Fourth of July Mocktails and Cocktails

Fourth of July drinks have a few jobs: stay cold, look good on a crowded table, and work for people who are drinking and people who aren’t.

That’s why the best cookout drinks start as mocktails. Build a bright base with berries, citrus, herbs, and sparkling water, then let adults add gin, vodka, rum, tequila, or bourbon glass by glass. The same approach works for everyday batch mocktails , not just holiday weekends.

At a Glance

Why You Will Love This

You don’t need neon blue syrup or sticky novelty drinks. Summer fruit already gives you the color. Herbs make the drinks feel grown-up, and citrus keeps them from tasting flat.

Festive doesn’t have to taste like candy.

Five Fourth of July Drinks

1. Watermelon Lime Cooler

A red pitcher that tastes like summer. Add tequila or gin for a cocktail version. For a full party pitcher with basil, make the watermelon basil limeade .

• 4 cups cubed watermelon, seeds removed
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• Zest of 2 limes
• 1/2 cup honey or simple syrup, adjusted to taste
• A pinch of salt
• 1 cup cold water, sparkling water, or seltzer
• 1 cup ice
• Fresh mint or lime slices, for garnish

Blend the watermelon until smooth. Add the lime juice, zest, honey, and salt, then blend again and strain if you don’t want pulp. Pour into a pitcher and stir in the water or seltzer and ice. Garnish and serve. Serves 4.

2. Strawberry Lime Mocktail Margarita

Red, tart, and salty-sweet. Add a splash of tequila if you want a cocktail. A shrub version starts with the strawberry basil shrub .

• 3-4 medium fresh strawberries
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon honey (or agave syrup)
• 2 oz orange juice
• Club soda, sparkling water, or ginger beer, to taste
• Flaky salt, for the rim

Rim a glass with flaky salt and fill it with ice. Blend or muddle the strawberries, then shake them with the lime juice, honey, orange juice and ice. Pour into the glass and top with soda. Serves 1; multiply for a pitcher.

3. Raspberry Peach Lemonade

Pink-red and easy to pour for a crowd. Add vodka or gin by the glass.

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 5 cups water, divided
• 2 peaches, sliced (about 1 cup)
• 1 cup raspberries
• 1 cup lemon juice (about 3 large lemons)

Heat the sugar and 1 cup of the water until dissolved and let it cool slightly. Blend the peaches, raspberries, and 1 cup water, then strain. Combine the sugar water, puree, lemon juice, and remaining 3 cups water in a pitcher. Chill about an hour and serve over ice. Serves 6.

4. Blueberry Basil Lemonade

This is the blue one. Blueberry and basil is one of the best summer pairings, and the basil keeps it from tasting too sweet. Add gin or bourbon for a cocktail. For a tea base, the iced tea recipes guide has ideas.

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 18 large fresh basil leaves
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 cups cold sparkling water

Boil the water, sugar, and blueberries about 5 minutes until the berries burst, mashing them a little. Take it off the heat, add the basil, cover, and steep 20 minutes. Strain, pressing the solids. Stir the syrup with the lemon juice and sparkling water in a pitcher and serve over ice. Serves 6.

5. Blueberry Lime Mint Sparkler

The gentlest, coolest drink on the table, and a good one for hot afternoons. Our easy blueberry limeade has the full recipe and variations. For a tall cocktail, top it with a little gin or vodka.

• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons honey syrup or simple syrup
• 8 fresh mint leaves
• 1 1/2 cups cold sparkling water
• Ice

Muddle the blueberries with the lime juice, syrup, and mint, let it sit 5 minutes, and strain if you like. Divide over ice in two glasses and top with sparkling water. Serves 2.

How To Serve Cocktails Without Making Two Menus

Make the base alcohol-free. Put spirits beside the pitcher with a small sign:

• gin for herbal and berry drinks
• tequila for watermelon and lime
• rum for peach and berry drinks
• bourbon for peach, tea, and blackberry

Guests can add 1 to 1 1/2 ounces per glass. If you like blackberry and basil, the blackberry basil cucumber cooler is another good one for the table.

Before You Start

Don’t mix sparkling water into a pitcher hours ahead, or it will go flat. Keep bottles chilled and add the bubbles at the end.

Use clear ice, or plenty of fresh ice, if you want the drinks to look bright in photos.

Common Questions

Can these be made ahead?

Yes. Make the fruit-citrus bases up to 24 hours ahead. Add herbs and sparkling water close to serving.

What are the best herbs for Fourth of July drinks?

Mint, basil, thyme, and rosemary. Use mint for watermelon and berries, basil for strawberry and blueberry, thyme for peach and tea, rosemary for grapefruit and lemon.

Should I make separate mocktails and cocktails?

Usually no. Make one alcohol-free base and let people add spirits by the glass.