Skip to content

50 Drinks in 50 states: Orange Crush in Delaware

Get inspired to drink your way across America (without ever leaving your backyard) with Margaritaville’s 50 Drinks in 50 States series.

Our country’s “first state,” or the first state to be ratified in the constitution in 1787, is small but has a ton to offer. Personally, I’m a fan of their tax-free shopping (thank you DuPont Family). Up near the Pennsylvania border, history and old money abound, but the bulk of the middle is affectionately and colloquially known as “slower lower,” where farmland stretches for miles. What else stretches for miles? That would be the highway that takes you to the beach.

The Delaware beaches are pinpricked with little towns, each with its own unique reputation. The outlet shopping is in Lewes, and the families love the boardwalk in Rehoboth. The higher tax bracket set probably has homes in Bethany Beach, and Fenwick Island is the best-kept secret.

Looking to get the party started? Then Dewey Beach is your best bet. The various bars host a consistently good time, and to toast the summer off right you’d better have an orange crush in your hands – it’s how Delaware beach goers kick off the season.

The drink originated at Harborside Bar in Ocean City, Maryland, but has become a staple at the Delaware beaches. Over time different bars along the coast have riffed off the original, one using Sierra Mist instead of Sprite and another using the whipped cream vodka flavors. One opinion that holds true regardless of where it’s served is that it’s not a true Orange Crush if it’s made with bottled orange juice – fresh is best, as is always the case. Maybe your visit to the Delaware beaches should include a orange crush comparison bar crawl – all in the name of research of course. I can’t think of a better way to get your vitamin C.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oranges, juiced
  • 1.5 oz. vodka
  • 1 oz. orange liquor
  • Splash of Sprite

Directions:

  1. Pour all ingredients into cocktail mixer and shake.
  2. Strain into a cocktail glass filled with ice.
  3. Garnish with a slice of orange.