Entertaining

9 Cocktails for New Englanders and Atlanta Natives

New York has the New York Sour, but Boston has its own spin on the eternally classic Whiskey Sour called the Ward 8. Named for a district in the city that helped clinch an election in 1898, the Bostonian spin adds orange juice and grenadine to the mix. The latter gives the drink a striking red hue, perfect for pairing with a blue drink for colorfully patriotic fans.

As New England fans don their tricorne hats and colonial regalia, it’s only right they complete their look with a revolutionary cocktail. Invented by our first first lady, this punch got the party started at Mount Vernon, where literal patriots enjoyed the mixture of rums, citrus and spices. If it’s good enough for legit revolutionaries, it’s good enough for costumed football fanatics.

Clam-based Clamato juice is the defining characteristic of a Bloody Caesar, and New England knows a thing or two about clams. For the perfect pairing to the region’s eponymous chowdah, look no further than this vegetal cocktail. Share a batch with guests at your game day party and launch into a debate over whether Tom Brady is a modern day Caesar.

The adopted cocktail of Nantucket and summering Bostonites, the Sea Breeze is like a balmy blast from the Northeast. The classic cranberry concoction is perfect for any homesick diasporic fans missing the old cranberry bogs.

No team is more worthy of the red, white and blue than those patriotic New Englanders. Toast the star-spangled team with this appropriately layered Jello Shot, and put an end to those treacherous Falcons.

The Falcons don’t just represent Atlanta—they’ve got the whole of the South at their backs. A drink of pride for Southern football fans, the Slammer may or may not have been invented by University of Alabama tailgaters, but Crimson Tide fans have certainly embraced it as their own. We can only assume the good fans of Alabama are willing to share that proud tradition with their Georgian neighbors.

The big game may not start until 6:30 p.m., but preparations and festivities on Sunday begin long before that. Falcons fans should snap to it with a boozy, caffeinated taste of home. An ode to a Georgia native, this cocktail brings together pecan brittle, sweet cherries, sorghum, bourbon and chantilly cream for a steaming cup of Southern hospitality.

The only aviary cocktail fierce enough to represent Atlanta’s finest, the Jungle Bird will help every fan find their inner bird of prey. Bright red Campari and blackstrap rum nicely correspond to the team’s colors, while the bold flavor cuts through rich game day snacks like a bat (or bird, as it were) out of hell.

Bitter Campari and fernet don’t garner the most widespread appeal among drinkers, but they do inspire diehard acolytes, just like the Falcons. Be bold, Atlanta fans, and grab hold of a Jello Shot that’s strong enough to stand up to even the dreaded Pats.