3 Must Have Red, White, and Blue Cocktail Recipes This Fourth of July
Let’s make a toast to America, the land of the free and home of the brave, this 4th of July. What better way to celebrate than by featuring red, white, and blue cocktails with our very own, Vitzellen vodka.
Bogue Sound Distillery would like to introduce you to a few favorite recipes while revealing a few fun facts about our founding fathers.
Fact One: George Washington expenditures for alcohol in 1755 were 1,000 times higher than the average upkeep. He spent 7% of his income while in office on booze. He loved to drink Madeira, rum, punch, or beer. His estate was known to be one of the largest whiskey producers, bottling 11,000 gallons in 1799.
Red, white & blue jello shots recipe! This recipe takes a few steps to make and needs to be prepared in advance but the outcome is worth the wait.
- You will need:
-1 3oz package of blue Jello
-1 3oz package of red Jello
-2 packets of Knox gelatin
-1 cup of coconut milk
-1/2 cup sugar
-3 cups (divided) of alcohol of choice (flavored or plain vodka works well)
-water
-jello shot cups
First set up your shot cups. I like to spread mine out on baking sheets for easy transport to and from the fridge. I bought 2 oz shot cups from the party store. You do not need to spray with cooking spray or otherwise prepare the cups.
Step 1: Make the Red layer
- In a bowl add 1 cup of boiling water to the red jello, stir well until dissolved, let cool a few minutes.
- Add 1 cup of alcohol (I used whipped cream flavored vodka), stir.
- Pour into jello shot cups, spreading evenly across the cups so there is a layer of red in each.
- Transfer to fridge and let them set. Package directions say 4 hours, I let mine set overnight so they would be extra firm before I added the next layer! If you skip this step, your colors will mix when you add the next ones and you will no longer have a layer effect! If you are rushed I would let them set at least 30 minutes.
- A lot of red, white and blue jello shots use whipped cream as the white layer. That is yummy, but here is how to make a white layer that is also gelatin and contains alcohol for a full on jello shot!
Step 2: The White Layer
- Add 1 cup of water and 1 cup coconut milk to a saucepan and sprinkle the Knox over it.
- Turn on the heat to low and stir well, cooking on low until the gelatin is fully dissolved.
- Add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat.
- Allow to cool several minutes and then add 1 cup of alcohol (I used whipped cream vodka)
- Carefully add the white layer to your red layer in each cup. Mine was too hot and started mixing in some of them so I used a spoon to add it! But, if it’s cooled enough you can pour it (slowly!)
- Transfer to fridge and allow to completely cool and set (same as the red layer)
Note: be sure to use clear alcohol or white liquor for this step so it stays white!
Step 3: The Blue Layer
- In a bowl add 1 cup of boiling water to the blue jello, stir well until dissolved, let cool a few minutes.
- Add 1 cup of alcohol (I used regular vodka), stir. Allow to cool several minutes.
- Carefully add the blue over the white layer, slowly so it doesn’t mix!
- Transfer to fridge and allow to set before eating!
Fact Two: Sam Adams earned the nickname “Sam the Publican” from his enemies for drinking so much ale. During the celebration of 1768 Stamp Act Riots, 45 toasts were made for planting the Liberty Tree.
Fourth of July Cocktail
Another great cocktail to make that requires a few ingredients is the Fourth of July Cocktail. If you want to give this drink a little more kick, layer vodka on the top.
Layer equal amounts of the following, in this order:
- 1 part grenadine
- 1 part Blue Curacao
- 1 part Cream or Vodka
If you need help on how to pour layers please this tutorial.
Fact Three: Thomas Jefferson had a reputation of being a wine connoisseur. He was the first President to stock the White House with wine, spending a third of his salary filling the wine cellar.
Red, White, and Blue Sangria Recipe
Another delicious drink that will make a splash on the fourth is the Red, White, and Blue Sangria.
Ingredients:
- 2 bottles dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc is good)
- 1 cup triple sec
- 1/2 cup berry-flavored vodka
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 cup simple syrup (see tips below)
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 1/2 cups hulled and sliced strawberries
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a large punch bowl or pitcher and stir well. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours.
- Serve well-chilled with a good scoop of fruit floating in each drink, or serve over ice.
We’d like to formally wish you a Happy Independence Day! Be sure to stock up on our Vitzellen Vodka and enjoy your fourth.
