Cocktail Crates: A UK Online Shop for Cocktail Gift Sets, Subscription Boxes and At-Home Mixology

Some gifts are easy.

Chocolate.

Flowers.

A bottle of wine.

And then there are gifts that make somebody open the box and immediately think:

“Right. Tonight has just become considerably more interesting.”

That is very much the territory of Cocktail Crates.

Cocktail Crates is a specialist UK online shop selling cocktail gift boxes designed to bring a little bar-style fun into the home. Instead of simply sending somebody a bottle of spirits and leaving them to work out the rest, the company creates curated cocktail kits containing the ingredients and instructions needed to mix a particular drink.

The current range stretches from familiar favourites such as the Espresso Martini, Pornstar Martini, Margarita, Piña Colada and Old Fashioned to more unusual creations, mocktail boxes and premium packages combining drinks with charcuterie or pampering products.

If your idea of UK online shopping involves finding gifts that are a little more entertaining than yet another scented candle, Cocktail Crates is certainly worth a browse.

👉 Visit Cocktail Crates and explore the latest cocktail gift boxes

What Is Cocktail Crates?

Cocktail Crates is a UK-focused online retailer specialising in cocktail gift sets and cocktail subscription boxes delivered around the UK.

The idea behind the business is simple: take the ingredients and instructions involved in making a good cocktail and package them into a convenient box that can be enjoyed at home.

Cocktail Crates says its expert mixologists develop cocktail recipes, while the boxes themselves can contain the required spirits, flavourings, spices and other ingredients.

That means you do not necessarily need:

A fully stocked drinks cabinet
Professional bartending experience
A mysterious collection of bottles containing ingredients you will never use again
The ability to flip a cocktail shaker dramatically behind your back

You simply choose a cocktail, follow the instructions and start mixing.

Much less intimidating.

And considerably less likely to end with somebody cleaning tequila from the ceiling.

Bringing Cocktail-Making Home

The central idea behind Cocktail Crates is at-home mixology.

Cocktails can feel complicated because one drink may require several ingredients, some of which are not items the average household regularly keeps in the cupboard.

Suppose you fancy making an Espresso Martini.

You may need vodka.

Coffee liqueur.

Coffee.

Syrup.

Perhaps garnishes.

Suddenly, your spontaneous cocktail evening involves a fairly substantial shopping list.

Cocktail Crates packages the components around a particular recipe, removing much of that initial inconvenience.

The company positions its boxes as suitable for gifts, date nights, gatherings with friends and simple evenings at home.

That is probably the strongest part of the concept.

It turns making the drink into part of the entertainment.

What Does Cocktail Crates Sell?

The current Cocktail Crates catalogue is impressively large.

The retailer says its complete gift-set collection contains more than 100 different cocktail sets, ranging from classics to newer creations.

Current categories and products include:

Martini cocktail gift sets
Margarita gift sets
Gin cocktail boxes
Vodka cocktail boxes
Rum cocktail boxes
Whisky cocktail sets
Tequila cocktail kits
Prosecco cocktail boxes
Piña Colada sets
Mocktail gift sets
Charcuterie cocktail boxes
Pamper-style boxes
Cocktail subscriptions

That’s considerably more variety than simply choosing between red wine and white wine.

Let’s explore some of the most interesting options.

Espresso Martini Gift Sets

The Espresso Martini is one of Cocktail Crates’ prominently featured and popular options.

Combining coffee and alcohol was always going to succeed.

It’s essentially nightlife refusing to accept that you’re tired.

An Espresso Martini box can be particularly appealing for somebody who already enjoys the drink but doesn’t keep all the necessary ingredients at home.

Why Is the Espresso Martini So Popular?

The Espresso Martini combines several contrasting characteristics:

Coffee bitterness.

Sweetness.

Vodka.

A creamy-looking foam.

And enough caffeine to make the phrase “one last drink” unexpectedly ambitious.

It is also a cocktail where preparation matters.

Shaking the drink properly helps develop its characteristic texture and foam, making the actual process of mixing it part of the experience.

Pornstar Martini Gift Sets

Another major seller on the current site is the Pornstar Martini Cocktail Gift Set.

Despite the name, the Pornstar Martini is not technically a traditional Martini.

It is usually associated with passion fruit, vanilla and vodka, often served with sparkling wine alongside.

Its fruity flavour and theatrical presentation have made it one of the most recognisable modern cocktails in the UK.

For a gift box, that recognisability helps.

You’re giving somebody something they may already know from cocktail bars, but with the opportunity to create it themselves at home.

Margarita Cocktail Gift Sets

Margarita lovers have plenty of choice.

The current Cocktail Crates site lists several versions, including:

Classic Margarita
Pornstar Margarita
Margarita Picante
Peach Margarita
Piña Margarita

Classic or Spicy Margarita?

