A little reason to celebrate
World Gin Day
Drink · The second Saturday in June
World Gin Day, marked in the United States too, looks at gin: the juniper-flavored spirit behind the martini, the gimlet and the gin and tonic.
World Gin Day falls on Saturday, June 12, 2027. That is 228 days away.
Gin is a clear spirit that gets its main flavor from juniper berries. Distillers start with a neutral grain spirit and add botanicals, which can include coriander seed, citrus peel, angelica root and many others. World Gin Day falls on the second Saturday in June, and it is marked in the United States as well as elsewhere.
Juniper gives gin its piney, slightly resinous taste. After that, each maker goes its own way. A London dry gin tends to be crisp and juniper-forward. Newer styles lean on cucumber, flowers, tea or local herbs, and some taste closer to a garden than a forest.
Most people meet gin in a mixed drink. The gin and tonic is the familiar one, with quinine-bitter tonic water and a wedge of lime. The martini pairs gin with dry vermouth. The gimlet adds lime, and the Tom Collins brings lemon, sugar and soda. Tasting two gins side by side in the same simple drink shows how different they can be.
For anyone who skips alcohol, the botanicals still make good company. Juniper, citrus peel and a sprig of rosemary in tonic water make a drink that smells much like the real thing.
The garnish matters more than it looks. A strip of grapefruit peel or a few crushed juniper berries can change a glass you thought you knew.
Ways to celebrate
- Try a classic gin and tonic with a fresh lime wedge.
- Taste two different gins side by side, served neat or with tonic.
- Mix an alcohol-free version with tonic, citrus peel and rosemary.
- Read a gin label and pick out the listed botanicals.
- Experiment with a new garnish, like grapefruit peel or cucumber.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, June 13 |
| 2027 | Saturday, June 12 |
| 2028 | Saturday, June 10 |
| 2029 | Saturday, June 9 |
| 2030 | Saturday, June 8 |
Also on June 12
- National Peanut Butter Cookie Day
- National Rosé Day
- National Great Dane Day
- National Jerky Day
- National Red Rose Day
Categories: Drink days