Dizzy Gift Guide 2017

If you're a fellow procrastinator like me, you still have some holiday gifting to do, not to mention entertaining, baking, wrapping—the works. If you're in a pinch, nothing warms the cockles quite like a top-shelf bottle of liquor, and with all of the booze delivery options these days, you really have no excuse. You could also check with your favorite bar about gift certificates—a great way to spread cheer and support the hospitality scene at the same time. Here are some more last-minute gift ideas to make the holidays merry and bright for all the cocktail lovers on your list.

Brooklyn design shop Love & Victory offers lots of charming gifts, from hand-engraved decanters and glassware to the most adorable cocktail pins. This set of flamingo tiki glasses ($29) caught my eye, and the packaging includes a handy pina colada recipe. You'll want to act fast, as Love & VIctory's shipping deadline for holiday is December 15.

I've been a fan of Owl's Brew tea mixers for some time now, and their holiday gift set ($28) is perfect for anyone looking to spice up a drink or punch without too much effort. The set includes three 8-oz bottles: Wicked Green, White & Vine, and the oh-so-seasonal Mulling Spices (cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom), cranberry, apple pieces, brown sugar, apple juice, cranberry juice, maple syrup, and citric acid.

Last year, Cocktail Kingdom teamed up with spirits historian and author David Wondrich to release a line of vintage-inspired cocktail tools and serverware. The punch set ($130) features an English style ladle, six elegant punch cups, and a stoneware bowl featuring a Cicero quote that translates to “Let us eat, drink, enjoy life, after death there is no pleasure.” Once again shipping deadlines are upon us, so act quickly for any Cocktail Kingdom orders.

Cocktail Courier, a cocktail subscription box service, has partnered with Williams Sonoma to offer a variety of cocktail kits for the holiday season. Start with the mini cocktail kit ($29) in tasty options such as the Cinnamon Daiquiri, Improper Gin and Tonic, and the French 75, among others.

Decorative cocktail picks paired with a jar of brandied cherries or martini olives always makes for a nice gift for the home bar enthusiast who has everything. This pineapple cocktail pick set ($40) comes in a handy pineapple holder, making for a snazzy addition to the bar top.

Let's say you ran out of time to find the perfect gift for your party host, and you want to offer a bit more than just another bottle of wine or bubbly—bottleneck accessories ($8) to the rescue! This is one of those "Why didn't I think of that?" ideas—a package of balloons and confetti ready to hang around the neck of a gifted bottle, bringing instant party vibes. Brilliant.

Dizzy Gift Guide 2014

Still have some last-minute holiday shopping to do? You can always take the tried-and-true route and give all of those cocktail lovers on your list a shiny new bottle for their top shelf. Of course, you might be tempted to keep those kinds of gifts for yourself. Here are some other suggestions for the tipplers on your list. Cheers to a safe, warm, and peaceful holiday season, and please, be kind to your neighbors! Gents, need a dapper accessory for your holiday or New Year's Eve outfit? Look no further than Forage Haberdashery, a line of handcrafted bow ties, neck ties, handkerchiefs and more. They also offer a line of bows for the ladies. Reasonably priced with free domestic shipping, get 20 percent off with the code HOLIDAY, and as an added bonus, your package will arrive pre-wrapped in handsome black paper and string.

For the Zombie drinkers on your list, bring some goth to their tiki game with these Grave Digger cocktail picks ($10.50) made from howlite turquoise and food grade stainless steel. Plus, the seller's name is Dizzy Diva, so she's obviously doing something right.

For the party hosts who seem to have everything, you can't go wrong with gifting them a new set of rocks glasses. This Double Old Fashioned set from West Elm ($30 for 6) offers geometric intrigue and a modern touch that will liven up any bar top.

For the frequent flier, the Carry-On Cocktail Kit ($24) is a winning move. Have the most dignified flight ever with this handy kit that includes aromatic bitters, cane sugar, a muddling spoon, a recipe card, and a linen coaster. Just add a mini bottle of whiskey and ice, and you'll have yourself two Old Fashioneds at any altitude.

The growler craze has taken full hold 'round these parts, and NYC bars serving beer to go are a dime a dozen. Help your favorite beer drinkers keep their crafty suds mobile with this bicycle-friendly growler ($50) that holds 64 oz.

