Spirited Holidays: Difference between revisions

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Below are a collection of "not necessarily highly researched" days which appear to be in some way cocktail/drink related. It also includes dates of "notable historic importance" which may provide a reason to celebrate as well. We will try to add and update to this list when additional dates, or additional information comes to light.
Below are a collection of "not necessarily highly researched" days which appear to be in some way cocktail/drink related. It also includes dates of "notable historic importance" which may provide a reason to celebrate as well. We will try to add and update to this list when additional dates, or additional information comes to light. When possible we will attempt to look up any factual information which might support or explain the reason these dates were chosen. There are some of these dates which the Chanticleer Society itself has decided to declare in order to mark specifically important dates.


==JANUARY==
==JANUARY==


January: National Hot Tea Month
January: National Hot Tea Month (US and Canada)


Last Week of January: National Irish Coffee Week
Last Week of January: National Irish Coffee Week


January 1: Bloody Mary Day (#1)
January 1: Bloody Mary Day (#1)
January 1, 2000: Milk & Honey opens in New York<ref>[https://www.mlkhny.com/newyork/ Milk & Honey New York website]</ref>. The bar was created by [[Sasha Petraske]] and despite its hidden location, and its "reservations only" requirement, it gained popularity amongst cocktail enthusiasts and soon-to-be craft bartenders.


January 11: National Hot Toddy Day
January 11: National Hot Toddy Day
January 12: National Hot Tea Day
:: Established in 2016 by the National Tea Council of the USA <ref>[https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/drink-to-your-health-this-new-year-tea-council-of-the-usa-declares-first-ever-national-hot-tea-day-300199016.html Tea Council of the USA Declares First Ever National Hot Tea Day] (PRNewswire)</ref>


January 16, 1920: [[American Prohibition]] began
January 16, 1920: [[American Prohibition]] began
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January 17: National Hot Buttered Rum Day
January 17: National Hot Buttered Rum Day


January 19: Champagne Day
January 19: Champagne Day (conflicts with Champagne Day on December 31)


January 24, 1935: The Beer Can was introduced
January 24, 1935: The Beer Can was introduced
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==FEBRUARY==
==FEBRUARY==


First Saturday of February: Pisco Sour Day - The National Day of Pisco Sour is celebrated every first Saturday of February, according to a resolution of the Ministry of Production published in 2004. Before that, it was celebrated on February 8th.
First Saturday of February: Pisco Sour Day
::The National Day of Pisco Sour is celebrated every first Saturday of February, according to a resolution of the Ministry of Production published in 2004. Before that, it was celebrated on February 8th.


February 4: 1862 - Facundo Bacardi Masso, and his brother Jose, bought the Santiago de Cuba distillery and started making rum.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacardi Bacardi] (Wikipedia)</ref>
February 4: 1862 - Facundo Bacardi Masso, and his brother Jose, bought the Santiago de Cuba distillery and started making rum.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacardi Bacardi] (Wikipedia)</ref>
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February 22: Don Beach's Birthday
February 22: Don Beach's Birthday
February 24: World Bartender Day
:Origin unknown, earliest reference year discovered so far is 2017.


February 27: National Kahlua Day
February 27: National Kahlua Day
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==MARCH==
==MARCH==


March 1: Beer Day (in Iceland) - March 1, 1989 is when the 74 year prohibition of beer ended in Iceland. This apparently is a well-celebrated holiday there.
March 1: Beer Day (in Iceland)
::March 1, 1989 is when the 74 year prohibition of beer ended in Iceland. This apparently is a well-celebrated holiday there.
 
March 3, 1897: Bottled In Bond Day
::On March 3rd, 1897, Congress passed the [[Bottled in Bond]] Act. The intent of this act was to create some strict guidelines that would allow customers to know that the whiskey they were buying was actually whiskey.<ref>[https://www.whiskeyculture.com/what-does-bottled-in-bond-mean/ "What Does Bottled In Bond Mean?"] (WhiskeyCulture.com)</ref>
 
March 3, 2003: A Tribute to "Professor" Jerry Thomas Father of the Cocktail - The Plaza Hotel, New York City
::Featuring Jerry Thomas cocktails served by [[Dale DeGroff]], [[Ted Haigh]], [[Robert Hess]], George Papadakis, [[Sasha Petraske]], [[Gary Regan]], [[Audrey Saunders]], and [[David Wondrich]]. Presented in cooperation with Slow Food NYC<ref>[http://drinkboy.com/Articles/Article.aspx?itemid=23 A Tribute To Jerry Thomas], Robert Hess (DrinkBoy.com)</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/26/dining/26NOTE.html Shaken, Stirred or Mixed, The Gilded Age Lives Again], William Grimes (New York Times)</ref>.


