From a Prickly Pear Margarita to Spiked Milk, every cocktail has a story behind it. We’ve picked a cocktail for every state, so what does this cocktail say about your state?
Alabama – Tallulah
Alabama loves its boiled peanuts and native daughter Tallulah Bankhead.
What’s in it: Peanuts, coke, whiskey (use Conecuh Ridge Whiskey – the state spirit)
Alaska – Northern Lights
A tip of the cap to one of Alaska’s most beautiful natural wonders.
What’s in it: gin (try Anchorage Distilling Aurora Gin), lemon juice, simple syrup, Angostura bitters, sparkling wine, cranberry sauce
Arizona – Prickly Pear Margarita
The prickly pear cactus (aka tuna) is a popular sight in the Sonoran Desert – and can tint this margarita with the same hues as those famous southwestern sunsets.
What’s in it: tequila, cointreau, lime juice, prickly pear syrup
Arkansas – Champagne cocktail
This drink sparkles like the gemstones at Crater of Diamonds State Park, the only active diamond mine in the USA.
What’s in it: sugar cube, Angostura bitters, champagne
California – The Surfer
It’s all about catching that one big, bro.
What’s in it: Jagermeister, coconut-flavored rum, pineapple juice
Colorado – John Denver
Raise a glass to Colorado’s adopted son.
What’s in it: limeade, corona, tequila, 7-up, orange juice
Connecticut – Brandy Alexander
Well … it’s known as the Nutmeg State.
What’s in it: cognac, crème de cacao, cream, nutmeg
Delaware – Twisted Bob Marley
In honor of the Reggae legend who called the state his home for years.
What’s in it: dark rum, gold rum, white rum, lime, melon liqueur, simple syrup, grenadine
Florida – Screwdriver
Best with some freshly squeezed Florida oranges.
What’s in it: orange juice, vodka
Georgia – Bellini
Nothing like a fresh Georgia peach.
What’s in it: peach puree (use fresh peaches), prosecco
Hawaii – Mai Tai
You really can’t have one without the other.
What’s in it: dark rum, amber rum, cointreau or triple sec, orange juice, lime juice, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, grenadine
Idaho – Vodka Sour
All those potatoes have to go somewhere.
What’s in it: vodka (go for Idaho’s own 44° North Vodka), lemon juice, simple syrup
Illinois – Old Fashioned
Though not invented in the Windy City, this drink got its moniker from an 1880 Chicago Tribune clip and became solidified in cocktail culture by the Chicago bar Chapin & Gore.
What’s in it: bourbon or rye whiskey, Angostura bitters, 1 sugar cube (or a teaspoon sugar)
Indiana – Spiked Milk
Feel like you’ve grabbed the checkered flag with this creamy concoction that celebrates the Indianapolis 500.
What’s in it: vodka, drambuie, vanilla simple syrup, cream, muddled mint leaves
Iowa – Cedar Sour
This fun cocktail doubles as a craft project and tastes like the Iowa prairie.
What’s in it: cedar rye, lemon juice, lemon thyme syrup, egg white
Kansas – Horsefeather
Invented in Lawrence, Kansas, in the 1990s, this drink spices up the standard bourbon and ginger recipe
What’s in it: whiskey (or rye or a blended whiskey), ginger beer, Angostura bitters
Kentucky – Oaks Lily
This little-known signature drink of the Kentucky Oaks race is a fantastic alternative to the mint julep.
What’s in it: vodka, lime juice, triple sec
Louisiana – Sazerac
One of the oldest cocktails in the United States, this is New Orleans in a glass.
What’s in it: absinthe, rye whiskey, cognac, sugar cube, Peychaud’s bitters, Angostura bitters
Maine – Allen’s Flip
Featuring Mainers’ favorite coffee-flavored nip, this drink will warm you from head to toe.
What’s in it: Allen’s Coffee-Flavored brandy, brandy simple syrup, egg
Maryland – Black-Eyed Susan
The official drink of the Preakness Stakes, this is Maryland’s drink of choice for horse races.
What’s in it: bourbon whiskey, peach schnapps, vodka, orange juice, sour mix
Massachusetts – Cosmopolitan
Carrie Bradshaw’s signature drink was originally popularized at gay bars in Provincetown – so raise a glass to the Bay State’s cranberry bogs and queer cocktail culture.
What’s in it: vodka, cointreau (or triple sec), cranberry juice, lime juice
Michigan – Bullshot
A mid-century favorite first embraced by Detroit drinkers who bellied up at the iconic Caucus Club.
What’s in it: vodka, Campbell’s beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco hot sauce
Minnesota – The Bootleg
Favorite of native son F. Scott Fitzgerald, this drink is a throwback to the days when sugar, juice, and soda were needed to doctor up bathtub gin.
What’s in it: gin, vodka or rum, club soda, sugar, water, lemonade (or lemonade concentrate), limeade (or limeade concentrate), minced mint leaves, lime bitters
Mississippi – Mudslide
A sweet, dairy-forward favorite at preppy fern bars in the ‘70s and ‘80s, this cocktail matches the color and flow speed of the mighty Mississippi at full churn.
What’s in it: vodka, coffee liqueur, Bailey’s Irish Cream, heavy cream
Missouri – Mark Twain
This smoky, layered take on a whiskey sour was actually Mark Twain’s favorite drink for all occasions.
What’s in it: scotch whisky, lemon juice, simple syrup, Angostura bitters
Montana – Huckleberry Lemonade
In Montana, huckleberries are life and this drink honors that unabashed devotion.
What’s in it: huckleberry vodka, fresh lemonade
Nebraska – Red Beer
A Midwestern favorite for everything from brunch to tailgating, a close tomato-powered cousin of both Bloody Marys and Micheladas.
