If you're planning to have a cookout today, don't think that your grill is just for burgers and hot dogs... you’re forgetting about your cocktails. Don't make a drink and throw it on the grill – that’s dumb and it will probably explode. We’re talking about garnishes and drink ingredients.

If you're a little nervous about having that "just grilled" flavor in your drink, you can start slow with a grilled garnish. You’ll look badass and very professional, even if you don’t know what you’re doing. Pineapples are great on the grill, as are orange slices, peaches, bananas and tomatoes. Don't think that garnishes have to be fruit, though - you could even garnish a drink with a cocktail weenie or a piece of steak, if the mood strikes you. Get creative and grill whatever the heck you want to.

If you're ready to try a drink that uses grilled ingredients, you could try a cocktail called the "Smoky Greyhound." Grab two large grapefruits, cut them in half, and put the four halves (fruit side down) on the grill. Grill the grapefruit for about 6-8 minutes until they get char marks on them (make sure your grill is hot enough for this). After that, combine 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of ground ginger and then juice the grapefruit into a separate container. Add ice to two cocktail glasses and then split 4 oz. vodka, the honey/ginger mix and the grapefruit juice between two glasses. Stir and add a little water if the grapefruit is too tart.

There is another amazing recipe from Bon Appetit called the "Smoking Peach" and it involves grilled peach-infused bourbon (we are salivating already). Visit Bon Appetit for the peach bourbon recipe, but once you're all set with that, here's what needs to happen: Combine 6 oz. dry Sherry, 4 oz. lemon juice, 2 oz. grilled peach-infused bourbon and 2 oz. honey in a large pitcher filled with ice. Stir for about one minute and then divide it among four Old Fashioned glasses filled with ice. Garnish each drink with a grilled peach slice.

Regardless of what you choose to throw on the grill for your cocktails, we hope you have an awesome 4th of July filled with delicious patriotic beverages.