Delicious, Patriotic Cocktails to Sip on for Memorial Day

Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, and what better way to celebrate than with delicious, patriotic cocktails? Today, we’re going to take a look at ten amazing cocktails that are perfect for any Memorial Day gathering. Whether you’re having a backyard barbecue or a pool party, this variety of flavors will ensure there’s a cocktail that everyone will love. Let’s jump right in and get you some cocktail ideas!

When Is Memorial Day?

First, let’s cover when Memorial Day falls every year. Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May every year. This means that Memorial Day isn’t on the same day each year, like many other holidays. Memorial Day 2024 will fall on the 27th, and in 2025 it will fall on the 26th. In 2026, Memorial Day will be on May 25th, and in 2027, it will be on the last day of May, the 31st.

Fun Fact: From 1868 to 1970, Memorial Day was observed on May 30th every year.

When Is Memorial Day 2023?

Memorial Day 2023 is on Monday, May 29th. If you’re planning a get-together, make sure to gather your supplies and food in advance. The weekend before Memorial Day is notoriously busy at shopping centers and grocery stores!

Why Do We Celebrate Memorial Day?

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States armed forces. The holiday was originally called Decoration Day and was intended to be a day for Americans to decorate the graves of those who had died in the Civil War. Over time, the holiday expanded to include all Americans who had died in military service.

Memorial Day is a time to remember the sacrifices that have been made for our country. It is a time to reflect on the cost of freedom and to honor those who have given their lives to protect our nation. Memorial Day is also a time to come together as a community and to celebrate the lives of those who have served.

Fun Fact: Over time, Memorial Day has also become a day to celebrate what it means to be American.

Patriotic Cocktails for Your Memorial Day Get-Together

#1: The Red, White, and Blue Cocktail

There isn’t much more patriotic than the three classic colors in a glass together. Combined with the fact that this cocktail is as delicious as it is beautiful, it makes for the perfect Memorial Day cocktail.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ounce grenadine
  • 3 ounces lemonade
  • 1 ounce vodka
  • 1 ounce blue curaçao
  • Ice
  • Lemon wedge or cherry to garnish (optional)

Recipe:

  1. Add grenadine to a glass and fill with ice.
  2. In a shaker filled with ice, shake lemonade and vodka together.
  3. Gently pour the lemonade and vodka mixture over the back of a spoon into the glass, creating the white layer of the drink. This will sit on top of the grenadine.
  4. Cascade blue curaçao over the back of a spoon to make the final blue layer.
  5. Garnish with a cherry or lemon wedge, if desired.

#2: The Memorial Day Daiquiri

This Memorial Day Drink is delightfully cold and colorful, making it a great choice at your Memorial Day get-together. With intense berry flavors and a pina colada twist, this drink will be a hit with your guests.

Ingredients & Recipe

You can find the recipe for this original drink here: Memorial Day Daiquiri. To make this recipe, you’ll need lots of ice, grenadine, vodka, pina colada mix, and “Blue Berry Squash,” a pre-made flavoring for beverages.

#3: The All-American Daiquiri

Again, we have a stunningly red, white, and blue drink to provide your guests with a delicious “punch” of flavor that will go with your decor. This daiquiri has delicious coconut and pineapple flavors that will “wow” your guests.

Ingredients:

  • 3 oz white rum
  • 2 oz pineapple juice
  • Splash of grenadine
  • 4 oz blue curacao
  • 4 oz coconut cream
  • 6 oz frozen strawberries
  • Whipped cream and cherry for garnish

Recipe:

  1. First, blend ice, two ounces of rum, and grenadine in a blender until smooth.
  2. Pour this red mixture into the bottom of a daiquiri glass.
  3. Next, into your rinsed blender, blend the other ounce of rum, blue curacao, pineapple juice and coconut cream with some more ice.
  4. Pour this on top of the red mixture.
  5. Garnish with whipped cream and a cherry.

#4: A Crowd-Pleasing Sangria

If you’re looking for something better suited for a crowd, you can’t go wrong with sangria. And, you can dress it up with garnishes to suit the red, white, and blue theme. To make a single batch of sangria, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Ingredients:

  • 1 bottle of red wine
  • ¾ c orange juice
  • ½ c brandy
  • ¼ c sugar
  • 1 sliced orange
  • 1 sliced apple
  • 1 c blueberries
  • 1 c strawberries
  • 1 cinnamon stick

Recipe:

You’ll need a large pitcher for this mixed drink, but it’ll work well for serving to multiple people. One pitcher will make about 6-8 servings, depending on how generous you are with your pour.

  1. Mix wine, orange juice, sugar, and brandy in your pitcher, then add your orange slices, apple slices, blueberries, strawberries, and cinnamon. 
  2. Refrigerate overnight to let all of the flavors marry, then serve over ice.
  3. If you like, garnish with cute red, white, and blue garnishes like umbrellas, fresh strawberries, and even fresh blueberries.

5 Tips for Making the Best Memorial Day Cocktails

Here at Distillery Nearby, we’re passionate about helping you make the most delicious cocktails possible. After all, cocktails take a bit of work, and you want them to taste great! Here are a few tips to help your Memorial Day cocktails be the best they can be:

  • Fresh is best. When possible, use fresh juices and organic garnishes. This will ensure that your cocktails are clean and crisp tasting.
  • Use filtered ice. Especially with these frozen, blended cocktails, using clean, filtered ice is incredibly important.
  • Don’t leave off the garnish. In most cases, garnishes are purely decorational. However, sometimes they add a flavor that might be missing otherwise.
  • Use the right glassware. The type of glassware you use can make a big difference in the presentation and taste of your cocktails. Use glasses that are the right size for the drink and that complement the flavors of the drink.
  • Use local spirits. Not only do locally-distilled spirits taste better, but they’re also more sustainable, better for the environment, and better for your local economy.

Search for Local Distilleries at Distillery Nearby

We’ve made it incredibly easy for you to find local distilleries. This way, you can find spirits that are produced locally and either buy directly from the distillery or locate their spirits in stores near you – all in time for your Memorial Day celebration. To find a distillery near you, check out our by-state view where you can quickly pick your state and start browsing.

From all of us at Distillery Nearby,

Happy Memorial Day

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