10 Easy 4th of July Drinks you can DIY with Reddy Ice

Educational, Food & Recipes, Lifestyle

No backyard 4th of July barbecue celebration worth its weight in side dishes is complete without a dazzling array of thirst-quenching drinks. Instead of serving your guests the same light beer or wine coolers you drink at every summer get-together, opt for something that’s more worthy of America’s 243rd birthday with Reddy Ice.

Whether you’re interested in making patriotic-themed liquid refreshments the same colors as the flag or want to pack tons of fruity flavor into a single drink, we’ve researched all over the internet to bring you these 4th of July drinks. For the guests who don’t drink, we’ve included delicious non-alcoholic options. And for the kids, stir together a classic red, white, and blue juice beverage of their dreams.

These Independence Day themed thirst quenchers will be ready in minutes, impress your friends and family, and disappear faster than you’ll able to serve them. Forget the fireworks, these all-American beverages for the Fourth of July will steal the show at your get together. Can we get a ‘Happy Birthday U-S-A’?

Party Preparation

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Fill the Coolers

As part of the pre-party prep, be sure to have plenty of Reddy Ice in stock so everyone can stay hydrated. After filling the coolers with bags of cubed or block ice, cover them with a white blanket to reflect the sun and prevent ice from melting.

Fill the Coolers with ice
Raise the bar

A raised beverage station separate from the food lets guests mix drinks and mingle. Stock the bar with cups, straws (to double as stirrers), and plenty of Reddy Ice — a large metal pail will keep bottles and cans frosty, but consider an insulated cooler for extra cubes.

Raised beverage station

Via Good Housekeeping

Put home and office supplies to work

Plastic stick-on flags make perfect drink labels, and rubber bands will secure napkin-wrapped cutlery, so partygoers can grab flatware one-handed.

Party Preparation

Via Good Housekeeping

Keep bugs out of drinks

Keep insects out of drinks by topping glasses with patterned cupcake liners. Poke a hole through the center for a straw.

Keep insects out of drinks

Via The Krazy Coupon Lady

July 4th DIY Drink Recipes

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Rose, Lemon & Strawberry Infused Water (alcohol free)

Welcome your 4th of July party guests by hydrating them with this gorgeous flavored water. It’s so simple yet so elegant, delicious and refreshing. Strawberries pair beautifully with rosewater but so would raspberries or really any berry of your choice. Flavor-wise, the water is subtly sweet, floral flavor with a lovely zing from the lemon. It’s a refreshing, calming, and pleasant way to drink more water all summer!

Rose, Lemon & Strawberry Infused Water

Recipe and Image Courtesy: Wallflower Kitchen

Ingredients (Yields: 1 Large Jug)

  • A handful of strawberries
  • Petals from a couple of roses, pesticide-free
  • 1 lemon, sliced into wedges (or the juice from half a lemon)
  • Filtered water
  • 1 bag Premium Packaged Ice

Directions

  • Fill a jug with all the ingredients and leave to infuse in the fridge for at least a couple of hours, preferably overnight.
  • You can serve it straight from the jug or you can strain it into glasses filled with Reddy Ice.
  • You can also use a small sieve ladle to pour into the glasses and collect the petals and fruit pieces.
  • That’s it! Enjoy 🙂
Classic Red, White, and Blue Juice Drink (alcohol free)

Easily impress your guests – both for adults and kids – with a perfectly layered Red, White, and Blue Drink for Fourth of July.

Classic Red, White, and Blue Juice Drink

Recipe Courtesy: Eating on a Dime

Image Courtesy: In Katrina’s Kitchen

Ingredients (Yields: 3 Drinks)

Cran Apple Juice and Colada

Image Courtesy: In Katrina’s Kitchen

Directions

  • Fill glass 1/4 of the way with Reddy Ice
  • Fill with Cran-Apple Juice just 1/3 of the way up
  • Place in freezer for 30 minutes or until an ice has formed on the red layer
  • Fill to the top with Reddy Ice
  • Gently fill with Sobe Elixir Pina Colada by pouring over the back of a spoon to 2/3 of the way up
  • Place in freezer for 20 minutes or until ice has formed on the white layer
  • Gently fill with Blue G2 Gatorade by pouring over the back of a spoon rest of way up
Red, White, and Blue Vodka Lemonade Slush

Celebrate your patriotism with a refreshing (and colorful!) slush made with vodka, grenadine, blue curacao, and spiked lemonade.

