Will Vernors Finally Be Michigan’s Official Drink?

Could Vernors be declared Michigan's official state drink?

A new bill has been introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives that proposes designating Vernors ginger ale as the official state beverage of Michigan.

What is Michigan's state drink?

While not officially recognized, the Hummer is commonly referred to as Michigan's unofficial state drink.

Even though the rich, creamy cocktail made with Kahlua, rum, and vanilla ice cream was born in Detroit, it doesn’t exactly shout 'Michigan' to me.

But to me, and plenty of other Michiganders, Vernors sounds and tastes like Pure Michigan. It just feels right.

Vernors was created by pharmacist James Vernor in Detroit, and according to the Detroit Historical Society, the fizzy ginger ale was first introduced to the public in 1866.

Jump ahead to 2025, and Vernors remains a beloved classic. Whether used to soothe ailments or mixed into a Boston Cooler, this drink complements just about everything perfectly.

Although online petitions to designate Vernors as Michigan’s state drink have circulated for some time, the recent introduction of an official bill is likely to carry much more weight.

There is an online petition advocating for Faygo to be recognized as the official drink of the Great Lakes State.

Which would you prefer as Michigan's state drink, Vernors or Faygo?

My vote would be Vernors.

Will Vernors eventually become Michigan’s official state drink, or will this effort stall like the ongoing discussions to end Daylight Saving Time?

In the meantime, mix up a Hummer, crack open a Vernors, or sip on a Faygo, and raise a glass to the great state of Michigan.

Cheers!