World Cocktail Day 2022: lift your spirits with these 6 cocktails

(CNN) — Another Friday the 13th is upon us. In a world of trouble, who needs that?

Luckily for the superstitious among us (at least those who like an adult drink once in a while), May 13 is also World Cocktail Day 2022.

What better way to stay in a good mood than to have a drink or two to ward off bad luck?

Mint Julep

Juleps – mint and sugar mixed with crushed ice and spirits like bourbon and rum – have been a staple of the southern United States since the early 1800s.

The link between juleps and the racetrack dates back at least to the 1820s, when references appear to sterling silver julep cups awarded as trophies to first-place jockeys.

“It connects two of Kentucky’s best-known industries: horse racing and bourbon,” said Chris Goodlett, senior curator of collections at the Kentucky Derby Museum.

sour pisco

The Pisco Sour is a classic South American cocktail. And like so many favorite foods and drinks, it has a long, contested history behind its creation.

With a lively blend of tangy citrus and earthy pisco that practically dances on the tongue, of course, everyone wants credit.

Chipe Libre Pisco Sour

3 ounces of pisco brandy
1 ounce lemon juice
1 ounce simple syrup

Mix the ingredients in a mixing mold, fill it with ice, shake vigorously and strain into a chilled glass.

Hurricane David

The Hurricane David cocktail – named after a 20th century storm – is as strong and potent as its namesake.

Hurricane David

1 ounce strong white rum (Wray & Nephew brand if you can find it)
1 ounce of vodka
1 ounce dark rum
½ ounce Kahlua
½ ounce lime juice
½ ounce simple syrup

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake vigorously and serve in a highball glass over ice with a wedge of lime.

Miami Mojito

This rum-based highball is the unofficial trademark of the “Magic City” of Florida.

A trip to Miami wouldn’t be complete without a glass of minty magic at a rooftop bar. In 2017, CNN traveled to Miami to learn the secrets of the mojito from Grammy-winning master, producer and musician Emilio Estefan.

Estefan’s edition uses four local limes, a sprig of mint, and homemade sugar syrup. The ingredients are mixed together, and Estefan is generous with the rum (see the video at the top of this story). But it is sugar cane that he points to as the key ingredient.

Benedictine / Monte Carlo

Go international in your liquor cellar, and you’ll have the world in your hands. And although famous for wine, the French also know about cocktails.

Benedictine is a French liqueur that has been around for around half a millennium. It is a digestive composed of nearly 30 herbs. While the exact blend is a secret, angelica, hyssop and lemon balm are in it. Try it in a Monte Carlo.

Monte Carlo

2 ounces of rye whiskey
½ ounce Benedictine
A few dashes of Angostura bitters.

Singapore sling

The original recipe is lost, but a more recent recipe donated by Raffles’ head bartender in 2015 includes:

Gin (30ml)
Cherry brandy (15ml)
Cointreau (7.5ml)
DOM Benedictine (7.5ml)
Angostura bitters (dash)
Pomegranate (10ml)
Pineapple juice (120ml)
Lime juice (15ml)

Shake well and strain into glasses filled with ice.

next chance to drink

And if you should miss all the cocktail fun on Friday, May 13, you’ll soon have another excuse to raise a drink. World Whiskey Day is Saturday May 21.

Christopher Ross, Elizabeth Wallace, Francesca Street, Lia Picard and Gillian Rhys contributed to this article with previous reports.