We Found the 50 Best Gifts for a Well-Stocked Home Bar

There's something singular and special about a perfect cocktail, but it's sometimes easy to forget that it's not just the spirits and mixers that play roles in making a cocktail perfect. Bar tools and glassware are crucial elements for crafting that satisfying drink, and all good cocktail lovers need plenty of quality accouterments at their disposal.

When it's time to choose the perfect home bar gift, think about your giftee's level of expertise, preferred style of beverage, and how big their barware collection already is. We've compiled 50 of our favorite booze-related items from glassware and bar tools to bitters and garnishes. We’ve also got great food gifts and gifts for kids, if you’re shopping for a whole family.

$25 and Under

Rabbit Citrus Juicer

$20 $15 at Amazon

Fresh citrus juice is a must-have for a quality cocktail experience. Make juicing a snap with this straightforward and elegant hand juicer from Rabbit, constructed of sleek nylon and stainless steel. Some hand juicers include an additional "reservoir" component to capture the squeezed juice, but a busy bartender making drinks for a large party will appreciate the speed and convenience of squeezing the juice straight into the jigger or shaker.

Cocktail Kingdom Hoffman Barspoon, Stainless Steel

$24 at Amazon View on Cocktail Kingdom

Anybody who's tried to stir a cocktail inside a glass or a tin using a standard teaspoon from the drawer will intuitively know that it doesn't feel as efficient (or look as cool!) as the smooth whirlwind that your favorite bartender always whips up at a fine drinking establishment. With a long and well-balanced barspoon like this timeless example—based on a century-old design—your gift recipient will soon be stirring drinks like a seasoned pro, achieving ideal chilling and dilution, and looking super classy doing it.

Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds, Set of 2

$15 $12 at Amazon $12 at Walmart $8 at Macys

Not only do molded ice spheres keep freshly mixed cocktails delightfully cool, they also feature less total surface area than multiple smaller ice cubes, which reduces the risk of watering a drink down. That’s why Tovolo designs its sphere molds to create 2.5-inch ice balls that nestle beautifully in a rocks glass and work wonderfully with spirit-forward stirred drinks. These silicone molds come with sturdy plastic stands that help them sit upright in the freezer, and their shape allows you to stack them for easy storage.

Williams Sonoma Signature Bar Mat

$25 at Williams Sonoma

Bar mats are ubiquitous fixtures behind all professional bars: they keep glassware steady during service, contain spills, and function as drying and drainage areas for freshly washed glasses. Home bars also benefit from these multitasking silicone pads, and Williams Sonoma offers a compact bar mat that will easily fit on even the smallest countertop or bar cart. Dishwasher-safe and easy to store, it’s an inexpensive and very useful item that brings pro-bartender energy to any home bar setup.

Cocktail Kingdom Bad Ass Muddler

$20 at Amazon View on Cocktail Kingdom

A proper muddler can’t just be any long stick; the great ones feature balanced weight distribution, the ability to provide a firm grip, and a base that's ideally shaped to release the ingredients' aromatics without any bruising or mangling. The Cocktail Kingdom Bad Ass Muddler lives up to its name by providing all of these characteristics, excelling at any muddling application from crafting basic mojitos to sub-zero nitro muddling. It’s also dishwasher-friendly, made of food-grade plastic that won’t chip or leach into the drink, and nicely weighted for ultimate ease of use.

Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails

$40 $18 at Amazon $40 at Barnesandnoble.com

Bar tools are nothing without bar knowledge, and “Death & Co.: Modern Classic Cocktails” is a genre-defining must-read for any curious bartender. This collection of recipes from Death & Co. founders David Kaplan and Alex Day is revealing, challenging, and beautifully presented. Photos and infographics guide readers through cocktail history, preparation, and applications, all contextualized by anecdotes from the early days of Death & Co.’s emergence in 2007 as one of the definitional venues of the craft cocktail revival. Several books deserve a spot behind any bar, and this is one of them.

Liquid Alchemist Holiday Cocktail Syrup Set

View on Liquid-alchemist.com

Liquid Alchemist is a producer of deliciously authentic cocktail syrups, and the Holiday Cocktail Syrup set offers aspiring mixologists the perfect opportunity to get creative with the bold flavors of the season. This 3-bottle assortment includes LA's blood orange, ginger, and apple spice flavors, which are also available separately. Made with natural ingredients and boasting vibrant and on-theme flavor profiles, Liquid Alchemist holiday syrups allow bartenders of all stripes to make excellent seasonal libations with fewer steps, and in a shorter amount of time. 

