Cocktail Day

Cocktails. Pixabay / 2019 / CC0 1.0

The 24th of March is Cocktail Day.

It celebrates the wonderful alcoholic concoction bearing the somewhat bizarre name of “cocktail.”

Given the choice, would you prefer having a cocktail in a famous bar, or on a beach.

Cocktail hour is traditionally between 4 and 6 pm, before dinner, but if today falls on a weekend, you may wish to celebrate outside those hours. Appetizers are often served alongside cocktails.

Some chefs don’t like the idea of a cocktail hour before dinner, as they think the drinking dulls people’s appreciation of the food they have cooked for them.

Do you like your cocktail with or without garnishes? If your cocktail comes with an umbrella, don’t forget to check the umbrella for hidden messages: “Pull off the top of the umbrella and unravel the small piece of paper at the very tip of the wooden stem.” ^[1]Owen, Erika. There’s a tiny secret message hiding in your cocktail umbrella. Business Insider Magazine. 10 March 2017. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.businessinsider.com/cocktail-umbrella-hidden-message-2017-3 It may be a piece of old newspaper, or, it may be a fortune (as in a fortune cookie type of fortune).

#CocktailDay #Cocktails #NationalCocktailDay

See also: Cocktails, World Cocktail Day

Activities for today

• go to your favourite cocktail bar;
• look for a cocktail tasting at a bar being advertised;
• buy a recipe book for cocktails;
• learn to make a ‘mocktail’, which is a non-alcoholic cocktail. Handy for people in the crowd who are designated drivers!;
• have some friends over for a DIY cocktail party. Don’t forget to have some mixers on hand, ice and a cocktail shaker;
• try to invent a new cocktail, and name it (don’t forget to write down what you put in it, and the measurements. See Cocktail Guidelines);
• try a heated cocktail.

History

An archive search of 36,000 newspapers turned up no print mention of a “Cocktail Day” or “National Cocktail Day” in March.

It appears to be an Internet only holiday. Reputedly it was invented in 2013:

“National Cocktail Day (and other days) was invented in 2013 by author Jace Shoemaker-Galloway.” ^[2]https://alwaystheholidays.com/national-cocktail-day/ )

Jace Shoemaker-Galloway in fact does give herself credit for inventing the holiday. She writes on her blog:

“This annual holiday, created by cocktail enthusiast Jace Shoemaker-Galloway” ^[3]Shoemaker-Galloway, Jace. National Cocktail Day. 24 March 2015. Accessed May 2021 at https://www.holidailys.com/single-post/2015/03/24/National-Cocktail-Day-Cheers

Sources

Langston, Keith. Cheers to National Cocktail Day with These Great Cocktail Recipes. Passport Magazine. Accessed April 2021 at https://passportmagazine.com/cheers-national-cocktail-day-great-cocktail-recipes/

McCarthy, Kelly. Celebrate National Margarita Day with this tiger margarita. Good Morning America. 23 March 2021. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/food/story/shake-stir-strain-drinks-national-cocktail-day-76628242

Schoeber, Tyler. Happy National Cocktail Day: Here Are the Cocktails Our Editors Are Sipping to Celebrate. Spy Magazine. 24 March 2021. Accessed April 2021 at https://spy.com/articles/lifestyle/food-drink/national-cocktail-day-1202747059/

Stone, Sarah. Celebrate National Cocktail Day with this recipe. WTOC TV. 24 March 2021. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.wtoc.com/2021/03/24/celebrate-national-cocktail-day-with-this-recipe/

Torres, Zulma. National Cocktail Day is on March 24th Raise your Glass to Celebrate! South Beach Top Chefs. 19 March 2021. Accessed April 2021 at https://southbeachtopchefs.com/national-cocktail-day-at-nikki-beach-serena-at-moxy-nikki-beach-gramercy-traymore-and-more/

Walansky, Aly. 11 Cocktails Perfect For National Cocktail Day. Forbes Magazine. 21 March 2020. Accessed April 2021 at https://www.forbes.com/sites/alywalansky/2020/03/21/11-cocktails-perfect-for-national-cocktail-day/?sh=2e886cc646c9