November 2020 |

The Ultimate Gift Guide for Home Mixologists | 16 Gift Ideas for People Who Like to Drink

by corrie.pennington / November 28, 2020

Ultimate Gift Guide for Home Mixologists. These 16 gift ideas are perfect for people who love to drink, people who are starting to get into home mixology, and for those people in your life who are just plain hard to shop for.

This is the ultimate gift guide for home mixologists, people who love to drink, people who are starting to get into home mixology, and for those people in your life who are just plain hard to shop for. These 16 gift ideas will help you cover the bases for all the people on your Christmas list year.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like!

I don’t know about you but come Christmas time, I’m always at a loss as to what I should buy for people. Some individuals are particularly gifted (pun intended) in this area. If that’s you, then you’re probably looking at gift ideas for yourself. No shame in that! I’m grateful to be a part of two families that not only ask me what I actually want for Christmas but request exact links, too. If you’re not so lucky as to have family members like that, perhaps you can *casually* drop the link to this post in their email. I got your back.

With the huge rise in #happyhourathome thanks to COVID, these 16 gift ideas for home bartenders might just help you check everyone off your Christmas list. Even your super particular uncle.

The obvious option is to buy them more alcohol. That’s always welcome. But here are some other gift ideas for people who love to drink.

Gift Ideas for Beginner and Intermediate Home Mixologists

#1 – Cocktail shaker (two options)

Everyone should own a cocktail shaker. This particular one comes with a jigger and a bar spoon. So it’s not only beautiful, it’s a great value, too. It’s perfect for someone who is just starting their home bartending journey or for the person you think might enjoy making their own libations at home. It also comes in rose gold. (Make sure you buy the ‘large’ option.)

This cocktail shaker set comes with several more useful tools. It has 3 types of strainers (essential for drinks that require double straining), a muddler, ice tongs, and pourers to pop into your most-used liquor bottles. It’s got a stylish bamboo holder, too. Perfect for displaying on a bar cart. If copper’s not their thing, this set comes in silver, too.

#2 – Cocktail Mixing Glass

Know for a fact that the person you’re buying for already has a cocktail shaker? Consider getting them a cocktail mixing glass. These are great for making large batches of cocktails that are meant to be stirred, not shaken. I like this set because it comes with a strainer, bar spoon, and a jigger. No home bartender ever complained about having spare jiggers. Trust me.

#3 – Ice Molds

This ice mold set comes with trays to make both extra large square cubes and spherical ice cubes. Ice can make a big difference in a cocktail, believe it or not. Large ice keeps drinks colder & melts slower so this simple gift will definitely up someone’s cocktail game. I like this particular one because they have lids to keep the freezer smells out of the ice. The second option is a bit more pricey but makes clear ice cubes which are all the rage this year. Seriously.

#4 – Cocktail Picks

Cocktail picks are a great way to up your garnish game. Not a necessity, but definitely a fun touch. Plus these are only $9 so they make the perfect stocking stuffer or extra throw-in gift.

#5 – Channel Knife

Channel knives make it easy to create beautiful garnishes with little effort. You’ll be making lemon twists in your sleep with this $7 tool.

#6 – Decanter

Storing your favorite and most-used alcohol in pretty glass decanters will really up your bar cart game. There are several different styles and shapes. They can be purchased new online or you can look for some vintage ones at your local antique mall or thrift store.

#7 – Cutting board

A nice cutting board would make a great gift for a home mixologist. Not only is a cutting board necessary for cutting citrus and creating garnishes, but a pretty one like this can also serve as a prop for Instagram photos. I mean, if you don’t take a photo of your craft cocktail, did you really even make one??

#8 – Unique Glasses

There are seriously sooo many amazing glasses on Amazon and all over the internet. But my favorite place to find glassware is at the thrift store. In fact, the majority of my glassware collection is from second-hand stores. Can’t beat unique vintage glassware at killer prices!

#9 – Personalized Copper Mugs

Personalized copper mugs are one of the best great gift ideas in my opinion. You can put an anniversary date, a meaningful quote, a nickname… truly anything. This site has a lot of different copper mug options to choose from.

#10 – Simple Syrup Sets

SimplyGala is by far my favorite syrup company because they don’t use any artificial ingredients. They have two different tiki syrup gift sets (tiki cocktails are a thing right now) and a coffee syrup set that can be used in cocktails as well. SG also makes several other individual syrups that you could group together yourself. I personally love their hibiscus syrup and their passionfruit syrup. Both are very versatile despite being so unique! Check out my Hibiscus Negroni recipe and my Isla del Sol recipe for some inspiration.

