NATIONAL RUM DAY

August 15, 2026August 13, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 1 Comment

Join National Rum Day on August 16th as blended beverages and cocktails create a delicious celebration. Rum is a distilled clear alcoholic beverage which is a byproduct of sugar production. It can also be made directly from sugar cane juice. After the fermentation and distillation process, most rum ages in wooden oak barrels.

Rum The Manual Kindle Edition

by Dave Broom (Author) — Rum The Manual

by Dave Broom (Author)

RUM FACT: In 1764, the British Crown placed a tax on sugar, molasses and rum on the American colonies. This tax was called The Sugar Act of 1764. It was instrumental in the unrest that finally became the American Revolution.

Rum is the third most popular spirit in the United States. Only vodka and all the whiskeys combined beat it for first and second-rankings. The spirit finds its way into citrusy mixed drinks, and cool blended summer cocktails. So much so, that rum stirs up images of sandy beaches and brightly colored umbrellas in fruity drinks.

Try these popular mixes…

Rum Runner
Mai Tai
Pina Colada
Mojito
Dark & Stormy
Blue Hawaiian
Hurricane
Hemmingway
Zombie
Hakuna Matata
Cuba Libre

And a Bottle of Rum, Revised and Updated: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails Paperback – June 5, 2018

by Wayne Curtis (Author) — And a Bottle of Rum, Revised and Updated: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails

by Wayne Curtis (Author)

However, rum also conjures up sailors and pirates. The reason for that is how rum came to be. In the West Indies during the 1600s, large plantations grew sugar cane. When they extracted the sugar, they created a by-product called molasses. For years, the molasses was a waste product until it was discovered it could be distilled – into rum. Then, rum became not only a commodity for trade but also a ration on the ships delivering the product. Even in the modern Royal Navy, British sailors received an allotment of rum until 1970.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalRumDay

There are many ways to enjoy rum. On a hot summer day, a great way to celebrate is with this recipe for a Strawberry Pineapple Cooler. Use #NationalRumDay to post on social media. Remember always to drink responsibly and never to drink and drive

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NATIONAL BOURBON DAY

June 13, 2026June 5, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 14 Comments

On June 14 the Official Spirit of America is recognized. It is National Bourbon Day.

KANARS Old Fashioned Whiskey Glasses with Luxury Box - 10 Oz Rocks Barware For Scotch, Bourbon, Liquor and Cocktail Drinks - Set of 4 by KANARS — KANARS Old Fashioned Whiskey Glasses with Luxury Box – 10 Oz Rocks Barware For Scotch, Bourbon, Liquor and Cocktail Drinks – Set of 4

by KANARS

Like Scotch, Cognac and some other spirits that must meet certain standards as well as be produced in a particular geographical region, Bourbon is a whiskey which is only so named if distilled in the United States. To legally be a considered Bourbon, it must be 51 percent corn, stored in new (not aged) charred-oak barrels and distilled no more than 160 proof and barreled at 125 proof.

This particular whiskey derives its name from the Kentucky county which was established in 1785 and was a large producer of corn. The corn, once distilled, would be put in barrels and stamped “Old Bourbon” and shipped down the Ohio River.

Crown Maple Bourbon Barrel Aged organic maple syrup 750ML (25 FL OZ) by Crown Maple — Crown Maple Bourbon Barrel Aged organic maple syrup 750ML (25 FL OZ)

by Crown Maple

In 1964, a Congressional Resolution designated Bourbon as America’s native spirit. Since then, there is nowhere else in the world that can make a whiskey and call it Bourbon.

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HOW TO USE

Pour a glass of Bourbon and use #NationalBourbonDay on social media.

NATIONAL MINT JULEP DAY

May 29, 2026April 28, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 12 Comments

National Mint Julep Day on May 30th each year sets up a refreshing toast to summer. Each year, people around the country gather for a glass of mint julep! This refreshing southern classic is a traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby.

The Kentucky Derby: 101 Reasons to Love America's Favorite Horse Race Hardcover – April 1, 2010 by Mary Tiegreen (Author), Sheri Seggerman (Author) — The Kentucky Derby: 101 Reasons to Love America’s Favorite Horse Race

by Mary Tiegreen (Author), Sheri Seggerman (Author)

A classic mint julep is made with a mint leaf, bourbon, sugar, and water. In the Southern states, where mint julep is more associated with the cuisine, spearmint is the mint of choice. Preparation of the drink may vary from one bartender to another.

The Kentucky Mint Julep Hardcover – April 11, 2003 by Joe Nickell (Author) — The Kentucky Mint Julep

by Joe Nickell (Author)

Some believe the mint julep originated in the southern United States sometime during the 18th century.
The term “julep” is generally defined as a sweet drink, particularly one used as a vehicle for medicine.
During the 19th century, Americans also enjoyed a gin-based julep.
Each year, Churchill Downs serves almost 120,000 mint juleps over the two-day period of the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby.
May 2008 – Churchill Downs unveiled the world’s largest mint julep glass (6-foot tall).

Evan Williams Mint Julep Mix (12.5 oz) by Evan Williams — Evan Williams Mint Julep Mix (12.5 oz)

by Evan Williams

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HOW TO OBSERVE #MintJulepDay

Enjoy a mint julep on this nice spring day! Try out a delicious Mint Julep recipe. Use #MintJulepDay to post on social media.

