STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

curiouscookie · BCBG

Martini Set

mikacat · Coach

maybe williams sonoma for the shaker and to look at the glasses. Riedel glasses are really nice. They carry them at Williams sonoma or any nice wine shop. Target even has a lower end line now and they are pretty nice. a martini book and some nice sapphire bomby gin or vox or grey goose vodka, whichever he likes.

http://www.riedel.com/website/english/frameset/homeenglish/collections/collections.html

Marg · Kenneth Cole

These are fun. A different twist on the martini glass. Really heavy and nice and they come with the wooden tray. Keeps your martini really cold too!

Redenvelope.com $55 and great customer svc.

e_doli · Dooney & Bourke

OMG that sounds just like my boyfriend -- analyzing how each shaker works to find the best one. i would just be like, "that one looks cute ..."

Crate and barrel had a really good martini recipe book that i bought a few months ago for a martini obsessed friend. they had a lot of really interesting and unusual recipes that actually sounded good.

In addition to the shaker, glasses and book, you could do cocktail napkins, those little charms that you put on the glasses to mark whose is whose, jars of gourmet olives and/or cocktail onions (like jalapeno stuffed olives, marinated onions -- maybe try sur la table for those), that sugar you put on the rims of glasses (sur la table has it too), an ice bucket that matches the shaker/glasses, tray to put the stuff on, bar towels, then of course bottles of whatever kind of liquor he likes.

Eurodaisy · Dooney & Bourke

I LOVE this, what a great idea! I bet your engineer bf would get a kick out of it... I hate having to drink my martini fast, since warm martinis are yucky

As for a shaker, I can't recommend a particular brand or anything (I got mine at Wal-Mart, and it works find for me), but maybe you could stop by a nice bar on the way home from work and do a little "research"... order a Cosmo and ask the bartender about where to find good barware.

bumblebee · Coach

you probably already know this, but don't get a glass shaker--the metal is much better (keeps it colder) and won't break. i learned this the hard way by shattering a glass one all over my kitchen, but i have seen more and more glass ones in the stores again lately.

curiouscookie · BCBG

Thanks for all the great suggestions..
I really love that one too! - suggested by lovestoshop

I like the idea of picking bartender's brain. Thanks Eurodaisy!

I have to admit - I don't drink too much and now that I've mulled this over am a little confused whether BF love Margaritas or Martinis

I feel like such a "duffus"!

To make up for it am going to see if I can bring it up in conversation to confirm. I am going on a big shopping trip this weekend (mall 30mins away), I've had good luck with Marshall's getting some quality items - but right now the one by me hasn't got anything interesting - otherwise will check out Williams and Sonoma and the mall dept stores for a good shaker.

I think my buys will be
a good shaker (spend the most on that, since it gives him so much joy

)
glasses (RedEnvelope, Marshalls, Homegoods, Pier 1, One World Market, Target)
cute cocktail picks (Same places as glasses)
Martini themed cheese tray (found the other day)
Necessary alcohol
Condiments

bumblebee · Coach

that sounds like an awesome gift--he will be thrilled! i am sure you are right that it's martinis and not margaritas, because you don't really need a shaker for margaritas--they are pretty closely related to martinis.