A classic cocktail gets a patriotic twist with this red white and blue margarita! I like to make mine frozen for an extra refreshing option that’s perfect for summer, but you could do an on the rocks version too. It’s the perfect sip for your 4th of July celebration!
What is a Red White and Blue Margarita?
A red, white, and blue margarita is a festive, layered twist on the classic margarita cocktail that’s perfect for patriotic holidays like the Fourth of July or Memorial Day. It features three distinct colored layers:
- Red: A fruity layer you can make with strawberry puree or daiquiri mix, grenadine, or raspberry syrup
- White: The middle is a classic or coconut margarita base (I prefer to add coconut cream for a more opaque color)
- Blue: The last layer is made with blue curaçao, a vibrant blue citrus liqueur (though you could always use food coloring too)
It can be served as a frozen blended drink (which is what I do), but you could layer it for an on the rocks version by pouring each component slowly over the back of a spoon to maintain the separation.
This patriotic drink is delicious, refreshing, and fun, making it perfect for summer gatherings, BBQs, or themed parties. After all, July 4th is the biggest cookout day of the year!
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Ingredients and Equipment
- 3 ounces tequila (blanco or silver)
- 1 ½ ounces triple sec (or another orange liqueur like Cointreau)
- 1 ½ ounces fresh lime juice
- 3 cups ice (or more as needed – I use about 7 1” cubes per layer for reference)
- 1 ounce strawberry daiquiri mix
- 1 ounce cream of coconut
- 1 ounce blue curacao
For the Rim:
- Fresh lime wedge
- 1 Tbsp margarita salt (or sea salt)
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
- For best taste, use blanco tequila. You can also use Reposado if you prefer a slightly richer, more mellow flavor
- If you prefer to serve this drink on the rocks then you probably only need about 1 cup of ice (and you may want to reduce the amount of tequila if you don’t like strong cocktails)
- For the red I use strawberry daiquiri mix because I had leftovers from my Crown Royal Peach Daiquiri (which is another great summer blended drink)! However, you can also use strawberry puree, grenadine, watermelon juice, frozen strawberries, or another red syrup (like strawberry or raspberry). Depending on brand/ingredient used, you may want to add 1-2 drops of red food coloring for a more vibrant color
- The white layer can be left plain, but I like the cream of coconut to add a more opaque white color. You can use coconut milk (full fat) for a less sweet option
- Instead of blue curacao for the blue layer, you could use blue raspberry syrup, blue food coloring, Hypnotiq (or another blue liqueur), or even a sports drink (like Gatorade). However, I think the blue curacao gives the strongest color here
- While I think the drink is plenty sweet with the syrups in it, you can add some agave nectar to taste if you prefer a sweeter drink
Equipment Notes
If you are making the frozen version of this recipe like I am, you’ll need a blender to make the slushie with ice.
For a rocks version of the drink, you’ll want a cocktail shaker (or similar – a mason jar with a lid works too), and a spoon (just a regular cutlery spoon) for layering.
Step By Step Instructions
- Rim your glass by running a fresh lime wedge around the outside edge at the top to wet it. Then, dip the wet edge into a plate or shallow bowl with the salt, and turn to coat
- To your blender basin, add 1 ounce tequila, ½ ounce triple sec, ½ ounce lime juice, 1 ounce blue curacao, and 1 cup of ice
- Blend or pulse on high for about 10 seconds, until a slushy consistency is reached (adjust by adding more ice if needed), then pour the blue mixture into your prepared glass. To keep the drink colder, you can place your glasses in the freezer while you prepare each layer
- Rinse the basin, then add 1 ounce tequila, ½ ounce triple sec, ½ ounce lime juice, 1 ounce cream of coconut, and another 1 cup of ice. Blend again, and pour the white margarita mixture in slowly to layer it on top of the blue mixture
- Repeat the rinse, and add the remaining third of all ingredients along with the 1 ounce strawberry daiquiri mix (and any other coloring agents you want to use here). Blend for the last time, then pour the red layer slowly on top
- Garnish with a slice of lime or a festive pick (like a mini flag or other patriotic decoration) and enjoy!
Alternate On the Rocks Directions
- Instead of a blender, add each layer of mixtures to a cocktail shaker (or similar) along with a couple ice cubes
- Shake until chilled and frothy, about 15-20 seconds, then pour slowly over the back of a spoon (to create the layers) into a rimmed glass filled with ice. Rinse the shaker between each color
Pairing Suggestions
- Grilled Foods: Pair this vibrant cocktail with burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, or BBQ ribs. The citrusy margarita cuts through smoky, savory flavors perfectly. Hot Dog Burnt Ends are one of my favorite options!
- Tex-Mex Favorites: Think nachos, tacos, street corn (elote), or guacamole with chips for a fun and festive theme. Try my Air Fryer Nachos for a quick preparation (and no need to turn on the oven in the summer)!
- Fresh Fruit: Serve alongside a platter of watermelon, pineapple, or mixed berries for a light and refreshing touch!
Recipe FAQs
Why Red, White and Blue?
The red, white, and blue colors in this margarita are a festive nod to the American flag, making it a popular drink choice for patriotic holidays like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day.
Each layer represents a color of the flag, adding a fun look and celebratory spirit to your party!
Can I Make a Mocktail Version?
You can make a non-alcoholic mocktail version by using layered juices and soda. Try red fruit punch or cranberry juice for the bottom, lemonade or coconut water for the middle, and blue sports drink or blue raspberry soda for the top.
