4th of July Mocktail (Layered Red, White and Blue)
A layered red, white, and blue mocktail that actually holds its separation. The key is density: the heaviest liquid goes in first and the lightest floats on top. Uses grenadine, lemonade, and blue sports drink. Ready in 5 minutes.
Servings 1 glass
Calories 110kcal
Cost $4
Equipment
- 1 Tall clear glass (16 oz) clear glass essential to see layers
- 1 Bar spoon or regular spoon for layering
Ingredients
For the Red, White and Blue Layers
- 2 oz grenadine or strawberry juice red layer -- heaviest, goes in first
- 4 oz lemonade white layer -- middle density
- 3 oz blue sports drink (Gatorade Cool Blue or similar) blue layer -- lightest, goes on top
- ice
Instructions
Layer the Drink
- Fill a tall clear glass with ice. The ice helps the layers stay separated as you pour.
- Pour 2 oz of grenadine or strawberry juice over the ice. Grenadine is the heaviest (most sugar) so it sinks to the bottom and forms the red base.
- Hold a bar spoon or regular spoon face-down just above the red layer. Pour 4 oz of lemonade slowly over the back of the spoon. The spoon disperses the pour and prevents the layers from mixing. Pour slowly -- speed is what ruins the layers.
- Hold the spoon face-down just above the lemonade layer. Pour 3 oz of blue sports drink over the back of the spoon even more slowly. The blue sports drink is the lightest and will float if poured carefully enough.
- The layered look is the whole point. Serve immediately without stirring. The layers will mix as the guest drinks, which is normal. Take your photo before that happens.
Notes
Pour speed is everything. Slow pour over the back of a spoon is what keeps layers separated -- fast pouring mixes everything instantly.
For a crowd: pre-mix each color layer in separate pitchers and pour to order.
Real grenadine (pomegranate-based) gives better color than cocktail-style red syrup.
