We all know this couple: the one who will speak in intimate detail about how to mix the ideal martini. Their kitchen cabinets burst with wine glasses and Champagne flutes, and the bar cart is always stocked with a healthy selection of aperitifs. Their wedding, well, it’s sure to have an appealing bar menu.
But when it comes time to pick out a gift for such connoisseurs of finer beverages, you may be stumped. They already have a supply of the obvious items, like shakers, stirrers, and stemware, so it’s key to find something more than a regular rocks glass or recipe book. Here are a baker’s dozen of newlywed gift options for wine lovers and cocktail mavens.
Gin cups: Riedel believes there is a perfect glass shape for every beverage, and gin and tonic drinkers will agree when they sip from these glasses. If your newlywed friends enjoy mixing the classic highball, offer up this set of four. Designed to enhance the aromas of gin, the tulip-shaped cups feature a large bowl and more narrow lip so fans can really appreciate the juniper, spices, floral, and other botanical notes of the spirit. It’s large enough to add ice and tonic for a perfect evening sipper, whether you garnish with a fresh garden herb or a simple twist of lime. Suggested retail price: $50
Ice bucket: Elevate the cocktailing couple’s ice bucket game with this timeless version from Christofle. The brand is practically synonymous with wedding gifts and for good reason: Christofle introduced the technique of electrolytic gilding and silver plating to France way back in the 1840s. The stainless steel ice bucket features double insulated walls and a silicone lining to keep ice frozen for a surprisingly long time. After all, how dare the newlyweds serve an imperfect ice cube? SRP: $235
Whiskey decanter: One can never have too many whiskey decanters, especially not when they come in the shape of a rocket ship. Jonathan Adler’s retro-inspired decanter makes a statement on any bar. The porcelain vessel, gilded with 16-karat gold, easily fits a 750-milliliter bottle of the couple’s favorite Scotch, bourbon, or rye. SRP: $198
Etched wine bottle: If the couple lean toward Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon when you’re out to dinner, surprise them with a custom etched bottle of Silver Oak. The cult producer makes some of the best Napa Cab year after year, as well as in nearby Alexander Valley, part of Sonoma County. Since the congratulatory bottle comes with the current vintage, the wine-loving newlyweds can age the bottle in their cellar to open on a future anniversary. SRP: $160
Cocktail snack bowl: The best part of grabbing a drink at an old-school hotel bar is the little dish of snacks that a server drops on the table with your cocktail. Invite the newlyweds to adopt this tradition with a statement snack bowl. Georg Jensen is known for its organic curved forms in silver and stainless steel, and this mirror-polished snack bowl brings this dynamic quality to cocktail hour. It’s easy to fill with nuts, olives, parmesan crisps, and a favorite: spiced popcorn. SRP: $129
Crystal martini glasses: For a martini fanatic, look no further than Baccarat’s colorful collection of martini glasses. They are just made for entertaining with drinks served up. The set of four glasses comes in four vibrant hues—red, sapphire, olive, and crystal—all made from Baccarat’s expert hands at crafting crystal. (Hint: They are part of a larger Vega collection if the couple want to add to the aesthetic in the future.) SRP: $990
Mocktail recipes: Just because a couple are into cocktails doesn’t mean they have to always be drinking booze; it’s all about moderation. Lifestyle journalist and author Elva Ramirez knows this best. She spent months finding the best zero-proof mocktails from the world’s top bartenders for her recipe book, Zero Proof: 90 Non-Alcoholic Recipes for Mindful Drinking, just released this spring. In it, they’ll find details on creative nonalcoholic drinks that are so good, they won’t miss the buzz and certainly not the hangover. SRP: $22
Burgundy wineglasses: Even the most serious wine drinker may not have a set of Burgundy glasses. These oversize bowls enhance the aromas and flavors of Pinot Noir, especially from the famed Burgundy region, as well as other elegant reds like Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino. The Mark Thomas duo features mouth-blown crystal with two bends to help angle the bouquet toward the taster’s nose, but we also think they add a modern edge to the dinner table. SRP: $170
Cocktail smoker: Ever wonder how the bartender smokes that negroni? Try Breville’s smoking gun for at-home cocktail infusions. The handy device allows newlyweds to impart applewood or hickory flavors into drinks without adding heat to the mix. The handblown glass cloche keeps smoke from filling the room instead of the rocks glass. SRP: $200
Wine cellar: If you really want to splurge on a wedding gift, order the newlyweds an entire wine collection. Famed wine retailer Sotheby’s offers an instant wine cellar—literally available for delivery in 24 hours—that includes up to 165 bottles of wine. A wine consultant will collaborate with you on selections varying by price point, region, style, and grape variety (including rare and aged bottles), whether it’s for an aspiring connoisseur or a longtime collector. SRP: Starts at $5,000
Wine preservation system: When the Coravin wine preservation system hit the market, it was a game changer for at-home drinkers. The convenient device allows you to pour a glass from a corked bottle, replacing the removed liquid with inert gas so as to not spoil the rest of wine in the bottle. What does that mean to the layman? You don’t have to finish the bottle in a day—you get weeks or even months to savor it. The pros got in on nifty gadgets too, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a wine-focused restaurant that doesn’t have one on hand for tasting rare and old bottles. Give the latest model to the newlyweds to aid in their regular consumption of their cellar. SRP: $250
Spittoon: You may wonder why anyone would ever spit out wine. But to a pro-level taster, it’s important to sip, savor, and spit when sampling several wine bottles in a row. Gift this eye-catching, mouth-blown crystal spittoon designed by the Austrian glassware experts at Zalto with sommelier Aldo Sohm. It sure beats using plastic cups, and it adds caché to the tablescape. Plus, it’s dishwasher-safe. SRP: $58
Limited-edition Scotch whisky: The key to giving a bottle to someone who has, well, everything, is to track down the latest collector’s item. Case in point: Laphroaig’s Ian Hunter Scotches. The five-bottle series of rare aged whiskies honors Ian Hunter, who managed the Laphroaig distillery in the early 20th century. Each bottle unveils another chapter of the book of life and impact on the storied brand, making it a treasure for Laphroaig and serious Islay Scotch fans alike. Plus, the hunt for the limited-edition bottles is part of the fun. SRP: $1,250
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