See the most popular cocktail in every state with this map of the U.S.

Where is loving the summery Aperol Spritz, and where prefers a classic Old Fashioned?

By Georgina Torbet July 1, 2024

Coffeeness

We often talk about new and innovative cocktails here, with unusual ingredients or lesser-known spirits. But there is also something to be said for the classics. Drinks which have been popular for decades or even longer tend to have a good balance of flavors, to be relatively easy to prepare, and to use commonly found ingredients — so it’s always useful to know about these popular options to expand your drinks making at home.

A recent study has investigated the most popular cocktail in each state of the U.S. to see what some of America’s favorite drinks are. The company Coffeeness looked at data on Google searches related to the 200 most popular cocktails, seeing which are the most searched options in each state. The results show the variety of drinking tastes across the country, but they also show some strong commonalities — proving that there are some drinks which are widely beloved.

Recommended Videos

It’s perhaps not surprising that the most popular cocktail in many states on both the east and west coasts is the Aperol Spritz, which is light and perfect to drink in warm or temperate climates. The Moscow Mule makes a surprisingly strong showing as well, given that ginger is such a strong and divisive flavor. So if you’re in the Mountain West, you might want to pick up some copper mugs to please your guests with a Mule.

The Margarita is another favorite, coming in at second only to the Aperol Spritz. It’s another drink that’s relatively easy to make and is extremely flexible, allowing different bars or home bartenders to put their own spin on the drink by adding fruits or making other substitutions. Also, a shoutout to New Mexico, where the love of tequila is found not only in a preference for the Margarita but also for the Paloma, a delicious combination of tequila, grapefruit soda, and lime that is popular in neighboring Mexico.

Other favorites are the classic Old Fashioned, the brunch essential Mimosa, and a smattering of rum drinks like the Mai Tai, the Daiquiri, and the Mojito.

Topics

Georgina Torbet

Georgina Torbet is a cocktail enthusiast based in Berlin, with an ever-growing gin collection and a love for trying out new…

Food & Drink

How to make a Brandy Alexander like an elite bartender

A top-shelf brandy cocktail

Brandy Alexander

The holidays are approaching, so it's high time to dial in those festive cocktail recipes. The Brandy Alexander is a bonafide classic, built for the colder seasons of late fall and winter. But often, the drink is more rich than anything else.

So, how do you make the best version of this classic brandy drink? Do as the pros do, of course. That means adding a little flair here and there and matching ingredients for a multi-dimensional drink that really sings.

Food & Drink

The best Kentucky bourbons: Top picks for every whiskey lover

These five Kentucky bourbons are available everywhere

Whiskey glass

There are specific rules regulating what exactly a bourbon is (and what differentiates it from other whiskeys). To be considered a bourbon, the whiskey must be made with a mash bill of at least 51% corn (although most have much more). While there's no minimum time it needs to spend in a barrel (two years to be considered a straight bourbon), it must be aged in new, charred oak barrels. While there are other rules, the last essential rule centers on geography.

America's "native spirit" must be made in the United States. This includes Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. What this means is that bourbon is made in more states than just Kentucky. There are award-winning bourbons distilled in Texas, New York, Florida, and all corners of the country, though 95% of all bourbon is made in the Blue Grass State. This includes some of the best bourbons on the market.
Five great Kentucky bourbons can you find anywhere

Food & Drink

Don’t let the name fool you: Harvey Wallbanger is a delicious drink

Learn the history of this oft overlooked classic drink

Harvey Wallbanger

When it comes to the annals of classic cocktails, you'll find many recipes that are still popular today -- and a few that have been mostly left behind in the past. But some of those drinks deserve to be brought back for consideration, like the Harvey Wallbanger. This drink is basically an updated screwdriver cocktail, as it takes the well-known combination of vodka and juice and adds a shot of Galliano.

Galliano is a herbal Italian liqueur, which you might know best from seeing its unusually tall bottle on bar shelves. With flavors of vanilla and anise, plus lots of other herbs in there, too, it helps give a richer and more complex taste to the typical vodka and orange juice combo. To finish up this cocktail, you throw in some nice garnishes like a maraschino cherry and an orange slice. These subtle changes keep the spirit of the screwdriver, but update it to something a bit more sophisticated and fancy.