Hello friends of this blog! We're getting ready to celebrate our nation's Semiquincentennial birthday The US is 250 years old! Why I remember as if it was yesterday when she was just a babe of 200! (and those silly little bells they made us hold is school pictures!) But I digress. How about some festive patriotic drinks recipes to wish Lady Liberty birthday greetings? Shake up some red white and blue cocktails and American themed shots. Use these festive American holiday-themed alcoholic beverages for 4th of July, Flag Day and Memorial Day too.
RWB Bomb Pop: Slush (partially freeze) separately: Dekuyper's Raspberry Pucker, cherry liqueur or Bacardi Razz, blue Curacao and Smirnoff ice (or lemonade, vodka or gin). Add slush in layers with red on bottom, clear in middle and blue on top.
Red, White and Brew: Are your party-goers a beer crowd? Then why not spike those beers with a shot of red or blue food coloring for a fun Fourth of July look? Hey, bars dye beer green for St. Patrick's Day--why not blue beer or red beer for America's birthday? Amber beers are already reddish in color. Hopheads will love Founders Red's Rye IPA. Lagunitas Imperial Red is a maltier beer. Or Redd's Apple Ale is getting quite a following.
Red Wine and Blue: Serve your wine loving guests an assortment of wines. Select a rich, dry red like Malbec or Shiraz and a sweet red Lambrusco. Moscato or Riesling are nice sweet whites wines and chardonnay is a delicious dry white. For blue white, add a little grape juice to a sweet white. I might just make up a Michigan blueberry wine toast to our stars and stripes! Or you could bust out good old Boone's Farm Blue Hawaiian just for fun!
Red Hot White Lightning Blues: Put a kick in your patriotic punch bowl. Blend cranberry juice, grapefruit soda, DeKuyper Raspberry Pucker, vodka (one shot of liqueur and alcohol to each 8 ounce serving of juice). Freeze blue gelatin or clear soda in star-shaped ice cube trays.
Rum White and Beach Cooler: This is a 4th of July spin on a traditional New Orleans Hurricane recipe. Blend blue Hi-C fruit punch, limeade, Dekuyper Blue Curacao and Malibu coconut rum. Garnish with strawberry and apple slices cut in star shapes.
Star-Spangled Sangria: In a pitcher, blend one bottle dry red wine (Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon) one 2 liters grapefruit soda, one 12-ounce can lemonade and a fifth of DeKuyper Peach Schnapps. Freeze Dekuyer Blue Curacao in star-shaped ice cubes. Slice oranges, lemons and limes and cut in star shapes with cookie cutter.
Ruby White and Blue Solitaire shot (slush or regular): My then-boyfriend was a bartender. He gave me a ruby solitaire as a promise ring. This drink is named for that ring. 100% Cranberry Juice cocktail (Ocean Spray is a good brand.) DeKuyper Peachtree Schnapps. lemon twist, strawberry and blueberry bowtie for garnish.
Freeze the cranberry juice until it slushes. Place in a covered ice bucket or cooler. Mix one shot of Schnapps with four oz. of cranberry juice.
🌿 Pure Michigan Pro-Tip: The Vernors Sparkle 🌿
For that authentic Great Lakes flavor in your Blue Motorcycle or Stars 'n Bars Slammer, remember these local secrets:
- The "V" Factor: Locally, we know it’s Vernors—no "e" before the "r" and no apostrophe! It’s the oldest ginger ale in the US, and that wood-aged flavor is what makes these shots stand out.
- Maximum Fizz: Add the Vernors last and give it just a very gentle stir. You want to keep those aggressive bubbles intact to get that famous "nose-tickle" when you take a sip.
- The Chill: Ensure your Vernors is ice-cold before mixing. Because of its high carbonation, it can foam over quickly if it's room temperature!
American Woman (aka Bahama Mama, a drink from my conga line days). In a shaker, blend, shots of Malibu Coconut Rum, Suntory Midori (melon liquor) and 4-6 ounces Dole Orange-Peach-Mango or Dole Pine-Orange-Banana). Garnish with pale green honeydew melon chunk, strawberry, blueberry for RWB bowtie.
Blue Motorcycle: My now-husband used to ride a Union Jack blue 1970 Triumph Daytona; this drink is a tribute to him and the blue motorcycle. Mix one ounce each of vodka, rum and Blue Curacao liquor. Add four ounces Vernors (the original American soda) or Squirt grapefruit soda.
Star-Spangled Brain: This novelty was an early shot. It looks like a squirrels' brain (hence the name) but tastes delicious. Fill a Collins glass half full of DeKuyper Strawberry or Pucker Raspberry Schnapps. Slowly dribble in one-two ounces of Bailey's Irish Cream to make "brain."
Stars 'n Bars Slammer: Another early shot referred to then as an Alabama Slammer, you slam the glass on the table and drink in one gulp. Slamming releases CO2 and makes froth. It isn't necessary to literally slam the glass. Just pick it up with one hand, cover it with the other hand and set down firmly on the table. 1 oz tequila, 1 ounce pink champagne, 4 ounces Vernors.
White Lady in Red Dress in a Blue Sidecar: This drink combines the Roaring Twenties cocktails into one fun punch! Let's get this sorority Watusi party on!
1 ½ oz Grappa, blanche Armagnac (clear cognac) or dry gin
¾ oz (Blue Curaçao orange flavor liqueur)
¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
The sidecar becomes a white lady with a topping of whipped egg white meringue. And the red dress is a maraschino cherry garnish. Or try this!
★ Pro-Tip: The "Red Dress" Variation ★
To give your White Lady a stunning "red dress" effect for the 250th anniversary, try one of these finishing touches:
- The Hemline Sink: Gently drop a teaspoon of grenadine or raspberry liqueur into the finished drink. It will settle at the bottom, creating a beautiful red "hem."
- The Wine Float: For a sophisticated look, slowly pour a thin layer of dry red wine over the back of a spoon onto the foam for a "red topper."
- The Classic Garnish: Drop a bright maraschino cherry into the bottom to act as the "ruby solitaire" center.
Ein Prost! L'chaim! Sainte! Salude! Na zdrowie! Skol! Opah and all that jazz!
