25 Great Gifts for Bartenders
The best gifts for bartenders combine form, function and multi-purpose use. Between shaking gin fizzes, straining martinis, slicing fruit and mashing mint for caipirinhas, mint juleps and mojitos, it’s not surprising how many tools a bartender uses. Bartending gear and gadgets make thoughtful gifts for bartenders who slay at parties, picnics, getaways and online mixology classes.
Could your favorite home bartender or professional mixologist use some new bar tools? Whether you’re searching for a whole box of barware or just a few pieces to add to a growing collection, this list is designed to help you pick the most useful and unique gifts for bartenders. We even have a few ideas for the brewmasters in the group.
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Best Gifts for Bartenders
1. Viski Stainless Steel Julep Strainer
Nobody wants seeds, zest or pulp in their mixed drink. Tiny holes on the Viski Stainless Steel Julep Strainer strain out all of that for a clean, fresh cocktail. The oval shape fits most cocktail shakers and glasses, and the rounded handle helps to prevent wrist and hand fatigue while mixing up drinks for a crowd — it’s a simple, tactful gift for a bartender friend.
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Price: $27.95
2. Viski Lewis Ice Bag and Mallet
Watered-down drinks are a thing of the past with the help of the Viski Lewis Ice Bag and Mallet. This professional-grade heavy canvas ice bag has a flap to keep ice blocks and dripping water inside when crushing ice with the beechwood mallet. The canvas naturally absorbs excess water for a drier batch of ice. This is one of the best gifts for home bartenders who value quality drink flavor.
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Price: $35.99
3. Harold Import Co. Big Block Ice Cube Tray
Bartenders know that the perfect cocktail starts with the perfect type of ice, so this next tool makes an ideal gift for bartenders. The Harold Import Co. Big Block Ice Cube Tray makes large cubes that melt slower, keeping drinks cold longer and allowing the sipper to taste the liquor and not the water.
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Price: $27.95
4. Harold Import Co. Stainless Steel Muddler
Sleek and stylish, the Harold Import Co. Stainless Steel Muddler is the perfect tool for mashing fruit and muddling fresh herbs, mint leaves and spices for a refreshing mojito or old fashioned. At 13" in length, it can easily be stored with other silverware and bar accessories, making it a thoughtful gift for bartenders who are short on space.
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Price: $24.95
5. Harold Import Co. Cocktail Strainer
The Harold Import Co. Cocktail Strainer is one of the best gifts for home bartenders to keep ice, mix-ins and other flavoring ingredients out of the finished drink. It fits over the top of the shaker to precisely pour into the glass, creating a crisp and clean cocktail. Made of stainless steel, it resists rust and corrosion, doesn’t absorb odors and is dishwasher safe.
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Price: $11.99
6. Harold Import Co. Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker 18 oz.
The Harold Import Co. Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker 18 oz. is an all-in-one cobbler-style mixer, chiller and strainer, making it one of the most useful gifts for bartenders. A built-in strainer top pours while holding back ice and mix-ins that could water-down the drink. The cap can be used as a jigger, making this a great bartender gift set for its multi-purpose use.
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Price: $30.95
7. Harold Import Co. Double Jigger
Whether you’re measuring gin for martinis and gimlets or rum for a frozen daiquiri, an accurate measurement is necessary for the perfectly balanced cocktail. The Harold Import Co. Double Jigger has 1 oz. on one side and 1.42 oz. on the other side, making it one of the most useful gifts for bartenders and a must-have bartending tool. The 18/8 stainless steel has a brushed finish and is dishwasher safe.
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Price: $25.95
8. Viski Black Citrus Press
Designed for small fruits like lemons and limes, the Viski Black Citrus Press is one of the best gifts for mixologists who enjoy adding fresh-squeezed citrus juice to their cocktail creations. This stylish gift for bartenders is made of coated aluminum.
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Price: $33.95
9. Viski Glacier Rocks Ice Sphere Molds
The Viski Glacier Rocks Ice Sphere Molds make balls of ice for faster chilling, slower melting and less dilution. Add garnishes, fruit slices and fresh herbs for cool, colorful and flavor-infused orbs of ice. This gift for bartenders comes with four ice molds and a silicone shell. Ice spheres are 2" in diameter.
