It's been 233 years since the bouncing baby United States of America declared its independence from the United Kingdom, and it's been thirteen years since a hardy band of patriots led by no less than the US President repelled the alien invaders intent on exterminating mankind. If that's not worth celebrating, then seriously, nothing is.

There are an actual ton of recipes kicking around to mark the occasion, which is handy because I haven't had a lot of time to put one together myself. The one that caught my eye is Jonathan Pogash's American Collins (or Red, White & Blue Collins).

American Collins

45ml Bombay Sapphire
25ml simple syrup
15ml lemon juice 4 pitted Bing cherries
8 blueberries

Muddle the blueberries and cherries with the syrup and the lemon juice. Add the gin with ice and stir briefly. Top with club soda.

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Whatever you're drinking today, raise a glass to Uncle Sam. No, not the cantankerous old sod who lives in your basement. The mythologised personification of the American Spirit.

Yes, the creepy thin old man with the starey eyes. That Uncle Sam.