Taste your way through 500 original cocktail recipes from one of NYC's most celebrated drinking dens with Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails ($26) by David Kaplan, Nick Fauchald, and Alex Day. The elegant tome lays out instructions that are simple enough to follow at home. Soon enough you'll be whipping up Oaxaca Old Fashioneds of your own--just be sure to dim the lights down low and burn some candles for the full effect.

For the cocktail geeks on your list looking to sharpen their skills, hand them a copy of The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique ($20.95) by Jeffrey Morgenthaler. The Oregon bartender and blogger is known for his expertise, and here he breaks down every step needed to make cocktails that taste just as good as those from your favorite craft cocktail bar. Don't be surprised if the recipient of this gift starts crowding the refrigerator with jars of homemade syrups, sodas, and infused tinctures.

For the whiskey lover with an attention span, book a seat (or two, and save one for yourself, naturally) in the best kind of school around--the Spirit School at Brandy Library ($55-$120 per class). Not only will they expand their palates with tastings such as "Rare and Precious" and "Japanese Whiskey at its Best," but they'll be treated to expert guidance from the Brandy Library's spirit sommeliers.

Dizzy Gifts 2010

'Tis the season to show your loved ones some good cheer with food, drinks, acts of kindness, and of course, presents! Ok, so we don't have to let Retail America control our holiday celebrations -- there's plenty of ways to show that you care without spending money (check out my round-up of DIY cocktailian gifts from last year), but chances are, you'll get some joy out of giving and receiving gifts this season. Need ideas for your favorite imbiber? Feast your eyes on this Dizzy-approved shopping list:

Know a cocktail fan who does a lot of frequent flying? The Bitter Truth Cocktail Bitters Traveler's Set ($18.99) is designed to pass TSA standards and includes 20ml bottles of celery, orange, creole, old time, and Jerry Thomas bitters.

Every cocktail lover needs a good flask -- how else are we supposed to enjoy Negronis in broad daylight or during office hours? This leather-covered vessel from J. Crew ($34.95) will separate the debonair from the debaucher.

Flip through more than 80 elegant recipes of Prohibition-inspired tipples in "Speakeasy: The Employees Only Guide to Classic Cocktails Reimagined" ($24.99) by Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric. The West Village master mixologists break down variations on the classics and creations of their own.

Krystina Castella was smart enough to write "Booze Cakes" ($12 ) a cookbook combining everyone's two favorite loves -- booze and baked goods. She might not have the recipe for my infamous whiskey old fashioned cake in there, but you will find knockout photos and recipes of confections such as Pina Colada Cake, White Russian Cupcakes and Honey Spice Beer Cake.

Know someone who's just getting started in bartending or could use a refresher? "The Big Bartending Book" by and Jeff Masson and Greg Boehm ($9.95) offers clear instructions on how to whip up 1,000 top cocktails and plenty of advice to give newbies confidence behind the stick.

This is a great idea for wine lovers -- A Date With Wine bottle stopper ($45) makes it easy to remember when you last opened that delicious bottle of vino. You'll never drink musty, overexposed wine again.

And how gangsta are these shot glasses? Mug Shots ($16.95) is a set of six shot glasses featuring the mugs of the most notorious gangsters in history, from Al Capone to Bugsy Siegel.

There are plenty of funky-shaped bottle openers out there, but this iron set of Nambu Tekki Tool Bottle Openers ($20 each) look cool hanging in your kitchen and have versatility -- such as for smashing up some ice.

If you were at the Holiday Spirits Bazaar (recap to come), then hopefully you got a chance to try SkimKim's Blooody Kim Jong-Il Mix ($10), a tantalizing blended kimchee bloody mary mix. Beyond vodka, I would pour this on just about everything, from tacos to meatloaf, or just eat it straight from the jar -- it's that good.

Give your home bar an instant soda fountain with the SodaStream Red Crystal Soda Maker ($179.95), which turns ordinary water into sparkling water or soda. Easy to transport, no electricity required, and if you buy it at Sur La Table, they will recycle the spent carbonation canisters for you and give you a discount on new ones.

You can search flea markets far and wide for a decent punch bowl, but if you are looking to give a punch serving set as a last-minute gift, look no further than Crate & Barrel's Virginia Punch Bowl Set ($136.95). The elegant footed bowl and cups made of handblown and molded glass will turn any house party into a dignified soiree.

