Happy New Year! Are you ready to start another year of holiday fun? I am!
Every day is a drinking holiday opportunity. It’s all about putting a creative spin to the holiday in question. Pie and cake holidays become liquid dessert cocktail days, because wouldn’t you rather sip your dessert than fork it?! I would. Put a straw in your long drink and you’re all set for Drinking Straw Day. Draw a nice bubble bath and sip some bubbly for Bubble Bath Day. You know you want to.
There are a few recognized national holidays on this list. The rest are just for fun. Most links go to recipes on this website. A few others link to outside sources for more information. Enjoy the year in cocktails.
Craft Beer Weeks – January – December
January
National Hot Tea Month – January 1 – 31(tea infused cocktails)
National Irish Coffee Week – 4th week in January (Homemade Irish Cream recipe)
New Year’s Day – January 1 (Mary’s Morning After Green Bloody Mary recipe)
National Bloody Mary Day – January 1(Bloody Money recipe)
National Drinking Straw Day – January 3 (Kiss Me Sweetly recipe)
National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day – January 3 (Knotty Cherry Shot recipe)
Bubble Bath Day – January 8
National Hot Toddy Day – January 11 (Lemon Ginger Hot Toddy recipe)
National Hot Buttered Rum Day – January 17 (Hot Buttered Rum recipe)
National Coffee Break Day – January 20 (6 chilly morning coffees)
National Pie Day – January 23 (Coconut Cream Pie hot drink)
National Beer Can Appreciation Day – January 24 (local craft beers review)
National Irish Coffee Day – January 25 (Classic Irish Coffee and more)
Burns Night – January 25 (Bobby Burns with Allspice)
National Chocolate Cake Day – January 27 (Devil’s Double Chocolate Cake cocktail)
Brandy Alexander Day – January 31 (Classic Brandy Alexander)
National Hot Chocolate Day – January 31 (White Hot Chocolate)
February
National Grapefruit Month – January 1 – 31 (Ruby Red Grapefruit Margarita)
Pisco Sour Day – 1st Saturday in February (Pisco Portón Review)
Open the Bottle Night – Last Saturday in February (Holiday Wines)
The Day the Music Died – February 3 (Toasting the Legends of Rock recipes)
Super Bowl 50 – February 7 (Gridiron Greats recipes)
Chinese New Year – February 8 (Chinese Five Spice Popcorn plus cocktail)
Mardi Gras / Fat Tuesday – February 9 (Mardi Gras Mayhem cocktails)
Umbrella Day – February 10 (Damn the Weather recipe)
Valentine’s Day – February 14 (Naughty Valentine cocktails)
Singles Awareness Day – February 15 (Celebrating Single)
Drink Wine Day – February 18 (Brass Bee Hive wine cocktail)
National Chocolate Mint Day – February 19 (Chocolate Mint Cookie Cocktail)
Cherry Pie Day – February 20 (Cherry Vanilla Martini recipe)
National Margarita Day – February 22 (On the rocks Margarita)
National Pistachio Day – February 26
National Kahlua Day – February 27 (Homemade coffee liqueur)
National Body Shot Day – February 27 (Alligator shot and variations)
Oscars Night – February 28 (Red Carpet cocktail)
Leap Day – February 29
March
National Peanut Month – March 1 – 31 (Peanut Butter Cup Hot Chocolate)
Peanut Butter Lover’s Day – March 1 (Frozen Peanut Butter Backflip)
National Mulled Wine Day – March 3 (Blackberry Mulled Wine)
National Absinthe Day – March 5 (Monkey Gland cocktail)
Johnny Appleseed Day – March 11 (Maple Whiskey Apple Pie cocktail)
Rosie the Riveter Birthday – March 12
Girl Scouts Day – March 12
Ides of March (Roman New Year) – March 15
National Artichoke Hearts Day – March 16 (Cynar liqueur recipes)
St. Patrick’s Day – March 17 (Irish Castaway long drink)
International Earth Day – March 20 (earth friendly Prairie Organic Spirits)
Bock Beer Day – March 22
World Water Day – March 22
National Cocktail Day – March 24
Pecan Day – March 25 (Praline Pecan Pie recipe)
Easter – March 27 (Pineapple Blueberry Basil recipe)
Something on a Stick Day – March 28
April
Alcohol Awareness Month – April 1 – 30 (Calories per ounce in liquor and liqueur)
National Pecan Month – April 1 – 30
April Fool’s Day – April 1 (Kiss Me You Fool cocktail)
National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day – April 2
National Beer Day – April 7 (Licor 43 Mini Beer Shot)
