Every year I promise myself I’ll start my holiday gift shopping early. Every year it all somehow gets done. But this season I’m getting a jump on things—with plenty of time to spare—thanks to a list of my favorite new gifts for spirits, wine, food, or coffee lovers. My advice? Don’t delay. December is flying by!
Alessi Pulcina Moka Pot ($90) & Emilio Pucci Art Collection Espresso Cups ($150)
Have a coffee drinker in your life? Illy partnered with another legendary Italian company, Alessi, to produce this stunning stove-top Pulcina Moka Pot. Another great option is Illy’s latest incarnation of its espresso cup set, festively decorated by the famous fashion house Emilio Pucci.
David Wondrich Punch Bowl ($40) & Turenne Punch Ladle ($65)
There are few concoctions better suited for a party than punch. The Daily Beast’s senior drinks columnist David Wondrich wrote the definitive book on the subject—called, naturally, Punch—and recently teamed up with luxury barware emporium Cocktail Kingdom to create a line of vintage-inspired punch bowls and ladles. The punch bowl, complete with a Latin inscription inside and a creepy historic punch cartoon on the bottom, would be perfect for any celebration. And to serve your punch you’ll need an impressive ladle, like the scalloped silver-plated Turenne model with a 15-inch beechwood handle.
Vintage Bar & Restaurant Menu Prints (from $20)
The aptly named company Love Menu Art produces, you guessed it, an impressive selection of prints of old menu and matchbook art from establishments across the country. I particularly like an image from a matchbook that was given out by a Pasadena, California, liquor store: The colorful illustration shows various spirits, wines, and mixers bowing down to king cocktail shaker and his lieutenant bitters. Another fun one is from L.A.’s legendary Brown Derby restaurant, whose menu featured a cartoon map of the City of Angels with various annotated monuments.
Crafthouse by Fortessa Cocktail Shaker Set ($100)
To make good cocktails you need good tools. Fortunately, award-winning bartender Charles Joly has partnered with Fortessa to create a line of barware available at Williams-Sonoma. This set, which includes a shaker, a wooden muddler, a jigger, and a strainer, is perfect for the novice or expert mixologist on your list.
Elyx Mini Pineapple Gift Set ($150)
The holidays are all about entertaining and this copper set of mini pineapple cups from Absolut Elyx Vodka are a perfect gift. The fruit is historically a symbol of hospitality. But the best part? Proceeds from the sale will allow charity Water For People to provide a one-month supply of clean drinking water to a single person.
Rabbit Decanter ($100)
This stylish glass decanter will inspire you to start drinking more wine. It sits on an acacia wood and brass coaster for stability and features a high-tech stopper with a built-in micro-perforated strainer and an aerator. Full or empty, it will look great on your cocktail cart.
Yeti Brick Bottle Opener ($50)
There are bottle openers and then there is this limited-edition solid stainless steel Yeti bottle opener. While it may be over-engineered, to say the least, its heft allows you to pop the top of your favorite beer or soda with ease.