Whether or not you celebrate U.S. Independence Day, this is a fun drink. The Fourth of July cocktail is a gorgeous layered cocktail in red, white and blue.

The overall flavor of this drink is a blend of pomegranate and orange – fruity, but not too sweet, and agreeable to most people’s palates.

You can pour these before a party starts and put them in a tray in the refrigerator and bring them out as a surprise after dinner drink for guests. The presentation possibilities are amazing.

(People keep asking where I got these shot glasses. They are no longer made, but you can find ones very similar to it here on Ebay. Or this set of ball base glasses on Amazon.)

It’s pictured here with cream on top for a true red, white and blue look, but you can also layer vodka on top to make it stronger. This makes it red, white and clear, which is a little less festive, but more potent. The choice is yours.

It’s worth getting a hand-crafted grenadine like Liber & Co for this instead of the usual corn syrup version. In a drink like this, it’ll make a big difference in the flavor.

A note of warning: changing the brands can change which order they’ll layer in. If you pour it slowly, the heavier ingredient will sink to the bottom no matter which order you poured in.

Types of cream also make a difference. Most will float on top, but not all. I recommend light cream or half-n-half for this cocktail.

It’s a good idea to do a test of the ingredients you’re using. Take a note of which order they end up in and you’ll know for future reference.

If you’re intimidated by the thought of pouring a layered cocktail, it’s easier than you think. Layering does take a little bit of practice, but it’s really not that hard. Check out my tutorial on how to pour a layered cocktail.

And if you get the hang of pouring these, and you’re feeling confident, you can pour them right front of your guests and really impress everybody. People will enjoy it even if you don’t pour them perfectly.

If you’re actually serving these for the Fourth of July, I suggest putting a cup of sand with a lit sparkler in it on the tray or somewhere nearby.

Just don’t put it in the drinks since it would mess up the layers. This is a really fun way to present the drinks.

You may also want to check out my post of 24 Fourth of July drinks, which features cocktails that are red, white and/or blue, drinks that have an Americana theme, and some drinks that are just great for a barbecue.

Enjoy responsibly while watching the fireworks!

Fourth of July Cocktail Recipe