Dizzy Gifts, Part 3: Tools & Accessories Under $50

Hopefully by now you're doing better than I am and you're already done with your holiday shopping. If like me, you were busy with too many pre-holiday events and are now shopping last-minute, here are a few handy ideas for those cocktail lovers on your list--good luck!

Dizzy Gifts, Part 2: Education

 

"Study as if you were going to live forever; live as if you were going to die tomorrow."--Maria Mitchell, American astronomer

If you're anything like me, once you become passionate about something, you have a strong desire to learn as much about that something as you can. Some people might call me a nerd. Sure, there is something to be said for artistic intuition and natural talent, and there isn't a field of study for everything--abstract expressionist painting or a sense of humor, for instance--but when it comes to having a craft, such as writing or making cocktails, well, I come from the school of thought that you can never have too much school for your thoughts (although we should all get outside more and learn from nature, too).

I'll never forget the time I met Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown a year and a half ago at a Sagatiba tasting at Brandy Library. Spirits and drinks historians whose books include "Shaken Not Stirred: A Celebration of the Martini," "The Soul of Brasil," and "Cuba: The Legend of Rum," the couple travels the world to uncover the secrets behind the history of drinking. They are also the directors of Exposition Universelle des Vins et Spiritueux in Southern France. [In short, they are my idols.] Dave Wondrich, author of "Imbibe! From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash," also made a similar impression on me last year. These writers have managed to make a living by constantly seeking to quench their thirst for knowledge of drink-making of the past, present, and future.

Most cocktail enthusiasts consider themselves geeks and are in a constant state of study. So if you have a few of those types on your holiday shopping list, why not drop some knowledge on them and give them a gift that will last a lifetime? Here are some suggestions:

"The Bartender’s Gin Compendium" by Gaz Regan navigates the world of gin, from its roots as genever to the prominent brands of today.

"The Prohibition Hangover: Alcohol in American from Demon Rum to Cult Cabernet" by Garrett Peck charts the shift in social attitiudes towards drinking since the days of Prohibition and includes lots of facts on how we drink today.

Spirituous Journey: Book One" by Jared Brown and Anistatia Miller is one of the most thoroughly-researched looks at the birth of spirits and the distillation process, from China, to India, to Persia, through Europe and onto the New World.

"Lush Life: Portraits from the Bar" by author/illustrator Jill DeGroff is not only a stunning collection of her caricatures of who's who in the world of bartending, but the book also includes colorful stories and classic recipes.

Imbibe Magazine is the premiere publication on liquid culture and the art of drinking, and is must-have for anyone in the cocktail industry.

Astor Center's classes on cocktail-making and spirits history are an excellent resource for cocktailians in NYC. Gift certificates are available to cover the cost of the sessions.

And last but not least, BarSmarts Wired is an online version of the B.A.R. (Beverage Alcohol Resource) program developed by the leading mixologists in the industry. For $45, students receive educational DVDs, a workbook, and a bar tool kit, and earn certification once they pass the class, which takes about four weeks.

Dizzy Gifts, Part 1: DIY

In case you haven't noticed, the holidays are approaching faster than a speeding balloon boy. Since many of us are pinching pennies this year, I thought I would kick off my cocktailian gift guide series with a list of DIY projects for those looking to do something homemade (and inexpensive). Keep in mind, if you're doing an infusion, you'll want to get started now so those flavors can sink in! Also, be sure to use triple-sanitized, airtight bottles to contain your concoctions. I've linked to the experts for instructions on relatively easy gifts you can make with a quick trip to the supermarket and liquor store:

• No fan of Gibson martinis will turn down a jar of pickled cocktail onions. And here's a variation featuring saffron.
• Bitters may require obscure herbs and spices, but Jamie Boudreau shows us the way.
• Show your friends what real maraschino cherries are supposed to taste like, thanks to CocktailNerd.
• Have a fan of sweet drinks on your list? Offer a bottle of homemade grenadine sans high fructose corn syrup.
• Liqueurs such as limoncello and Irish cream require a couple of weeks to infuse, but the end result is worth the wait.
• Candied citrus peel makes a great garnish as well as a snack.
• A muslin bag or jar filled with mulling spices equals instant holiday charm.
• Make herbal salts for rimming cocktails (more flavors here and here). Be sure to gift them in pretty jars.