National Gin & Tonic Day – April 9 (try the Diamond Fizz instead)
Scrabble Day – April 13 (Sipping a Fuzzy Navel with my scrabble game)
Ex-Spouse Day – April 14 (The X-files cocktails)
National Pecan Day – April 14 (The Kiss with Praline Pecan Liqueur)
World Malbec Day – April 17 (New York Sour is perfect for Malbec)
National Amaretto Day – April 19 (Cherry Cola recipe)
National Garlic Day – April 19 (Bare Bones with garlic stuffed olives)
Spring Equinox – March 20 (Ognam Spring Cocktail long drink)
Earth Day – April 22
National Jelly Bean Day – April 22
Babe Ruth Day – April 27
May
National Barbecue Month – May 1 – 31 (BBQ Bloody Mary recipe with bacon)
World Whiskey Day – 3rd Saturday of May (white whiskey spring drinks)
American Beer Week – 4th week in May
May Day – May 1
National Orange Juice Day – May 4 (Piece of Cake Peach Bellini)
National Candied Orange Peel Day – May 4 (try candied grapefruit with Rubyfruit Martini)
Star Wars Day (May the fourth be with you) – May 4
Cinco de Mayo – May 5 (15 tequila cocktails to choose from)
Beverage Day – May 6
No Diet Day – May 6 (ditch the diet Mocktail)
National Homebrew Day – May 7
National Cosmopolitan Day – May 7 (Cosmo cocktail & variations)
Mother’s Day – May 8 (Mother’s Love champagne cocktail)
National Moscato Day – May 9 (Wild Strawberry Sangria)
Twilight Zone Day – May 11 (Twilight Zone cocktail pairings)
World Cocktail Day – May 13
Friday the 13th – May 13 (creepy shots and horror movie pairings)
Leprechaun Day – May 13 (Lunar Leprechaun green margarita)
National Chocolate Chip Day – May 15
Mimosa Day – May 16 (The Duchess with apricot brandy)
Wear Purple for Peace Day – May 16
American Craft Beer Week – May 16 – 22
Pick Strawberries Day – May 20 (Strawberry Fields Forever with Driscoll’s strawberries)
National Waiters and Waitresses Day – May 21
National Wine Day – May 25
Sun Screen Day – May 27
Memorial Day – May 30
National Mint Julep Day – May 30 (Candy Cane Julep alternative)
National Macaroon Day – May 31 (Coconut Macaroon cocktail with rum)
June
National Iced Tea Month – June 1 – 30 (Sweet Tea recipes with Jeremiah Weed)
Candy Month – June 1 – 30 (Candy Girl cocktail)
National Go Barefoot Day – June 1 (Black Cherry Daiquiri)
Dare Day – June 1
National Rocky Road Day – June 2
National Doughnut Day – June 3
National Cognac Day – June 4 (try the Frozen Sidecar)
National Moonshine Day – June 5 (Moonshine cocktails)
National Chocolate Ice Cream Day – June 7
Name Your Poison Day – June 8
National Iced Tea Day – June 10 (Wild About Tea)
Alcoholics Anonymous (Founders) Day – June 10
National Black Cow Day – June 10 (try the Especial Brown Cow)
National Gin Day – June 11 (Blood Orange Blossom with Nolet’s Silver Gin)
National German Chocolate Cake Day – June 11(hot German Chocolate Cake / cold German Chocolate Cake)
National Lemonade Days 12 – 14 (Rosemary Lemonade with infused ice cubes)
World Gin Day – June 13 (out of this world Gin Punch)
National Bourbon Day – June 14 (4 bourbon cocktails)
Flag Day – June 14 (try the Betsy Ross cocktail)
International Picnic Day – June 18
National Splurge Day – June 18
National Martini Day – June 19 (Classic Martini & the Dillatini)
Father’s Day – June 19 (Scotch cocktails are always a hit)
Summer Solstice – June 20 (try the Early Summer cocktail)
National Pink Day – June 23 (Pink Slippers is the way to go)
National Mai Tai Day – June 30 (have some fun with the Mai Tai Me Up)
July
National Ice Cream Month – July 1 – 31 (this is so delicious with ice cream added)
National Blueberry Month – July 1 – 31 (blueberry lavender syrup for cocktails)
National Wine Cooler Day – July 1 (try a white wine spritzer)
Canada Day – July 1 (Canadian whiskey cocktails)
National Anisette Day – July 2 (try the Christmas Snowball)
Independence Day – July 4 (7 Fourth of July recommendations)
Chocolate Day – July 7 (this double chocolate liqueur is to die for)
National Strawberry Sundae Day – July 7
National Sugar Cookie Day – July 9
National Pina Colada Day – July 10 (Red Rock Colada cocktail)
National Mojito Day – July 11 (not ashamed to say I love Mojitos and don’t mind making them)
Pecan Pie Day – July 12
Embrace Your Geekness Day – July 13
Bastille Day – July 14
