Tag: summer cocktails

Patriotic Punch: Big-Batch Party Punches for the 4th of July

Posted on Jeanne Delathouder
Photo courtesy of YouTube

The Fourth of July is synonymous with fireworks, barbecues, and lakeside fun. As temperatures soar, keeping cool and refreshed becomes essential to your holiday enjoyment. Enter the big-batch party punch—a vibrant, flavorful libation that quenches your thirst while bringing a summery flair to your backyard barbecue. Whether you’re hosting a large gathering or a small family get-together, these punch recipes will be the life of the party.

Each concoction offers a medley of fresh fruits, zesty citrus, and aromatic herbs, ensuring a burst of summer flavor in every sip. Plus, these versatile recipes allow you the freedom to include or omit the alcohol, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So, this year, why not add some punch to your Fourth of July festivities with these invigorating recipes that will elevate the fun and keep guests comfortably chilled.

Watermelon Punch

Watermelon punch in bowl with iced cups garnished with mint, watermelon.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Causey via Southern Living

Nothing says Fourth of July quite like the cool, refreshing sweetness of watermelon. The iconic fruit of summer, it’s an all-American essential at your barbecue, whether you’re enjoying the lake life or grilling at the beach with friends and family. This patriotic big-batch punch blends some of summer’s best flavors—watermelon, fresh lime, and chilled pineapple juice—with the zing of grated fresh ginger and your choice of vodka, rum, or tequila.

The secret is letting it sit after blending and straining, allowing the flavors to mingle. Omit the alcohol and make a batch for the kids’ table and non-drinking guests. Make it memorable and serve with colorful cups, straws, and party favors. It’s the perfect thirst quencher for sweltering summer heat and tastes even better when you sip it dockside with your toes in the water. Visit Southern Living for the full recipe. Cheers!

Blue Hawaiian Party Punch

Pitcher of Blue Hawaiian punch served in mason jars with red cherries
Photo courtesy of Crazy For Crust

For a blast from the past, whip up a batch of this electric blue concoction for your Fourth of July barbecue. Made with—you guessed it—Blue Hawaiian Punch, pineapple juice, coconut rum, and vodka, this eye-candy cocktail can’t help but get the party started! You can even use blue raspberry Kool-Aid for an authentic throwback flavor from childhood. To celebrate in style, garnish with Maraschino cherries for a pop of firecracker red. You can make this 24 hours ahead and add the ice when ready to serve. Any liquor brand will do, and you can even invent your own interpretations without alcohol or other Hawaiian punch flavors. Visit Crazy For Crust for this deliciously easy recipe.

Firecracker Punch

Firecracker Punch served in glasses with frozen blueberries, lemon slices
Photo courtesy of Greg Dupree via Southern Living

Celebrate the red, white, and blue with a family-friendly Firecracker Punch. This festive party punch takes your holiday barbecue bash to the next level, with all-natural ingredients and no blue tongue! A tart and sweet libation made with freeze-dried strawberries, freeze-dried raspberries, and lemonade, this patriotic punch gets a fizzy kick of effervescence with nonalcoholic ginger beer. Serve over ice and garnish with frozen, fresh blueberries and lemon slices. For guests who prefer a spiked punch, simply splash with gin or vodka. Click here for the complete recipe.

Big-Batch Negroni Sbagliato

Negroni Sbagliato punch service in glasses with orange slices and ice cubes
Photo courtesy of Tim Nusog via Liquor

Fans of the ever-popular Negroni cocktail will savor this bubbly Fourth of July rendition called the Negroni Sbagliato. Perfect for a crowd, you can mix this up ahead of time in a punch bowl using a combination of Campari and sweet vermouth. Before serving, add ice and sliced oranges or other seasonal fruit, and finish with a spritzy prosecco for an effervescent bittersweet refresher. You can even dust your concoction with grated cinnamon for a kick of summer spice. Visit Liquor for the recipe.

Red Sangria

Red Sangria served iced glasses with apple slices, strawberries, and orange slices.
Photo courtesy of Will Dickey via The Pioneer Woman

Festive and fit for a crowd, this red sangria serves up a flavor burst of wine and fresh fruit over ice. An all-time favorite, sangria offers a classic option for summer celebrations, and it’s completely customizable to suit any taste. You can choose red, white, or rosé wines, but this recipe calls for red wine for a vibrant Fourth of July color splash. Plus, the red wine stains the fruit you add to your sangria, adding an appealing visual that always accompanies this iconic cocktail.

