20 Best 4th of July Drinks

I never host a July 4th cookout without watermelon on the menu. These margaritas are one of my favorite ways to serve it. Blended watermelon sweetens them naturally and makes them a gorgeous bright pink.

Looking for 4th of July cocktails for a crowd? You can’t beat this white sangria! Prep it a day ahead so that it can steep overnight with the citrus, peaches, and berries. When your guests arrive, this fruity, delicious drink will be ready to pour!

Margaritas get a lot of love at summer celebrations, but paloma cocktails belong in the mix too. They’re traditionally made with grapefruit soda, but I like to use sparkling water and grapefruit juice for a fresher twist.

Fresh mint and lime juice make this classic rum cocktail so refreshing for summer. Easy to make by the glass or scale up for a pitcher, it’s our most popular 4th of July drink every year!

Bring a little European flair to your Independence Day party by serving these bubbly spritzes! They’re easy to make with a 3:2:1 ratio of Prosecco, Aperol, and club soda.

Basically lemonade’s boozy cousin, this sparkling gin cocktail is perfect for a 4th of July celebration. Serve it in a tall glass with ice and a festive maraschino cherry on top.

Put the red in red, white, and blue with these strawberry margaritas! Fresh strawberry puree gives them their vibrant color and sweet-tart berry flavor. These are great with classic simple syrup, but I also love them with basil simple syrup for a fun herbaceous twist.

This 3-ingredient summer cocktail is a less-sweet alternative to a margarita, made with just tequila, sparkling water, and lime. It’s super popular in Austin, Texas, where I live. It’ll be a hit at your 4th of July party too!

This classic spritz takes me back to my first trip to Italy with Jack. Sweet, fizzy, and bright with lemon, it’s perfect for a hot summer day—whether you’re on an Italian island or in your own backyard.

A Moscow mule is one of those classic vodka cocktails that you can make year-round, but I especially love the brightness of the lime and the refreshing bite of the ginger beer in summer. Don’t have copper mugs? These are just as tasty in regular glasses!

Spice up your Fourth of July party with these jalapeño-infused drinks! A Tajín rim makes them look extra-festive and adds another layer of savory, spicy flavor.

If Jack were choosing our 4th of July drinks, a negroni would be his top pick. This Italian cocktail is boozy and bitter, with a complex citrusy flavor from Campari. Serve it with a big square ice cube so it slowly dilutes the drink as you sip.

Just like my white sangria, this red sangria is a perfect 4th of July cocktail for a crowd. The recipe makes a whole pitcher, and you can (and should) make it ahead so the flavors have a chance to develop in the fridge.

What’s more summery than frozen margs?! These ones get their frosty texture from blended frozen mango, which also sweetens them naturally. No simple syrup or agave required!

If you’re looking for 4th of July cocktails that will impress guests, you can’t go wrong with a fizzy Hugo spritz. It’s less famous than spritzes made with Aperol or limoncello…but it might be even more delicious, starring elderflower liqueur and plenty of fresh mint.

It’s a classic for a reason.

Move over, pink lemonade mix! This homemade strawberry lemonade relies on fresh lemon juice and strawberry puree for its stunning color and delicious sweet-tart flavor. Adults and kiddos love this one—my son Ollie can’t get enough!

Speaking of 4th of July drinks kids will love, these aguas frescas are another of Ollie’s favorites. You can make my base recipe with almost any fruit. We love pineapple, mango, strawberries, and more. Watermelon would be especially fun for the Fourth!

With its crimson color, this 2-ingredient hibiscus tea is practically begging for a spot on your Fourth of July table. It has a tart, cranberry-like flavor that’s delicious plain or lightly sweetened. Garnish it with raspberries and fresh mint to take it over the top.

No one will complain about an ice-cold glass of lemonade on the 4th of July. Make sure to use fresh-squeezed juice—it really sets this recipe apart from store-bought.