Every State’s Signature Cocktail (and How to Make Them)

A signature drink says a lot about a person. You could belly up to a bar and order a beer, or you could saunter on up with ease and class and order a true drink, such as a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned. You know, the kind Don Draper of “Mad Men” would drink. Or think of the Roaring ’20s and the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald raising a glass in a toast.

So, what does your state recognize as its iconic cocktail of choice? The following are not only the classic drinks by location, but also the ingredients for you to craft them at home. Cheers!

Alabama: Alabama Slammer

Margaritaville

Ah, granted, not every state’s drink of choice has a stylish origin. Popular along beaches and with spring breakers, the Alabama Slammer is said to have been invented by college kids at the University of Alabama.

Made With:

.5 oz. sloe gin
.5 oz. Southern Comfort
.5 oz. Amaretto
Topped with orange juice
Garnished with cherry and orange slice

Alaska: Duck Fart

Liquor Online

So, perhaps the name doesn’t lend itself to be classy, per se. It is said this shot was invented at Anchorage’s Peanut Farm — just randomly named by what we can only assume someone who had sampled a few! Ignore the name, and enjoy the triple-layer drink invented and downed often in Alaska.

Made With:

1 oz. Kahlua
1 oz. Baileys Irish Cream
.5 oz. Crown Royal Whisky

Arizona: Tequila Sunrise

Drizly

The Tequila Sunrise may make you think about The Eagles’ song of the same name or the painted sky of Arizona, but the drink originated over the border in Mexico in the 1930s. Still, it’s a signature drink for this desert state, as pretty as its beautiful sunsets.

Made With:

1.5 oz. tequila
3/4 cup orange juice
.75 oz. grenadine
Garnish with orange slice

Arkansas: Arkansas Razorback

Another college-invented drink owes its name to the mascot of the University of Arkansas, the Razorbacks — just as red as the razorback logo.

Made With:

.5 oz. rum
.5 oz. vodka
.5 oz. Amaretto
.5 oz. Kahlua

California: Mai Tai

Food n’ Focus

While Mai Tais are popular drinks in Hawaii, the original creation was made in California and meant to capture the surfer vibe of the coast. Victor Bergeron, owner of the tiki restaurant Trader Vic, first made his umbrella drink in 1944, and if you’re ever in San Francisco, be sure to visit the Tonga Room for a sample and a show.

Made With:

.75 oz. fresh lime juice
.5 oz. orange curacao
.25 oz. orgeat
.25 oz. simple syrup
1 oz. dark rum
1 oz. light rum

Colorado: Colorado Bulldog

Boulder Locavore

It’s Colorado’s answer to the White Russian, and it worked well as a milkshake during the time of Prohibition. The historic Hotel Jerome’s Aspen Crud is a bourbon-spiked milkshake, but the Colorado Bulldog is a smaller, lighter and easier sipping drink.

Made With:

1 oz. vodka
1 oz. Kahlua
1 splash Coca-Cola
Add milk to taste

Connecticut: The Yale Cocktail

Karen’s Kitchen Stories

Connecticut’s Ivy League university, Yale, brought about the creation of the signature blue drink named for the school. The blue- or purplish-hued color is meant to take on the school’s color and originated in the 1960s.

Made With:

2.5 oz. gin
.75 oz. Creme Yvette
.25 oz. Maraschino liqueur
.25 oz. dry vermouth
Dash of bitters
Garnish with lemon twist

Delaware: Orange Crush

Lizzie Munro / Punch Drink

Delaware’s beaches are the places to be between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and if you can have an Orange Crush while there, you’re living like a true Delawarean. The drink got its start at The Starboard in Dewey Beach but was lifted from the Harborside bar in nearby Baltimore.

Made With:

2 oz. orange vodka
1 oz. triple sec
Sprite or soda water splash
3 oz. fresh-squeezed orange juice
Garnish with orange slice

Florida: Rum Runner

Key West Food Tours

On the opposite side of the country, another man with a tiki bar was making up his own fruity rum drink. John Ebert, a.k.a. Tiki John, created the Rum Runner in the Florida Key’s at Islamorada’s Holiday Isle Tiki Bar in the early 1900s.

