18 Chilled, Shaken, and Exquisite Gifts for the Bar

In case any part of you still feels that glamour and success look like the 1980s, this tray will satisfy your yen. Equally at home on the set of *Falcon Crest *or at a wealthy client’s home in *Magnum P.I., *this Vanity Mirror Tray in Bronze ($375) is like furniture for your bar. Any tabletop, counter, bed, or tub-side surface is instantly transformed into an oasis of civility.

Use this trough ($810) to ice down champagne and Oregonian whites. Nothing says, “Oh, this old thing,” like barn equipment. But this horse bucket is Hermes, so who are you kidding? It’s chic. Perfect for your private human watering hole.

Bourbon and The Force? Fantastic! Cosmic! This Darth Vader silicone mold from Williams Sonoma ($20 for a set of two) will fortify whatever you’re having with alpha-nerdery.

When it comes to ice in your cocktail, bigger is better. Larger cubes melt more slowly, keeping your drink stiffer. This set of two latex ice cube trays ($17) makes 16 large cubes at a time. The perfect foil for low maintenance holiday clinking.

Ah, the proverbial punch bowl—site of chance meetings and shared cheer. This etched glass, gold lipped version ($72) from Williams-Sonoma is perfect for the traditionalist. Mouth blown from soda-lime glass, it holds eight quarts of eggnog or spiked punch. Set it up on the bar and ladle out the Dickensian vibes.

Bitters are having a renaissance—have you seen our Editor-in-Chief’s signature cocktail, the Trinidad sour? Barkeep's flavored tinctures will give your concoction a familiar kick (try vanilla or lavender) or add a whiff of the exotic (Chinese spice, saffron, or baked apple).

Little says entertaining-in-style more than a linen cocktail napkin. This deck of hand embroidered playing card numbers ($360 for a set of eight) will up your party game.

These black and white hand thrown ceramics by artist Frances Palmer are the perfect objets d’art for the bar. Footed bowls ($375-395) hold flowers, lemons, or even potato chips with poetry.

This whisky decanter and black tray ($99) have the off-handed cool of a t-shirt (like on James Dean—not a Google tee on a brogrammer). The combo will smarten up any bar with dark utilitarian charm.

These light-as-air glasses are super-fine—literally. Available in three sizes, the thin verres are as inexpensive as party favors ($1.50 to $2.50 each), made in Poland, and dishwasher safe. They will add delicacy to your service when pouring for guests, and they'll do the same when you're by yourself.

What is more handsome on a bar than a generous slab of wood? Perfectly shaped, the clean lines of this Silvia Song double dovetail end grainbutcher block ($340 or $475) make it both minimalist and earthy. Set up with a dope Japanese blade to carve up citrus. Or place a morsel of Devil’s Gulch on top for well placed snack-age. This unseasoned Dutch maple is 2.5 inches thick and comes in either 7.5, 9 or 10.5-inch square.

Before the word mixologist was a job description and way before the word “infusion” became commonplace, there was a visionary named Sasha Petraske. He opened a real speakeasy (obviously way before* that* was a thing) in New York called Milk and Honey. There were Moscow Mules, rye, and everything was exquisite. It was heaven. Sasha passed on a few years ago, too early. But he left this tome describing his art form, which was grounded in exacting taste, and nothing less than perfection. $30

Bar rags—as they are known in the trade—are a barman’s best friend. These natural linen, super-absorbent versions are anything but ragged, with whimsical embroideries from New York based Coral & Tusk ($42). They are beautiful enough to display. Choose from an evil eye, forest animals in pyramid formation, or any number of feathers. Super vibe-y all around.

Handmade by Portland, Oregon-based knife crafter Adam Sigal, this short bar knife ($275) is designed for cutting garnishes quickly and safely. The super sharp stiff blade has a smooth wooden handle, and comes encased in its own wooden sleeve.

Shaken not stirred. These cocktails are the sexiest kind. Serve drinks up with theUsagi, which comes shiny in plated gold or copper, or pure stainless steel ($42 to $77). Shaker parts designed to separate easily after vigorous agitation.

Don’t let a corkscrew lower your bar. The RBTwinged bottle opener ($50) is handsome and sleek in black and gold--made with carbon steel and zinc. How does it work? Leverage. When it comes to removing corks, lo-tech is best.