Home Bar Gifts: Ideas for Whiskey, Wine and Cocktail Lovers

A home bar is built one piece at a time, which is exactly what makes it such a good thing to give. The trick is knowing what they already pour, and what they already own.

This guide is organized by drink, from whiskey to craft beer, with a short checklist of what every home bar needs and ideas for both the beginner and the seasoned host.

Start with what they pour

Look at the bottles on their shelf. A collection of bourbon calls for different gifts than a fridge full of white wine. Then think about experience: a beginner benefits from a complete kit, while an experienced home bartender will appreciate one special piece they would never buy for themselves.

What every home bar needs

Before you shop for upgrades, check the basics. A well-equipped home bar usually has:

• A shaker, a jigger, a strainer and a long bar spoon
• Two kinds of glasses: rocks glasses and wine glasses
• A reliable wine opener and a bottle opener
• Ice molds for large cubes or spheres
• A tray or a small cart to keep it all together

Missing one of these? That is your gift. For the full walkthrough, see how to set up a home bar.

For the whiskey drinker

Spinning whiskey glasses are the gift that gets picked up and played with the moment the box opens. Each 9.5 oz cut-glass tumbler rests on its own rotating base and spins with a light touch. They come in a diamond-cut or classic pattern, in sets of 2, 4 or 6, with ice ball molds included. The glasses are dishwasher safe; the bases should only be wiped clean.

For the whiskey lover who enjoys a project, the Red Head Barrels charred oak aging barrel holds a little more than a standard 750 ml bottle. It is made of new charred American white oak and comes with a stand, a spigot, a bung, a funnel and a 12-page booklet with 16 recipes. Fill it, wait and taste as the spirit changes. Our guide on how to age spirits in a 1-liter oak barrel walks through the first batch.

For the cocktail maker

The gold cocktail shaker set covers every step of a drink on one wooden stand: a 30 oz Boston shaker, a double-sided jigger, a mixing spoon, a Hawthorne strainer and a citrus juicer, plus six pourers, a bottle opener, two shot glasses and a recipe booklet. A strong first kit, and a handsome upgrade for someone still using kitchen tools.

For the Moscow mule fan

Some drinks deserve their own cup. The Benicci copper mugs come as a pair of 16 oz hammered copper mugs with gold-tone handles, along with two copper straws, a copper jigger and a straw brush, all in a gift box. Copper should be washed by hand.

For the wine lover

A set of six amber wine glasses brings warm color to the table, with a slender 4.7-inch stem, and arrives in a gift box. For everyday pours, the Libbey stemless set includes twelve glasses, six for red and six for white. Add the rechargeable electric wine opener, which comes with a foil cutter, an aerator pourer and two vacuum stoppers, and an open bottle keeps for another night.

Not sure which glass suits which wine? Read how to choose wine glasses.

For the craft beer fan

The IPA beer glasses come in a set of four, 16 oz each, with a slender tulip shape and a thick, stable base. They work just as well for pilsners, lagers and stouts.

For drinks outdoors

For the patio, the pool or a winter fire pit, insulated wine tumblers keep drinks cold or hot for longer. The set includes six double-wall stainless steel tumblers in six colors, so no one mixes up their drink, each with a lid and a straw.

For a beginner or a seasoned host

Gifts for the beginner

Start with tools and versatile glassware: the cocktail shaker set, stemless glasses that work for wine, water and cocktails, and a good wine opener.

Gifts for the experienced home bartender

Choose something they would not buy for themselves: the oak aging barrel, a set of spinning whiskey glasses or copper mugs for a signature drink.

How to make a bar gift feel complete

• Pair glassware with a tool: whiskey glasses with the barrel, or wine glasses with the opener.
• Add the ingredients for one signature drink and write the recipe on the tag.
• Finish the setup with a small tray or a stack of cocktail napkins.

Frequently asked questions

What does every home bar need?

A shaker, a jigger, a strainer and a bar spoon; rocks glasses and wine glasses; a reliable opener; ice molds; and a tray or cart to keep it together.

What do you get a home bartender who has everything?

A project or a showpiece: an oak aging barrel, spinning whiskey glasses or a set of copper mugs for their favorite drink.

Which glasses should a home bar have?

Start with two types: rocks glasses for spirits and short cocktails, and wine glasses. Add highballs, coupes or beer glasses as their habits grow.

Are spinning whiskey glasses dishwasher safe?

The glasses are; the rotating bases are not. Wipe the bases with a soft cloth and keep them dry.

How do you care for copper mugs?

Wash them by hand and dry them right away. Copper should not go in the dishwasher.

Building the bar from scratch? Start with how to set up a home bar. Shopping for the coffee drinkers too? See our gifts for coffee lovers, and find more ideas in our Christmas gift guide for the home.

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