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

This berry cocktail is all about Juneteenth, with flavors that nod to African American culinary traditions. The vibrant red color? It stands for resilience and strength—pretty fitting for the occasion, right?

John

Prep Time 8

Total Time 8

Serving Size

Equipment

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

Want to prep ahead? You can mix everything except the ice and club soda and stash it in the fridge for up to a day. Just add ice and club soda when you’re ready to serve.

If you like things sweeter, bump up the honey syrup. Want it more tart? Add a little extra lime juice or dial back the honey a bit.

The hibiscus tea gives that classic red drink vibe you see at Juneteenth parties. It’s a nod to West African traditions and the resilience of enslaved people—pretty powerful stuff for a cocktail.

For a fun look, try rimming your glasses with sugar or serving in mason jars with colorful straws. And honestly, this drink is made for barbecue—so don’t skip the grill.

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: Vodka or white tequila
For strawberries: Raspberries, blackberries, or mixed berries
For lemon juice: 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.

Berry Juneteenth Cooler Cocktail Recipe