A few years ago, some roommates made red and white sangria to celebrate July 4th. It took them days to find the right wine and fruit and hours to put it all together. The end result was a lot of wasted wine and fruit. Everyone was pretty bummed out, but thankfully there was plenty of beer. I think there's something to be learned here: Leave speciality holiday cocktails to the professionals. This year Elixir will be adding a patriotic cocktail to their menu to celebrate Independence Day: The Red, White, and Night.



Some may remember this drink from its last appearance on the Elixir Menu a few years ago, or perhaps you remember it from the 2008 Election Night party. If you haven't had the chance, you really must try this drink. It's essentially a delicious, boozy sangria. It's also gorgeous. Look at that:



If you want to be like our roommates and host a your own Fourth of July party, you can try to make this at home. It's easy to make, and it's far easier than whatever sangria recipe they tried. Heads up, though, it's a strong one. Here's the recipe for the Red, White, and Night:

1.5 oz vodka
1 oz red wine
.75 oz lemon
.75 oz simple syrup
Garnish with powdered sugar-dusted blueberries.

Shake with ice, pour into a collins glass over ice.

Elixir

3200 16th St.

San Francisco, CA

For more recipes, videos, and cocktails, go to The Joy of Drinking.