Creating The Ultimate Festive Gift Box: What To Include For Cocktail Enthusiasts
When the festive season is around the corner, avoid the last-minute scramble of putting gift hampers together by going for the perfect cocktail gift box that can be assembled with a personalised touch rather quickly. Such a festive gift box containing different ingredients, stories, recipe cards and anecdotes around cocktails and their histories is perfect especially for those within the friend and family circle who are bonafide cocktail enthusiasts.
Anyone who likes to learn in detail about mixing drinks or often dabbles in mixology and is fond of comparing the tasting notes of one alcoholic blend with another can fall into this ‘enthusiast’ category. What better gift for such a loved one than a box containing all the necessary ingredients to make drinks, while getting to know their histories?
Here are some of the essentials that can be included in a festive gift box curated specifically for cocktail enthusiasts:
Recipe Cards
Whether they are a budding mixologist or an expert bartender, what every cocktail enthusiast would be curious to know is different recipes for blending interesting drinks. In a festive gift box, be sure to include recipe cards containing a step-by-step guide to prepare conventional as well as lesser known cocktails.
Such a card ought to be complete with precise measurements, garnishing and serving suggestions and a brief note about the drink’s history to make matters more interesting.
The recipe cards can be made using some handy DIY craft hacks or designed and printed out on a fine glossy paper.
Cocktail Mixers
Yet another essential ingredient is different kinds of cocktail mixers which can be used to prepare a variety of drinks. Tonic water, carbonated soda and fruit juices are suitable alternatives as one mixer can be used to concoct at least 2-3 different kinds of cocktails.
Ensure that the cocktail mixers are from the repository of ingredients contained in the recipe cards so that the person receiving the gift box can put all the different elements in it to use.
Cocktail mixers like fruit and veggie juices can also be made and bottled at home for a more personalised touch.
Premium Spirits
Upon jotting down the different recipes that will go into the makings of the recipe card for the gift box, begin sourcing the spirits that will be required to blend those drinks. Generally, whisky, vodka, rum and bourbon are often used in the making of cocktails ranging from martini cocktails to piña coladas to manhattans and cosmopolitans.
Premium spirits add a gourmet touch to the cocktail gift box. Signature spirits are also excellent additions to one’s home bar and an element of the cocktail hamper.
And instead of going for the bulkier bottles, another handy trick is to place mini liquor bottles containing rum or tequila into the gift box so that they can be used to prepare one glass of mojito or a margarita.
Crisps And Snacks
Add a light and crunchy element to the gift box by packing in some peanuts or crisps which will serve as bar bites with the cocktails prepared using the ingredients in the hamper.
The gift box for a cocktail enthusiast should become an all-encompassing container complete with the different elements required to drink and serve cocktails. Snacks or accompanying munchies like wafers, spicy cashews, pretzels or even makhana can be suitable additions.
Glassware
What will give the cocktail gift box another touch of sophistication is glassware which can be used to serve cocktails. Go for highball glasses or cocktail glasses or even rocks glasses that can be employed to present a variety of drinks in an aesthetic way.
The glasses should be suitable for serving whatever cocktails can be prepared using the ingredients available in the gift box, for a more complete finish. Glassware can be accompanied by bar accessories like a muddler or jigger which are essential tools to prepare the drinks.
Do remember that like everything, alcohol is best consumed in moderation. Always drink and serve responsibly!
