• The martini glass has an iconic shape.martini image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
  
  Making cocktails can be an excellent way to sit back and unwind with friends and family. For some, experimenting with new and classic drinks is a way to reconnect with America's past and exercise their creativity. If you are shopping for a gift for the cocktail lover in your life, you can hardly select a better material than glass. Glass barware is beautiful and will go with whatever the recipient already has in their martini arsenal.
  
  

Whiskey Decanter

• A crystal decanter with a stopper is a traditional method for storing and serving whiskey. A decanter can be strikingly beautiful when filled with the amber spirit, and it looks wonderful on anyone's bar. Some believe that whiskey also tastes better when poured from a decanter. However, commercial whiskey bottles are generally dark to protect the product from sunlight, while decanters are clear. It is usually best to transfer the drink into the decanter just before serving.
  
  

Pitcher and Stirrer

• While a certain fictional super-spy popularized the consumption of shaken martinis, there are certain benefits to selecting the stirred option instead. One of these is that with a large glass pitcher, you can make martinis for several guests at the same time. The second is that a stirred martini is clear, while a shaken one is cloudy. For added effect, couple a gift pitcher with a matching glass stirrer.
  
  

Double-Walled Glassware

• Most cocktail lovers have at least two traditional martini glasses in their collections. While many love the shape of the martini glass, more advanced glassware can enhance one's enjoyment of a drink. Double-walled glassware is available for all standard drink sizes, and helps a cocktail stay cold longer, as well as preventing condensation on the outside, which can ruin a table. Double-walled glassware works for hot drinks as well, keeping them warm longer and preventing burned hands.
  
  

Coffee Press

• Coffee can be used as a flavoring agent for a caffeine-infused martini or for any number of hot cocktails. While the recipient may already own a drip coffee maker, treat them to the richer brew that a glass coffee press can produce. A coffee press allows precise control over coffee extraction, as all of the hot water remains in contact with all of the coffee grounds for only as long as you want. When your brew is ready, push the plunger down to force the coffee grounds to the bottom of the coffee press, then pour the finished coffee out.