21 Holiday Gifts for the Cocktail Enthusiast
By Heather Bolen
It’s hard to believe the holiday season is already upon us! In anticipation of the launch of my online course, The History & Culture of the Classic Cocktail, I’ve been curating a selection of gift ideas for the cocktail enthusiast. Today, I’m excited to share the list with you all.
From all-in-one cocktail kits for easy holiday get-togethers, to barware essentials for the home bar, to books and a course on the stories, recipes, and techniques behind your favorite cocktails, there are plenty of excellent gifting options to browse below. The list includes everything but the booze!
You’ll find stocking stuffers, budget-friendly items, and splurge gift options to give to any number of folks on your list—a friend, coworker, hostess, or family member.
If you see something you like, be sure to check merchant sites for holiday deals.
I hope you enjoy scrolling through my list. Cheers!
*This blog contains affiliate links, which means that I may receive commissions if you make a purchase using these links. Thank you for your support. It’s truly so appreciated.
Carry on + carrying on
My #1 choice for this year’s cocktail gift-giving guide is the Cocktail Kit by W&P. The kits contain everything but the hard stuff to create a number of impromptu classic cocktails. Carry a kit on board to whip up your favorite 30,000-foot drink or carry on the party at home or online without having to worry about rustling up all of the ingredients. I’ve highlighted the Hot Toddy kit for its obvious winter-time appeal, but if the cocktail enthusiast in your life doesn’t do hot cocktails, check out W&P’s other cocktail kit offerings. The Champagne Cocktail Kit is perfect for a virtual New Year’s toast, and The Bloody Mary Kit makes for a fun hostess gift at a holiday brunch.
“Amy Stewart has a way of making gardening seem exciting, even a little dangerous.”
—THE NEW YORK TIMES
By far, my favorite cocktail book. A page-turner for both the plant lover and the cocktail lover, The Drunken Botanist “explores the dizzying array of herbs, flowers, trees, fruits, and fungi that humans have, through ingenuity, inspiration, and sheer desperation, contrived to transform into alcohol over the centuries.” A hardcover gem for the personal library.
For the Daisy, tom, nick & Jay in all of us
F. Scott Fitzgerald famously coined the term “Jazz Age” and brought the Roaring 20s to life in his great American novel, The Great Gatsby. You, too, can bring out your inner flapper or Jay Gatsby by stocking up on some coupe glasses, the iconic glassware of the era. This set of 4 from Anthropologie will have you drinking champagne and Gin Rickeys in “long, greedy swallows.”
For the poetic, but hardcore home mixologist
Described by the manufacturer as “creating a cascading waterfall of culinary smoke,” this handsome smoker set will enhance the flavor of your cocktails and your food. Plus, no chemicals or preservatives. The wood chips are developed with the finest chefs and bartenders throughout the United Kingdom and Europe using a meticulously curated blend of woods, herbs, spices, and teas designed to complement liquors.
Sip on history + on a cocktail
The History & Culture of the Classic Cocktail is for the cocktail enthusiast who wants to know not just the how behind cocktails but also the what. In this online course, I explore the narrative timeline of this iconic beverage while highlighting the way in which the cocktail—and alcohol, in general—are represented culturally and socially in society. The cocktail is purely an American invention, but the proto-cocktail can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome. We’ll travel the globe and through the centuries to examine its roots and rich, culinary history. Gift this course to your nerdy-cool imbiber friend or treat yourself to an armchair adventure. The course will provide you with countless conversation starters at your next cocktail party and enhance future travel experiences. You’ll never order a gin & tonic the same way again!
*Enrollment open for March 2022
Drinking from a bowl never got classier
Since its heyday in the 18th century, punch has never been so popular. What better way to throw a holiday party than with a festive, “flowing bowl” as your centerpiece. David Wondrich, considered the premier cocktail historian of our times, designed this old-school punch bowl, which includes his "DW" Monogram on the base and a decal of Thomas Rowlandson's 1795 illustration, "The Pretty Barr Maid.” The 2-gallon punch bowl and the full David Wondrich collection are available by Cocktail Kinkdom. Make it a gift set with Wondrich’s delightful book on the history of punch (sold separately).
"A lively, fascinating history of punch[...]. Wondrich is a tremendously witty writer."
—THE NEW YORKER
MIngle + puzzle
Party idea: Set up the frame to this jigsaw puzzle ahead of time and let your guests poke around at filling in a few pieces here and there. The puzzle, made by San Francisco-based Cavallini, purveyor of premier stationery and gift products, is an on-theme natural conversation starter.
THE Perfect stocking stuffer
Plastic straws are out. They’re neither environmentally friendly nor elegant. Paper straw alternatives get soggy and will disintegrate in your carefully crafted cocktail. Keep it classy with these metal straws, which come in various lengths and styles for your highball drinks and tiki drinks.
