No two home bartenders are alike. Some live to perfect a classic gin Martini; others direct their passion toward Old-Fashioneds, Negronis or Margaritas. That’s why, this year, our gift guide is a roundup of foolproof gifts based on the kinds of cocktails your recipient likes to make and drink. We revisited the trendiest gear and glassware featured on our site this year and asked some of our favorite bartenders what they’d be most glad to receive. Here are our top picks for the best bar gifts for any kind of drinker.
Haven’t you heard? Nick & Noras are sooo 2009. Whether or not you agree with the sentiment, we can all agree that this updated glassware, used for the Martinis at Dynamo Room in New York, or this sleek version, used at Puesto in San Diego, would make an excellent gift for your trendiest friend’s home bar. If you’re more into the classic V-shape, consider this slimmer take on the stemware. “They are so balanced and elegant and beautiful,” says Josh Conley, owner of Bar Limina in Memphis, who uses it in the bar’s Vesper riff.
The key to Martinis for a crowd. This sleek Martini mixer by the midcentury Danish designer Arne Jacobsen can fit multiple servings, making it a perfect mixing tin for your friends who like to host.
Tiny ’tinis, anyone? Becca Petersen, bartender at Daisies in Chicago, recommends these cordial coupes. “Not only are they beautiful statement pieces, but they’re also the perfect size for an after dinner digestif—or perhaps a tiny Martini,” she says. Another option for mini cocktails are these adorable diminutive glasses (as seen with the Chupetini).
Agave syrup like you’ve never had it before. Agave Matchmaker (fka Tequila Matchmaker, the group uncovering whether agave spirits are full of shit), released Respeto Agave Syrup in partnership with a family of maguey farmers in Mexico earlier this year. “If you’ve ever been to a traditional distillery in Jalisco and pulled cooked agave right out of the oven and tasted it, you’ll know that it’s a moment you’ll never forget,” co-owner Grover Sanschagrin said in his announcement. While industrial sweeteners strip the nuances of agave, this syrup retains the flavors—sweet potato, molasses and minerals, according to Sanschagrin.
A go-to shaker set. Lou Bernard, beverage director at Mita in Washington, D.C., recommends the Koriko Weighted Shaking Tins, which he describes as perfectly balanced and durable. “They make shaking cocktails a small daily pleasure,” he says.
For the mezcal fans in your life. These bottle baskets from producer Del Maguey are the perfect vessels for storing or gifting mezcal. The handwoven baskets are created by a Zapotec women’s weaver group and feature designs that take inspiration from throughout Oaxaca.
An easy upgrade. If you like the classic, bitters-soaked-sugar-cube method for making an Old-Fashioned, consider an upgrade, like these Okinawan kokuto cubes.
Universal, elegant glassware. Kimura makes beautiful hand-blown glassware in all shapes and sizes. These ultra thin 10-ounce glasses are excellent for Old-Fashioneds.
An easy infusion for cozier cocktails. Every Old-Fashioned fan has their own favorite way to make one, but it can’t hurt to add a new recipe to the rotation. Infusing tea into the base spirit of an Old-Fashioned ups its coziness (take, for example, the Golden Daylily, made with oolong). The creaminess of jinxuan tea makes it especially suited to the format—and it’s a good gift for both home bartenders and people who don’t drink alcohol.
Go beyond Campari. The seasoned Negroni drinker looking to branch out might appreciate a new-school bitter liqueur, like Bruto Americano, whose rosemary and pine notes are especially suited to winter drinking.
Make batching a breeze. This 850-milliliter, leakproof bottle is perfect for anyone who loves to batch Negronis (or any other cocktail). The polymer base, which can be color-coordinated to your own organization system, screws off for easy prep and cleaning.
Showstopping glassware. A Negroni would look like an art piece in one of these printed tumblers from Japan’s Hirota Glass.
Yuzu fizz, anyone? This set of fresh and super yuzu juice makes it easy to add the Japanese citrus to any cocktail, from a whisky highball to a Calpico fizz and beyond.
For the science-y bartenders out there. “Bubbles: A Guide to Carbonated Cocktails by Bart Miedeksza and Valentino Girotto is that rare cocktail book that comes along and immediately becomes the gospel for its subject,” says John Douglass, owner of Pretty Decent in Louisville, Kentucky. “Its specificity and thoroughness make it an invaluable addition to the collection of anyone in the bar game who is carbonating drinks.”
Not just for whipped cream. An iSi whipper enables anyone to batch and fizz cocktails or top drinks with fluffy foams at home.
An edible gift. Luxardo Maraschino cherries are the benchmark for cocktail cherries, and any Manhattan (or Last Word) drinker would appreciate a new jar. For a boozier, more herbal profile, try St. Agrestis’ amaro-soaked version.
And to go with the cherries… You’re going to want some cocktail picks. These are sleek and minimalist, and these Murano glass ones come in a range of colors. This vintage swan cocktail pick set, meanwhile, doubles as a bar cart centerpiece.
Get your fill of cocktail history. Fans of the Manhattan’s many variations throughout history—and readers of Al Culliton’s Deep Cuts column here at Punch—will want to check out their Little Book of Tavern Drinks. Culliton is an intrepid drinks historian, and they flex that knowledge throughout the 20 recipes in this guide.
Another shaker option for you. If you want to get fancy with it, this pricier, hand-micropolished option from Birdy is worth the splurge.
An eye-catching glass. Montana, in Hong Kong, serves its house Daiquiri in this two-tone tulip glass, which would be a stunning addition to your glassware collection.
Daiquiri frappés forever. Bar Kabawa, one of our Best New Bars of 2025, presents its signature drink over a mountain of shaved ice. With this KitchenAid attachment, you, too, can achieve frosty perfection at home.
Don’t miss our guide to the best bottles to gift this season and all of our recommendations for bar and restaurant workers.
