We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. What to Buy Gift Guides The 30 Best Gifts for Cocktail Lovers, According to Bartenders Our list includes high-end bottled cocktails, essential bar tools, editor-loved glassware, and gift boxes. By Nick DeSimone Nick DeSimone Nick DeSimone is a pasta-obsessed vegetarian chef who spent nearly 10 years in restaurants before becoming a food writer. They review kitchen products for Food & Wine and love plant-based and Southern Italian cuisines. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines and Christa Glennie Christa Glennie Christa Glennie is a former restaurant professional who has logged nearly two decades as a writer and editor covering people and trends in food, drink, dining, and agriculture. She's the food editor of Buffalo Spree magazine and has published work in Food & Wine, USA Today, Feast and Field, and more. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 4, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Reviews More Food & Wine Gift Guides Our Expertise Photo: Photo by Caitlin Bensel / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell Cocktail lovers know that a drink is only as good as the ingredients and tools used to make it. If you have someone in your life who loves to play the bartender or host, look beyond a traditional bottle of wine and consider one of these expert-approved bar tools instead, like fancy ice cube trays or online mixology courses. Start with the basics for a novice cocktail enthusiast to make drinks for two, like a well-made cocktail shaker or a drinks recipe book. For more seasoned home bartenders or drinks for a crowd, go straight to a pro-level tool like a countertop nugget ice maker. We even threw in a few great white elephant gift ideas. There's something on this cocktail gift list for anyone who loves to keep their bar cart well-stocked. We even asked experts and our editors to weigh in on their top picks. Glassware Viski Crystal Negroni Glasses $26 $22 at Amazon View on Viski.com Material Stirred Set View on Materialkitchen.com Estelle Colored Glass Champagne Coupe Set $205 at Nordstrom $205 at Food52 View on Estellecoloredglass.com Sophie Lou Jacobsen x Ghia Totem Glasses View on Drinkghia.com Riedel Drink Specific Glassware Highball Glass $45 $33 at Amazon $32 at Wayfair $33 at Walmart Fortessa Jupiter Beaded Glass Martini Glasses $41 at Target $40 at Williams Sonoma $32 at Wayfair Bormioli Rocco America '20s Cocktail Coupe Glass Set $45 $38 at Amazon Riedel Nick and Nora Cocktail Glasses $45 $33 at Amazon $45 at Wayfair $33 at Walmart Huckberry Whiskey Peaks The Rockies $50 $30 at Amazon $60 at Huckberry Williams Sonoma Dorset Spirit Decanter $200 at Williams Sonoma No matter what you're drinking, a well-stocked bar cart needs a few different types of glassware. If you're shopping for a cocktail enthusiast, a set of Nick and Nora glasses like these Riedel cocktail glasses are absolutely essential. Highball glasses are another must for many classic cocktails, as well as signature inventions or simply enjoying a can of soda pop over ice. Colorful glassware like the Estelle Colored Glass Champagne Coupe Set or these Fortessa Jupiter Martini Glasses are ideal for gifting; the eye-catching colors will look great on a bar cart and even better in guests' hands. Senior editor Danielle St. Pierre is excited about the colorful glassware collaboration between editor-favorite non-alcoholic apéritif Ghia and designer Sophie Lou Jacobsen, saying, “The stemmed Provence glasses would make a perfect holiday gift for the budding mixologist in your life.” Spirits and Mixers Ghia Le Fizz View on Drinkghia.com Haus Pomegranate Rosemary View on Drink.haus Via Carota Classic Negroni View on Drinkviacarota.com View on Caskers Chopin Vodka The Ernestine Mini Martini Collection View on Chopinvodka.com Nonino Amaro View on Totalwine.com View on ReserveBar View on Garyswine.com Avaline Lambrusco View on Drinkavaline.com Every cocktail lover could always use a new bottle or two of spirits and mixers. Pre-mixed cocktails, like the Classic Negroni from Via Carota, are perfect for entertaining. Consider an herbal and bitter amaro like Nonino for sipping by itself or making amaro cocktails like a Black Manhattan or a wintry spritz. And speaking of a signature spritz, a bottle of sparkling red wine Avaline Lambrusco will be an unexpected but welcome addition to any bar cart. Even non-alcoholic apéritifs like the Haus Pomegranate Rosemary or the Ghia Le Fizz can make great mixers or bases for new cocktails. Plus, they're delicious all on their own for those who don't feel like imbibing. Food & Wine senior editor