As Memorial Day approaches, it's time to honor and remember the brave men and women who have served our country. What better way to celebrate their sacrifice than by raising a glass and toasting to their memory? This Memorial Day, gather your friends and family for a festive get-together, complete with a lineup of delicious and refreshing cocktails. From classic favorites to creative twists, we've curated a list of 10 Memorial Day cocktails that will kickstart your summer and add a touch of patriotic flair to your celebration.
1. Star-Spangled Spritzer
This vibrant and sparkling cocktail combines blueberries, raspberries, and white wine for a patriotic twist. It's light, fruity, and perfect for a sunny Memorial Day afternoon.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cups blueberries
- 1/4 cup raspberries
- 4 oz white wine - Westerly Fletcher's Sauvignon Blanc
- Club soda, to top
Directions: In a glass, muddle the blueberries and raspberries. Fill the glass with ice and and pour in the white wine. Top with club soda. Stir gently and garnish with additional berries.
2. Berry Blast Mojito
Infuse your mojito with the flavors of summer berries. Muddle fresh strawberries, blueberries, and mint with rum, lime juice, and simple syrup. Top it off with club soda for a bubbly and invigorating drink.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. rum - Sammy's Beach Bar Platinum Rum
- 1/4 cup cut strawberries
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- 4-6 fresh mint leaves
- .75 oz. lime juice
- .75 oz. simple syrup
- Club soda, to top
Directions: In a cocktail shaker, muddle the strawberries, blueberries, and mint leaves. Add rum, lime juice, and simple syrup. Add ice and shake ingredients. Using a strainer, pour ingredients into a glass filled with ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with mint sprig.
3. Red, White, and Boozy
This layered cocktail pays tribute to the colors of the American flag. Carefully pour grenadine, cocktail mixture and blue curaçao over ice to create a visually stunning and patriotic cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. coconut rum - Tennessee Legend Coconut Rum
- 1 oz. white rum - Batiste Rhum Silver
- .75 oz. pineapple juice
- .50 oz. lime juice
- .25 oz. coconut syrup
- .25 oz. blue curacao
- .25 oz. grenadine
Directions: Fill rocks glass with blue curacao. Fill glass with shaved ice. Pour coconut rum, white rum, pineapple juice, lime juice, and coconut syrup into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake ingredients. Using a strainer, pour ingredients into the glass. Top with grenadine.
4. Watermelon Margarita
Cool down on a warm Memorial Day with this refreshing watermelon margarita. Combine fresh watermelon juice, tequila, lime juice, and a touch of agave syrup for a fruity and tropical twist on a classic favorite.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. tequila - Juan Lobo Blanco Tequila
- 1 oz. fresh watermelon juice
- .75 oz. lime juice
- .50 oz. agave
Directions: Pour tequila, watermelon juice, lime juice, and agave into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake ingredients. Using a strainer, pour ingredients into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with watermelon triangle.
5. Peach Bourbon Smash
Elevate your Memorial Day celebration with this peach-infused bourbon cocktail. It's sweet, tangy, and perfect for the peach lovers!
- 2 oz. bourbon - Merica Bourbon Whiskey
- 1 ripe peach, pitted and sliced
- .50 oz. lemon juice
- .50 oz. simple syrup
- Splash of peach nectar (optional)
- Club soda, to top
- Peach slice for garnish
Directions: In a cocktail shaker, muddle peach slices. Add bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and peach nectar (if using). Add ice and shake ingredients. Using a strainer, pour ingredients into a glass filled with ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with a peach slice.