We’re already smack-dab in the middle of the holiday season, and if you celebrate Christmas, you’re going to want to finish up your shopping as soon as possible. You don’t have much time left to buy gifts for your friends, family, and co-workers, and those last-minute items need to be easy to find.
Stocking stuffers seem easy, but they can be boring if you don’t get creative. While nobody will fault you for tossing in a pack of lip balm, Santa-shaped chocolates, or nail clippers, boozy stocking stuffers are the way to win the hearts of your 21+ nearest and dearest..
Lucky for you, there are many such options that easily fit into a normal-sized Christmas stocking. And we aren’t just talking about airplane-sized bottles of gin, whiskey, and vodka (although there’s no denying these alone would be a big hit on Christmas morning). There are myriad bottles of bitters, cocktail kits, and bartending essentials that make delightful holiday treats.
Japanese-style Jigger
If your gift-giving list includes someone interested in home bartending, they have to start somewhere. And while acquiring a few versatile bottles, bitters, and other ingredients is important, they also need some basic few tools. When it comes to measuring ingredients in classic cocktails like a Manhattan or Old Fashioned, a good Japanese-style jigger is a must-have. Cocktail Kingdom makes a great ¾ oz Japanese-style jigger made of rugged stainless steel that is guaranteed to make any home mixologist’s holiday brighter.
Photo by R.O.C.K.S.
R.O.C.K.S. Whiskey Chilling Stones
Some drinkers might not like the idea of whiskey stones. But if you have someone on your list who enjoys their whiskey cold and undiluted, they are an outstanding option. Instead of boring cubes, these eye-catching whiskey rocks are circular. On top of that, each of the six stones included in the set is a different color and type of granite.
Photo by Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve x Compartés Chocolate Bar
No holiday stocking is complete without a little chocolate, right? Well, the folks at Woodford Reserve collaborated with the famed Los Angeles-based chocolatiers to make the whiskey-infused chocolate they’ve been dreaming about all year long. Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall and Compartés chocolatier Jonathan Grahm teamed up to create this sweet, indulgent chocolate bar infused with Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon.
Photo by Black Button
Black Button The Nutcracker Whiskey
If your idea of a stocking stuffer is a holiday-themed whiskey, the folks at Black Button Distilling have you covered. The Rochester, New York-based distillery’s holiday expression is a 119-proof bourbon. It’s been matured for seven years in charred American oak barrels before spending an additional two months being sonically aged with the music of The Nutcracker. The result is a rich, mellow, easy-drinking bourbon perfect for that special someone’s stocking.
Photo via Amazon
'Let’s Get Blitzen' By Sother Teague
Released in 2019, this holiday-themed cocktail book is a must-have for the seasonal mixologist in your life. One of the most highly-regarded bartenders in the world, Sother Teague leads readers through tricks, tips, history, and step-by-step directions for sixty unique recipes. This includes classics like eggnog and mulled cider, as well as more off-the-wall concoctions like Santa’s Little Helper. This is the perfect stocking stuffer for anyone interested in learning flavorful and unusual holiday cocktails.
Photo by Fee Brothers
Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters
If you’re a fan of classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned, you’re going to need a few things besides a great whiskey. A crucial component of this recipe (as well as many others) is Angostura bitters. That said, sometimes you want a change of pace—changing up the bitters will give any drink a subtly different flavor profile. The gentle, nutty flavor of Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters is the perfect change of pace to elevate your favorite drinks.
Photo by Bull in China
Bull in China Shaken Cocktail Set
You can gradually work your way up to a home cocktail kit piece by piece, or you can get it all in one go. This kit comes with everything they need to make their home mixology dream a reality, including a set of weighted shaker tins, a Hawthorne strainer, bell jigger, fine mesh strainer, in a custom Bull in China gift box.
Photo by New Riff
New Riff Winter Whiskey
If your friend or family member prefers the taste of a well-made whiskey to anything else, New Riff makes a great stocking stuffer. It begins with a mash bill of 65 percent corn, 20 percent malted oats, seven percent pale ale malt, five percent steel cut raw oats, and three percent chocolate malt. After distillation, this unique whiskey is matured for four years in new, charred American oak barrels. The result is a complex, bold 100-proof whiskey loaded with flavors like cocoa, charred oak, caramel vanilla, and gentle wintry spices.
