Does the Margarita Still Reign Supreme?
by David Klemt
Whatever’s happening here, I’m in…
The Margarita has maintained the title of Most Popular Cocktail in the United States year after year.
But is the classic cocktail still wearing the crown and clutching the scepter?
Most Popular 2020 Cocktails
Midway through last year, Google revealed the top cocktail searches in each state:
- Alabama: Hurricane
- Alaska: Whiskey Sour
- Arizona: Paloma
- Arkansas: Frozen Daiquiri
- California: Paloma
- Colorado: Hurricane
- Connecticut: Margarita
- Delaware: Screwdriver
- Washington, DC: Old Fashioned
- Florida: Cuba Libre
- Georgia: Sazerac
- Hawaii: Lemon Drop Martini
- Idaho: Kamikaze
- Illinois: Manhattan
- Indiana: French 75
- Iowa: Kamikaze
- Kansas: Screwdriver
- Kentucky: Lily
- Louisiana: Bushwacker
- Maine: Margarita
- Maryland: Kamikaze
- Massachusetts: Old Fashioned
- Michigan: Cosmo
- Minnesota: Oliveto
- Mississippi: Painkiller
- Missouri: Gin and Tonic
- Montana: Blue Hawaiian
- Nebraska: Old Fashioned
- Nevada: Grasshopper
- New Hampshire: Old Fashioned
- New Jersey: Manhattan
- New Mexico: Old Fashioned
- New York: Manhattan
- North Carolina: Bushwacker
- North Dakota: Kamikaze
- Ohio: Boulevardier
- Oklahoma: Black Russian
- Oregon: Old Fashioned
- Pennsylvania: Whiskey Sour
- Rhode Island: Cosmo
- South Carolina: Tequila Sunrise
- South Dakota: Screwdriver
- Tennessee: Buschwacker
- Texas: Paloma
- Utah: Cape Cod
- Vermont: Cosmopolitan
- Virginia: Old Fashioned
- Washington: Old Fashioned
- West Virginia: Kamikaze
- Wisconsin: Grasshopper
- Wyoming: White Russian
Margarita Slipping?
As you can see, the Margarita was only the top search in two states, Connecticut and Maine. Perhaps their access to the Atlantic Ocean coastline motivated residents of those states to enjoy the refreshing classic that invokes summer and escapism.
Regardless, the Margarita didn’t even make it into the top three. Third place went to the Cosmo, Manhattan and Screwdriver in a three-way tie, with each the most popular in three states.
Second place went to Kamikaze, the top cocktail search in Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, North Dakota and West Virginia.
Before I get to the first-place cocktail—according to a snapshot of time by Google—I have to address the clear winner of the Most Unique Search title. Minnesota’s top search was for the Oliveto cocktail, shaken and strained into a rocks glass:
- 2 oz. Dry gin
- 1 oz. fresh Lemon juice
- 1/4 oz. Simple syrup
- 1/4 oz. Licor 43
- 1/2 oz. full-bodied Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 fresh Egg white
- Ice cubes
New Number One?
The Old Fashioned, clinching seven states, was the number-one cocktail…for about 30 days in 2020.
Much has also been made about a supposed surge in interest for the Gin & Tonic.
However, scouring the Internet for data and articles, the Margarita is still sitting comfortably on the throne. According to multiple sources, the Margarita is a to-go cocktail mainstay, it’s succeeding in the RTD space (meaning it’s performing well on- and 0ff-premise), and home bartenders are driving up sales of tequila and cordials.
Trends are fun but classics are classics for a reason. So, make sure your Margs, G&Ts, Old Fashioneds, Manhattans and other staples are dialed in this year.
Image: Menú Acapulco on Unsplash