Michigan's Hummer Cocktail
Spirits of '76' Author Kim Laidlaw Shares Michigan's Classic Hummer Cocktail Recipe Invented in Detroit
Michigan's signature cocktail, the Hummer, is a creamy blended drink made with rum, Kahlúa, vanilla ice cream, and crushed ice — and it has a surprisingly specific origin story. According to Morning Journal, the drink was invented by a Detroit bartender in 1968 and has since spread across the country.
Author Kim Laidlaw highlights the Hummer as Michigan's classic cocktail in her new book "Spirits of '76," which features a signature drink for each of the 50 states. Greeley Tribune reports the recipe is simple: blend the ingredients smooth and serve in a chilled rocks glass.
A Detroit Bartender's 1968 Creation Goes National
The Hummer started behind a single bar in Detroit in 1968. No one planned for it to travel far. But the drink caught on, and bartenders across the country eventually picked it up. Baltimore Sun notes the cocktail has become one of the most recognized boozy milkshakes in American bar culture.
Its appeal is simple. Rum brings the kick. Kahlúa adds a rich coffee flavor. Vanilla ice cream makes it thick and sweet. Crushed ice keeps it cold and smooth. The result is closer to a dessert than a traditional cocktail.
Kim Laidlaw's Book Assigns One Drink Per State
"Spirits of '76" is built around a single idea: every U.S. state has a classic cocktail that defines it. Author Kim Laidlaw researched drinks with real regional roots. She did not invent the recipes — she found them. Pilot Online reports each cocktail was chosen because it reflects something true about the state it represents.
The book covers all 50 states, making it a road map of American drinking history. Some drinks are well-known nationally. Others are local secrets. The Hummer falls somewhere in between — born in Michigan but recognized well beyond state lines, according to Pottstown Mercury.
How to Make the Classic Hummer at Home
The recipe is short. Combine white rum, Kahlúa, vanilla ice cream, and crushed ice in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into a chilled rocks glass. NY Daily News describes the final drink as a boozy milkshake — thick, cold, and easy to drink.
No special skills are needed. No fancy tools beyond a blender. The drink is meant to be approachable. That may be part of why it spread so easily from a single Detroit bar to cocktail menus across the country, according to Daily Camera.
Boozy Milkshakes Have Deep American Roots
The Hummer fits into a broader American tradition of blending spirits with ice cream. Drinks like the Mudslide and the Grasshopper follow the same logic — sweet, cold, and spirit-forward. Hartford Courant notes these drinks have stayed popular for decades because they double as dessert.
The Hummer's longevity is a sign that simplicity works. It uses just four ingredients. It requires almost no technique. And it tastes like something people actually want to drink. For Michigan, it turns out, that was enough to earn a spot in cocktail history, according to The Times-Tribune.
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