Do you know the state drink of Massachusetts? It's not what you think
There are some Massachusetts state symbols you probably know.
The state flower is the Mayflower, in a nod to the ship the Mayflower. The state dog is the Boston Terrier, which also happens to the the first purebred American dog breed. The state dessert is the Boston Cream Pie, and the state donut is the Boston Cream donut.
But, do you know the official state beverage?
Here's the Commonwealth's official state beverage and why.
Massachusetts' official state drink is cranberry juice, according to the Secretary of State's website.
Cranberry juice was made the state's official beverage on May 4, 1970, in order to honor its cranberry industry. According to the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association, cranberry agriculture has been growing in Massachusetts for over 200 years. Pun not intended.
The cranberry is also our state berry, as it was made so on July 11, 1994 by the General Court, the Secretary's website said.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman Keith Shannon, repeated the sentiment to Wicked Local media partner WCVB in a report last year.
You can honor the Commonwealth's state drink by introducing it as a delicious mixer into a cocktails or mocktails you may have at your next social function.
The Vodka Cranberry, also known as the Cape Codder, is a cocktail that is comprised of one parts vodka to five parts cranberry juice with a lime slice dropped in as a garnish. It is served over ice in a rocks glass or a highball.
You could also try making a Cosmopolitan, which consists of vodka, cranberry juice, Cointreau (also known as triple sec) and lime juice. It is shaken then served in a cocktail glass with an orange swirl.
If you're in the mood for a Thanksgiving throwback, you could always make a Harvest Spice Punch.
It's a holiday treat that is made of cinnamon whiskey, cranberry juice, frozen cranberries, ginger ale, red wine and whiskey, stirred and served in a punch bowl.
For exact measurements: Thanksgiving cocktails and mocktail recipes: Festive flavors featuring apple, cranberry, pumpkin
Mike Snider contributed to the reporting of this story.
Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: MA's state drink is cranberry juice. How to use it in a cocktail
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
When is Juneteenth? Is it a federal holiday? What to know
When is Juneteenth? Is it a federal holiday? What to know Show Caption Hide Caption What is Juneteenth? Holiday celebrates end of American slavery in Texas Juneteenth celebrates the Emancipation Proclamation, but the Emancipation Proclamation didn't apply to all states in the USA. The 13th Amendment brought an end to slavery. USA TODAY, Wochit The nation's youngest federal holiday is around the corner. Juneteenth commemorates the events of June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas when the last Black slaves of the Confederacy were ordered free following the arrival of Union troops. The day, which rose to national prominence in 2020 amid nationwide protests for ongoing racial inequities in the justice system between Black people – specifically Breonna Taylor and George Floyd – and police, was officially recognized a federal holiday by President Joe Biden in 2021. Here's what to know about the holiday and what day it occurs. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Juneteenth: Everything to know about the federal holiday When is Juneteenth? Is it a federal holiday? Juneteenth National Independence Day is on Thursday, June 19, this year, and is considered a federal holiday. Will banks be closed on Juneteenth? Juneteenth is considered a bank holiday, according to the Federal Reserve. The United States Postal Service, schools, and most banks, like Wells Fargo, Citibank, Bank of America, Truist, and others, will also be closed on June 19. Fact check: No, a George Floyd statue wasn't removed from the National Mall What is Juneteenth? The holiday commemorates the Emancipation Proclamation in the U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued the proclamation to free enslaved African Americans in secessionist states on January 1, 1863, but enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, would not learn of their freedom until two years later. On June 19, 1865, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger informed the community of Galveston of Lincoln's proclamation. Although enslaved people had been officially emancipated years prior, enslavers responsible for telling them ignored the order until Union troops arrived to enforce it, founder of Cliff Robinson earlier told USA TODAY. Texas was the last Confederate state to have the proclamation announced. Though the story of Texas' emancipation is the most widely known, president of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation Steve Williams previously told USA TODAY, other significant events in the history of emancipation took place on and around that date. He said the first known Juneteenth celebrations began in 1866 and spread across the country as African Americans migrated to new cities. Why is it called Juneteenth? Juneteenth is a combination of "June" and "nineteenth," in honor of the day that Granger announced the abolition of slavery in Texas. The holiday is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, Julia Gomez, N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.


