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 International Whisk(e)y Day!

International Whisk(e)y Day, observed on March 27th each year, is a celebration of whiskey by whiskey fans from around the world. The name uses a parenthesis to indicate support of Scottish, Canadian, and Japanese whiskies (no e) as well as Irish and American whiskeys (with an e). The day publicly supports Parkinson's disease research in addition to enjoying Whiskey. International Whisk(e)y Day is not to be confused with World Whisky Day or National Bourbon Day which fall in May and June respectively. Oh, no, no, no! By all means, we need multiple days to celebrate whisky, whiskey, and bourbon!

Happy National Absinthe Day!

Absinthe is a highly alcoholic, anise-flavored spirit that was portrayed as a dangerously addictive psychoactive drug and hallucinogen, and was banned in the United States by 1915. However, in reality, studies show that its psychoactive properties were exaggerated, other than that of the alcohol. The 1990’s saw a revival of absinthe, and now there are nearly 200 brands produced in a dozen countries. So, today is National Absinthe Day … what are you waiting for? Bottoms up! You may want to take tomorrow off, though …

Photo by Eric Litton

Celebrating National Bloody Mary Day!

National Bloody Mary Day serves up one of the world's most popular hangover cures on January 1st. But, you don’t have to be hungover to enjoy this  cocktail containing vodka, tomato juice, and other spices and flavorings including Worcestershire sauce, hot sauces, garlic, herbs, horseradish, celery, olives, salt, black pepper, lemon juice, lime juice and celery salt. The Bloody Mary was invented in the 1920s or 1930s, and its name is associated with a number of historical figures—particularly Queen Mary I of England, who was nicknamed "Bloody Mary", and with Hollywood star Mary Pickford. Others believe this cocktail was named after a waitress named Mary who worked at a Chicago bar called the Bucket of Blood. Whatever its origin, drink in the New Year with this delectable cocktail!

Happy 87th Anniversary, Pat O'Brien's!

Pat O’Brien ran a speakeasy in New Orleans’ French Quarter, until the repeal of Prohibition, and officially opened the bar on December 3, 1933. Pat O’Brien’s became one of the most iconic nightclubs in the United States, partly by mixing plentiful rum with passion fruit and putting it in a glass shaped like a hurricane lamp, and by originating the popular form of dueling piano entertainment where the audience dictates the show. No visit to New Orleans is complete without a visit to Pat O’Brien’s!