Danielle St. Pierre is a big fan, saying, “Le Fizz is Ghia's newest large-format non-alcoholic bubbly, and it's tart, tangy, and ends with a nice dry finish similar to the brand's other bitter-but-not-overly-sweet spritzes. The frothy bubbles and juicy strawberry notes remind me of sipping Lambrusco, which, in my opinion, is the best type of wine to drink on chilly fall nights, and gifting it to friends and family this holiday season." Bar Tools Zulay Kitchen Metal Lemon Lime Squeezer $20 $15 at Amazon $19 at Walmart $30 $18 at Macy's Mixology Bartender Bar Tool Set $35 at Amazon Crate & Barrel Set of 6 Cocktail Picks $7 at Crate & Barrel Outset Professional Cocktail Muddler View on Amazon Oxo Good Grips Citrus Peeler $10 at Amazon W&P Cocktail Ice Bundle $25 at Amazon $15 at Urban Outfitters $15 at Thrive Market Breville The Smoking Gun Pro $150 $120 at Amazon $120 at Williams Sonoma $184 at Walmart GE Profile Countertop Nugget Ice Maker V2 $599 $449 at Amazon $449 at Wayfair $649 $449 at Walmart GET FRESH Reusable Glass Wavy Straws $14 at Amazon Ludivine White Marble 6-Inch Wine Chiller $35 at Wayfair View on Jossandmain.com So your favorite cocktail enthusiast already has a bar cart stocked with cocktail glasses and enough spirits and mixers; now what? Bar tools beyond the basics are an excellent gift for the cocktail lover who has everything. A hand-held citrus reamer, like this Zulay Metal Lemon and Lime squeezer that aced our citrus juicer tests, will always come in handy for many different cocktails that call for juice. The same goes for the OXO Good Grips Citrus Peeler, which is perfect for tendrils of citrus rind to add a twist to cocktails. Most bar carts have at least a few run-of-the-mill cocktail picks and straws. But for the person on your list who can't stand even the accessories in their drink to be boring, we recommend these sleek Crate and Barrel Cocktail Picks, a favorite of Food & Wine senior editorial director Sean Flynn. “These Crate & Barrel cocktail picks are a simple way to step up your home drinks game by adding a little flare. They come in a set of six, so you can break them out for a small dinner party or just for yourself.” Or, opt for a set of colorful, wavy glass straws that meet halfway between a grown-up, eco-friendly reusable straw and the childhood nostalgia of a silly straw. Books and Resources I’m Just Here For the Drinks $25 $15 at Amazon $15 at Target $25 at Barnesandnoble.com The Joy of Mixology $30 $18 at Amazon $18 at Target View on Abebooks.com Uncommon Goods Mixology Classes Online View on Uncommon Goods Cocktail Codex $40 $20 at Amazon $40 $38 at Bookshop.org If you're shopping for someone just embarking on their cocktail journey or even someone who is looking to hone their skills, a book or class is the perfect gift. They'll think of you every time they look up a drink in The Cocktail Codex. Or, you could folloe the founder of Kasama Rum, Alexandra Dorda, who says, “I’d like to make my way through The Joy of Mixology this year. It helps to demystify cocktails by breaking them down into easy-to-understand categories, all while keeping things fun, just as cocktails should be.” More Food & Wine Gift Guides The 13 Best Whiskey Advent Calendars of 2024 The 30 Best Gifts Under $50, Including a Few of Our Tested Favorites The 64 Best Gifts Under $100, Including Several of Our Tested Favorites The 44 Best Chocolate Gifts of 2024, Including Some Editor Favorites Our Expertise Clarissa Buch Zilberman is an acclaimed food writer with nearly a decade of experience. She specializes in barware and kitchen tools. In addition to Food & Wine, you can find her work in Bon Appetit and Miami New Times. Christa Glennie, a food writer with over 10 years of experience, also contributed to this piece. She's the food editor at Buffalo Spree, the author of two cookbooks, and a contributor to USA Today, Wall Street Journal's Buy Side, various Edible publications, and many city newspapers. Food & Wine staff writer Nick DeSimone further updated this story. A longtime professional chef and expert in Italian food and pasta-making, they've also written for Allrecipes, EatingWell, Eater, USA Today, Mashed, The Kitchn, and VegNews. Originally written by citrus juicers, cocktail shakers, and cocktail smokers." tabindex="0" data-inline-tooltip="true"> Clarissa Buch Zilberman Clarissa Buch Zilberman Clarissa Buch Zilberman is a freelance writer with expertise in barware, kitchen tools, and small appliances. She has contributed 20+ product reviews for Food & Wine, including roundups of the best citrus juicers, cocktail shakers, and cocktail smokers. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit