Where To Get The Best Cocktails In Every State

Shaken, stirred, or even neat. No matter how you pour it, we'll never turn our noses away from a solid cocktail. Mixology is an art and even just an ounce of ingredients can send the taste buds running. We're heading across the great U.S. of A. to prove that you don't necessarily need to go to a four-star establishment when looking for the perfect cocktail: It's down to passion and artistry. There are folks all over the country, even in the smallest of towns, using fresh ingredients and quality liquors to launch cocktail movements of their own.

From establishments that embrace the classic craft cocktail movement and new wave tiki bars to those shaking up rare agave spirits and even some dives thrown in there, get your jigger ready and grab your shaker. We're breaking down the best place to grab cocktails in every state.

You must leave all notions at the door for what you think is a cocktail bar for this next one. You'll also have to throw on a parka because we're headed to Darwin's Theory in Anchorage, Alaska. This unassuming bar, which some may even call a dive, has been attracting tourists and locals alike thanks to its great (and strong) drinks. The tiny bar also boasts the best free popcorn and the best jukebox in town. The owner, Darwin, also happens to be the world's biggest seller of cinnamon schnapps!

The drink scene in Fayetteville offers a little something for everyone, from the simpleton beer crowd to the adventurous and worldly wine seekers. Located in the heart of downtown Fayetteville, according to Experience Fayetteville, Vault would be easy to pass by. The small bar, located in a former bank vault, may tout an impressive bourbon list, but they're also using quality spirits and unexpected ingredients to crank out some of the state's best and most interesting cocktails.

It's impossible to discuss the modern craft cocktail scene without mentioning Death & Co. What started in Manhattan's East Village quickly became an institution responsible for the current craft cocktail movement we know and love today (via Forbes). Its innovation in cocktails has since spurred other locations, like Denver. Here, they took the values of the original location and created a new menu. Classic cocktails are born again with inventive re-imaginings, so you'll want to carefully read the menu.

If you have a strong sense of direction and know the password, you can enter the secret Wilmington, Delaware spot creatively named (and mysterious) Hummingbird to Mars (via Only In Your State). Once inside, you'll feel like you've stepped into a time machine as you walk amongst the Victorian furniture and staff that's dressed to impress. Atmosphere aside, the real draw here — if you can get in — is their rotating seasonal cocktail menu expertly crafted by highly skilled mixologists. The drinks are wildly creative, like "Penicillin," which uses ginger liqueur, or "Nostalgia," which includes elderflower liqueur (clever, right?).

Savannah is often mentioned for its acclaimed food scene. Old meets new in their culinary scene with inventive eateries that embrace Southern culture and the widely available fresh seafood. It also happens to be home to one of the best tiki bars in the South, says Narcity, The Bamboo Room Tiki Bar. Hidden above a famous oyster bar in the town's downtown area you'll feel like you've stepped back in time to the golden era of tiki. In addition to a stunning setting, the drinks are top-notch and honor classic tiki while embracing some new wave innovations, like their "London Daisy," which includes gin, yellow chartreuse, falernum, strawberry, lime, and soda.

Consistently named one of the Best of Boise, Press & Pony is all about bridging the gap between the past and the present cocktails. This dimly-lit cocktail spot features modern-day reinventions of the classics while looking toward the future with innovative new age cocktails, like "Sh*t Kickers and Daisy Dukes" and "El Camino." It's everything you'd want in a craft cocktail bar; straightforward while exceeding all expectations. The atmosphere is intimate and dimly lit with wood paneling, but incredibly welcoming at the same time.

If there was such thing as an approachable speakeasy, this next spot would be the definition of it. Ball & Biscuit is known as Indy's — that's short for Indianapolis — original cocktail bar. The unassuming exterior makes way for a copper-laden cocktail bar full of good vibes and a welcoming charm — a true neighborhood bar that feels elevated yet accessible. The drinks are excellent — including their standout old fashioned — but they also didn't forget their beer drinking imbibers. They carry an impressive rotation of craft beers on tap, as well as seasonal ciders.

What's up with the name? Its name is derived from a vintage-style microphone that was first made in the 1930s — but if you ask a local, they'll likely refer to it as "the biscuit." After throwing back a few rounds of cocktails, they also deliver with their small plates menu. The entire menu brings a sophisticated feel to a traditional local watering hole with bites like baked goat cheese with crostini and marinated olives.

No beer. No wine. No food. No credit cards accepted. No reservations. Just cocktails.

