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Unique Gift Ideas For Cocktail Enthusiasts – 2024 Holiday Season Gift Guide For The At Home Mixologist

This 2024 holiday season gift guide is for those who love to drink (and make) excellent cocktails. While going out to one’s favorite bar is fun, sometimes staying in and showing off mixology mastering is even more fun and rewarding. If you immediately thought of someone who fits the description and you have not figured out what to gift them this holiday season, read on. There is something for everyone who loves to mix and sip delicious cocktails at a variety of price points below.

How did we create this list? Well, we are professional bartenders after all, so we have tested A LOT of bartending tools, ingredients and supplies. Some are great, some are “meh” and some just did not impress us. This list was inspired by the items we love and think other cocktail enthusiasts will love as well! We do earn a (very) small commission for any purchases resulting from clicking on the links below. We appreciate your support as it helps our small business a lot.

Happy shopping!

Cocktail Gifts Under $20

 

Craft Mix Cocktail Mixers

Price: $14.99

Why We Love Them: 

These ready-to-make cocktail mixers pass the taste test! They make great stocking stuffers and require MINIMAL effort to whip up a great cocktail (or mocktail). You can grab individually-sized  mixer packets that are perfect grab and go options when you don’t have time to whip out a bartending kit and build a cocktail the traditional way. There are so many cocktail types to choose from, so you cannot go wrong. My favorite is “Strawberry Mule”

At Home Bartender Book

Price: $11.27+

Why We Love It: 

Ask any bartender what book they bought when they started bartending (okay maybe I am dating myself here?). When I started bartending, decades ago, I had the little black book of bartending – which came in handy many times when I was behind the bar. For cocktail enthusiasts, part of the fun is learning new cocktails and making them for friends! Learn how to dry shake egg whites (yes eggwhites!), how to make simple syrup, how to make the classic Old Fashioned, etc. Plus, this book caters to “at home” bartenders and relies on minimal ingredients. It is available in a variety of formats, from Audible to a hardcover version. What’s not to love?

Sphere and Square Ice Cube Trays

Price: $15+

Why We Love Them:

Cocktail enthusiasts who pride themselves on making great drinks will love the ability to make fancy ice at home for that old fashioned or rocks drink. Why? It’s the way the professionals serve them! And it adds that refined flare at home that you would get in a fancy cocktail bar. Coming in at under $20, these cocktail ice trays are a must for those who love bourbon, old fashioned cocktails and spirits on the rocks.

Blue Henry Dehydrated Oranges 

Price: $14.95

Why We Love Them:

Dehydrated oranges, lemons, limes and fruits make a cocktail look professionally-made. There is just something gorgeous about a cocktail with the right garnish. Now here’s the best part. Blue Henry is located in Maryland (where we are headquartered) and we discovered them a few years ago when looking for garnishes for our seasonal cocktail kits. The company’s dehydrated garnishes are all natural with NO additives. Personally, I love that and the high quality of Blue Henry’s entire line. The owner is a gem, and you’ll be supporting a small business when purchasing their products (which is pretty cool!). They have an entire line of garnishes, so be sure to check them out!

Mixology Gifts Under $50

 

At Home Bartending Kit

Price: $34.99

Why We Love It:

Every cocktail enthusiast needs a GREAT bartending kit. From the cocktail spoon to the muddler and the shaker to the jigger – great tools make great drinks. There are a ton of bartending kits for sale online, but this one is a favorite for our team. Our bartenders are required to have their own bartending kits, and this is our go to. The quality of this kit for the price point is fantastic. Personally, I love the shaker. It has a great seal when shaking drinks, which is important!

Whiskey and Old Fashioned Glass Set

Price: $27+

Why We Love This Set:

Cocktails taste better when they are paired with their ideal glass. Sours go in coup glasses, mixed drinks in Collins glasses and Old Fashioned’s belong in a beautiful rocks glass. This set of 4 looks elegant (especially when paired with the sphere/square ice cubes we recommended above). We have this exact set and use them often in our styled shoots because the glasses are beautiful.

Woodford Reserve Bitters Kit

Price: $25+

Why We Love It:

In our humble opinion, having assorted bitters are a staple ingredient at any home bar. Of course bitters are a must-use to make a classic old fashioned, but there are so many wonderful cocktails where bitters are necessary. Aperol Spritz? Need bitters. Manhattan? Uses bitters! Negroni? Yes, uses bitters. You get the point. The word “bartender” and “bitters” go together like peanut butter and jelly!

DIY Cocktail Gifts Under $100

 

DO YOUR GIN l DIY Gin-Making Infusion Kit | Cocktail Kit

Price: $59.90

Why We Love It:

I once got this as a gift for someone and THEY LOVED IT. What could be more fun that literally making your own gin? This kit is highly rated due to the high quality inclusions and ease of use. Any gin-enthusiast will enjoy learning about the gin-making process – after all, they can quite literally taste the fruits of their labor!

