When it comes to American celebration, there is possibly no bigger day than July the 4th, which is celebrated because it was the day that the United States declared its independence from Britain, in 1776. The day is synonymous with all sorts of ways to celebrate, from fireworks, to parades, to family reunions, baseball games, speeches, and more.
In fact, it is so widely celebrated that it is estimated that Americans spend upwards of $1 billion a year on fireworks just for the one day! Of course, independence can also be celebrated in cocktail form, and Americans were happy to do so with the July 4th cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce of watermelon schnapps
- 1 splash of cranberry juice
- 1 very thin slice of pepper (either jalapeno or serrano)
- 1 slice of lemon
- 1 slice of lime
- 1 ½ ounces of tequila
- ¼ ounce of blue curacao
- ½ ounce of simple syrup
Preparation:
- Mix the schnapps and cranberry juice into a shaker, then pour it into a glass filled with ice.
- Muddle the rest of the ingredients in the shaker.
- Strain into the glass over the “red” layer.
Equipment:
- Muddling spoon
- Cocktail shaker
- Cocktail glass
The optional garnish for the drink is the watermelon, which is a refreshing way to top off a drink that is celebrated in one of the hottest months of the year. It is obvious that one of the main aspects of the drink is that it proudly displays both red and blue colors, which refers to the American colors, of red, white, and blue. The holiday is also very much associated with barbecues, and so the cocktail is a perfect thing to pair with whatever is on the grill. Whether you simply want a colorful cocktail, or save the drink for the specific holiday, the 4th of July is sure to be a hit with you and your party!
