Cocktail Gift Ideas – Winter 2017

Black Friday is behind us and Cyber Monday is upon us.  If that hasn’t already driven you to drink, then you might be sober enough to be wondering what to buy the home bartenders in your life for the holidays.  Here are a few cocktail gift ideas for your list.  (Note that some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning this website might earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.)

A culinary torch.  This fall I finally acquired a torch for my cocktail toolset – the Keen Smart Culinary Creme Brulee Torch.  And I have no regrets.  The joy of playing with fire speaks for itself, and it has practical applications, too.  Use the torch to add a burnt finish to your citrus garnish (see my recipe for the Smoked Pearl).  Or use the torch with some wood planks (I used this variety pack) to smoke your glasses (see my take on the Old Fashioned for an example).  Don’t forget to add fuel; Keen recommends at least 5x pure butane.  On Amazon.

A set of cocktail vinegars from Shrub District.  The folks at Shrub District are champions of the “old art” of the shrub, in which vinegar and sugar are used to preserve fruit.  Shrubs make for a brilliant addition to a cocktail (see my recipe for the Autumn Breeze, and also check out many compelling recipes on one of my favorite cocktail feeds on Instagram, @sashadallasgirl).  As a bonus for buy-local enthusiasts in the D.C. area, they are locally based and put a premium on local ingredients.  And they have a Cyber Monday deal going; use the code “cranberrysauce” at checkout and save 10% on your order.  On the web at www.shrubdistrict.com.

Two-inch ice square ice cube tray.  For some drinks, standard freezer-made ice or ice-tray ice cubes won’t do the trick.  The problem is that small cubes melt quickly.  This is fine for some drinks, but others need a bigger ice cube that allows you to finish a drink before it gets too watered down.  I like this tray from Cocktail Kingdom, which allows you to make six square two-inch cubes and doesn’t take up too much space in the freezer.  Pro tip: let the cubes sit for a couple of minutes after you take the tray out of the freezer.  They’re easier to pop out if they warm up a bit first.  On Amazon.

Chartreuse.  If you have been following my Instagram (@capitalcocktails), you know that I am obsessed with Chartreuse.  It’s a monastic liqueur from France that is predominantly available in two varieties – green and yellow.  Both are unique herbal liqueurs; the green is slightly stronger than the yellow, and the yellow is slightly sweeter.  Either would make a great gift for a home bartender.  They will also come in handy if you’re following along with any of the recipes I post here (try the Autumn Breeze or the Decorator’s Drink) or on Instagram, which will continue to make good use of this excellent spirit.  Available at many liquor stores; average price $55.

‘Imbibe’ by David Wondrich.  If you’re looking for a great gift for the cocktail enthusiast/history buff, consider this great book by David Wondrich.  Wondrich, a regular contributor to Esquire, chronicles the history of the cocktail and its evolution over the years, with a particular focus on Jerry Thomas, known as “The Professor” and godfather of the modern cocktail arts.  The book is well-researched and easy to read.  It also includes recipes for some classic cocktails to make the tour through history even more tangible.  On Amazon.

Authentic D.C.-area “medicinal” whiskey prescriptions from the Prohibition era.  Finally, a cocktail gift for the history buff who prefers artifacts to books:  authentic whiskey prescriptions written by D.C.-area doctors during Prohibition.  It actually wasn’t impossible to drink legally during Prohibition; you just needed a doctor to write you a prescription.  This loophole  kept the Buffalo Trace distillery in business and many good Americans drunk while the Temperance experiment ran its course.  And now, it will help you get your home-bartending friends the best gift of the season.  On Etsy through the ProhibitionAct store; prices range from roughly $10 to $45.