Traditional Margaritas combine tequila with citrus and sweetness.

Modern variations frequently add fruit, chilli or other flavours.

The Margarita Picante, for example, is designed for people who enjoy a spicy element alongside tequila and citrus flavours.

This is one of the benefits of browsing a specialist cocktail shop rather than buying generic alcohol gifts.

You can choose according to someone’s actual taste.

Know somebody who enjoys sweet cocktails?

Choose accordingly.

Buying for the friend who puts chilli sauce on everything?

You know where this is going.

Piña Colada Cocktail Boxes

For something considerably more tropical, Cocktail Crates has an extensive Piña Colada range.

Current options include the classic alongside variations such as:

Strawberry Piña Colada
Passion Fruit Piña Colada
Midori Piña Colada

Holiday Flavours Without the Airport

The Piña Colada is associated with rum, pineapple and coconut flavours.

In other words:

A holiday in a glass.

Admittedly without the sunshine.

Or beach.

Or hotel breakfast buffet.

But considerably cheaper than flights.

Cocktail Crates positions its Piña Colada boxes as an easy way to bring those tropical flavours into an at-home cocktail night.

Gin Cocktail Gift Sets

Gin remains a natural ingredient for cocktail kits because it appears in numerous classic recipes.

Cocktail Crates currently sells gin-based boxes including:

Singapore Sling
Bramble
Gibson
Negroni
Americano
Clover Club

That’s useful if you’re buying for somebody who likes gin but already owns approximately seventeen bottles of ordinary gin.

Rather than giving them bottle number eighteen, a cocktail kit offers something to do with it.

Well, with the included ingredients.

You get the idea.

Rum Cocktail Gift Sets

Rum fans also have plenty of options.

Cocktail Crates currently highlights drinks including classics such as the Mojito and fruitier rum-based cocktails.

Depending on the recipe, rum cocktails may use:

White rum
Dark rum
Spiced rum

Each produces a rather different flavour profile.

This makes rum cocktail boxes particularly versatile for gift shopping.

Some people prefer fresh citrus-and-mint drinks.

Others want rich, fruity or tropical flavours.

Thankfully, rum has apparently decided to cooperate with all of them.

Whisky Cocktail Boxes

If your recipient prefers whisky, Cocktail Crates also sells boxes such as the Old Fashioned Cocktail Kit Gift Set.

The Old Fashioned is one of the classic whisky cocktails, traditionally centred around whisky, sugar and bitters.

It is a useful reminder that good cocktails do not always require eleven ingredients and a garnish that resembles a small garden.

Sometimes simplicity works.

Prosecco Cocktail Gift Sets

Celebration coming up?

Cocktail Crates also has Prosecco cocktail gift sets.

The retailer describes this range as including cocktails such as the Kir Royale and Mimosa, among other sparkling options.

These can make appealing gifts for:

Birthdays
Anniversaries
Hen parties
Celebrations
Mother’s Day
Christmas
New-home gifts

Or Tuesday.

Tuesday has done nothing wrong.

Mocktail Gift Sets

One feature we particularly like about the wider range is the inclusion of mocktails.

Not everybody drinks alcohol.

And not everybody wants alcohol every time they fancy making something interesting.

Cocktail Crates currently offers a mocktail gift set featuring drinks such as a Virgin Piña Colada, Passion Fruit Cooler and Virgin Mojito.

Mocktails Make the Experience More Inclusive

A good alcohol-free drink should not feel like somebody simply removed the interesting part of a cocktail and replaced it with lemonade.

The growing mocktail category focuses on flavour, presentation and the ritual of mixing a drink without the alcohol.

That makes these boxes useful for:

Non-drinkers
Designated drivers
Pregnancy
Alcohol-free occasions
People cutting down on alcohol
Anyone who simply likes mocktails

It’s good to see a cocktail-focused business recognise that the enjoyment of making drinks does not have to revolve exclusively around alcohol.

Cocktail and Charcuterie Boxes

This is where Cocktail Crates starts becoming more elaborate.

The site currently sells charcuterie boxes paired with cocktails, including options based around Margaritas, Prosecco, gin and tonic, Long Island Iced Tea, Negroni and Espresso Martini.

The company describes these upgraded boxes as pairing cocktails with foods such as:

Cheese
Meats
Snacks
Wine-related accompaniments

Date Night in a Box

This could be particularly appealing for couples.

Instead of organising drinks, snacks and entertainment separately, a combined box creates more of a complete evening.

Add a film.

Dim the lights.

Put your phones away.

Pretend the pile of laundry in the corner is an artistic installation.

Date night achieved.

Pamper and Mind & Body Boxes

Cocktail Crates also stretches beyond food and drink into pamper-style boxes.