*This post is not sponsored, btw. Just truly love their products!*

# 11 – Unique and Exotic Bitters

Often referred to as “seasoning for cocktails”, bitters are an easy way to customize any drink. There are classic bitters flavors like aromatic bitters and orange bitters that used in many classic and modern drinks. But don’t stop there. The more unique the bitters flavor sounds, the less likely it is that your booze-loving friend or family member already has it. I mean, do you think they have Sassafras & Sorghum bitters already? Highly unlikely.

# 12 – Unique Mixers

These mixers are anything but run of the mill. Give your home bartender the opportunity to play and experiment by gifting them with products they probably can’t find at their local grocery store. Brighter is my favorite these days and it’s super healthy, too.

# 13 – Fancy Cherries

Luxardo Cherries are famous in the cocktail world and there is no true substitute for them. That’s why they’re expensive. It may seem like a lot of money for some tiny pieces of fruit but you’ll become your loved one’s instant favorite when you give them a jar of these bougie babies.

Gift Ideas for the Serious Home Bartender

# 14 – Ice Maker

You can really up your loved one’s mixed drinks game by getting them an ice maker. Then they’ll always have high-quality ice on hand. I don’t have a countertop ice maker but my friend has this exact one and says it’s great. I also like that it comes in a few different color options. Just make sure they have room for one first before you buy one.

# 15 – Cocktail Smoker Gun

Smoked cocktails are really in right now. Smoked Old Fashioneds. Smoked Negronis. Smoked literally anything you can think of. I’ve never used this brand (or any smoker for that matter) but my friend has it and can attest to it’s quality. This would be a GREAT gift for anyone who loves to cook, too. Don’t forget to buy extra wood chips– this multi-pack has apple, cherry, pear, and pecan wood.

# 16 – Flavour Blaster

The famous smoke-filled bubble maker is called the Flavour Blaster. It’s extremely popular in the cocktail community. But it’s a bit pricey. Here’s a much cheaper option. If you’ve never seen one of these before, check out the videos on the links or browse the #flavourblaster hashtag on Instagram. I’ve never tried a cocktail with a flavorful smoke bubble but I WANT to. Badly.

BONUS IDEA – Instagram Photo Props

If your loved one loves to photograph their cocktail creations, get them props to make their pictures really pop. Look for cool table runners, textured napkins, and pretty coasters. You can even get them a gorgeous backdrop.

There you have it. 16+ gift ideas for home mixologists and all the people who like to drink. If you have more gift ideas, be sure to leave them in a comment below for everyone else to see!

rye

The Bride Wore Red Cocktail| A Whiskey and Wine Cocktail Made with a Cranberry Red Wine Reduction Syrup

by corrie.pennington / November 24, 2020

The Bride Wore Red cocktail is an amazing whiskey and wine drink made with a cranberry red wine reduction syrup. It’s spicy and sweet with amazing complexity and warmth. It’s quite possibly the best cocktail for the colder months ahead.

One of the best things about colder weather is the rich meals and drinks. The recipe for The Bride Wore Red feels like a combination of both. Warm, spicy rye whiskey + rich red wine + tart cranberry sauce + warm spices… is your mouth watering yet? This drink does require a little more effort, especially in comparison to the rest of my super easy beginner-level cocktails, but it is well worth the extra work. Plus you’ll be able to use up that cranberry sauce that always seems to linger longer than the rest of the Thanksgiving and Christmas leftovers.

To learn how to make the cranberry red wine reduction syrup (the star of this cocktail recipe IMO), you can check out the recipe post here. The great thing about it is that you change up the spices, too. Love the taste of star anise? Add some. Hate cardamom? Leave it out.

My inspiration for The Bride Wore Red cocktail was a bit of a journey. The first recipe that came to mind when I got a new bottle (actually, my first-ever bottle) of rye was to make the New York Sour again. The last time I made it, I used corn whiskey and I didn’t like it. I figured I should give that classic cocktail a fair shot.

But then I looked up some other classic rye cocktails and the Vieux Carré and the Saratoga caught my eye. The Bride Wore Red cocktail was inspired by those and the New York Sour. I may be biased, but it turned out dang good. I’ll admit I had to play with the ratios a bit because that cranberry red wine reduction syrup is sweet. But as is the case with every cocktail recipe, feel free to adjust the ratios to your own liking, too.

