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Shopping for a bartender sounds easy enough. They make cocktails, so you buy them something cocktail-related, right?
Well… not quite.
Professional bartenders can be very particular about their bar tools, and an experienced cocktail enthusiast may already have a bar cart that’s threatening to run out of room. Meanwhile, someone who’s just getting into cocktails might genuinely love a complete bar set because they don’t own any of the essentials yet.
The best gifts for bartenders aren’t necessarily the fanciest or most expensive. They’re the ones that match how and where the person actually makes drinks.
Whether you’re shopping for a professional bartender, an aspiring mixologist, or the friend who has appointed themselves official cocktail maker at every gathering, here’s how to find a gift they’ll actually use.
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How to Choose a Gift for a Bartender
Before buying the first shiny piece of barware you see, consider who you’re actually shopping for. If they’re brand new to making cocktails, start with the essentials. A quality cocktail shaker, jigger, and strainer will get far more use than some highly specialized tool they don’t know what to do with yet.
For someone who’s been making cocktails for years, take a peek at what they already own. Maybe their trusty shaker tins have seen better days, or perhaps they have all the basics but would appreciate beautiful glassware or a specialty tool they haven’t bought for themselves.
And if they’re a working bartender, durability and ergonomics matter. A tool that’s perfectly adequate for making two drinks on Saturday night may become incredibly annoying after you’ve used it 200 times during one shift. (Pssst… That’s why Chris and Julia founded A Bar Above: to solve all the annoying problems Chris had with other bar tools on the market when he was bartending.)
When in doubt, prioritize quality, usefulness, and the recipient’s cocktail-making style over novelty.
Now for the fun part: Shopping!
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1. A Complete Cocktail Set
If you’re shopping for someone who’s building their first home bar, a cocktail set is one of the easiest gifts to get right.
Instead of have to buy every tool individually, a good set bundles together the essentials they’ll need to start making drinks.
Look for a set with genuinely useful tools rather than one padded with a dozen gadgets they’ll never touch. Depending on the style of cocktails they enjoy, that might include a cocktail shaker, jigger, strainer, bar spoon, muddler, and/or mixing glass.
Our A Bar Above sets are designed around tools people actually use, with professional-quality materials that work just as well for someone learning at home.
Best for: New home bartenders, aspiring bartenders, anyone starting their cocktail-tool collection, and anyone who needs to replace their existing tools.
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2. A Quality Cocktail Shaker
For someone who already has a few bar tools but is still using that questionable shaker they bought years ago at a discount bargain store, an upgrade makes an excellent bartender gift.
A Boston shaker is a particularly good choice for someone who’s serious about making cocktails. Its two-tin construction is simple, fast, and versatile—which is why it’s so common behind professional bars.
Hot tip: Look for stainless steel shaker tins that create a reliable seal but aren’t a wrestling match to separate after shaking. (Like ours… Just sayin’!)
If the person you’re buying for prefers an all-in-one option, a cobbler shaker is another possibility. It includes a built-in strainer and cap, making it approachable for home cocktail making. While we’ve never loved a cobbler shaker, we finally made our own version that solves all the problems we’ve had with other brands in the past. Check it out in the link above.
Best for: Frequent cocktail makers and anyone ready to upgrade their starter shaker.
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3. Cocktail Strainers
A strainer might not immediately scream exciting present, but a really good one is the kind of gift a bartender will use constantly.
A Hawthorne strainer is generally paired with a cocktail shaker and uses its coiled spring to hold back ice and other solids. It’s the most common type of strainer used to make cocktails, and ours also works with pint glasses and mixing glasses for ultimate versatility.
A Julep strainer pairs beautifully with a mixing glass for stirred cocktails, letting liquid through without the ice. And then a fine mesh strainer is used when double-straining to remove tiny ice shards, pulp, seeds, and pieces of herbs.
If you’re not sure which one they own or if their existing strainer is just kind of crappy, our cocktail strainer set covering all three bases can make a particularly nice gift.
Best for: Bartenders who already own a shaker and want to expand or upgrade their toolkit.
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4. A Precise Cocktail Jigger
The humble jigger may be small, but it has a very important job: making sure the cocktail tastes the way it’s supposed to.
Jiggers allow bartenders to accurately measure spirits, citrus, syrups, liqueurs, and other ingredients. That means better balance and, perhaps more importantly, the ability to make the same delicious cocktail twice.
Look for clearly visible measurement markings, accurate pours, comfortable handling, and durable construction. Hint: Ours have the most measurement lines we’ve ever seen on a jigger — from a bar spoon (1/8 ounce) all the way up to 2 ounces– making it incredibly flexible for all recipes.
We offer both Japanese-style and bell jiggers, so this is also an opportunity to choose something that matches your recipient’s personal bartending style.
Best for: Honestly? Pretty much anyone who makes cocktails.
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5. A Good Cocktail Muddler
If your gift recipient loves Mojitos, Caipirinhas, Mint Juleps, or other cocktails packed with fresh ingredients, consider getting them a muddler.
Muddlers help extract flavor and aroma from fruits, herbs, and other ingredients. The important word there is extract, not pulverize. Mint does not need to be beaten into submission to make a good Mojito.
