Today is National Cocktail Day—strategically placed to allow a full week’s recovery after St. Patrick’s Day.

I’m not precisely sure whether National Cocktail Day is an American event, but I think some celebrations should be shared. Like this one. Just like National 2-for-1 Chicken Wings Day. Which hasn’t been invented yet, but we here at TheLushLife.ca are passionately working on it.

So what constitutes a cocktail? I know “mocktails” are on the upswing for those trying to avoid alcohol, but for the rest of us, who desperately need a drink right now, a cocktail begins with a distilled spirit—usually gin, rum, whisky, vodka or tequila (note that I said “or” and not “and” for those who want to actually remember the events that are about to transpire). Next, mix in some flavouring (juice, flavoured syrup, fruits, milk or cream, honey, etc.). Then add a bit of seasoning and perhaps a garnish (so if you or your guest don’t like the taste, at least you’ll agree that it’s pretty.)

According to TasteAtlas, the margarita is the #1 cocktail in the world. For me, it’s in a three-way tie with the Cuba Libre and good old fashioned gin & tonic. All three, incidentally, taste much better in their place of origin. Just try drinking a Cuba Libre in Havana or a margarita at a snazzy resort in Baja and tell me it doesn’t taste better!

Speaking of good “Old Fashioned,” that’s the first of five recipes Corby Spirit and Wine is suggesting with a return-to-classic-cocktails push. So without further ado, here are five traditional cocktail recipes from the folks at Corby. (Note that none are ideal pairings for chicken wings.)

Old Fashioned
A pioneer in the cocktail world, the Old Fashioned has been around for about as long as cocktails have been mixed in bars. What’s more, the classic, straight-ahead version is easy to make. Pour 1 ½ ounces of J.P. Wiser’s Deluxe whisky in an empty rocks glass, add a teaspoon of sugar, then add four dashes of Angostura bitters and a teaspoon of water. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Finish off with a garnish of orange zest and enjoy. Or, if you don’t want to go through the mixing process, give the pre-mixed J.P. Wiser’s Old Fashioned Whisky Cocktail a try. Simply pour over ice and enjoy!

Tom Collins
An original cocktail, with evidence of the Tom Collins’ origins dating back to 1830s Britain. To make your own, stir one ounce of lemon juice, 1½ ounces of Beefeater gin and ⅔ of an ounce of simple syrup in a highball glass. Fill with ice cubes and top up with soda water. Garnish with a cherry and lemon wedge.

Hemingway Daiquiri 
Created by a Cuban bartender especially for the renowned author 101 years ago, this is a refreshing and tasty blend. To make a Hemingway Daiquiri, pour 2 ounces of Havana Club Original 3 Year Old rum, a ½ ounce of Maraschino cherry liqueur, 1 ounce of freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice, ¼ ounce of simple syrup and the juice from half a lime into a cocktail shaker with a few ice cubes. Shake for 30 seconds, strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with the zest of a grapefruit.

Martini 
The martini has taken on many variations over the years, but the classic is a simple two-ingredient creation. In mixing glass filled with ice, pour in two ounces of Beefeater gin and a ½ ounce of dry vermouth. Stir well and strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass. Garnish with green olives or a squeeze of oil from a lemon peel.

Cosmopolitan
Widely considered to be a relatively modern cocktail, there have been mentions of the Cosmopolitan in bartender guides dating back to the Great Depression. In a shaker filled with ice, add 1⅓ ounces of Absolut Citron, ⅔ ounce of McGuinness Triple Sec, ⅔ ounce of fresh lime juice, and ⅔ of cranberry juice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass garnished with orange zest.