Celebrating National Scotch Day!

On July 27th, we celebrate National Scotch Day! Scotch whisky dates back to the 15th century, and there are five distinct categories: single malt Scotch, single grain Scotch, blended malt Scotch, blended grain Scotch, and blended Scotch. Protected by law in 1933, and further in 1988 with the Scotch Whisky Act, specific guidelines must be followed when making Scotch. First, it must be made in Scotland, and only malted barley may be used, along with water and yeast. Other grains can be included, but no fermentation additives, per law. Scotch must also be aged in oak barrels for at least three years and have an ABV of less than 94.8%. Got it? Good! Now sit back and enjoy some Scotch to celebrate this very special day!

Celebrating National Bourbon Day!

Celebrate America’s “Native Spirit” on National Bourbon Day, June 14th! Did you know that all bourbons are whiskey, but not all whiskeys are bourbon? For a whiskey to classify as bourbon it must be made in the U.S., and it must be between 51 and 79 per cent corn. The other grains used in bourbon include malted barley and either rye or wheat. Bourbon must be aged at least two years in a new, charred American White Oak barrel that may only be used once for bourbon. You are not required to know all this in order to celebrate National Bourbon Day, but now that you do, aren’t you thirsty? Enjoy!

Celebrating World Whisky Day!

World Whisky Day was founded in 2012 and falls on the third Saturday of May each year. The day supports the charitable organization Just a Drop, which helps to provide clean water and sanitation in poor countries. Bottoms up!

Celebrating World Cocktail Day!

The common myth is that cocktails originated in New Orleans in the 1830’s. The story goes that Antoine Peychaud ran an apothecary shop in the French Quarter, and sold his own homemade bitters. After a time, he recognized that his bitters tasted especially good mixed with cognac, sugar and water. And, since he measured out this concoction with an egg cup, know as a "coquetier" in French, the “cocktail” was born.

However, World Cocktail Day is a global celebration of cocktails, marking the publication date of the first definition of a cocktail on May 13 in 1806. The New York tabloid The Balance and Columbian Repository defined a cocktail as "a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water and bitters". It was written by editor Harry Croswell in response to a reader’s inquiry.

Whether you believe cocktails originated sometime before 1806 or sometime in the 1830s in New Orleans, I’m just thankful someone created them! Cheers!

Celebrating National Beer Day!

National Beer Day is celebrated every year on April 7, marking the day that beer was no longer prohibited in the U.S. Passed in 1920, The Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, commonly known as Prohibition, was a nationwide ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. On March 22, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Cullen–Harrison Act into law, legalizing low alcohol beer and wine, ultimately leading to the Eighteenth Amendment being repealed on December 5, 1933, with ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. So, do your patriotic duty and drink a beer today. Just remember, don’t be too patriotic and drive!

Celebrating New Beer's Eve!

New Beer’s Eve is the day prior to National Beer Day, which commemorates the day in 1933 that beer was no longer prohibited in the U.S. Enjoy yourself tonight, but save some beer for tomorrow!