20 summer-friendly cocktail recipes for the Fourth of July
The Bandero “Quarantina” Margarita
Bandero Tequila’s blue agave plants are grown high in the eastern Los Altos Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. The higher elevation is where Bandero’s agave plants experience cooler nights, less rain and colder winters, transforming Bandero into a sweeter, richer “pineapple.”
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. of Bandero Tequila
- 3/4 oz. of Orange Juice (Fresh Squeezed if possible)
- 1 oz. Cointreau, Triple Sec or Another Orange Liqueur
- Splash of Club Soda
- Garnish: 1/2 Orange Wheel
Method:
- Mix in a Large Glass or add the ingredients to a Cocktail Shaker filled with ice and shake.
- Strain into a Rocks Glass over ice.
- Add a splash of Club Soda.
- Garnish with an Orange Wedge.
Southern Comfort Sweet Tea
June recognized as National Iced Tea Month, and Southern Comfort is one of the staple brands when it comes to American whiskey. Thus, 2 Southern traditions coming together in a great way.
Ingredients:
- 2 parts Sweet Tea
- 1 part Southern Comfort Black (80 Proof)
- Garnish: Sliced Lemons
Method:
- Combine sweet tea and Southern Comfort Black together in a glass over ice.
- Stir well.
- Garnish with sliced lemons.
Southern Comfort Southern Lemonade
On the other side of the sweet spectrum from sweet tea is lemonade, which is arguably the most summer-friendly drink there is.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Southern Comfort Original
- 3 oz. Lemon Lime Soda
- Garnish: Lime Wedge
- Optional: 0.5 oz. of grenadine (to make it a Dirty Shirley.)
Method:
- Pour Southern Comfort Original into a glass filled with ice.
- Add lemon lime soda.
- Stir well.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
- Add the grenadine if you wish to.
Casa Red, White & Blue
Casamigos was co-founded in 2013 by George Clooney, Rande Gerber, and Mike Meldman. As the story goes, they commissioned a distillery in Jalisco, Mexico to produced a tequila that “tasted great and didn’t burn going down.”
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz. Casamigos Blanco Tequila
- 1.5 oz. Fresh Watermelon Juice
- 0.25 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
- 0.25 oz. Grenadine by Liber & Co.
- Splash of Soda Water
- Blue Curacao Sprayed Over Top
- Garnish: Luxardo Cherry
Method:
- Add fresh watermelon juice, fresh lemon juice and grenadine directly into Collins glass.
- Fill Collins glass with crushed ice and pack tightly.
- Add Casamigos Blanco Tequila, then splash of soda water
- Top off with crushed ice and create dome like top.
- Spray blue curacao over top through an atomizer.
- Add garnish.
- Serve in Collins Glass with Pebble OR Crushed Ice
Amaro Manhattan
Cardamaro is an artichoke-based amaro, with primary flavors of cardoon and blessed thistle. Consider using in place of vermouth for you staple after-meal cocktails, like the Amaro Manhattan.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz. Grace O’Malley Irish Whiskey
- 0.75 oz. Cardamaro
- 0.5 oz. Amaro Sfumato Rabarbaro
- Garnish: Cherry
Method:
- Strain into coupe or double rocks glass.
- Stir with ice.
- Garnish with cherry.
Partida Raspberry Collins
Partida offers an ideal harmony and balance between its aromas and flavors, with a complex variety of herbal, earthy and citrus notes. The delicious Partida Raspberry Collins makes for a wonderful lunch cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 oz. Partida Blanco Tequila
- 3/4 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
- 3/4 oz. Agave Nectar (cut 50/50 with water)
- 8 to 10 Raspberries
- Garnish: Lemon Twist and 3 Raspberries on a pick
Method:
- Shake all ingredients with ice and strain over fresh ice into a highball glass.
- Top with sparkling water or club soda.
- Add garnish.