The site describes these as combining cocktails with beauty or self-care products intended for an indulgent evening at home.

This could work well for:

Birthday gifts
Girls’ nights
Mother’s Day
Thank-you presents
Self-care gifts
Celebratory nights in

It is a slightly different proposition from a standard cocktail kit.

You’re effectively buying an evening’s theme rather than simply ingredients for one drink.

Cocktail Crates Subscription Boxes

Don’t want the cocktail experience to end after one delivery?

Cocktail Crates also operates a subscription club.

The current subscription product is available with recurring-delivery options, while the wider site describes monthly, bi-monthly and quarterly subscription possibilities.

Why Choose a Cocktail Subscription?

Subscription boxes appeal because they add an element of anticipation.

Instead of choosing every product yourself, you receive new cocktail experiences over time.

That could make a subscription particularly suitable as:

An anniversary gift
A birthday present
A gift for a couple
A Christmas present
A treat for yourself

There is also something pleasantly old-fashioned about receiving something enjoyable through the post.

Even if the parcel contains tequila.

How Does Cocktail Crates Work?

The process is intentionally straightforward.

Step 1: Choose Your Cocktail

Browse the collection and choose a cocktail or subscription.

The site currently allows shoppers to explore sets by spirit and cocktail type.

Step 2: Receive the Box

Cocktail Crates sends the ingredients and accompanying materials to your chosen address.

Step 3: Follow the Instructions

The company says its cocktail boxes contain easy-to-follow instructions for making the drinks.

Step 4: Start Mixing

This is the fun part.

Follow the recipe.

Measure carefully.

Shake or stir as directed.

Try not to become excessively confident after creating one successful cocktail.

You are not automatically qualified to open a bar.

Although we admire the ambition.

Cocktail Crates Review: Our Impressions from Browsing

An important disclaimer:

This isn’t a hands-on Cocktail Crates review.

We haven’t personally ordered a cocktail box, mixed every drink or tested whether the charcuterie survives five minutes in a room full of hungry friends.

So we’re not going to pretend we can give the products a first-hand star rating.

What we can assess is the range, concept, product selection, delivery information and overall shopping proposition.

And there are several things we like.

The Range Is a Major Strength

More than 100 cocktail gift sets gives shoppers considerably more flexibility than a typical alcohol-gift website.

You are not limited to:

Gin.

Whisky.

Wine.

Done.

Instead, you can shop according to an actual cocktail somebody enjoys.

That can make a gift feel considerably more thoughtful.

It’s an Experience Rather Than Just a Product

This is arguably Cocktail Crates’ biggest appeal.

A bottle of alcohol is a product.

A cocktail kit creates an activity.

The recipient has to open it, follow a recipe, prepare the ingredients and mix the drink.

That makes the experience more interactive.

And experiences are often more memorable than simply placing another bottle in the drinks cabinet.

The Variety of Upgrades Is Interesting

Mocktails, charcuterie boxes and pamper boxes broaden the concept beyond a simple cocktail kit.

This gives you options for different recipients and occasions.

A standard cocktail box might suit one person.

A charcuterie box might be better for a couple.

A pamper box might fit a birthday or relaxed night in.

Choice is useful when you’re trying to make a gift feel personal.

What About Cocktail Crates Reviews?

Cocktail Crates includes review functionality across its website, although the amount of feedback varies between individual products.

As with any gift retailer, we’d recommend checking the latest product-specific customer reviews before ordering.

Pay particular attention to comments relating to:

Packaging
Delivery
Ingredient quality
Gift presentation
Quantity
Recipe clarity

Those are likely to matter more than a generic “great product” comment.

And remember: taste is subjective.

One person’s perfectly balanced Margarita is another person’s reason to add more lime.

Cocktails are democratic like that.

Cocktail Crates Delivery

Delivery is naturally important when the box contains ingredients and might be intended for a particular occasion.

Cocktail Crates currently advertises free tracked delivery across the UK, including Scotland and Northern Ireland, with its free-delivery option listed on a 14-day timescale.

The site notes that delivery times are estimates and that weekends and bank holidays do not count as working days.

If you’re buying for a birthday, anniversary or other fixed date, ordering well in advance is sensible.

Cocktails improve celebrations.

Explaining that the cocktail box is “still with the courier” does not.

Cocktail Crates Returns

This is particularly important to understand before ordering.

Cocktail Crates says that because its boxes contain perishable products, it does not offer ordinary returns.

However, the company asks customers to contact it if they are dissatisfied or if there is a problem with an order.

Damaged or incomplete items must currently be reported within 48 hours of receipt, with photographs supplied as evidence.

That’s different from buying something like clothing, where you might simply return an unwanted product.

Check the current returns policy before ordering, especially when sending a gift directly to somebody else.