National Sauce Month

February 28, 2026February 3, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

National Sauce Month is an annual designation observed in March. This month, sauce it up! Throw a little extra sauce on some of your favorite meals and don’t guilt yourself for it. Whether you like it hot, mild, or somewhere in between, this is the perfect time to celebrate all things saucy and have some fun with it. Since sauce is so diverse, one kind of it or another can go on literally anything. And I mean anything.

Having eggs and sausage for breakfast but want something extra? Sauce. Hot sauce, syrup, salsa, you name it. It works. Enjoying a big salad for lunch? Of course, you can’t eat a salad without the best part – dressing! Aka… sauce. Ranch, thousand island, vinaigrette. The list goes on. Indulging in a big juicy steak with some potatoes and pasta on the side? You don’t need us to tell you to sauce it up. Last but not least, sweet sauce drizzled over ANY kind of dessert is one of the closest things to heaven we will ever experience on this earth.

Sauces of the World: Celebrate National Sauce Month with a Collection of Creative Recipes#NationalSauceMonth — Sauces of the World: Celebrate National Sauce Month with a Collection of Creative Recipes

Sauces: Classical and Contemporary Sauce Making#NationalSauceMonth — Sauces of the World: Celebrate National Sauce Month with a Collection of Creative Recipes

Choose your favorites

Ketchup, Sriracha, Teriyaki, Sweet & Sour, Mustard, Tarter, 57, Worcestershire, A1, Barbecue Sauce, Sweet Baby Ray’s, Rao’s, Moores Marinade, Mayonnaise, Chicken-fil-a Sauce, Polynesian, Honey Mustard, Habanero, Verde, Roja, Chipotle, Garlic Aioli, Chipotle Aioli, Remoulade, Marinara Sauce, Alfredo, Pesto, Hollandaise Sauce, Chocolate Sauce, Thai Peanut Sauce, Alabama White Sauce, Soy Sauce, Taco Sauce, Yo Mama’s Foods Keto Barbecue BBQ Sauce, Mike’s Hot Honey, Tabasco, Ranch, Blue Cheese, Primal Kitchen, Sweet Chili Stir Fry, and I’m sure there are more.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Get sauced! Use #NationalSauceMonth to post on social media because let’s not beat around the bush here. There’s no such thing as too much sauce. Share your favorites!

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Melinda’s - A Taste of Melinda’s Collection – Craft Pepper Sauce and Condiment Gift Set - Includes Black Truffle, Thai Sweet Chili, Roasted Garlic & Habanero, Ghost Pepper, Spicy Garlic Parmesan- 12 oz, 6 Pack#NationalSauceMonth — Sir Kensington’s Everything Sauce Variety Pack, Chile Lime, Garlic, Aji Amarillo, Gochujang, Keto Diet Certified, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Non- GMO Project Verified, Shelf-Stable

NATIONAL REPEAL DAY

December 4, 2025November 14, 2025Jensperspectiveblog 1 Comment

On December 5th, National Repeal Day commemorates the day Prohibition ended in the United States.

Prohibition grew out a practice of moderation rooted in the Protestant churches in America. By the 1830s, consumption of alcohol, especially hard spirits, was affecting the nation. Most participants were male. Those who supported who joined the Temperance movement saw alcohol as the root of all evil. The movement took hold at a time when women had few rights, and the country was debating slavery. Ethics and mores were changing. The Temperance movement shifted the view on alcohol use from moderation to eradication.

The following decades would see organizations such as the Prohibition Party, Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and Anti-Saloon League formed. By 1838, Tennessee would pass the first legislation prohibiting the sale of alcohol. Some new states would enter the union as dry states. In 1919, the 18th Amendment was ratified, banning the production, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. However, the legislation did not prohibit the consumption of such drinks.

The Amendment went into effect in 1920, and numerous businesses closed. Beyond the loss of brewers and bars, governments lost tax revenues. Additionally, the cost of enforcing prohibition was expensive. Those determined to produce, transport, and sell alcohol created a black market that crisscrossed the nation. Their illicit methods became notorious and the stuff of legend. In 1929, the stock market crashed.

During the years of Prohibition, use of the term “gangster” increased. The term “moonshine” reached its peak usage.

Prohibition’s “great experiment” was a significant failure. The term “bootlegger” would reach its peak usage as Prohibition neared the end of its lifespan. Congress proposed the 21st Amendment to the Constitution on February 20, 1933. The amendment repealed the 18th Amendment and was ratified on December 5 that year.

NATIONAL REPEAL DAY HISTORY

The day Prohibition ended has been celebrated since 1933. Newspapers across the country reported repeal celebrations. Al Capone was even reported as praising the end of prohibition from his prison cell. Some areas postponed celebrations until the 6th, but distilleries geared up, ready for production.

In the last couple of generations, fascination with the Prohibition years, styles, and history has grown. Celebrating the 21st Amendment has increased.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalRepealDay

Learn more about the history of the 18th and 21st Amendments. Drink your favorite cocktail. Try a new cocktail. Visit a speakeasy reminiscent of days gone by. While you do, be sure to invite friends to join you.

As always, drink responsibly. Never drink and drive. Use #NationalRepealDay to share on social media.

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NATIONAL RUM DAY

Try these popular mixes…