It's a bold gambit from Drastic Measures, a bar located in Shawnee, Kansas. But what the bar lacks in offerings, it more than makes up for in ambition. Goat cheese-washed Blanco tequila. Hibiscus-infused absinthe. Californian raspberry distillate. These cocktail ingredients might read like the back-of-the-router Wi-Fi passwords, but they're used to make cocktails that Feast Magazine referred to as unintimidating on a menu with something for everyone. For example, the Gastronom blog said the Afterschool Special, made with peanut butter washed cognac, port, and berries, tasted like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Drastic Measures opened during the COVID-19 pandemic, but with its cocktails-only menu and small seating spaces, the concept turned out to be well-suited to the age of supply chain disruptions and social distancing. Far from being sterile and uninviting, Drastic Measures welcomes guests with a speakeasy-influenced entranceway. If a green light in the vestibule indicates there's room for more guests, would-be patrons must bang a door knocker to be let inside. The interior of the bar greets guests with seating areas, limestone walls, spiraling light fixtures, and cocktails; no beer, no wine, just cocktails.

It's easy to find a cocktail anywhere you look in New Orleans, but it's difficult to find a great cocktail. Bourbon Street is riddled with sugary, boozy libations (hello, hand grenade!), but if you take just a few steps to the outskirts of the French Quarter, you will find Cane & Table, according to Eater. A popular amongst locals, this Old-Havana-inspired spot is a haven for rum lovers and a brainchild of acclaimed local bartender Nick Detrich. With the town's best collection of rums, the focus here is on pseudo tiki, Colonial cocktails, like their riff on a Hurricane, Hurricane & Table. They also feature some lesser-known cocktails like the Rhum J.M. VSOP Ti Punch. Leave Pat O'Brien's immediately and head here.

Baltimore is a sought-after tourist destination, therefore making it incredibly easy to have a lackluster drink. Named after Charles Bukowski's poem, The Bluebird Cocktail Room is your answer to finding an excellent cocktail in the harbor town, Visit Baltimore notes. The setting is sophisticated yet inviting, and the menu is styled to read like a book (even including a prologue and table of contents). It's all in the details here. The ice cubes are carved from a 300-pound block, says Baltimore Magazine, ensuring a properly chilled and balanced beverage every single time.

If you're looking to wet your whistle, Detroit will gladly welcome you to any one of their number of sports bars, cocktail dens, or distilleries. We have The Sugar House to thank for Detroit's cocktail revival, Eater notes. Home to the finest barkeeps in the area, at this Corktown neighborhood spot you can sip on the best that the Golden Age of cocktails has to offer. The setting is intimate and welcoming, a respite from the far too often harsh Michigan winters. They offer standout martinis, a classic bee's knees, and a solid brandy Alexander. You can even take home one of their in-house-made bitters that come in interesting flavors like grapefruit, cardamom, and root beer.

What do you have when you open a speakeasy at a classic soda fountain and diner? You have Jackson, Mississippi's The Apothecary at Brent's Drugs. Just steps from the family-friendly classic drug store soda fountain, the dimly lit speakeasy is a tribute to the pre-Prohibition cocktails that were used to cure ailments. Housed in what once was the pharmacy storeroom, guests can sip on a classic negroni or a riff on the Manhattan that features gin, named the Mr. Manhattan.

This may win the award for the most unique place to sip cocktails on our list. Located in Great Falls, Montana, you'll find the one and only Sip 'n Dip lounge. Voted No. 1 bar in the world by GQ, this literal motel bar, which dates back to 1962, features a lively pianist, tropical libations, and mermaids. What? Yes, mermaids. This larger-than-life aquarium style bar allows you to sip on your cocktails are you watch their famous mermaids take a dip. This South Seas themed spot is one of the last left of the great tiki fad of the mid-20^th century.

There's no shortage of places to grab a solid cocktail in Sin City, but you'll have to skip the flashiness of the strip for something truly special. Instead, head to the original Vegas — Fremont Street. Here, you'll find the reservation-only speakeasy, The Laundry Room. What's in the name? A lot of history, says Conde Nast Traveler. The century-old spot was an actual laundromat that served Vegas greats like The Rat Pack and Liberace. No photos, please. Pictures are strictly prohibited in this 22-seat hidden gem that's serving up standout cocktails.

Asbury Park is a gastronomical hotbed and the unofficial capital of fine dining in New Jersey. Lola's European Café may be quaint compared to its neighboring swanky cocktail bars, but this rustic bar-meets-coffee shop offers up something the rest of the neighborhood doesn't. In addition to a standout bourbon and rye list, they handcraft cocktails using their selection of Italian-sourced gelato. A local favorite is the Bacio Di Nocciola which uses their in-house-made Bacio gelato with Frangelico and bourbon. The atmosphere is casual, says New Jersey Leisure Guide, and inviting with plenty of outdoor seating for those warm summer days.

