4th of July Cocktail: Tequila Sparkler

This 4th of July cocktail is light, refreshing, and perfect for sipping while you watch the fireworks! Try the recipe for our Tequila Sparkler this year on Independence Day.

Cheers! When you raise your glass on Independence Day with family and friends, I hope it’s got a Tequila Sparkler in it!

This 4th of July cocktail is incredibly easy to make and an absolutely delicious sip. Read on for the recipe.

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4th of July Recipes and Activities

What else should you be doing on July 4th? All kinds of things, and we’ve got ideas galore!

Entertain your kiddos with printable Fourth of July tattoos or this patriotic rainbow craft.

If you have little ones or kids who love sensory activities, some July 4th calm down jars might be just the ticket.

Make matching shirts and print out these sparkler packs for the evening’s festivities, and be sure to go a little old school with some red, white, and blue Jell-O shots!

What Makes it Blue?

But let’s get back to our Tequila Sparkler!

I love this 4th of July cocktail because it doesn’t involve blue curacao. No shade to the liqueur, it just doesn’t happen to be a favorite flavor of mine.

And it’s often seen as the only option for creating a blue-hued drink — but not any more!

Butterfly pea tea is the secret ingredient that gives the lovely azure color to the Tequila Sparkler!

Just like our Butterly Gin Fizz, the tea brings a vibrant color to a drink while providing a mellow, ever-so-slightly floral taste.

Butterfly pea tea is also a science experiment in and of itself! When you add citrus to the tea, the acid in the citrus reacts with the tea to turn it from blue to purple.

This particular cocktail has no citrus, so the color remains blue.

Garnish ideas for a 4th of July Cocktail

I love adding a red garnish to the Tequila Sparkler to really lean into the 4th of July color palette.

I think watermelon pairs particularly well with the flavors of this cocktail, and a few watermelon cubes on a spear look very fun in a tall glass.

You could also try raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, or any of your other faves.

Ingredients for the Tequila Sparkler

Tequila. For this recipe, I happened to use a reposado. But it’s a versatile recipe and just about any tequila will do! I recommend something mid-range; no need to use high-end spirits in this cocktail.

Butterfly Pea Tea. I use these teabags to brew a pitcher of butterfly pea tea ahead of time. You can save the extra and drink it over ice with a bit of your favorite sweetener — so refreshing!

Simple Syrup. You can purchase simple syrup or very easily make your own at home. Here’s a quick and easy recipe.

Sparkling Water or Club Soda. I use my trusty Soda Stream whenever I need sparkling water for a cocktail, but your favorite club soda or bubbly water will do just fine!

Ice. I personally prefer crushed ice with this cocktail.

Garnish. A mix of red fruits looks particularly festive for 4th of july!

4th of July cocktail Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz tequila
• 2 oz butterfly pea tea
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• Sparkling water
• Ice
• Red fruits for garnish

1. Start by brewing the butterfly pea tea. I use 3 teabags in about 24 oz of hot water and let the bags steep while the tea comes to room temperature. You want to be sure you don’t use hot tea when you mix the cocktail, so plan this step ahead.
2. In a cocktail shaker, combine ice, tequila, room temperature tea, and simple syrup. Shake well and pour into a tall glass.
3. Top with sparkling water (1-2 oz, depending on the glass size).
4. Add a garnish and enjoy!

More Cocktail Ideas

If you’re having fun playing mixologist, try some of our other most popular cocktail recipes!

I’ve hand-selected a few that I think you’ll like, below. Be sure to pin or bookmark your favorites so you can find them again easily when you’re feeling thirsty. Cheers! xoxo

• How to Make a Bee’s Knees Cocktail
• Rose Prosecco Cocktail
• Mojito Mocktail and Classic Mojito // A Favorite Cocktail Two Ways
• Rosemary Watermelon Cocktail Recipe
• Basil Gimlet Cocktail Recipe
• Salty Dog Cocktail Recipe

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