National Cocktail Day 2023: 7 Recipes To Shake Up Your Party Game

ACROSS AMERICA — We fully acknowledge that National Cocktail Day — this year on Friday — is a self-indulgent, frivolous celebration existing mainly in our internet-fueled imaginations.

But, why not go for it anyway?

It sure beats some of the other made-up holidays out there built around, for example, biological functions that are common and ordinary — unless you’re sick and it is not happening for you, and then there is even less to celebrate. There are also some built around men’s underwear and naked gardening that may make you want to numb yourself with a cocktail.

People who enjoy a good cocktail have Jace Shoemaker-Galloway to thank for the annual March 24 happy hour, but those who don’t imbibe needn’t feel left out, either. Shoemaker-Galloway is a prolific “holidaymaker” whose made-up holidays include helpings of food-related celebrations because, she explains on her website, “every day of the year really is a holiday.”

The intent of National Cocktail Day, specifically, is to not only celebrate the “ginormous variety of cocktails,” but also encourage people to create their own concoctions.

So, cheers! We stirred up the internet for the perfect cocktail for your mood.

When Winter Was Hideous …

This one’s a toast to winter hardy states and, especially, Minnesota, which had a ridiculous amount of snow this year. There was so much snow — more than 80 inches of it in the Twin Cities — that these hearty northerners went 100 days without being able to see the grass.

YOUR TURN: What is your go-to cocktail and how do you make it? Tell us in the comments section.

To these folks, we raise the Zombie Cocktail. It’s plucked from My Bartender’s list of the 10 Strongest Cocktail Recipes of All Time, which includes everything from martinis and champagne cocktails to fragrant, bitter Negronis. Be warned: One of any of these is enough.

To make the Zombie Cocktail, you’ll need three kinds of rum — gold, dark and overproof. The recipe also calls for fresh lime juice, falernum syrup, grapefruit juice, grenadine, Pernod and a dash of Angostura bitters.

… And You Need Summer Now

Again, Minnesotans braved it through more than 14 weeks of trying to stay upright in treacherous conditions. Raise a glass to them with the summery-est of the summertime drinks.

Last year, The New York Times proclaimed that to be the Dirty Shirley, a nostalgic — and colorful — vodka-laced take on a Shirley Temple. And it has the benefit of being lower in calories than other traditional cocktails.

You’ll need vodka, grenadine, lemon-lime soda (Sprite or 7Up) and maraschino cherries for garnish.

For When It Actually Is Steamy

Weather forecasters expect a hot, steamy summer across much of the country this year. This light, fresh Cucumber Collins Cocktail is perfect for a lingering summer luncheon. It was developed by Cam Northway, celebrity drinks consultant and co-founder of the Bondi bar and restaurant Rocker.

You’ll need gin, cordial, lemon, cucumber and soda water.

When You Want A Stiff Drink …

For this mood, we again consulted My Bartender for the fun-sounding Aunt Roberta. Have no doubt. Aunt Roberta packs a punch.

You’ll need brandy, vodka, absinthe, gin, blackberry liqueur and an orange peel is a nice garnish.

… But Still Need To Function

Half-proof cocktails, or even mocktails, are enjoying a moment with the sober-curious looking for something refreshing without a lot of booze. From Food52, how about this Blood Orange Radler?

You’ll need chilled India pale ale (with or without alcohol), chilled lemon soda, blood orange juice, lemon juice, Ghia nonalcoholic apéritif, citrus-infused honey and blood oranges.

When You Want To Be Fancy …

Classic cocktails are back in fashion, according to the inimitable Martha Stewart. The fizzy, four-ingredient Negroni Sbagliato is based on the classic Italian apéritif recipe, but is a lighter, not-so-dizzying twist that uses prosecco instead of gin.

The full recipe recommends top shelf brands of red aperitivo and sweet vermouth, prosecco brut or other sparkling white wine, lemon juice, club soda and optional garnishes of orange slices and rosemary sprigs for serving.

… Or Channel Ernest Hemingway

In his life and in his books, Ernest Hemingway made no secret of his appreciation for mojitos and daiquiris. This cocktail, “Death in the Afternoon,” is an homage to Hemingway’s 1932 book by the same title about Spanish bullfighting. This recipe is also from My Bartender.

You’ll need absinthe, chilled champagne and a rose petal or lemon twist for garnish.