March 3: National Mulled Wine Day
March 3: National Mulled Wine Day
March 3: Bottled-In-Bond Day
::In 1897, the US government passed the Bottled-In-Bond law.


March 4, 1634: First tavern in U.S. opens
March 4, 1634: First tavern in U.S. opens
March 5: National Absinthe Day
::March 5th, 2007 marks the day in the US when Absinthe was once again legal.<ref>[https://france-amerique.com/en/the-return-of-the-green-fairy/ "The Return of the Green Fairy"] By Clément Thiery
(March 4, 2021)</ref>


March 16: Bock Beer Day
March 16: Bock Beer Day
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March 20: Bock Beer Day
March 20: Bock Beer Day
March 24: National Cocktail Day
::By some accounts, March 24th is apparently "National Cocktail Day", but not only is there no reference to which "Nation" it is that celebrates it on that day, there is already a "World Cocktail Day" (May 13). World Cocktail Day was declared in 2006 by the "Museum of the American Cocktail" in order to celebrate the day, 100 years prior, that the definition for the "Cocktail" is first found in print.
::The first occurrence of "National Cocktail Day" appears to have occurred in 2013 when Jace Shoemaker-Galloway declared it as such for the holiday website she was running. <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220324172725/https://www.holidailys.com/single-post/national-cocktail-day-cheers-1 holidailys.com : National Cocktail Day] (via Archive.org) </ref>


March 27, 1860: The corkscrew is patented.<ref>[https://patents.google.com/patent/US27615A/en?oq=27615 Corkscrew Patent #27615] (Google Patents)</ref>
March 27, 1860: The corkscrew is patented.<ref>[https://patents.google.com/patent/US27615A/en?oq=27615 Corkscrew Patent #27615] (Google Patents)</ref>
March 27: International Whisk(e)y Day
::Was first announced in 2008, and was created in honor of the late British writer [[Michael Jackson]] to celebrate his birthday. <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_whisk(e)y_day International Whisk(e)y Day] Wikipedia</ref>


==APRIL==
==APRIL==
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April 15: Income Tax Day (also Accountant's Day)
April 15: Income Tax Day (also Accountant's Day)


April 16: Kingsley Amis' Birthday (1922) Gravesite reads "supreme clubman, boozer and blimp."
April 16: Kingsley Amis' Birthday (1922)
::Gravesite reads "supreme clubman, boozer and blimp."


April 19: Alcohol Content allowed on labels (1955)
April 19: Alcohol Content allowed on labels (1955)


April 26: National Pretzel Day - celebrate this one with a beer
April 26: National Pretzel Day
::Celebrate this one with a beer


==MAY==
==MAY==
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Second Week of May: American Craft Beer Week
Second Week of May: American Craft Beer Week


Second Week of May: World Cocktail Week (Designated by The Museum of the American Cocktail)
Second Week of May: World Cocktail Week
 
::As declared by The Museum of the American Cocktail in 2006


May 4: National Homebrew Day
May 4: National Homebrew Day
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May 6-13: World Cocktail Week
May 6-13: World Cocktail Week
::As declared by The Museum of the American Cocktail in 2006. The specific dates here (May 6 to May 13) coincides with the dates in 1806 when the term "cock-tail" appeared in "The Balance and Columbian Repository (May 6, 1806), and then when the editor wrote a response to a reader which contains the first known occurrence of the definition of a cock-tail (May 13, 1806). This essentially provides us with two, often overlapping, "World Cocktail Week" celebrations, one during the second week of May, and another specifically on the dates May 6 thru 13. If you're confused, maybe you need to have a drink to settle down.


May 8: "Have A Coke" day
May 8: "Have A Coke" day


May 13: World Cocktail Day: The word "cocktail" is first defined in print (1806)
May 13: World Cocktail Day
 
::As declared by The Museum of the American Cocktail in 2006. The word "cocktail" is first defined in print (1806)<ref>[https://imbibemagazine.com/origin-of-the-cocktail/ The Origin of the Cocktail] (Imbibe Magazine)</ref>


May 16: Charles Hires invents Root Beer (1866)
May 16: Charles Hires invents Root Beer (1866)
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June: National Dairy Lovers Month
June: National Dairy Lovers Month


