Red, White, and Booze: 4 Independence Day Cocktails

Nobody likes a Benedict Arnold. When you’re on #TeamAmerica, you eat freedom fries, fist bump Bald Eagles, and fly your freak flag high. You think Betsy Ross is a bona fide babe, you know all the words to “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” and you´re glad Francis Scott Key was trapped on that British ship because, otherwise, what would play when we win Olympic gold?

This Fourth of July, show the Founding Fathers you´re no traitor by proudly pursuing happiness. These four drinks will have you seeing stars and stripes all Independence-Day-long.

The Patriot Act

Photo via Thomas Hawk

Ingredients
12 bottles Samuel Adams Summer Ale
½ litre of gin*
12 oz frozen lemonade concentrate (1 can)
½ bag of ice

The Patriot Act of 2001 may be unconstitutional, but binge-drinking is as American as Harleys and hotdogs. On July 4th, prepare a big batch of boozy punch and exercise your constitutional right to drink with abandon.

Directions: Thaw lemonade in a five-gallon bucket. Add ice. Pour beer and gin over lemonade/ice. Stir vigorously with a large spatula.

*Bluecoat American Dry Gin was used for testing purposes. Don´t even think about using British gin!

Independence Day II

Photo via Jello Shot Test Kitchen

Ingredients
8 oz. Birthday cake vodka*
1 ¼ c. coconut milk
1 3.4 oz. box of instant white chocolate pudding mix
4 oz. whipped cream
1 tablespoon grenadine
Blue food colouring

“Happy Birthday, dear America, Happy Birthday to you.” And many more…
Directions: Mix vodka and milk. Whisk in pudding mix, removing all lumps. Stir in whipped cream. Separate into three bowls. Add 6 drops of blue dye to one bowl, and grenadine to another. Layer colours in shot glasses. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

*UV Cake was used for testing purposes because it´s American, duh.

Abkhazia & America

Photo via Tower Girl

Ingredients
8 strawberries
¼ c. fresh lime juice
2 tbsp. sugar
4 oz. white rum*
Blueberries, for garnish
Whipped cream

Mix up a batch of AAs and ask fellow Americans to name the other country that celebrates its independent statehood on the Fourth of July. Then see who can locate Abkhazia on a map. Geography´s fun.

Directions: Freeze mason jars overnight. Muddle strawberries and sugar. Juice lime. Combine all ingredients in a big pitcher. Pour over crushed ice. Top with whipped cream. Garnish with blueberry and strawberry toothpick-skewers.

*Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum was used for testing purposes. It’s also American.

Sons of Libertea

Photo via Emmolus

Ingredients
2 oz. Fireball
1 oz. white rum
1 oz. gin
1 oz. tequila
½ c. fresh orange juice
¼ c. fresh lemon juice
6 oz Sprite Zero

Long Island iced tea is so nouveau. On the Fourth, we raise our glasses to Boston, the original gangster of tea parties.

Directions: Juice lemon and orange. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add fruit juices and liquors. Cover and shake vigorously. Pour into glasses and top with Sprite.