March 24 is National Cocktail Day! Cocktail Day is celebrated in the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK. The world celebrates all cocktails on May 13 which is World Cocktail Day. Commemorate this exciting holiday by crafting a cocktail at home, sipping on a delicious martini at your preferred spot, or elevating your dinner party with perfectly paired food and cocktails.
National Cocktail Day is a celebration of the vast and versatile world of mixed drinks known as cocktails. It's a day to enjoy and appreciate the beauty and variety of these delicious beverages known as cocktails.
Brief History of Alcohol
Historians think the Sazerac may have been one of the first cocktails created. In 1838. It is believed a Creole apothecary in New Orleans invented a drink that was originally served in an egg cup. Some believe this may have contributed to the development of the word “cocktail”, even though there is no evidence in support of this especially since the word may have existed decades before.
During the period of Prohibition in the 1920s and 1930s, cocktails emerged as a solution to the unpleasant and harsh taste of alcohol. Moonshine was often of inferior quality and high in alcohol. It was produced underground and illegally. The best way to conceal the unpleasant and tough flavor of liquor, fruits, honey, and other flavors were frequently added. This adaptation became necessary to hide and mask the blatant consumption of alcohol during the active prohibition laws that were in place at the time.
History of National Cocktail Day
Holiday enthusiast Jace Shoemaker-Galloway established National Cocktail Day as a vibrant and lively occasion to commemorate an enjoyable beverage.
Today, the world of cocktails is constantly evolving with new and unique combinations of flavors, colors and appearance. New cocktails are constantly being developed, with some of the strangest and most unique combinations to create a truly engaging beverage. Not only are cocktails mixed based on flavor, but the color and presentation are also key factors in creating an engaging experience. In fact, some newer cocktails will even change color like magic, making them even more captivating!
Opportunities to create unique cocktails are available to anyone, not just expert mixologists, providing an endless canvas for engaging creations and more captivating experiences. So, get your creative juices flowing and mix up the next trendy cocktail and introduce it to the world!
Types of Cocktails
Some cocktails place a greater emphasis on the alcohol content while others highlight the mixers as the main feature, resulting in a more appealing cocktail.
For instance, classic martinis or Manhattans are mostly composed of alcohol. On the other hand, mixed cocktails such as a margarita or Paloma contain juices that help to mellow out the alcohol taste in the cocktail, resulting in a more enjoyable and flavorful drink.
The Top 5 Spirits Used to Make Cocktails:
Alcoholic spirits are the strongest type of alcoholic beverage, distinguished by their distillation and higher alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage, typically ranging from 20% to as high as 80 or 90%. All alcoholic beverages are made through fermentation of a sugary brew into ethanol and carbon dioxide, but distillation is necessary to achieve higher alcohol concentrations. While commonly referred to as "liquor", the term "spirit" does not encompass all non-wine and beer products found in liquor stores.
Vodka Spirit
Vodka is a type of ethyl alcohol that is typically odorless and tasteless. However, many distillers add their own unique touch to make their brand stand out. This can include various flavorings, dyes, and the addition of water to adjust the intensity of the flavor.
You may be interested in 5 Most Popular Vodka Cocktails.
Tequila Spirit
Tequila is a type of distilled spirit that is made from the agave plant, and it can only be produced in certain regions of Mexico. There are many different styles of tequila, and distillers must follow specific regulations in order to produce it correctly. This information provides a much more informative view of tequila's production and regulations.
The most popular tequila-based cocktail is a Margarita followed by the Paloma.
Gin Spirit
Gin is a type of alcoholic beverage that is made from a base of grains like wheat or barley. The process involves fermentation and distillation. However, to be legally classified as gin, it must have a predominant flavor of juniper berries. The alcohol by volume (ABV) content of gin typically ranges from 35% to 55%.
Have you ever tried the delightful crisp and sweet Clover Club Cocktail?
Rum Spirit
Rum is a type of distilled liquor that is made from sugarcane products. It is usually produced as a by-product of sugar manufacture. Rum can be divided into two main categories: light-bodied rums and heavier, fuller-flavored rums. Light-bodied rums are typically associated with Cuba and Puerto Rico, while the heavier rums are more commonly found in Jamaica.
Bourbon and Whiskey Spirits
Bourbon and whiskey may be difficult to distinguish at first glance. Despite both being brown liquids, they have distinct characteristics that set them apart. It's worth noting that while bourbon is a type of whiskey, not all whiskey is bourbon.
Certain rules apply for bourbon. Firstly, it must be made with at least 51% corn. The high corn content gives bourbon the distinctive sweet flavor. Secondly, bourbon is always aged in new charred oak barrels and must be color and additive free.
Whiskey on the other hand is a type of spirit that is made by fermenting grains and aging the result in barrels. The variety of whiskey can be determined by the type of grain and barrels used in the process. The less restrictive ingredients and process allows for more whiskey varietals.
March 24 is National Cocktail Day - How to Celebrate
- Order a classic cocktail or originally created from a cocktail menu at a restaurant or bar.
- Invite a friend or neighbor over for a cocktail at your home.
- Invite friends for cocktails and snacks and enjoy good drinks with good friends.
- Go to your local liquor store and pick up a ready to drink, pre-mixed cocktail. They come in cans or bottles, and there is a lot of options and selections available on the market.
- Create a cocktail at home and enjoy one or two. View our Over 30 Amazing Cocktails collection.
- Create a social media survey asking your friends and family what their favorite cocktail is.
- Share a selfie with your favorite cocktail. Use #NationalCocktailDay
- Share a fun cocktail quote or meme on social media.
- Always, DRINK RESPONSIBLY!!
Cocktail Quotes
"I drink to make other people more interesting."
Ernest Hemingway
"One revolution is like one cocktail, it just gets you organized for the next."
Will Rogers
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day."
Jack Lemmon
"Cocktails are society's most enduring invention!"
Elsa Maxwell
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough."
Mark Twain
National Cocktail Day Hashtags for Social Media
Share with these other Cocktail related hashtags:
#cocktails #cocktailday #drinks #bar #cocktail #bartender #mixology #drink #food #gin #happyhour #cocktailbar #cocktailsofinstagram #party #drinkstagram #instagood #mixologist #vodka #cheers #love #restaurant #bartenderlife #alcohol #rum #craftcocktails #cocktailtime #celebrate #friends #drinkup #whiskey #nightlife #barman #happyhour #bartenders #tequila #cocktailhour #whisky #liquor #bartending #cocktailoftheday #fun #yummy #aperitivo #photooftheday #instafood #weekend #pub #drinking #gintonic #bourbon #instadrink #mocktails #spirits #march24 #foodholidays #drinkholidays #goodeatsguide
View all March Food Holidays. Need more cocktail recipes? Check out our Cocktail Recipes collection.
How to Celebrate National Cocktail Day on March 24
Commemorate this exciting holiday by crafting a cocktail at home, sipping on a delicious martini at your preferred spot, or elevating your dinner party with perfectly paired food and cocktails.
Materials
- Your favorite spirit - vodka, gin, tequila, rum, whiskey or bourbon.
- Ingredients for your cocktail recipe.
