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What to drink in the Midwestern United States? Top 16 Midwestern American Cocktails

Last update: Thu Jan 30 2025
Top 16 Midwestern American Cocktails
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Midwestern American Cocktail Types

01

Cocktail

CHICAGO, United States of America
4.0
New York Sour
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New York Sour is an American cocktail made with a combination of whiskey, sugar syrup, lemon juice, and dry red wine. In order to prepare it, all ingredients except wine are shaken with ice, then strained into a rocks glass and topped with wine.


Contrary to its name, the cocktail was actually invented in Chicago. Originally, it was known as Continental Sour and Southern Whiskey Sour before the name was changed to New York Sour. The first handwritten mention of the cocktail can be found in a Toronto saloon’s drink list from 1856, and a few years later, in 1862, the cocktail appeared in written form in Jerry Thomas’ The Bon-Vivant’s Companion.

02

Cocktail

WISCONSIN, United States of America
3.1
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Brandy Old-Fashioned is a Wisconsin variation of a classic Old-Fashioned cocktail. While the standard Old-Fashioned is made with whiskey, sugar, Angostura bitters, Maraschino cherries, orange slices, and a splash of club soda or water, this regional variety swaps whiskey with brandy, and it is typically topped with lemon and lime soda, such as Sprite or 7 Up, instead of soda water.


To make the cocktail, orange is muddled with sugar or a sugar cube, Angostura, and cherries. After adding brandy, the drink is stirred and finished with a large ice cube and a splash of soda. It is served in an old-fashioned glass, and it is usually garnished with an orange slice and a Maraschino cherry. 
03

Cocktail

MILWAUKEE, United States of America
n/a
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This creamy cocktail with a pink color is made with a combination of crème de noyaux, white crème de cacao, and heavy cream. In order to prepare it, all ingredients should be shaken with ice, then strained into a chilled cocktail glass.


If desired, the cocktail can be garnished with mint leaves. It is believed that the first version of Pink Squirrel was prepared in the 1940s at a cocktail lounge in Wisconsin. Nowadays, it can be quite tricky to find crème de noyaux, so it is recommended to replace it with a combination of amaretto and grenadine when in doubt.

04

Cocktail

OMAHA, United States of America
n/a
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Sonic Screwdriver is an American cocktail made with a combination of vanilla vodka, blue curaçao, and lemon-lime soda. In order to prepare it, all ingredients should be poured into a glass over ice, then stirred lightly and served.


The cocktail was invented in 2007 by Liz Mulhern from Omaha, Nebraska as a pairing to her favorite TV show, Doctor Who, and the name refers to an instrument used in the show.

05

Cocktail

LAWRENCE, United States of America
n/a
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Horsefeather is a cocktail consisting of rye whiskey, Angostura, lemon juice (sometimes only lemon zest), and typically ginger beer. The ingredients are poured into a glass filled with ice, and the mix is stirred until chilled. The drink is served in a highball.


Horsefeather is a twist on Horse’s Neck, a classic cocktail that hails from the 1800s. It definitely originated in Kansas, but it is sometimes disputed whether it was invented in Kansas City or Lawrence, though most honor Lawrence as its hometown. 
06

Cocktail

MICHIGAN, United States of America
n/a
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June Bug is a tasty tropical cocktail made with a combination of melon liqueur, coconut rum, banana liqueur, pineapple juice, and lime juice. In order to prepare it, all ingredients should be shaken with ice, then strained into a hurricane glass filled with crushed ice.


This sweet and fruity cocktail is typically served with straws, and it is recommended to garnish it with pineapple wedges and cherries. It is believed that the first version of June Bug (alternatively called June Bug Annihilator) was prepared by the head bartender at TGI Fridays in Michigan, whose nickname was Junebug, hence the name of the cocktail.

07

Cocktail

MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES, United States of America
n/a
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Tom and Jerry is a classic American holiday cocktail that is traditionally consumed during the festive Christmas season. It is made with a combination of egg yolks, egg whites, sugar, brandy, rum, butter, milk, and warming spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.


In order to prepare it, the frothy egg batter is mixed with brandy and rum, and the combination is then topped with milk and nutmeg. The cocktail is typically served hot in a mug. It is believed that Tom and Jerry was invented in the 19th century by either "Professor" Jerry Thomas, the father of modern mixology, or Pierce Egan, a British journalist. 
08

Cocktail

CHICAGO, United States of America
n/a
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Paper Plane is a popular American cocktail that combines equal parts bourbon, amaro Nonino, Aperol, and fresh lemon juice. All the ingredients are shaken with ice, and the mixture is strained into a chilled coupe glass. Paper Plane is often classified as a modern classic.


Although it is now featured on many cocktail menus, it is a relatively recent invention, introduced in 2008. The cocktail was created by Sam Ross, the co-owner of Attaboy and Diamond Reef in New York City. Ross first presented the cocktail for the inauguration of The Violet Hour bar in Chicago. 
09

Cocktail

NORTH DAKOTA, United States of America
n/a
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Smith and Curran is an American cocktail made with a combination of crème de cacao, cream, and club soda. In order to prepare it, crème de cacao and cream should be shaken with ice, strained into an ice-filled highball glass, then topped with club soda.


Alternatively, the cocktail can be served in layers, without stirring and shaking. It is believed that the drink was invented by Gerbert “Shorty” Doebber in 1952, who named it after the two oilmen who were regular patrons at his bar.

10

Cocktail

ST. LOUIS, United States of America
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Bizzy Izzy is an American cocktail that combines equal parts whiskey (bourbon) and sherry with pineapple syrup and lemon juice. It can be shaken or stirred and served in an old-fashioned or highball glass. Bizzy Izzy is one of the vintage cocktails first published in Tom Bullock's Ideal Bartender, a pre-prohibition bartending manual published in 1917.


The cocktail is rather obscure, and despite the highball moniker, the original version did not include soda water. Modern interpretations will often include soda water and different garnishes.

11
Cocktail
DETROIT, United States of America
n/a
12
Cocktail
INDIANAPOLIS, United States of America
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13
Cocktail
DETROIT, United States of America
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14
Cocktail
MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES, United States of America
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15
Cocktail
CHICAGO, United States of America
n/a
16
Cocktail
CHICAGO, United States of America
n/a

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Midwestern American Cocktails