Kansas: The Amelia Earhart

Did you know that Kansas is the birthplace of Amelia Earhart, the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic? This makes it the perfect place for the Amelia Earhart cocktail to be found as well. Both the woman and the drink have a bold, yet classy personality. To make, muddle blackberries and sugar in a cocktail shaker before adding vodka, St. Germain, lemon juice, and a scoop of ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled glass that’s rim has been coated with lemon and sugar. The final touch is to add a mint sprig to garnish.

• 5 fresh blackberries
• 1 tsp Sugar
• 1 3/4 oz Vodka
• 1 oz St. Germain
• 1 oz Lemon juice
• 2 tbsp Fine sugar
• Mint Sprig

Kentucky: The Mint Julep

During the Kentucky Derby the most popular served drink is the Mint Julep. Each year almost 120,000 Mint Juleps are served over the two day event at Churchill Downs Racetrack. It is a refreshing drink to have in the hot Kentucky sun while watching the races. In a Julep cup or rocks glass you lightly muddle the mint and syrup. Then add the bourbon and pack it tightly with crushed ice and stir until the cup has a nice frosted look on the outside. Finally top with a bit more crushed ice and garnish with a mint sprig and the optional few drops of bitters.

• 1/4 oz Simple syrup
• 8 Mint leaves
• 2 oz Bourbon
• Mint sprig
• Optional few drops of bitters

Louisiana: The Sazerac

Since 2008 the Louisiana Legislature has proclaimed the Sazerac as the official drink of Louisiana’s biggest city, New Orleans. This was a no brainer in the city that has been known for its speakeasies since the Prohibition era. To this day it is one of the booziest places in the country and thousands of people enjoy a Sazerac during Mardi Gras while walking down Bourbon Street. To make one just like a bar in the Big Easy you rinse a chilled rocks glass with absinthe, coating each side before discarding any excess. In a separate glass muddle a sugar cube, water, and bitters. Then add the rye and cognac with ice and stir well. Strain this into the rocks glass you already prepared with the absinthe and twist a slice of lemon peel over the surface to extract any excess oils and then discard it.

• Absinthe, to rinse
• 1 Sugar cube
• 1/2 tsp Cold water
• 3 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 1/4 oz Rye whiskey
• 1 1/4 oz Cognac
• 1 Lemon peel

Maine: The Sombrero

It is impossible to be from Maine and to have not at least heard of Allen’s Coffee Brandy. Mainers are obsessed with the stuff, and the Sombrero is the most popular cocktail using it. Because Maine is one of 18 control state, where the state has some sort of control of the sale and/or distribution of alcohol, there are records showing that year after year this coffee liquor has been the number one thing in peoples liquor cabinets. The Sombrero is a simple drink, only one part Allen’s Coffee Brandy and one part milk combined and served over ice.

• 2 oz Coffee brandy
• 2 Milk (or cream)

Maryland: The Black-Eyed Susan

Named after the official state flower, The Black-Eyed Susan, this drink is mostly known in Maryland as the official drink of the Preakness Stakes, the annual horse races that take place in Baltimore. While the recipe has been changed over the years it still remains as a refreshing drink to have while watching the races. The latest involves mixing bourbon and vodka with the rest of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and then straining in a tall clash with crushed ice. Finally garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

• 1 oz Bourbon whiskey
• 1 oz Peach schnapps
• 1 oz Vodka
• 2 oz ​Orange juice
• 2 oz Sour mix
• 1 Orange slice
• 1 Cherry