Cocktail Day

What Is Cocktail Day?

Every May 13th is "Cocktail Day" in Japan. The date commemorates a landmark moment in cocktail history: on May 13, 1806, the American weekly newspaper the Balance and Columbian Repository, published in Hudson, New York, printed what is widely considered the first written definition of the word "cocktail." In response to a reader's question, the editor defined a cocktail as "a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters." In Japan, four bartender organizations — the Japan Hotel Barmen's Association (HBA), the Nippon Bartenders Association (NBA), the Professional Bartenders Organization (PBO), and the All Nippon Flair Bartenders Association (ANFA) — jointly designated May 13 as Cocktail Day in 2011, and events are held every year.

The World's First Printed Definition of "Cocktail"

The 1806 definition in the Balance and Columbian Repository did not invent the cocktail — mixed drinks had existed long before — but it gave the category a name that stuck. The origin of the word itself remains debated: theories range from a "cock-tailed" horse (a horse with its tail docked) to drinks decorated with a rooster's tail feather, and no single explanation is accepted. Whatever the etymology, the word "cocktail" went on to define a global culture of mixed drinks that spans everything from the Martini and Manhattan to the Mojito and countless contemporary creations.

Japan's Cocktail Culture

Japan has developed one of the world's most refined cocktail cultures. Japanese bartenders are internationally known for their precision and dedication to craft. The Japanese style of cocktail making emphasizes clear ice (often carved from large blocks), careful technique (such as the "hard shake" and a precise stir), and balanced flavor. Japanese whisky highballs (ハイボール) have also become popular around the world, introducing a new generation to the pleasures of a simple mixed drink.

Fun Facts About Cocktails

• The highball revival: Japan's whisky highball — whisky with carbonated water over ice — is credited with helping revive Japanese whisky consumption from the late 2000s after a long period of decline.
• Cocktail competitions: Japanese bartenders have won major international cocktail competitions, recognized for their technique and creativity.
• The Gimlet: Raymond Chandler's line "A real gimlet is half gin and half Rose's lime juice and nothing else" (from "The Long Goodbye," 1953) is often quoted as an example of how firmly cocktails had entered literature by the 20th century.