This red-hued whiskey cocktail is perfect for your July 4th celebration

A refreshing whiskey drink for right about now

By Mark Stock Published July 2, 2025

Summer Vacation cocktail. — Stranahan's

Summer is here and the Fourth of July is right around the bend. For some, that means backyard barbecues and camping trips. For others, it’s the time of year for festive cocktails.

We’ve got one courtesy of Stranahan’s Whiskey that mixes up the colors of the American flag. It’s a hibiscus cocktail recipe that puts the whiskey on a pedestal. And it’s even patriotic in look, if that’s your thing.

Recommended Videos

So, if you need something to sip on this long holiday weekend, consider a round of these (or batch it out large format style if you’re hosting). It’s a refreshing option that’ll beat the heat. And it’ll put something in your glass as you raise it to your much-deserved summer vacation, whenever that may be.

Summer Vacation

Stranahan's Blue Peak. — Stranahan's

This drink takes advantage of the slowly-matured Blue Peak whiskey, a great mixer and plenty smooth. If you like a little more sweetness, feel free to add a half-ounce of simple syrup. As always, go with fresh citrus and juice.

Ingredients:

2 ounces Stranahan’s Blue Peak
4 ounces chilled hibiscus tea
3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce fresh pineapple juice
6 leaves fresh mint

Method:

Combine all ingredients into shaker and strain into highball glass over ice.
Garnish with a lime wheel and mint.

Need some more summer beverage ideas? Check out our feature on the summer salads and wine. We’ve got something for every palate out there.

Contributor

Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…

Food & Drink

Cereal cocktails are having a moment — and yes, they taste as fun as they sound

Your favorite childhood breakfast and spirit, together at last

The Love Shack Old Fashioned.

Blending creativity with nostalgia, cereal infusions are having a moment right now. They're showing up on cocktail lists all over the country, whether it's Fruit Loops changing the color and flavor of a clear spirit of treating whiskey to some Honey Nut Cheerios. It's a cocktail bar trend we can't argue with.

Quintin Scalfaro is the beverage director at The Love Shack in Portland. The bar specializes in inventive cocktails and small bites, often with a tropical accent. Lately, the crew has been working with cereal infusions and we reached out to see what all the fuss is about.

Food & Drink

How to make an Orange Dreamsicle cocktail, Texas style

A lovely summer drink from a celebrated Texas restaurant

Orange Dreamsicle cocktail.

It's early August and there's a good chance you're experiencing high temperatures. Perhaps you're seeking cooling relief in a pool or river, or reading a novel in the shade. Another great way to beat the heat is by way of a stellar summer cocktail recipe.

In Texas, they know a thing or two about the heat. It's the land of long summers, smoking barbecues, sizzling night life, and Ranch Water. It's where cowboys and tech workers share barstools in cities like Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio. It's the home of dazzling scenes, from the coast of Galveston to the high desert of Big Bend National Park.

Food & Drink

How to make the Monkey Jam Sour, a fun and foamy whiskey cocktail

A playful drink excellent for the second half of summer

Monkey Jam Sour.

Does your summer drink need a little texture? Turns out, you can make a classic cocktail recipe foamy in a multitude of ways. Best, it's not an overly complicated endeavor and the results are delicious.

This recipe is timed nicely, as National Whiskey Sour Day is coming up on August 25th. It's the work of Scottish brand Monkey Shoulder. And there's even a version involving aquafaba, the liquid leftover from cooking chickpeas that helps create the foamy texture.