Drinks Calendar 2022: International Spirits and Cocktail Days
We’ve compiled the comprehensive list of key industry events, commemorative days, and national holidays to create our drinks calendar 2022.
A list of key dates throughout the year is gold dust for drinks brands and event professionals looking to connect with customers.
Join cocktail lovers, professional mixologists, and bar teams in celebrating on these drink themed holidays.
Key Dates for Drinks Brands and Event Planners: Drink Calendar 2022
January 2022 Key Dates
1st January – New Year’s Day, National Bloody Mary Day
1st to 31st January – Veganuary, Dry January and Damp January, or Ginuary
3rd January – Drinking Straw Day
This unique drink industry day celebrate innovations to remove or reduce plastic straws. We’ve celebrated this year each since removing single use plastic from our operations.
11th January – National Hot Toddy Day
25th January – Burn’s Night
31st January – Brandy Alexander Day and National Hot Chocolate Day
February 2022 Key Dates
1st February – Chinese New Year
7th February – International Pisco Sour Day
8th February – International Scotch Day
13th February – Galentine’s Day
14th February – Valentine’s Day
18th February – 22nd February – London Fashion Week
22nd February – National Margarita Day
24th February – World Bartender Day
28 February to 6 March – Fairtrade Fortnight
24th February – World Bartender Day
27th February – National Kahlua Day
March 2022 Key Dates
1 March – St David’s Day (Patron Saint of Wales), Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday)
1st March – Pancake Day Shrove Tuesday
3rd March – National Moscow Mule Day, and Mulled Wine Day
5th March – National Absinthe Day, St Piran’s Day Patron Saint of Cornwall
8th March – International Women’s Day
14th March – Espresso Martini Day
17th March – St Patrick’s Day (Patron Saint of Ireland)
21st March – Vermouth Day
27th March – Mother’s Day UK and International Whisky Day
31st March – 3rd April – The London Coffee Festival
April 2022 Key Dates
1st April – April Fool’s Day
6th April – New Beer’s Eve
7 April – National Beer Day, World Health Day
9th April – International Gin & Tonic Day
15th April – Good Friday – UK Bank Holiday
17th April – Easter Sunday
18th April – Easter Monday
17th April – International Malbec Day
19th April – National Amaretto Day
21st April – National Tea Day UK
23rd April – St George’s Day (Patron Saint of England)
May 2022 Key Dates
2nd May – Early May Bank Holiday UK
5th May – Cinco de Mayo Mexican
7th May – Cosmopolitan Day
13th May – World Cocktail Day
14th May – World Fairtrade Day
16th to 22nd May – American Craft Beer Week
21st May World Whisky Day, International Tea Day, Irish Whiskey Day
23rd to 30th May – English Wine Week
25th May – National Wine Day
30th May – National Mint Julep Day
30th May to 5th June – National BBQ Week UK
June 2022 Key Dates
2nd June – Spring bank holiday UK and Moonshine Day
3rd June – Platinum Jubilee bank holiday
4th June – National Cognac Day
11th June – World Gin Day
14th June – National Bourbon Day
15th June – Beer Day Britain
19th June – National Martini Day
19th June – Father’s Day UK
27th June to 10th July – Wimbledon
30th June – National Mai Tai Day
July 2022 Key Dates
4th July – Independence Day USA
7th July – World Chocolate Day
9th July – World Rum Day
10th July – National Pina Colada Day
11th July – Mojito Day
14th July – Bastille Day France
19th July – National Daiquiri Day
24th July – National Tequila Day
27th July – National Scotch Day
August 2022 Key Dates
5th August – International Beer Day
8th to 14th August – Afternoon Tea Week UK
9th August – World Baijiu Day
13th August – National Prosecco Day UK
16th August – National Rum Day
19th August – National Potato Day – we’re including this one purely for the connection to vodka!
25th August – Whiskey Sour Day
29th August – Summer bank holiday UK, and National Lemon Juice Day. A staple in so many cocktails, this unique drinks holiday is one to celebrate.
September 2022 Key Dates
1st to 30th September – Bourbon Heritage Month, and Honey Month in the US
3rd September – International Bacon Day UK
5th to 20th September – Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight
10th September – International Canned Cocktail Day
12th to 18th September – Negroni Week
13th September – National Cachaça Day
15th September – National Crème de Menthe Day
19th September – Oktoberfest
19th September to 4th October – British Food Fortnight
20th September – National Rum Punch Day
22nd September – White Chocolate Day
October 2022 Key Dates
London Cocktail Week – TBC – Read our review of the best of London Cocktail Week 2021
1st October – International Scottish Gin Day, International Coffee Day, World Sake Day
4th October – National Vodka Day
16th October – World Food Day
19th October – International Gin & Tonic Day
21st October – Global Champagne Day
21st October – Apple Day UK and National Mezcal Day
22nd October – National Nut Day UK
24th October – Diwali
26th October – Pumpkin Day
27th October – American Beer Day
31st October – Halloween
How we did it: a Halloween activation in Covent Garden for Bloody Drinks
November 2022 Key Dates
1st November – World Vegan Day
1st to 30th November – World Vegan Month
2nd November – Day of The Dead Mexico
3rd November – International Stout Day
5th November – Bonfire Night UK
8th November – Harvey Wallbanger Day
18th November – International Poitin Day
22nd November – Stir-Up Sunday Christmas Puddings
24th November – Thanksgiving USA
25th November – Black Friday 2022
30th November – St Andrew’s Day Patron Saint of Scotland and Cyber Monday
December 2022 Key Dates
10th December – National Lager Day
14th December – National Screwdriver Day
20th December – National Sangria Day
24th December – National Eggnog Day
25th December – Christmas Day (UK bank holiday)
26th December – Boxing day (UK bank holiday)
27th December – Christmas Day (substitute day)
31st December – New Year’s Eve AKA National Champagne Day
What are drink holidays?
Drink holidays or liquor days are commemorative days which celebrate a specific drink or ingredient. For example, Espresso Martini Day is celebrated on 14th March, whereas National Vodka Day is on 4th October.
That doesn’t mean that’s the only day on the drinks calendar 2022 where you can celebrate the drink.
For example, because vodka is a key ingredient in the Espresso Martini recipe many will choose to celebrate Vodka day with this cocktail.
The same goes for International Coffee Day on 1st October. After all, you can’t make an Espresso Martini without the espresso!
In recent years, many home bartenders and professional mixologists will use social media to share their cocktail creations on these key cocktail holidays.
Why are some days called “International Days” and others “National Days”?
Many of the key dates for drink brands listed above originated in the USA.
To keep things simple on this list, we’ve marked there the day is specific to the UK. For all the other National Days, you can assume that they originated in the United States, but are commonly celebrated over in the UK.
Where multiple countries celebrate the same event on the same day, these are labelled as International Days. Some of these have been in existence for centuries, like April Fool’s Day.
How can drink brands use National Holidays?
Drink brands often use national holidays to increase public awareness of their product or service.
Savvy drinks brands like Campari have even created their own holiday: Negroni Week.
If you’re planning your marketing activity for the year, it’s well worth taking a note of the days above which relate to your product, and planning campaigns around them.
However, remember that competition for attention will be high for these dates – so you’ll need to get creative to grab the focus of potential consumers.
For example: an activation with a double decker bus in the middle of Covent Garden to celebrate Halloween and London Cocktail Week.
Drink Calendar 2022
We’re constantly adding and expanding this list to build the comprehensive guide to every drink holiday.
Think we missed one? Get in touch and let us know!
If you need support with a brand activation or marketing campaign, then make an enquiry now to chat to our team.
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