Red, White and Blue Patriotic Cocktails for Your July Fourth Festivities

Nothing says the Fourth of July more than burgers sizzling on the grill, red, white and blue flags flying high and patriotic music playing in the background while fireworks light up the sky.

To kick your holiday celebration into gear, try these delicious America-inspired beverages that will please your guests.

Star-Spangled Banner Cocktail

These layered drinks are a festive way of saying Happy Independence Day. The pop rocks in the recipe add to the fun!

Makes two glasses

• 2 ounces grenadine
• 6 ounces lemonade
• 3 ounces rum or vodka
• 2 ounces blue curacao
• Honey for the glass rim
• Red and blue pop rocks for the rim

Pour a little honey into a dish and the Pop Rocks into another dish. Place each tall glass upside down into the honey and coat the rim. Next, dip the rim into the Pop Rocks (the honey will make the candy adhere to the glass). Pour grenadine into the two glasses in even amounts. Fill glasses with ice cubes but don't stir the drinks!

In a separate container, mix lemonade and rum (or vodka). Place a spoon upside down over the glass and very slowly pour the lemonade evenly over the spoon into each glass so that it doesn't blend into the grenadine. Repeat the same process with the spoon when you add the layer of curacao (slowly) to the top. Serve with maraschino cherries and a few blueberries speared on a toothpick.

Red, White and Blue Shots

Shots are best served cold on a hot summer day, so be sure to chill the ingredients in the refrigerator for at least an hour before making the shots.

Makes two shots

• 1 ounce grenadine
• 1 ounce peach schnapps
• 1 ounce blue curacao

Pour grenadine into the bottom of two tall shot glasses. Place a spoon upside down over the glass and very slowly pour the schnapps evenly over the spoon into each shot glass. Do the same for the last layer with the curacao and serve immediately.

Non-Alcoholic Independence Day Slushies

This chilly beverage will cool down the kids and the non-alcoholic drinkers at your Fourth of July party.

Makes three to four drinks

• 2 cups non-alcoholic strawberry daiquiri mix (or Red Hawaiian punch)
• 2 cups non-alcoholic pina colada mix (or clear Gatorade)
• 2 cups Cool Blue Gatorade (zero sugar)

Be sure to keep all liquids chilled in the refrigerator before assembling the drink. Fill a blender with 2 cups of ice. Add strawberry daiquiri mix and blend until it reaches slushie consistency. Pour into a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer.

Clean out the blender and do the same process with the pina colada mix, and then the Gatorade drink. Keep the slushie mixes in freezer until ready for use. Pour equal amounts into a 3-4-inch-tall glass, starting with the red, then the white, followed by the blue. Top with maraschino cherries and serve.