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Price: $33.95
10. True Lemon & Lime Press Juicer
The True Lemon & Lime Press Juicer makes a great gift for bartenders who like to create citrus and fruit-based cocktails. It extracts the juice from small to midsize fruits while filtering out seeds and pulp. Made of enameled aluminum, this gift for bartenders is dishwasher safe.
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Price: $15.29
11. Viski Stainless Steel Mesh Cone Strainer
An essential tool and one of the best gifts for bartenders, the Viski Stainless Steel Mesh Cone Strainer is sized to fit most mixing glasses. It’s designed to quickly separate mix-ins and flavor infusions from liquor and liquids. Use alone or in addition to a Hawthorne or cobbler-style strainer for extra smooth and silky cocktails.
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Price: $34.95
12. Harold Import Co. Cocktail Mixing Spoon 12”
While shaking has its advantages, stirring a drink minimizes dilution and frothing to create a crystal-clear cocktail. The Harold Import Co. Cocktail Mixing Spoon 12” is a special gift for bartenders and has a stylish twisted handle and a teardrop-shaped face with a concave bowl for taste testing. At 12" long, it’s easily able to reach into deep glasses, shakers and mixing cups. Use either the straight or the curved end to mix your drink. A fine grip on the handle keeps your hand steady and adds friction to the stirring process.
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Price: $3.95
13. True Vista 14 oz. Measured Cocktail Shaker
Some of the best gifts for bartenders are as attractive as they are useful. Made of sleek and shiny stainless-steel and food-safe silicone, True Vista 14 oz. Measured Cocktail Shaker has handy measurements on the exterior (both U.S. customary and metric units). There’s a clear monitoring window for precise pours. The cap does double duty as a 1 oz. jigger.
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Price: $36.50
14. True Zesty Citrus Zester and Channel Knife
Cocktails are always better with a little twist of citrus. The True Zesty Citrus Zester and Channel Knife is the best gift set for bartenders to create spirals, twists and zests whether at the bar or around the kitchen. It can also be used for nutmeg and chocolate.
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Price: $23.95
15. The World’s Greatest 4-in-1 Bar Tool
One of the best gifts for bartenders, The World’s Greatest 4-in-1 Bar Tool, is made of Japanese stainless steel with a BPA-free easy-grip handle for ease in peeling, stripping, opening and creating decorative garnishes. It includes a punch-style can opener, a bottle opener, a peeler blade and a channel knife/citrus stripper. At about 8" long, it’s portable and compact enough to stow in a cooler, utensil drawer or even a pocket for on-the-go bartending.
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Price: $26.95
16. Zwilling Classic Waiter’s Knife With Micarta Handle
The Zwilling Classic Waiter’s Knife With Micarta Handle is the perfect three-in-one gift for bartenders to uncork wine bottles, open craft brew bottles and cut foil with ease. Compact enough to store in a pocket, it has a corkscrew, a foil cutter and a bottle cap opener. The corkscrew spindle stays sharp, and its non-stick coating ensures easy cork insertion.
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Price: $35.95
17. Viski 55mm Ice Ball Maker
The Viski 55mm Ice Ball Maker is one of the best gifts for bartenders and serious connoisseurs of whiskey, scotch and bourbon. Made of aluminum and stainless steel, it uses weight, gravity and heat-conducting properties to transform a large piece of ice into a perfectly frozen sphere. A solid round piece of ice doesn’t dilute as fast, allowing drinks to taste great longer. This is one of the most unique and indulgent mixology gifts that will quickly become a conversation piece. One of the most impressive-looking gifts for bartender friends, this tools' fancy packaging makes a great gift presentation.
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Price: $329.99
Bartender Gift Sets
18. Viski Gunmetal Mixologist Barware Set
Multi-piece gifts for bartenders can help start or complete a home bar’s accessory collection. Made from aluminum, the Viski Gunmetal Mixologist Barware Set has a sleek dark finish that’s both durable and professional. It comes with one 17 oz. cobbler-style shaker, a Hawthorne strainer, one double-sided jigger (1.5 oz., .75 oz. and .5 oz. capacity) and a weighted bar spoon.
