If our cocktail preferences are measurable by internet searches, then American drinkers are most interested in the Moscow Mule.
A new study, carried out by 5W Public Relations and iQuanti, identified the top 20 cocktails in our nation, based on internet results. And the popular vodka drink, served in copper mugs, finished in first.
Researchers began by creating a list of the 1,500 likeliest cocktails worth looking into. Then they studied Google search volumes for these drinks, and narrowed the list down to the top 100.
“Cocktail names are generic in nature and we needed to exercise caution,” said a study spokesperson in a press release. “Someone who searches for ‘Hurricane’ need not necessarily be looking for the cocktail named Hurricane, but the weather phenomenon.”
Taking that into account, researchers refined their list to a top 20. Here are the results:
The Top 20 Cocktails in America
1. Moscow Mule |
2. Shirley Temple |
3. Manhattan |
4. Bloody Mary |
5. Long Island Iced Tea |
6. Mojito |
7. Mimosa |
8. Margarita |
9. Pina Colada |
10. Grasshopper |
11. White Russian |
12. Mint Julep |
13. Tequila Sunrise |
14. Martini |
15. Blue Lagoon |
16. Mai Tai |
17. Whiskey Sour |
18. Sidecar |
19. Tom Collins |
20. Sex on the Beach |
Other findings reported by the research team, which also looked at results state-by-state:
- Moscow Mule is America’s most popular cocktail on the internet. Its popularity as a drink can also be judged by the 105,000 searches for the Mocow Mule Copper Mugs on Amazon. But in New Jersey and Virginia, it is usurped to the top spot by the Manhattan, while Texas and Florida seem to be very clear in their preference for the Shirley Temple.
- Unsurprisingly, cocktails and cocktail recipes are search for the most during the months of July and December – close to the big holidays.
- District of Columbia has a surprising entry at the #2 spot – The Cuba Libre, which came in at #45 nationally.
- There was a noticeable uptick in searches for Shirley Temple in February of 2014. This coincided with the death of Miss Shirley Temple Black, the person after whom the drink is named.