Raise The Bar: Cocktail Gifts For Home Mixologists

These are the best cocktail gifts for anyone who loves mixing drinks at home! Whether you’re shopping for the mixologist in your life or looking to upgrade your own home bar, this list of unique cocktail gifts will help you find the perfect present. From elegant barware to artisanal ingredients and the latest in cocktail tech, we’ve scoured the options to help you find a great gift for any cocktail enthusiast. 

Cocktail enthusiasts love to craft the perfect drinks for happy hour at home. If you have a drink lover in your life, you’ll know their passion for creativity, perfection and beauty is key to savoring every sip.  

But there’s more to cocktail gifts than just giving them a bottle of their favorite type of alcohol. Shake things up with the perfect gift to help them mix up exceptional cocktails. Whether they’re a mixology maven or a beginner bartender, there is something for every drink-smith on this cocktail gift list.

The Best Cocktail Gifts

Whether you’re looking for a 21st birthday present, a holiday gift or a little something just because, these cocktail gifts are a great place to start. When choosing a cocktail gift, take into consideration the recipient’s preferences and skill level when it comes to mixology.

Bar Set 

A high-quality cocktail shaker set with various tools like a shaker, jigger, strainer and muddler is an essential upgrade for every cocktail enthusiast. I love this bar set by A Bar Above, a company founded by real bartenders. 

A basic bar set will enable anyone to make their favorite drinks anytime, like an electric lemonade for the summer or warm winter cocktails. It’s a simple yet highly useful gift for anyone who enjoys happy hour at home.

Aging Barrel

With an aging barrel, your cocktail enthusiast can age whiskey, tequila, rum and even mixed cocktails. The barrel will impart oaky flavor into every sip. 

Cocktail Machine

For the drink lover who values convenience or who has a go-to drink, a premium cocktail machine like the Bartesian makes a show-stopping gift. Similar to single-serve coffee makers, these machines combine pods of drink mixers with different spirits to craft your favorite cocktails in minutes. 

Hydroponic Garden 

If your cocktail lover has a green thumb, they will love growing their own garnishes. The Aerogarden hydroponic system comes equipped with a strong grow light. I love using mine to grow mint for juleps and mojitos, but it can grow anything from cherry tomatoes for bloody Marys to rosemary for holiday cocktails. 

Clear Ice Mold 

Ice might seem like a simple cocktail ingredient, but there’s a lot more to it than just freezing water. Clear ice cubes melt slower, don’t crackle and look almost invisible in a cocktail. I make mine in this directional freezer mold and it’s so easy to do. 

Cocktail Smoking Kit

Billowing smoke emerging from drinks in elegant cocktail bars garner lots of oohs and ahhs. My husband loves to show off this technique for smoked old-fashioned cocktails at dinner parties — it’s a lot of fun. This cocktail smoking kit comes complete with a butane torch, a smoke lid and several types of wood chips to infuse different flavors into your drinks. 

Cocktail Bombs

Cocktail bombs evoke the same fun as hot cocoa bombs: You simply drop one into your drink and let it do its magic. They will dissolve and make the cocktail bubble in the process. 

Bar Cart 

If your recipient likes to entertain, a bar cart will be the center of attention at their next party. A bar cart looks beautiful inside, but you can also use bar carts outdoors when the weather is nice. They can stock it with glassware, garnishes and anything else they’ll need to quickly whip up drinks. 

Bitters Kit

Cocktail bitters are a great way to elevate cocktails with flavor and fragrance, and your mixologist will love having more to choose from than just the basics. I once received this bitters set from Scrappy’s Bitters as a gift, and they have been some of my most used. 

Gin Infusion Kit

Gin fans will love the opportunity to infuse their own gin with real botanicals, fruits, herbs and spices and make their perfect bottle. This gin-infusion kit provides 12 vials of different seasonings that can be added to vodka or another grain spirit.

Travel Cocktail Kit

Jet-setting drinkers will love having a mini-bar on the go. These travel cocktail kits come in a range of flavors, from champagne cocktails to old-fashioneds. They’re small, which makes them ideal for packing in your carry-on or bringing on a picnic or to give as stocking stuffers. All they’ll need to add is the alcohol. 