Summertime is open season for adding fresh peaches, nectarines, strawberries, oranges, plums, and apples for a tangy citrus note. This recipe incorporates brandy or fruit-based liqueur and pineapple juice, but you can get creative and add triple sec, Grand Marnier, and other hard liquors. Top with seltzer for a fizzy finish if desired. Visit The Pioneer Woman for the recipe.

Spicy Margarita Punch

Spicy margarita punch serviced in glasses with salted rims over ice cubes with cucumber and jalapeno garnish
Photo courtesy of Con Poulos via Food & Wine

Margarita lovers, this one’s for you! A zesty rendition of the classic fresh margarita, this Spicy Margarita Punch includes a firecracker kick of jalapeño tempered with the cooling sensation of muddled English cucumber, cilantro, and mint. Mix this summer libation in a punch bowl with tequila, lime juice, agave, and orange juice, and chill for an hour. You can also refrigerate it overnight, if preferred. Before serving, use a fine-mesh sieve to remove and discard the solids. Serve in salt-rimmed glasses over ice and lime wedges, and garnish with sliced cucumbers and jalapenos for the ultimate flavor mingle. Visit Food & Wine for the recipe.

Stars, Stripes, and Sips: Recipes for 4th of July Cocktails

Posted on Camille Smith
4th-of-July-cocktails
Photo courtesy of Home Is Where The Boat Is.

What’s your favorite July 4th tradition? Maybe it’s grilling burgers and taking your family on the boat. Or tasting the first bite of homemade apple pie and admiring the fireworks’ reflection in the water. Whatever your routine may be, a lake home is an unbeatable setting for this holiday. To top off the celebration, you can create 4th of July cocktails for you and your guests. After all, there are few excuses throughout the year to serve whimsical, colorful cocktails. Plus, you can skip the alcohol with most of these drinks, so they’re appropriate for kids. This holiday, pick your patriotic poison and enjoy the lake!

Red, White, and Blue Spritzer

Photo courtesy of Pretty Plain Janes.

If you’re looking for something light and refreshing, this spritzer is a perfect choice. Add some fresh strawberries and blueberries for the full red, white, and blue effect.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup simple syrup (1 part sugar + 1 part water, boiled until dissolved and cooled) 
  • ½ cup fresh strawberries, sliced in halves
  • ½ cup fresh blueberries 
  • 1 bottle dry white wine 
  • Club soda or tonic water 
  • Ice 
  • Fresh mint for garnish 

Directions: Add ice to pitcher until full and top with berries (save some for individual glasses). Pour in simple syrup and wine until the pitcher is ¾ full, then add soda or tonic water. Stir, serve and garnish with mint and extra fruit.

Courtesy of: Pretty Plain Janes

Sugar Cookie Pudding Shots

Photo courtesy of Jelly Shot Test Kitchen.

Confectionery sweetness meets alcohol with these celebratory shots. The bright colors and thick, pudding consistency make for a fun, festive treat. 

Ingredients: 

  • 1 box white chocolate flavored instant pudding 
  • 1 cup cold milk (any kind) 
  • ¾ cup vanilla vodka 
  • 2 tbsp amaretto liquor 
  • ½ cup whipped topping (or whipped cream) 
  • Red and blue liquid food coloring 
  • Cookies or sprinkles for garnish

Directions: In a medium bowl, pour pudding mix and add cold milk. Beat for two minutes. Add the vodka, ¼ cup at a time (combine thoroughly before each new ¼ cup addition). Stir in amaretto and whip. Evenly divide the pudding mixture into 3 bowls. Tint the first bowl with red food coloring, the second bowl blue. Leave the last one white. Layer the puddings in shot glasses and top with chosen garnish.

Courtesy of: Jelly Shot Test Kitchen

Firecracker

Photo courtesy of Liquor.com.

This cocktail’s spicy flavors are just as sizzling as the fireworks. For those who enjoy a relatively simple cocktail with a few fun flavors, this is for you. 

Ingredients: 

  • 4 watermelon chunks 
  • 3 oz Flor de Caña Grand Reserve seven-year-old rum
  • 1 oz Triple sec 
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice 
  • 1 oz simple syrup 
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper 
  • Lime wedge for garnish 

Directions: Muddle the watermelon in a mixing glass. Add all other remaining ingredients and ice and stir. Unstrained, pour into a cocktail or margarita glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Courtesy of: Liquor.com

Red, White, and Blue Sangria

Photo courtesy of Certified Pastry Aficionado.

Sangria is a summer staple (alliteration, anyone?). But this time, you don’t have to decide between red and white wine as the base. As long as you add blue, it’s patriotic. 

