National Cocktail Day is on Wednesday, March 24, 2027, and it falls on March 24 every year. It’s a day for adults 21 and over to mix a classic drink or try a new one. Mocktails count, too, if you’d rather skip the alcohol.
When Is National Cocktail Day?
It’s always March 24. It’s separate from World Cocktail Day, which New York State recognizes on May 13.
Who Started National Cocktail Day?
No founder or start year has been documented.
Background: where “cocktail” was first defined
In a small New York newspaper. On May 13, 1806, The Balance and Columbian Repository, a Claverack, New York, paper edited by Harry Croswell, printed the first published definition.
It described a cocktail as “a stimulating liquor” made of spirits, sugar, water and bitters. That’s close to what we’d call an Old Fashioned today.
Why Celebrate Cocktails?
The word’s first published definition appeared in America, and mixing a drink well is a small craft. The day celebrates bartenders and home mixers alike.
Classic cocktails to try
- Old Fashioned: bourbon or rye, a sugar cube, bitters and an orange peel.
- Daiquiri: white rum, fresh lime juice and simple syrup, shaken and served up.
- Negroni: equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, stirred over ice.
- French 75: gin, lemon juice and simple syrup, topped with Champagne.
How to Celebrate National Cocktail Day
- Measure with a jigger: free-pouring makes drinks stronger and less balanced.
- Shake or stir: shake anything with juice; stir drinks made only of spirits, like a Negroni.
- Make your own syrup: simmer equal parts sugar and water with rosemary or ginger.
- Use fresh juice: squeeze limes and lemons the same day for the brightest flavor.
- Mix a mocktail: try a virgin mojito with mint, lime, simple syrup and soda water.
- Host a mixing class: set out spirits, citrus and syrups, and let guests build one drink each.
- Plan your ride: pick a designated driver or book a rideshare before the first drink.
How Strong Is One Cocktail?
A U.S. standard drink holds about 14 grams of pure alcohol, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. That equals 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits.
Many cocktails pour more than that. A drink with two ounces of whiskey plus a liqueur can add up to more than one standard drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is National Cocktail Day the same as World Cocktail Day?
No. World Cocktail Day falls on May 13, the anniversary of the 1806 definition. March 24 is a separate U.S. day.
Has New York honored the 1806 definition?
Yes. In 2026, New York marked the 220th anniversary with a state proclamation in Hudson.
What’s an easy mocktail for kids?
A Shirley Temple: ginger ale, a splash of grenadine and a cherry.