Learn more fun facts on the National Bourbon Day Video Page.
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- Food & Beverage
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- BeverageDrinkingLiquor
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- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every June 14
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National Bourbon Day uncorks the rich history and distinct flavor of America’s native spirit every June 14. From its corn-rich origins to its charred oak aging, bourbon offers a unique taste of American heritage. Raise a glass, explore a distillery, or mix up your favorite bourbon cocktail.
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Expected National Bourbon Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows National Bourbon Day is a prime time for deals. Expect liquor stores like Total Wine & More and BevMo! to offer discounts on popular brands. Many bars and restaurants, including chains like Buffalo Wild Wings and independent craft cocktail establishments, will feature special bourbon flights, themed cocktails, and food pairings. Online retailers such as ReserveBar and Drizly often run promotions on bottles for home delivery. Keep an eye out for distillery-specific events and limited releases from brands like Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam, and Wild Turkey. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as June 14 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Bourbon Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalBourbonDay. Share photos of your favorite bourbon cocktails, tasting notes, or a visit to a distillery.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalBourbonDay. Film a quick video reviewing a new bourbon, demonstrating a cocktail recipe, or sharing fun bourbon facts.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalBourbonDay. Share your bourbon traditions, ask for recommendations, or post about local tasting events.
National Bourbon Day Hero
Elijah Craig
National Bourbon Day timeline
Early Native Americans domesticate a weedy Mexican grass called teosinte, which goes on to become the primary ingredient of bourbon.
The first-known use of the word ‘bourbon’ appears in Kentucky’s “Western Citizen” newspaper.
Dr. James Crow, also known as the ‘father of modern bourbon,’ begins experimenting at a distillery in Kentucky’s Woodford County.
Congress declares bourbon a “distinctive product of the United States.”
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Bourbon Day
Local businesses can celebrate National Bourbon Day by offering special bourbon-themed menus or tasting events. Restaurants and bars can feature unique bourbon cocktails, offer flights of different brands, or host a ‘Bourbon & Bites’ pairing. Liquor stores can promote sales on popular bourbon labels and offer tasting samples (where legal). Even non-food businesses can get involved by hosting bourbon-themed happy hours for employees or clients, or by creating gift baskets featuring local bourbon products.
National Bourbon Day related content
International Irish Whiskey Day
International Irish Whiskey Day arrives every March 3, honoring the renowned spirit known for its smooth texture and rich heritage. Raise a glass to centuries of distillation, explore new brands, and discover the perfect pour to celebrate this global occasion.
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National Whiskey Sour Day
National Whiskey Sour Day arrives every August 25, inviting cocktail enthusiasts to raise a glass to this beloved classic. A perfect blend of sweet, sour, and spirit, the whiskey sour is a timeless drink. Mix up your own at home, visit your favorite bar for a professional pour, or explore new variations on this iconic libation.
See MoreNational Bourbon Day FAQs
When is National Bourbon Day?
National Bourbon Day 2026 falls on Sunday, June 14, making it a perfect weekend occasion to explore America’s native spirit. Many will celebrate with tastings and special cocktails.
What makes a whiskey a bourbon?
For a whiskey to be called bourbon, it must meet several legal requirements. It must be made in the U.S., from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn. It must be aged in new, charred oak barrels, distilled to no more than 160 proof, and entered into the barrel at no more than 125 proof. It also must be bottled at no less than 80 proof.
How much bourbon is produced annually?
Kentucky alone, the heartland of bourbon, produced over 2.7 million barrels of bourbon in 2025. The state’s distilleries hold more than two barrels of aging bourbon for every person living there, showcasing the immense scale of the industry.
Is bourbon only made in Kentucky?
No, bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States, as long as it adheres to the strict legal definition. While Kentucky produces approximately 95% of the world’s bourbon, distilleries in states like Tennessee, Indiana, and Texas also produce high-quality bourbons.
National Bourbon Day Activities
Mix up a bourbon-based cocktail
Sure, there are times when a cocktail made from hibiscus bitters and basil-strawberry shrub and Peychaud and ancho chili dust is exactly what you’re craving after a hard day at the office. For every other time, a classic — say, an Old Fashioned — will do the trick. Perhaps the oldest and best-known mixed drink of all, Old Fashioneds are dead-simple to make. Place one sugar cube (or one teaspoon superfine sugar) in your highball glass and add several dashes of Angostura bitters and a few drops water. Add two ounces of your favorite bourbon and several ice cubes; stir quickly to chill the drink. Feeling super-fancy? Garnish with a maraschino cherry or an orange slice.
Host a bourbon-tasting party
If you’re a purist, you might balk at even these scant additions, in which case a bourbon tasting is more your style. Invite a few friends over, asking each to bring a different bottle (or have everyone chip in beforehand, so you can control the selection). Our tip: add a drop or two of distilled water to each pour; this will help open up the aromas. Then engage your senses of smell and taste to detect flavors and characteristics in the bourbon. Is it woodsy or smoky, or more fruity and floral? Are there sweet or buttery notes? Nutty, earthy, and herbal are also common descriptors of bourbons. Remember, the goal here is to compare and contrast, just like in those high-school essays, with the intent of discovering what you enjoy most about this spirit.
Watch the masters at work from the comfort of your armchair
Did you know that there’s a full-length documentary dedicated solely to bourbon? It’s called Neat: The Bourbon Film and while there’s no release date yet, it looks to be well worth the wait, judging from the trailer and social media teasers. In the meantime, check out public television station KET’s hour-long “Kentucky Bourbon Tales,” featuring interviews with master distillers.
Why We Love National Bourbon Day
It goes with everything
Bourbon is fairly versatile liquor, so whether you’ve just picked up a bottle or you’re bellied up to the brass rail, you’ve got options. Drink it neat or on the rocks; go understated with a twist of lemon; substitute it for most whiskey-based drinks — think Manhattans and Sazeracs; mix it with ginger ale. And although we associate Juleps with the Kentucky Derby, there’s nothing wrong with a little muddled mint any day of the year.
It’s authentically American
The United States produces award-winning wines, exceptional craft beer, an increasingly high-quality array of ciders, some excellent vodkas — and an awful lot of overly sweet, outlandishly flavored, ridiculously named swill. But all of those (yep, even the bargain-brand root beer schnapps) can trace their origins back to other cultures or countries. Only bourbon is indigenous not just to America but, specifically, to the American South, with some 95% of it hailing from Kentucky.
Bourbon is a decidedly grown-up drink
We laugh at memes that celebrate the hardships of adulting, but there’s something to be said for drinking like a real man — or woman. Most drinkers start out with cheap beer, wine coolers, or vodka mixed with whatever’s in the fridge, and there’s nothing wrong with drinking what’s available when you’re younger. Yet there comes a time to put away the red Solo cups and develop a taste for more sophisticated spirits. Enter bourbon, which is often more accessible than, say, peaty single-malt Scotches or high-end tequilas.
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