January 5, 2022

52 Weeks of Cocktails Challenge

This 52 weeks of cocktails challenge was suggested by a colleague after I shared my final bake of the 2021 reddit 52 weeks of baking challenge. I dabbled in cocktails last year, and I’m excited to do more!

How will it work?

Below is the list I put together for the cocktail challenge. It’s intended to be broad to get exposure to as many different common spirits and styles of cocktails as possible.

Are there things missing? Absolutely. But, for example, if you really love a Sazerac, you should be able to find several weeks where you can have your Sazerac.

I should apologize in advance to any readers who are in the Southern hemisphere, because I’ve tried to make the list so that cooling drinks are in summer for those of us in the Northern hemisphere.

And I feel compelled to say, “Please drink responsibly.”

1	7-Jan	Martini
2	14-Jan	Rum
3	21-Jan	Garnish
4	28-Jan	Mocktail
5	4-Feb	Wine Glass
6	11-Feb	Red
7	18-Feb	Tropical
8	25-Feb	Coffee or Tea
9	4-Mar	Bailey’s Irish Cream
10	11-Mar	Green
11	18-Mar	Sherry
12	25-Mar	Dessert
13	1-Apr	April Fool
14	8-Apr	Old Fashioned
15	15-Apr	Brandy
16	22-Apr	Lowball/Rocks Glass
17	29-Apr	Margarita
18	6-May	Mint Julep
19	13-May	Layers and Floats
20	20-May	Gin
21	27-May	Use the Blender
22	3-Jun	Simple Syrups
23	10-Jun	Vodka
24	17-Jun	Punch
25	24-Jun	Champagne Flute
26	1-Jul	Jello
27	8-Jul	Mojitos
28	15-Jul	Moscow Mule
29	22-Jul	Wine
30	29-Jul	Frozen
31	5-Aug	Sour
32	12-Aug	Highball Glass
33	19-Aug	Caipirinhas
34	26-Aug	Ice
35	2-Sep	Purple
36	9-Sep	Tequila
37	16-Sep	Bees Knees
38	23-Sep	Infusion
39	30-Sep	Martini Glass
40	7-Oct	Manhattan
41	14-Oct	Liqueur
42	21-Oct	Food Pairing
43	28-Oct	Spooky
44	4-Nov	Whiskey
45	11-Nov	Negroni
46	18-Nov	Cranberry
47	25-Nov	Sidecar
48	2-Dec	Creamy
49	9-Dec	Absinthe
50	16-Dec	Fire!
51	23-Dec	Eggnog
52	30-Dec	Bubbly

a cranberry negroni in a lowball glass garnished with and surrounded by fresh cranberries

FAQs about the 52 weeks of cocktails challenge

Where and when will you post?

I will try to post a cocktail on Instagram and Facebook every Friday of this 52 weeks of cocktails challenge. But if you join, please feel free to share at any time. Just use the hashtag #52weeksofcocktails, so I can find it!

Do you have a cocktail recipe book you can recommend?

I have the Cocktail Codex, which is fabulous, as well as a few others. Online, I recommend the Difford’s Guide as a resource. But mostly I would recommend learning what it is that you like in a cocktail and playing around with proportions and ingredients. That’s what this cocktail challenge is all about.

I don’t know where to start. Help!

How about this. Start with the basics. For the martini in week 1, if you don’t know whether you prefer a gin or vodka martini, make both and compare. Compare gins to see how different they can taste. Change the proportions and use a ratio of 5:1 (dry = less vermouth), 2:1, or even 1:1 (wet = more vermouth) and see which you like best.

Each week, I’ll try to share some of thoughts and suggestions for the following week.