HAPPY WORLD COCKTAIL DAY

Each year on May 13, cocktail enthusiasts around the world celebrate the birth of the cocktail—acknowledged annually on the day that the word “cocktail” first appeared in print.

Since 2006—the 200th anniversary of the cocktail’s first appearance—world Cocktail Day has also coincided with the final day of World Cocktail Week. Created by The Museum of the American Cocktail, this annual celebration acknowledges the meteoric rise of flavorful, quality cocktails in popular culture, and is dedicated to “promoting an appreciation for the craft and culture of the cocktail.”

So… how did it all begin?

The beginning of the 18th century was an exciting time. Smallpox was on its way out, electric batteries were on their way in, and bar owners were beginning to experiment with alcoholic alchemy. In some circles, these boozy new concoctions were gaining traction, and customers began requesting “bittered slings” and “cock-tails.”

According to popular legend, on May 13, 1806, the term

“cocktail” first appeared in an American newspaper. After losing an election in New York, a weary politician wrote a satirical accounting of his campaign’s gains and losses for the Hudson newspaper The Balance, and Columbian Repository. His tally of losses included 720 rum-grogs, 32 gin-slings, 411 glasses bitters, and 25 dozen cock-tails.

What Is World Cocktail

Day?

If you’re like us, cocktails are a delicious, fun way to express yourself – and enjoy a buzz every once in a while. But cocktails haven’t always been around.

This is why, on World Cocktail

Day, we (and countless other people around the world) celebrate cocktails and their incredible versatility.

When Is World Cocktail Day?

World Cocktail Day is celebrated on May 13th every year – the holiday does not move around like others we’ve dis

cussed. In 2023, World Cocktail Day is on a Saturday, and in 2024, it will be on a Monday. 2025 will see World Cocktail

Day on a Tuesday, and 2026 World Cocktail Day will be on a Wednesday. 2027’s World Cocktail Day will be on a Thursday.