America boasts an almost endless array of liquor, making the choice of one signature cocktail for each state a tricky task. But every state gets tipsy in its own special way, and we chose these cocktails with some semblance of logic: a combination of state of origin, popularity, and exclusivity. Not everyone will agree with all the choices, but hey, it's all still booze. And booze is great. Cheers!
1. Alabama
Drink: The Alabama Slammer (Amaretto, Southern Comfort, Sloe Gin, and orange juice)
Why?: Legend has it that the drink originated in the state in the 1970s and is known as the signature drink of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.
Get the recipe here.
2. Alaska
Drink: The Smoked Salmon Bloody Mary (Smoked Salmon Vodka, V-8 Juice, tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, salt, and pepper)
Why?: Alaska Distillery has recently produced a vodka made with a secret recipe of smoked salmon caught in the Gulf of Alaska.
Get the recipe here.
3. Arizona
4. Arkansas
Drink: The Arkansas Razorback (Rum, vodka, amaretto almond liqueur, Kahlua coffee liqueur)
Why?: This popular cocktail shares its name with the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. You can even buy cocktail glasses embellished with the Razorback mascot!
Get the recipe here.
5. California
6. Colorado
7. Connecticut
Drink: The Limonata (Vodka, sparkling lemonade, blood-orange juice)
Why?: Available exclusively at Ballo at the Mohegan Sun in Monteville, Conn., this drink features a sphere of frozen blood orange that adds sweet flavor to the cocktail as it melts.
Get the recipe here.
8. Delaware
9. Florida
10. Georgia
11. Hawai'i
12. Idaho
13. Illinois
Drink: The Chicago Fizz (Dark rum, ruby port, lemon juice, sugar, club soda, and egg whites)
Why?: While New Orleans is credited with the origination of the fizz, the Chicago variation's claim to fame was its popularity at the Waldorf-Astoria bar in New York during the pre-prohibition era.
Get the recipe here.
14. Indiana
15. Iowa
Drink: The Iowa Sunrise (Bacardi white rum, vodka, lemonade, sprite, orange juice, and grenadine)
Why?: While similar to many cocktails in composition, the Iowa version is said to represent the beautiful sunrise over Iowa in winter mornings.
Get the recipe here.
16. Kansas
Drink: The Amelia Earhart (Strawberry puree, gin, Maraschino liqueur, creme de violette, simple syrup, and lemon)
Why?: This cocktail is made in honor of the famed Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California.
Get the recipe here.
(Originally, we featured the "The Pendergast", but turns out it's from Kansas City, Missouri. Oops! Our bad!)
17. Kentucky
Drink: The Mint Julep (Bourbon, sugar, and water)
Why?: The origins of the drink are murky, but the mint julep was introduced by US Senator Henry Clay during the 18th century.
Get the recipe here.
18. Louisiana
Drink: The Sazerac (Rye whickey, Peychaud's bitters, sugar, and absinthe)
Why?: In June 2008, the Louisiana Legislature proclaimed the Sazerac as New Orleans' official cocktail.
Get the recipe here.
19. Maine
20. Maryland
Drink: The Black-Eyed Susan (42 Below Vodka, Early Times Kentucky Whiskey, sweet & sour mix, and orange juice)
Why?: The cocktail, named after Maryland's state flower, is the official drink of the Preakness Stakes.
Get the recipe here.
21. Massachusetts
22. Michigan
Drink: The Golden Cadillac (Creme de cacao (white), Vodka, Galliano, blueberries, water, sugar, and lemon juice)
Why?: While the cocktail was created in California, it's famed name (Cadillac, of the Motor City origin) and taste has made it a popular beverage in many bars in Michigan.
Get the recipe here.
23. Minnesota
Drink: The Bootleg (Bootleg mix, gin, vodka/light rum, and club soda)
Why?: Bootleg cocktails are made specifically from Bootleg Mix, which can only be purchased from the Woodhill Country Club in Wayzata, Minn.
Get the recipe here.
24. Mississippi
Drink: Mississippi Punch (Dark rum, bourbon, brandy/cognac, fresh lemon juice, and sugar)
Why?: This cocktail recipe was first printed in Jerry Thomas' The Bon Vivant's Companion, attributing its location in Mississippi.
Get the recipe here.
25. Missouri
26. Montana
27. Nebraska
28. Nevada
Drink: The Nevada Cocktail (Light rum, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and sugar)
Why?: In honor of Nevada Day, which falls on the last Friday of October, many drink this cocktail to celebrate.
Get the recipe here.
29. New Hampshire
Drink: The Gin-Esaisquoi (Lillet blanc, Velvet Falermum, egg whites, and orange bitters)
Why?: This drink was originated at the White Mountain Cider Company in Glen, NH by bartender Jeff Grdinich for his friend Kevin Ginestet, who, ironically, is allergic to eggs and does not drink alcohol.
