11 Boozy Gifts for the Budding Mixologist in Your Life
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Corker collector, cocktail books, artisanal salts, and more.
Image: courtesy of retailers
Now’s the most wonderful time of year…to make your spirits (and home bar) bright and re-stocked with things like Texas-made wine, cocktail accessories, and the perfect party game. Drinkers come in all forms. The aspiring mixologist in your life might enjoy laying low from the holiday chaos with a Christmas movie and a glass of wine from time to time, so a cork collector is just the thing they need. Or maybe they host seasonal soirees for friends and coworkers, and they need a recipe book with more cocktail ideas. And if you’re getting something for yourself, sipping some bubbly to pass the time while you wait for 2023 may be just the treat you need.
Whether you're shopping for someone with an at-home bar, one whose evenings tend to include a nice cold beer, or that friend who knows it’s always five o’clock somewhere, these are the gifts for them.
Another Round: 200 Trivia Questions for Cocktail Nerds
Image: Amazon
Why wait for trivia night at your local sports bar, if you can host a pop quiz at home instead? These 200 trivia questions will test your knowledge of cocktails, pop culture, and history. They even come with bartending tips and recipes straight from Punch's online guide. Trust us: this is one trivia round that won’t make you feel like you’re back in school.
Williams Sonoma Mini Margarita Salt Set
Image: Williams Sonoma
You know the perfect margarita isn’t complete without that final touch of salt. Elevate your ordinary recipe with this set of chile, lime, spicy pineapple, and classic margarita salts. They each offer a sweet, spicy, and, of course, salty twist for a different tasting experience every time.
Sangria Cocktail Infuser by Camp Craft Local
Image: Confetti Riot
Make sangria at home with Camp Craft’s Sangria Cocktail Infuser, sold at Confetti Riot. The infusion-ready jar holds all of the orange, lemon, and cherry you’ll need to create that perfectly sweet sangria taste.
Signed copy of Julep: Southern Cocktails Refashioned by Alba Huerta Local
Image: Julep
Whip up your own delicious drinks with this signed copy of Alba Huerta’s Julep: Southern Cocktails Refashioned. Huerta just won a James Beard Award, so you can trust her to guide you through the world of these Southern staples.
Houston Bottle Opener
Image: DOIY
Even your bottle openers can have a hint of Houston in their design. Rep your Space City pride with this astronaut-shaped aluminum bottle opener from DOIY, complete with a reflective rose gold visor.
Avonak Bourbon
Image: Avonak Distillery
Any cocktail connoisseur knows that bourbon is a bartending essential, so make sure to add Avonak Distillery’s signature bourbon to your collection. The vanilla and caramel sweetness is the perfect touch to drink neat, or to add to your favorite cocktail.
Messina Hof Winery Red and White Wine Duo Local
Image: Messina Hof
Texas-based, Aggie-owned Messina Hof Winery offers a seasonal red and white wine set, perfect for pairing with Christmas dinners and holiday hors d'oeuvres. This duo includes the winery’s Private Reserve Tempranillo, which pairs well with Spanish tapas and dessert, and Viognier, great with glazed country ham, citrus roasted salmon, or potato latkes.
Gin Making Kit
Image: Uncommon Goods
This gin-making kit includes everything you need to truly become an at-home mixologist (except the vodka, tonic water, and lime—but you probably already have those in your pantry). Step-by-step instructions, botanical test tubes for customizing your drinks, and two re-fillable glass bottles complete this set from Uncommon Goods.
Personalized Wine Gift Box and Cork Catcher
Image: Wine Enthusiast
Drowning in wine corks instead of wine? You can continue to do both with this wooden gift box from Wine Enthusiast. The box displays your bottle of choice, then doubles as a cork catcher once you’ve finished your favorite wine (see the Messina Hof set above for refill options). You can also have it personalized with the giftee’s name and year gifted.
Shot Glass Set with Parota Serving Tray
Image: Lolo Mercadito
If you know a fan of authentic Mexican tequila, then gift them this hand-crafted shot glass and serving tray set from Lolo Mercadito, located in San Antonio. The charming clay shot glasses are hand-painted, while the tray is made from parota, a beautiful multicolored Mexican wood.
Luxury Rosé Gift Box
Image: Champagne Madame Zéro
This gift set from Champagne Madame Zéro, a 200-year-old French brand specializing in low-sugar champagnes, may be a splurge, but the bottle of rosé comes nestled in velvet inside a black lacquered gift box, which also includes a custom stopper. Fancy!
