It's peak festive season and revelers around the country are sipping on classic holiday drinks to celebrate. From steaming mugs of rich hot chocolate to cocktail coupes with a caffeine kick, America’s holiday drink habits say a lot about how we like to celebrate. A new study by Coffeeness, a go-to resource for coffee enthusiasts, reveals the country's favorites overall, and what people in each state are sipping this holiday season. By analyzing Google Trends data from the past 12 months, focusing on the spike around last Christmas, Coffeeness produced a surprisingly varied map of America's favorite festive drinks.
Overall, the most beloved holiday drink is hot chocolate. Duh. The winter classic took the top spot in 13 states, and it's easy to see why. Hot chocolate is simple, satisfying and endlessly customizable: add marshmallows, whipped cream and a candy cane stirrer and you've got Christmas in a cup.
Tied for second place are two very different drinks: apple cider and the espresso martini, each leading searches in 11 states. Apple cider’s popularity skews toward apple-producing regions like Virginia, Idaho, North Carolina and Oregon. Often served warm and spiced with cinnamon, cloves or star anise, it’s a non-alcoholic staple that makes an appearance in fall and takes you right through to the holidays.
The espresso martini, on the other hand, brings some flare to the party. Topping searches in states like Connecticut, Louisiana and Nevada, the mix of cocktail and coffee offers both a buzz and a boost in the same glass, and we all need a little kick during the holidays.
Two classic cocktails also emerged as less traditional favorites. The French 75 cocktail led searches in four states, including Massachusetts and Washington, as did the Amaretto sour, topping searches in states like New York and Ohio.
Beyond the top five overall favorites, a few more unique choices emerged. California and Florida leaned toward the brown sugar shaken espresso, while Arizona and Hawaii favored mimosas. Minnesota went for the hot toddy, Tennessee a winter Aperol Spritz and Texas the Bellini. While states might celebrate a little differently, all these drinks are festive reminders of the joy of the season.
The most popular festive holiday drinks in the U.S.
- Hot chocolate
- Apple cider
- Espresso martini
- French 75
- Amaretto sour
- Mimosa
- Brown sugar shaken espresso
- Hot toddy
- Bellini
- Winter Aperol spritz