Close Menu
World Travel Blog
    • Airlines
    • Destinations
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Travel Deals
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • Six Of The Best Walkable Cities Around The World
    • Celebrate at Queer Wine Fest in Oregon
    • A Guide To LGBTQ+ Washington, DC
    • What You Need To Know About REAL ID
    • Five of the Best LGBTQ-Friendly Places in the USA
    • What Is The Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
    • World’s Best Airports for 2025 Revealed
    • MSC Cruises Unveils New 22-Deck Ship in Florida
    Tuesday, May 20
    Facebook Instagram
    World Travel BlogWorld Travel Blog
    Subscribe
    • Airlines

      What You Need To Know About REAL ID

      May 7, 2025

      World’s Best Airports for 2025 Revealed

      April 25, 2025

      What You Need To Know About Japan Airlines’ Free Domestic Flight Program

      April 13, 2025

      European Union Delays New Digital Entry/Exit System

      October 27, 2024

      New Online United States Passport Renewal Program

      June 27, 2024
    • Destinations

      A Guide To LGBTQ+ Washington, DC

      May 11, 2025

      What Is The Thailand Digital Arrival Card?

      May 1, 2025

      World’s Best Airports for 2025 Revealed

      April 25, 2025

      MSC Cruises Unveils New 22-Deck Ship in Florida

      April 24, 2025

      What You Need To Know About Japan Airlines’ Free Domestic Flight Program

      April 13, 2025
    • Events

      The Key West Film Festival 2024!

      November 4, 2024

      Wonderful Wedding & Honeymoon Destinations Around The World

      August 29, 2024

      The Olympics Issues New Guidelines For Journalists Covering Trans Athletes In Paris

      June 23, 2024

      Pack Your Bags For The Malta Biennale!

      March 25, 2024

      Miami Beach Imposes New Strict Rules To Discourage Spring Breakers

      March 7, 2024
    • Hotels

      Six Best-Kept Secret Hotels to Book in 2025

      January 4, 2025

      Palm Springs Getaway!

      November 10, 2024

      The Growing Allure of Independent Accommodations

      September 14, 2024

      Your Hotel Concierge Is The Perfect Travel Guide

      April 30, 2024

      Airbnb Updates Its Cancellation Policy

      April 13, 2024
    • Restaurants

      Must-Visit Restaurants in Venice, Italy

      September 22, 2024

      The Growing Allure of Independent Accommodations

      September 14, 2024

      New ‘Everywhere is Queer’ App for LGBTQ Travelers

      July 19, 2024

      20 Top Cities for Vegans and Vegetarians

      October 5, 2023

      Apps To Help You Find The Best Restaurants

      September 22, 2023
    • Travel Deals

      MSC Cruises Unveils New 22-Deck Ship in Florida

      April 24, 2025

      What You Need To Know About Japan Airlines’ Free Domestic Flight Program

      April 13, 2025

      Easy And Affordable Digital Nomad Visas

      February 27, 2025

      Affordable Destinations For Foodies

      February 25, 2025

      Affordable Ways to Travel

      February 17, 2025
    World Travel Blog
    Home»Food & Wine»Drinking in the USA: 50 Signature Cocktails (Part 1)
    Food & Wine

    Drinking in the USA: 50 Signature Cocktails (Part 1)

    Jenna LeisBy Jenna LeisJuly 19, 2019Updated:July 22, 20197 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Photo by Prostock-studio
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    There is so much to see and do in every state from Alabama to Wyoming, and that includes drinking. To help navigate what you should drink when you visit each state, we’ve created an unofficial list of signature cocktails (recipes included), one for each of the 50 states. Today’s list features the first 10 states, in alphabetical order. So check back soon for the next 10. Cheers!

    By Jenna Leis

    Alabama Slammer Cocktail (Photo by Alp Aksoy)

    Alabama: The Alabama Slammer

    Like its namesake suggests, the Alabama Slammer is said to have been born at the University of Alabama in the 1970s and has since become the go to drink at the Universities Crimson Tide tail gate party. Recipes may differ among party goers but the most common version blends Southern Comfort with amaretto, sloe gin, and orange juice. Add all the ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake, strain into a highball glass over fresh ice, and garnish with an orange wheel.

