There’s something powerful about holding a glass of bourbon on the Fourth of July. Maybe it’s the way the golden spirit catches the summer light, or how each sip carries a trace of Southern oak and American history. July 4th isn’t just a celebration—it’s a reflection. Of independence, resilience, and the shared rituals that have bound us together for nearly 250 years.

And like fireworks or backyard barbecues, bourbon belongs at the center of it all.

This year, we invite you to raise your glass with purpose. Whether you’re crafting cocktails for a crowd or savoring one slowly on the porch, these drinks do more than refresh—they honor the spirit of the nation that made them.

The American Spirit: Why Bourbon Defines Celebration

Bourbon is the original American spirit, born on this soil, protected by law, and aged in the barrels of our shared experience. It’s built into our DNA. At Dread River, we don’t just make bourbon, we resurrect it. Our small-batch bourbon is the first legally distilled in Birmingham in over 100 years. Rich with notes of vanilla, toasted oak, and caramel, it’s layered enough to sip neat and bold enough to hold its own in a cocktail.

So whether you’re commemorating with a quiet glass or a round of celebratory pours, this is the spirit that speaks for us all.

4 Bourbon Cocktails That Tell a Story

Here are four amazing cocktail recipes that will not just be a delicious addition to your Independence Day menu but also a meaningful one. 

1. Liberty Old Fashioned

This is not one of your average classic cocktails; this drink represents the brightness and boldness of the soldiers who fought for this soil that provides us with the warmth of home. This drink is a reminder that our liberty was not given but earned, and this is how you make it. 

Ingredients: 

• 2 oz Dread River Bourbon 
• 0.25 oz Demerara Syrup
•  2 dashes Aromatic Bitters
• Orange peel

Instructions

1. Pour two ounces of Dread River Bourbon, a quarter ounce of demerara syrup, and a couple of dashes of aromatic bitters into a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir gently with a cocktail stirrer for 20–30 seconds until chilled.
3. Strain into a rocks glass over a large cube of ice.
4. Express the orange peel over the drink by twisting it to release the essential oils and place it as a garnish.

      2.   Freedom Sour

   This drink starts with the acidity of lemon, followed by the richness of bourbon, all delivered in a bold concoction, to be enjoyed in this free nation that we call home. Let us learn how to make one of the most famous bourbon cocktails.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Bourbon 
• 0.75 oz Fresh lemon juice
• 0.75 oz House-made syrup (we suggest flavouring it with all your favourite warm spices.) 
• 1 egg white 

Instructions

1. Pour the bourbon, lemon juice, house-made syrup, and the egg white into a shaker without ice and dry shake vigorously.
2. After the drink has been frothed nicely, add some ice and shake again until you see condensation on the walls of the shaker.
3. Strain into a chilled coupe glass with a cocktail strainer.
4. Serve it with a candied lemon slice. 

   3.   Stars & Stripes Smash

This is a drink that weaves the rich heritage of red, white, and blue fabric that soars with pride across the United States into a cocktail. A perfect medley of the tartness from the berries, the brightness from the mint, along with the kick of the Dread River Bourbon. This drink is a must for any Fourth of July celebration.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Dread River Bourbon 
• 6–8 fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries)
• A sprig of mint leaves
• Crushed ice

Instructions

1. In a shaker or a mixing glass, muddle the berries and mint to extract all the flavors.
2. Add in your bourbon and some ice and shake gently until well-chilled.
3. Fill a julep glass with crushed ice.
4. Strain or pour the mixture over the ice with a fine strainer to avoid any solids.
5. Garnish with a mint sprig or a tiny American flag.

     4.   Independence Boulevardier

The path to American independence wasn’t a straight and easy one, but a long, winding boulevard. This drink is strong and bittersweet, reminding us of the difficult journey that our ancestors had to take for us to taste the sweetness of independence and freedom. So, make this Independence Boulevardier for this Independence Day and make it the most memorable yet.

Ingredients

• 1 oz. bourbon 
• 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth 
• 1 oz. Campari 

Instructions

1. Add all the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir until the drink is mixed well and chilled. 
3. Pour into a chilled coupe or over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
4. Serve it with an expressed orange peel garnish.

Hosting with Purpose: Patriotic Pairings & Setting the Scene

A great Fourth of July needs good food along with delicious drinks. However delectable our bourbon cocktails may be, they will only be enhanced when paired with the right food. Firstly, we need to pay attention to the ingredients of our cocktail recipes as well as the ingredients of the dishes we serve to find items that go well together. For example, bourbon goes amazingly well with anything fatty or sweet. So, you can pair the Liberty Old Fashioned with a dish featuring an aged Gouda or a nice milk chocolate or a charcuterie board featuring both, along with some smoked meats to round off all the flavors. 

Remember to experiment and try out your own pairings. Make sure to create a safe and engaging environment for everyone to celebrate the day. Go around the room toasting and paying tribute to this great nation to keep the party lively. You can also make a themed range of cocktails with different spirits such as rum, gin, and vodka. You can pick your choice from the wide range of spirits we offer at Dread River to identify your favorite.  

Gifts & Gear to Toast with Intention 

The best Independence Day present for any bourbon lover would be whiskey glassware to enjoy their drinking experience at the highest level possible. Some great ideas would be etched Glencairn glasses and whiskey stones. The intentionality behind these gifts would be really appreciated. A flag or a customized bottle engraving would also be great gifting ideas with a personal touch. The importance of gift-giving on holidays is to express our love for one another while also commemorating the significance of the day. The Dread River bottles also would make a great Fourth of July gift, as their design is quintessentially American, and we cannot think of anything better for this day. 

We Honor Through Flavor: Why Our Spirits Stand for More

At Dread River, every drop we distill carries weight. It speaks of craftsmanship, of Southern soul, of American backbone. We honor our past by shaping its future, one bottle at a time.

This Fourth of July, we’re not just celebrating a date on the calendar. We’re honoring a spirit that endures. So, whether you’re mixing a Liberty Old Fashioned or sipping something neat as the fireworks crack the night sky, do it with pride.

Raise your glass. Remember what it took and taste the legacy in every sip.