14 Boozy Gift Ideas for the Amateur Bartender
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Keep Beer FreshGrowlerwerks Stainless Steel uKegRead more
Rare Wine by the GlassCoravin Model Two EliteRead more
The Perfect DramNorlan Whiskey GlassRead more
Add More AirVinturi V1010 Red Wine AeratorRead more
We all have that family member who seems impossible to buy for, but here's a tip: There's a good chance they drink. There are many ways to improve anyone's liquid happiness in the coming decade, from bottles that ensure alcoholic beverages stay fresh to the right beer glass. Here, we've focused on items that aren't novelties—everything below will help nerdy beverage enthusiasts in their journeys. These are our favorite drinking-related gifts of the year.
Be sure to check out our many other guides, including Our Favorite Cocktail Subscription Kits and the Best Bar Accessories.
Updated December 2020: We've refreshed this guide for the year, adding new favorites like the Barsys, Dashdarts, and the Wintersmiths Fantom Mini.
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- Photograph: uKeg
Keep Beer Fresh
Growlerwerks Stainless Steel uKegGrowlers are jugs largely used to transport beer from local breweries to homes, but the problem with most is that beer gets stale fast once opened. Oxygen is the villain. The pesky element ruins flavor when it hits your giftee's favorite hop-soaked liquid, giving it the taste of wet cardboard if it's resealed after the first pint. That's why the uKeg (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is so great. Thanks to the built-in tap and a tiny CO2 regulator that runs off portable canisters, your loved one can get a taproom-quality pour from the first sip to the last.
- Photograph: Coravin
Rare Wine by the Glass
Coravin Model Two EliteHas a family member or friend wished they could just sample a rare bottle but save the rest for later? That's where Coravin comes in. It uses specially coated needles and inert argon gas (often used in the winemaking process) to extract small pours from unopened bottles without damaging the rest of the wine inside. We're fans of all the Coravin models we've tried—from the affordable Model One to the Bluetooth-controlled and very expensive Model Eleven, but the sweet spot is the Model Two. It works well and costs half the price of its Bluetooth-connected brother.
- Photograph: Norlan
The Perfect Dram
Norlan Whiskey GlassDesigned for optimum fluid dynamics, scent delivery, and ergonomics (yes, seriously), Norlan's whiskey glasses are the best in the business. Created in partnership with master distiller Jim McEwan—arguably the most famous maker of Scotch on earth—these glasses offer a perfect home from which your giftee's wee drams may whisper their oak-aged secrets.
- Photograph: Vinturi
Add More Air
Vinturi V1010 Red Wine AeratorUnlike beer, you actually do want your wine to breathe. As bolder red wine oxidizes, tannins soften and become less harsh, making for a rounder, more balanced overall drinking experience. We recommend nabbing a high-quality aerator before swirling the wine in a glass like a pro. The Vinturi V1010 is a good, cheap option, with the added bonus that it will grab bigger sediment or bits of cork in its filter screen. It still might take 15 to 30 minutes for the wine to fully open up, but this is a great way to kickstart the process.
- Photograph: Spiegelau
The Right Beer Glass
Spiegelau Craft Beer GlassesBelieve it or not, glass shape, size, and even thickness can have an effect on the flavors of beer. The engineers at Spiegelau solve this problem of improper glassware head-on, offering an assortment of style-specific vessels that will help your giftee get the most out of each pint. My favorite is the IPA glass, which uses round bumps on the bottom to agitate the beer when tilted to drink, releasing a fresh puff of hop aroma into the tulip-shaped upper section. It just makes every sip a little richer.
- Photograph: Riedel
Classic Wine Glasses
Riedel Vinum Pinot Noir GlassJust like with beer, glassware has a huge effect on how a wine enthusiast perceives the nuance and complexity inside the finest wines. The Riedel Pinot Noir Glass is a great place to start. It concentrates bolder, fruity aromas in the pinched area at the top and helps limit swirl-based spills. They even come with a cool party trick: Each glass can fit an entire bottle of wine. Don't ask me how I know this.
- Photograph: Wintersmiths
Perfect Ice
Wintersmiths Phantom Mini - Photograph: Cocktail Kingdom
Precise Measurements
Cocktail Kingdom Dashdarts (2 pack)Why are perfect dashes of bitters so hard to get, when every other unit of cocktail measurement is so precise? It's a quandary that's ruined many a tasty adult beverage, but it's solvable with these special little nipples for standard-sized bitters bottles. Give them to all your whiskey-loving friends; they'll never put too much angostura in an Old Fashioned again.
- Photograph: Brumate
King Koozie
BrüMate Hopsulator TrioDouble-walled stainless steel keeps beer cans contained in this special koozie colder than one that's surrounded by a traditional neoprene sleeve. Best of all, it fits both 12- and 16-oz cans thanks to a special gel riser (that keeps 12-oz cans even cooler). Brümate even makes a thinner version for those who want to keep their White Claws cold.
- Photograph: Amazon
Liquid Reading
Oxford University Press Companion To BeerIf your giftee has ever taken a class on the history of beer or wine or anything of the sort, they likely wouldn't mind learning a little more. Consider The Oxford Companions to Beer and Wine as an educational gift. With contributions from some of the world's top researchers, academics, brewers, and vintners (depending on which book you choose), they can get lost thumbing through the pages and will never again wonder about the difference between a porter and a stout.
- Photograph: Wine Folly
Field Notes
Wine Folly Wine Tasting JournalAnyone who's as obsessed with Google Docs as I am knows the power of a good template. That's why I like this tasting notebook, which has sections for smell and appearance, and a sliding scale for rating body, tannin, acidity, alcohol, and sweetness. It makes a great gift for a budding wine connoisseur.
- Photograph: Grainfather
Grain to Glass
Grainfather ConnectHomebrewing can be complicated, but it's a lot like making oatmeal. Combine cracked grain with warm water, separate the liquid from the grain, and boil that liquid with hops. If your loved one has expressed interest in making beer from scratch, the Grainfather is a great entry point. It's a Bluetooth-enabled electric brewery that mashes (the hot-water-and-grain step), then boils and chills wort (unfermented beer) with ease. All they have to do is add yeast to a carboy, splash the Grainfather's output on top of it, and wait a couple of weeks until it's time to bottle. They'll start making excellent beer in no time.
- Photograph: Barsys
For the Early '20s Mixologist
Barsys CoasterThey might not need it if they've been mixing cocktails for decades, but many budding mixologists have no idea how to properly measure a drink. That's why I like this smart coaster from Barsys for younger barkeeps. Input all the ingredients in your home bar into the companion app, and it will give you suggestions on what to make. The best part is that it acts as the measuring implement while you're making them. It uses a built-in scale to tell you how much of each ingredient to add and when, completing a circle of LEDs until it flashes green for the right amount. It's got great ratios for standards like gin and tonic and margaritas, but I also liked its suggestions like a Dirty Manhattan. If you're a total newbie, it really is a great learning tool. After a while, you can pass it on to someone else who needs it.
- Photograph: Margarita Girl
Start Your Own Margaritaville
Margarita Girl Frozen Drink MachineNobody needs a slushy machine churning out margaritas in their home bar, but who wouldn't want one during the ongoing pandemic? This special tool will whip up 25 cups of your finest frozen booze in no time. It'll also make a ton of friends jealous (along with nearly every WIRED Gear team member) during Zoom cocktail hours. This is how you win the holidays.
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