    • 1 oz Southern Comfort
    • 1 oz Sloe gin
    • 1 oz Amaretto
    • 2 oz Fresh orange juice

     

    Bloody Mary (Photo by Ekaterina Kondratova)

    Alaska: Smoked Salmon Bloody Mary

    If you order a Bloody Mary up in Alaska you might be in for a surprise when you find out how they put their own special spin on this classic cocktail. Smoked Salmon Bloody Mary’s are Alaskan’s go to hangover cure. They are made possible by adding Alaska Distillery’s smoked salmon flavored vodka. Mix it in with the rest of the ingredients before pouring into a glass full of ice cubes, and garnish with celery stalk.

    • 8 oz V-8 juice
    • 1 to 3 dashes Tabasco
    • 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
    • Pinch of sugar
    • Pinch of salt
    • Freshly ground black pepper
    • 1 shot Smoked Salmon Vodka
    • 1 stalk celery

     

    Tequila Sunrise (Photo by Africa Studio)

    Arizona: Tequila Sunrise

    The original Tequila Sunrise was said to be invented for the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in the 1930s in Phoenix, Arizona. The original Biltmore recipe consists of a mix of tequila, crème de cassis, lime juice and soda water. Ingredients are combined over ice and toped with soda, then an orange is used to garnish the top. The recipe has been tweaked over the years and attributed to different cities, but the original recipe is still used in bars across Phoenix.

    • 1-1/4 oz high quality tequila (white or silver)
    • 3/4 oz Crème de Cassis
    • Fresh Lime juice from 2 slices
    • Club soda
    • Orange slice

     

    Razorback Cocktail (Photo by Inn at Carnall Hall)

    Arkansas: Arkansas Razorback

    This popular cocktail shares its name with the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. Football is a way of life in Arkansas, so you can be sure to find this drink at any tailgate party. Ingredients are mixed into a cocktail shaker with ice till frothy before being strained into an old fashioned glass.

    • 1/2 oz Vodka
    • 1/2 oz Amaretto
    • 1/2 oz Coffee liqueur
    • 1/2 oz Spiced rum

     

    Mai Tai drinks (Photo by Maridav)

    California: The Mai Tai

    The ever popular rum cocktail the Mai Tai is said to have been created first by a man named Victor “Trader Vic” Buergon at his Polynesian style restaurant in Oakland, California in the 1940s. While the drink can be found across the country in any tiki-themed restaurant or bar it still remains as one of the top drinks in California. To make, add the white rum, curaçao, lime juice, and orgeat into a shaker with crushed ice and shake lightly. Then pour into an old fashioned glass before adding the dark rum over the top. Finally garnish with a lime wheel, a mint sprig, and a slice of pineapple.

    • 1 1/2 oz White rum
    • 3/4 oz Orange curaçao
    • 3/4 oz Fresh lime juice
    • 1/2 oz Orgeat
    • 1/2 oz Dark rum
    • 1 Lime wheel
    • Mint sprig
    • Pineapple slice

     

    (Photo by Alp Aksoy)

    Colorado: The Colorado Bulldog

    So what makes the Colorado Bulldog and a classic White Russian different? Well the people of Colorado like to add a little fizz to their drink by cutting the cream with cola, giving it a bubbly feeling when going down. It is said that the name of this drink was derived from Peanuts, an English bulldog and the original Colorado State University mascot, before they changed it to the Aggie Rams. To make you pour the vodka and coffee liqueur in an old fashioned glass filled with ice. Add equal amounts of milk or cream and cola then stir well. Be careful though, the cream and cola can create a lot of fizz so pour slowly.

    • 1 oz Vodka
    • 1 oz​ Coffee liqueur
    • 2​ oz ​Cream (or milk)
    • 2​ oz ​Cola

     

    Dark and Stormy Rum Cocktail (Photo by Brent Hofacker)

    Connecticut: Dark ’N Stormy

    The Dark ‘N Stormy may have originated in Bermuda, but every bartender in Connecticut can make it with their eyes closed. It is one of the most popular drinks ordered in the state. Whether it’s needed to keep cool during the sticky summer or comfort you during the snowy winters it is the unofficial state drink. The recipe is a simple mix of two ingredients, dark rum (or the ‘dark’) and and ginger beer (or the ‘stormy’) and then often garnished with a lime wedge.

