How Every U.S. State Takes Their Margarita: A Flavorful Look at Regional Drink Preferences
Few cocktails are as beloved—or as debated—as the margarita. With Cinco de Mayo around the corner, there's no better time to explore the many ways Americans enjoy this iconic drink. Is it best served frozen or on the rocks? Sugar rim or salt? Spicy or sweet?
To find out, we surveyed thousands of margarita drinkers across the country, uncovering how preferences vary across America. From Texas to Vermont, each state has its own unique take on the classic marg—and some of the results might surprise you.
Whether you’re a fan of the traditional lime and salt combo or prefer yours fruity and bold with a sugar rim, these state-by-state findings reveal just how much personality is poured into every glass. And for those planning a party or event, understanding these regional quirks is key, which is exactly where Serve & Savour’s professional bartending services shine.
What’s Your State’s Margarita Style?
To find out how each state takes their margarita, we surveyed over 2,400 people across 49 states (excluding Alaska due to low response volume) about their go-to margarita preferences—from flavor and style to tequila brand and rim. Based on those responses, we identified 15 unique margarita combinations that reflect how tastes vary across the country. Some states are all about tradition, others lean bold and fruity, and a few prefer their drinks with a dash of glamour or spice.
To bring each state’s top choice to life, we created playful flavor profiles that match the mood, vibe, and recipe of each standout margarita. From bold rebels to backyard MVPs, these margarita personas showcase just how much variety goes into America’s favorite tequila cocktail. No matter your style, there’s a marg for that.
"The Chill Sophisticate"
Recipe: Frozen, Classic Lime, Patrón, Salt
We call this one “The Chill Sophisticate” – this is the drink of someone who knows how to relax and impress. Smooth, balanced, and just upscale enough to make a statement, the Chill Sophisticate is the go-to for states that appreciate a classic done right—with just a bit of flair.
Popular in: Alabama, Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia.
"The Refined Rebel"
Recipe: On the rocks, Classic Lime, Patrón, Salt
Laid-back but never boring, this pick pairs sophistication with a slight edge. It’s for those who ditch the blender but demand premium taste—think rebellious charm with a luxury twist.
Popular in: Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont
"The No-Nonsense Traditionalist"
Recipe: On the rocks, Classic Lime, Jose Cuervo, Salt
“The No-Nonsense Traditionalist” – straightforward, timeless, and reliable. This marg doesn’t mess around. It’s for states that respect tradition and prefer their drinks like they prefer their advice: strong and to the point.
Popular in: Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska
"The Backyard MVP"
Recipe: Frozen, Classic Lime, Jose Cuervo, Salt
Always welcome at the cookout. This easygoing classic brings the good vibes and knows how to keep things light and fun. Great for states where the best parties happen on the patio.
Popular in: Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Wisconsin
"The Flirty Overachiever"
Recipe: Frozen, Strawberry, Patrón, Salt
Meet “The Flirty Overachiever” – sweet, premium, and just a little extra (in the best way). This drink wants to be noticed and never disappoints. It’s for states that like a splash of fun with their top-shelf taste.
Popular in: Indiana, Minnesota, West Virginia
"The Party Starter"
Recipe: Frozen, Strawberry, Jose Cuervo, Salt
Loud, lively, and unapologetically fun. This one shows up ready to dance and keeps the good times rolling—perfect for states that don’t need an excuse to celebrate.
Popular in: Oklahoma, Tennessee
"The Surprisingly Sweet One"
Recipe: Frozen, Classic Lime, Jose Cuervo, Sugar
This one’s a curveball in a chilled glass. It starts out classic—lime, frozen, smooth—but the sugar rim flips the script. It’s the drink of choice for those who want tradition and a touch of surprise.
Popular in: Delaware, Louisiana
"The Glamour Girl"
Recipe: On the rocks, Strawberry, Patrón, Sugar
This margarita is as stylish as it is sweet. With bold strawberry flavor and top-shelf tequila, it’s made for sipping poolside or posting about later. The sugar rim? Just the sparkle on top.
Popular in: California
"The Passion Pour"
Recipe: On the rocks, Strawberry, Patrón, Salt
Equal parts bold and heartfelt. This combo brings the heat and the charm—it’s a match for those who like a little passion in their pour.
Popular in: North Dakota
"The Wild Card"
Recipe: On the rocks, Strawberry, Jose Cuervo, Salt
Unpredictable, playful, and always interesting. This margarita is for those who like to shake things up and go with the flow.
Popular in: Wyoming
"The Sweet Minimalist"
Recipe: On the rocks, Classic Lime, Jose Cuervo, Sugar
No-frills with a soft touch. A sugar-rimmed twist on a timeless combo, this one’s for those who believe less is more—but never boring.
