National Old Fashioned Day (June 10): The History & How to Celebrate

National Old Fashioned Day is June 10. Yes, it's a real (if informal) cocktail-industry holiday, observed annually by bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts since the late 2000s. The exact origin of the date is debated — some sources tie it to a 1880s newspaper article, others to a marketing initiative by a bourbon brand — but June 10 has stuck. The Old Fashioned now joins National Margarita Day (Feb 22), National Martini Day (June 19), and a calendar of other cocktail holidays as a designated drinking occasion.

This is the holiday's history (such as it is), how to celebrate properly, and the bourbon brands and cocktail bars that mark the date.

The Date: June 10

National Old Fashioned Day's exact origin is murky. Three competing claims:

1. The Pendennis Club connection: Some sources tie the date to events at Louisville's Pendennis Club (the cocktail's purported birthplace — though see Who Invented the Old Fashioned for the actual history). No primary documentation confirms June 10 specifically.
2. Bourbon industry marketing: The date may have been picked by Maker's Mark or another bourbon brand in the late 1990s/early 2000s as a way to promote the cocktail. The brand connection is plausible but undocumented.
3. National Day Calendar designation: The National Day Calendar, the unofficial registry for these holidays, lists June 10 with no clear sourcing for the specific date.

Whatever the origin, June 10 has stuck. Cocktail bars run Old Fashioned specials. Bourbon brands push social media campaigns. Some bars host Old Fashioned-making competitions.

How to Celebrate at Home

For home celebration, three approaches:

1. The Vertical Tasting

Build the same recipe with different ryes, side-by-side. Suggested 5-bottle vertical:

• Rittenhouse Bottled-in-Bond ($25, 100 proof)
• Wild Turkey Rye 101 ($25, 101 proof)
• Sazerac Rye ($30, 90 proof)
• Pikesville 110 ($50, 110 proof)
• Whistlepig 10 Year ($80, 100 proof)

Build five mini Old Fashioneds (1 oz each, halved demerara and bitters). Taste side by side. Note differences. Best learning experience for understanding rye character.

2. The Variations Tour

Build five different Old Fashioned variations, sized small:

• Standard Rye Old Fashioned
• Maple Old Fashioned
• Smoked Old Fashioned
• Cherry Old Fashioned
• Espresso Old Fashioned

Best for hosts wanting to expose guests to the cocktail's flavor library.

3. The Pairing Dinner

Cook a 3-course steakhouse-style dinner; serve a different Old Fashioned with each course:

• Appetizer (charcuterie/cheese): Standard Rye Old Fashioned
• Main (ribeye or NY strip): Premium Rye Old Fashioned (Whistlepig)
• Dessert (pecan pie or chocolate): Bourbon Old Fashioned or Chocolate Old Fashioned

Best for serious cocktail-and-food enthusiasts. See Old Fashioned Food Pairing Guide.

How Bars Celebrate

Cocktail bars typically run one of these promotions on June 10:

• Old Fashioned specials: Reduced price on the standard build, or premium-rye upgrades at standard price.
• Custom variation menu: Limited-run variations not on the standard menu.
• Bartender's Choice OF flight: 3 Old Fashioned variations at lower size.
• Old Fashioned-making demonstrations: Bartender walks through technique.
• Old Fashioned competitions: Customer-judged or staff-judged best build.

If your local cocktail bar is silent on June 10, ask them about it. Most will improvise something on the spot.

Other Cocktail Holidays Worth Knowing

Date	Holiday
Feb 22	National Margarita Day
March 5	National Absinthe Day
April 7	National Beer Day
May 1st Saturday	Kentucky Derby (Mint Julep day)
June 10	National Old Fashioned Day
June 19	National Martini Day
July 19	National Daiquiri Day
October 16	National Whiskey Sour Day
Nov 7	National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day (oddly cocktail-relevant)
Dec 25	Christmas (informal eggnog day)

If you're a cocktail enthusiast, marking June 10 is meaningful in a way that, say, National Donut Day isn't — it's cocktail-industry history acknowledging a real cultural object.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is National Old Fashioned Day?

June 10, annually. The exact origin of the date is unclear — possibly tied to bourbon-industry marketing in the 1990s/2000s, possibly to historical events at Louisville's Pendennis Club. The National Day Calendar has registered June 10.

Why is National Old Fashioned Day on June 10?

Origin is debated. Three competing claims: (1) Pendennis Club historical event (undocumented), (2) bourbon-industry marketing campaign in the 1990s/2000s, (3) National Day Calendar registry decision. None of these has clear primary sourcing for June 10 specifically.

How should I celebrate National Old Fashioned Day?

Three approaches: (1) Vertical tasting of 5 different ryes in mini Old Fashioneds. (2) Variations tour of 5 different Old Fashioned styles. (3) Pairing dinner with different Old Fashioneds at each course. All produce a memorable celebration.

Do bars do anything special for National Old Fashioned Day?

Yes — many cocktail bars run Old Fashioned specials, custom variation menus, demonstrations, or competitions on June 10. Ask your local bar; if they don't have a planned promotion, most will improvise.

Is National Old Fashioned Day an official holiday?

No — it's an informal cocktail-industry observance, registered with the National Day Calendar but not federally recognized. Like most "national [food/drink] days," it's a cultural marker rather than a legal holiday.

What's the best Old Fashioned to make on June 10?

Whatever rye you've been saving for "a special occasion." June 10 is that occasion. A premium rye Old Fashioned (Whistlepig 10 Year, Russell's Reserve Single Barrel) drinks more meaningfully on a designated cocktail holiday.

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