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Most Popular Summer Cocktails By State

Artful cocktail with a fan of fruit garnish

Summer is a time for cookouts, parties and gatherings. It's also one of the most popular times for cocktailing. Internet searches for cocktails and recipes tends to peak during the summer months. So the folks at Drink House 247 thought it would be fun to do a little research on what American's are liking right now. Next, they ranked those findings to come up with this list of most popular summer cocktails by state.

They crunched the numbers taking stats from Google searches in every state in the last 12 months. Then they were able to determine which types of cocktails were the subject of the most searches.

Internet searches for refreshing cocktails spike in the summer. While these don't come up as tops in any state, fruit infused versions of classic cocktails are popular this season.

The study has some interesting revelations. For instance, certain regions shared favorites while others had very little similarities. However, there is allegedly one thing each state has in common. It is the  shared love of a classic Old Fashioned.

Old Fashioned was the most popular cocktail in the country. Nine different states searched for this drink more than any other. While it wasn't first in others, it did show up in the top five.

There were some interesting stand alone finds as well. Not surprising, Mai Tai is most popular in Hawaii. It's the only state sporting this juicy cocktail. And in Alabama, it is the Bellini. New Mexicans love the Paloma but it is the only state where this tequila drink shows up. The Margarita, however, is another story. Scroll down to see how this popular drink stacks up nationwide.

Before scrolling down, any guesses what ranks top in Florida? You might be surprised. Here are the top five cocktails along with the states that love them. In addition, find a refreshing recipe to try. Cheers!

#1 Old Fashioned

This Classic whisky cocktail has seen a resurgence in popularity around the country. It came in number one on the list and was the most searched for recipe in these states: Alaska, Delaware, Idaho, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota. Do you think it is a coincidence that all of these are known for their cold winters and Old Fashioned is warm and comforting beverage

#2 Margarita

This is a near ideal summer cocktail. It's sweet and tart mix is beloved all over the country but it was the most searched for in these states: Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, Tennessee. If you want some good recipes, we've got some for you here.

#3 Moscow Mule

This has become crazy popular over the last decade with all kinds of adaptations. The ginger is refreshing. Perhaps that is one reason it does well in hot states like Florida and Arizona. Here are the states that had the most searches for this cool beverage: Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina

#4 Negroni

It's a bit sweet, a little bitter and looks great in a glass with it's orange color. This one seems to be most popular on the east coast, with one exception. Here is where the Negroni ranks top: California, New York, Vermont, Virginia, Washington

Orange Negroni

1 oz. Martini & Rossi Fiero

1 oz. Martini & Rossi Rosso

1 oz. Bombay Sapphire

Method: Mix ingredients with ice and stir in the serving glass,

garnish with an orange slice and serve on the rocks.

#5 Mimosa

Mimosa is an iconic brunch cocktail made with sparking wine and orange juice. The biggest question here is usually about proportions. These states saw the most searches for this fresh cocktail: Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi

Gina Birch brings the sunshine to Sunny 106.3 every weekday morning from 6-10. She has worked in radio, television and print in Southwest Florida for nearly 30 years. During that time, she has become an advocate for numerous charities including those that support animals, children, women and wellness. In addition, she has written for numerous local, regional and national publications about food, wine and travel. Those are her longtime passions...along with shoes.