Premium Cocktail Smoker Set

Price: $99.99

Why We Love It: 

Any cocktail aficionado wants a great cocktail smoker as part of their home bar collection. The presentation is impressive, it looks cool and it tastes incredible. Smoked Old Fashioned anyone? My recommendation is not to go cheap when buying a smoker set. You want a premium set that has high quality ingredients (like this one which features a solid oak smoker top. This kit is super easy to use and comes with a variety of smoking chips (apple, cherry, pecan and oak). This is one of those gifts any bar enthusiast would love to receive!

 

Barillio Bartender Kit Bag with Cocktail Shaker Set

Price: $97

Why We Love It:

This is the ultimate bartending kit – hands down. Instead of buying everything a la carté, this travel-friendly kit has everything a great mixologist needs in one fashionable bag. What won me over about this kit are the peeler, lemon zest tool, mint julep strainer and citrus squeezer. For those who love making craft cocktails, the aforementioned tools are must-haves. Also, the Boston Shaker is one of the highest quality shakers. Oh heck, I love everything about this kit. It literally is the “everything but the kitchen sink” of bartending kits. Cheers!

We hope this list of BEST HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR COCKTAIL LOVERS AND MIXOLOGY ENTHUSIASTS helps with gift ideas this holiday season. As I mentioned before, we have tried a lot of the mixology gifts listed here ourselves and we chose the ones we thought were worthy of sharing and those that offer great quality and value. We are currently working on a gift list for wine lovers, so stay tuned for all things related to wine. Did we miss anything that you think should be on this list? If so, please drop a comment below so we can check it out. Happy shopping and as always, CHEERS!

 

 – Courtney 

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Holiday and Christmas Cocktail Recipes To Delight Guests

It’s beginning to look a lot like…THE HOLIDAYS! Now I don’t know about you, but this time of year is one of my favorites. From Christmas parties to family gatherings, the more holiday cheer, the better. Each year, the Chesapeake Bartenders team curates a list of customized, festive cocktails and mocktails that we serve during corporate holiday parties, Christmas parties and various events. Below you will find a list of fun, crafty and unique cocktail ideas that check all the “holiday cheer” boxes. I hope you enjoy these recipes, please let me know if you make them in the comments below. Also, we have included some links to Amazon products we use regularly in our bartending services and at home when making up signature drink menus – we earn a very small commission if you purchase items based on the included links (which really help support our business).

Cheers!

Courtney

Smoked Cinnamon Old Fashioned

A sophisticated twist on the classic Old Fashioned with a smoky cinnamon flair.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz rye whiskey or bourbon
  • 1/2 oz cinnamon syrup (made by simmering cinnamon sticks with sugar and water or you can buy Monin cinnamon syrup)
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Cinnamon stick (for smoking) – you can light this with a lighter and then blow out the flame, or use a cocktail smoker and dome
  • Orange peel for garnish

Instructions:

  1. In a mixing glass, combine whiskey, cinnamon syrup, and bitters with ice.
  2. Stir until well-chilled, then strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube.
  3. To create smoke, light the cinnamon stick with a torch until it starts to smolder. Place it under a glass dome or cover it with a rocks glass to trap the smoke.
  4. Once the glass has filled with smoke, lift the dome or glass and garnish with the smoked cinnamon stick and orange peel.

Tip: The cinnamon syrup can be made in advance by simmering cinnamon sticks with equal parts water and sugar until the syrup is infused with the spice.

*You can also do it the easy/fast way and buy Monin Syrup from Amazon which is what I do!

 

2. Fig & Sage Sour

A unique, herbaceous, and fruity twist on a classic whiskey sour, featuring fig and fresh sage.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
  • 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz fig syrup (made by simmering dried figs with water and sugar or purchase an already made fig syrup like the one I use here)
  • 1/4 oz simple syrup
  • 1 egg white
  • Fresh sage leaves for garnish

Instructions:

  1. In a shaker, combine bourbon, lemon juice, fig syrup, simple syrup, and egg white.
  2. Dry shake (shake without ice) to emulsify the egg white and create foam.
  3. Add ice and shake again until chilled.
  4. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a fresh sage leaf.

Tip: If you want a more pronounced sage flavor, you can lightly muddle the sage leaves in the shaker before adding the other ingredients.