June 1, 1494: Scotch Whiskey Day (as declared by the Chanticleer Society) - Friar John Cor was recorded on June 1, 1494 as procuring supplies for the making of copious amounts of whisky for his Majesty, King James the IV. Not particularly an event of note excepting that this is the first known recorded use of the word whiskey and indicatory of a healthy and long established tradition of distilling whisky in Great Briton, else wise he'd not been making 1500 bottles of the stuff.
June: Second Saturday - World Gin Day
 
June 1, 1494: Scotch Whiskey Day
::(As declared by the Chanticleer Society) - Friar John Cor was recorded on June 1, 1494 as procuring supplies for the making of copious amounts of whisky for his Majesty, King James the IV. Not particularly an event of note excepting that this is the first known recorded use of the word whiskey and indicatory of a healthy and long established tradition of distilling whisky in Great Briton, else wise he'd not been making 1500 bottles of the stuff.
::"To Friar John Cor, by order of the King, to make aqua vitae VIII bolls of malt." - Exchequer Rolls 1494-95, Vol x, p. 487.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cor John Cor] (Wikipedia)</ref>
::"To Friar John Cor, by order of the King, to make aqua vitae VIII bolls of malt." - Exchequer Rolls 1494-95, Vol x, p. 487.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cor John Cor] (Wikipedia)</ref>


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June 7, 1917: Dean Martin is born
June 7, 1917: Dean Martin is born


June 8, 1751: Vodka Day (as declared by the Chanticleer Society) The first written usage of the word vodka in an official Russian document in its modern meaning is dated by the decree of Empress Elizabeth of June 8, 1751, which regulated the ownership of vodka distilleries.
June 8, 1751: Vodka Day
::(As declared by the Chanticleer Society) The first written usage of the word vodka in an official Russian document in its modern meaning is dated by the decree of Empress Elizabeth of June 8, 1751, which regulated the ownership of vodka distilleries.


June 10: Iced Tea Day
June 10: Iced Tea Day
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June 12, 1744: Cachaca Day
June 12, 1744: Cachaca Day
::"The SBC (Sociedade Brasileira da Cachaça) wants to declare June 12 the International Day of Cachaça because June 12, 1744, Portugal, then colonizer of Brazil, prohibited the production and distribution of cachaça in the country."<ref>[http://www.brazzil.com/p25jul96.htm News From Brazil]</ref>
::"The SBC (Sociedade Brasileira da Cachaça) wants to declare June 12 the International Day of Cachaça because June 12, 1744, Portugal, then colonizer of Brazil, prohibited the production and distribution of cachaça in the country."<ref>[http://www.brazzil.com/p25jul96.htm News From Brazil]</ref>
June 16: Harry MacElhone was born this day in 1890.


June 19: National Martini Day
June 19: National Martini Day


June 20: Ice Cream Soda Day
June 20: Ice Cream Soda Day
June 21: John Lermayer Day<ref>[http://www.johnlermayer.com/ John Lermayer Day]</ref>
::As declared by the city of Miami Beach in memory of John Lermayer.<ref>[https://thirstymag.com/john-lermayer-day-miami/ June 21st officially named John Lermayer Day] Thirsty Magazine</ref><ref>[https://www.miaminewtimes.com/restaurants/john-lermayer-day-proclaimed-as-sweet-liberty-gets-tales-of-the-cocktail-spirited-award-nods-10463371 John Lermayer Day Proclaimed as Sweet Liberty Gets Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award Nods] Miami New Times, June 22, 2018</ref>


June 27: National Orange Blossom Day
June 27: National Orange Blossom Day
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==JULY==
==JULY==
Second Saturday of July: World Rum Day
: World Rum Day was launched in 2019 by Paul Jackson, spirits writer and Editor of World Rum Guide. It is celebrated on the 2nd Saturday of July each year, becoming the focal point of the wonderful series of occasions at the start of July, including National Mojito Day, National Piña Colada Day and National Daiquiri Day.<ref>[https://www.worldrumguide.com/world-rum-day.html World Rum Day]</ref>


July 2: National Anisette Day
July 2: National Anisette Day
July 2: National Flag Day in Curaçao <ref>[http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/curacao-flag-day/ Curacao celebrates Curacao Flag Day as a public holiday] Holidays around the World</ref>


July 10: National Pina Colada Day
July 10: National Pina Colada Day
July 11: National Mojito Day


July 14: National Grand Marnier Day
July 14: National Grand Marnier Day
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July 27: National Scotch Day
July 27: National Scotch Day
July 31: Black Tot Day
: It was on July 31st, 1970, that the Royal Navy issued sailors with their final rum ration. <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Tot_Day Black Tot Day] (Wikipedia)</ref>


==AUGUST==
==AUGUST==
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August 20: Lemonade Day
August 20: Lemonade Day
August 29, 2005: The Pegu Club cocktail lounge opens in New York<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/23/dining/the-pegu-club.html The Pegu Club],
Frank Bruni (New York Times)</ref>. The Pegu Club, the brainchild of [[Audrey Saunders]], ushered in craft cocktails to New York for the general public.


