In honor of July 4th weekend, we’re doing a deep dive on all things red, white, and blue. Like cocktails! You’ve probably noticed that blue cocktails are on trend right now, and if you’re in on this, here are the bars in NYC serving the best ones, and also recipes for making Instagram worthy ones at home.
Hues of Summer Blues – Following the trend of Blue Cocktails
It’s not easy being green, but we certainly love feeling blue. This 4th of July season, we’re focusing on the blue in red, white, and blue, with blue/aqua-colored cocktails being all the rage. Aqua cocktails are taking over by storm, and we love the feeling of being beachside, even if we’re surrounded by yellow taxis, subway stops, and swarms of commuters. We’ve compiled a list of the most notable blue cocktails and ways to recreate them at your parties.
Let’s start with a few notable examples. New York City is known for being ahead of the curve when it comes to…just about anything, but cocktails certainly top the list. From developing their very own unique blue drinks to creating the classics (hello Blue Hawaiians), stop by these NYC bars for blue hues.
where to find the best blue and aqua cocktails at a bar in NYC
SoHo’s Milady serves alcoholic Jello shots, aka jigglers, including a twist on a Blue Hawaiian made with white rum, pineapple juice, coconut water, blue curaçao, and glitter. We can almost feel the sand beneath our toes and see the palm trees swaying in the distance.
Bars serving the best blue cocktails in NYC.
Pretend you’re sitting seaside with Clover Club’s The Rouge Wave. This frozen drink is made with rum, blue Curaçao, orgeat, coconut, pineapple, and lemon, with fruity and tropical pallets in mind.
Cool blue cocktails for a hot summer evening.
Can’t forget the classics. Sweet Talk in Brooklyn boasts a delicious staple on its menu. The Blue Hawaiian is made of white rum, blue curaçao, pineapple, cream of coconut, and lemon.
Here’s where to find the most creative blue cocktails in NYC.
My Bonnie Lass is Fraunces Tavern’s go-to mocktail made with feragaia (alcohol-free spirit), blueberry syrup, lemon juice, and ginger beer.
Do you feel like being your own mixologist this summer? With cocktails getting craftier (and more expensive), it’s fun to figure out how bartenders perfect their cocktails with such precision and acuteness.
Recipes for 5 Instagram-Worthy Blue Cocktails to Try at Home
1. Once in a Blue Moon
Celebrate a new moon, or a blue moon with the Once in a Blue Moon slushie drink.
The best drinks for the blue/aqua cocktail trend for this July 4th and the entire Summer.
30ml Hendrick’s Lunar Gin
100ml Coconut Water
10ml Lime Juice
20ml Blue Curaçao
3 Blueberries
15ml Sugar Syrup
Cubed Ice
2. Blue Lagoon
Crystal clear waters and a nice ocean breeze – if you’re not on the beaches of Tahiti or Fiji, you may as well be sipping a Blue Lagoon.
The best drinks for the blue/aqua cocktail trend for this July 4th and the entire Summer.
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce blue curaçao
4 ounces lemonade
Garnish: lemon wheel
Garnish: maraschino cherry
4. Turquoise Margarita
Let the fiesta begin with a turquoise margarita, a twist on your favorite Mexican classic that adds a splash of blue curaçao for a fun, summery twist.
The best drinks for the blue/aqua cocktail trend for this July 4th and the entire Summer.
1–1/2 oz silver tequila or mezcal
3/4 oz triple sec
3/4 oz blue curaçao
1–1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1 wild rose bloom
5. Red, White, and Blue Layered Cocktail
The most advanced of the bunch, the key to layering a cocktail is ordering the ingredients in order of their sugar content, with high-sugar components at the bottom and unsweetened ingredients at the top. This drink can be recreated with jello for jello shots and experimented with different flavors.
The best drinks for the blue/aqua cocktail trend for this July 4th and the entire Summer.
1 oz Grenadine
Ice cubes
3 oz Lemonade
1 oz Vodka
1 oz Blue Curacao
Pour 1 oz grenadine into an empty glass.
Fill it with ice cubes.
In a shaker, mix 3 oz lemonade with 1 oz vodka.
Gently pour the mixture into the glass using the back of a spoon.
Add 1 oz blue curacao.
Instagram worthy blue cocktails
It’s easy to see why these gorgeous blue cocktails are on trend, and why some of the best bars in NYC are serving them. But you can also make Instagram worthy blue cocktails at home with these recipes. So why not make it a blue summer at your house?
For some extra blue fun, add blueberries, and aqua flowers, or serve in turquoise cocktail glasses to stay extra on-trend. Cheers!
