International Jazz Day is a celebration of jazz music held annually on April 30th. The day was established in 2011 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to highlight the role of jazz music in promoting peace, dialogue, and understanding among cultures.
International Jazz Day features events and performances around the world, including concerts, educational programs, and community gatherings. The day aims to raise awareness about jazz music’s cultural and historical significance and its role in promoting freedom of expression, human dignity, and individual creativity.
Each year, a city is selected as the global host of International Jazz Day, and musicians from around the world are invited to participate in performances and other activities. The event has featured performances by some of the world’s most celebrated jazz musicians, including Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Wayne Shorter, and Esperanza Spalding.
The Lady Daydream
- 1 1/2 oz gin
- 3/4 oz St-Germain elderflower liqueur
- 3/4 oz lavender syrup
- 3/4 oz lemon juice
- 1 egg white
- Lavender sprig (for garnish)
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a lavender sprig.
The Jazz Age
- 1 1/2 oz rye whiskey
- 3/4 oz ruby port
- 1/2 oz honey syrup
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 1 dash orange bitters
- Edible gold glitter (for garnish)
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled glass rimmed with edible gold glitter.
The Bourbon Street
- 1 1/2 oz bourbon
- 3/4 oz sweet vermouth
- 3/4 oz raspberry liqueur
- 1/4 oz lemon juice
- Lemon twist (for garnish)
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a lemon twist.
The Duke Ellington
- 1 1/2 oz gin
- 1 oz grapefruit juice
- 1/2 oz honey syrup
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- Grapefruit twist (for garnish)
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a grapefruit twist.
The Sarah Vaughan
- 1 1/2 oz tequila
- 3/4 oz Cointreau
- 3/4 oz lime juice
- 1/2 oz agave nectar
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- Lime wheel (for garnish)
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a lime wheel.
The Thelonious Monk
- 1 1/2 oz rye whiskey
- 3/4 oz Campari
- 1/2 oz sweet vermouth
- 1/4 oz Cynar
- Orange peel (for garnish)
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with an orange peel.
The Billie Holiday
- 1 1/2 oz dark rum
- 1 oz orange juice
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- Orange twist (for garnish)
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with an orange twist.
The Sazerac
- 2 oz rye whiskey
- 1 sugar cube
- 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
- Absinthe or Herbsaint
- Lemon twist (for garnish)
In a mixing glass, muddle the sugar cube with a few drops of water until dissolved. Add the rye whiskey and Peychaud’s bitters and stir well with ice. Rinse a chilled glass with absinthe or Herbsaint and discard the excess. Strain the cocktail into the glass and garnish with a lemon twist.
The Old Fashioned
- 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1 sugar cube
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange slice
- Maraschino cherry
In a mixing glass, muddle the sugar cube with a few drops of water until dissolved. Add the bourbon or rye whiskey and Angostura bitters and stir well with ice. Strain the cocktail over a large ice cube in a chilled glass. Garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry.
The Manhattan
- 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Maraschino cherry (for garnish)
In a mixing glass, stir together the bourbon or rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters with ice. Strain the cocktail into a chilled glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.
The Martini
- 2 1/2 oz gin or vodka
- 1/2 oz dry vermouth
- Lemon twist or olive (for garnish)
In a mixing glass, stir together the gin or vodka and dry vermouth with ice. Strain the cocktail into a chilled glass and garnish with a lemon twist or olive.
The Blue Note
- 1 1/2 oz gin
- 3/4 oz blue curaçao
- 3/4 oz lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1 dash orange bitters
- Lemon wheel (for garnish)
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a lemon wheel.
The Black and Tan
- 1 1/2 oz stout beer
- 1 1/2 oz pale ale or lager
- 1 oz Irish whiskey
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- Lemon twist (for garnish)
Combine the whiskey and simple syrup in a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled glass and top with the stout beer and pale ale or lager. Garnish with a lemon twist.
The Ella Fitzgerald
- 1 1/2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz blackberry liqueur
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 1/2 oz honey syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Blackberry (for garnish)
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a blackberry.
The Miles Davis
- 1 1/2 oz cognac
- 1 oz Lillet Blanc
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1 dash orange bitters
- Lemon twist (for garnish)
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a lemon twist.
These cocktails all have unique and flavorful ingredients that pay tribute to the creativity and improvisation of jazz music. They’re sure to surprise and delight your guests on International Jazz Day.