A Classic + Contemporary essential
Every home bar requires a well-made shaker. You will be totally on-trend with the rich, lustrous two-toned gunmetal and gold finish on this heavyweight cobbler shaker by Viski. It’s sleek and contemporary but classic enough to go with stainless steel, brass, and other finishes on display in your home bar collection. The strainer is built in. Viski also offers matching gunmetal finish bar tools (sold separately)
Because frosé should always be an option
This cute cocktail maker turns all of your favorite beverages frozen in just three simple steps: mix, freeze, squeeze. It makes 4-6 servings and is ready overnight. Tuck it into your suitcase on your winter getaway for an easy poolside refreshment.
Shake, stir, muddle + repeat
What better way to shower someone with cocktail love than gifting a cocktail box subscription. Each Shaker & Spoon box is built around one spirit, showcasing various styles of cocktail-making. The boxes contain 3 recipes created by renowned worldwide bartenders and include step-by-step instructions and enough ingredients for 12 cocktails. Their specialty syrups are house-made in small batches. Shaker & Spoon offers a month-to-month option as well as 3, 6, and 12-month subscriptions.
Ain’t It Swell?
S’well doesn’t just make good-looking, well-made water bottles. They also offer good-looking, well-made products for hosting, like this stylish teakwood ice bucket. The triple-layered vacuum-insulated container will keep those gorgeous cocktail ice cubes from melting. No sweating! Plus, every S’well purchased counts towards displacing millions of single-use plastic bottles. The container comes with tongs and in three style options.
CHILL OUT
Can you tell I’m daydreaming about warmer, sunnier days? With these very cute margarita freeze cooling cups, you’ll be all set for your next patio or pool party. Host boasts an entire industrial design team dedicated to keeping your drink frozen or cold. These double-walled cups are constructed with an insulated silicone band for comfortable handling and engineered with Host’s patented active cooling gel. With that peace of mind, you’re sure to be one, chill host.
Sweeten the deal
Simple syrup is a liquid sweetener that disperses sweetness evenly throughout beverages. Nowadays, choices abound, but you’ll want to be careful to avoid the ones with high fructose corn syrup and other unsavory ingredients. Muddle & Wilde blend herbs, spices, and flowers to create their flavorful small-batch mixers. Their craft syrups are made in southern California with local organic citrus fruit and organic botanicals from northern California. Choose the Trio for Rum/Whiskey or the Trio for Tequila/Mezcal.
Stop the stink
Bad ice can crush an otherwise well-made cocktail. Next to alcohol, ice is the second most important ingredient in your drink. Large, substantial cubes are needed so the ice doesn’t melt too quickly and over dilute the drink. If the tray is uncovered, the ice can pick up yucky freezer odors, which then infect your drink. Small investment, big return.
Statement piece
Make a statement with this hand-finished rectangular plate by Revol, a French family-owned company established in 1768. Revol's factory, located in Saint Uze, is one of the few in the world making their own clay. Available by French Wink in two different sizes and five finishes, use the plate as an olive tray or to hold small home bar accessories or garnishes.
si, si, per favore!
Offered exclusively by Food52, these retro-style cocktail glasses will add texture, depth, and style to your cocktail setup. The glasses come in two styles (tumbler and goblet) and four colors (purple, indigo, blush, and amber). Buy in one color or mix and match for a more eclectic look.
High design cocktail hour
Game on. Uplevel your cocktail hour with this sleek glass mixer and copper-tone metal stirrer. The contrast is exquisite. A must-have for your stirred cocktails, the Hepburn two-piece set by Design Within Reach is the ideal hostess, holiday, or wedding gift.
Take your cocktailing to the extreme
This 5-in-1 vessel is lightweight and made of military-grade aluminum. Created by VSSL, a boutique industry leader in quality outdoor gear, the vessel conceals five camping elements, including a glass-lined flask to preserve flavor and a pair of collapsible shot glasses. Fortunately for us, VSSL considered cocktail gear as essential as a flashlight or first aid kit. It’s the perfect gift for the outdoorsman or outdoorswoman in the family.
DIY tequila + mezcal craft spirits
Handmade in Mexico from recycled glass, this gorgeous infusing set lets you make your own handmade artisanal cocktail. Add fruity, spicy, or nutty flavors to mezcal (that’s any liquor made from agave) or tequila (which is made specifically from blue agave native to certain regions of Mexico), then simply brew the mixture in the decanter for a few days or longer. Salud!
ROLL WITH IT
A bar cart adds style and sophistication to your home and is a convenient alternative to a built-in bar or (heaven, forbid) mixing drinks for guests on your kitchen counter. This chic handwoven rattan cart by Serena & Lily adds an elegant, mid-century touch to your living room or dining room. With sides and rails, it’s also a practical option if you want to roll the cart during a party. Choose from black or natural.
Runner up
Check out them wheels! This bar cart came in such a close second for me, I couldn’t help but include it. Made by Blu Dot, the teak combined with powder-coated aluminum is handsome enough for the living room but casual enough for the patio. Plus, it’s downright functional with a removable wood cutting board. Love it.
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