Cocktails have been around for a long time. The first written mentions of “cocktail” as a beverage appeared in the early 1800s, and legendary bartender Jerry Thomas published his seminal “How to Mix Drinks, or The Bon Vivant’s Companion” in 1862.
In our own time, people have reportedly been drinking more since the pandemic began, and who could blame them? Of course, excessive drinking is harmful to health and well-being, but for most people an occasional drink is something to savor. (To help with your New Year’s resolution, here are 28 low-calorie alcoholic drinks.)
To identify the most popular cocktail in every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the results of data collected by Upgraded Points, a travel site advising users how to maximize their points and miles. The site tracked Google searches for cocktail names by state between March 2020 and March 2021. (Note that the results reflect interest in various cocktails, not necessarily their total consumption.) Main ingredients for each drink are drawn from Liquor.com, The Drink Blog, The Straight Up, and Mix That Drink, and do not include garnishes or other peripheral ingredients. In addition, individual bartenders often customize the traditional recipes.
The most popular cocktail overall turned out to be the brunch classic the Mimosa, which consists of nothing more than Champagne or another sparkling wine and orange juice. It’s the favorite tipple in six states – Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Next come the rum-based Mojito and Piña Colada, the most popular cocktails in three states apiece. (Where do people drink the most of whatever it is? These are the drunkest states in America.)
Perhaps surprisingly, Sex on the Beach is the most popular cocktail in North Dakota, a state not known for its beaches. Less surprisingly, Hawaii’s favorite is the Mai Tai, a tiki bar classic. The most popular cocktail in Delaware, meanwhile, is the Manhattan, and in Wyoming it’s the Long Island Iced Tea. Go figure. In Massachusetts it’s the Painkiller, which is either a good or a bad thing. Or both.
Click here to see the most popular cocktail in every state
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Alabama
> Cocktail: Bellini
> Main ingredients: Prosecco, peach purée
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Alaska
> Cocktail: White Russian
> Main ingredients: Vodka, Kahlúa, cream
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Arizona
> Cocktail: Jack and Coke
> Main ingredients: Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whisky, Coca-Cola
Arkansas
> Cocktail: Mojito
> Main ingredients: White rum, lime juice, sugar, muddled mint
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California
> Cocktail: Paloma
> Main ingredients: Tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, club soda
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Colorado
> Cocktail: Mimosa
> Main ingredients: Champagne or other sparkling wine, orange juice
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Connecticut
> Cocktail: Coquito
> Main ingredients: Spiced rum, condensed milk, coconut milk, coconut cream
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Delaware
> Cocktail: Manhattan
> Main ingredients: Bourbon, sweet vermouth, bitters
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Florida
> Cocktail: Piña Colada
> Main ingredients: White and dark rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream
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Georgia
> Cocktail: Mimosa
> Main ingredients: Champagne or other sparkling wine, orange juice
Hawaii
> Cocktail: Mai Tai
> Main ingredients: White and dark rum, orange Curaçao, orgeat syrup, lime juice
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Idaho
> Cocktail: Hot Buttered Rum
> Main ingredients: Dark rum, honey, butter, brown sugar, baking spices
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Illinois
> Cocktail: Mimosa
> Main ingredients: Champagne or other sparkling wine, orange juice
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Indiana
> Cocktail: Tequila Sunrise
> Main ingredients: Tequila, orange juice, grenadine
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Iowa
> Cocktail: Fuzzy Navel
> Main ingredients: Peach schnapps, orange juice
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Kansas
> Cocktail: Wine Cooler
> Main ingredients: Wine (red, white, or rosé), fruit juice, club soda
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Kentucky
> Cocktail: Wine Cooler
> Main ingredients: Wine (red, white, or rosé), fruit juice, club soda
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Louisiana
> Cocktail: Daiquiri
> Main ingredients: White rum, lime juice, simple syrup
Maine
> Cocktail: Rusty Nail
> Main ingredients: Scotch, Drambuie
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Maryland
> Cocktail: Mimosa
> Main ingredients: Champagne or other sparkling wine, orange juice
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Massachusetts
> Cocktail: Painkiller
> Main ingredients: Dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, coconut cream
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Michigan
> Cocktail: 7&7
> Main ingredients: Seagram’s Seven Crown whiskey, 7-Up
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Minnesota
> Cocktail: White Russian
> Main ingredients: Vodka, Kahlúa, cream
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Mississippi
> Cocktail: Old Fashioned
> Main ingredients: Bourbon, bitters, sugar
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Missouri
> Cocktail: Margarita
> Main ingredients: Tequila, Cointreau or triple sec, lime juice
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Montana
> Cocktail: Dark n’ Stormy
> Main ingredients: Dark rum (preferably Goslings), ginger beer, lime juice
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Nebraska
> Cocktail: Moscow Mule
> Main ingredients: Vodka, ginger beer, lime juice
Nevada
> Cocktail: Shirley Temple
> Main ingredients: Ginger ale, grenadine, maraschino cherry (rum or vodka optional)
New Hampshire
> Cocktail: Margarita
> Main ingredients: Tequila, Cointreau or triple sec, lime juice
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New Jersey
> Cocktail: Piña Colada
> Main ingredients: White and dark rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream
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New Mexico
> Cocktail: Piña Colada
> Main ingredients: White and dark rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream
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New York
> Cocktail: Vodka Fizz
> Main ingredients: Vodka, club soda, lime juice, simple syrup
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North Carolina
> Cocktail: Mimosa
> Main ingredients: Champagne or other sparkling wine, orange juice
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North Dakota
> Cocktail: Sex on the Beach
> Main ingredients: Vodka, peach schnapps, crème de cassis, orange juice, cranberry juice
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Ohio
> Cocktail: Shandy
> Main ingredients: Beer, lemonade
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Oklahoma
> Cocktail: Bellini
> Main ingredients: Prosecco, peach purée
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Oregon
> Cocktail: Lemon Drop Martini
> Main ingredients: Vodka, triple sec, lemon juice, simple syrup
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Pennsylvania
> Cocktail: Wine Cooler
> Main ingredients: Wine (red, white, or rosé), fruit juice, club soda
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Rhode Island
> Cocktail: Dark n’ Stormy
> Main ingredients: Dark rum (preferably Goslings), ginger beer, lime juice
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South Carolina
> Cocktail: Gin Fizz
> Main ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, egg white, simple syrup, club soda
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South Dakota
> Cocktail: Screwdriver
> Main ingredients: Vodka, orange juice
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Tennessee
> Cocktail: Mimosa
> Main ingredients: Champagne or other sparkling wine, orange juice
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Texas
> Cocktail: Margarita
> Main ingredients: Tequila, Cointreau or triple sec, lime juice
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Utah
> Cocktail: Lime Rickey
> Main ingredients: Gin, lime juice, club soda
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Vermont
> Cocktail: Cosmopolitan
> Main ingredients: Vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, lime juice
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Virginia
> Cocktail: Mojito
> Main ingredients: White rum, lime juice, sugar, muddled mint
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Washington
> Cocktail: Mojito
> Main ingredients: White rum, lime juice, sugar, muddled mint
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West Virginia
> Cocktail: White Russian
> Main ingredients: Vodka, Kahlúa, cream
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Wisconsin
> Cocktail: Old Fashioned
> Main ingredients: Bourbon, bitters, sugar
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Source: bhofack2 / iStock via Getty Images
Wyoming
> Cocktail: Long Island Iced Tea
> Main ingredients: Gin, vodka, tequila, white rum, triple sec, simple syrup, lemon juice, club soda
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