Made With:

1 oz. pineapple juice
1 oz. orange juice
1 oz. blackberry liqueur
1 oz. banana liqueur
1 oz. light rum
Splash of grenadine
Garnish with lemon, lime and/or cherry

Georgia: Scarlet O’Hara

Lanas Cooking

Enjoy some Southern Comfort with a drink named for the Georgian pillar of strength. The Southern Belle from “Gone With the Wind” is a popular Georgia drink (as well as a Rhett Butler).

Made With:

2 oz. Southern Comfort
6 oz. cranberry juice
Dash of lime juice

Hawaii: Piña Colada

Travel Trivia / https://www.traveltrivia.com/answer-what-country-invented-the-pina-colada/

Although the Piña Colada was invented in Puerto Rico, the coconut and pineapple Caribbean drink spread quickly to the Hawaiian islands. Tourists enjoy sitting on the beach with a good Piña Colada (or, of course, the previously mentioned Mai Tai).

Made With:

1/2 c. diced pineapple
2 oz. pineapple juice
2 oz. coconut cream
1.5 oz. white rum
1 oz. dark rum
Garnish with pineapple slice

Idaho: Whiskey Sour

Saveur

The Whiskey Sour dates back to 1862, used as a drink for sailors to avoid scurvy. Sure, Idaho isn’t located on the coast, but it’s the drink of choice for many natives. The original recipe used powdered sugar, lemon and bourbon or rye, but the modern-day version may include an egg white.

Made With:

1.5 to 2 oz. whiskey
1 oz. lemon juice
.5 oz. simple syrup
.25 oz. egg white (optional)
Garnish with cherry and lemon

Illinois: Chicago Fizz

Originating in the Windy City before Prohibition, a barman took the drink to New York and created quite a stir. When in Chicago, give this throwback drink a throw back.

Made With:

1 oz. dark rum
1 oz. ruby port
.5 oz. lemon juice
.5 tsp. fine sugar
1 egg white

Indiana: Hoosier Heritage

Hangover Cure

The Hoosier Heritage got its start in honor of President Abraham Lincoln, who spent part of his Midwestern life in Indiana’s Knob Creek. A contest was held to create a drink and voila: The Hoosier Heritage.

Made With:

1.5 oz. Knob Creek Bourbon
.5 oz. maple syrup
.5 lemon juice
1 oz. apple cider
1 rosemary sprig

Iowa: Gin Buck

Hangover Cure

Mules have made a big comeback in recent years, featuring ginger beer and vodka as a Moscow Mule. In Iowa, however, they prefer to skip the vodka. Oh yes, and a Gin Buck is a mule that must not be served in a copper mug.

Made With:

2 oz. Bourbon, Rye or gin
Ginger ale or ginger beer
Half a fresh squeezed lime

Kansas: Kansas City Ice Water

HyVee

A drink introduced into the city in 1994, the Kansas City Ice Water is a combination of simple ingredients that can be very refreshing — and intoxicating — on a hot summer’s day. While the drink has become a staple at many a cocktail bar across the KC Metro area, patrons at Rye KC in Leawood, Kansas, just can’t seem to get enough of it.

Made With:

1 oz. gin
1 oz. vodka
.5 oz. triple sec
.5 oz. lime juice
3 oz. lemon-lime soda
Garnish with lime

Kentucky: Mint Julep

Chowhound

It was Kentucky Senator Henry Clay that brought the mint julep to Washington, D.C., but the drink originated in Arabia as rose water. It became the official drink of the Kentucky Derby in 1983 — an estimated 120,000 mint juleps are served during the two-day event.

Made With:

2.5 oz. bourbon
.5 oz. simple syrup
4 to 5 mint leaves
Garnish with mint

Louisiana: Sazerac

Kitchen Swagger

Leave it to an apothecary in New Orleans to develop a potent drink. The Sazerac, first created in 1838, was named for the Sazerac de Forge et Fils cognac used for the drink served straight up.

