Tax Extension Weekend – Income Tax Martini

I never realized that tax season has a start date each year! It was way back on the 19th of January. Needless to say, we were not lining up to file the taxes on that day! Tax Day is officially April 15 each year unless that date falls on a Saturday or a Sunday. In that case, the due date for federal income tax returns gets pushed ahead to the next business day. But today, April 15th is a Friday, so why are we getting the weekend extension this year? Emancipation Day is the reason.

Emancipation Day is the holiday in Washington DC that marks President Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act on April 16, 1862, freeing more than 3000 slaves in the District of Columbia. Local government offices in DC are closed and many public services do not operate. By law, when April 16 falls during a weekend, Emancipation Day is observed on the nearest weekday – Friday, April 15, this year on what would normally be Tax Day. That, in turn, pushes Tax Day to the next business day, Monday, April 18. Except if you file your return in Maine or Massachusetts. Filers in those states have a deadline of Tuesday, April 19, this year due to Patriot’s Day, which commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord, fought near Boston in 1775. And I thought the tax form was the complicated part!

For those getting a refund, this cocktail has a slightly sweet orange flavor. If you owe money this year, you’ll probably notice the slightly bitter taste of the drink more.

Income Tax Martini

Income Tax Martini

Income Tax Martini (adapted from cocktails.about.com)  Makes 1 Cocktail

Ingredients:income tax martini (orange martini) (1)

  • 4 ounces gin
  • 1 ounce Cointreau or Triple Sec
  • 1 ounce dry vermouth
  • 2 dashes of bitters
  • orange twist for garnish

 

Preparation:

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake well. Strain the drink into a cocktail glass half filled with ice.

Pour it all into a shaker & shake!

Pour it all into a shaker & shake!

Garnish with an orange twist.

Slightly sweet & slightly bitter!

Slightly sweet & slightly bitter!

Make the most of this extra weekend before the taxes are due!  ~Linda

Income Tax Martini (adapted from cocktails.about.com)  Makes 1 Cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 4 ounces gin
  • 1 ounce Cointreau
  • 1 ounce dry vermouth
  • 2 dashes of bitters
  • orange twist for garnish

Preparation:

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake well.

Strain the drink into a cocktail glass half filled with ice. Garnish with the orange twist.