Between Christmas and my birthday, I was lucky enough to receive some of the most thoughtful and beautiful pieces to continue building my bar. Here are my favorites from the holiday season.

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one: this gorgeous seamless mixing glass from local Oakland homewares shop Umami Mart—essential for a cocktail stirred, not shaken.

two: Kyle treated me to this fancy bottle of Ardbeg Corryvrecken single malt scotch for Christmas. I’m not typically a scotch drinker, but this one is smoky and complex and could certainly make a believer of me.

three: Liquid Intelligence—a cocktail book with a scientific approach to all things booze. Did you know there’s an actual technique called booze washing, which strips liquor of undesirable flavors? Me neither. I feel smarter already.

four: another awesome cocktail book Death & Co., from a bar of the same name in New York City. The book is written collectively by the speakeasy’s many amazing mixologists, and features stunning pictures and hundreds of unique cocktails.

five: finally! A set of Moscow mule mugs that have been on my wishlist for quite some time. I can’t wait to use them all summer long.

six: my sisters got me this gorgeous wine decanter for my birthday; I’m embarrassed to say I have never owned a decanter (though I have been using this aerator for quite some time and love it). This thing is so pretty it doubles as a work of art.

Not pictured but equally loved: seven: an empire state building cocktail shaker (!); eight: a pair of etched fern coupes.

Your turn! Any great holiday scores I should know about? There’s always room for more, I say.