Made With:

1.5 oz. Sazerac whiskey
.5 Herbsaint
1 cube sugar
3 dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters
Garnish with lemon twist

Maine: Allen’s and Milk

In Maine, the top-selling booze is Allen’s Coffee Flavored Brandy. And the drink? A combination of Allen’s and Milk, otherwise known as the “Champagne of Maine.”

Made With:

1 part Allen’s Coffee Flavored Brandy
1 part milk

Maryland: Black-Eyed Susan

Creative Culinary

The Kentucky Derby has its julep, but in Maryland, the Preakness Stakes horse race serves up a Black-Eyed Susan. The drink pays tribute to its state flower and has been the official drink since the 1950s.

Made With:

1 oz. bourbon
1 oz. peach schnapps
1 oz. vodka
2 oz. orange juice
2 oz. sour mix
Garnish with orange slice and cherry

Massachusetts: Cape Codder

Bar Stack

The cranberry growers of Massachusetts invented this drink, perhaps better known as a cranberry juice and vodka. Originally called the Red Devil, it earned its more popular name, the Cape Codder, in the 1960s because locals tend to drink it most often when on vacation on The Cape.

Made With:

2 oz. vodka
4 oz. cranberry juice
Juice of half a lime
Garnish with lime

Michigan: The Hummer

Punch Drink

Created in the 1960s, the Detroit-born Hummer was given its name for how you may want to (or involuntarily) hum after having a few. The drink created at the Bayview Yacht Club ended up a worldwide sensation.

Made With:

1.5 oz. rum
1.5 oz. Kahlua
2 scoops vanilla ice cream

Minnesota: The Bootleg

Pip and Debby

A popular country club drink served during Prohibition in Minnesota, the Bootleg, or Bootlegger, was meant to mask the smell of alcohol with its use of heavy mint.

Made With:

2 to 3 bunches of chopped mint leaves
1/2 cup simple syrup
1.5 oz. rum, vodka or gin
1 can frozen limeade
1 can frozen lemonade
Water
Club soda
Garnish with mint spring

Mississippi: Mississippi Punch

Diffords Guide

This packed a powerful punch when the “Father of Mixology” Jerry Thomas introduced this concoction in the 19th century, and it’s perfect on a summer’s day. It is said he was inspired by something along the Mississippi River when he created the cocktail.

Made With:

2 oz. cognac
1 oz. rum
1 oz. bourbon
.5 oz. fresh-squeezed lemon juice
2 tsp. powdered sugar

Missouri: Golden Glow

Absolut Drinks

Developed by the Hotel Jefferson to celebrate the end of Prohibition, the golden drink known as the Golden Glow was as sweet at the ability to drink again. Although the historic hotel is located in Virginia, the drink made its way across the country and became especially popular in Missouri.

Made With:

1.5 oz. bourbon
Dash of dark rum
.75 oz. lemon juice
1.5 oz. orange juice
.33 oz. simple syrup

Montana: Whiskey Ditch

Spoon University

A slang term for whiskey and water sure does help cowboys take a load off after a long day on the range, with a bit less bite.

Made With:

Equal part whiskey
Equal part water

Nebraska: Kool-Aid Caddy

Absolut Drinks

This is Kool-Aid for adults and was most likely invented in a college dorm. Take any flavor of the flavored sugar crystals, and pair it with vodka and orange juice for a sweet drink that goes down extremely fast. (Be careful!)

Made With:

2 oz. vodka
4 oz. orange juice
2 oz. Kool-Aid

Nevada: Picon Punch

Hella Basque

Named the official drink of the state, the Picon Punch is made with Amer Picon, an orange-flavored French liquor. The drink was originally made to fight off malaria in the 1800s when the Basque immigrants who arrived in northern Nevada brought the concoction to the U.S.

Made With:

2 oz. Amer Picon
.75 oz. soda water
Splash grenadine
Spoonful of brandy
Lemon peel

New Hampshire: Gundalow Cocktail

Tamworth Distilling

Home to apple orchards aplenty, New Hampshire has a state spirit that’s dedicated to the rosy red fruits. A whiskey known as Applejack uses 100 percent New Hampshire apples and is just what you need to create the New Old Hampshire.