Also look for a muddler that’s long enough to comfortably reach into a shaker or mixing vessel without repeatedly scraping your knuckles against the rim.
Material matters, too. Food-safe plastic is durable and dishwasher-friendly, while wood offers a classic feel but generally requires hand washing.
Best for: Fans of fresh fruit and herb-forward cocktails.
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6. A Bar Spoon
A bar spoon is another deceptively simple tool that makes a great stocking stuffer or smaller bartender gift.
Its long handle lets you comfortably reach the bottom of a mixing glass, while the twisted shaft helps create a smooth stirring motion.
This is the tool your recipient will reach for when making spirit-forward classics like a Manhattan, Negroni, or Martini.
Look for good balance, durable construction, and enough length to work comfortably with their mixing glass.
Best for: Martini, Manhattan, Negroni, and other stirred-cocktail enthusiasts.
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7. Beautiful Cocktail Glassware
Here’s where you can have a little more fun.
The right cocktail glassware changes the whole presentation of a drink, and beautiful glasses can feel more gift-worthy than a purely functional bar tool.
Think about what your recipient drinks most often. Rocks glasses are great for Old Fashioneds and other drinks served over ice, while coupes or Nick & Nora glasses work beautifully for cocktails served up. Highballs are useful for tall, refreshing drinks.
Vintage glassware can also make a fantastic gift. Check local thrift and antique stores for something unusual—especially if your recipient already owns all the standard styles.
Best for: Cocktail lovers who appreciate presentation or already own the basic tools.
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For the bartender who’s already well equipped, think about the finishing touches.
A good citrus peeler makes it easier to create clean citrus twists, while quality cocktail picks turn everything from olives and cherries to more elaborate garnishes into part of the presentation.
These smaller tools also make excellent stocking stuffers or additions to a larger cocktail-themed gift.
You could even pair cocktail picks with a set of rocks glasses or a peeler with a bottle of their favorite bitters to create your own little gift bundle.
Best for: The detail-oriented bartender who loves a beautifully finished drink.
Stock photo courtesy of Ten Speed Press
9. A Cocktail Book
When someone already owns enough barware to open a small cocktail bar, give them some inspiration instead.
A great cocktail book can provide new recipes, techniques, history, and ideas they might not otherwise encounter.
The PDT Cocktail Book by Jim Meehan is a modern favorite, while books such as Cocktail Codex can help readers better understand how cocktails are constructed rather than simply providing recipes to follow.
If you know your recipient’s particular interests—Tiki, whiskey, low-ABV cocktails, classic cocktail history—you can get even more specific.
Best for: Curious bartenders, cocktail nerds, and people who seemingly already own everything.
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10. A Build-Your-Own Cocktail Gift
You don’t necessarily have to choose one item.
Creating your own small cocktail gift set lets you tailor the present to the person. Start with one main piece of barware and build a theme around it.
For an Old Fashioned fan, for example, you could combine rocks glasses, cocktail picks, bitters, and a citrus peeler. For someone learning shaken cocktails, pair a Boston shaker with a Hawthorne strainer and jigger.
For the person who hosts every party? Give them a complete cocktail set and politely inform them they’re making the drinks again.
Best for: Personalized gifts, holidays, birthdays, weddings, and cocktail lovers who are difficult to shop for.
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Gifts for Professional Bartenders
Shopping for a professional bartender requires a slightly different approach.
Working bartenders probably already own—or have access to—the basic equipment they need. So rather than buying a cheap version of something they use every day, look for an upgrade.
Prioritize durability, ergonomics, and easy cleaning. Stainless steel tools that can withstand repeated use are generally a safer bet than novelty barware.
And remember that bartenders can have strong preferences about their tools. If you’re unsure whether they prefer a Japanese jigger, bell jigger, Hawthorne design, or particular shaker setup, there’s nothing wrong with doing a little reconnaissance before you buy.
Surprises are nice. A bar tool they’ll actually use is nicer.
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Gifts for Home Bartenders & Cocktail Lovers
For a home bartender, you have a little more flexibility.
Beginners will benefit from foundational tools that let them make a wider range of cocktails, while experienced enthusiasts may appreciate something more specialized or decorative.
A cocktail set, shaker, jigger, strainer, or mixing glass makes sense for someone who’s still building their bar. Beautiful glassware, garnish tools, books, and specialty barware can be more exciting for someone who already has the basics covered.
Ultimately, think about the drinks they enjoy making rather than simply buying something labeled “bartender gift.”
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Give Them Something Worth Drinking To
The best bartender gifts don’t have to be complicated.
Start with the person. Think about what they already own, what cocktails they enjoy, and whether they’re making drinks professionally or experimenting at home. From there, choose something that’s well made, genuinely useful, and suited to the way they make cocktails.
Maybe that’s their first complete cocktail set. Maybe it’s a beautiful new jigger they’ll use every shift. Or maybe it’s the glassware they would never splurge on for themselves.
Whatever you choose, quality barware has one particularly nice advantage as a gift:
There’s a pretty good chance you’ll eventually get a cocktail out of it.
