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." This definition — clear, simple, and still recognizable — marks the moment the cocktail was first given a name and an identity in print.

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 for centuries — but it gave the category a name that stuck. The origin of the word itself remains debated: theories range from a French term for "cocked tail" (a horse with its tail trimmed) to various folk etymologies involving egg cups and mixed drinks. 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 — particularly those trained in the classical Tokyo and Osaka bar traditions — are internationally renowned for their precision, technique, and dedication to craft. The "Japanese method" of cocktail making emphasizes perfect ice (carved from large, crystal-clear blocks), impeccable technique (the "hard shake," the precise stir), and understated, balanced flavor. Japanese whisky highballs (ハイボール) have also become a global phenomenon, introducing a new generation to the pleasures of a perfectly mixed drink.

Fun Facts About Cocktails

• The Suntory Highball: Japan's hugely popular whisky highball — whisky with carbonated water over ice — is credited with reviving Japanese whisky culture in the 2000s after a period of declining whisky consumption.
• Cocktail competitions: Japanese bartenders regularly win international cocktail competitions, recognized for their technique, creativity, and the quality of their ice work.
• 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 cited by cocktail historians as evidence of how firmly cocktails had entered literary and cultural consciousness by the 20th century.