Ingredients: 

  • ¼ cup of sugar 
  • ¼ cup brandy liquor 
  • 1 750 mL bottle of dry white wine
  • 12 ounces lemon-lime soda 
  • 1 pound strawberries (sliced) 
  • 1 dry pint blueberries 
  • Ice (for serving) 

Directions: In a pitcher, mix sugar and brandy and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add a bottle of chardonnay and lemon-lime soda. Stir, then add strawberries and blueberries. You can let it sit for a few hours ahead of time to absorb all the flavors. When ready to serve, fill glasses halfway with ice, then pour sangria and serve immediately.

Courtesy of: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Red, White, and Boozy Margarita

Photo courtesy of Delish.com.

Nothing says “summertime” like a frozen margarita. But this time, try it with a 4th of July flare. After a day of grilling and relaxing in the sun, cool down with this colorful recipe. 

Ingredients: 

  • 9 cups ice 
  • 6 oz. silver tequila 
  • 3 oz. triple sec 
  • 2 oz. grenadine (for the red layer) 
  • 2 oz. blue curaçao (for the blue layer) 
  • 2 oz. lime juice (for the white layer) 

Directions: Divide ingredients for ice, tequila, and triple sec into thirds, and use ⅓ of each amount for each layer. Make the red layer by blending all ingredients, dividing evenly into glasses, and then repeating them with blue and white layers. Serve immediately.


Courtesy of: Delish.com

Red, White, and Blueberry Mule

Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Crafted.

If Moscow Mules are your cocktail of choice, try this festive twist on your favorite beverage. It has the same classic mix of vodka and ginger beer, with a unique fruity flavor. Don’t let your copper mugs go to waste this holiday! 

Ingredients: 

  • 2 oz. berry vodka (blueberry or raspberry)
  • 6 oz. ginger beer 
  • Blueberries 
  • Blackberries 

Directions: Muddle blueberries and blackberries in a shaker. Add vodka and shake. In a Moscow Mule mug, fill with ice and pour vodka and berries mixture. Fill with ginger beer and garnish with extra blueberries and blackberries.

Courtesy of: Brooklyn Crafted

From all of us at Lake Homes Realty, happy 4th of July!

Summer Sips and Spirits – Tasty Lake-Inspired Cocktails

Posted on Staff

Article co-written by LakeHomes.com intern Sam Harvey

Get your sweet summer sip on with these fun and fruity lake-inspired cocktails!

Summer Sangria with Watermelon and Pineapple

This simple, delicious summer sangria is crisp and refreshing, exactly what you need after a relaxing day of sunbathing by the lake. (Serves 4-6.)

Photo Courtesy of What the Fork Food Blog

Ingredients:

  • 1 bottle of Moscato (750 ml)
  • 1 cup brandy
  • 1 lime, thinly sliced
  • 2 cups fresh watermelon cubes, chilled
  • 2 cups fresh pineapple cubes, chilled
  • Lemon Lime soda, for serving

 Directions:

Prepare your sangria by first combining the wine and brandy in a large pitcher, and stir.

Next add the majority of the lime wheels, watermelon cubes, and fresh pineapple.

Place the remaining fruit pieces in the bottoms of your guests’ drinking glasses, and fill with ice.

Pour your finished sangria over ice, and top with lemon-lime soda for a little extra pop.

Serve!

Courtesy of: What the Fork

Mermaid Lemonade

Mermaids may be the stuff of tall tales, but this lovely, thirst-quenching lemonade definitely measures up to the myths. (Serves 4.)

Photo Courtesy of Ethan Calabrese

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup blue curacao
  • 1 cup white rum
  • Lemonade
  • 1 lemon, thinly sliced
  • Maraschino cherries, for garnish

 Directions:

For a fun drink that is as visually refreshing as it is delicious, first fill each of your glasses halfway with ice, then pour in a splash of blue curacao. 

Add 1/4 cup of rum, then top with more ice. 

Add lemonade, then garnish with a lemon slice and two cherries.

Courtesy of: delish.com

Grilled Peach Whiskey Smash

A southern-inspired indulgence, this fancy treat is sure to impress your guests this lake season.

Ingredients:

  • 1 small peach (or ½ of a large peach), pitted and quartered
  • 1/2 lemon
  • 2 fresh basil leaves (or 4 fresh mint leaves)
  • 1 Tbsp honey
  • 2 oz bourbon
  • 3 oz club soda, chilled

Directions:

For a warm, smoky flavor, place the peach and lemon slices on the grill and cook, covered, until golden brown, turning once. 

