Need a little assistance selecting showstopping home bar gifts for the bibulous bon viveur in your life? You’re in luck—the experts at Mary Jurek Design curated a handy guide to choosing the perfect present for any libation station.
Whether you’re shopping for a casual sipper who enjoys the occasional apéritif or a zealous mixologist who shakes and stirs in their sleep, you’re sure to find a special gift that’ll lift their spirits (in more ways than one).
If you really want your present to pop, skip the chintzy, cliche home bar novelties that always end up collecting dust. The best home bar gift ideas combine form, function, and quality. Even if they already own the item, anyone would appreciate an upgrade.
In this guide, we’re not just going to suggest a laundry list of products—an approach that’s all too common these days. Instead, we’re going to discuss ways that home bar pieces can be used and highlight their unique benefits so you can make an informed decision. Cheers!
1. Cool Ice Accessories
Ice is a cocktail ingredient that’s often underappreciated. Much more than merely frozen water, ice plays a vital role in ensuring that the concoction’s flavor profiles and textures come through properly.
As far as home bar gift ideas go, ice itself isn’t a great one. However, ice accessories like ice buckets, ice scoops, and ice tongs make superb home bar gifts because many home bar owners still use their freezer and ice trays as their go-to ice source.
Even if you’re shopping for someone who does own ice accessories, there’s a very high chance that they’re not using heirloom-quality pieces. And it never hurts to have some spares on hand, especially when they double as attractive décor.
We offer exquisite, handcrafted ice accessories that exude exceptional beauty, quality, and luxury. You’ll find matching ice bucket and ice scoop sets in our Orion, Tundra, Sierra, and Helyx collections. Any of these home bar gift ideas would delight even the most discerning connoisseurs.
2. Classy Coasters
Coasters make wonderful gifts for the same reason as ice accessories—they’re crucial to the home bar experience. But because of their utilitarian nature, they’re often overlooked as part of the spread. And, even if they already own some nice coasters, you can never have too many.
Practical gifts don’t need to be mundane! A set of stunning coasters really ties a home bar together and gives the overall experience that extra touch of class. Sometimes, minor details can majorly elevate one’s lifestyle.
If you’re intrigued by these home bar gift ideas, have a look at our Paloma, Santa Fe, Gingko, and Kenya collections. Our coasters are available in a variety of distinctive styles, and the craftsmanship is second to none.
3. A Collection of Cocktail Crafting Components
High-quality bar tools make excellent home bar gifts, especially if you give a set of all the essentials. You may want to take a peek at their home bar to see what they’re currently working with. But either way, nobody’s going to scoff at better versions of what they own!
Many home mixologists acquire various tools individually over time. Their collection doesn’t have a uniform look, but they’re not willing to replace everything at once. Sometimes, the best home bar gift ideas are items they wouldn’t normally buy for themselves.
Beyond providing them with an aesthetic upgrade, most mass-produced bar tools degrade with use. So, brand new, handcrafted tools that are made to last a lifetime will certainly be appreciated.
Our Cosmo bar set is a favorite among our customers for its sturdy construction and appealing mid-century design. The set includes a jigger, bottle opener, stirring spoon, and cocktail strainer, all stored neatly in an attractive acacia wood base.
4. Stylish Serving Trays
Serving trays are the unsung heroes of serveware. They’re remarkably versatile and frequently ignored as crucial home bar accessories. As you brainstorm home bar gift ideas, consider the endless ways that serving trays and platters can be utilized.
When hosting guests, serving trays make transporting a round of drinks from point A to B an effortless affair. On a lazy morning, breakfast in bed alongside a Bloody Mary will be a welcome sight, especially when served on one of your home bar gifts!
A tray also makes the perfect base to keep the whole home bar setup organized. Or, use them to serve charcuterie, tea sandwiches, shrimp cocktail, cheese and crackers, or other cocktail-friendly accouterments when feeling peckish after a few drinks.
