What is the right alcoholic drink for the Fourth of July? Beer, certainly; even California white wine. But which distilled spirit? We decided to cast our vote for bourbon and, ta da, red limeade. (Maestro, please, a couple of bars of the Star Spangled Banner.) This is designed to be served during the after-dusk fireworks.

Red Glare
2 ounces bourbon
1 ounce lime juice
1/2 grenadine syrup
Chilled soda water

Pour bourbon, lime juice, syrup, and grenadine into a tall, ice-filled highball glass. Stir. Top with soda and stir a couple of times.

Mocktail: Replace the bourbon with apple juice in the above recipe.

Tasting notes: Refreshing and tasty, the lime and the grenadine lift the bourbon, and the soda water chills things out.

Tomorrow: Bay Breeze

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