Just about everyone knows that a cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that is either made with a single spirit or made with a combination of spirits that’s been mixed with other ingredients such as flavored syrups, tonic water, bitters, juices, and/or herbs.

They also know that some of the most well-known cocktails include the Negroni, Martini, Margarita, Old-Fashioned, and Whiskey Sour. What many people might not realize, however, is that there is a holiday dedicated to cocktails called World Cocktail Day. This holiday is observed annually on May 13th and encourages everyone who is of legal age to try out their favorite cocktail.

The History Of World Cocktail Day

People have been making mixed drinks since the invention of alcohol, but the concept of the modern cocktail as we know it really didn’t begin to take shape until the 18th century. According to popular belief, this cocktail was the Sazerac — a cocktail that was made using cognac or rye whiskey, absinthe, a sugar cube, and two dashes of Bitters and originally from New Orleans.

However, some people have disputed this claim and stated that drinks made with cognac, bitters, and absinthe were common at that time. The origins of this holiday are currently unknown. What we mean by that is that we don’t know who invented it or when it was invented.

However, that doesn’t mean that we’re entirely clueless about this holiday. We do know that this holiday was placed on May 13th. It was placed on that date because that is when the Old Fashioned was originally published in 1806. This was the first time that the word cocktail was used in print.

Some Entertaining Facts About Cocktails

Below are some entertaining facts about cocktails that we feel everyone will be able to impress their friends and family with. Let’s take a close look at these facts before we continue on with how this day is celebrated.

• The first book of cocktail recipes was published in 1862 by Jerry Thomas.
• The most popular drink in the world is the Old Fashioned.
• The original Whiskey Sour recipe uses egg white. This creates a foamy froth in the drink.
• March 24th is National Cocktail Day.

Observing World Cocktail Day

During World Cocktail Day, bartenders all over the world take the time to show off their cocktail-making skills. There are even competitions that bartenders can join to find out who the most creative and innovative bartender really is. Of course, this doesn’t have to be determined by professionals in restaurants and bars.

People can also take the time to celebrate this holiday and find out who in their social circle is the best maker of exotic cocktails. And once that’s been determined, they can use the hashtag #WorldCocktailDay to spread the word.