National Grand Marnier Day – July 14 (try the Grand Old Fashioned)
National Ice Cream Day – July 17
Peach Ice Cream Day – July 17
National Daiquiri Day – July 19 (Honeydew Me Daiquiri)
National Raspberry Cake Day – July 19
Neil Armstrong Legendary Moon Walk (1969) – July 21
Legal Drinking Age Day – July 21 (21 must try classics for your 21st birthday year)
Vanilla Ice Cream Day – July 23
National Tequila Day – July 24 (easy peasy tequila cocktails)
Amelia Earhart Day – July 24 (try these flight related cocktails)
Culinarians Day – July 25
National Wine & Cheese Day – July 25
National Scotch Day – July 27 (The Macallan Negroni is a must try)
National Crème Brulee Day – July 27
National Milk Chocolate Day – July 28
August
Rye Month – August 1 – 31
Peach Month – August 1 – 31 (just in time for Just Peachy Punch)
Romance Awareness Month – August 1 – 31 (check out my cocktails & stories book)
International Beer Day – 1st Friday in August
India Pale Ale Beer Day – August 1
Mead Day – August 1
National Raspberry Cream Pie Day – August 1 (try The Razz coffee)
National Watermelon Day – August 3 (raspberry + watermelon & mint = yum!)
Birth of Champagne – August 4
National Root Beer Float Day – August 6 (Rogue Pirate for something different)
National Mustard Day – August 6
International Hangover Day – August 8 (better to drink less, but try these remedies)
Book Lover’s Day – August 9 (shots & shooters eBook)
National S’mores Day – August 10
National Creamsicle Day – August 14 (try this lower calorie Creamsicle cocktail)
Aviation Day – August 19
National Rum Day – August 16 (Rum Old Fashioned will hit the spot)
National Pinot Noir Day – August 18 (Harvest Spiced Wine)
Wright’s Brother’s Day (Aviation Day) – August 19 (Simon Difford’s Aviation No. 1)
National Lemonade Day – August 20 (two ingredients Ketel One Lemonade)
National Whiskey Sour Day – August 25 (Basic Sour from The Flowing Bowl)
Just Because Day – August 27
Red Wine Day – August 28 (red wine is essential for Spanish inspired cocktails)
Lemon Juice Day – August 29 (Homemade sour mix with lemon and lime)
Frankenstein Day (Mary Wollenstone Shelley, 1818 Frankenstein author) – August 30
Toasted Marshmallow Day – August 30 (Coconuts for Cocoa with marshmallow cream)
September
National Bourbon Month – September 1 – 30 (small batch bourbons)
California Wine Month – September 1 – 30 (Fun wine facts)
Labor Day – September 5 (2 ingredient cocktails keep this day labor free)
Read a Book Day – September 6 (for your reading pleasure)
Chocolate Milkshake Day – September 12 (Make this with chocolate ice cream)
National Peanut Day – September 13 (Peanut Crème Espresso cocktail)
Fortune Cookie Day – September 13
National Crème de Menthe Day – September 15 (Mini Mint Layered Shot)
Mexican Independence Day – September 16 (there’s more to tequila than Margaritas)
Talk Like a Pirate Day – September 19 (Pirate’s Punch)
National Rum Punch Day – September 20 (Ginger Thyme Cider Rum Punch)
Autumn Equinox – September 22 (time for an Autumn Breeze)
National White Chocolate Day – September 22 (Pumpkin Pie White Hot Chocolate)
National Cherries Jubilee Day – September 24
Johnny Appleseed Day – September 26 (3 Appletini cocktails)
National Chocolate Milk Day – September 27 (Adult Chocolate Milk)
German Oktoberfest Begins – September 27
National Drink Beer Day – September 28
Budweiser National Happy Hour – September 29
International Coffee Day – September 29 (try the Magic Marshmallow Coffee)
National Mocha Day – September 29 (Melting Mocha hot coffee)
National Hot Mulled Cider Day – September 30 (how about a hot buttered cider)
October
National Applejack Month – October 1 – 31
Breast Cancer Awareness Month – October 1 – 31 (Party for Pink)
Cookie Month – October 1 – 31 (because I can’t resist Oatmeal Cookies)
National Liver Awareness Month – October 1 – 31
Twilight Zone First Aired (1959) – October 2
National Vodka Day – October 4 Additional Link
National Frappe Day – October 4
Mad Hatter Day – October 6 (Alice in Wonderland)
It’s My Party Day – October 11 (know the measurements on red plastic cups)
Cookbook Launch Day – October 12
National Dessert Day – October 14 (now this is dessert!)
