This vodka cocktail is an ideal summer drink made with fresh blueberries, Ciroc Berry, and simple syrup.
Grab the ingredients and give this berry delicious drink a try! See what I did there?
Strawberry Blueberry Vodka Cocktail (Red, White and Blue Drink)
So, what’s red and blue and tastes like a summer celebration?
Give up? I’ll give you a hint: it’s our Red + Blueberry Vodka Cocktail, and it is deliciously refreshing.
It’s made with a little Ciroc Berry, Blue Curaçao, homemade strawberry-and-blueberry simple syrup, and white cranberry juice.
I love the sophisticated simplicity of this easy summertime cocktail recipe.
It’s made with only four ingredients, making it an easy sell at your next backyard get-together.
After the first sip, we think you’ll be sold in no time flat.
What You Will Need To Make Our Red + Blueberry Vodka Cocktail:
Vodka. For this cocktail recipe, I used Ciroc Berry because its light and crisp berry flavor is perfect for summer entertainment and refreshment.
Blue Curaçao. I love the citrus flavor in blue Curaçao, and I think you will too!
Homemade Strawberry & Blueberry Syrup. This easy-as-pie strawberry and simple blueberry syrup is a fun way to impart a little bit of these two iconic summer flavors.
White Cranberry Juice. The sourness of the white cranberry juice is an ideal counterpoint to the sweetness of blue Curaçao and simple homemade syrup. The white cranberry juice also imparts a crispness that keeps this summer exactly where it needs to be!
Fresh Basil Leaves. Freshly cut basil leaves are a beautiful garnish, but this bit of green also adds a bit of herbaceousness, which helps this cocktail bloom.
Ice. Well, it’s summer, and with these soaring and upwardly mobile temperatures, we’re going to need all the ice we can get!
How to make aStrawberry Blueberry Vodka Cocktail (Red, White, and Blue Drink)
1 serving
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 ounces Ciroc Berry
- 1 ounce Blue Curaçao
- 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon strawberry-blueberry syrup (recipe below)
- 3 ounces white cranberry juice
- 2 fresh basil leaves, divided
- ice
- 3 blueberries for garnish
Directions:
- Smash a single basil leaf in the bottom of a cocktail tin using a muddler. Add ice, vodka, lemon juice, and white cranberry juice. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for thirty seconds.
- Add the strawberry + blueberry simple syrup to the bottom of the serving glass first, then fill with ice. Strain the shaken cocktail mixture into the serving glass.
- Pouring over the back of a tablespoon, slowly add the blue Curaçao, then garnish with a single leaf of fresh basil and a few blueberries.
- Serve.
How To Make Strawberry-Blueberry Simple Syrup:
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- 1 cup of water
- 1/2 cup of sliced strawberries, stems removed
- 1/2 cup of ripe blueberries
- 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
- Place a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add 1 cup of water, 1 cup of granulated sugar, half a cup of sliced strawberries with the green stems removed, and half a cup of ripe blueberries.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then mash the berries with a table fork or potato masher to release the juices. Let the mixture boil for another minute. Add the lemon juice and stir.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Let the mixture steep for 20 minutes.
- Strain the syrup into a Mason-style jar and screw on the lid. This can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks. If it starts to look cloudy or smell off, it’s time to let it go.
Tips on a successful syup:
Once the sugar is fully dissolved and the berries have been mashed and released their juices, you’re good to go. The syrup will deepen in color and smell like something you want to pour on everything.
If you want a thicker syrup, let it simmer a bit longer before removing from the heat, but don’t overdo it—you want a pourable syrup, not berry jam.
If you want to reduce the sugar, it is possible, but it may result in a thinner syrup with a shorter shelf life. Keep in mind that sugar acts as a preservative, so reducing it could cause the syrup to spoil faster.
Can I make this for a crowd?
(Serves 8–10)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups Ciroc Berry vodka
- 1 cup white cranberry juice
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup strawberry-blueberry simple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 3/4 cup Blue Curaçao
- 10–12 fresh basil leaves
- Ice
- Fresh strawberries, blueberries, and basil for garnish
Can I use frozen blueberries and strawberries?
Yes, and honestly, they work just as well. No need to thaw, toss them straight into the saucepan.
You may need to add an extra minute or two to the simmer time to account for the chill.
What else can I use this syrup for?
Oh, so many things! Drizzle it over pancakes, waffles, or ice cream, stir it into lemonade or iced tea, or use it to sweeten sparkling water for a quick mocktail.
Do I have to strain the syrup?
For cocktails, yes, you want a smooth finish.
But if you’re using it for breakfast or desserts, you can leave some pulp in for extra texture.
Can I make this cocktail ahead of time?
You can batch everything except the Blue Curaçao and keep it chilled for up to 24 hours.
Add the Curaçao right before serving so you keep that clean red-and-blue layered look.
Why didn’t the layering work for me?
It usually comes down to pouring too fast.
The Blue Curaçao needs to be poured slowly over the back of a spoon so it floats rather than mixes.
Also, make sure your drink is cold and poured over ice—temperature helps keep those layers separated.
The photo above shows how the drink will look once the flavors blend.
Why use White Cranberry Juice?
It keeps the drink light in color so the red and blue layers stand out.
Regular cranberry juice will work, but it will darken the drink and muddy the visual effect.
Using a different vodka in this recipe:
Ciroc Berry adds extra fruit flavor, but any quality vodka will work.
If you switch, you may want to bump up the simple syrup slightly to keep that berry flavor.
How to make this a mocktail
Swap the vodka for lemon-lime soda or sparkling water. You’ll still get a refreshing, layered drink that looks just as good.
The best glass to make this in:
A highball or rocks glass works best.
You want enough room for ice and space to show off those layers, because let’s be honest, this drink is doing a little showing off.
With our Red + Blue Berry Cocktail in hand, you’re all set for the July 4th weekend.
And as always, if you make this cocktail (and there’s no reason not to), come back and drop a line; we’d love to hear from you!
Find more patriotic cocktails to try for the 4th of July:
Celebrate Red, White, and Blue Drink
Red, White & Boom Firecracker Cocktail
Sweet Star-Spangled Vodka Margarita
Summer drinks to try:
Mocktail Idea | Blueberry Lemonade Mocktail
Watermelon Pink Lemonade Vodka Cocktail
Strawberry Blueberry Vodka Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces Ciroc Berry
- 1 ounce Blue Curaçao
- 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon strawberry-blueberry syrup recipe below
- 3 ounces white cranberry juice
- 2 fresh basil leaves divided
- ice
- 3 blueberries for garnish
Instructions
- Smash a single basil leaf in the bottom of a cocktail tin using a muddler. Add ice, vodka, lemon juice, and white cranberry juice. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for thirty seconds.
- Add the strawberry + blueberry simple syrup to the bottom of the serving glass first, then fill with ice. Strain the shaken cocktail mixture into the serving glass.
- Pouring over the back of a tablespoon, slowly add the blue Curaçao, then garnish with a single leaf of fresh basil and a few blueberries.
- Serve.
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