Waiters have a rich history – they have been around since ancient times in all cultures. And with over half a million bartenders in the US, National Bartender Day is a great party to celebrate.
Whether you’re hitting a bar or restaurant in your neighborhood, taking a hike to a new place in town, or sharing a drink with your favorite friend, December 8 is the day to show your appreciation for all the mixologists.
NATIONAL BARTENDER DAY SCHEDULE
1400 – Innkeepers as bartenders
All over Europe, innkeepers were their own bartenders. They usually made their own beers and spirits to serve their guests.
1862 – Jerry Thomas published “The Bar-tender’s Guide”
The popular American bartender and tavern owner wrote the first beverage book distributed in America.
1920 – Waiters worked hard, even during Prohibition
In fact, the bartending profession was alive and well in speakeasies during this time. The “dry” era even gave birth to an iconic drink: the gin and tonic.
NATIONAL BARTENDER DAY ACTIVITIES
Leave your bartender an extra tip
About 55% of a waiter’s net pay comes from tips, so give them something a little special.
Try a new cocktail at your local bar
Mix it up with a new drink! Whether it’s a Salty Dog or a Pisco Sour, take a sip of something you’ve never tried before.
Be your own bartender at night
If you can’t go out tonight, try mixing a new drink at home. There are tons of recipes online to try.
COCKTAIL TRIVIA TO SHARE WITH YOUR BARTENDER
How popular are daisies?
Actual research shows that, on average, Americans consume 185,000 margaritas per hour.
Raise your glass for a (piece of) toast
The ancient Romans put a toast in your glass for your good health, which is where we get the term “toast.”
Bubble-licious!
Each bottle of champagne has approximately 49 million bubbles!
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL BARTENDER DAY
Waiters are some of our favorite people.
Where would we be without our waiters? From serving interesting cocktails to greeting us at our regular places, the bartenders make our weekends that much better.
It is party time
If any of us need a reason to raise a drink, celebrate National Bartender Day! Sponsoring our favorite bars and meeting our friends is a fun time for everyone involved.
We appreciate someone we often take for granted
Sometimes we don’t think about all the hard work our waiters do for us. Today we can take a moment to think about who is mixing our drinks.
