Looking for a refreshing summer drink to celebrate Juneteenth? The Berry Juneteenth Cooler cocktail brings together fresh seasonal berries with traditional elements that honor this important holiday.
This simple yet flavorful drink mixes blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries with lemonade and a splash of bourbon for a perfect celebratory beverage.
The red, purple, and blue colors of the berries symbolize freedom and remembrance. It’s both meaningful and delicious, and you can make it with or without alcohol—so everyone at your Juneteenth celebration gets to join in.
It takes under 10 minutes to throw together. The sweet-tart flavor goes really well with classic Juneteenth foods like barbecue, red velvet cake, and, honestly, just about any red-hued party dish.
Berry Juneteenth Cooler Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Muddler or wooden spoon
- Jigger or measuring cups/spoons
- Highball glasses
- Strainer
- Ice bucket
- Cocktail stirrer or long spoon
- Cutting board and knife
- Citrus juicer (optional)
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh mixed berries strawberries, blackberries, raspberries
- 4 oz hibiscus tea cooled
- 2 oz honey syrup equal parts honey and hot water, cooled
- 4 oz watermelon juice
- 3 oz fresh lime juice about 2-3 limes
- 6 oz white rum optional, can substitute ginger ale for non-alcoholic version
- Club soda to top
- Fresh mint leaves for garnish
- Ice cubes
- Lime wheels for garnish
Instructions
- Wash your berries and pull off any stems. Save a few whole berries for garnish—they look great on top.
- Muddle the rest of the berries in a cocktail shaker until they’re nice and juicy.
- Pour in the hibiscus tea, honey syrup, watermelon juice, and lime juice.
- If you’re adding rum, now’s the time.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake it up for about 15 or 20 seconds.
- Strain into highball glasses filled with ice, about two-thirds of the way up.
- Top with club soda and give it a gentle stir.
- Add mint, those reserved berries, and a lime wheel for garnish.
- Serve right away. This recipe makes about 4 servings, give or take.
Notes
Must Have Ingredients
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Tasting Notes
The Berry Juneteenth Cooler is a refreshing mix of sweet and tart, with a subtle herbal twist. It’s got this beautiful deep red color thanks to the strawberries and blackberries—seriously, it looks as good as it tastes.
First sip? The fresh berry flavors jump right out. Strawberries bring the sweetness, blackberries add some depth and a bit of tartness—there’s a nice balance here.
The mint on top cools things down and adds a fresh, herbal note. It’s not just sweet—there’s a little complexity that keeps you coming back for another sip.
The texture is smooth, with just a little thickness from the muddled berries. As the ice melts, it lightens up even more—really easy to drink on a hot day.
Try it with grilled chicken, spicy barbecue, light salads, or even vanilla ice cream. (Trust me, that last combo is better than it sounds.)
It’s best served ice cold. Let it sit for a minute or two and those berry and mint flavors really start to pop.
Substitute
If you can’t find all the ingredients for the Berry Juneteenth Cooler Cocktail, don’t worry. There are plenty of easy swaps you can try.
For the base spirits, vodka can stand in for rum if that’s what you’ve got on hand. Both spirits have a clean taste, so the berry flavors still get to be the star.
Berry choices? Totally flexible. If you’re out of strawberries, raspberries or blackberries are great substitutes.
Honestly, frozen berries work just fine too, especially when fresh ones are out of season.
Common Substitutions:
- For rum:Â Vodka or white tequila
- For strawberries:Â Raspberries, blackberries, or mixed berries
- For lemon juice:Â Lime juice (a different tang, but still tasty)
- For simple syrup: Honey or agave nectar (about ¾ the amount works best)
Making a non-alcoholic version? Super simple. Just swap the rum for ginger ale or lemon-lime soda, and you’ve got a refreshing mocktail that pretty much anyone can enjoy.
For garnishes, if you don’t have mint, basil leaves can work in a pinch. Or, you could just skip the herbs and toss in extra berries or maybe a lemon wheel.