5. The Perfect Pitcher
Pitchers are multipurpose pieces that don’t always get their due credit. As far as home bar gift ideas go, you really can’t go wrong with a premium pitcher. They can be used for self-serve mixed drinks at soirées and everyday hydration, but that’s just the start.
The right pitcher can elevate the space as functional décor. Many of our customers adore using our breathtaking pitchers as vases for fresh blooms or simply as standalone decorations.
These multifunctional home bar essentials can be incorporated into a home bar (or simply a home) in endless ways. So they’re a great choice if you’re not quite sure what type of barware the person you’re shopping for already owns.
6. Bottle Totes and Chillers
You may want to think beyond cocktails as you search for home bar gift ideas. Many home bar owners also enjoy other libations, such as wine and Champagne.
A bottle chiller is a handy item they may not realize they need until they have it. Especially helpful for busy hosts, bottle chillers do what their name suggests—chill bottles! Instead of running back and forth to the fridge, just keep the bottle cold in a prime location.
Similarly, wine totes also make wonderful home bar gifts, especially for those who enjoy bringing their vino on the go. Our Durango collection features high-end wine totes handcrafted from responsibly sourced leather.
7. A Lovely Bottle of Liquor
If you’re really stuck coming up with home bar gift ideas, a bottle of quality spirits is always a safe bet. However, we highly recommend including this with another gift, rather than making it the star of the show.
While any home bar owner would appreciate having another bottle in the collection, it’s a gift flawed by impermanence. Once it’s consumed, the memories fade with time. Pairing the bottle with a stainless steel bar accessory ensures your thoughtful gift is cherished for life.
Besides liquor, some other great add-on gifts include cocktail syrups, bitters, and pre-made mixers. Don’t worry if you’re not sure about the recipient’s preferences. Even if they don’t use it themselves, a well-stocked bar will surely please their guests.
8. Glorious Glassware
Glasses can be good or bad home bar gift ideas. Low-quality glassware really just adds to the clutter. So, if you’re going to give glasses, go for quality over quantity. One nice glass is a much better gift than a dozen mediocre glasses.
For these home bar gifts, we recommend choosing specialized glasses, as there’s no doubt that the home bar owner already has the basics covered. For example, a whiskey snifter or martini glass would be much more useful than another pint glass.
9. Beautiful Bowls
Cocktails are often accompanied by garnishments, like citrus slices, maraschino cherries, olives, salt, and so much more. Naturally, these accouterments need a home.
Bowls make outstanding home bar gift ideas because the recipient will have a dedicated bowl just for their home bar. It’s a quality-of-life improvement that may seem trivial, but really makes a difference in the overall experience.
Instead of running to the kitchen cabinets every time they want to enjoy a cocktail with the fixings, they’ll have their cocktail bowl ready to go.
Of course, if you choose this gift, don’t give them any old cereal bowl! Select bowls that offer timeless visual appeal, a pleasant heft and handfeel, and quality that lasts for life.
10. Fancy Flatware
When thinking about home bar gifts, consider high-end flatware. Many people overlook the importance of having dedicated bar flatware and end up using whatever is available in their kitchen drawer when it’s cocktail hour. By gifting high-quality flatware specially designed for the bar, you’ll be elevating your loved one’s bartending experience.
From sleek cocktail spoons to elegant tongs, there are many flatware options to choose from when it comes to home bar gift ideas. Consider shopping pieces that are not only functional but also enhance the aesthetic appeal of their home bar.
Explore Home Bar Gifts at Mary Jurek Design
These gifts will get you started on your quest to find the perfect present, but we highly recommend taking the time to peruse our extensive collection of unique barware for more inspiration.
All Mary Jurek Design products are functional masterworks of handcrafted art and are made to last for life and be passed down to the next generation. No matter what you choose, you can be confident that your gift will be the most impressive!
For more home bar gift ideas, browse our tableware blog. Celebrate any and every occasion with handcrafted serveware by Mary Jurek Design!
