Happy Thursday, and Happy Day-Before-Independence-Day, readers!

As promised, today we are making a red, white, and blue-themed cava sangria, just in time for the 4th of July!

This recipe can be used at any time using different fruit, but today we will be focusing on a special, Happy Birthday America version!

So lets get down to business, shall we?

Sangria is actually a fairly simple recipe when it comes down to it, but it involves a rather time-intensive prep process. That said, the end product is so delicious that the preparation is absolutely worth it.

Today we will be giving you a basic cava sangria recipe that can be used at any time — we are just tailoring the fruit to the 4th of July. If you make this in the future you can really use any fruit your heart desires: berries, apples, citrus, or stone fruit. Go crazy!

But for now, lets deal with the task at hand, and get you ready for the 4th of July in style!

For the Patriotic Cava Sangria, you will need:

• 1 container of strawberries
• 2 cups (or 2 containers) or blueberries
• 4 apples
• 1 lemon
• 2 cups brandy
• 1 cup triple sec
• 1/2 cup Aperol (1/4 cup per bottle of Cava)
• 2 bottles Cava

This sangria is made in two stages, the first being the fruit.

The night before you are going to serve the sangria, follow these directions to prep your fruit:

First, thoroughly wash all of your fruit.

 

 

Next, roughly chop your strawberries.

Next, peel and chop your apples. We used a star-shaped cookie cutter for ours, but if you don’t have one you can just chop them up.

Combine all on the fruit into a bowl, and squeeze the juice of one lemon over the top. Toss to coat.

Next, add in your 2 cups of brandy.

Now your 1 cup of triple sec (NOT Grand Marnier — that is too heavy).

Stir thoroughly, then cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator to soak overnight.

(The fruit can soak for 2-3 days without spoiling)

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When you are ready to serve, ladle your fruit & alcohol mixture into a punch bowl or carafe.

Pour over your chilled cava.

Add in your 1/4 cup (per bottle of cava) Aperol.

Give the whole thing a good stir.

Remember to only pour the cava over the fruit you intend to use in the immediate future. It is best to keep the fruit/brandy/triple sec mixture separate from the cava and aperol until you need it–you do not want to open the cava until you are ready to drink it. Like we said above, you can keep the fruit in the fridge for 2-3 days without spoiling.

If you are serving this at a party. present it on top of ice. Do not put ice directly into the sangria, because it will melt and dilute the drink — no one wants that!

That said, each glass should be served with ice. If you made your fruit-infused ice cubes, feel free to use those!

 

And there you have it! A delicious big batch cocktail perfect for your 4th of July festivities and beyond!

We hope you have a fun, boozy, delicious, and safe holiday!

Cheers, everyone!