Serve it in the same layered style for a fun, kid-friendly drink that still brings the patriotic flair. Note that specific gravity can affect how the drink layers, so it may alter the look depending what you use.
What Does Blue Curaçao Taste Like?
Blue curaçao is a sweet and slightly bitter liqueur flavored with the dried peel of the laraha citrus fruit, which is similar to orange.
It has a bright, citrusy flavor that complements lime and tequila beautifully—plus its vibrant blue hue is great for making a vibrant blue layer.
Tips For the Best Patriotic Margaritas
- One medium lime produces about 1 ounce of fresh juice. While you could technically use bottled, fresh makes all the difference and is totally worth it!
- If you’re serving this drink frozen, you cannot prepare it too far in advance (it can sit in the freezer for a little while, but the layers and consistency change over time). However, you can squeeze the limes ahead of time to save time, especially if you’re scaling the recipe for a party!
- When serving on the rocks, you could mix a pitcher of each layer up to 24 hours in advance and store in the fridge. Rim glasses, fill with ice, and then layer the drink over a spoon when ready to serve
Serving and Garnishes
- A tall clear glass is best for showing off the layers of this margarita! You can use a traditional margarita glass of course, but I actually prefer to opt for a highball, hurricane, daiquiri glass, or mason jar for this recipe
- Garnishes are of course optional, but a lime slice or a skewer of fresh berries (like blueberries and strawberries or raspberries) adds a nice touch. You can also add some food coloring or colored sanding sugar to the rim (in addition to or in lieu of the salt)
- Watermelon Margarita
Final Thoughts
These red white and blue margaritas are the perfect festive drink for a patriotic Fourth of July, but they’re also ideal for Memorial Day and Labor Day – especially for barbecues!
Cold and refreshing frozen drinks pair perfectly with barbecue classics for the ultimate backyard party, pool party, and more.
Plus, they’re easy to customize with different flavors and even work if you don’t have a blender, for a delicious summer sip!
Frozen Red, White & Blue Margaritas
Equipment
- Highball glass (or similar)
- Blender (or cocktail shaker)
Ingredients
- 3 ounces Blanco tequila (divided)
- 1 ½ ounces triple sec (or another orange liqueur, divided))
- 1 ½ ounces fresh lime juice (divided)
- 3 cups ice (or more as needed, divided)
- 1 ounce strawberry daquiri mix
- 1 ounce cream of coconut
- 1 ounce blue curacao
For the Rim
- 1 wedge fresh lime
- 1 Tbsp margarita or sea salt (amount approximate)
Instructions
- Rim your glass by running a fresh lime wedge around the outside edge at the top to wet it. Then, dip the wet edge into a plate or shallow bowl with the salt, and turn to coat1 wedge fresh lime, 1 Tbsp margarita or sea salt
- To your blender basin, add 1 ounce tequila, ½ ounce triple sec, ½ ounce lime juice, 1 ounce blue curacao, and 1 cup of ice3 ounces Blanco tequila, 1 ½ ounces triple sec, 1 ½ ounces fresh lime juice, 3 cups ice, 1 ounce blue curacao
- Blend or pulse on high for about 10 seconds, until a slushy consistency is reached (adjust by adding more ice if needed), then pour the blue mixture into your prepared glass. To keep the drink colder, you can place your glasses in the freezer while you prepare each layer
- Rinse the basin, then add 1 ounce tequila, ½ ounce triple sec, ½ ounce lime juice, 1 ounce cream of coconut, and another 1 cup of ice. Blend again, and pour the white margarita mixture in slowly to layer it on top of the blue mixture3 ounces Blanco tequila, 1 ½ ounces triple sec, 1 ½ ounces fresh lime juice, 3 cups ice, 1 ounce cream of coconut
- Repeat the rinse, and add the remaining third of all ingredients along with the 1 ounce strawberry daiquiri mix. Blend for the last time, then pour the red layer slowly on top3 ounces Blanco tequila, 1 ½ ounces triple sec, 1 ½ ounces fresh lime juice, 3 cups ice, 1 ounce strawberry daquiri mix
- Garnish with a slice of lime or a festive pick (like a mini flag or other patriotic decoration) and enjoy!
On the Rocks Directions
- Instead of a blender, add each layer of mixtures above to a cocktail shaker (or similar) along with a couple ice cubes
- Shake until chilled and frothy, about 15-20 seconds, then pour slowly over the back of a spoon (to create the layers) into a rimmed glass filled with ice. Rinse the shaker between each color
Notes
- For best taste, use Blanco tequila. You can also use Reposado if you prefer a slightly richer flavor
- If you prefer to serve this drink on the rocks then you only need about 1 cup of ice (and you may want to reduce the amount of tequila if you don’t like strong cocktails)!
- For the red layer I use strawberry daiquiri mix because I had some on hand. You can also use strawberry puree, grenadine, watermelon juice, frozen strawberries, or another red syrup (like strawberry or raspberry). The color will change between brands and varieties
- The white layer can be left plain, but I like the cream of coconut to add a more opaque white color. You can use coconut milk (full fat) for a less sweet option
- Instead of blue curacao for the blue layer, you could use blue raspberry syrup, blue food coloring, Hypnotiq (or another blue liqueur), or even a sports drink (like Gatorade). However, I think the blue curacao gives the strongest color here
- While I think the drink is plenty sweet with the syrups in it, you can add some agave nectar to taste if you prefer a sweeter drink
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any garnishes added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
