Quick Tip #7 – Twelve Days of Mixology: Holiday Gift Guide

I am a cocktail nerd. You might know one of us, or you might BE one of us. If you are a fellow cocktail nerd, cheers to you and go away because this is pre-holiday message to the people who love you.

Now then…

Hello there, started shopping for gifts yet? Got a cocktail freak in your life? We can be hard to shop for, just like anybody who is an avid hobbyist. If you knew a model train collector, getting them a Thomas the Tank book might be a little off the mark. For a cocktail enthusiast it is the same kind of thing. This might seem like a hassle but remember this person makes you drinks, so stocking them up is always a good idea. Not so much with the train guy.

Here are some guidelines and suggestions:

Books: Books are great, but any good nerd has a few. There are thousands of terrible cocktail books and bartender’s guides out there and you have to be careful. Steal a look at their library if you can, and take note for some authors, since there are definitely luminaries in the field. Here are a few books I own that are a must have.

Tools: You can never have too many tools and if you can there are always prettier ones. From fancy spoons to crystal mixing glasses, there is a whole world of fine gear priced from five to several hundred dollars. The best sources for this are on the web. Cocktail Kingdom has some of the most beautiful stuff I have ever seen. but The Boston Shaker is also a great source. I trust that almost anything you buy on these sites will satisfy even the pickiest of mixology buffs. They are also a good source for quality cocktail books.

Booze: Booze is easy because we will always run out. You can find out what they like or need pretty easily. I like to give slightly obscure finds, but a good bottle is always a good bottle. Just be wary of artificial flavors and colors. Instead, stick to rums, whiskeys or brandies in the 30 to 50 dollar range, or, for a less expensive option, look for interesting vermouth or aperitifs. I can seldom ever have enough vermouth; Dolan, Torino or Carpano Antica are fancy high-end vermouth options, but there are others.

Here are some bottles priced in the twenty to fifty range that every cocktail enthusiast will love: