The 7 Best Gifts for Vodka Lovers in 2022

Best Overall

Cocktail Kingdom Leopold Weighted Shaking Tins Set, Copper-Plated

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"When it comes to a vodka-adjacent gift, great shakers are ideal because they allow you to get that real, cocktail bar-quality martini." says Hernan Trujilo, head bartender at J.Bespoke. "A shaker will provide you with a perfectly cold martini—and, as an added bonus, a pair of muscles to go with it." 

This set of Boston shakers comprises two 12- and 28-ounce copper-plated stainless steel mixing tins. The containers secure inside each other thanks to a tight natural seal caused by the chilly vodka. 

Cocktail Kingdom’s versions are considered the industry-standard: they are dishwasher-safe and durable enough to last through shift after shift or Martini hour after Martini hour. Perfect for entertaining, the shaker set holds two drinks at a time.

Best Paring Knife

Dalstrong Paring Knife

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“A good quality paring knife really makes your life easier when adding fruit garnishes from oranges, limes, lemons and kiwis to a variety of vodka-based seasonal cocktails,” says Mark Simmonds, the master blender for Broken Shed Vodka. “You will be able to make a twist for a Martini or even cut an orange slice for a vodka neat or vodka soda like a pro. I recommend experimenting and trying different fruit garnishes for various vodka classic cocktails.”

Dalstrong’s paring knife is razor-sharp, with a serrated edge that quickly cuts through tougher citrus peels (even slippery or wet ones). The blade is made with tempered high-carbon German steel while the handle is crafted from black Pakkawood, with a comfort grip for maximum maneuverability. 

Best Ice Cube Tray

Glacio Ice Cube Tray 2-in-1 Combo with Large 2" Square Cubes & Sphere Ball Mold

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“I’d recommend gifting some large ice cube trays to make bigger ice cubes,” advises Chris Hanson, the vodka distiller and winemaker of Hanson of Sonoma. “This will keep the temperature and proof of the vodka a little more consistent while you drink, and will allow the qualities of the vodka to show in a clearer way. This is an easy way to set the stage of enjoying the quality of the vodka on its own, or for a freshly mixed cocktail.”

What’s the difference between a regular ice cube? Using a larger ice cube while shaking or stirring a drink will cause the ice to dilute slower, creating a colder, stronger cocktail. Glacio’s ice cube trays make eight giant ice cubes. The silicone siding enables users to pop out the cubes with ease. 

Related: Best Ice Cube Trays

Best Book

Drinking Like Ladies: 75 modern cocktails from the world's leading female bartenders; Includes toasts to extraordinary women in history

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A book that celebrates today's top female bartenders while simultaneously paying tasty tribute to great women in history? We'll raise a glass to that (and we assure you it won't be a raspberry martini). "Drinking Like Ladies" is a compendium of 75 innovative drink recipes inspired by 75 remarkable and trailblazing women in history—from Hedy Lamarr to Erykah Badu to Ruth Bader Ginsburg—each of whom is honored by an original cocktail contributed by one of today's most notable female mixologists.

Authored by longtime industry professionals Kirsten Amann and Misty Kalkofen, this volume is essential reading for anyone in your life who believes that women's history and delicious cocktails are both topics deserving of thorough study.

Best Mixer

Liquid Alchemist Ginger Syrup

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Most vodka lovers will be familiar with the classic cocktail the Moscow Mule, in which vodka is paired with lime juice and ginger beer (and served in one of those fun copper mugs). The ginger beer can be a real variable, though: some are too sweet, some are too bitter, and if you're not familiar with the brand, it's hard to know what you're getting. Enter the ginger syrup from LA-based producer Liquid Alchemist, which takes the guesswork out by letting you control the sweetness level. Simply swap out the ginger beer for soda water and ginger syrup—they recommend a recipe of 2 oz. vodka, 1 oz. ginger syrup, 0.5 oz. lime, and 2 oz. soda water, but you can adjust the syrup proportion until you find the perfect sweetness level for your palate.

Better still, this ginger syrup is a natural in a number of other cocktails too, from the Gin-Gin Mule and the Dark & Stormy to modern classics like the Penicillin. The home bartender in your life will wonder how they ever got by without it.

Related: The Best Gifts for Cocktail Lovers

Best Vermouth

Regal Rogue Daring Dry Vermouth

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"I would suggest Regal Rogue Daring Dry Vermouth as a great gift for vodka lovers because it makes for a perfect pairing to a dirty Martini,” says Lex Valles-Armand, the lead bartender at Hampton + Hudson in Atlanta's Inman Park neighborhood. 

This unique vermouth is made with sauvignon blanc grapes from Southern Australia, which are distilled with a bouquet of native herbs, including anise myrtle, quandong, thyme, olive leaf, gentian and juniper. “The herbaceousness of the vermouth along with the salinity works wonders,” says Valles-Armand. “If you want to elevate the experience, add blue cheese stuffed olives to the martini." While many vodka lovers prefer to see that spirit’s flavors front-and-center in their Martini, a unique dry vermouth like this makes a case to go 50/50 or even reverse the specs, letting the vermouth take the starring role.

Related: The Best Vermouths