Popular in: Mississippi
"The Cool Uncle"
Recipe: On the rocks, Classic Lime, Don Julio, Salt
Smooth, sharp, and lowkey refined. The Cool Uncle is the one who always picks the good stuff—without making a big deal about it.
Popular in: North Carolina
"The Heartthrob"
Recipe: Frozen, Strawberry, Patrón, Sugar
Flirty, charming, and full of feel-good vibes. This one’s a guaranteed favorite—the kind of drink that wins people over in one sip.
Popular in: South Dakota
"The Creative Soul"
Recipe: Frozen, Strawberry, Don Julio, Salt
A little unconventional and all heart. With premium tequila and a playful flavor, this marg is for those who like their drinks with personality.
Popular in: Arkansas
"The Luxe Adventurer"
Recipe: Frozen, Classic Lime, Don Julio, Salt
Classy but never boring. It’s the perfect pick for those who like their getaways with a view—and their drinks with a top-shelf finish.
Popular in: Washington
What 2,400+ Drinkers Revealed About Their Margarita Habits
It’s official - the margarita isn’t just a cocktail—it’s a cultural icon. Nearly 1 in 4 Americans say it’s their favorite cocktail, and 60 percent rank it in their top three. Mississippi leads the lovefest, with 47 percent calling it their number one. Texas (39 percent) and Arizona (36 percent) aren’t far behind.
When it comes to flavor, lime remains the gold standard with 37 percent of Americans choosing it, followed by strawberry (29 percent) and mango (9 percent). As for tequila, blanco (or silver) is the clear favorite, while 26 percent prefer reposado, 10 percent opt for añejo, and 9 percent like their margaritas with a smoky mezcal twist.
Brand loyalty runs deep: Patrón (27 percent) edges out Jose Cuervo (25 percent), with Don Julio (14 percent) rounding out the top three.
Most drinkers prefer to keep things balanced - half (50 percent) say they like their margaritas moderately strong. But there’s still a bold crowd out there: 39 percent go strong or extra strong, with Kentucky (55 percent) and New York (52 percent) leading the charge. When it comes to quantity, two margaritas is the sweet spot for 49 percent of Americans, though 13 percent admit they’ll keep the party going with three or more in one sitting.
Mississippi, North Carolina, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee top the list of states with the most residents who regularly throw back 3+ margs in one go (19 percent or more)—clearly, the South knows how to sip.
How We Like Them Served
When it comes to serving style, the U.S. is split. Frozen slightly edges out on the rocks—48 percent vs. 46 percent—while a brave 6 percent prefer theirs straight up.
Salt is still the go-to with 47 percent of Americans preferring a salted rim—compared to 29 percent who choose sugar, 9 percent who opt for Tajín, and 15 percent who skip the rim entirely. Among those who want a rim, preferences split almost evenly: 43 percent want it fully coated, while 42 percent prefer just a light touch.
As for garnish? A classic lime wedge wins big with 62 percent of votes, leaving orange slices (17 percent) and jalapeños (3 percent) far behind.
Most Americans enjoy their margaritas freshly made at restaurants (78 percent), but 10 percent make them from scratch at home, 8 percent use a pre-made mix, and only 4 percent reach for a canned version. Montana is home to the most DIY margarita makers (25 percent), followed by Maryland (21 percent) and Oregon (20 percent). Where we drink them matters, too: half of Americans prefer sipping margaritas at a Mexican restaurant, while others favor enjoying them at home (13 percent) or in bars and nightclubs (11 percent).
How Much We’re Spending (and Drinking)
For most, margaritas are more than a treat—they're an investment. Over one-third of Americans (37 percent) spend over $100 a year on them, and 14 percent admit to dropping over $250 annually. A mysterious 4 percent say they’d rather not know.
Biggest spenders? Mississippi, Alabama, and Delaware, where over 1 in 5 drinkers say they shell out $250+ a year on margs. Meanwhile, Vermont is the most budget-conscious, with 77 percent spending under $100.
And Kansas wins the award for the most margarita guilt—1 in 10 residents would rather remain blissfully unaware of their annual spend. Fun fact: 10 percent of people in Pennsylvania say they drop over $500 on margaritas every year.
How often are we indulging? Thirty percent of Americans drink margaritas a few times a year, while 29 percent enjoy them a few times a month. Weekly marg fans (9 percent) are out there—and they’re concentrated in Arkansas (22 percent), Mississippi (21 percent), Texas (19 percent), Virginia (19 percent), and Kansas (19 percent).
How Margaritas Make Us Feel
One of the most fun parts of this survey? Learning how margaritas affect our mood. It only takes one or two for 51 percent of Americans to start dancing, with Kansas and Maine leading the charge—40 percent and 38 percent, respectively, say just one marg gets them moving.
Nearly 1 in 5 Americans (22 percent) admit they’d call their ex after enough margaritas—most commonly after three or more (17 percent). Still, 78 percent say no amount of tequila could make them pick up the phone. In Washington, 21 percent say a few margaritas would have them dialing up an old flame, and for 8 percent, it only takes one. On the flip side, Vermont and Connecticut are firm: 92 percent say they’d never call an ex, no matter how many drinks are involved.
Americans’ Hot Takes On Margaritas
Margaritas may be universally loved, but that doesn’t mean everyone agrees on what makes the perfect one. To stir the pot (or shake the cocktail), we asked Americans to weigh in on some of the more controversial margarita opinions—hot takes, if you will. From flavor feuds to garnish grudges, here’s what America had to say.
Margaritas = Vacation Vibes
More than half of Americans (51 percent) believe margaritas taste better on vacation. Whether it's the beach breeze or poolside setting, the vibe matters. Unsurprisingly, 48 percent also say margaritas are an essential part of summer.
Fresh or Forget It
There’s strong support for quality: 35 percent of Americans say if it’s not made fresh, it’s not worth drinking. In New Jersey, that sentiment is even stronger—53 percent won’t bother with a less-than-fresh marg.
And if it comes in a can? One in four (26 percent) say canned margaritas should be banned entirely, with North Carolina leading the anti-can charge at 41 percent.
Rim Rules & Tequila Truths
Salt continues its reign: 23 percent of Americans say “no salt = no point,” and that number jumps to 34 percent in Arizona. Regarding quality, some believe the rim makes the drink—17 percent agree that a good rim is better than good tequila, with New Jersey again topping the list (33 percent).
But not everyone agrees on rim styles. Sixteen percent of Americans think sugar rims are for people who don’t like tequila—Arkansas most strongly agrees, with 24 percent of residents saying the same.
Flavor Feuds
While lime remains the classic, some take that love to extremes: 14 percent believe it’s the only flavor that should exist. In Maryland, nearly a third (30 percent) agree. Others have beef with trendy variations—13 percent say skinny margs aren’t real margaritas (Nevada, 22 percent), and another 13 percent think frozen margs are for amateurs (North Carolina, 24 percent).
But it’s not all negativity—some like to turn up the heat. Thirteen percent of Americans say spicy margaritas are the best, with California leading the charge at 32 percent.
Home vs. Out
Not everyone wants to go out for their margaritas. Twelve percent say the best ones are made at home. In Maryland, that number more than doubles to 28 percent. And 11 percent of Americans think tequila just doesn’t belong in premixed or canned cocktails, with Maryland again the top dissenting voice (21 percent).
Final Flavor Judgments
Some opinions got really personal. Eight percent of Americans think fruit flavors ruin a margarita—Mississippi is the toughest crowd with 26 percent of the state in agreement. Six percent think margaritas should only be served at a Mexican restaurant, with Maryland once again topping that take (19 percent).
And for a spicy finish:- 5 percent admit they judge people based on their margarita order, especially in Michigan (12 percent). Meanwhile, 4 percent say margaritas are totally overrated—Indiana leads the skeptics with 11 percent agreeing with the sentiment.
Which of these takes do you agree with most?
One Iconic Drink, Fifty Unique Takes
“At Serve & Savour, we know that no two events—or guests—are the same,” says Brandon Rojas, General Manager at Serve & Savour. “That’s why we conducted this study: to highlight the personality behind every drink order and celebrate the unique flavors that bring people together. With Cinco de Mayo and summer gatherings on the horizon, now’s the perfect time to craft a beverage experience as distinctive as your guest list.”
Our full-service catering includes a wide variety of beverage options, from signature cocktails and mocktails to curated wine lists and craft beers. With professional bartenders ready to craft custom drinks that complement your menu and wow your guests, we turn every pour into a personalized moment of celebration.
Bring bold flavor and thoughtful service to your next event. Contact us to create a food and beverage experience your guests won’t forget.
Methodology
To find out how each state takes their margarita, we surveyed over 2,400 people across 49 states (excluding Alaska due to low response volume) about their go-to margarita preferences—from flavor and style to tequila type and rim. Based on their responses, we identified 15 unique margarita combinations that reflect how tastes vary across the country. The survey also revealed national trends, including the ideal setting for sipping a margarita, how much Americans spend on them annually, how margaritas make them feel, and standout state-by-state insights.
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