THE BEST Drinks

Give a pre-holiday gift to the adult beverage enthusiast in your life. Drinks by the Dram’s spirited advent calendars offer up a delicious and unique assortment for each day of December leading up to Christmas. Choose from whisky, gin, rum, vodka, tequila, and more. Worldwide shipping available from The Whisky Shop.

Washington state’s Bad Dog Distillery crafts this bright and flavorful 90-proof bourbon whiskey, which offers up a light and spicy body, toasty oak notes, and a fragrant aroma reminiscent of a good añejo tequila. Good for sipping or cocktails. Available from BigFish.

Made in Washington state using locally-sourced corn, Nightside Distillery’s 90-proof bourbon is developed and smooth, despite no age statement. It’s got lots of desirable caramel and vanilla notes, and is an easy whiskey for casual sippers looking for something a little bolder than the big name brands. Available from BigFish.

Described as “glassless cocktails,” scotch whiskey maker The Glenlivet’s uniquely packaged booze is sure to raise some eyebrows. Each edible pod is filled with a 23ml whiskey cocktail, offering up a burst of flavor much like taking a shot. While they’re a cool idea, they’re not headed to the US at this point.

This cheeky tiki mug is the first collab between famed Polynesian kitsch carver Danny “Tiki Diablo” Gallardo and cocktail historian Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, proprietor of Latitude 29 in New Orleans, named one of the Top 50 bars the country. The Bora Bora Bum Mug holds 16 ounces and comes in blue, green or orange.

Toast around the campfire or keep warm by the fireplace this winter with a drink from one of these cheeky 16oz. enamel mugs from Swag Brewery. Whether your drink of choice is whiskey, wine, beer, or whatever, there’s a mug for you or your gift recipient of choice.

Winter is coming, putting us in the mood to rewatch Game of Thrones with Johnnie Walker’s two GOT-inspired whiskey imports. Song of Ice represents the north’s House Stark with a single malt from Clynelish, one of Scotland’s northernmost distilleries. Song of Fire salutes House Targaryen with peated malts from the Caol Ila distillery.

Created by Carlo Ratti for Italian energy company ENI, this unique kiosk is designed to show how technology can enable sustainability. Its long, circular rail gradually releases oranges to be juiced, then dries and mills the discarded peels to create a bioplastic filament used by a 3D printer to make biodegradable cups.

In the spirit of full-flavored old-world rums, Hotaling & Co. has added Denizen Vatted Dark Rum to its tasty line-up. The floral blended rum is blended in the old vatted style originally made for the British Navy in the 18th century. Distilled from antique stills, 80% is produced in Guyana, with 20% unaged rhum agricole from Martinique.

Katrin von Niederhäusern and her friend Janine recently visited New Orleans, and while there, they decided to recreate the scene from The Simpsons where Homer goes on an eating and drinking binge around the Crescent City. Somebody needs to start offering this as an official tour.

Mezcal’s come a long way from that junk with a worm in it. Conceived by bohemian artists, Gem & Bolt is a clear 100% Espadin Agave with Damiana herbs for a euphoric “mood-boost.” Produced in Oaxaca, it’s slow roasted and fermented with wild yeasts, and is fair trade and sustainable. Delivered by Reserve Bar and Drizly.

A pair of AUBO i5 robot arms performs a delicate and almost ritualistic process, as it gently scoops Chinese tea leaves, places them in a pot, adds hot water, then pours cups for our enjoyment. The music was so relaxing, we thought we just went for a massage at the spa.

MiiR keeps the tin camping cup’s looks but gives it a couple of welcome upgrades. The 12oz Camp Cup is made of medical grade stainless steel and has double-wall insulation to keep drinks hot or cold. It’s available in three colors.

Ryan Reynolds asks a simple question and offers a simple answer: “How far would I go for my company? The answer is yes.” Watch in awe as the actor and renaissance man takes on whatever it takes to ensure Aviation Gin is the best damned gin he can make. The cameo at the end is priceless.

Coke is a pretty good drink mixer already, but we really like the idea of these bartender-crafted mixers, which add hints of flavors like smoke, wood, spices, and herbs. For the moment, they’re only coming the UK, but we’re hoping to see them stateside at some point.

Cut down on waste and make tea faster and easier with Tea Drops. They are pressed fine tea leaves in solid form, so they don’t need a teabag. Simply drop one in, stir and you’re good to go. They’re available in a wide variety of flavors, as well as in a gift-ready sampler.

This party kit combines two of America’s favorite pastimes – guns and booze. The set comes with two gun-shaped spirit decanters, eight shot glasses, a belt holster, and a padded metal carrying case that’s sure to get you stopped by the TSA if you travel with it.

American law states that vodka should be distilled or treated until it has no “distinctive character, aroma, taste or color.” So why are some vodkas more expensive than others? NPR points us to businessman Sidney Frank.

Beautifully handmade 8 oz. whiskey glasses made from smoked glass that accentuates the amber colors of whiskeys and tequilas. A smooth and wide bottom makes them feel great in the hand. Sold individually, in sets, or with a matching handblown decanter.

Celebrate the end of a day on the slopes with a drink from these stainless shot glasses. They’re designed to temporarily attach to flat surfaces, so you can rig them up on a ski or snowboard for group shots. From the makers of the WhiSki Poles.

Liven up parties and turn champagne into ammo with the Bubbly Blaster. It’s a spray head that fits onto any champagne bottle, letting you spray the bubbly up to 30ft. It also doubles as a stopper. It comes in a variety of colors.

Liven up parties with the Q-bong, a compact and pressurized beer bong. Fill it up with then use the pump to add pressure. Then push the trigger valve when you’re ready to go. It can hold up to 32oz your drink of choice.

The Pretentious Beer & Glass Company creates some of the most awesome handblown drinkware we’ve ever seen. They make a wide variety of unique glasses for beer and cocktails, water carafes, and even a glass which blends two beers. Available as singles or in sets.

Ryan Reynolds goes full Ryan Reynolds in this hilarious promotional spot for his gin company, offering an ever-so-slightly embellished overview of how the spirit is produced. If this doesn’t make you want to try some, we don’t know what will.

Next time your serve up a cocktail, drop a tiny human skull in, then let it gradually melt like the Nazis in Raiders of the Lost Ark. This two-part silicone tray lets you make four 2″ x 2.36″ skulls at a time, and is great not only for water, but for fruit juice, jello, or candy skulls.

Keurig takes its pod technology from making coffee to making cocktails, cider, and sangria. The Drinkworks uses pods that contain all of the ingredients, then chills them to the right temperature and adds the right amount of fizz where appropriate. Currently in limited release.