Missouri: The Missouri Mule

The Missouri Mule was originally created in honor of the Missouri native and 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman. The name comes from both the state animal and Democratic party mascot. The recipe is simple, just combine the ingredients with ice, shake, and strain into a cocktail glass. Then garnish with a mint sprig if you wish.

• 3/4 oz Bourbon
• 3/4 oz Applejack
• 3/4 oz Lemon juice
• 1/2 oz Campari
• 1/2 oz Triple sec, Cointreau
• Mint sprig for garnish

Montana: Whiskey Ditch

The Whiskey Ditch isn’t exactly a cocktail, it’s a mixed drink, but in Montana it is probably one of the most common drinks ordered in any bar. If you didn’t know already, ordering a drink followed by ‘ditch’ means ‘with water’. So a whiskey ditch is simply a glass of whiskey cut with water and some ice. If you ever find yourself at a bar in Montana and want to fit in, this is what you order. Montanan’s do not mess around with their alcohol.

• 1 Part whiskey
• 1 Part water

Nebraska: The Kool-Aid Caddy

The Kool-Aid Caddy cocktail is a grown-up twist to the classic drink I remember having on a hot summer day as a kid. The red drink was first invented in Nebraska and naturally it’s the state’s signature a beverage. The drink is easy to make and fun to serve at any summer party. The recipe starts with a glass of vodka, add orange juice and your choice of Kool-Aid mix until the glass is full, stir, and serve.

• 2 oz Vodka
• Orange Juice
• 1 Kool-Aid package (your favorite flavor)

Nevada: The Nevada Cocktail

A Nevada Cocktail is a little sweet and a little sour. The drink is fairly simple to make and has been around since the early 1940s. Ingredients are combined into an ice filled cocktail shaker and shaken well. Then it is strained into a chilled cocktail glass and garnished with a lime wedge. Enjoy it while betting in the casinos.

• 1 1/2 oz Rum
• 1/2 Grapefruit juice
• 1/3 oz Lime juice
• 1/4 oz Simple syrup
• Dash of Bitters
• Lime wedge

New Hampshire: The Gin-Esaisquoi

The Gin-Esaisquoi was a drink first created at the White Mountain Cider Company in Glen, New Hampshire by a bartender named Jeff Grdinich. He made it in honor of his friend, Kevin Ginestet, who, ironically, was allergic to eggs and didn’t drink alcohol, which are the drinks two main ingredients. To make, combine all the ingredients, except the cardamom, in a cocktail shaker and shake for about 10 seconds. Then add ice and shake again. After, strain the mixture into a chilled glass and sprinkle with the cardamom.

• 1 Large egg white
• 1 1/2 oz Gin
• 1 1/2 ounces Lillet blanc
• 3/4 ounce Velvet Falernum (clove-spiced liqueur)
• 2 Dashes of orange bitters
• Pinch of ground cardamom

New Jersey: The Applejack

Applejack liquor has been around since the colonial era and quite literally helped to build this country; it was used as currency to pay road workers at the time. New Jersey also has the oldest licensed applejack distillery in the country, Laird & Company of Scobeyville. To make an old fashioned Applejack cocktail simply take the applejack, maple syrup, Angostura bitters, orange bitters and mix them together in a mixing glass with ice. Then strain over fresh ice and squeeze an orange peel over the rim of the glass and use it as garnish (you can also do the same with a lemon peel.). And now you have the classic American cocktail that New Jersey is proud of.

• 2 oz Applejack
• 1/2 oz Maple syrup
• 2 Dashes Angostura bitters
• 2 Dashes Orange bitters
• Orange peel
• Lemon peel