3. Maple-Pecan Butter Sour

A rich and decadent cocktail combining the flavors of maple syrup, pecans, and bourbon, with a buttery mouthfeel.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz bourbon
  • 3/4 oz maple syrup
  • 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz pecan butter (blend toasted pecans with a bit of oil to make a smooth paste)
  • 1 egg white
  • Toasted pecans for garnish

Instructions:

  1. In a shaker, combine bourbon, maple syrup, lemon juice, pecan butter, and egg white.
  2. Dry shake first to emulsify the egg white and pecan butter.
  3. Add ice and shake vigorously to chill.
  4. Double strain into a coupe glass and garnish with toasted pecans on top or around the rim.

Tip: You can create your own pecan butter by blending toasted pecans with a small amount of vegetable oil or neutral oil until smooth and creamy.

Easy/Fast Tip: Use this pre-made pecan syrup in lieu of the homemade version

4. Mulled Wine Negroni

A holiday twist on the classic Negroni, incorporating mulled wine flavors for a spiced and aromatic cocktail.

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz gin
  • 1 oz Campari
  • 1 oz sweet vermouth
  • 2 oz mulled wine (warm red wine simmered with cloves, cinnamon, and orange peel)
  • Orange peel for garnish

Instructions:

  1. In a mixing glass, combine gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, and mulled wine.
  2. Add ice and stir gently to combine.
  3. Strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube.
  4. Garnish with a twist of orange peel.

Tip: To make mulled wine, simmer red wine with spices like cinnamon, cloves, and star anise, along with orange slices and a bit of sugar. Strain before using it in cocktails.

5. Winter Spice Highball

An elevated highball cocktail that combines the spiciness of rye whiskey with the bright flavors of ginger beer and citrus.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz rye whiskey
  • 1/2 oz ginger syrup (make a spiced ginger syrup with ginger root, sugar, and water)
  • 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
  • Club soda
  • Fresh thyme and crystallized ginger for garnish

Instructions:

  1. In a mixing glass, combine rye whiskey, ginger syrup, and lemon juice.
  2. Add ice and stir to chill.
  3. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice and top with club soda.
  4. Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme and a piece of crystallized ginger.

Tip: For a stronger ginger flavor, you can muddle fresh ginger in the shaker before adding the liquids.

Easy/Fast Tip: Use this Monin ginger syrup instead of the DIY version. Trust me, it works really well!

6. Cranberry Sage Julep

A holiday twist on the traditional Mint Julep, featuring tart cranberry and aromatic sage.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz bourbon
  • 1/4 oz cranberry syrup (made with fresh cranberries, sugar, and water)
  • 1/4 oz simple syrup
  • 4-5 fresh sage leaves
  • Crushed ice
  • Fresh cranberries and sage sprig for garnish

Instructions:

  1. In a julep cup or glass, muddle the sage leaves with cranberry syrup and simple syrup.
  2. Fill the cup with crushed ice, then pour in the bourbon.
  3. Stir well to chill and combine.
  4. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a sprig of sage.

Tip: For an extra touch of flavor, lightly torch the sage leaves before garnishing to release the oils and add a smoky aroma.

These crafted cocktails are perfect for elevating your holiday menu with complexity and creativity. They incorporate techniques such as smoking, shaking, and muddling, along with seasonal ingredients that will surely impress guests at your events. Don’t feel like making these drinks, and prefer our team of certified bartenders does it for you?

* some products contain affiliate links and we earn a small commission if you make a purchase.

Request a Quote Today! 

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Pumpkin Spice Latte Martini
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Pumpkin Spice Latte Martini Recipe – PSL Martini

How to Make a Pumpkin Spice Latte Martini

Basic Witches! Your PSL game just got an upgrade. If you start your day with a Pumpkin Spice Latte, then you can end your day with a PSL Tini, AKA the Pumpkin Spice Latte Martini. Not only is this the perfect autumn night cap, but it is a great cocktail to whip up for Halloween parties and gatherings. You can whip it up as a batch to serve at a party, or make it as a single serving.

Tip: This is the Martha Stewart-esque version where you make this baby up from scratch. You even make the pumpkin simple syrup (which can actually be used in your coffee in the morning if you have some leftover). However, if you are pinched for time, we have a Quick PSL Martini Recipe that requires only a few ingredients and can be made in a couple minutes. 

Tip: This cocktail can be made dairy-free and vegan. Be sure to use a vegan vanilla vodka and dairy-free alternative to milk (we love Oatly oat milk for the vegan version of this recipe)

Don’t feel like making this recipe? You can order your very own PSL Martini cocktail kit, ready to drink, with delivery (if you live in Maryland). Free delivery on Pumpkin Spice Latte Martini cocktail kits in Anne Arundel County and Queen Anne’s County. Please place your order on our Halloween Cocktail Kit Order Form.

