Juneteenth celebrations honor freedom and community with food, music, and drinks. This Jubilee Punch cocktail adds a festive touch to any Juneteenth gathering.

It combines sweet and tangy flavors that most folks will enjoy. The Juneteenth Jubilee Punch mixes red hibiscus tea, fresh strawberries, and lemonade with optional rum for a refreshing drink that honors the traditional red beverages served during this important holiday.

The bright red color? It’s not just pretty—it’s a symbol of strength and resilience, a nod to those who fought for freedom.

This punch is easy to make and serves a crowd. You can prep it ahead, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions taste great.

Juneteenth Jubilee Punch Cocktail Recipe

This festive punch celebrates Juneteenth with flavors that honor African American culinary traditions. It’s also just a refreshing drink for summer gatherings—maybe even a little too easy to sip.

John

Prep Time 20

Total Time 20

Serving Size

Equipment

Large punch bowl (2-gallon capacity)
Long-handled wooden or plastic spoon for mixing

Ladle: For serving.
Ice bucket
Measuring cups and jiggers
Knife and cutting board
Citrus juicer or reamer
Blender (optional for puréeing fruit)
Punch glasses or mason jars for serving

Ingredients

4 cups hibiscus tea brewed strong and chilled

2 cups Rum
2 cups black tea brewed and chilled
2 cups watermelon juice fresh if possible
1 cup fresh strawberries sliced
1 cup fresh blackberries
2 oranges sliced into rounds
2 lemons sliced into rounds
1 cup fresh lemon juice
½ cup honey or simple syrup made with sorghum
2 cups red soda such as strawberry or cherry
2 cups ginger beer
Ice for serving
Fresh mint for garnish

Instructions

Brew the hibiscus and black teas separately. Let them steep for about 5-7 minutes, then chill completely in the fridge—give it at least 2 hours.

Juice the watermelon by blending chunks and straining through a fine mesh sieve. It’s a little messy but worth it.
In your punch bowl, pour in the chilled teas, watermelon juice, and lemon juice.
Add honey or sorghum syrup and stir until it’s all dissolved.

Toss in the strawberries, blackberries, orange rounds, and lemon rounds.
Right before serving, add the red soda and ginger beer so you keep that nice fizz.
Gently stir with your long-handled spoon to mix everything up.

Scoop into glasses over ice and top with a sprig of mint for garnish.
If you’re making the adult version, pour in the bourbon or rum after step 5.

Notes

This recipe serves about 15-20 people—plenty for a backyard party. You can prep everything up to step 5 a day ahead, then just add the fizzy stuff before serving.

For a kid-friendly version, skip the booze and maybe bump up the fruit juice or red soda. Not a fan of hibiscus? Cranberry juice swaps in easily and keeps things red and festive.

There’s a bit of history in these ingredients, too. Watermelon and red drinks are classic Juneteenth staples, representing resilience and joy.

Honestly, this punch pairs perfectly with a spread of barbecue, black-eyed peas, or a big slice of red velvet cake. That’s a celebration right there.

Tasting Notes

This Juneteenth Jubilee Punch is bright, refreshing, and not too sweet. The hibiscus tea gives it that gorgeous ruby color and a hint of floral flavor.

Watermelon and strawberries keep things fruity and seasonal. They add a natural sweetness without making it taste like candy.

Citrus brings a tangy edge that cuts through the sweetness. It’s the kind of punch you want to keep sipping, honestly.

Flavor Profile:

First sip: Sweet watermelon and berry notes
Mid-palate: Floral hibiscus with citrus brightness
Finish: Clean, slightly tart with subtle spice

The ginger sneaks in a little warmth at the end. If you like a spicier kick, don’t be shy—add a bit more ginger.

Over ice, the punch gets extra refreshing, especially after chilling for an hour or two. The flavors really come together the longer it sits.

The non-alcoholic version is fruity and light. If you add rum or bourbon, you get a bit more depth and warmth, but it doesn’t overpower the fruit.

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Substitute

Don’t have all the ingredients for the Juneteenth Jubilee Punch? No problem!

You can still enjoy this festive cocktail with some simple swaps.

For the base spirit, you could swap bourbon for dark rum or brandy. Each brings its own character, but you’ll still get that rich flavor profile.

No fresh strawberries on hand? Frozen ones work just as well—just thaw them before muddling.

Honestly, raspberries or blackberries are fair game, too, if you want a different berry vibe.

If you’re out of ginger beer, ginger ale gives a milder taste. Or, club soda with a dash of ginger syrup will do in a pinch.

Going non-alcoholic? Skip the bourbon and splash in a little extra fruit juice instead.

Common Substitutions:

Bourbon → Dark rum, brandy
Fresh strawberries → Frozen strawberries, raspberries

Ginger beer → Ginger ale, club soda + ginger syrup
Mint → Basil (offers a different but complementary flavor)
Simple syrup → Honey or agave nectar (use ¾ the amount)

If hibiscus tea’s nowhere to be found, cranberry juice brings a similar tartness and color. Pomegranate juice works too, if you’d rather go for something less tart.

Juneteenth Jubilee Punch Cocktail Recipe