We found the fountain of youth and it's in a small cocktail bar located in Manhattan's West Village. Kidding aside, New York City is home to a never-ending list of cocktail bars that wow and continue to receive acclaim. While We Were Young won us over, not for their airy and ultra-modern interior, but for the quality and fresh ingredients they use in their cocktails. The focus is on freshness, and you almost feel like you're doing something health-forward for your body in the process. They use fresh juices and infusions in their cocktails, like pear juice, watermelon, lavender honey, and butterfly pea flower. Our favorite cocktail is the "Too Good For You," which features tequila, kale, lime, agave, and cucumber.

They say it's better to be a big fish in a small pond, and that couldn't hold more truth than for Thomas & Moriarty's. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, the craft cocktail bar has been making quite a name for itself, including landing on a USA Today list of the top 10 best cocktail bars in the country. Named after the "godfather of bartending," the hotspot is serving up old-school classics using homemade syrups like gin fizz. 

The Stag Lounge, located in downtown Oklahoma City, may be known for its extensive cigar selections, but they are also home to more than 350 bottles of whiskey and nearly 500 spirits. The cigar bar doesn't lack in the mixology department, as they use seasonal fresh ingredients for their rotating craft cocktail selections. Thanks to their well-curated liquor list and knowledgeable staff, they can whip up something based on your exact taste preferences.

You'll have to travel west of Philadelphia for one of the most interesting cocktail spots on our list. Hint: If you love all things chocolate, then this one is definitely for you. The city of Hershey is the home of Milton S. Hershey, the revolutionary confectionery master and his sweet empire. The chocolate capital is now home to a globally recognized theme park and luxurious hotels. While some seek out thrilling roller coasters or tantalizing chocolate bars, our taste buds are there for their signature chocolate martinis. Varieties include a chocolate caramel as well as a Reese's peanut butter cup and the classic Hershey's Kisses signature martini. You can find them all across the property, but our preferred place to indulge in the good stuff is at the cozy Hershey Lodge. For the budding chocolatiers, they have even hosted a chocolate martini mixology class.

Karaoke bars may be synonymous with booze and blurry memories, but there's something inherently freeing about the stage beckoning you to lose all inhibitions. Located in the King Street Historic District of Charleston, The Bangkok Lounge is a unique karaoke lounge combined with a tropical bar. Drinks don't take a backseat to the musical fun — cocktails here are strong and cheap, served by knowledgeable and friendly staff, says Thrillist. Karaoke is offered seven nights a week here, along with frosty frozen libations and a late-night hot dog or two to soak up the liquid regret.

Nashville may be known for its honky tonks and influx of celebrity-fueled ventures, but if you take just a few steps off the Downtown's major strip, Broadway, you may stumble upon a Red Phone Booth. No, you're not in England, but inside that discreet building is the city's first proper speakeasy, sister to its original Atlanta location. Here, you'll feel like you've stepped back in time as you wander the darkly-lit cocktail den with its smooth leather couches. The menu covers a wide range of classic cocktails — expertly crafted, may we add — with favorites including a smokey old fashioned that comes complete with a small fire show. They also boast an authentic pizza oven from Italy and are serving up some of the best Neopolitan pizza in the States as a result.

Park City is a world-class destination for those who love to ski. If you're looking for the ultimate après-ski, head up in one of the country's only funiculars to the St. Regis Deer Valley. The luxury resort is home to an expansive lobby bar that extends to a spacious outdoor area with fire pits and stunning snow-capped mountain views. In addition to their expensive wine collection and daily sunset champagne sabering ceremony (yes, that's real!), they are also mixing up some of the best cocktails in Utah. Standout cocktails include the 7452 Mary, which reflects the city's historic elements.

If you're looking to hob knob with Washington's elite, you can probably find them at Arlington, Virginia's Baba, a basement spot that is part cocktail bar, part coffee shop. It's more than suitable for a caffeine pick-me-up, but we love it in the evening. This hot spot is the meeting ground of classy and casual with a burning fireplace and a simple food menu that includes fried chicken with apple wasabi salsa and BBQ pork. The cocktails keep things interesting, like pink peppercorn tequila with jalapeño triple sec, or a mandarin orange cachaca.

This next one is a sort of hodgepodge of classy cocktail bar meets seedy, old-timey horse betting locale. It's strange, we know, but hear us out. Located in Huntington, West Virginia, The Jockey Club is hip, yet casual — it's where locals go to mingle and sip on cocktails made with care and even a little flair. In addition to standout mint juleps (it is slightly equestrian-themed, after all) and caipirinhas, they have a selection of Manhattans that we guarantee will pique your interest, and buzz.

Jackson Hole's The Rose, named one of Food & Wine Magazine's best bars in the United States, exudes elegance in not only the name but in the setting and its cocktails. Located at the Pink Garter Theatre, the welcoming lounge space brings big city vibes to the mountain town. Its menu features the classics, like the old fashioned and the French 75, while showcasing seasonal and fresh ingredients on its rotating menu. Call it the best of both worlds.