Ingredients Needed:

  • Martini Shaker
  • Martini Glass
  • Ice
  • Vanilla Vodka
  • Pumpkin Pie Spice (we get it from Trader Joe’s)
  • Water
  • Sugar
  • Pumpkin Puree (if you cannot find this, don’t worry you can substitute pumpkin flavored syrup)
  • Cinnamon
  • Brown Sugar (or white if you don’t have brown sugar)
  • Vanilla Vodka
  • Espresso OR dried/instant espresso (we love Cafe Bustelo instant espresso for this recipe)
  • Pumpkin Pie flavored syrup (the kind you would add to a latte) – Monin makes a wonderful syrup
  • Milk/cream or a dairy free alternative

Instructions

Step 1: Making the Pumpkin Simple Syrup:

  • You will combine 1/2 a cup of pumpkin puree in a sauce pan on medium heat with 1/2 cup of water, and 1/2 a cup of sugar.
  • Stir until sugar and water have dissolved. Remove mixture from heat, transfer to a bowl, cover, and put in fridge.
  • Once pumpkin simple syrup is cooled, use a small funnel and transfer it into a bottle or jar

Step 2: Making the Espresso

You have a few options here. You can get espresso shots to go from your local coffee shop, you can use your own espresso machine if you have one. OR you can use instant espresso (my go to for this recipe is Cafe Bustelo instant espresso which can be found in most grocery stores)

  • 1 shot of espresso
  • If you are using instant espresso, refer to the directions to make one serving.
  • Tip: if using Cafe Bustelo, I use 1 teaspoon of instant espresso in 2 oz of hot water

Step 3: Prepare Your Martini Glass

You will need to separate small plates or saucers

  • Add 1 oz of water to a small plate or saucer
  • Mix one tablespoon of sugar with one tablespoon pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon or a mixture of cinnamon and nutmeg works too)
  • Add sugar/spice mixture to a small plate or sauce
  • Dip martini glass edge in water (basically you want to get the rim of the martini glass wet)
  • Immediately dip martini glass rim into saucer containing sugar/spice mixture. Spin the rim around in the mixture until the entire rim of the glass is dusted with the “rimming sugar”

Step 3: Making the PSL Martini:

  • Fill martini shaker 3/4 with ice
  • Add 2.5 – 3 ounces vanilla vodka to shaker (personally I do a slow 4 count when pouring vodka haha)
  • Add 1.5 oz of pumpkin simple syrup to shaker
  • Add 2.5 oz cream to shaker (or milk or milk substitute – oat milk works great)
  • Add 1 oz pumpkin pie syrup to shaker
  • Add one shot of espresso to shaker
  • Put lid on and shake the shaker!! Shake vigorously for 30 seconds – yes this counts as part of your workout
  • Strain into rimmed martini glass
  • Sip and enjoy!

 

Optional: Add whipped cream or large marshmallows to the top of your PSL martini and top with a sprinkle of sugar/spice mix. Garnish with a cinnamon stick if you are feeling extra basic 😉 This recipe can also be enjoyed over ice instead of being shaken and strained.

What do you think of this recipe? If you make it, please leave a comment and let us know if you enjoyed it.

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Annapolis “Make Him Blush” Valentines Day Beauty Package

The Ultimate “Treat Yo-Self” Annapolis Beauty Package Is Here

January 28, 2021

We could all use a little pampering and self-care these days, especially when it comes to indulging in a “treat yo-self” kind of beauty experience. One of our favorite local businesses, Spray Tan Annapolis, has put together the perfect package to help you feel absolutely gorgeous this Valentine’s Day! Whether you want to get dolled up and hang out with your best friends and Galentine’s, or look extra hot for your Valentine’s date, this all-inclusive package has all the beauty bases covered (and the cocktails provided by our team).

Here is what is included:

  • Custom Luxe Spray Tan
  • Brow Shape + Tint
  • Professional Hair + Makeup

Price – $199

Need a cocktail to go with that pampering? We’ve Got You Covered!

Add a specialty Valentine’s Cocktail Kit To This Package For $30. Choose from the following cocktail kits:

  • Candy “Crush” Cocktail: Vanilla vodka, club soda, sprite and a touch of grenadine, served with a side of candy heart and mini marshmallow garnishes
  • Rosé “Crush” Sangria: Light and refreshing sangria made with Rosé wine, orange liquor, club soda, agave nectar and fresh berries.

All cocktail kits include 1 sealed 35 oz. carafe of ready to drink cocktails, plastic cups + garnishes in a Chesapeake Bartenders gift bag. Just open and enjoy! In order to add a cocktail kit to your Valentine’s Beauty Package, you must be 21 years of age or older. STA reserves the right to request identification to ensure you are of a legal drinking age. 

To book this package, or to request more information, please fill out the contact form below:

 

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