Glassware

Any drink maker needs the right tools for the job, and that includes vessels to imbibe with. Pick them out a nice set of cocktail glasses or beautiful wine glasses for serving their favorite drinks. Choose unique or themed glassware that fits the type of drinks they make, such as martini glasses, rocks glasses, or specialty cups for margaritas or whiskey.

Choosing The Perfect Cocktail Gift

Bartenders of different levels and skills have different needs. Some may do it more often or professionally, while others just enjoy a drink or two occasionally at home. For the seasoned mixologist, specialized tools and high-end spirits might be appreciated, while a beginner might be more interested in a cocktail starter kit or basic, user-friendly gadgets.

 It’s important to tailor your gift to the recipient’s skill level and enthusiasm for cocktail making to ensure it will be both useful and exciting. Here’s how to choose the best cocktail gifts for the bartenders in your life:

Learn Their Preferred Drink Style 

Home mixologists might specialize in cocktails, mocktails, or even holiday coffee drinks during the Christmas season. Find out what type of drinks they enjoy making and focus on gifts that align with their interests.

Choose High-Quality Bar Tools 

Just like cooks who use kitchen tools and bakers who need quality equipment, home mixologists also thrive with the right tools. Look for durable basic bar items like cocktail shakers, jiggers, muddling sticks, or a high-quality strainer that can make their drink-making experience easier and more convenient.

Go For Ingredients And Mixers

Unique syrups, bitters, and mixers are perfect for any home mixologist. Specialty ingredients like smoked syrups, exotic bitters, or flavored simple syrups allow them to experiment with new drinks.

Consider Cocktail Recipe Books 

There are plenty of good cocktail recipes around the world. A good cocktail recipe book, especially one focused on a specific theme (craft cocktails, tiki drinks, or seasonal beverages), can offer endless inspiration and creativity for anyone who loves to make their own drinks.

Invest In Storage Solutions

A stylish bar cart or a chic liquor cabinet to organize spirits, glasses, and tools can be a game-changer for someone who loves mixing drinks at home. Not only do these add a touch of elegance to their space but also helps keep everything easily accessible for cocktail-making convenience. 

A well-organized bar setup can inspire creativity and make the drink-making process even more enjoyable, offering a personalized touch to their home bar. Plus, it makes for a beautiful and functional focal point during gatherings or dinner parties.

Focus On Their Favorite Spirits

If you know they have a favorite spirit (like whiskey, gin, rum, or tequila), look for gifts that complement or enhance their experience with that liquor – choose unique gadgets and accessories like whiskey stones, a rum tasting kit, or a gin botanicals set. Ice makers, glass rimmers, smoking kits, or cocktail infusers are also perfect for home mixologists who love experimenting with new techniques.

Personalize Your Gift

Personalized gifts, like engraved bar spoons, custom cocktail napkins, or a monogrammed cocktail shaker, make thoughtful and memorable presents.  Personalized gift items show thoughtfulness and that you have a deeper connection with the recipient. They demonstrate that you’ve put time and effort into choosing something unique, often reflecting the person’s personality, interests, or passions.

Try Experience Gifts

Cocktail gifts don’t have to be limited to tools, accessories, and ingredients. A cocktail-making class, a ticket to a local distillery tour, a wine tasting event, or a private mixology lesson can provide a fun, educational experience that any home bartender will appreciate.

When choosing gifts for home bartenders, it’s all about improving their drink-making experience. Whether that’s through modern gadgets or flavorful ingredients, you can’t go wrong with these practical and enjoyable gift ideas. 

Whenever I choose gifts for my fellow drink lovers, I always try to pick something inspired by their love for drinks, whether it’s a favorite spirit, flavor or type of drink. This helps to show the recipient that you really considered their gift and ensures it’s something they’ll truly enjoy.

Any cocktail lovers on your list will appreciate a thoughtful gift, especially when it helps them hone their happy hour. They’ll think of you with every sip — cheers to that. 

Portions of this article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.