August 29: National Whisky Sour Day
August 29: National Whisky Sour Day
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August 29: Lemon Juice Day
August 29: Lemon Juice Day


August 30: Mai Tai Day (as per the Trader Vic Company)
August 30: Mai Tai Day<ref>[https://tradervics.com/news/lets-get-the-record-straightthe-real-mai-tai-day-is-august-30th/ Let's Get The Record Straight: Mai Tai Day](TraderVics.com</ref>
::As with many things on the Internet, there can be some confusion about this. There are a lot of folks who appear to claim that June 30th is Mai Tai day. So far, I haven't found any rationale that supports that claim. Since the Mai Tai was invented by "Trader Vic" in August of 1944, and since the Trader Vic company itself upholds August 30th as National Mai Tai Day, I think that settles it.


==SEPTEMBER==
==SEPTEMBER==
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October 5: Bloody Mary Day (#2)
October 5: Bloody Mary Day (#2)
::Legend has it the world's first Bloody Mary was shaken precisely 75 years ago, on October 5, 1934-just five years after the invention of canned tomato juice-at the King Cole Bar in the St. Regis, the now-100-year-old beaux arts hotel founded by John Jacob Astor at the eminently exclusive corner of Fifth Avenue and 55th Street.<ref>[https://www.ediblemanhattan.com/magazine/bloody_marys_birthday/ Bloody Mary's Birthday] (Edible Manhattan)</ref>
::Legend has it the world's first Bloody Mary was shaken precisely 75 years ago, on October 5, 1934-just five years after the invention of canned tomato juice-at the King Cole Bar in the St. Regis, the now-100-year-old beaux arts hotel founded by John Jacob Astor at the eminently exclusive corner of Fifth Avenue and 55th Street.<ref>[https://www.ediblemanhattan.com/magazine/bloody_marys_birthday/ Bloody Mary's Birthday] (Edible Manhattan)</ref>


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October 11: World Egg Day
October 11: World Egg Day


October 12: First Oktoberfest Celebrated (1810) - it was actually a party to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oktoberfest}
October 12: First Oktoberfest Celebrated (1810)
::It was actually a party to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oktoberfest}


October 16: National Liqueur Day
October 16: National Liqueur Day


October 19: International Gin & Tonic Day - appears to have been honorarily declared in 2010 in honour of Mary Edith Keyburn, by her family. It is said she loved to have the occasional tipple of gin and tonic, and passed away on October 19th, 2010 - at the age of 95 - in the hospital with a gin and tonic at her side. It was smuggled into the hospital in a water bottle and served in a teacup. <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/pg/InternationalGinAndTonicDay/about/?ref=page_internal FaceBook: International Gin & Tonic Day]</ref>
October 19: International Gin & Tonic Day
 
::Appears to have been honorarily declared in 2010 in honor of Mary Edith Keyburn, by her family. It is said she loved to have the occasional tipple of gin and tonic, and passed away on October 19th, 2010 - at the age of 95 - in the hospital with a gin and tonic at her side. It was smuggled into the hospital in a water bottle and served in a teacup. <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/pg/InternationalGinAndTonicDay/about/?ref=page_internal FaceBook: International Gin & Tonic Day]</ref> In the US, it is also celebrated on April 9th.
apparently was first declared in 2010. In the US, it is also celebrated on April 9th.


October 20: National Brandied Fruit Day
October 20: National Brandied Fruit Day
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October 27: American Beer Day
October 27: American Beer Day


October 30, 1830: Birth of [[Jerry Thomas]].
October 28, 1919: The "Volstead Act" is passed by the US Congress<ref>[https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/volstead-act The Volstead Act] (National Archives)</ref>, overriding President Woodrow Wilson's veto. It establishes a definition of intoxicating liquor and provides enforcement of Prohibition.
 
October 30, 1830: Birth of [[Jerry Thomas]]
::The birthdate listed on his death certificate is November 1st, but according to noted historian and Jerry Thomas expert David Wondrich, he was actually born on October 30th.


