How to Make Ready to Drink Cocktails & Cocktail Kits

Here is my procrastinator’s Guide to Gift Giving - Make ready to drink cocktails and cocktail kits for great last-minute gifts that use what you probably have already around the house plus one trip to the liquor store, which is usually open late and sometime on holidays! 

Pre-batched cocktails have been a big trend in cocktail bars and restaurants for several years. The pros typically make large batches of cocktails and store and even age them in small casks. Now, home bartending enthusiasts can get in on the trend and can easily pre-batch (or pre-make) classic cocktails at home using their favorite spirits, a few empty bottles and good well balanced all-spirit based cocktail recipes. For last-minute gifts, I downsized the trend to make two person serving-sized cocktails in small 6 oz. bottles and giving them as gifts. The small size makes great gifts for the holidays or every days! You can use any price level spirit they’d like and who’s to know if you used high-priced whisky over a bargain brand

Choose Classic cocktails that don’t have perishable ingredients that require refrigeration. Manhattans, Classic Martinis and Negronis are ideal for this project, Addison says. Just add a gift tag with the name of the drink and you’re set.

LAST MINUTE GIFTS: READY TO DRINK COCKTAILS

Supplies:

5 oz Sauce Bottles

100 ml Flask Bottles

8 oz Mason Jars

4 oz Jam Jars

Dissolvable Labels

Hang Tags

Mini Funnels

Cocktail Party Mixing Glass

Small Mesh Bags

4x6 Recipe Cards

GIN MARTINI FOR TWO

Ingredients:

5 oz. Gin

1 oz. Extra Dry Vermouth

2 cocktail olives

Directions:

Combine the ingredients except olives in a mixing glass and stir to combine. Funnel the cocktail into a small bottle or jar.  Insert olives (cut in half if too large for the bottle opening).  Label with a hang tag or dissolvable canning label. 

NEGRONI FOR TWO

Ingredients:

2 oz. gin

2 ounces red amaro; Campari, Aperol or Select Aperitivo

2 ounces sweet vermouth

Dried orange slice

Directions:

Combine the ingredients except orange slices in a mixing glass, stirring to combine. Funnel the cocktail into a small bottle or jar. Place dried orange slices in a small mesh bag and attach it to the bottle/jar with a rubber band.  Label with a hang tag or dissolvable canning label.   

MANHATTAN FOR ONE:

Ingredients:

2 oz Rye Whiskey or Bourbon

1 oz. Sweet vermouth

1 cherry

Directions:

Combine the ingredients except the cherry in a mixing glass and stir to combine. Funnel the cocktail into a small bottle or jar.  Insert cheery (cut in half if too large for the bottle opening).  Label with a hang tag or dissolvable canning label. 

LAST MINUTE GIFTS: COCKTAIL KITS

Supplies:

Gift Bags

Gift Boxes

Tissue Paper

Crinkle Paper

4x6 Recipe Cards

Resealable Cellophane Bags

CLASSIC MARGARITA COCKTAIL KIT

 Ingredients:

100 ml bottle of Tequila

100 ml Bottle of Orange Liqueur

4 oz of Agave Nectar

2 Limes

2 Tbsp. Flaky Salt

Instructions:

Put agave nectar in a small 4-oz jar and label. Put salt in a resealable bag and label.  Place all of the ingredients in a gift bag or gift box lined with tissue paper and or crinkle paper. Insert recipe card (see the recipe below)

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GREEN MOUNTAIN MULE COCKTAIL KIT

 Ingredients:

100 ml bottle of vodka

3.5-oz bottle of maple syrup

6-oz bottle of ginger beer

2 limes

Instructions:

Place all of the ingredients in a gift bag or gift box lined with tissue paper and or crinkle paper. Insert recipe card (see the recipe below)

ICED IRISH COFFEE COCKTAIL KITS (not shown in video)

Ingredients:

8-oz can/bottle cold brew coffee

Mini Bottle of Irish Whiskey

Mini Bottle of Irish Cream

4 oz. Mini Marshmallows

Instructions:

Place marshmallows in a small resealable bag and label.  Place all of the ingredients in a gift bag or gift box lined with tissue paper and or crinkle paper. Insert recipe card (see the recipe below)