World Egg Day – October 14 (eggless White Lady classic cocktail)
National Red Wine Day – October 15 (know your wine calories & proper serve amounts)
National Liqueur Day – October 16 (Homemade Vanilla Liqueur)
International Gin & Tonic Day – October 19 (lower calorie version)
National Brandied Fruit Day – October 20 (Apricot Bonfire is a must try)
National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day – October 21 (Kahlua Pumpkin Spice Liqueur)
National Caramel Apple Day – October 21 (you want this)
National Mezcal Day – October 21 (time for a Naked & Famous cocktail)
National Chocolate Day – October 28 (An Almond Joy should hit the spot)
Frankenstein Friday – October 28 (let’s do the Monster Mash…)
National Candy Corn Day – October 30 (Trick or Tini looks like candy corn)
Carve a Pumpkin Day – October 31 (Vines & Leaves Punch with Pumpkin Spice Syrup)
Halloween – October 31 (8 last minute Halloween Recipes)
November
Peanut Butter Lovers Month – November 1 – 30 (PB&J shot and cocktail)
Aviation History Month – November 1 – 30
Peanut Butter Lovers Month – November 1 – 30
National Vinegar Day – November 1
Day of the Dead – November 1
Book Lover’s Day – November 5
Hot Scotch & Lemon Day – November 6 (shared by Weekend Whiskey)
National Gin Day – November 7
National Harvey Wallbanger Day – November 8
National Shot Day – November 8
National Cappuccino Day – November 8
Sadie Hawkins Day – November 13
National Pickle Day – November 14
Clean Your Refrigerator Day – November 15
Beaujolais Nouveau Day – November 19
National Espresso Day – November 23 (Butterscotch Espresso Martini)
Eat a Cranberry Day – November 23 (Skinny Cranberry Cordial)
Thanksgiving – November 24 (Holiday in a Glass)
Black Friday – November 25 (I’d weather sip a Little Black Dress than go shopping)
Tie One On Day – November 25
Advent Begins – November 27
Cyber Monday – November 28
December
National Eggnog Month – December 1 – 31 (Maker’s 46 Bourbon Eggnog)
National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month – December 1 – 31
Santa’s List Day – December 4
Repeal Day (End of Prohibition) – December 5
Bartender Appreciation Day – December 5
St. Nicholas Day – December 6
National Cotton Candy Day – December 7 (Cotton Candy cocktail)
National Lager Day – December 10
National Cocoa Day – December 12 (Stay comfy cozy with Comfy Cocoa)
Ice Cream Day – December 13
National Screwdriver Day – December 14 (Tiki Screwdriver)
Bake Cookies Day – December 18
National Sangria Day – December 20 (Frozen Sangria Margarita)
Winter Solstice – December 21 (Winter Slumber)
Festivus – December 23
National Egg Nog Day – December 24
National Chocolate Day – December 24
Christmas – December 25 (12 Days of Christmas Cocktails)
National Fruit Cake Day – December 27 (skip the fruitcake and go for a nightcap)
Boxing Day – December 28
National Champagne Day – December 31 (Forever Diamonds champagne cocktail)
New Year’s Eve – December 31 (Vittoria champagne cocktail)
Speak up!
Did I miss any? Speak up and leave a comment so I can add it to the list.
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All content ©2016 Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist. All Rights Reserved. Chat with Cheri @Intoxicologist on Twitter and facebook.com/Intoxicologist
Cheri Loughlin is the Omaha writer and photographer behind www.intoxicologist.net and author of Cocktails with a Tryst: An Affair with Mixology and Seduction. You can email Cheri with comments and questions at str8upcocktails@gmail.com.
I didn’t realize there were so many drinking holidays! Thanks for assembling the calendar! :)
My goodness you have so many beautiful and mouthwatering recipes for alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beverages. There are too many to narrow down to just one favorite.
The beauty of it all, Kim, is we don’t have to pick just one favorite! Cheers!
It’s such a treat putting the calendar together. I find “new” holidays and old ones I’ve forgotten about.
Thanks for spreading the word about National Cocktail Day on March 24. Cheers!
My pleasure.