==NOVEMBER==
==NOVEMBER==
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December: National Egg Nog Month
December: National Egg Nog Month
First Friday of December: Bartender Appreciation Day
:: We are still doing some research on this one, but so far it appears this was first established in 2011 by Sailor Jerry Rum.<ref>[https://bartender.com/sailor-jerry-rum-exposes-americas-tipping-habits/ Sailor Jerry Rum Exposes America’s Tipping Habits! (Bartender Magazine)]</ref> There are some sources which will state it as simply being a specific date, usually "the" date it happens to occur in the year they are mentioning it, but more than one source was indicating it was December 6th so that it would be the day after "Repeal Day" <ref>[https://www.barbizmag.com/news/dec-6-bartender-appreciation-day/ Dec 6: Bartender Appreciation Day (Bar Biz Magazine)]</ref>. A Friday, between Thanksgiving and Christmas makes a lot of sense. This would be the busy time of the year, and a Friday, doubly so. What better day to "appreciate" your bartender with a great tip!


Second Week of December: Lager Beer Week
Second Week of December: Lager Beer Week
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December 1: Bloody Mary Day (#3)
December 1: Bloody Mary Day (#3)


December 5: Repeal Day, celebrates the day that [[American Prohibition]] was repealed in U.S. (1933) <ref>[http://repealday.org RepealDay.org]</ref>
December 5: Repeal Day
:: To celebrate the day that [[American Prohibition]] was repealed in U.S. (1933) <ref>[http://repealday.org RepealDay.org]</ref>


December 10: National Lager Day
December 10: National Lager Day


December 12: National Ambrosia Day
December 13: National Cocoa Day


December 13: National Cocoa Day
December 14, 1885: Death of [[Jerry Thomas]]<ref>[http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n2007045783.html Thomas, Jerry, 1830-1885](Library of Congress)</ref>
::There are many instances of the date being listed as December 15th instead, but noted historian and Jerry Thomas expert David Wondrich, supports the date of December 14th instead.
 
December 17, 1773: The Boston Tea Party <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party Wikipedia: The Boston Tea Party]</ref>


December 14, 1885: Death of [[Jerry Thomas]].
December 18, 1917: The 18th Amendment, which would lead to prohibition in the US, was proposed in the US Senate.


December 20: National Sangria Day
December 20: National Sangria Day
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December 30: National Bicarbonate Of Soda Day
December 30: National Bicarbonate Of Soda Day


December 31: National Champagne Day
December 31: National Champagne Day (conflicts with Champagne Day on January 19th)


==Coffee Days==
==Coffee Days==

Latest revision as of 15:14, 25 March 2023

Below are a collection of "not necessarily highly researched" days which appear to be in some way cocktail/drink related. It also includes dates of "notable historic importance" which may provide a reason to celebrate as well. We will try to add and update to this list when additional dates, or additional information comes to light. When possible we will attempt to look up any factual information which might support or explain the reason these dates were chosen. There are some of these dates which the Chanticleer Society itself has decided to declare in order to mark specifically important dates.

JANUARY

January: National Hot Tea Month (US and Canada)

Last Week of January: National Irish Coffee Week

January 1: Bloody Mary Day (#1)

January 1, 2000: Milk & Honey opens in New York[1]. The bar was created by Sasha Petraske and despite its hidden location, and its "reservations only" requirement, it gained popularity amongst cocktail enthusiasts and soon-to-be craft bartenders.

January 11: National Hot Toddy Day

January 12: National Hot Tea Day

Established in 2016 by the National Tea Council of the USA [2]

January 16, 1920: American Prohibition began

January 17: National Hot Buttered Rum Day

January 19: Champagne Day (conflicts with Champagne Day on December 31)

January 24, 1935: The Beer Can was introduced

January 25: Robbie Burns Day

January 25: National Irish Coffee Day

January 31: National Brandy Alexander Day

FEBRUARY

First Saturday of February: Pisco Sour Day

The National Day of Pisco Sour is celebrated every first Saturday of February, according to a resolution of the Ministry of Production published in 2004. Before that, it was celebrated on February 8th.

February 4: 1862 - Facundo Bacardi Masso, and his brother Jose, bought the Santiago de Cuba distillery and started making rum.[3]

February 7: National Hangover Awareness Day

February 10, 1945: Rum and Coca Cola by Andrews Sisters hits #1

February 11: Don't Cry Over Split Milk Day

February 17: National Café Au Lait Day

February 18: Drink Wine Day

February 22: National Margarita Day

February 22: Don Beach's Birthday

February 24: World Bartender Day

Origin unknown, earliest reference year discovered so far is 2017.

February 27: National Kahlua Day

MARCH

March 1: Beer Day (in Iceland)

March 1, 1989 is when the 74 year prohibition of beer ended in Iceland. This apparently is a well-celebrated holiday there.