Speaking of adjusting the recipe, you can use your favorite whiskey instead of rye if you want. I do think the spiciness of the rye balances out the sweetness of the cranberry red wine reduction syrup. But I think it will work well with bourbon or Irish whiskey, too.

The rye that I used is called the Dorothy Arzner Straight Rye Whiskey. Dorothy Arzner was the first woman to direct a sound film and she was also the first woman to join the Directors Guild of America. She directed many famous films such as The Bride Wore Red, Merrily We Go to Hell, Christopher Strong, and Dance, Girl Dance. It seemed only fitting to name this cocktail after one of her movies.

Do you have any other favorite cold-weather cocktails? Let me know in a comment– I’m always down for trying out new cocktail recipes. And if you make The Bride Wore Red, please please please tag me on Instagram!

Ingredients for The Bride Wore Red – A Whiskey and Wine Cocktail

1 1/2 oz rye whiskey
3/4 oz brandy
1/3 oz cranberry red wine reduction syrup (find the recipe here)
1 dash cardamom bitters
1 dash orange bitters
dehydrated orange slice, to garnish

How to Make a The Bride Wore Red Cocktail

Add all ingredients, except for the orange slice, to a cocktail glass with a large ice cube. Stir using a bar spoon. Place a fresh large ice cube into a lowball glass. Strain the cocktail into the glass. Garnish with a dehydrated orange slice.

The Bride Wore Red

The Bride Wore Red cocktail is an amazing whiskey and wine cocktail made with a cranberry red wine reduction syrup. It's spicy and sweet with amazing complexity and warmth. It's quite possibly the best cocktail for the colder months ahead.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 3 mins

Course Drinks

Servings 1

Equipment

cocktail glass
bar spoon

Ingredients

1½ oz rye whiskey
¾ oz brandy
⅓ oz cranberry red wine reduction syrup*
1 dash cardamom bitters
1 dash orange bitters

Instructions

Add all ingredients, except for the orange slice, to a cocktail glass with a large ice cube.
Stir using a bar spoon.
Place a fresh large ice cube into a lowball glass.
Strain the cocktail into the glass.
Garnish with a dehydrated orange slice.

Notes

*You can find the recipe for the cranberry red wine reduction syrup here. It’s a great way to use leftover cranberry sauce.

Keyword apple brandy, cardamom bitters, cranberry red wine reduction for cocktails, cranberry red wine reduction syrup, cranberry sauce, orange bitters, rye, rye whiskey, whiskey, whiskey and wine cocktail

If you love the idea of a whiskey and wine cocktail, check out the Gin & Cabernet Sour. It’s one of my all-time favorites.

simple syrup

Cranberry Red Wine Reduction for Cocktails | The Best Use for Leftover Cranberry Sauce

by corrie.pennington / November 23, 2020

If you have leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving, this cranberry red wine reduction for cocktails is the perfect use for it. It’s an easy syrup recipe made with red wine, cranberry sauce, turbinado sugar, cloves, and cinnamon.

One of the best parts about Thanksgiving are the leftovers. But all the other leftovers run out long before the cranberry sauce does. Instead of tossing out that tart and sweet goodness, try using it in your cocktails.

You can definitely use it as is in a drink. Just sub it in for jam in a Jam Cocktail. Or take it up a notch and make this decadent cranberry red wine reduction. It’s sweet– very sweet– with amazing complexity and warmth to it. It tastes phenomenal with whiskey cocktails and also with gin. You could even use it in place of red wine in a New York Sour for added sweetness.

A cranberry red wine reduction for cocktails is the perfect use for leftover cranberry sauce. It's an easy syrup recipe made with red wine, cranberry sauce, turbinado sugar, cloves, and cinnamon.

Ingredients for a Cranberry Red Wine Reduction for Cocktails

1/2 cup red wine
1/4 cup cranberry sauce (whole or jellied)
1/4 cup turbinado sugar
3 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1-2 cardamom pods

How to Make a Cranberry Red Wine Reduction for Cocktails

Add all ingredients to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes until the syrup has reduced. Pour into a small lidded container, using a strainer to strain out the spices and any cranberry pieces. You’ll need to press on the cranberries with the back of a spoon to really squeeze every drop of the reduction out. Let the syrup cool before storing in the fridge. The syrup should keep for about 2 weeks in the fridge.

Cranberry Red Wine Reduction for Cocktails

This cranberry red wine reduction syrup is perfect for using up that leftover cranberry sauce. It's delicious in whiskey cocktails, gin cocktails, and anything else you want to add depth and complexity to.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook Time 15 mins

Course Drinks

Servings 3 ounces