The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Boozy ideas for cocktail lovers
From cocktail classes to whiskey-filled ornaments to Charleston-made candles that smell like pinot noir, here are 10 boozy gifts that make for a spirited holiday season.
Gunshow cocktail classes — $65 per class, $240 for four classes
This is the gift for that person who fancies themselves a bartender or at least hopes to improve their cocktail-making skills at home.
Gunshow’s cocktail cart conductor and drinks maven Mercedes O’Brien will lead four classes on classic cocktails, Tiki drinks, local spirits and holiday cocktails throughout 2018.
Each class includes snacks, a shaker and recipe cards. Gunshow, 924 Garrett St., Atlanta. 404-3801886, redbeardmerch.com.
Custom barware box — $60
Ben Richardson, a bartender at the award-winning Atlanta restaurant Staplehouse, and his wife, Maddie, a digital designer and photographer, scour antique
shops, estate sales, and eBay for vintage glass and barware to sell on their online shop Cocktail Commons. Let the Richardsons customize a gift box full of unique
pieces simply by sending an email with the receiver’s likes and dislikes along with glassware style. Facebook: Cocktail Commons.
SaloonBox cocktail kit — $39.99-$159.99
SaloonBox delivers custom cocktail kits right to the home bartender. Each box comes with a recipe developed by the country’s best bartenders and all the ingredients needed to create a particular cocktail at home. This includes mini bottles of spirits. Single kits of the website’s most popular cocktails like the Meyer lemon daiquiri or Vermont old fashioned are a solid choice for gift-giving. Saloonbox.com.
City Winery wine growlers — $15
Growlers aren’t just for beer. Grab a growler of local Atlanta wine for the holiday party or dinner from City Winery in the Old Fourth Ward. Purchase a refillable wine bottle for a one-time fee of $5 and fill it with City Winery’s petite sirah, a white blend, or merlot from the taps. Growler wines start at $15. City Winery, 650 North Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-9463791, citywinery.com/atlanta.
18.21 Bitters Rum Lovers gift set — $25.99
This gift set from local cocktail bitters and syrups maker 18.21 Bitters comes complete with three, 1-ounce bitters to pair with rumbased cocktails. It includes ginger lemon, hibiscus and Prohibition aromatic bitters to make everything from a rum old fashioned to a classic daiquiri with a twist. Gin, vodka, tequila and whiskey bitters sets are also available. 18.21 Bitters, Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-852-7023, 1821bitters.com.
Whiskey ornaments — $39.22
These hand-filled ornaments full of whiskey can be hung on the Christmas tree or anywhere the receiver of this gift chooses. Each plastic ornament contains 1.6 ounces of 80-proof blended whiskey from England’s Lake District. The top unscrews for easy pouring. The gift set of six whiskey ornaments comes with tasting notes. Gin and vodka ornament sets are also available. Masterofmalt.com.
A Year of Good Whisky Page-a-Day Calendar — $14.99
A calendar doesn’t have to be boring, especially when it’s written by whiskey experts and delivers daily whiskey intel and history, pairing suggestions, tasting notes, cocktail recipes and reviews. Workman also makes page-a-day calendars for the beer and wine enthusiast. Workman.com/ calendars.
Vintage bourbon label cuff links — $56
Grab a pair of these vintage bourbon label cuff links for the man who loves to look extra sharp while sipping his whiskey. Each of the four cuff link sets is made with a vintage, unused bourbon label: 1955 or 1960 Old Fitzgerald, 1969 Wild Turkey or 1970 Jim Beam. Shop. gobourbon.com.
The uPint pressurized growler — $25
This pint-size, personal beer growler is made from stainless steel and insulated to keep a 16-ounce brew cold. Think coffee travel mug. A great gift for the beer nerd who likes to hit the summer festival circuit or for hot days at the beach. Growlerwerks.com.
Rewined candles — $28
A fun gift for the home of a wine lover, Rewined candles based in Charleston, S.C., uses repurposed wine bottles and soy wax mixed with the aromas of the tasting notes of popular wines like pinot noir, chenin blanc, Champagne or cabernet. Corks & Caps, 4600 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. 404-843-1050, rewinedcandles.com.