Drinks Cocktails 15 Easy Cocktails for Your 4th of July Cookout No cookout is complete without a pitcher of sangria or a round of beer cocktails. By Oset Babür-Winter Oset Babür-Winter Title: Senior Drinks Editor, Food & WineLocation: New York CityExperience: Oset Babür-Winter has completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust's (WSET) Level 3 Award in wines and was previously the magazine's associate culture editor, where she edited Obsessions. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on July 1, 2024 Close While you're probably spending the majority of your attention planning appetizers, mains, and snacks for the Fourth of July, we firmly believe that no cookout is complete without a cocktail or two. Our favorite go-to drinks for Independence Day are easy to scale up for a crowd, like a classic red wine sangria, or can make use of things you'll have on hand anyway (like a cooler full of beer) to create drinks like the two-ingredient Spaghett or the Dog Days of Summer Ale. Read on to find a new favorite that's perfect for entertaining on the Fourth of July and beyond. 01 of 15 Blackberry Chipotle Michelada Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis Fresh blackberries take center stage in this not-so-average Michelada. Smoky chipotle hot sauce builds heat in every sip, while freshly squeezed lime juice adds key tartness for balance. Get the Recipe 02 of 15 Red Sangria Brie Goldman / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Sue Mitchell This versatile, instantly recognizable party punch is one of our favorite recipes for entertaining a crowd. We're especially partial to using red wines like Malbec and Grenache to add ripe cherry flavors and a little tannin to our sangria. Get the Recipe 03 of 15 Americano Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter Low in alcohol but high in flavor, the Americano is a classic highball that both Negroni and spritz devotees gravitate towards. Looking to change up your drink? Try substituting Select aperitif in place of Campari for a more herbal Americano. Get the Recipe 04 of 15 Limoncello Sorbet Float By combining the flavors of a classic French 75 with floral, tangy limoncello, you can make a cocktail that serves double duty as dessert. For a slightly more tart float, add more lemon juice. Want a sweeter sip? Just add more limoncello. Get the Recipe 05 of 15 Spaghett Photo by Huge Galdones / Food Styling by Christina Zerkis Whether or not it's officially Negroni season, you likely still have a bottle or two of Campari in your home bar. We suggest using them to make a Spaghett, a shockingly simple, crowd-pleasing beer cocktail that comes together right in the bottle. Get the Recipe 06 of 15 Agua de Jamaica Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon This nonalcoholic hibiscus agua fresca is a Mexican classic that works best when the weather warms up. Feel free to add mezcal or tequila for extra bite. Get the Recipe 07 of 15 Rosé Sangria with a Mixed-Berry Ice Ring © John Kernick This centerpiece-ready sangria calls for rosé wine, which most people already have on hand for the holiday. Don't be daunted by the berry ice ring, which is easy to make once you layer berries in a bundt pan. Get the Recipe 08 of 15 Kind of Blue Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon Bright red and perfect for the Fourth of July, this cocktail calls for Cappelletti, an herbal and bittersweet aperitif that's a perfect next step for Campari fans. The Kind of Blue cocktail gets dry, salty notes from the addition of fino sherry, and while the blueberry syrup takes a bit of extra patience to make, it's a delicious way to add seasonal fruit to your cocktail game. Get the Recipe 09 of 15 Aperol Fizz Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon Step aside, Aperol Spritz — there's a new bright orange drink in town, and it's got a fizzy top for extra flair. The Aperol Fizz is a cross between the iconic summertime spritz and egg cream, and gets a little bite and structure thanks to navy strength gin and dry vermouth. Get the Recipe 10 of 15 Pineapple-Sake Sangria with Jalapeño LUIS GARCIA This drink is proof that more sangria should be made with delicate, floral sake. Spicy jalapeño syrup adds an unexpected kick to this otherwise sweet, herbaceous party punch, which is perfect for backyard barbecues and dinner parties alike. Get the Recipe 11 of 15 Dog Days of Summer Ale Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon This eye-catching drink gets its bright red hue from Cherry Heering, a type of cherry cordial. Cherry heering also adds notes of marizpan, strawberry jam, and pine to this playful beer cocktail. Get the Recipe 12 of 15 Kentucky Mule Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Who says mules are just for the Kentucky Derby? This whiskey-based riff on a classic Moscow Mule is refreshing and crisp for the hottest days of July. The iconic copper mug keeps every sip cool. Get the Recipe 13 of 15 Bitter Lemon Spritz Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis This sparkling wine-based drink is perfect for beer lovers who want to indulge in a spritz this Fourth of July. We suggest opting for an American-style lager like Miller High Life, which plays especially nicely with Averna, a richer, sweeter style of Sicilian amaro. Get the Recipe 14 of 15 Spicy Paloma Shandy Victor Protasio Mexican lager beer takes the classic Paloma to the next level. For extra festive flair, don't skip the Tajin rim or the ruby red grapefruit wedge, both of which add smoky, sweet, tart flavors to this simple drink. Get the Recipe 15 of 15 Icy Lemon-Ginger Vodka Cocktail Brie Goldman / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Gabriel Greco, Addelyn Evans Flavored ice cubes made with ginger syrup give this citrusy summer cocktail an exciting edge over your average frozen drink. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit