If you found yourself in Telluride, Colorado, skiing or watching a movie or whatever, and you heard someone order a Flatliner, would you be confused or intrigued? If you knew a Flatliner was a local sensation made with vodka, Kahlúa, Baileys Irish Cream, and espresso, you'd order one, too. If you happen to be in New Orleans around Christmas, someone might offer you a Cajun Eggnog Daiquiri. And beware in Baltimore, where an Orange Crush is not always a can of soda, but also a cocktail that's very orange and contains vodka.
Many cities have their signature drinks, often with fascinating or even funny origin stories, like the Tree Martini of Taos, New Mexico. Or the origin may be a matter of dispute, like the Horsefeather served in Lawrence, Kansas. But even better than knowing those stories is trying out the cocktails themselves. You can plan a road trip to Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, for some Boilo, but the rest of the featured cocktails would be pretty easy to try out at home. You find an index of 14 regional drinks at Punch, with links to the full story for each.
(Image credit: Krista)