The Most Popular Liquor in Every U.S. State [2022 Data Study] (2024)

No matter if you’re a fancy scotch, cheap vodka, or tequila shots kind of person, pretty much every adult that doesn’t completely abstain from alcohol has a favorite type of liquor. But do liquor preferences vary across the country? In this campaign, we analyzed Google Trends search interest data from the last year to determine the most popular type of liquor, liquor brand, and celebrity liquor brand in each U.S. state.

The Most Popular Liquor Type in Every U.S. State

According to our results, Americans like a lot of different types of liquor. In fact, out of the 14 different types of liquor we ran a keyword search for, 11 are the most popular type of liquor in at least 1 state. This even includes less common liquors like Nevada’s most popular liquor, absinthe, and Utah’s most popular liquor, vermouth.

While a lot of different liquors are the most popular in at least 1 state, for many of the staple liquors, 1 state is as far as things go. For example, gin is only the most popular liquor in Washington, D.C., rum is only the most popular liquor in Hawaii, brandy is only the most popular liquor in Wisconsin, and bourbon is only the most popular liquor in Kentucky (though if bourbon is only going to be #1 in 1 state, it makes sense that it’s Kentucky!).

The Most Popular Liquor Overall

While staple liquors like gin and rum aren’t the most popular liquor in more than a single state, whiskey and vodka apparently run the entire country. Whiskey or vodka is the most popular liquor in 33 different states, and if we break it down by region, whiskey is popular in the West (Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming), in the South (Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia), and in the Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota), while vodka dominates the Northeast (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island).

When we zoom in on specific liquor brands, however, the popularity of various types of liquor begins to change. For example, Hawaii isn’t the only state that appreciates rum after all as, according to our results, the coconut rum Malibu is the most popular brand of liquor in most states. But the discrepancy between the popular types of liquor and the popular brands of liquor doesn’t stop there. Of the other most popular liquor brands, Appleton Estate is a rum, Hennessy is a cognac, and Jose Cuervo is a tequila — only Ciroc fits in the whiskey/vodka category.

The Most Popular Celebrity Liquor Brand in Every U.S. State

The tides turn back in the favor of whiskey and vodka when we look at celebrity liquor brands, however, as UFC fighter Conor McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey and Dan Aykroyd and John Alexander’s Crystal Head Vodka are the most popular celebrity liquor brands on a state-by-state basis.

Diving deeper, we found that celebrity brands and overall liquor types matched up in several states. In California, while tequila won as the most popular liquor type, Elon Musk’s Tesla Tequila also reigned supreme. On the other hand, gin and Ryan Reynold’s Aviation Gin both ranked #1 for search volume in Washington, D.C.

New Yorkers also showed loyalty to DeLeón Tequila, the brand of none other than Harlem native and rapper P. Diddy. It was no surprise that Tennessee was true to Knoxville-native Kenny Chesney, with Blue Chair Bay Rum reigning supreme in the country star’s home state.

Every State’s Favorite Liquor Types and Brands

Hover over your state to see its most popular type of liquor, most popular liquor brand, and most popular celebrity liquor brand!

Methodology

We determined keywords for liquor types and liquor brands using information from popular alcohol-based websites Vine Pair and The Spirit Business. The celebrity liquor brands were determined using a list from Esquire. In all, there were 150 keywords used — 14 liquor types, 73 popular liquor brands, and 63 celebrity brands. The Google Trends data used to determine the popularity of each type, brand, and celebrity brand of liquor in each state comes from the last year (February 2021 to February 2022).

Final Thoughts

So what can we take away from this study? Well, the most popular type of liquor in most U.S. states is whiskey, but vodka is a close second. Meanwhile, staple liquors like tequila and rum aren’t the most popular liquor in nearly as many states, so the gap between whiskey and vodka and the other liquors is quite large.

Rum does have its moment in the spotlight though, as the most popular brand of liquor in most states is Malibu, followed by Appleton Estate — both well-known brands of rum. The heavy-hitting whiskey and vodka duo regain their footing when we look at celebrity liquor brands as Conor McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey and Dan Aykroyd and John Alexander’s Crystal Head Vodka are the most popular celebrity liquor brands on a state-by-state basis. All in all, however, Americans love a variety of liquor, as 11 of the 14 liquors we looked at are the hard alcohol of choice in at least 1 state.

As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of liquor preferences and trends in the United States, I can attest to the complexity and diversity of alcohol choices among American adults. The recent analysis of Google Trends search interest data from the last year provides valuable insights into the most popular types of liquor, liquor brands, and even celebrity liquor brands across different states.

First and foremost, the research revealed that out of the 14 different types of liquor considered, 11 emerged as the most popular in at least one state. This includes less common liquors such as absinthe in Nevada and vermouth in Utah, showcasing the diverse palate of American drinkers.

When it comes to staple liquors, the preferences vary significantly across states. For instance, gin is the most popular liquor in Washington, D.C., rum reigns supreme in Hawaii, brandy takes the lead in Wisconsin, and bourbon stands out as the favorite in Kentucky. This regional diversity highlights the cultural and historical influences that shape liquor preferences.

In contrast, whiskey and vodka demonstrate nationwide appeal, being the most popular liquors in 33 different states. The breakdown by region indicates that whiskey dominates in the West, South, and Midwest, while vodka prevails in the Northeast. This broad popularity underscores the versatility and widespread acceptance of these two spirits.

Delving into specific liquor brands adds another layer of complexity to the landscape. Despite rum being the most popular type of liquor in Hawaii, Malibu, a coconut rum brand, emerges as the most popular brand in several states. This discrepancy between liquor types and brand preferences emphasizes the impact of marketing and branding on consumer choices.

The celebrity liquor brand segment introduces a fascinating twist, with UFC fighter Conor McGregor's Proper No. Twelve Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey and Dan Aykroyd and John Alexander's Crystal Head Vodka dominating the scene on a state-by-state basis. Interestingly, the alignment of celebrity brands with overall liquor types is observed in some states, such as Elon Musk's Tesla Tequila in California and Ryan Reynolds' Aviation Gin in Washington, D.C.

The methodology employed in the study, utilizing keywords from reputable sources like Vine Pair, The Spirit Business, and Esquire, along with Google Trends data from February 2021 to February 2022, adds credibility to the findings. The comprehensive approach, with 14 liquor types, 73 popular liquor brands, and 63 celebrity brands considered, ensures a thorough exploration of the subject.

In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the diverse and dynamic landscape of liquor preferences in the United States. The dominance of whiskey and vodka, the interplay between liquor types and brands, and the influence of celebrity endorsem*nts collectively paint a rich picture of America's evolving drinking culture.