Get the recipe here.
30. New Jersey
Drink: The Applejack (Applejack brandy, lemon juice, and grenadine)
Why?: During the colonial period in New Jersey, the Applejack was used as currency to pay road construction crews. New Jersey also boasts the oldest licensed distillery, Laird & Company, which continues to produce applejack.
Get the recipe here.
31. New Mexico
32. New York
33. North Carolina
Drink: Dirty Beetz (Vodka, beet juice, lime juice, and orange juice)
Why?: The Fiction Kitchen, a local Raleigh haunt, features this cocktail. Created by Christopher Tamplin, the use of beets creates a vibrantly colored cocktail when garnished with a lime and orange peel.
Get the recipe here.
34. North Dakota
Drink: The Howlin' Wolf (White Creme de Menthe, blue curacao, vodka, and Sprite)
Why?: It's no surprise that this drink is named after North Dakota's state animal, the coyote (AKA prairie wolf).
Get the recipe here.
35. Ohio
Drink: The Black Gold (Captain Morgans, Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila, Sierra Mist, and Grenadine)
Why?: The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes have specialty cocktails, naturally the folks in Thistledown wanted to create a drink to represent the Ohio Derby. The Black Gold is named after the only horse to win both the Kentucky Derby and the Ohio Derby.
Get the recipe here.
(Originally, we featured the "Velvet Elvis" because of Columbus' origination of Coca-Cola, turns out it's origination is in Columbus, Georgia. Our apologies)
36. Oklahoma
Drink: The Farmer's Daughter (Vodka, fresh strawberries, basil leaves, and simple sugar)
Why?: Lobby Bar, located in Oklahoma City, specializes in maintaining the tried-and-true nature of cocktails while adding an individual twist, crafting each individually with added, natural ingredients. Each of their Farmer's Daughter cocktails is made with fresh fruit.
Get the recipe here.
37. Oregon
Drink: Flaming Ring of Fire (High proof rum, whiskey, and tabasco sauce)
Why?: Named after Oregon's location in "the Pacific Ring of Fire", this shot turns up the heat with added Tabasco sauce.
Get the recipe here.
38. Pennsylvania
Drink: The Bronx (Gin, Sweet red vermouth, dry vermouth, and orange juice)
Why?: Strangely, this cocktail was created by Joseph S. Sormani in Philadelphia, a retired Bronx restauranteur.
Get the recipe here.
39. Rhode Island
40. South Carolina
Drink: The Hemingway Mojito (Bacardi, sunset-red Italian Campari, muddled mint & grapefruit, soda water, and grapefruit juice)
Why?: Amen Street's, located in Charleston, mixologists created a cocktail to match the colorful like of Ernest Hemingway. The drink boasts beautiful colors to reflect Hemingway's love for Key West's sunsets.
Get recipe here.
41. South Dakota
Drink: The President (Light rum, grenadine, and orange juice)
Why?: Over 2 million people visit South Dakota annually to visit this befitting cocktail's dedication, the Presidents of Mount Rushmore.
Get the recipe here.
42. Tennessee
Drink: Lynchburg Lemonade (Jack Daniel's whiskey, Triple sec, sweet & sour, and Sprite)
Why?: This famous cocktail got its name from the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Alabama restauranteur Tony Mason brought JD to court, alleging that the distillery stole his recipe, but a judge declined his request for $13 million in damages.
Get the recipe here.
43. Texas
Drink: The Mexican Martini (Tequila, Cointreau orange liqueur, sweet & sour mix, lime juice, orange juice, and Sprite)
Why?: This cocktail variation of a margarita is served straight up in a cocktail glass and can be served extra spicy. This drink was created and continues to be incredibly popular in Austin, TX.
Get the recipe here.
44. Utah
Drink: The Mountain Derby (Woodford Reserve, grapefruit juice, honey, and lemon juice)
Why?: This interesting cocktail was created by Dave Wallace and beat out other cocktails in a competition held in Park City, UT. As a result, his concoction is now featured on drink menus at bars and restaurants all over the city for six months.
Get the recipe here.
45. Vermont
46. Virginia
Drink: The Copper Barley (Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water)
Why?: The Copper Barley is a cocktail that uses malt exclusively from the Virginia Highland Malt distillery.
Get the recipe here.
47. Washington
Drink: The Washington Apple (Vodka, Sour Apple Schnapps, and apple juice)
Why?: This can be served as a martini, a shooter, or on the rocks, but its main ingredient is Washington apples from, well, Washington.
Get the recipe here.
48. West Virginia
Drink: The Persephone (Bourbon, whiskey, triple sec, lemon juice, and egg whites)
Why?: This holiday inspired, champagne-based cocktail was featured in the West Virginia Gazette by its style team.
Get the recipe here.
49. Wisconsin
50. Wyoming
Bonus: Washington D.C.
