Spirited Gift Baskets for the Cocktail Lover

For the holidays we all run around trying to find the perfect gift that fits the recipients personality and interests and sometimes it's difficult to find something that fits perfectly. If you're looking for a new idea for a present that has that extra personal touch, put together your own cocktail gift basket. You can choose to include the ingredients for a couple of the person's favorite drinks or introduce them to new cocktails that you enjoy.

Of course you want to include the liquors and mixers for the intended drinks, but you can also add these items for a complete cocktail experience...

• Recipe cards- don't expect them to know what to do with all this stuff
• Rimming sugars or salts- flavored or plain
• Garnishes- olives, maraschino cherries, uncut fruit
• Cocktail picks- something has to skewer those olives
• Cocktail napkins
• Cocktail shaker- mini shakers are the perfect size
• Glassware- glasses complete the basket and remain after the last cocktail is shaken
• Munchies- peanuts, mixed nuts, crackers, popcorn, cookies or desserts

• 1 bottle of your favorite gin or vodka- or a bottle of each for variety
• 1 bottle of dry vermouth- add sweet vermouth for Perfect Martinis
• Olives- blue cheese, jalepeno and garlic stuffed olives are perfect
• Crackers and cheese
• Two cocktail glasses
• Martini recipe

• 1 bottle of your favorite vodka
• 1 bottle of Cointreau or triple sec
• 1 bottle of cranberry juice
• 1 bottle of lime juice
• Oranges and limes
• Cranberry-flavored rimming sugar
• Green grapes
• Mixed nuts
• Two cocktail glasses
• Cosmopolitan and Kamikaze recipes

• 1 bottle of your favorite vodka
• 1 bottle of tomato juice
• 1 bottle of orange juice
• 1 bottle each of Worcestershire and Tabasco sauce
• Small container of celery salt and ground pepper mix
• Celery stalk
• Limes and lemons
• "Just add water" pancake mix
• Maple syrup
• Two highball glasses
• Bloody Mary and Screwdriver recipes

• 1 bottle of your favorite brandy
• 1 bottle of sweet vermouth
• 1 bottle of Angostura bitters
• 1 bottle of simple syrup
• Maraschino cherries
• Crackers, cheese and chocolate covered roasted almonds
• Two cocktail glasses
• Metropolitan and Brandy Manhattan recipes

• 1 bottle of your favorite Scotch
• 1 bottle of Drambuie
• 1 bottle of sweet vermouth
• 1 bottle of Angostura bitters
• Maraschino cherries
• Lemons
• Popcorn and peanuts
• Two old-fashioned glasses
• Rusty Nail and Rob Roy recipes

• 1 bottle of your favorite tequila
• 1 bottle of triple sec (or other orange liqueur)
• 1 bottle of sour mix
• 1 bottle of lime juice
• 1 bottle of orange juice
• Limes
• Lime-flavored sugar and/or salt for rimming
• Tortilla chips and salsa
• Two margarita glasses
• Margarita and Golden Margarita recipes

• 1 bottle of your favorite light rum
• 1 bottle of grenadine
• 1 bottle of lime juice
• 1 bottle of pineapple juice
• 1 bottle of simple syrup
• Limes
• Lime-flavored rimming sugar
• Mixed nuts
• Two cocktail glasses
• Daiquiri, El Presidente and Bacardi Cocktail recipes

Creating these custom gifts can be just as much fun for the giver as it will be for the recipient because it's a chance to put all your creative talents into, well, one basket. Everything that you add can be found in nice packaging if you look hard enough or you can create your own for a personalized touch.

• Look for juices and mixers in cool bottles and avoid things in cartons to prevent leaks or spills.
• Use corked decanters for juices whose packaging is not as attractive as you may like.
• Wrap goodies in colored plastic wrap or choose from the variety of holiday containers that are stocked on store shelves.
• Go to a specialty shop to find distinctly designed glasses.
• Use baskets with handles for easy transport and fill the bottom with tissue paper or crinkled confetti paper.
• Include things you make at home: homemade simple syrup, grenadine, sour mix, Bloody Mary mix, etc.
• Top it off with a big bow and a smile!