When it comes to mixed drinks, Americans like them red white and boozy. A recent ranking of each state’s favorite cocktails found that the highly alcoholic Long Island Ice Tea was the US’ mixed drink of choice while New York — somewhat ironically — preferred a Spicy Margarita.
“The Long Island Iced Tea tends to perform strongly across a wide range of states rather than dominating just one area — that consistency is what pushes it ahead nationally,” said reps for whipped cream canister company Supreme Whip, which compiled the survey.
They created the buzzy study in honor of World Cocktail Day on May 13, the anniversary of the first published definition of a cocktail in 1806.
To determine the most popular mixed drink in each region, Supreme Whip analyzed “comparative popularity scoring” across cocktail preferences in all US states, meaning that the scores reflect relative rankings rather than absolute sales data.
“Cocktail culture in the US is far more diverse than the ‘usual suspects’ suggest,” they concluded. “Local taste plays a huge role in what ultimately becomes a national favorite.”
The winner, Long Island Ice Tea, was the top drink in 11 states, including Vermont, Indiana and Iowa but not New York, where it was allegedly invented by Bartender Robert “Rosebud” in the 1970s.
Created for a triple sec cocktail competition at the Oak Beach Inn on Long Island, this powerful beverage is packed with five liquors — vodka, white rum, gin, tequila, and triple sec — that are baptized with lemon juice, topped with a splash of cola for color, and garnished with a lemon wedge.
Chasing behind this quintessential American spirit is the Mojito, which was the drink of choice in six states, including Alaska, Connecticut, and Florida.
This was followed by the Moscow Mule, which was the top tipple in Montana, South Carolina and four other states.
Meanwhile, in fourth place was NY’s number one libation, the Spicy Margarita. This tingly tequila-based cocktail was the drink of choice in five other states as well, including Nebraska, Alabama and Massachusetts.
The Paloma, another agave-based amalgam with grapefruit soda and lime, rounded out the top five, placing first in five states, including New Mexico, Arizona and Illinois.
Coincidentally, this comes as 20-somethings are imbibing less hooch then ever.
That’s right, Gen not-boozey are ditching sundowners for cold brew and wellness shots and turning drinks into daily rituals — in their words, the benefits outweigh the buzz.
A 2025 study found that 39% of Gen Z adults now say booze is their go-to social drink, while more than 60% prefer non-alcoholic options when hanging with friends — the highest rate of any generation.