March 3, 1897: Bottled In Bond Day

On March 3rd, 1897, Congress passed the Bottled in Bond Act. The intent of this act was to create some strict guidelines that would allow customers to know that the whiskey they were buying was actually whiskey.[4]

March 3, 2003: A Tribute to "Professor" Jerry Thomas Father of the Cocktail - The Plaza Hotel, New York City

Featuring Jerry Thomas cocktails served by Dale DeGroff, Ted Haigh, Robert Hess, George Papadakis, Sasha Petraske, Gary Regan, Audrey Saunders, and David Wondrich. Presented in cooperation with Slow Food NYC[5][6].

March 3: National Mulled Wine Day

March 3: Bottled-In-Bond Day

In 1897, the US government passed the Bottled-In-Bond law.

March 4, 1634: First tavern in U.S. opens

March 5: National Absinthe Day

March 5th, 2007 marks the day in the US when Absinthe was once again legal.[7]

March 16: Bock Beer Day

March 17: St. Patrick's Day

March 17: National Green Beer Day

March 20: Bock Beer Day

March 24: National Cocktail Day

By some accounts, March 24th is apparently "National Cocktail Day", but not only is there no reference to which "Nation" it is that celebrates it on that day, there is already a "World Cocktail Day" (May 13). World Cocktail Day was declared in 2006 by the "Museum of the American Cocktail" in order to celebrate the day, 100 years prior, that the definition for the "Cocktail" is first found in print.
The first occurrence of "National Cocktail Day" appears to have occurred in 2013 when Jace Shoemaker-Galloway declared it as such for the holiday website she was running. [8]

March 27, 1860: The corkscrew is patented.[9]

March 27: International Whisk(e)y Day

Was first announced in 2008, and was created in honor of the late British writer Michael Jackson to celebrate his birthday. [10]

APRIL

April 8: Milk in Glass Bottles Day

April 9: Gin & Tonic Day (USA)

April 15: Income Tax Day (also Accountant's Day)

April 16: Kingsley Amis' Birthday (1922)

Gravesite reads "supreme clubman, boozer and blimp."

April 19: Alcohol Content allowed on labels (1955)

April 26: National Pretzel Day

Celebrate this one with a beer

MAY

May: National Egg Month

Second Week of May: American Craft Beer Week

Second Week of May: World Cocktail Week

As declared by The Museum of the American Cocktail in 2006

May 4: National Homebrew Day

May 4: National Orange Juice Day

May 4: Bourbon Whiskey Defined (1964)

May 5: Cinco de Mayo

May 6: Beverage Day

May 6-13: World Cocktail Week

As declared by The Museum of the American Cocktail in 2006. The specific dates here (May 6 to May 13) coincides with the dates in 1806 when the term "cock-tail" appeared in "The Balance and Columbian Repository (May 6, 1806), and then when the editor wrote a response to a reader which contains the first known occurrence of the definition of a cock-tail (May 13, 1806). This essentially provides us with two, often overlapping, "World Cocktail Week" celebrations, one during the second week of May, and another specifically on the dates May 6 thru 13. If you're confused, maybe you need to have a drink to settle down.

May 8: "Have A Coke" day

May 13: World Cocktail Day

As declared by The Museum of the American Cocktail in 2006. The word "cocktail" is first defined in print (1806)[11]

May 16: Charles Hires invents Root Beer (1866)

May 20: Last episode of "Cheers" airs (1993)

May 25: National Wine Day

May 28: Ian Fleming's Birthday (1908)

May 30: National Mint Julep Day

JUNE

June: National Ice Tea Month

June: National Dairy Lovers Month

June: Second Saturday - World Gin Day

June 1, 1494: Scotch Whiskey Day

(As declared by the Chanticleer Society) - Friar John Cor was recorded on June 1, 1494 as procuring supplies for the making of copious amounts of whisky for his Majesty, King James the IV. Not particularly an event of note excepting that this is the first known recorded use of the word whiskey and indicatory of a healthy and long established tradition of distilling whisky in Great Briton, else wise he'd not been making 1500 bottles of the stuff.
"To Friar John Cor, by order of the King, to make aqua vitae VIII bolls of malt." - Exchequer Rolls 1494-95, Vol x, p. 487.[12]

June 4: National Cognac Day

June 7, 1917: Dean Martin is born

June 8, 1751: Vodka Day

(As declared by the Chanticleer Society) The first written usage of the word vodka in an official Russian document in its modern meaning is dated by the decree of Empress Elizabeth of June 8, 1751, which regulated the ownership of vodka distilleries.

