CHER CHECCHIO FOR TASTE OF HOME
CHER CHECCHIO/TASTE OF HOME
Pros:
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Nearly 50 different kits to choose from
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Choose from a one-time purchase or monthly subscription
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Comes with everything (minus the alcohol)
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Able to repurchase past boxes and ingredients until they sell out
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Easy-to-send gifting options
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Able to swap out upcoming boxes that don't appeal to you
Shaker and Spoon offers dozens of cocktail kits for both master mixers and budding bartenders alike. Their library of boxes covers a range of spirits, from rum to champagne and everything in between. Choose from one of their ready-made boxes, or opt for their monthly subscription if you’re interested in trying new mixers and garnishes each month. While the boxes don’t include alcohol, you can head over to Curiada and snag the Shaker and Spoon recommended selections for each box there. Or, use your favorite brands instead.
“As a budding mixologist, I was truly blown away by the attention to detail included inside this Ginspirations cocktail kit from Shaker and Spoon,” says Shopping Editor Madi Koetting. “Gin typically isn’t my spirit of choice, so I chose this kit to better understand what ingredients pair well with the liquor and sharpen my gin-based cocktail chops,” adds Madi.
CHER CHECCHIO FOR TASTE OF HOME
“The box arrived with all the ingredients and recipe cards for mixing three different cocktail recipes to serve two people (minus the gin, of course). It’s the special details like salted nori extract and lavender bitters spray that truly made it feel like I was sipping drinks in a high-end cocktail lounge,” Madi says. How’s that for the best cocktail kits?
It’s also the perfect pick for newbies in the cocktail space. “I never would have thought to put some of these ingredients together, so it was nice to have these options to mix up my rum cocktails, especially as a Jamaican,” says former Shopping Editor, Cher Checchio, who tried the Born to Rum kit.
Why You Should Consider a Cocktail Kit
While most cocktail kits don’t arrive with any alcohol due to complications shipping over state lines, they make up for that omission by offering high quality ingredients or specialty tools. Because these kits come prearranged with a mélange of items for making one or more specialty cocktails, they simulate the experience of enjoying a drink at a fancy lounge—without leaving the house. They also make fantastic birthday gifts.
Both experienced mixologists and beginner bartenders benefit from trying out a cocktail kit, according to craft cocktail savant Lynnette Marrero. “The items you get in the cocktail kits tend to be a little more bespoke,” she says. “They are generally custom syrups or mixers and the cocktails can be very creative. Companies like Shaker and Spoon curate cocktails from Bartenders across the US and you can see some really cool combinations.”
What to Look for When Buying Cocktail Kits
Quality of Ingredients
The best cocktail kits offer shelf-stable ingredients and often feature unique inclusions like small-batch or boutique items not found at regular grocery stores. This makes them perfect for home mixologists looking to experiment. As Marrero suggests, “Look for items you can’t usually buy for yourself. Kits that allow for a variety of cocktails are my go-to.”
Contents of the Kit
Many kits come with not only ingredients and recipe cards but also essential barware, such as:
- Shaker: Mixes ingredients with ice for a smooth blend.
- Jigger: Measures precise spirit amounts.
- Strainer: Filters out ice or fruit pulp when pouring.
- Stirrer: Mixes ingredients without over-diluting.
Ensure any tools included are durable, preferably made from stainless steel, to make following the recipes easier and more enjoyable.
Variety & Versatility
Consider your drinking preferences. Some kits offer a wide range of cocktails, while others focus on a specific type:
- For beginners: Opt for kits with various cocktail options to explore.
- For advanced users: Choose specialized kits focused on a favorite spirit, such as gin or whiskey, to experiment with different drinks.
Aesthetic Appeal & Packaging
The presentation matters, especially if you’re gifting a cocktail kit. Sleek packaging and quality extras like barware can elevate a kit. Unless you know the recipient’s drink preference for gifting, it’s best to choose kits that cover a range of spirits.
Price & Value
Prices typically range from $30 to $150, depending on the complexity of the kit and ingredient quality. Kits offering reusable tools or recipe cards provide extra value, ensuring they’re cost-effective even after the ingredients are used.
Ease of Use
For beginners, choose kits that include clear, step-by-step instructions. Some kits even label tools for easy identification, making the experience more user-friendly and enjoyable.
Why You Should Trust Us
As Taste of Home’s resident food and drink expert, Emily Way has tasted everything from the best fruit clubs to cookie of the month clubs and beyond. Combined, our team has decades of experience testing and evaluating everything from the best cleaning subscriptions to coffee clubs and baking boxes. While choosing inclusions for the best cocktail kits, we focused on finding options that not only offer gourmet inclusions and a ton of variety, but also a solid bang for our buck.
To inform this piece on the best cocktail kits, we consulted Lynnette Marrero, a renowned bartending guru and craft cocktail expert, for her insights on what makes a great cocktail kit. Marrero is the co-creator of the Speed Rack international inclusive women’s bartending competition, a MasterClass Mixology teacher and the mixologist behind JLo’s ready-to-drink Delola beverages.
Paul Rankin, Content Updates Editor at Taste of Home, updated and contributed research to this article. Paul is a former commerce editor at Bob Vila and has written shopping guides since 2021.
How We Found the Best Cocktail Kits
With many cocktail kits available, narrowing down the best options required careful research and testing. To create this list, we started by reviewing 30 cocktail kits, focusing on value, skill level and the variety of ingredients and tools included. We then tested the top 16 kits to see how well they performed in real-life settings.
During testing, we considered the typical tools and ingredients found in the average home bar, ensuring that each kit was practical and easy to use. After crafting and sampling more than 20 different drinks, we compiled a list of the best cocktail kits for gifting, exploring and enjoying at home.
FAQs
What are the 10 most popular cocktails?
The top cocktails you’ll often find on a menu are:
- Old Fashioned
- Margarita
- Cosmopolitan
- Espresso Martini
- Martini
- Spritz (not just Aperol!)
- Dirty Martini
- Negroni
- Manhattan
- Mimosa
What do you need in a cocktail making kit?
In addition to the liquid ingredients, the essential tools you’ll need for making quality cocktails at home include:
- Cocktail shaker
- Jigger
- Strainer
- Muddler
- Bar spoon
What is a cocktail smoking kit?
A cocktail smoking kit is designed to infuse your drinks with a smoky flavor. Most kits include wood chips burned under a dome or cover, allowing the drink to absorb the smoke for a unique flavor twist.