Red White and Blue Cocktail
Attention patriots! Raise your glass to this Red White and Blue Cocktail recipe! I’m not talking about your grandma’s boring old sangria or some weak-ass vodka cranberry. Nope, we’re going full throttle with a wickedly delicious layered cocktail that will have you feeling like you just won the Revolutionary War!
Perfect for Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, or any day you feel patriotic (even if you’re not American), this thirst-quenching alcoholic beverage is layered with tangy cherry vodka (the red layer), crisp vodka and lemonade (the white layer), and sweet blue curacao (the blue layer).
Ya, I know these layered drinks look like they’d fit right in at your kid’s 10th birthday party, but trust me when I say, this patriotic cocktail is anything but rated “G”.
🧾 Ingredients
For best results, use the exact ingredients listed below, for which there are no substitutions. See below for a non-alcoholic option.
- Vodka – made from fermented and distilled plants, so most mainstream vodka brands comply with vegan standards. To see if the brand you like is vegan, check out Barnivore.
- Cherry Vodka – again, most flavored vodka is vegan friendly and some are even flavored with real cherries.
- Lemonade – mixed with the vodka to create the white layer, lemonade gives this vodka cocktail a pop of tart citrus that compliments the sweetness of the other ingredients. I prefer using a lightly sweetened brand to avoid an extra-sweet drink.
- Blue Curacao – is a citrus-flavored liqueur, like triple sec. It adds a sweet flavor and the luscious blue color to the cocktail. Again, many brands are vegan friendly but please do check with Barnivore (link above) for more information on vegan-friendly alcohol brands.
🍹 How To Make A Red White and Blue Cocktail
Step 1: Create the blue layer by adding the blue curacao to the bottom of the glass before filling it with ice.
Step 2: Fill the glass 3/4 of the way full with ice cubes.
Step 3: Add the vodka and lemonade to a cocktail shaker. Gently shake for a couple of seconds.
Step 4: Create the white layer by slowly and steadily pouring the spiked lemonade over the ice.
Step 5: Create the final red layer. Using the back of a spoon held over the glass, pour the cherry vodka gently and very, very slowly into the glass leaving a little bit of room at the top.
Step 6: Garnish with festive straws and a wee flag. Serve immediately and enjoy!
👩🏻🍳 Tips For Making The Best Layered Cocktail
- For best results, don’t change the ingredients in the recipe. Each ingredient has a specific density in order for the colors to remain layered. Changing any one of the ingredients may disturb this fine balance causing the colors to mix when being poured.
- Ice is required to allow each layer to sit where it’s supposed to. Without it, the layers may not lay as clearly.
- The blue curacao must sit on the bottom because of it’s thickness. If switched, you’ll get colors mixing everywhere!
- If your white layer looks more blue than white, chances are you used a bit too much blue curacao. Be sure to carefully measure each ingredient.
- You’ll want to serve this vodka layered cocktail right after layering it. Waiting too long will cause the colors to begin to mix together.
- If you love festive layered cocktails, try my holiday New York Sour and my spooky Devil’s Margarita.
For more refreshing cocktails, try my Blackberry Mojito, Strawberry Pina Colada, my Tinto de Verona or my Blue Kamikaze Shots.
🥃 Why This Recipe Works
- It’s easy to make and ready in just a few minutes.
- It has a non-alcoholic version that’s great for kids.
- It’s the perfect layered drink recipe to serve at summer parties and backyard barbecues.
- It’s versatile and can be served on a variety of holidays, like Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day and any day you want to mix a special drink
For some great vegan BBQ ideas, check out these 30 Vegan BBQ Recipe for Summer Parties and Backyard Barbecues!
🍔 Serving Suggestions
This recipe is perfect for holidays, summer parties and backyard barbecues. To help you celebrate, here are a few recipes to serve with this drink:
- Portobello Mushroom Burger
- Grilled Carrot Dogs
- Vegan Potato Salad
- Mesquite Grilled Corn on the Cob
- Summer Fruit Salad
💭 Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, both regular vodka and flavored vodka are considered distilled spirits which are generally vegan. And some brands of blue curacao are also vegan-friendly. I always check with Barnivore before buying alcohol.
The key to creating perfect layers is to pour each layer very gently and super slow. Some people choose to use the back of a spoon technique for the white layer as well as the red layer, but I’ve found I only need the technique for the top red layer.
🥤 Non-Alcoholic Option
Got kids? You can make this vodka cocktail non-alcoholic! Simply substitute grenadine for cherry vodka, lemonade for vodka, and non-alcoholic blue curacao for regular curacao. Then follow the same instructions as per above.
🥂 More Amazing Cocktail Recipes
Have you tried this? Why not leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, and sign up for my newsletter!
Red White and Blue Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 ounces lemonade
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces cherry vodka
- 2 ounces blue curacao
Instructions
- Create the blue layer by adding the blue curacao to the bottom of the glass before filling it with ice.
- Fill the glass 3/4 of the way full with ice cubes.
- Add the vodka and lemonade to a cocktail shaker. Gently shake for a couple of seconds.
- Create the white layer by slowly and steadily pouring the spiked lemonade over the ice.
- Create the final red layer. Using the back of a spoon held over the glass, pour the cherry vodka gently and very, very slowly into the glass leaving a little bit of room at the top.
- Garnish with festive straws and a wee flag. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- For best results, don’t change the ingredients in the recipe. Each ingredient has a specific density in order for the colors to remain layered. Changing any one of the ingredients could disturb this fine balance causing the colors to mix when being poured.
- Ice is required to help each layer sit where it’s supposed to. Without it, the layers may not lay as clearly.
- The blue curacao must sit on the bottom because of it’s thickness. If switched, you’ll get colors mixing everywhere!
- If your white layer looks more blue than white, chances are you used a bit too much blue curacao. Be sure to carefully measure each ingredient.
- You’ll want to serve this red white and blue cocktail right after layering it. Waiting too long will cause the colors to begin to mix together.
- Nutrition information is only an estimate.
Super cute and festive drink. How did you get the color separated so well?
Thank you Nancy. To get the layers to stay separate, there is a technique that’s outlined in the post. Slow and steady is the key, and also the spoon technique for the last layer. I provide a detailed step by step pictorial in the post. Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Love this Red White and Blue Cocktail recipe.:) It’s so easy to make and ready in just a few minutes. Plus it’s the perfect layered drink recipe to serve at any special events.
Thanks so much, Jerika, glad you found it easy to make.
Honestly, you had me at ‘vegan cocktail’. This looks absolutely gorgeous and I can’t wait to try it! Lovely colours.
You’re going to love it. Thank you Elizabeth.
Made these last weekend for the opening of our pool, and they were so yummy!
So glad you liked them. Thank you Lindsay.
We just got a VERY early start on the upcoming Memorial Day long weekend and started with these gorgeous cocktails! They are super pretty! Will be making these throughout the weekend and again for 4th of July! Great instructions!
Thank you Rob. I’m glad you liked them and found the instructions helpful.