Looking for a fun, festive cocktail for your next celebration? The American Flag Shooter is a patriotic drink that brings the colors of Old Glory right into your glass.
This layered red, white, and blue shooter combines grenadine, peach schnapps, and blue curaçao to create a pretty stunning visual tribute to the American flag.
Creating this eye-catching cocktail takes a steady hand and a bit of patience. The trick is to pour each ingredient slowly over the back of a bar spoon so the colors don’t mix together.
It’s a great pick for Fourth of July parties, Memorial Day gatherings, or honestly, any day you want to show a little American pride.
The American Flag Shooter looks impressive and tastes sweet and fruity—most guests will probably love it. With just three ingredients and a little care, you can serve up this colorful treat and get everyone talking at your next event.
American Flag Shooter Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
- 3 shot glasses (clear glass is best for showing off the layers)
- 1 bar spoon with a long handle
- 1 Jigger or measuring tool
- 1 pour spout (optional)
Ingredients
Red Layer:
- 1/2 oz grenadine syrup
White Layer:
- 1/2 oz white crème de cacao or Bailey’s Irish Cream
Blue Layer:
- 1/2 oz blue curaçao liqueur
Instructions
- Pour the grenadine into the bottom of the shot glass first.
- With the back of a bar spoon, slowly pour the white crème de cacao or Bailey’s over the spoon so it gently settles onto the grenadine layer.
- Again using the spoon, add the blue curaçao as the top layer, pouring slowly.
- Take your time with each layer—no need to rush. Pouring slowly really does make a difference, and the spoon trick is crucial.
- Hold the spoon just above the previous layer and let the liquid run down the stem. It’s a little finicky, but you’ll get those crisp color separations for the full flag effect.
Notes
Must Have Ingredients
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Tasting Notes
The American Flag Shooter has a patriotic blend of flavors that come together for a refreshing and eye-catching drink.
With each sip, you’ll notice the distinct taste of each layer. The grenadine base is sweet and fruity, with a hint of pomegranate that’s hard to miss.
The middle blue layer brings a tangy citrus note from the blue curaçao, plus a little extra sweetness. There’s usually a subtle orange undertone from the liqueur, too.
The top white layer gives a clean, crisp finish—unless you use a cream-based liqueur, in which case it’s richer and smoother. Both are good, honestly.
Flavor Profile:
- Sweetness: Medium to high
- Acidity: Low to medium
- Strength: Medium to high
- Complexity: Medium
This shooter is definitely best served cold. The chill keeps the layers sharp and makes the whole thing more refreshing.
You can sip the layers one at a time or mix them together for a berry-citrus combo with a bit of a kick.
The American Flag Shooter is a natural fit for casual celebrations and holiday events. Its fruity profile makes it a pretty easy pick—even for folks who don’t usually go for strong cocktails.
Substitute
If you don’t have the ingredients for the American Flag Shooter, don’t worry—you’ve got options. There are actually quite a few alternatives you can try.
Liquor Substitutions:
- Replace grenadine with cherry syrup, or even cranberry juice if that’s what you’ve got.
- Blue curaçao can be swapped for blue raspberry syrup plus a splash of vodka. Not exactly the same, but it works in a pinch.
- Coconut rum instead of white rum? Sure, why not.
Want something non-alcoholic? It’s totally doable. Just use these:
- Cranberry juice for the red layer.
- Milk or coconut cream for the white layer.
- Blue sports drink or blue fruit punch for the blue layer.
Layering’s a bit of an art, honestly. The heaviest liquids go on the bottom—so keep that in mind. If your syrup or liqueur feels heavier, it’ll naturally sink to the lowest spot in the glass.
If you’re not into super sweet drinks, try unsweetened cranberry juice instead of grenadine. You’ll still get the red color, just with less sugar.
Some bartenders like to swap the white rum for vodka or even white tequila. Both keep that clear “white” layer and give you a slightly different flavor. Worth experimenting, right?