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Price: $64.99
19. True Copper Barware Set
Home bar gifts that offer attractive, convenient and multi-purpose tools are always appreciated. The True Copper Barware Set comes with a cobbler-style shaker, a jigger, a Hawthorne strainer and a bar spoon with a muddler end. This cocktail shaker set looks great sitting out on the home bar or kitchen countertop.
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Price: $41.50
20. True Fortify Stainless Steel Barware Set
The sleek finish of the True Fortify Stainless Steel Barware Set is one of the best gifts for bartenders. This set features a cobbler-style shaker, a double jigger, a Hawthorne strainer, and a bar spoon with a muddler end for multi-purpose mixing and mashing. Sure to impress guests at the next party or backyard BBQ, it’s one of the best gifts for home bartenders.
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Price: $37.95
21. True 7-Piece Barware Set
If your bartender buddy stays true to the Boston-style cocktail shaker, the True 7-Piece Barware Set makes the perfect gift for bartenders. This stainless-steel set comes with a Boston shaker tin, glass with measurements, a Hawthorne strainer, a double jigger, a bar spoon, a wooden muddler and a liquor pourer spout.
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Price: $36.50
22. Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday IPA Beer Making Kit
Well-seasoned or beginner brewmasters will appreciate the fun and educational aspects of the Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday IPA Beer Making Kit. With an ABV of 6.8%, it combines the signature bitters of Columbus hops with aromatic and sweet citrus Cascade hops. This gift for bartenders includes a one-gallon Everyday IPA all-grain mix, Cascade hops, Columbus hops, yeast, a fermentation jug, a racking cane, vinyl tubing, no-rinse sanitizer and more. The equipment is reusable, so all you’ll need to make another batch is a packet of no-rinse sanitizer and an all-grain ingredient mix.
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Price: $48
23. Brooklyn Brew Shop Hard Cider Kit
Make cider all year long with the Brooklyn Brew Shop Hard Cider Kit. This easy-to-use set makes three batches of crisp and tart hard apple cider. The kit includes dry cider yeast, a glass fermentation jug, a racking cane, vinyl tubing, a tubing clamp, a screw-cap stopper, an airlock and cleanser. ABV is 7%.
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Price: $48
24. Henckels 3-Pc Bar Board Set
Slice creative garnishes and fruits with the ease of a professional. The Henckels 3-Pc Bar Board Set comes with a 3" paring knife, a 5" serrated utility knife and a hardwood cutting board, making it a top choice for multi-use gifts for bartenders.
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Price: $36.50
25. True Small Cutting Board With Paring Knife Set
This gift for home bartenders lets them cut fruit and vegetables (bloody Mary, anyone?) while protecting their countertop. This True Small Cutting Board With Paring Knife Set includes a 3.5" stainless steel paring knife with a plastic handle and safety sheath. The cutting board is white with a colorful green edge.
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Price: $24.95
FAQs
What is a good gift for a bartender?
Bartenders appreciate thoughtful and useful items such as new cocktail shakers, paring knives and cutting boards as well as unique items like round ice molds and specialty cocktail glasses. You can always brighten a bartender’s day with a favorite bottle of rum or an exotic liqueur.
What should I get an aspiring bartender?
For an aspiring bartender, consider items to help them set up a home bar. Ideas include shot glasses, wine bottle openers, glassware, cocktail recipe books and cocktail shaker sets that come with a variety of items such as a shaker, mixing spoon, jigger and Hawthorne strainer.
What should I give someone who loves cocktails?
For the cocktail lover, think of items like ice crushers, specialty blenders or a cocktail rail to keep those frequently used bottles handy. Martini, margarita and highball glasses are great gift ideas for someone who loves cocktails, as is a rimmer for that perfectly salted or sugared glass rim.
What should every bartender have?
Along with the well-stocked liquor cabinet, every bartender needs essential tools like cocktail shakers, jiggers, muddlers, stirring spoons and paring knives for slicing fruit and garnishing glasses. A rubber bar mat helps keep the kitchen countertop or home bar clean and dry.
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Choosing the best gifts for bartenders can be a fun and educational experience. Whether pouring palomas, measuring martinis or shaking up a whiskey sour, the best gifts for bartenders cover all the bases when it comes to slicing, dicing, zesting, mixing and pouring.
For even more specialty barware and mixology tools, check out the Cozymeal Shop.
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