8. Add in 4 cups of cold water; if it is too sweet, add more water.
9. Optional: Add fresh chopped mint to the pitcher for added refreshment if desired.
10. Refrigerate and serve cold.

TIP: Freeze a portion of the lemonade in ice cube trays to keep drinks cold without watering them down. Lemonade ice cubes are also delicious in iced tea and cocktails too for a little extra flavor!

Source: divascancook.com

Fresh Peach Lemonade

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 5 mins
Yield: 2 quarts

Ingredients

• 3 cups fresh peaches, diced (about 6 peaches)
• Zest of 3 lemons
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 6 cups cold water or sparkling water, divided
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 7 lemons)
• Garnishes: peach slices, lemon slices, mint

Directions

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, add diced peaches, lemon zest, sugar and 2 cups of water.
2. Stir to dissolve sugar and let mixture simmer. Do not boil, reduce heat, if needed.
3. When peaches are very soft, break apart with fork or potato masher.
4. Let the mixture simmer until it thickens slightly.
5. Remove from heat and let cool at room temperature.
6. Strain the peach mixture into a pitcher, discard the solids, and add lemon juice.
7. Pour 4 cups of still or sparkling water and refrigerate until cold.
8. Garnish with fresh peach slices, fresh lemon slices and mint.

TIP: We've mentioned making lemonade ice cubes, but using frozen peach slices or other frozen fruit would work well too. This recipe can be adapted as is to incorporate other flavors such as strawberry, blueberry, mango, etc.

Source: divascancook.com

Perfectly Sweet Tea

Nothing beats a glass of ice cold sweet tea on a hot summer day, and we’ll share with you the secret to making the perfect cup.

Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Yield: 2 quarts

Ingredients

• 1 pinch baking soda
• 2 cups boiling water
• 6 tea bags
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 6 cups cool water

Directions

1. Boil 2 cups of water in a tea kettle or small saucepan.
2. Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda into a 64-ounce heat-proof pitcher.
3. Pour in boiling water and add tea bags.
4. Cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes.
5. Remove tea bags and discard; stir in sugar until dissolved.
6. Pour in cool water, then refrigerate until cold.

Recipe: allrecipes.com