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 | Baileys 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 |
FAQs about the 52 weeks of cocktails challenge
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!
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.
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.
What’s next?
Join us! Please feel free to leave a comment here or share a pic with me on Instagram using #uglyducklingbakery and #52weeksofcocktails hashtags!
Check out some suggestions for cocktails:
gin espresso martini
cranberry negroni
negroni spritz
rose syrup French 75
cherry Bakewell cocktail
peanut butter manhattan
perfect brandy manhattan
the “Lady Bridgerton” – an Earl Grey and lavender Empress gin cocktail
jalapeño raspberry bramble
elderflower Tom Collins
lavender gimlet
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