Red, White, and Blue Vodka Lemonade Slush

Recipe and Image Courtesy: Homemade Hooplah

Ingredients (Yields: 4 Large Drinks)

Directions

  • Using a food processor, crush mix 3 cups of Reddy Ice and grenadine syrup together until slushy. Note: You need this layer to be extra thick, so if needed, add up to 1 cup more ice and blend. When finished, set aside.
  • Repeat the step for the Blue Curacao, blending with 3 cups of ice until slushy. Like the last layer, you want this to be extra thick. If needed, add up to 1 more cup of ice and blend. Set aside.
  • Add vodka, lemonade, and remaining 3 cups of ice to the blender and mix until slushy. It’s not as important for this layer to be thick, but it should be comparable to the others. Add up to 1 more cup of ice if needed. When finished, set aside.
  • Prepare drinks by layering the flavors in this order: grenadine, blue curacao, and finish with the vodka lemonade on top.
  • Serve immediately!
Cherry Whiskey Smash

Think of this Cherry Whiskey Smash as a cherry soda for adults. Fizzy cherry flavor with a big ‘ol burst of whiskey to get your attention! This twist on the old fashioned will warm you up and brighten the July 4th get together with its deep red color and fresh-picked cherry flavor. Grab a cocktail shaker and muddler, then settle in for rich flavor that’s as luxurious as a cashmere sweater.

Cherry Whiskey Smash

Recipe and Image Courtesy: SaloonBox Cocktail Kit

Ingredients (Yields: 1 Serving)

  • 1 Oz. Whiskey
  • 1 Oz. Tart Cherry Juice
  • 0.5 Oz. Amaretto
  • 0.5 Oz. Ginger Brandy
  • 2 Oz. Cola
  • 5 Maraschino Cherries
  • 1 bag Traditional Cubed Reddy Ice

Directions

  • Add maraschino cherries to the bottom of the glass and muddle/smash them to release the juice.
  • Fill the glass with Reddy Ice.
  • In a cocktail shaker, add the whiskey, tart cherry juice, amaretto, and brandy, shaking for 15 seconds to combine.
  • Strain into rocks glass over ice, top off with cola.
  • Serve with additional cherries if desired.
American Dream Punch

Toast to the USA by serving up this tasty Fourth-inspired SVEDKA’s American Dream Punch.

American Dream Punch

Recipe and Image Courtesy: SVEDKA Vodka

Ingredients (Yields: 1 Pitcher)

  • 2 parts SVEDKA Vodka
  • 1/2 part Orange Curaçao
  • 1/2 part Simple Syrup
  • 1 part Fresh Lime Juice
  • Dash of Grenadine
  • Blackberries and Mint for garnishing (optional)
  • 1 bag Traditional Cubed Reddy Ice

Directions

  • Combine all the ingredients in a pitcher.
  • Top with lots of Reddy Ice.
  • Garnish with blackberries and mint.
Blackberry-Mint Moscow Mule

Cool off July 4th celebrations with this berry-infused fizzy drink.

Blackberry-Mint Moscow Mule

Recipe and Image Courtesy: Good Housekeeping

Ingredients (Yields: 4 Servings)

  • 6 Oz. Blackberries, Plus More for Serving
  • 1/2 Cup Mint, Plus More for Serving
  • 8 Oz. Vodka (1 Cup)
  • 2 Oz. Lime Juice (1/4 Cup)
  • 2 Sliced Limes
  • 12 Oz. Ginger Beer
  • 1 bag Traditional Cubed Reddy Ice

Directions

  • In a pitcher, smash blackberries and mint.
  • Stir in vodka, lime juice, and 2 sliced limes.
  • Gently stir in ginger beer.
  • Serve over Reddy Ice with extra blackberries and mint. Cheers!
Red, White & Blue (berry) Margaritas

These Firecracker Margaritas are truly easy to make, and perfect for any patriotic holidays!

Red, White & Blue berry Margaritas

Recipe and Image Courtesy: Gimme Some Oven

INGREDIENTS (Yields: 6 CUPS)

  • Optional: a fresh lime wedge and margarita salt or sugar, to rim the glasses

Frozen Strawberry Margarita Ingredients

  • 2 cups (12 ounces) frozen strawberries
  • 1/2 cup tequila
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup agave nectar (or honey)
  • Extra Reddy Ice, if needed

Frozen Blueberry Margarita Ingredients

  • 1 cup (12 ounces) frozen blueberries
  • 1/2 cup tequila
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup agave nectar (or honey)
  • Extra Reddy Ice, if needed

Frozen Coconut Margarita Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup coconut milk (I recommend full-fat)
  • 1/2 cup silver tequila
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup agave nectar (or honey)
  • Extra Reddy Ice, if needed