Made With:

2 oz. Old Hampshire Applejack
2 dashes of bitters
1 sugar cube
Orange peel

New Jersey: Jersey Devil

Stir & Mix

The legendary Jersey Devil, of folklore since the 1700s, inspired Jersey’s own drink that is anything but devilish. The devil refers to the 13th child of Mother Leeds, who it is said she cursed to be the devil when she learned she was once again pregnant.

Made With:

1.5 parts Applejack
.5 part triple sec liqueur
Splash of cranberry
Splash of sour mix
Garnish with cherries

New Mexico: Chimayo

Cocktail Hunter

Made in 1965 at the Rancho de Chimayo in the town of the same name, this New Mexico cocktail combines tequila and apple cider. Apparently, the ranch just happened to have an abundance of apples, so the owner decided to use them in a new drink.

Made With:

1.5 oz. tequila
1 oz. apple cider
.5 oz. fresh lemon juice
.25 oz. creme de cassis
Garnish with apple slices

New York: Manhattan

Pampered Chef

Just as you would guess, the Manhattan got its start in Manhattan, at the Manhattan Club. Dating back to 1916, the drink has not changed much since it was first created and remains a classy cocktail, especially when visiting a sleek New York bar.

Made With:

2 oz. bourbon or rye
1 oz. sweet vermouth
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
1 dash orange bitters
1 Maraschino cherry

North Carolina: The Cherry Bounce

Cherry Bounce

The Cherry Bounce is actually a drink that was a favorite of George Washington. Mt. Vernon reports he used to carry around a canteen of it. Perhaps, that is how it made its way to North Carolina. It’s a batch drink that requires stewing for a week before drinking.

Made With:

1 lb. cherries
2.75 cups sugar
4 cups vodka, rum, cognac, bourbon, rye or grain alcohol

North Dakota: Smith & Kearns

Smith & Kearns

Gerbert “Shorty” Doebber, the bartender at the Prince Hotel’s Blue Blazer Lounge in Bismarck, created a drink for two oilmen who frequented the bar in the 1950s and named it after them. Originally Smith and Curran, it was slightly altered over the years, but the ingredients remain the same.

Made With:

2 oz. coffee liqueur
2 oz. cream
Club soda

Ohio: Boozy Buckeye

The Ohio State Buckeyes love their tailgate drinks, especially this boozy dessert one. Meant to help keep you warm on cooler fall game days, it’s the melted peanut butter that really makes this drink delicious.

Made With:

1 packet hot chocolate mix
6 oz. hot water
1 oz. Bailey’s or Bourbon
1/2 tsp. melted peanut butter
Whipped cream

Oklahoma: Edna’s Lunchbox

Yelp

The legendary Oklahoma City bar has a namesake drink that must be sampled if you step within its doors. The beer-based drink is served up in a frosty mug.

Made With:

6 oz. freshly squeezed orange juice
6 oz. light beer
1 oz. amaretto
Garnish with orange wheels

Oregon: Sloe Gin Fizz

Craft Gin Club

Neither a gin fizz nor a sloe gin fizz originated in Oregon, but once Loretta Lynn sang about a sloe gin fizz in Portland, the state pretty much claimed ownership of it. The only difference between this and a Tom Collins is the amount of ice and the size of the glass.

Made With:

2 oz. Plymouth Sloe Gin
.5 oz. lemon juice
1 tsp. superfine sugar
Club soda

Pennsylvania: Fish House Punch

James Beard Foundation

In Philadelphia, along the Schuylkill River, a band of fishermen created bowls of punch in 1732, years before the Revolution. Their invention is now tradition in the City of Brotherly Love.

Made With:

1 cup sugar
4 lemons
4 cups black tea (or water)
1 cup lemon juice
4 cups rum
2 cups cognac
1/2 cup peach brandy
Garnish with lemon and freshly grated nutmeg

Rhode Island: Rhode Island Red

Liquor.com

A domesticated chicken or a delicious drink? In Rhode Island, locals are all about this red tequila namesake, which should be sipped while overlooking the water.