June 10: Iced Tea Day

June 12, 1744: Cachaca Day

"The SBC (Sociedade Brasileira da Cachaça) wants to declare June 12 the International Day of Cachaça because June 12, 1744, Portugal, then colonizer of Brazil, prohibited the production and distribution of cachaça in the country."[13]

June 16: Harry MacElhone was born this day in 1890.

June 19: National Martini Day

June 20: Ice Cream Soda Day

June 21: John Lermayer Day[14]

As declared by the city of Miami Beach in memory of John Lermayer.[15][16]

June 27: National Orange Blossom Day

June 30: National Ice Cream Soda Day

JULY

Second Saturday of July: World Rum Day

World Rum Day was launched in 2019 by Paul Jackson, spirits writer and Editor of World Rum Guide. It is celebrated on the 2nd Saturday of July each year, becoming the focal point of the wonderful series of occasions at the start of July, including National Mojito Day, National Piña Colada Day and National Daiquiri Day.[17]

July 2: National Anisette Day

July 2: National Flag Day in Curaçao [18]

July 10: National Pina Colada Day

July 11: National Mojito Day

July 14: National Grand Marnier Day

July 19: National Daiquiri Day

July 24: National Tequila Day

July 26: National Coffee Milkshake Day

July 27: National Scotch Day

July 31: Black Tot Day

It was on July 31st, 1970, that the Royal Navy issued sailors with their final rum ration. [19]

AUGUST

August 2: Peter O'Toole's Birthday (1932)

August 4: Champagne is "said" to have been invented by Dom Perignon on this day in 1693.

It was said that upon his first taste of his sparkling champagne wine he announced "Come quickly, I am drinking stars!". However sparkling wine was known before this time, one possible originator was Christopher Merret, who published in 1662 an account of making wines "brisk and sparkling" by adding sugars to them. Dom's quote is probably also more marketing than actual fact, since its first appearance is in a print advertisement in the late 19th century. This should not undermine Dom Perignon's value to the history of Champagne, because he did work tirelessly on advancing and perfecting the art, and almost certainly the product we drink today owes more than a small debt to his efforts.

August 5: International Beer Day - Apparently "first celebrated" on August 5th, 2007, and henceforth christened.[20]

"On the night in question, we were beerstorming (drinking lots of beer in an effort to come up with brilliant ideas) band names for a friend's new band, but a couple of hours into the evening, talk turned to how wonderful beerstorming itself was. After thoroughly discussing beerstorming's merits someone declared that there should be a beer holiday."

August 6: Root Beer Float Day

August 9: Diet Coke introduced (1982)

August 16: National Rum Day

August 20: Lemonade Day

August 29, 2005: The Pegu Club cocktail lounge opens in New York[21]. The Pegu Club, the brainchild of Audrey Saunders, ushered in craft cocktails to New York for the general public.

August 29: National Whisky Sour Day

August 29: Lemon Juice Day

August 30: Mai Tai Day[22]

As with many things on the Internet, there can be some confusion about this. There are a lot of folks who appear to claim that June 30th is Mai Tai day. So far, I haven't found any rationale that supports that claim. Since the Mai Tai was invented by "Trader Vic" in August of 1944, and since the Trader Vic company itself upholds August 30th as National Mai Tai Day, I think that settles it.

SEPTEMBER

September: California Wine Month

September 2: Beer & Can Day

September 12: Chocolate Milkshake Day

September 15: National Crème de Menthe Day

September 19: Talk like a Pirate Day

September 20: National Rum Punch Day

September 21: Dale DeGroff's Birthday

September 27: National Chocolate Milk Day

September 28: Drink Beer Day

September 29: National Coffee Day

September 30: National Mulled Cider Day

OCTOBER

October: American Beer Week (2nd week)

October 1: Sake Day (Nihonshu no Hi) [23]

October 4: National Vodka Day

October 5: Bloody Mary Day (#2)

Legend has it the world's first Bloody Mary was shaken precisely 75 years ago, on October 5, 1934-just five years after the invention of canned tomato juice-at the King Cole Bar in the St. Regis, the now-100-year-old beaux arts hotel founded by John Jacob Astor at the eminently exclusive corner of Fifth Avenue and 55th Street.[24]

October 7: National Frappe Day

October 11: World Egg Day

October 12: First Oktoberfest Celebrated (1810)

It was actually a party to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oktoberfest}

October 16: National Liqueur Day

October 19: International Gin & Tonic Day

Appears to have been honorarily declared in 2010 in honor of Mary Edith Keyburn, by her family. It is said she loved to have the occasional tipple of gin and tonic, and passed away on October 19th, 2010 - at the age of 95 - in the hospital with a gin and tonic at her side. It was smuggled into the hospital in a water bottle and served in a teacup. [25] In the US, it is also celebrated on April 9th.

