Holiday Gift Guide 2018

The holidays are officially in full swing! I still have a ton of shopping to do before Christmas. If you're in the same boat, here are some of my favorite gifts for cocktail lovers this year! I always have a fun time putting this list together. Some of these are things I have and love, and others are things I'd really love to have. A note I feel I should include since I have done a lot of sponsored work with brands recently: I am not being paid or compensated to promote any of these products. Some (numbers 1, 3, 7, and 11) are from brands that I have worked with, but they are only being included here because I really really liked them.

1. The Elan Collective Rocks Glasses. I'm pretty obsessed with glassware and these rocks glasses from The Elan Collective are truly unique. $35 for two glasses or $55 for one of each of their four styles. Each glass comes with an ice sphere mold.

2. Love & Victory Whiskey Cufflinks. Why wear your heart on your sleeve when you can wear a glass of whiskey instead? If you're more of a gin drinker, they make Negroni cufflinks as well. $28.

3. Bouvery Chocolate Vodka. I don't think I've ever finished a bottle of anything as quickly as I went through my Bouvery. It's like drinking melted dark chocolate. $30 for a 375 ml bottle (you'll wish it was twice as big).

4. Jackson Cannon Bar Knife by R. Murphy Knives. I received this as a gift from my in-laws last year and I'm obsessed with it. It's perfect for cutting garnishes. The square tip allows you to do some really detailed work if you want to. $79.

5. The Bitter Truth Bogart's Bitters. Bogart's Bitters are the first bitters ever mentioned in a cocktail book, Jerry Thomas' Bartender's Guide. This reformulation is sold in a gorgeous, vintage-style bottle that is just begging to be gifted to your favorite bitters lover. $36 for a 350 ml bottle.

6. Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions. Since Death & Co: Modern Classic Cockails is basically my cocktail bible, I'm confidently recommending their second book after having only flipped through it briefly. It has a different structure from the first, breaking down cocktails into six major templates. A great gift for both experienced and beginner home bartenders. $32.

7. Empress 1908 Indigo Gin. Why gift a typical bottle of gin when you can gift purple, color-changing gin? This gin tastes as beautiful as it looks and makes a striking gift. Just add tonic or citrus to see it turn pink, or make yourself a martini the color of amethyst. $35.

8. Stephen Kenn Travel Cocktail Kit. I've been wanting one of these ever since I saw it on the Instagram feeds of @apartment_bartender and @highproofpreacher. I've tried to find a better or cheaper one and failed utterly - this is the perfect travel kit for cocktails on the go. $295

9. Cocktails + Chickens Pillow. Speaking of Instagrammers I love, @drinkingwithchickens has all-new merchandise for the cocktail and/or poultry lover in your life. I seriously want a couple of these pillows - also available in pink! $30.

10. Homestia Flamingo Martini Picks. I stumbled across these on Amazon and fell in love. Perfect stocking stuffer! $11.

11. Bittercube Bitters Variety Pack. Variety packs of bitters make perfect gifts. This one has a nice selection of unique flavors that go especially well in Old Fashioneds and other whiskey cocktails. $54.

Past holiday gift guides: 2017, 2016, and 2015.