Combine the peaches and lemons, basil (or mint) and honey in a cocktail shaker. 

Muddle — crush and stir– the fruits and herbs to release their juices and aromas. 

Pour the bourbon and mixture over ice, cover and shake for 10 to 20 seconds. 

Strain your cocktail over a fresh glass of ice, and top with club soda before serving.  

Courtesy of: Better Homes & Gardens

Meyer Lemon Shandy

Pucker up for this summer classic combination. (Serves 4.)

Photo Courtesy of Lori Yates Photography

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 2 cups cold water
  • 3 Meyer lemons, juiced
  • 4 12-oz bottles of wheat beer

Directions:

Begin by bringing the sugar and the ½-cup of water to boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until dissolved. 

Let the mixture cool, then transfer the sugar-water to a pitcher and place in the refrigerator to chill into a syrup.

Combine this chilled syrup with fresh lemon juice, and add 2 cups of water. 

Stir lemonade into one bottle of beer in a chilled pint glass. 

Courtesy of: Foxes Love Lemons

For more taste bud-approved sips and spirits, check out these “5 Delicious Cocktails to Enjoy All Summer Long.”

5 Amazing Summer Cocktail Recipes

Posted on Glenn S. Phillips

What is a summer get together with no cocktails? There are many different types of cocktails, but here are five of the tastiest summer cocktails that are sure to please any guest!

MojitoMojito Perfecto

Ingredients:

  • 6 Leave of Mint
  • 4 tsp. of White Sugar
  • 1 Lime – Cut to 6 Wedges
  • 2 -1.5 Ounce Jiggers – Lemon Flavored Rum
  • 1 Cup of Ice Cubes
  • ½ Cup of Carbonated Water

Directions:

Put 3 of the mint leaves and 2 teaspoons of sugar in glasses.

Stir them vigorously.

Crushing the mint with the spoon, add 3 lime wedges into each glass.

Stir vigorously.

Pour 1 jigger of the rum into each of the glasses.

Fill the glasses with ice, and then top it with carbonated water.

Courtesy of AllRecipes.com

Lemon Drop

Ingredients:

  • 4 Ounces of Lemon Juice
  • 2 Ounces of Vodka
  • 1 tsp. of White Sugar
  • Crushed Ice
  • 1 Sliced Lemon
  • 4 Fresh Mint Sprigs

Directions:

In a mixing glass, combine vodka, lemon juice and the sugar.

Stir it, and then pour it into glasses that are filled with ice.

Garnish the glasses with the slices of lemon and a sprig of mint.

Daiquiri Cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ Ounces of Light Rum
  • 1 Tbsp. of Triple Sec
  • 1 ½ Ounces of Lime Juice
  • 1 tsp. of White Sugar
  • 1 Cup of Crushed Ice
  • 1 Maraschino Cherry

Directions:

Combine the rum, lime juice, triple sec and the ice in a food processor or blender.

Add in 1 cup of ice; blend it until it’s smooth.

Pour it in the Champagne flute.

Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Bikini Martini 

Ingredients:

  • 1 Ounce of Coconut Rum
  • ¾ Ounce of Vodka
  • 1 Ounce of Pineapple Juice
  • 1Dash of Grenadine Syrup

Directions:

Combine the vodka, rum and pineapple juice in a shaker.

Shake it until it is frothy.

Pour it into a martini glass.

Add in a touch of the grenadine to the middle.

Garnish it with an orange wheel.

Courtesy of AllRecipes.com

Easy Bloody Mary

Ingredients:

  • 3 Cups of Bloddy Mary Mix
  • 1 Tbsp. of Horseradish
  • 1 tsp. of Fresh Dill
  • 1 tsp. of Pepper Sauce – Franks Redhot
  • 2 Tbsp. of Dill Pickle Juice
  • ½ Cup of Salt
  • 1 tsp. of Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp. of Celery Seed
  • 1 Lime – Juiced
  • 6 – 1.5 Ounce Jiggers of Vodka
  • 6 Dill Pickle Spears
  • 1 Lime – Cut to Wedges

Directions:

In a pitcher stir in the Bloody Mary mix, dill, horseradish, hot sauce and the dill pickle juice. Taste and adjust your seasoning to your liking.

In a shallow type dish, stir in the salt, celery seed and pepper.

Pour in the lime juice into a saucer. Dip each glass in it.

Fill each of the glasses with ice and pour in one shot of the vodka.

Fill it with the Bloody Mary mix and then garnish it with a wedge of the lime and a pickle.