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