What’s in it: ale, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, olive juice
Nevada – Picon Punch
Basque immigrants who poured into the American West during the gold rush years brought the aperitif Amer Picon with them, and their descendants still favor this regional classic.
What’s in it: Ramazzotti amaro, dry curaçao, gentian liqueur (combo acts as a substitute for Amer Picon which is no longer available in the US), brandy, grenadine, soda water
New Hampshire – Spiked Apple Cider
Fall in New Hampshire is synonymous with apple cider, which gets a little kick with this cocktail.
What’s in it: apple cider, dark rum, cinnamon schnapps, granny smith apple, fresh lemon juice
New Jersey – Born to Rum
If we don’t honor the Boss, what are we even doing?
What’s in it: rum, fresh lime juice, apple, lime, seltzer
New Mexico – Hatch Chile Margaritas
New Mexico’s signature peppers provide a sweet, tangy note to a traditional margarita.
What’s in it: tequila, agave nectar, freshly squeezed lime juice, hatch chiles, fresh orange juice
New York – Manhattan
A granddaddy in the cocktail world and perfect nod to the elegant days of the world-famous borough.
What’s in it: rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters
North Carolina – The Cherry Bounce
Raleigh’s beloved drink actually predates North Carolina’s capital, but they’ve been intertwined for over 200 years.
What’s in it: cherry vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, club soda
North Dakota – Smith & Kearns
Named for two regulars at a North Dakota watering hole called the Blue Blazer who’d come to town for the oil industry and demanded a sweet, peppy drink.
What’s in it: coffee liqueur (or creme de cacao), cream, club soda
Ohio – Boozy Buckeye
This peanut-butter dream tastes like the confection named after the nut from Ohio’s native tree.
What’s in it: Bailey’s or bourbon, hot chocolate mix, hot water, peanut butter, whipped cream
Oklahoma – Edna’s Lunchbox
Named for the Oklahoma City dive bar that invented it, Edna’s Lunchbox.
What’s in it: amaretto, light beer, fresh orange juice
Oregon – Marionberry Gimlet
Oregon invented the marionberry, so it’s only fair that the Beaver State’s signature fruit be shown off in this tart take on a classic gimlet.
What’s in it: gin, marionberry liqueur, fresh lime juice, simple syrup
Pennsylvania – Pickleback
A shot of whiskey, a shot of pickle juice. If it’s good, this strong, assertive drink should make at least one eye close.
What’s in it: Irish whiskey, pickle juice
Rhode Island – Martini
In honor of the nation’s smallest state.
What’s in it: gin, dry vermouth
South Carolina – Peninsula Tea
The essence of southern summers on the porch down in the Low Country.
What’s in it: sweet tea vodka (Firefly is a good choice), bittermilk ginger honey syrup, lemon juice, ginger ale
South Dakota – El Presidente
Raise a glass to Mount Rushmore – we won’t tell that this Prohibition-era cocktail got its start in Cuba as a tribute to either Mario García Menoca or Gerardo Machado.
What’s in it: white rum, orange curaçao, dry vermouth, grenadine
Tennessee – Lynchburg Lemonade
Named for the town where Jack Daniels is distilled and featuring Tennessee’s famous whiskey in a timeless sour format, perfect for bachelorette parties in Nashville, dancing in Memphis, or tailgating in Knoxville.
What’s in it: whiskey (preferably Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7), triple sec, sour mix, lemon-lime soda
Texas – Paloma
Nothing cuts the Texas heat like this sweet, tart thirst-quencher.
What’s in it: tequila (preferably blanco), grapefruit juice, club soda, lime, sugar syrup or honey
Utah – Bee’s Knees
The famously teetotaling Beehive State got its nickname from the Book of Mormon, and this drink gets its sugary buzz from honey instead of simple syrup.
What’s in it: gin, fresh lemon juice, honey syrup
Vermont – Maple Collins
Nowhere in the nation makes more maple syrup than Vermont, and there’s plenty of the sweet, woodsy tang in this take on a classic Tom Collins.
What’s in it: maple-flavored whiskey, lemon juice, pineapple juice, simple syrup, club soda
Virginia – Stars and Stripes
From Arlington National Cemetery to the Virginia Military Institute to Norfolk Naval Station, Virginia has a strong military presence.
What’s in it: Giffard Cassis Noir de Bourgogne, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, Green Chartreuse liqueur
Washington – The Aviation
This high-flying drink is the perfect toast to Boeing’s home state, and the pretty purple color brings to mind those rare Ranier sunsets after the rain clears out.
What’s in it: gin, Maraschino Liqueur, fresh lemon juice, creme de Violet
West Virginia – Apple Pie Moonshine
Ridge runners used to go to great lengths to conceal their mountain stills during Prohibition, but this apple inflected drink made with white lightning is good enough that you’ll want to share with friends.
What’s in it: apple pie moonshine, apple juice, lemon juice, sliced apple wedges, cinnamon sticks
Wisconsin – Pink Squirrel
Wisconsin may be known for its beer, but it’s also where the Pink Squirrel was invented. Milwaukee gave birth to this creamy concoction in the 1940s using the state’s other great ingredient – dairy.
What’s in it: crème de noyaux, white crème de cacao, heavy cream
Wyoming – Boilermaker
This cowboy country staple is as fun to combine as it is to sip! Bottoms up!
What’s in it: whiskey, beer
Washington, DC – The Rickey
Invented in the District in the 1880s, this Victorian fizzer’s enduring popularity has outlasted 26 presidents.
What’s in it: gin, fresh lime juice, club soda
Puerto Rico – Piña Colada
The country’s national drink is truly a Caribbean vacation in a glass.
What’s in it: white rum (or coconut milk), cream of coconut, unsweetened pineapple juice
Meghan O’Dea assisted with this article.
