National Screwdriver Day

Orange juice and vodka are all that are needed to celebrate today's holiday, National Screwdriver Day. Popular since the 1950s, screwdrivers are made by mixing one part vodka and two parts orange juice in a highball glass with ice. Although not necessary, sometimes a dash of sugar or orange bitters is included. For many years, the screwdriver was an IBA official cocktail. There are a number of variations on the drink, like the Harvey Wallbanger and the Slow (Sloe) Screw.

By one account, the first appearance of the screwdriver in print was as the "famous Smirnoff Screwdriver" in Journalism Quarterly in 1938. It was mentioned in Newsweek in 1944, with one quote being: "A Screwdriver—a half-orange-juice and half-vodka drink popularized by interned American aviators—costs a dollar including the customary barman's tip." It was also referenced in TIME in 1949: "In the dimly lighted bar of the sleek Park Hotel, Turkish intelligence agents mingle with American engineers and Balkan refugees, drinking the latest Yankee concoction of vodka and orange juice, called a 'screwdriver'." In 1956, House & Garden called it "the most popular drink the West Coast has seen in years."

The origin of the screwdriver is murky. According to one story, an orange juice salesman in Bakersfield, California, asked a bartender to mix orange juice with vodka and to serve it to six customers. Five of the six liked it, but the sixth said, "I'd just as soon swallow a screwdriver." A more often cited story, but without any more veracity, is that the screwdriver was created by American oil rig workers in the Persian Gulf, who created the drink so they could discreetly drink alcohol while working. They used screwdrivers not only to open their orange juice cans but to mix the juice with vodka.

How to Observe National Screwdriver Day

Make yourself a screwdriver or order one at a bar. If making your own, make sure to stir it with an actual (clean) screwdriver. If you have a bar, offer specials on screwdrivers or host an event. If celebrating at home, invite friends over and make it a party. While you're at it, why not try one or more variations of the drink such as the Harvey Wallbanger or Slow (Sloe) Screw.

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