Made With:

2 oz. tequila
.5 oz. black raspberry liqueur
.75 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
.5 oz. Agave syrup
Dash of orange bitters
Top with ginger beer

South Carolina: Gin Fizz

Liquor.com

Sloe gin is made with a sloe berry, and regular gin is made with juniper berries and is more potent. In South Carolina, they prefer that extra kick. Again, the gin fizz is similar to a Tom Collins, just shaken for a froth.

Made With:

2 oz. gin
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
.75 oz. simple syrup
1 egg white
1 oz. club soda

South Dakota: The Roosevelt

The Roosevelt Room

President Teddy Roosevelt discovered his drink of choice while on safari in Africa and brought home the recipe. Since South Dakota is home to national parklands he helped create, including Mt. Rushmore, why not toast the Rough Rider when visiting the state?

Made With:

1.75 oz. dark rum
.5 oz. dry vermouth
.25 oz. fresh orange juice
.25 tsp. sugar
Garnish with orange twist

Tennessee: Lynchburg Lemonade

Pilot Online

Jack Daniels, made in Lynchburg, Tennessee, was mixed with lemonade in 1980 at an Alabama restaurant, and the rest is history. Although Lynchburg is a dry county, the people of Tennessee do love their Jack.

Made With:

1.25 oz. Jack Daniel’s
.75 oz. Triple Sec
2 oz. sour mix
Lemon and lime

Texas: Margarita

Delish

The margarita isn’t a product of Texas, but thanks to the state’s Mexican heritage and creation of Tex-Mex, the tequila drink can be found at most restaurants. The drink is said to be made for — and in honor of — a special lady, although she has not been identified.

Made With:

2 oz. white tequila
.75 oz. fresh lime juice
.75 oz. simple syrup
Garnish with lime and kosher salt

Utah: Shirley Temple

Culinary Hill

With dry counties, beer-only pubs and the Mormon faith, Utah is not exactly a cocktail state. But the perfect drink to enjoy is one without a hint of alcohol: the Shirley Temple. Made and named for the child actress when she was 10, it gives underaged drinkers the chance to sip a classic.

Made With:

1/4 cup lemon-lime soda
1.5 tbsp. grenadine syrup
Garnish with Maraschino cherry

Vermont: Old Vermont

Margaritaville

New Hampshire has its apples, but Vermont has maple syrup. Of course, the people found a way to drink it in a cocktail!

Made With:

1.5 oz. gin
.5 oz. pure maple syrup
.25 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 dashes Angostura bitter
Garnish with orange rind

Virginia: Gin Rickey

Drinking Hobby

In Virginia and Washington, D.C., the Gin Rickey bourbon drink is popular in political circles. First made in the 1880s for lobbyist Colonel Joe Rickey, it is said the drink was concocted at Shoomaker’s.

Made With:

2 oz. gin
.5 oz. fresh lime juice
Soda water
Garnish with lime wheel

Washington: Washington Apple

Spruce Eats

Like New Hampshire, Washington State is home to apple orchids. So, how apropos that its signature drink is the Washington Apple cocktail.

Made With:

1 oz. whiskey
1 oz. sour apple schnapps
1 oz. cranberry juice
Garnish with an apple slice

West Virginia: Copperhead

Drink Kings

Another political drink popularized in West Virginia is named for the Copperheads. These democrats opposed the Civil War and President Abraham Lincoln.

Made With:

2 oz. vodka
5 oz. ginger ale
Garnish with lime wedge

Wisconsin: Brandy Old Fashioned

Curious Cuisiniere

A New York bartender at the Waldorf-Astoria created the iconic Old Fashioned, traditionally made with whiskey. But in Wisconsin, they like their old fashioned with a twist: by using brandy. (It’s said it is because the liquor was more common among the Germans.)

Made With:

1.5 oz. brandy
1 sugar cube
4 to 6 dashes Angostura bitters
1 orange slice
1 Maraschino cherry
1 tsp. cherry juice
Lemon-lime or grapefruit soda or seltzer

Wyoming: The Grizzly Bear

Mix That Drink

This Grizzly Bear of Wyoming won’t bite. Instead, this cocktail takes Jägermeister and leaves behind the shots to create a smooth drink.

Made With:

1 oz. Amaretto
1 oz. Jägermeister
1 oz. Kahlua
2.5 oz. milk