Oklahoma: Lunchbox
In Oklahoma when you order a Lunchbox you’re not exactly ordering a cocktail to be sipped on, it’s taken more like a shot. It was first created at Edna’s, an Oklahoma City bar, in the late 1990s and since then they claim to have sold over two million of the popular drink. According to them the drink is made with an amaretto-filled shot glass sitting inside a frosted beer mug. The mug is then fill about three-quarters of the way with Coors Light and topped off with orange juice. Then you shoot it back, though be carful of the shot glass at the bottom of the glass.
- 1 Shot amaretto
- About 3 1/2 oz Orange juice
- About 1 1/2 oz Beer
Oregon: Sloe Gin Fizz
The connection between a Sloe Gin Fizz and the state of Oregon can really be attributed to the song Portland, Oregon by Loretta Lynn and Jack White. “Well Portland, Oregon and sloe gin fizz, If that ain’t love then tell me what is.” In that one line Lynn essentially dubbed this cocktail as the drink of Oregon. To make add the gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice into a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain it into a highball or Collins glass filled with ice and top with club soda. Then garnish with a lemon half wheel and a cherry.
- 1 1/2 oz Sloe gin
- 1 oz Lemon juice
- 3/4 oz Simple syrup
- Club soda
- Lemon half wheel
- 1 Cherry
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Birch Beer Cocktail
A common drink seen at a Pennsylvania backyard BBQ is the fizzy birch beer. For those of you who have never heard of it, it’s a carbonated soft drink made from herbal extracts and birch bark. In honor of the beloved drink a cocktail was made using this unique beer as the main ingredient and named the Pennsylvania Birch Beer Cocktail. Simply combine gin and a little bit of lemon juice into a shaker with ice and stir until chilled. Then strain it into a cold copper mug with ice. Finally top it with birch beer and garnish with a lemon wheel.
- 4 oz Birch beer
- 1 1/2 oz Gin
- 1/4 oz Lemon juice
- Lemon wheel
Rhode Island: Rhode Island Red
Unlike the name suggests the Rhode Island Red was actually first created by Vincenzo Marianella, a bartender in Providence, California. Despite this, citizens of Rhode Island love this tequila filled cocktail. Start by muddling six raspberries in a cocktail shaker. Then add ice, tequila, Chambord, lemon juice, simple syrup, and bitters. Shake well and strain into an ice filled glass. Top it off with ginger beer and garnish with remaining raspberries and a mint sprig.
- 8 raspberries
- 1 1/2 oz Silver tequila
- 3/4 oz Chambord
- 1/2 oz Lemon juice
- 1/4 oz Simple syrup
- Dash of orange bitters
- 3 oz Ginger beer
- 1 mint sprig
South Carolina: Bourbon Sweet Tea
South Carolina is the birthplace of the classic sweet tea and home to some of the first tea plants in America. That’s why our choice for their signature cocktail is the Bourbon Sweet Tea cocktail. It’s a cool, refreshing drink that is best shared with friends. The recipe here is not for a single serving, but for about 16 glasses. In a heatproof container combine boiling water and sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Then add the tea bags and let steep for about five minutes. Then remove the tea bags and discard them. Next pour this into a heatproof pitcher or serving jar. Add the cold water, ice, and bourbon and stir well. Serve it in an ice filled glass and garnish with mint sprigs and lemon slices.
- 4 cup Boiling water
- 1 cup Sugar
- 12 Black tea bags
- 6 cup Cold water
- 3 cup Crushed ice
- 24 oz Bourbon (about one 750ml bottle)
- Mint sprigs
- Lemon slices
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