October 20: National Brandied Fruit Day

October 27: American Beer Day

October 28, 1919: The "Volstead Act" is passed by the US Congress[26], overriding President Woodrow Wilson's veto. It establishes a definition of intoxicating liquor and provides enforcement of Prohibition.

October 30, 1830: Birth of Jerry Thomas

The birthdate listed on his death certificate is November 1st, but according to noted historian and Jerry Thomas expert David Wondrich, he was actually born on October 30th.

NOVEMBER

November: National Pomegranate Month

November 8: Harvey Wallbanger Day

November 24: National Espresso Day

DECEMBER

December: National Egg Nog Month

First Friday of December: Bartender Appreciation Day

We are still doing some research on this one, but so far it appears this was first established in 2011 by Sailor Jerry Rum.[27] There are some sources which will state it as simply being a specific date, usually "the" date it happens to occur in the year they are mentioning it, but more than one source was indicating it was December 6th so that it would be the day after "Repeal Day" [28]. A Friday, between Thanksgiving and Christmas makes a lot of sense. This would be the busy time of the year, and a Friday, doubly so. What better day to "appreciate" your bartender with a great tip!

Second Week of December: Lager Beer Week

December 1: Bloody Mary Day (#3)

December 5: Repeal Day

To celebrate the day that American Prohibition was repealed in U.S. (1933) [29]

December 10: National Lager Day

December 13: National Cocoa Day

December 14, 1885: Death of Jerry Thomas[30]

There are many instances of the date being listed as December 15th instead, but noted historian and Jerry Thomas expert David Wondrich, supports the date of December 14th instead.

December 17, 1773: The Boston Tea Party [31]

December 18, 1917: The 18th Amendment, which would lead to prohibition in the US, was proposed in the US Senate.

December 20: National Sangria Day

December 24: National Eggnog Day

December 30: National Bicarbonate Of Soda Day

December 31: National Champagne Day (conflicts with Champagne Day on January 19th)

Coffee Days

May 6: National Coffee Day

May 24: National Coffee Day in Brazil

July 22: Coffee Week

July 24: Coffee Day

August: National Coffee Month

September 12: National Coffee Day in Costa Rica

September 19: National Coffee Day in Ireland

September 29: National Coffee Day

October 1: National Coffee Day in Japan

November 24: National Espresso Day

December 26: Coffee Percolator Day

External Websites

References

  1. Milk & Honey New York website
  2. Tea Council of the USA Declares First Ever National Hot Tea Day (PRNewswire)
  3. Bacardi (Wikipedia)
  4. "What Does Bottled In Bond Mean?" (WhiskeyCulture.com)
  5. A Tribute To Jerry Thomas, Robert Hess (DrinkBoy.com)
  6. Shaken, Stirred or Mixed, The Gilded Age Lives Again, William Grimes (New York Times)
  7. "The Return of the Green Fairy" By Clément Thiery (March 4, 2021)
  8. holidailys.com : National Cocktail Day (via Archive.org)
  9. Corkscrew Patent #27615 (Google Patents)
  10. International Whisk(e)y Day Wikipedia
  11. The Origin of the Cocktail (Imbibe Magazine)
  12. John Cor (Wikipedia)
  13. News From Brazil
  14. John Lermayer Day
  15. June 21st officially named John Lermayer Day Thirsty Magazine
  16. John Lermayer Day Proclaimed as Sweet Liberty Gets Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award Nods Miami New Times, June 22, 2018
  17. World Rum Day
  18. Curacao celebrates Curacao Flag Day as a public holiday Holidays around the World
  19. Black Tot Day (Wikipedia)
  20. International Beer Day
  21. The Pegu Club, Frank Bruni (New York Times)
  22. Let's Get The Record Straight: Mai Tai Day(TraderVics.com
  23. Nihonshu no Hi (Sake World)
  24. Bloody Mary's Birthday (Edible Manhattan)
  25. FaceBook: International Gin & Tonic Day
  26. The Volstead Act (National Archives)
  27. Sailor Jerry Rum Exposes America’s Tipping Habits! (Bartender Magazine)
  28. Dec 6: Bartender Appreciation Day (Bar Biz Magazine)
  29. RepealDay.org
  30. Thomas, Jerry, 1830-1885(Library of Congress)
  31. Wikipedia: The Boston Tea Party