Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need for your batch of Stars & Stripes Sangria:
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1 bottle red wine (750ml – try Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, or Garnacha) 🍷
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1/2 cup brandy (adds warmth and a classic Spanish sangria base)
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1/4 cup orange liqueur (like Cointreau, Triple Sec, or Grand Marnier) 🍊
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1/4 cup orange juice (for brightness and acidity) 🍊
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1/4 cup cranberry juice (boosts fruit flavor and deepens color) 🍒
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1/2 cup sliced strawberries (fresh and vibrant, for red visual and flavor) 🍓
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1/2 cup blueberries (provides the blue in your red-white-blue theme) 🫐
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1/2 cup sliced oranges (adds brightness, visual appeal, and citrus oil) 🍊
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Ice 🧊 (for chilling and serving)
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Fresh mint sprigs for garnish 🌿 (adds cooling aromatics and visual elegance)
Instructions
Step 1: Wash and Prep the Fruit
Begin by thoroughly washing your strawberries, blueberries, and oranges. Slice the strawberries into thin halves or quarters depending on size. Cut the oranges into rounds or half-moons, keeping the rind on for both visual appeal and aromatic citrus oils. Pat the fruit dry and set aside.
Step 2: Build the Sangria Base
In a large pitcher or glass carafe (2 liters or more), pour in your bottle of red wine. Add the brandy, orange liqueur, orange juice, and cranberry juice. Stir slowly but thoroughly to combine all liquid ingredients.
Step 3: Add the Fruit
Gently fold in the strawberries, blueberries, and orange slices. Stir again briefly to allow the fruit to be coated and start infusing the sangria.
Step 4: Chill to Perfection
Cover the pitcher with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Overnight chilling is ideal, as it allows the fruit to macerate and release their juices, enhancing the complexity of the cocktail.
Step 5: Serve with Style
When it’s time to serve, fill glasses with ice and pour the sangria, making sure to spoon some of the infused fruit into each serving. Garnish each glass with a fresh mint sprig or a decorative cocktail pick for flair.
Notes
Traditionally served in Spanish tapas bars and summer cafes, sangria is one of the world’s most beloved communal drinks. The Stars & Stripes version pays tribute not just to summer patriotism but also to the laid-back joy of warm-weather entertaining. Unlike complicated cocktails, sangria lets your ingredients speak for themselves—and the longer they mingle, the better they get.
The addition of brandy and orange liqueur builds the body of this sangria, while the cranberry and citrus juices add zing and round out the fruit medley. The result is balanced, bright, and bold, just like the fireworks lighting up your summer sky.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4–12 hours
Nutrition
- Calories: 180–200 kcal
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Protein: 0g