    • 2 oz Dark rum
    • 5 oz Ginger beer
    • Lime wedge

     

    (Photo by Alp Aksoy)

    Delaware: Orange Crush

    The Orange Crush Cocktail has become a staple of Delaware beaches. Every bar up and down the shore serves them on hot summer days. While each bar has its own variation of the drink, it is agreed by everyone that it’s the best way to get your vitamin C. The most common recipes pour all the ingredients into cocktail mixer, shake well, then strain them into a glass filled with ice. To finish it’s garnished with, of course, a slice of orange.

    • 2 Juiced oranges
    • 1.5 oz Vodka
    • 1 oz Orange liquor
    • Splash of Sprite
    • Orange slice

     

    (Photo by Malbert)

    Florida: The Rum Runner

    The story of the invention of the Rum Runner goes that in the 1950s the head bartender at Holiday Isle Tiki Bar in Islamorada, Florida was forced to get rid of all the old alcohol in stock. So he poured all the ingredients into an ice filled cocktail shaker and strained into an ice filled hurricane glass. Thus the Rum Runner was created and has been enjoyed in the hot Floridian weather since.

    • 1 oz Lime juice
    • 1 oz Orange juice
    • 1 oz Unsweetened pineapple juice
    • 1 oz Banana liqueur
    • 1 oz White rum
    • 1 oz Dark rum
    • 1/2 oz Chambord
    • 1/2 oz Grenadine

     

    (Photo by Rimma Bondarenko)

    Georgia: Scarlett O’Hara

    This sweet drink is just like the Gone with the Wind character it’s named after, a classic southern creation. The Scarlett O’Hara has been served in bars around Georgia since its creation in 1936, the same year as the books’ publication. The drink uses the unofficial drink of the south, Southern Comfort, and tart lime juice to balance out the sweet peach flavor. The two ingredients are poured into a glass, filled with ice, and finished with cranberry juice before being garnished with a lime wedge.

    • 2 oz Southern Comfort
    • Dash of Lime juice
    • 6 oz Cranberry juice
    • Lime Wedge
    Alabama Alaska America arizona Arkansas Bars Bloody Mary California cocktails Colorado Connecticut Cross country Dark ’N Stormy Delaware Drinking across America Drinking in the USA florida Georgia Mai Tai Rum Runner Tequila Sunrise United States
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleThe Craziest Road Signs From Around The World
    Next Article America’s Most Amazing Train Stations
    Jenna Leis

    Related Posts

    Celebrate at Queer Wine Fest in Oregon

    May 12, 2025

    A Guide To LGBTQ+ Washington, DC

    May 11, 2025

    Five of the Best LGBTQ-Friendly Places in the USA

    May 6, 2025
      
     
    Don't Miss It!

    Six Of The Best Walkable Cities Around The World

    By Lauren MulveyMay 15, 2025

    There are many factors that make for a great city, including culture and diversity, delectable…

    Celebrate at Queer Wine Fest in Oregon

    By Lauren MulveyMay 12, 2025

    Join the celebration at Queer Wine Fest featuring 20 LGBTQ+ winemakers and a diverse selection…

    A Guide To LGBTQ+ Washington, DC

    By Lauren MulveyMay 11, 2025

    If you’re planning to visit D.C. for WorldPride Washington DC 2025 (May 17 – June…

    Our Latest

    Six Of The Best Walkable Cities Around The World

    May 15, 2025

    Celebrate at Queer Wine Fest in Oregon

    May 12, 2025

    A Guide To LGBTQ+ Washington, DC

    May 11, 2025

    What You Need To Know About REAL ID

    May 7, 2025
    Editor's Pick!

    Cirque Du Soleil Brings NYC to Vegas With the ‘Mad Apple’

    By Keith LangstonMarch 8, 2022

    Cirque Du Soleil has almost become synonymous with Las Vegas, bringing the city numerous high-profile…

    Amazing Sustainable Destinations!

    November 5, 2024
    For You

    More Las Vegas Resorts are Now Opened to Visitors

    By Keith LangstonJune 30, 2020

    We previously reported on the various resorts and activities that have reopened in Las Vegas.…

    What Will We Learn From the Results of Covid-19 Antibody Testing?

    By Keith LangstonApril 29, 2020

    Widespread Covid-19 antibody testing has commenced in New York, leading to long lines and some…

    © 2025 The World Travel Blog — USA
    • Destinations
    • Events
    • Health
    • Travel
    • Global Cocktails Blog

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Ad Blocker Enabled!
    Ad Blocker Enabled!
    Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please support us by disabling your Ad Blocker.