Photo: Prickly Pear Punch
- Poll to establish each state’s unofficial state mocktail.
- Each mocktail inspired by local flavors, ingredients or cultural icons.
‘The Alabama Slammer’; ‘The Golden State Spritz’ or the ‘Rocky Mountain Refresher’. If each state were to have its own signature ‘Mocktail’, inspired by local flavors, ingredients, or cultural icons, what would it be? Zinnia Health, a behavioral health treatment network, sought to find out! They surveyed 3,000 respondents to reveal the top choices of what would be each state’s unofficial state mocktail. The result? A coast-to-coast guide to sipping state pride without the spike.
Arizonans’ choice was the aptly named Prickly Pear Punch – a prickly pear syrup mixed with lime juice and topped with ginger ale; garnished with a lime wheel.
Creative mocktails from other states include:
Connecticut’s Yankee Doodle Berry also proved popular among Nutmeggers. This mocktail is made up of blueberry and strawberry purees with lemonade, topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of blueberries and sliced strawberries.
Georgia’s Southern Belle Sangria sounds among the most delicious cocktails to make the list: grape juice, sliced peaches, oranges, and berries, mixed with sparkling water; garnished with a cinnamon stick and served over ice.
And who could possibly resist Hawaii’s top choice of mocktail – the aptly named Maui Mango Mojito – made up of mango puree, mint leaves, lime juice, and sparkling water; garnished with mint and a mango slice.
Idaho’s Huckleberry Harvest was definitely a nod towards local agriculture – it is huckleberry juice mixed with lemonade and a splash of soda water; garnished with fresh huckleberries and a lemon twist, celebrating Idaho’s state fruit.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Maine’s choice of (un)official state mocktail is inspired by maple syrup (Maine is the third largest maple syrup-producing state after all). The Acadia Maple Spritzer is maple syrup mixed with sparkling water and a dash of apple cider vinegar; garnished with an apple slice and a sprig of thyme.
Louisianans paid homage to their biggest party of the year with their choice of mocktail – the Mardi Gras Masquerade Punch is a mix of grape juice, pineapple juice, and a splash of grenadine for sweetness and color; topped with floating slices of orange, lime, and cherries, embodying the vibrant spirit of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras.
Another interesting choice was by Michiganders, who voted for the Great Lakes Mist mocktail – blue curaçao syrup blended with lemon-lime soda and a dash of coconut cream; garnished with a slice of pineapple and a cherry, evoking the beauty of the Great Lakes.
New Mexicans opted for perhaps the most healthy mocktail above all. The Desert Bloom Hibiscus Tea is mixed with a splash of lemonade and topped with soda water for a floral and refreshing drink; garnished with a lemon wheel and a hibiscus flower, embodying the enchanting beauty of the New Mexico desert.
And in homage to the state’s history, Minnesotans opted for the Viking Frost: white grape juice mixed with a splash of blue curaçao syrup and lemon-lime soda; garnished with grapes and a twist of lemon, embodying the boldness of a Minnesota winter.
Zinnia Health has created a 50 page slideshow showing each state’s top choice for (un)official state mocktail
“Every state has a story to tell through its flavors,” says Rebecca Hill of Zinnia Health. “For those of us on the journey to recovery, choosing to be alcohol-free is a way of life. These mocktails offer inclusivity and a way to still enjoy the beauty and complexity of a carefully crafted drink. Sobriety isn’t about taking away our joys or experiences. It’s about rediscovering them and finding new ways to celebrate that align with our healthier, true selves that we have worked hard to uncover.”