Hands on Earth Petals of Edible Flowers

$12 at Amazon

Even home bartenders who are great at making well-balanced, flavorful cocktails will sometimes forget to also make them visually compelling. Those picturesque drinks made at trendy cocktail bars may look out of reach to amateurs, but all that's needed are a few extra touches. The Petals of Edible Flowers from Hands on Earth are food-grade flowers ideal for cake decorating, but they also look beautiful floating on top of a cocktail in a coupe glass. Tuck these pretty petals into a stocking (it's one of many great stocking stuffers for foodies) and let your giftee get artsy with their at-home mixology.

Vacu Vin The Original Wine Saver with 2 Vacuum Stoppers

$16 $15 at Amazon

The vacuum wine sealer known as Vacu Vin was created in 1983 and is now in over 35 million households. If your favorite beverage enthusiast doesn't own a set of these little wonders, they're missing out. A few quick pumps on the included rubber stopper (additional stoppers are sold separately) removes enough oxygen from an open bottle of wine to slow its demise and add a couple of days to its shelf life. Home bartenders should also consider the virtues of the Vacu Vin when storing their vermouths, which, after all, are not spirits but wines, and therefore won't stay fresh indefinitely.

Angostura Aromatic Cocktail Bitters

$10 $8 at Amazon $10 at Walmart $11 at Target

Bitters are an essential component of innumerable cocktails, both classic and contemporary, and Angostura aromatic bitters are the longtime industry leader in the category. Based on a recipe first created in 1824 in Venezuela, Angostura bitters have been favored by generations of bartenders in drinks like the Manhattan, whiskey sour, Champagne cocktail, and old fashioned. They're the perfect gift, but if you're worried that your favorite home bartender might already have a bottle, think of it this way: anyone who makes a lot of drinks at home probably does have one, but they'll definitely need another one soon.

Orblue Citrus Zester

$8 at Amazon $10 at Walmart

Chef Craft Select Waiters Corkscrew

$7 $5 at Amazon

Architec Original Gripper Barboard

$8 at Amazon

Arkwright Qwick Wick Bar Mop Towels

$20 at Amazon

Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler, Pack of 3

$14 at Amazon

A Field Guide to Tequila

$25 $19 at Amazon

Viski Lewis Ice Bag and Mallet

$24 $18 at Amazon $20 at Walmart $35 at Sur La Table

BruMate Rocks Tumbler

$25 at Amazon View on Brumate.com

Secura Stainless Steel Electric Wine Opener

$30 $22 at Amazon $36 at Walmart

Tajín Chile Lime Seasoning

$3 at Amazon

$50 and Under

Mixology Bartender 10-Piece Bar Tool Set with Stylish Bamboo Stand

$35 $25 at Amazon

There are gorgeous professional-grade bar tools featured throughout this piece—but if the aspiring bartender in your life is truly starting from scratch, this display-worthy set of stainless-steel bar tools will make for a perfect starter pack. Mixology & Craft’s 10-piece Bartender Kit includes a cocktail shaker, speed pourers, a strainer, a muddler, a measuring jigger, a corkscrew, ice tongs, a cocktail spoon, and a chic bamboo display to hold all of these valuable pieces of mixology equipment. As photo-friendly as it is functional, this collection provides your burgeoning bartender with everything they need to start their home mixology journey.

Cocktail Kingdom 500 mL Yarai Mixing Glass

$40 at Amazon View on Cocktailkingdomcanada.com

A proper mixing glass is a gorgeous and iconic addition to a home bar collection, and this example from Yarai is as professional as it gets. Gaining an understanding of which cocktails need to be shaken versus which need to be stirred is an important milestone for a home bartender, and a handsome and capacious mixing glass like this one will help the amateur mixologist regularly produce stirred drinks that are well-integrated and perfectly chilled. You'll never catch them stirring in a pint glass again.

The Tuath Whiskey Tasting Glasses

$31 at Amazon

With an iconic shape that's as attractive as it is functional, these Irish whiskey-tasting glasses are designed to maximize the aromas and flavors of all types of brown liquor. This gift set comes with two glasses, each with a stem shaped for an easy grip, reducing contact with the bowl that could affect the whiskey’s temperature. The shape of the glass features flared contours that enhance aroma, and the size of the vessels makes them equally well-suited to tasting sips and full pours.

Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Weighted Shaking Tins

View on Cocktail Kingdom

There are two basic designs of cocktail shakers: integrated shakers with a lid and a built-in strainer (commonly called a cobbler shaker), and the two-separate-tins setup (known as a Boston shaker). Cobbler shakers are perfectly fine for home bars, and we've got several on this list, but for the budding mixologist who might want to work in a bar one day, a Boston shaker would make an ideal gift. They're quick to clean since there are just two parts, and mastering the "seal, snake, and snap" technique is a must for anyone with pro bar aspirations.

Corkcicle Whiskey Wedge Glass

$25 $21 at Amazon View on Corkcicle.com $19 at Markandgraham.com

As a concept alone, the Whiskey Wedge is pretty inspired: a glass containing an inset ice cube that fits flush up against the sides of the glass, so that only a single edge of the ice is exposed to the spirit. Whiskey lovers the world over know they're playing with fire anytime they let a piece of ice anywhere near their favorite bottling, but you can allay your bar friend's fears with the only single-surface dilution device that we're aware of, which buys them as much time as possible to enjoy their pour. The fact that it’ll make their bourbon-on-the-rocks look all cool and futuristic is just, shall we say, a little extra char on the barrel. 

Cocktail Kingdom Threaded Bitters Bottle

$25 at Amazon

Most bitters come with built-in plastic pourers, but they're not very precise—any bartender who's made more than a dozen old fashioneds has definitely seen some bitters miss the glass once or twice. This attractive bitters bottle from Cocktail Kingdom features a finer, more precise pour-spout, ensuring far more accuracy when dashing bitters into a glass. There's another reason you've seen these elegant bottles gracing the bar tops at classy establishments: the finer pourer also offers more precision when making "bitters art" on top of a frothy sour.

Ghia Nonalcoholic Apéritif

$38 at Amazon View on Drinkghia.com View on Thenewbar.com

Does your gift recipient love a Negroni or an Aperol Spritz, but also enjoy taking a break from the booze from time to time? Satisfy their craving for the bitter, aromatic qualities of liqueurs like Campari and Aperol by gifting them a bottle of the Ghia Original Non-Alcoholic Apéritif. Bright and citrussy with characteristic bitterness (and that familiar pigment of candy apple red), Ghia is perfect for mixing into a spritz, stirring with a complimentary non-alcoholic ingredient, or simply sipping over ice, Mediterranean-style.

Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Hawthorne Strainer

$25 at Amazon View on Moverandshakerco.com

S'well Stainless Steel Ice Bucket

$50 $38 at Amazon $50 at Wayfair $50 at West Elm

Hella Cocktail Co. Bitters Set

$38 at Amazon View on Instacart.com

Williams Sonoma Whiskey Smoker

$35 at Williams Sonoma

Cocktail Kingdom Leopold Copper-Plated Jigger

$35 at Amazon View on Cocktail Kingdom

Fortessa Jupiter Clear Martini Glasses

$40 $38 at Amazon $40 at Williams Sonoma $40 at Pottery Barn

Dalstrong 3.5-Inch Paring Knife

$29 at Amazon

Leopold Acrylic Coupe

View on Cocktail Kingdom

Oak Barrels Ltd. American White Oak Wood Barrel

View on Oakbarrelsltd.com

Cocktail Kingdom Bulu Pineapple Bowl

View on Cocktail Kingdom

$100 and Under

Marquis by Waterford Markham Double Old Fashioned Set of 4

$80 $55 at Amazon View on Wayfair $133 at Macys

There’s something special about a cocktail in a crystal glass: the weight of the cool crystal in your hand, the way the liquid catches bits of rainbows as the light passes through the facets. A good crystal glass is an art piece, and Waterford, a legendary crystal house based in Ireland, has mastered the art. Marquis by Waterford is a diffusion brand that makes the lauded Waterford crystal more accessible without compromising on quality, and its Markham Double Old Fashioned Glasses are stunning bar cart fixtures that are as pleasant to drink from as they are to admire.

Cocktail Kingdom Pelham Bell Cocktail Shaker

View on Cocktail Kingdom

Here's a gift idea for your favorite beverage enthusiast that's not only functional but historical. Back in Prohibition times, creative imbibers came up with all sorts of ingenious ways to hide their booze, including shakers that literally look like bells, so that they could sit on a desk and no one would be the wiser. This gorgeous replica is a handsome piece, and a fully functional cobbler shaker, complete with a built-in strainer. Best of all, it's incredibly fun to use. Just fill it with ice and ingredients, grab that bell by its handle, and let freedom ring!

