Looking for a special drink to celebrate Juneteenth? The Juneteenth Fizz might be just the thing to honor this important holiday and soak in some summer flavors.
This refreshing red drink brings together strawberry, hibiscus, and ginger, then adds a splash of sparkling water for a symbolic, delicious celebration beverage.
The colors here—red, with hints of black and green from the garnishes—nod to the Pan-African flag and Juneteenth traditions. It’s fizzy, festive, and honestly, perfect for backyard toasts or community gatherings.
You can make this recipe with or without alcohol, so everyone can join in the festivities. The sweet-tart flavors pair up nicely with classic Juneteenth foods like barbecue, red velvet cake, and those other red dishes that hold so much meaning.
Juneteenth Fizz Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Jigger or measuring tool
- Highball glass
- Bar spoon
- Strainer
- Ice cube tray
- Zester or peeler for garnish
- Cutting board and knife
Ingredients
- 2 oz strawberry-infused vodka
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- 3 fresh strawberries plus one for garnish
- 5-6 fresh mint leaves
- 2 oz soda water
- ½ oz blue curaçao
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Muddle 3 strawberries and mint leaves at the bottom of a cocktail shaker.
- Add the strawberry-infused vodka, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Toss in some ice and shake it hard for about 15 seconds.
- Fill a highball glass halfway with fresh ice.
- Strain your mixture into the glass.
- Top off with soda water, but leave about ½ inch at the top.
- Slowly pour blue curaçao over the back of a bar spoon, so you get those nice layers.
- Finish it with a strawberry and a mint sprig for garnish.
Notes
Must Have Ingredients
| Image | Title | Buy |
|---|---|---|
 | Collins Candied Fruit Orange Peel Twist in Syrup For Garnish | Buy On Amazon |
 | Collins Strawberries in Syrup For Garnish | Buy On Amazon |
 | Collins Candied Ginger in Syrup For Garnish | Buy On Amazon |
 | Peninsula Premium Cocktail Cherries For Garnish | Buy On Amazon |
 | Premium Lychees in Syrup For Garnish | Buy On Amazon |
 | Oranfit Dried Orange Slices For Garnish | Buy On Amazon |
 | Oranfit Dried Lime Slices For Garnish | Buy On Amazon |
 | LAVA Premium Cocktail Rimmers Variety Pack | Buy On Amazon |
 | Pure Cane Simple Syrup Cocktail Mixer | Buy On Amazon |
 | Q GINGER BEER with Real Ginger & Organic Agave | Buy On Amazon |
 | Q Mixers Premium Ginger Ale | Buy On Amazon |
 | Q ELDERFLOWER TONIC WATER with Real Quinine & Organic Agave | Buy On Amazon |
 | Q Club soda with Himalayan Salt | Buy On Amazon |
 | WithCo Cucumber Gimlet Craft Cocktail Mixer with Mint | Buy On Amazon |
 | Strongwater Old Fashioned Mix- Handcrafted Old Fashioned Syrup with Bitters, Orange, Cherry, Organic Demerara Sugar | Buy On Amazon |
 | Bittermilk No.1 Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Fashioned Mix | Buy On Amazon |
 | Portland Syrups Pumpkin Spice Syrup | Buy On Amazon |
 | Portland Syrups Lavender Syrup | Buy On Amazon |
 | Portland Syrups Vanilla Syrup | Buy On Amazon |
 | Original Bloody Mary Mix | Buy On Amazon |
 | Fever Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit | Buy On Amazon |
 | Professional Drink Mixer Set for Beginners | Buy On Amazon |
 | 1 Pack 3 Tier Bar Glass Rimmer | Buy On Amazon |
 | Cocktail Ice Mold With Easy Fill and Release Silicone Round Ice Ball Maker | Buy On Amazon |
 | Stainless Steel Bar Tool For Making Garnish for Cocktails & Mocktails | Buy On Amazon |
Tasting Notes
The Juneteenth Fizz has this bright, lively taste—sweet and tart in just about the right balance. You get a gentle strawberry sweetness at first, then the citrus kicks in.
On that first sip, there’s a burst of lemon that wakes up your taste buds. The berry sweetness follows, mellowing out the acidity.
All those bubbles make each sip feel light and, honestly, a little bit celebratory. Tiny fizzing bubbles dance on your tongue, which is pretty fun.
Flavor Profile:
- Initial taste:Â Sweet strawberry
- Mid-palate:Â Bright lemon tanginess
- Finish:Â Clean, slightly sweet with fizzy texture
The drink’s red color is gorgeous, fading to a lighter pink near the top because of the fizz. That ombré effect looks great in a tall glass—almost too pretty to drink, but not quite.
There’s a fresh berry aroma with a hint of citrus zest. It sets you up for what’s coming and just smells like summer.
If it’s nice and cold, the flavors really pop. Let it warm up and the sweetness starts to take over a bit more.
The alcohol’s there, but it doesn’t overpower the fruit. Just enough warmth for an afternoon celebration, I’d say.
Substitute
If you can’t find fresh ingredients for the Juneteenth Fizz cocktail, don’t worry! There are plenty of easy swaps you can try.
For the strawberry syrup, you can just grab a store-bought version. Pre-made strawberry syrup actually works pretty well if you’re in a hurry or just feeling lazy.
Main Spirit Substitutes:
- No gin? Try vodka instead.
- For a non-alcoholic version, just use extra lemon juice and soda water.
Fruit Options:
- Replace strawberries with raspberries or blackberries.
- Frozen berries totally work if fresh ones aren’t around.
The lemon juice should really be fresh for the best flavor, but honestly, bottled will do in a pinch. Lime juice gives a different, kinda zippy twist if you’re feeling adventurous.
For the soda water, any sparkling water or club soda will do the trick. If you’re desperate, ginger ale or lemon-lime soda can work, but you might want to cut back on the syrup since those are pretty sweet already.
Garnish Alternatives:
- Mint leaves instead of basil.
- Lemon wheels instead of strawberry slices.
- Edible flowers if you want to make it look extra fancy.