San Francisco Chronicle
2 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Today in History: June 18, War of 1812 begins
Today is Wednesday, June 18, the 169th day of 2025. There are 196 days left in the year. Today in history: On June 18, 1812, the War of 1812 began as the United States Congress approved, and President James Madison signed, a declaration of war against Britain. Also on this date: In 1778, American forces entered Philadelphia as the British withdrew during the Revolutionary War. In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated in the Battle of Waterloo as British and Prussian troops defeated the French Imperial Army in Belgium. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter and Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev signed the SALT II strategic arms limitation treaty in Vienna. In 1983, astronaut Sally Ride became America's first woman in space as she and four other NASA astronauts blasted off aboard the space shuttle Challenger on a six-day mission. In 1986, 25 people were killed when a twin-engine plane and helicopter carrying sightseers collided over the Grand Canyon. In 1992, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Georgia v. McCollum, ruled that criminal defendants could not use race as a basis for excluding potential jurors from their trials. In 2018, President Donald Trump announced he was directing the Pentagon to create the Space Force as an independent branch of the United States armed forces. In 2020, the Supreme Court, in the case of Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California, rejected by a 5-4 decision President Donald Trump's effort to end legal protections for more than 650,000 young immigrants. In 2023, the submersible vessel Titan, on an expedition of view the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean, imploded, killing all five people aboard. Today's Birthdays: Musician Paul McCartney is 83. Actor Carol Kane is 73. Actor Isabella Rossellini is 73. Singer Alison Moyet is 64. Football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith is 62. Hockey Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis is 50. Actor Alana de la Garza is 49. Country musician Blake Shelton is 49. Football Hall of Famer Antonio Gates is 45.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
When is Juneteenth 2025? Is there mail? Are banks closed? All about the federal holiday
It's known as America's Second Independence Day, and it's coming soon. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. It's the longest-running African American holiday, and it became a federal holiday a few years ago. Here's what to know about the holiday. Yes, Juneteenth is a federal holiday in 2025, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. It is one of 11 federal holidays observed every year. The others are: New Year's Day Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Washington's Birthday/Presidents Day Memorial Day July 4 Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Christmas Day Juneteenth will be marked on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Unlike other federal holidays, such as Memorial Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving, which are observed on a specific day of the week, Juneteenth is celebrated on the actual day. Juneteenth commemorates the day — June 19, 1865 — when federal soldiers arrived in Galveston to take control of Texas and ensure the slaves were freed per the Emancipation Proclamation, according to the History Channel. Juneteenth — short for June nineteenth — marks the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. Juneteenth is a portmanteau of June 19, the day Union troops arrived in Galveston. It became known as "Juneteenth" by the newly freed slaves of Texas, according to the National Museum of African American History & Culture at the Smithsonian. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. But its effect was limited, according to the National Archives. It only applied to states that seceded during the Civil War, leaving slavery intact for slave states that stayed with the Union. It also could not be enforced until Confederate states were under Union control, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Therefore, it took until June 19, 1865, for slaves in Texas to be freed. Slavery in America was formally abolished with the 13th Amendment, which was ratified Dec. 6, 1865. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. President Joe Biden signed legislation on June 17, 2021, according to USA TODAY, after Congress passed The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act that same month. Juneteenth began rising to prominence in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, a Black man, sparked protests across the country against police brutality, USA TODAY reports. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., first introduced the Juneteenth bill in 2020 following the killings of Floyd and Breonna Taylor of Louisville, Kentucky. His initial attempt to pass the bill was unsuccessful. No. As a federal holiday, the U.S. Postal Service is closed that day, and there will be no mail delivered. FedEx pickup and delivery services will be available on June 19, according to the company's website. FedEx Office locations will also be open, USA TODAY reports. Juneteenth is a Federal Reserve bank holiday, meaning the organization that regulates the nation's banking system is closed, according to Banks aren't required to close for Federal Reserve holidays, but they often do. Transactions made during these holidays won't be posted until the next business day. Branches of Capital One, Bank of America, PNC, Truist, CitiBank and JPMorgan Chase will be closed on Juneteenth, USA TODAY is reporting. Capital One Cafes will remain open. The New York Stock Exchange is closed on federal holidays and will be closed on Juneteenth, according to its website. Trash pickup may be delayed because of Juneteenth, depending on the hauler. Contact your municipality or private provider to learn more. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: When is Juneteenth 2025? Is there mail? Will banks be open? What to know