Cocktail Gift Ideas – Winter 2018

It’s that time of year again:  that still-digesting turkey dinner gives way to indigestion for many whose thoughts turn to gift-giving season.  I’m here to offer you some Black Friday digestifs, or something like that, to help you at least check the boxes for the cocktail aficionados on your list.  Here are a couple of things that I’ve enjoyed having over the last year:

Clear ice cube system by Tovolo. There are many ways to get clear ice, some more practical than others.  I’ve heard, for example, that you can fill a cooler with water, stick it in your freezer, and then the next day take it out and cut off the cloudy portion of the ice and then carve clear ice cubes, spheres, or other shapes from the remaining block of clear ice.  But for those of us who don’t have ice saws, or enough space in our freezers for a cooler, or even a cooler for that matter, there’s an easier way:  a clear ice tray.  They look a little funky, and a little bulky (though much smaller than a cooler), but they work:

Cocktail Gift Ideas - Clear Ice Cube

There are a variety of configurations available.  I use the four-cube system, which is about $27 on Amazon.

Mixing glass.  Perhaps you’re shopping for someone who has just gotten started in making cocktails.  Or maybe you’re looking for something for your spouse, who shakes your martinis when you prefer them stirred.  In either case, a mixing glass is a perfect gift.  It’s one of those cocktail staples that will enjoy years of use.  Amazon is awash in options; here is one for under $15.

Activated charcoal powder.  Heralded as an anti-toxifying agent with a broad range of applications, activated charcoal powder has come to the cocktail scene mainly as a means for turning drinks jet black (or, when used in very small doses, a shade of grey).  Entire pages are dedicated to such recipes; I had a bit of fun with activated charcoal last month myself making a Halloween-themed drink, the Into The Dark.  I used Viva Doria’s activated charcoal powder, available for about $7 in a 1.2 container (which will go a long way) on Amazon.

Motorized citrus press.  If you’re shopping for someone who makes lots of cocktails, or who likes freshly squeezed citrus, or both – and are willing to spend a bit – consider the life-altering 800CPXL motorized citrus press from Breville.  Last year I found that squeezing the lemons, limes, grapefruit and blood oranges for cocktails was just taking too much time for the quantity of drinks I wanted to make.  I was reluctant at first to invest in a citrus press, but I knew from the first time I used it that it was worth the investment for me.  It’s your own personal assembly line for making freshly squeezed citrus; and most of the parts can be cleaned in the dishwasher.  About $160 on Amazon.

Cocktail books.  There are so many great cocktail books out there these days.  I’m currently reading the Drunken Botanist, which recounts the history and uses of the plants used both to make the liquors that are the building blocks of cocktails and the garnishes that make them look, smell and taste great.  Not coincidentally, I’m also working on restarting that herb garden to take my cocktail garnish game up a notch.  I recommend this one for the cocktail-making gardeners in your life.  The Aviary Cocktail Book and the Cocktail Codex are recent publications that are on my wish list.

That’s my list for this year.  Need more inspiration?  Check out last year’s list for culinary torches, Prohibition-era whiskey prescriptions, and other ideas.  Happy holidays!

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).  Pineapple Allspice shrub from Shrub DistrictAs 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.