If you’ve got a cocktail lover in your life, a bottle of booze is probably the first gift that comes to mind. But trust me—you can do better. If this friend is truly looking to up their home mixology game, they’ll need more than just alcohol to do it. The best gifts for cocktail lovers and home mixologists can range from well-made essential equipment and ingredients to display-worthy glassware, chic bar carts, and books that will help take them from bartending beginner to craft cocktail master.

Whether your giftee is the type to meticulously curate and arrange their bar setup until it’s magazine-cover-worthy, a mad scientist who’s got three types of milk punch in the fridge and a jug of their own (highly questionable, consume-at-your-own-risk) wine fermenting in the basement, or someone who loves to nerd out on drink history, there’s a cocktail gift here for them. And hey, if you’re looking to spruce up your own home bar this holiday season, stock up on a few of these gift ideas for yourself.

Some of our top picks

Boozy books

For aspiring mixologists who are serious about improving their understanding of the craft, a book is an ideal gift. Meehan’s Bartender Manual from the acclaimed bartender behind New York’s PDT is a true deep dive, covering everything from cocktail history and mixing techniques to bar design and ingredient production. Cocktail Codex explores the hows and whys of six classic cocktail families, creating a solid foundation of knowledge and theory from which your cocktail-loving friend can expand and innovate. For the friend who’s into riffs on classics, Every Cocktail Has a Twist has more than 200 variations on the drinks we all know and love.

For those who like it shaken, not stirred

If your giftee has been using the same janky old cocktail shaker since their college days, give them an upgraded model that will make churning out margaritas, sours, and Bond-style martinis a breeze. If top-tier functionality is the priority, go for our product-test-winning Boston shaker or cobbler shaker. For the more design-minded mixologist, opt for the sleek brass set from Hawkins New York that includes an ice bucket and a jigger. If the cocktail lover in your life is the outdoorsy type, a vacuum insulated shaker from Yeti in their favorite color is the way to go. And if they already own a Yeti Rambler tumbler, you can buy the shaker lid on its own as a stocking stuffer.

And for those who like it stirred, not shaken

Sure, it’s possible to mix a cocktail with a regular old pint glass glass and regular old spoon, but nothing beats having a dedicated vessel and tool designed for the job. If your cocktail-loving friend likes classically stirred cocktails like Negronis, Manhattans, and Old Fashioneds, they’ll appreciate the gift of a beautifully designed stirring set that feels luxe to use and looks elegant on a bar cart. For something modern and minimal, opt for the Golden Cocktail Set from Amber Interiors, and for a more classic look, try the Harrison Barware Set from Viski. For a touch of whimsy, pair the colorful wave pitcher from Sophie Lou Jacobsen with a glass stirrer from Etsy.

Eye-catching glassware

I spend far more of my free time browsing colorful luxury glassware than I care to admit. The pastel-hued coupes (and wine glasses and champagne flutes and lowball glasses) from Estelle Colored Glass have lived rent free in my head since I first set eyes on them. They’re not the kind of thing I’d ever buy for myself, which means I’d be delighted to receive them (friends and family reading this, I’m not not looking at you). The multicolored martini glasses from French American designer Sophie Lou Jacobsen are another option that spark joy, but scroll down for some more traditional glasses too.

Bitters and mixers

Bitters can be thought of like cocktail seasoning, the mixologist’s equivalent to a cook’s herbs and spices. Most cocktail drinkers will be familiar with Angostura, Peychaud’s, and orange bitters, so why not broaden their horizons with a set that includes variations like celery, cardamom and black walnut? If they’re into gin and tonics or spritzes, they’ll love this set of craft mixers from Milwaukee-based company Top Note.

Garnishing supplies and tools

A cocktail cherry, a salt rim, or an expertly executed lemon twist can make all the difference when it comes to making and serving cocktails at home, so make sure your giftee is stocked up on everything they need for the job. And if you’re looking for something with a little sparkle, opt for a set of festive cocktail picks.

For the dirty martini lover

Give the friend whose go-to drink is a dirty martini (hi, it’s me) all of the goods they need to make top tier ‘tinis at home. Pair olive-infused vermouth from Veso with a jar of Quincy olives, which have enough brine for 14 (extra) dirty drinks (or 120 if you opt for the XL), or opt for olive-adorned napkins or picks from Big Night.

For the espresso martini fiend

Your resident espresso martini lover deserves a do-it-all machine that can make excellent shots of espresso and their morning coffee order, whether that’s drip, cold brew, or a latte. If they’re all set on the espresso front, give the gift of sipping in style with a handblown espresso bean cocktail glass from Maison Balzac.

Fancy ice

As any mixology professional will tell you, ice is an absolutely crucial component in any cocktail. If you’re looking for a worthwhile splurge, the GE Profile Opal 2.0 is our favorite ice maker and is a great gift for anyone who regularly hosts (or just has an affinity for ultra-crunchy ice). We also love this mold from the makers of our favorite silicone ice trays, which makes spheres of ice so pretty you’ll be sad to watch them melt.

Bar trays

If your giftee has been storing their cocktail-making supplies on a random shelf or tucked away in a cupboard, give them a way to display them all properly. If you don’t want to go all out on a bar cart, a tray is a great way to organize bottles and bar equipment in a way that feels intentional and styled rather than overcrowded and, well, frat basement-y.

A boozy advent calendar

What’s better than one big bottle of booze? 12 or 24 little bottles of booze, of course. Any whiskey enthusiast will appreciate Flaviar’s luxe advent calendar, which includes 24 whiskies from all over the world. Or if you want to give your mixologist friend a break from shaking their own drinks, give the gift of 12 expertly premade cocktails from Portland, Oregon, craft cocktail brand Straightaway.

An actually good pre-made cocktail

Frequent hosts will appreciate a well-crafted pre-made cocktail that’ll save them the trouble of mixing multiple rounds of drinks at a time. Senior commerce editor Noah Kaufman loves the pre-made cocktails from Hoste, and would argue they taste the closest to freshly-made out of any of the bottled or canned cocktail brands he’s tried. Kaufman likes Hoste’s Mezcal Negroni in particular. I prefer my Negronis to be of the Sbagliato variety, and Via Carota’s single-serve bottles are a go-to in my house.

A choose-your-own-alcohol adventure

And if you’re still set on gifting the cocktail lover in your life a bottle of booze, why not let them pick out what they want themselves? A gift card from ReserveBar also makes a great addition to whatever else you’ve chosen off this list. Or grab a bottle from the Bon Appétit Wine Shop for the mixologist who’s also a oenophile.

Gifts for more of the very specific people in your life