Lots of us enjoy celebrating the holidays with loved ones and a festive cocktail in hand. Some folks prefer a classic libation, while others like something with a splash of cheer to toast the season. A new study from Upgraded Points reveals the favorite holiday cocktails across the country and in each state. North Carolina's favorite holiday cocktail is a little surprising I must say.
The travel company used Google Trends data to analyze the searches for 50 seasonal drinks. They then revealed the most popular drinks in every state in the U.S. According to their research:
- Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour is also the most popular festive cocktail in three states, Virginia, North Carolina and New Jersey.
- Cranberry Mimosa, a seasonal spin on the traditional brunch cocktail, is the top choice in four states - South Carolina, Kentucky, Iowa and Delaware.
- Christmas Punch is the most popular holiday cocktail, winning in 11 states including Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Ohio and Michigan.
- Eggnog comes in second with six states. The classic boozy beverage is a favorite in Oregon, Texas, Illinois, New Mexico, Wyoming and Vermont.
- Hot Buttered Rum is also the favorite in four states, Washington, Montana, Idaho and Alaska.
- Irish Coffee warms you up from the winter chill and it’s the most popular holiday cocktail in four states as well, California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii.
- Winning three states is the tropical coconut Coquito, they love it in Florida, New York and Connecticut.
- Christmas Margarita, a festive take on the classic cocktail, is the top choice in two states, Colorado and Nebraska.
- In Minnesota, they prefer a Maple Old Fashioned, South Dakotans like a White Russian, while in North Dakota they enjoy a Tom and Jerry, down in Louisiana the most popular is Milk Punch, Utah likes to sip Wassail, Wisconsin’s favorite holiday cocktail is a Brandy Alexander, in Maine they love Apple Cider Mimosas, a Cranberry Moscow Mule wins in New Hampshire, in Rhode Island it’s Apple Cider Sangria, Massachusetts likes Cranberry Sangria, Maryland’s top choice is a Peppermint Martini and in Washington, D.C., a Negroni is the favorite during the holiday season.
This Is North Carolina’s Favorite Christmas Movie
It's the most wonderful time of the year! Time to throw on our favorite Christmas movies over and over again. Today's Home Owner has come up with each state's favorite Christmas movie. The classic flick; “A Christmas Story” is the most popular Christmas movie in America, according to the study. 24 states in total have that movie as its favorite. This is also North Carolina's favorite Christmas movie according to the results.
I checked out the whole map of the country. There weren't any real surprises. Maybe one the weirdest things comes from the state of Indiana. That state likes “Elf” over “A Christmas Story.” Why is that weird? Well “A Christmas Story” takes place in the fake town of Hohman, Indiana! Sooo it should be a favorite of theirs!
“Elf,” starring SNL alumn Will Farrell, wasn’t far behind “A Christmas Story.” It was the holiday favorite in 11 states. Buddy the Elf’s Christmas spirit is way over the top in the film. That gives fans across America plenty of quotable moments.
Another classic Christmas movie is “Home Alone,” a favorite in four states, followed by “It’s a Wonderful Life” a favorite in three. “Die Hard” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” tied with two states ranking it as their favorite Christmas movie.
Even though “A Christmas Story” was the favorite in most states, the overall percentages between the movies were much closer. “Elf” was just 1.6 percentage points behind, and “Home Alone” was less than 4% away from the top spot despite being the top in only four states.
If cartoons are your thing, you have good company: 4.1% of Americans chose “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” as their favorite Christmas flicks. My favorite cartoon? "The Year Without Santa. Hands down." Who doesn't love the Mizer Brothers?
Where is Christmas Vacation in all of this? It came in #1 in only one state, Nebraska!
Here's the top movies from each state.
"A Christmas Story" 24 states
(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
24 states love "A Christmas Story." The most of any holiday movie. From Maine to Georgia, to Alabama, Ohio, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Nevada. They all love their "Leg Lamp" movie.
"Elf" 11 states
(Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Warner Bros.)
"Santa! I know him!" Will Ferrell's classic about a real-life elf who finds out he has a father in NYC, is tops in 11 states. The comedy from 2003 is tops in Florida, Colorado, Indiana, and Wisconsin among others. "Elf" was not number 1 in New York where a majority of the movie was filmed!
"Home Alone" 4 states
(Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
"Kevin!!" "Home Alone" is the holiday favorite in my house, according to my 10 year old son. It's also the favorite movie in 4 states. California, Idaho, Louisiana and Maryland.
"It's a Wonderful Life" 3 states
(Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The black and white classic is tops in 3 states. I don't love this movie, but South Carolina, Illinois, and Wyoming do. It's a long movie and kids these days aren't looking to sit and watch for 2 plus hours.
"Die Hard," "A Nightmare Before Christmas" and more...
(Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
"Die Hard" isn't a Christmas movie!! Let's get that out It takes place during Christmas, but it literally could take place any time of year. "A Nightmare Before Christmas," A "Charlie Brown Christmas," "The Grinch," and "Christmas Vacation" were all the tops in one state each. Hawaii loves "A Christmas Carol."
