4th  of July Party Drinks

By Gail Fero

A 4th of July Party wouldn't be the same without themed drinks and nibbles. But while summer party foods are often staples, you can add a bit of pizzazz to your party with gorgeous, tasty and theme-appropriate drinks, suitable for either adults or children. Red, white and blue are the colors of choice and here are three drinks that give you the wow of presentation with a treat for the taste buds.

Suitably Patriotic Sangria

Ingredients:

 2 Bottles of white wine (dry or sweet to your taste)

¼ cup lemon juice

¼ cup lime juice

½ cup flavored vodka (berry or whipped cream works well)

¼ cup sugar

Sliced strawberries

Washed blueberries

Star-shaped apple slices

Combine in large pitcher or punch bowl and chill for five hours before your party. A virgin version can be made by substituting the alcohol with a variety of fruit juices, using apple and pear juice as a base.

Red, White & Blue Pina Colada

Ingredients (Individual size):

3 oz pineapple juice

1 oz coconut cream

1 oz white rum

Crushed ice

1/4 oz of grenadine

1/4 oz of blue curacao

Fill the bottom of your glass with the blue curacao. Add the first four ingredients to a blender and blend until mostly smooth. Pour almost all of the pina colada mix into the glass, on top of the blue curacao. Add the grenadine to the top and finish off with the final spoonful of pina colada mixture. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and pineapple slice for additional style. For a virgin version, don't add the rum and replace the blue curacao with blueberries or food coloring.

Stars & Stripes Shirley Temple

Ingredients (Party or individual size):

Ginger ale

Grenadine

Vodka

Maraschino cherries

Blueberries

Whipped cream

Fill your vessel of choice, either an individual cup, a party pitcher or a punch bowl, with the ginger ale. Pour the grenadine into the container until the drink is a nice red color, using more or less depending on taste. If you are using alcohol in this drink, put in your vodka and stir the mixture. Add in a suitable amount of blueberries and ice. If using individual serving sizes, garnish with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. For party sizes, leave out a bowl of the cherries and a can of whipped cream for guests to add on their own.

With these three, versatile drinks, your party will be ready for adults, children and designated drivers. Variety makes a party livelier and these three options means that there will be something for everyone. With minimal effort for maximum effect, make your 4th  of July party pop with these red, white and blue drinks.