⚡ July 4th Cocktails & Grilling

Three 4th of July Cocktails for a Hot Summer Day

Skip the beer cooler routine. These three are easy to make, impressive to serve, and built for a long afternoon in the sun.

St-Germain Margarita Spritz
A crowd-pleaser that combines two great summer drinks into one. The elderflower liqueur adds a floral note and just enough sweetness to make this dangerously easy to drink.

1.5 oz tequila
1 oz St-Germain
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
2 oz Prosecco
1oz sparkling water

Shake with ice. Strain into tall salted rimmed glass filled with fresh ice. Lime wheel to garnish.

Strawberry Old Fashioned
A summer twist on the drink you already know how to make. The strawberry syrup adds just enough sweetness to make it feel seasonal without losing the backbone.

2 oz bourbon
1 barspoon strawberry syrup, or to taste
3 dashes Angostura bitters

Stir with ice. Strain over a large cube. Garnish with an orange twist.

The Classic Aperol Spritz
If you haven't made one yet this summer, now is the time. Bitter, bubbly, and refreshing. It looks like a sunset in a glass and takes about 30 seconds to make.

3 oz Prosecco
2 oz Aperol
1 oz soda water

Build over ice in a wine glass. Add Prosecco first, then Aperol, then soda. Garnish with an orange slice.

The Mettle Take
The best 4th of July drink isn't complicated. It's the one that keeps the party going without keeping you behind the bar.

Not the drink they expect. The one they remember.

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Shrimp

These disappear faster than anything else on the grill. Every time.

The Marinade
1 lb large shrimp, peeled, deveined, remove tail
Juice from 3 limes
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 oz tequila (optional)
Salt and pepper

Toss the shrimp in the lime juice, garlic, tequila, salt, and pepper. The tequila adds a subtle agave note that plays well with the lime and heat. Refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes. Don't marinate longer than 30 minutes. The acid in the lime will start cooking the shrimp and the texture gets rubbery.

The Build
8 to 10 jalapeños, halved and seeded
1 lb bacon, slices cut in half

Take a marinated shrimp, nestle it into a jalapeño half, and wrap the whole thing in a half slice of bacon. Secure with a toothpick. Repeat until you run out of shrimp.

The Grill
Medium heat, mostly indirect. Grill for 8 to 12 minutes total, turning every few minutes until the bacon is crisp and the shrimp are just cooked through. Finish over direct heat for the last 30 to 60 seconds if the bacon needs more color. Watch them closely. Bacon drippings can cause flare-ups.

The Mettle Take
This is the appetizer that makes people forget about the burgers. Make double. You'll need it.

Because eating well is never just about the food.