Virginia: Whiskey Sour

The state of Virginia is seen as the birthplace of true American whiskey, with the first batch being distilled there in 1620. So thank you to Virginia for drinks like the whiskey sour. This classic cocktail has been around for generations and continues to be a popular drink in bars across the country. Simply mix whiskey and a sour mix in a large old-fashioned glass with ice and garnish with cherry and lemon wedge. To make the sour mix you combine lemon juice and sugar, then dilute with water and stir to dissolve sugar.

Sour Mix

• 1 oz Lemon juice
• 1 oz Sugar
• 2 oz Water

Whiskey Sour

• 1 1/2 oz whiskey
• 4 oz Sour mix
• Cherries
• Lemon wedge

Washington: Washington Apple

Did you know that Washington is the number one producer of apples in the U.S.? That’s why we chose the Washington Apple cocktail to represent this beautiful state. This drink is really rising in popularity across the country and what makes it fun is that you can serve it as a martini, a shot, or on the rocks. To make it as a martini just pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice, shake well, and strain into a martini glass. Then garnish with an apple slice. If you’re in the mood for a quick shot then shake 1/2 oz of each ingredient and strain into a chilled shot glass. And finally if you just want to sip it on the rocks then pour the ingredients into an ice filled old fashioned or high-ball glass and stir. Then garnish with an apple slice.

• 1 oz Canadian Whiskey
• 1 oz Sour apple schnapps
• 1 oz Cranberry juice
• Apple slice for garnish

West Virginia: West VirGINia Fizz

The West VirGINia Fizz is another fun name for a Rosemary Gin Fizz. By the name alone it is easy to see why this classy drink is our pick for the signature drink of West Virginia. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add rosemary simple syrup, lemon juice, gin, and shake well. Then strain into an ice filled glass and top with club soda. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs and the optional slice of lemon. To make the rosemary simple syrup bring water and sugar to boil in a small sauce pan and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. After removing the pan from the heat, add the rosemary sprig and allow to steep for one hour while cooling. Finally remove the rosemary sprig before using.

Rosemary Simple Syrup:

• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1/2 cup Water
• 1 Spring fresh rosemary

West VirGINia Fizz

• 1/2 oz Rosemary simple syrup
• 1/2 oz Lemon juice
• 2 oz Gin
• 3 oz Club soda
• Rosemary and lemon slices for garnish

Wisconsin: Brandy Old Fashioned

According to the people of Wisconsin, the states unofficial drink is a nice Brandy Old Fashioned. To any Wisconsinite you can forget the whiskey in an Old Fashioned and instead use a heavy pour of brandy. Don’t try to tell them any different. The story goes that at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 a new distiller called Korbel was sampling their brandy. Korbel started to make Old Fashioned whiskey cocktails using brandy and a crowd from Milwaukee took a liking to it. They brought it back home and the rest is history. Korbel still sells more brandy in Wisconsin than in any other state. To make it just like they do in Wisconsin start by muddling the sugar, orange slice, cherry, cherry juice, and bitters in a glass. Next add the brandy and a couple of ice cubes and stir. Top the drink off with lemon-lime soda and garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

• 1/2 tsp Sugar
• 1 Orange slice
• 1 Cherries
• 1 1/2 oz Cherry juice
• 3 dashes Bitters
• 2 oz Brand
• About 3 oz Lemon-lime soda
• Orange slice and cherries for garnish

Wyoming: The Boiler Maker

The Boiler Maker is a beloved drink all across Wyoming. There are two theories why it became so popular in the state. The first claims it is in honor of the state’s most famous attraction, Old Faithful Geyser. Much like the geyser erupts with steam, the drink bubbles up when the whiskey shot is dropped into the glass of cold beer. The second theory says that the drink is named after the workers, called boilermakers, who built steam locomotives in the 1800s. After a long day of work these guys were known to order a beer and whiskey shot combo at the bar. No matter how it started this drink is etched into Wyoming bar culture. Though it is not exactly a cocktail, it is made similarly to a drink we have on a previous list, the Oklahoma Lunchbox. Fill a shot glass with whiskey, fill a pint glass 3/4 of the way with a cold beer, and drop the shot glass of whiskey into the pint of beer. Then bottoms up.

• 15 oz cold beer
• 1 1/2 Whiskey

Bonus: Washington D.C.: The Rickey

Though it is not an actual state it felt wrong to leave out Washington D.C., so here is bonus cocktail number 51. Sometimes called the Gin Rickey, it was first suggested to a bartender in 1880 by a Democratic lobbyist named Colonel Joe Rickey. Since then it has become the unofficial cocktail of Washington D.C. and just the drink for all those high profile Washington meetings. Simply fill a glass with ice and add gin and lime juice. Then top with soda water and garnish with lime wheels.

• 2 oz Gin
• 1/2 oz Fresh lime juice
• Soda water
• Lime wheels to garnish