The Best Shots in Each U.S. State

People raising a toast with shot glasses.

Cupid’s arrow can strike you in the most unsuspecting of places. An innocent night out on the town at your local bar can turn into the greatest love story you’ve ever known. Shane Co. wanted to strengthen your chances of getting that introduction just right by determining which shots were the most popular in each state.

Whether you need a little bit of liquid courage or you want to be the ultimate wingwoman for your single ladies, discover which icebreaker is the best shot to order in your state when it comes time to shoot your shot.

Methodology

We compiled 33 keyword terms from popular sources like Intoxicologist, Bevvy, and The Spruce Eats. Next, we collected Google Trends data from May 3, 2017, to May 2, 2022, and analyzed the search interest across the U.S. Read on to find out the best shots to take in your home state.

The Most Popular Shot in Every U.S. State

Illustrations of each state’s most popular shot with their shot name listed below

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas — except for the fact that the best shot to order in Nevada is the Vegas Bomb shot at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino. The cocktail is served with a glass of Red Bull, into which you drop a shot made of Crown Royal whiskey, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice. Then, cheers!

Minnesota’s favorite shot is the Scooby Snack shot, and while Scooby and the gang are fromCoolsville, Ohio, the series What’s New, Scooby-Doo? does feature an episode titled “A Scooby-Doo Halloween” that is set in the real-life city of Banning Junction, a small farming town located in Central Minnesota. As for the shot itself, it contains a mixture of coconut rum, melon liqueur, banana liqueur, pineapple juice, and whipped cream — zoinks!

Texas’ best pre-gamer, the Four Horsemen shot, features four types of whiskey: Bourbon, Tennessee, Scotch, and Irish. Its namesake comes from each shot’s most popular brands: Jim Beam, Jack Daniel’s, Johnnie Walker, and Jameson, whose spirits (pun intended) rise from the dead to form the four horsemen.

If you want to break the ice with your date by making a funny face, consider trying Pennsylvania’s Snakebite shot, with simple ingredients like Yukon Jack whiskey and lime cordial, both sour and sweet.

The Most Popular Shot in Every U.S. Region

U.S. map displaying the most popular shot by region

When it comes to Southern comfort, nothing beats a Lemon Drop shot. Southerners, known for their love of butter, entertaining, and abundance of lemon trees, are most likely to order a round of these shots for their guests — because if you can’t have spiked iced tea, then why not have the next best thing? To make this tasty shot, recipes call for chilled vodka and lemon juice. Bartenders serve the shot chilled with a slice of lemon and sugar around the rim.

Western states like California, Oregon, and Idaho picked Jägerbomb or Jello shots as their go-to after-dinner palate cleanser. Perhaps California’s high cost of living makes the Jello shot an attractive choice due to its cheap ingredients. Engineers working 24/7 in Silicon Valley would benefit from the Jägerbomb’s Red Bull pairing, an energizing combination to allow them to work while they play.

The Northeast chose three equally delicious shots: Green Tea, Kamikaze, and the Polar Bear shot. Throw back a sweet-tasting Green Tea shot in one of Rhode Island’s honky-tonk dive bars, Nick-a-Nees, and fall in love with a stranger over the fast-paced fiddle melody of live bluegrass music. If you know your date likes chocolate, consider wooing them with a New York staple, the Polar Bear shot, which is made with white cacao-flavored liqueur and peppermint schnapps. If your girl has a sweet tooth, this drink will not disappoint.

The Midwest must throw a lot of house parties, as their shot of choice, Jello, reigns supreme. If your date is traditional and cares for both dinner and drinks, consider bringing them to one of South Dakota’s most romantic bars, Crawford’s Bar & Grill, located in Sioux Falls.

The Most Popular Shot Overall

The top three searched shots and their ingredients

When it comes to Americans’ favorite shots overall, three came out on top. Jägerbombs tied with Jello shots for first, with 10 states apiece. If you and your date want the energy to go bar-hopping until the early morning hours, the Jägerbomb is a must-have with ingredients like Red Bull. On the other hand, Jello shots, which can be created with fun candy like Gummy Bears, make for a sweet time for you and your date.

This best-of-the-best list is rounded out by Lemon Drop shots, which are the best shots to take in states like Florida and South Carolina. The shot also pairs well with appetizers like charcuterie boards and seafood dishes if you want to make the night last a little longer.

Closing Thoughts

If you’re like Usher and “…wanna make love in this club,” or simply want to buy that cutie across the bar a delicious icebreaker, Shane Co. wants to arm you with the best shot to order in every state so that the only thing you have to think about when you’re waved over and introduce yourself is which cheesy pick-up line you’re about to drop.

If love at first shot happens to turn into something more, consider getting your partner a beautiful personalized charm necklace, or if it’s getting more serious, take our quiz to determine her engagement ring style.