Directions

  • For each of the margarita recipes, add the five ingredients to a blender and pulse until completely smooth.
  • If the mixture is too thin, add extra Reddy Ice until it is the consistency of a thick slushy. Pour into a container, and store in the freezer.
  • If you would like to rim your glasses with salt or sugar, make a small slit in a fresh lime wedge and run it around the tops of your glasses to wet the edges. Then invert the glasses, and dip them in a bowl of salt or sugar to coat the rims.
  • Use a spoon to scoop your desired first flavor of margarita into the bottom of your serving glasses until they are 1/3 full. Add your second flavor, and then your final flavor. Serve immediately.
  • For those of you who would like to have somewhat straight lines between layers, here is a little tip. Once your first layer is in, do not add a huge spoonful of the next color on top. Rather, add just a few small spoons of the next color in small piles around the edges of the first layer until you have made a circle border. Then fill in the center, and THEN you can start adding in larger spoons on top of that.
  • But hey, after about 5-10 minutes, the colors will start to seep and combine anyway. So however, yours turn out, dont worry — they will be delicious!
Blueberry Mojito

The sweetness of the blueberries pairs perfectly with the tartness of the limes. This cocktail will sweep your July 4th BBQ party away like a cool island breeze & is also perfect for lazy summer afternoons.

Blueberry Mojito Recipe

Recipe and Image Courtesy: Baking Beauty

Ingredients (Yields: 2 Servings)

  • 1 Cup Fresh Blueberries (Set aside a few for garnish if desired)
  • 4 Ounces Rum
  • 10 Fresh Mint Leaves
  • 2 Teaspoons White Sugar
  • Juice of 2 Limes
  • 6 Ounces Club Soda/li>
  • 1 Bag Traditional Cubed Reddy Ice

Directions

  • Blend or muddle blueberries until smooth. Set aside.
  • Use a muddler or wooden spoon to blend in mint leaves and sugar.
  • Stir in rum, lime juice, and blueberry mixture.
  • Pour into glasses over club soda & Reddy Ice. Gently stir.
  • Garnish with extra blueberries, lime, and mint if desired.
Blue Long Island

The Blue Long Island cocktail is a very refreshing drink for your guests but it can also easily knock them off their feet. The alcohol taste is more noticeable than in the normal Long Island and so, it can go very well with a BBQ meal. Most importantly, it’s gorgeous to look at and perfect for sipping by the poolside.

Blue Long Island Recipe

Recipe and Image Courtesy: Mix That Drink

Ingredients (Yields: 2 Servings)

  • 1 Ounce Vodka
  • 1 Ounce Gin
  • 1 Ounce Light Rum
  • 1 Ounce Gold Tequila
  • 3 Ounces Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
  • 1 1/2 Ounces Simple Syrup
  • 1 Ounce Blue Curacao Liqueur
  • 1 Bag Traditional Cubed Reddy Ice

Directions

  • Fill a Collins Glass with Reddy Ice.
  • Pour in the liquors, add lemon juice, and simple syrup.
  • Finally, add the blue curacao.
  • Garnish with a slice of lemon and a straw.
  • Feel free to tinker with the amount of sweet and sour to get it to your taste.
Sparkling Red, White and Blue Sangria

A pitcher of cool, refreshing Sparkling Sangria with Red strawberries, Blue blueberries and star-shaped White apple slices makes any July 4th barbecue, cookout or summer party a little more special. What makes wine, champagne and fruit such a winning combo? Take a sip from these sangria pitchers and you’ll have your answer.

Sparkling Red, White and Blue Sangria

Recipe and Image Courtesy: Gimme Some Oven

Ingredients (Yields: 8-12 Servings)

  • 1 Bottle Dry White Wine
  • 2 Cups Fresh Blueberries
  • 1 Cup Fresh Raspberries
  • 1 Cup Apple Juice or White Grape Juice
  • 1 Pound Fresh Strawberries, Hulled and Sliced
  • 1 Bottle Champagne (or any variety of sparkling white wine)
  • 3-4 Granny Smith apples cut into stars via a tiny cookie cutter (or fresh pears, jicama, pineapple, starfruit)
  • 1 Bag Traditional Cubed Reddy Ice

Directions

  • Stir together white wine, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and apple juice together in a large pitcher.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 1-4 hours, so that the flavors can meld. (Heads up that the longer the mixture sits, the redder it will become.)
  • When you’re ready to serve the sangria, gradually stir in the champagne and star shaped apples slices.
  • Serve immediately on the rocks with lots of Reddy Ice.

Want more ideas?

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Check out these delicious Spring Drink Recipes to add to your bash too.