If you are looking for a great gift for that bartender on your list, chances are you have already stumbled onto many bartender-themed websites. Overall, gifts for bartenders are not very common specialty items, but with patience, it is possible to find several excellent gift ideas online. If all else fails, consider the bartender’s personality and go from there.
There are three instances of bartender for whom you might want to purchase a bartender themed holiday gift. In one instance, you personally know a person who happens to be a bartender as their personal job and you want to give a gift that recognizes that career. Another instance is when you frequent a bar and would like to give a gift to the bartender you see on a regular business, even though you may never see him outside his bar. The third is when you have a friend or family member who actually owns a home bar and likes to treat acquaintances to his bartending prowess.
Here are Ten well-appreciated gifts for Bartenders.
1. Joke Book – The New York City Bartender’s Joke Book by Jimmy Pritchard is a neat book full of “A man walks into a bar. . .” type jokes. Written by a bartender for bartenders, this collection has over 400 side-splitting jokes collected over twenty years of tending bar. 192 pages, this book is available on websites where most books are sold online like Amazon.
2. Bartender Magazine Subscription – A subscription to Bartender Magazine is the gift of four issues chock full of bartending information, pointers, and fun articles. Bartender Magazine is $30 for United States addresses, $45 for Canada, and $60 for all foreign subscriptions. With the subscription, your bartender will receive a free membership card, a t-shirt, a cocktail book, a membership in US Bartender, and discounts for bar stuff like shakers, art, towels, and other bartender goodies. Your favorite bartender will have to be part of the ordering process because they require all readers to be at least the legal drinking age to receive Bartender Magazine.
3. Bartender Definition T-shirt – This black t-shirt is one of the most enjoyable holiday gifts you can give to a dedicated bartender. It comes in five sizes, including a very generous XXXL and costs $20 – $25. Available from bartender.com, the shirt’s logo is basically a humorous definition set up like a dictionary entry. It says: Bartender
n. One who mixes and serves alcoholic
beverages from behind a bar.
Not to be confused with: taxi driver; chef;
Loan officer; marriage counselor; doctor;
Matchmaker; babysitter or psychiatrist. A martini glass with a red bow tie accents the shirt, which is the perfect gift for any bartender.
4. Personalized Shaker – For an ornate gift item perfect for any bartender to use at home, consider a personalized shaker and / or martini set from Personalized Creations. For $24.95 (glasses sold separately) you can by a stunning clear glass shaker with a personalization of up to twelve characters. Shaker has a capacity of 16 ounces, and has an olive and “Martini Bar” motif.
5. Bucket bar – If your favorite bartender moonlights on their days off for private parties, the bucket bar is a convenient and handy gift. This item is a 5-gallon bucket fitted with an insulated ice compartment, plenty of pockets for alcohol, 4 drink flasks, an inexpensive cocktail shaker, 25 plastic glasses, some margarita salt, strainer, ice tongs, cocktail straws, wine bottle opener, cutting board, some sword picks, and a guide full of drink recipes. Just add some cocktail monkeys like those available from The Perpetual Kid, and you’re ready to share your really cheap bar.
6. Shotcha Bandolir – A lot of bartenders have expressed wanting this whimsical novelty pouch and bandolier set. It is a bandolier style chest strap that holds six shotgun shell-shaped shot glasses. The pouch is perfect for a bottle of tequila. For Wild West themed bar parties or just entertaining a few friends at home, this item is really funny. Top it off with a cowboy hat, and you have transformed your favorite bartender into a merciless bandito. (Just kidding, of course.) $89.99 from After 5.
7. Knife – For a professional collectible, consider the Case 6.5 Bone Stag Bartender’s Knife. This knife is simple with a jigged stag handle, nickel silver bolsters, and an inlay shield. The spear, pen and foil blade, and corkscrew are made of stainless steel. This knife replaces the retired Jade bone version. Hen & Rooster also carries a Bartender’s Knife which looks a little more sleek than the case version. The Hen & Rooster Knives 169BT Hen & Rooster 160th Anniversary Bartender’s Knife also contains a spear, pen and foil blade, and corkscrew, but this knife has a white enael handle and Stanhope lens with anniversary artwork to celebrate Hen & Rooster’s 160th.
8. Bartender set – Cooking.com carries several very nice bar sets for your favorite bartender to use at home. The OXO Bar Tool Set is a seven piece set of bar tools, including a strainer, spoon, jigger, citrus knife, bottle opener, cutting board, and stand. The set is quite clean looking and sleek. Pieces are much sturdier than other stainless steel sets of similar design.
9. Corkscrew – the Metrokane Rabbit Corkscrew with Foil Cutter and extra spiral is a sturdy, compact, convenient bar tool that every bartender should have. For around $39.95 from stores like Cutlery and More, Each Metrokane Rabbit Corkscrew comes with a ten year warranty. Its design is no less than genius with metal teeth and gears and an ergonomic design that can open any size of wine bottle. The Metrokane Rabbit Corkscrew is described with the ability to pull a cork in three seconds flat and then automatically release that cork, as tested in 20,000 pulls by an independent lab.
10. Bar towels – Bar rags are a nice gift for bartenders who tend their own bar. You can buy an economical pack from KegWorks for just $12.95 for a dozen white towels with a yellow stripe. These towels are 19 x 16, and are perfect for cleaning up messes and spills. Consider getting them monogrammed for an even more personalized gift. KegWorks also carries neat bar towel holders for $3.99 for a set of three, so towels will always be where you need them. Want a vintage look for your bartender? Consider purchasing an Ayinger bar towel. These well-made 18″ x 9 1/5″ towels say Beer in four languages. These towels are actually used similarly to coasters under a fresh pint or pitcher.
Whatever gift you consider for your favorite bartender, we wish you a happy and safe holiday.