Barillio Travel Bartender Canvas Bag

$59 at Amazon

Here's the perfect gift for when your favorite home bartender is finally ready to take their talents on the road. A must-have for pro mixologists, a reliable bar bag can fit all of the necessary tools in a compact and well-secured package for easy transport: there's plenty of room for a shaker, mixing spoon, muddler, strainer, citrus press, pouring spouts, and any other specialty items. Each tool can be tucked into its own elastic holder to keep it separate and secure, so the rolled bag can be tossed into the car with no stress.

Zalto Denk'Art Bordeaux Wine Glass

$81 at Amazon View on Wine Enthusiast

How many dollars for a single wine glass? The Zalto Denk’Art glassware collection may not be for the frugal, but if your giftee is devoted to vino and wants to get the most out of that long-cellared Barolo, look no further than these hand-blown stems made in Austria. Although they appear delicate and feel featherlight in the hand, Zalto glasses are sturdy enough to withstand regular use and can even be machine-washed. Their shape is built for olfactory excellence, ensuring that the wine lover in your life will detect countless levels of aromatic and flavor nuance with each sip.

Sur La Table Moscow Mule Copper Mugs

$80 at Amazon $80 at Sur La Table

Moscow Mules are a reliable crowd-pleaser, and for good reason: the combination of ginger beer, vodka, and lime juice proves not just lively and refreshing, but also very easy to make. There's one more crucial ingredient, though: the requisite copper mugs. Sur La Table's gorgeous mule mugs are plated with copper, but because the interior is made of stainless steel, the glasses can effectively lock in the chill from the ice, resulting in a drink that’s crisp and invigorating from the first sip to the last.

Rabbit 3-in-1 Electric Corkscrew

$100 $90 at Amazon $100 at Williams Sonoma

Although there are cheaper electric corkscrews out there, the Rabbit 3-in-1 doesn't hold back when it comes to nifty features. It's got a built-in foil cutter, which is cleverly housed in the side of the unit. To open a bottle, place the opener over the top of the bottle and monitor your progress through the transparent viewing window while the corkscrew extracts your cork. Finally, preserve whatever portion of your wine is left with an included stopper: when the unit is placed onto a stopper, it begins vacuuming air out of the bottle, and it beeps when the process is complete. For the wine lover who appreciates features (and convenience!), the 3-in-1 is hard to beat.

Whiskey Peaks Mountain Decanter & Mt. Rainier Whiskey Glasses Set

$95 at Huckberry

A good whiskey decanter is a thing of beauty—but hey, for good measure, why not stick another thing of beauty inside it? In the Mountain Decanter from Whiskey Peaks, you’ll find a sleek, modern, and sophisticated display piece that still has a touch of rugged charm, thanks to the impression of Yosemite National Park’s Half Dome hand-blown into the center of the decanter. This set also includes two whiskey glasses with impressions of Mt. Rainier, so your giftee’s entire whiskey service collection can reflect a love of natural beauty.

Cocktail Kingdom Mixtin Stirring Tin / Sakura

$50 at Amazon View on Cocktail Kingdom

Riedel Vinum Martini Glasses

View on Amazon $79 at Walmart $79 at Wayfair

Breville The Smoking Gun

$100 at Amazon $100 at Williams Sonoma $100 at Sur La Table

Le Chateau Wine Decanter

$54 at Amazon $54 at Walmart $70 at Etsy

YETI 20-Ounce Cocktail Shaker

$60 at Amazon View on Yeti View on Bespokepost.com

Frigidaire Portable Compact Icemaker

$100 $87 at Amazon

Why Take Our Word for It?

Jesse Porter is a longtime wine and spirits writer who has also worked as a sommelier, a bartender, and a spirits rep.  His barware collection has grown substantially in the past decade, and he now justifies new purchases by thinking of them not as individual items but as essential parts of his “barcore chic” home decor.

Taylor Tobin, who originally wrote this guide, is a food and beverage writer based in Austin, Texas. She has written cocktail and wine content and beverage shopping guides for publications like Wine Enthusiast, Insider, HuffPost, Food & Wine, VinePair, and more. She’s also a committed home bartender who regularly develops new cocktail recipes, some of which have been published in Southern Living.