2018's Best Boozy Gifts Are So Good, Your Friends Will Raise a Glass in Thanks

Liquor in clever packaging makes an even better gift than a basic bottle, and Highland Park Full Volume ($118) is aged in ex-bourbon casks, and comes in a box inspired by guitar amps.

The Essential New York Times Book of Cocktails ($18) looks great alongside retro barware.

The distillery behind NOLET'S Silver Dry Gin ($49) has been run by the same Dutch family for 11 generations. Yet it's a truly fresh take on the gin, even for the most experienced connoisseur.

For people who really, really love gin, The Spirit of Gin: A Stirring Miscellany of the New Gin Revival ($25) by Matt Teacher is great for reading or resting cocktails on.

When drinkers need a break from drinking, they can sip on Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All, With Cocktails, Recipes, and Formulas ($21) by Brad Thomas Parsons.

Hands down the best vermouth for a Manhattan, Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth ($26) is worth every penny.

From the New York speakeasy that started the speakeasy craze, the PDT Cocktail Book ($21) reveals quality bartender secrets.

This sophisticated Twig Bar Spoon ($8) is a step up from plastic cocktail stirrers stolen from hotel bars.

Vintage Cocktails ($34) by Laziz Hamani makes a great coffee table book — or should I say, bar top book?

For the DIY-er drinker in your life, why not gift a Hella Bitter Craft Your Own Bitter Kit ($40)?

Every kickass bartendress deserves a copy of The Craft Cocktail Party: Delicious Drinks For Every Occasion ($15) by Julie Reiner, owner of the Clover Club in Manhattan.

For obvious reasons, Winter Cocktails ($17) by Maria del Mar Sacasa, would be a great gift during the holiday season.

For the bartender with a sense of humor, the Kate Spade Two of a Kind "Less/More" Jigger ($20) also looks great on top of a home bar.

For your quirky and artsy drinking friends, may we suggest this Kikkerland Spray Can Cocktail Shaker ($23)?

A good bartender knows the importance of proper glassware, and these Crafthouse by Fortessa Set of Four Tritan Crystal Collins Glasses ($60) up the chic level.

The midcentury look of this Hotel Collection Bar Cart ($230, originally $385) is just part of its charm; the three-tiered design also makes it very practical.

Why go for a predictable silver cocktail shaker when you can have one in rose gold, like this Brouk & Co Shake 'Em Up Cocktail Shaker ($27, originally $80)?

Decanters come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but I'm partial to this cheeky Gift Boutique Hard Stuff Decanter ($60).

The etched palm design on this William Yeoward Palmyra Cocktail Jug with Stirrer ($290) adds an unexpected twist.

Not only does this Nambe Mikko Ice Bucket ($108) look super cool, but the tongs fit right into the lid.

Avoid tacky straws and plastic waste with a set of four HIC Stainless Steel Drink Straws ($7).

People who drink tequila really like tequila, so why not give them a bottle that's a collector's item? In a nod to Mexican art deco, the Patrón 2017 Limited Edition 1 Liter Bottle ($58) is intricately decorated with a handcrafted pewter label.

This entertaining read is a must-have for any cocktail-lover. Imbibe ($19) by David Wondrich covers the early history of bartending in America, which will provide the reader with fun facts to bring up at cocktail parties.

Even the greatest drinkers among us need a break now and then, hence The Art of the Shim: Low-Alcohol Cocktails to Keep You Level ($25) by Dinah Sanders.