Cocktail Crates as a Gift

This is arguably where the entire concept makes most sense.

Cocktail Crates can work for occasions including:

Birthdays
Anniversaries
Christmas
Valentine’s Day
Mother’s Day
Father’s Day
Housewarmings
Thank-you gifts
Date nights
Hen parties
Celebrations
Corporate gifts

Gifts for Couples

Cocktail boxes are particularly well suited to couples because making the drinks becomes part of the evening.

That could make them an interesting alternative to sending flowers or chocolates for an anniversary.

Gifts for Friends

Know somebody whose answer to:

“What would you like for your birthday?”

is:

“Oh, nothing really.”

Nobody means that.

A cocktail box can be a fun solution because it sits somewhere between a consumable gift and an experience.

Gifts for Cocktail Enthusiasts

For somebody who already loves cocktails, a box can introduce a new recipe without requiring them to buy full-sized quantities of every ingredient.

That’s particularly useful with more unusual drinks.

Nobody wants to purchase a specialist ingredient for one recipe and then spend the next four years wondering what else to do with it.

How to Choose the Right Cocktail Gift Box

With more than 100 options, a little strategy helps.

Start with Their Favourite Spirit

Do they normally choose:

Gin?

Rum?

Vodka?

Whisky?

Tequila?

Start there.

Cocktail Crates organises many of its sets around particular base spirits.

Think About Sweet vs Strong

Some cocktails are sweet and fruity.

Others are spirit-forward and more bitter.

An Old Fashioned and a Piña Colada are both cocktails.

They are not remotely the same drinking experience.

Consider the Occasion

A single cocktail box might work for a casual present.

A charcuterie or pamper box may feel more substantial for a larger celebration.

Don’t Forget Mocktails

If you’re uncertain whether somebody drinks alcohol, an alcohol-free option can be a thoughtful alternative.

Learning a Little Mixology

One nice side effect of a cocktail box is that it teaches you something.

Shaken vs Stirred

Not every cocktail should be shaken.

Cocktails containing juices, coffee or other ingredients that need vigorous mixing are often shaken.

Spirit-heavy cocktails may instead be stirred.

The recipe will tell you what to do.

James Bond has opinions on this subject.

You don’t have to follow them universally.

Ice Matters

Ice isn’t simply there to make a drink cold.

It also affects dilution.

Too little ice can melt quickly and over-dilute a drink, while using plenty of appropriate ice can help control chilling and dilution.

Yes.

Even frozen water has responsibilities.

Measure Ingredients

Free-pouring looks wonderfully professional.

It is also an excellent method for accidentally creating a drink containing approximately half a bottle of vodka.

Use the measurements supplied.

Your future self will appreciate the discipline.

Responsible Cocktail Shopping

Because many Cocktail Crates products contain alcohol, responsible consumption matters.

These boxes are intended for adults of legal drinking age.

If you’re giving one as a gift, make sure the recipient is appropriate for an alcohol-containing product.

And remember that making cocktails at home doesn’t change the basic principles of responsible drinking.

Enjoy the mixing.

Enjoy the flavours.

You do not have to “finish the box” simply because it arrived in one parcel.

Who Might Enjoy Shopping at Cocktail Crates?

Cocktail Crates could be especially interesting if you’re:

Looking for cocktail gift sets in the UK
Buying cocktail kits online
Searching for gifts for cocktail lovers
Looking for an Espresso Martini gift
Buying a Pornstar Martini kit
Searching for Margarita gift sets
Looking for gin gifts
Buying rum cocktail kits
Looking for whisky cocktail gifts
Searching for cocktail subscription boxes
Buying an unusual birthday gift
Looking for date-night gifts
Interested in mocktail gift sets
Searching for food-and-drink gift boxes
Looking for an alternative UK online shop for gifts

It could also be useful when you’ve reached the stage of gift shopping where every conventional idea feels painfully predictable.

Cocktail Crates and the Fun Side of UK Online Shopping

The best UK online shopping discoveries aren’t always things you desperately need.

Sometimes they’re things that create an enjoyable evening.

Cocktail Crates fits comfortably into that category.

Its boxes aren’t really about solving a practical household problem.

They’re about:

trying something new,

learning how to mix a drink,

sharing an experience,

or giving somebody a present that involves more participation than removing wrapping paper.

That makes the concept particularly well suited to ecommerce.

You choose the experience.

The ingredients arrive.

The kitchen becomes the cocktail bar.

Closing time is whenever you decide you’ve done enough washing up.

Is Cocktail Crates Worth a Look?

Based on our research, yes — particularly if you’re looking for an unusual alcohol gift, cocktail-making experience or subscription box in the UK.

We can’t personally award Cocktail Crates five stars because we haven’t ordered and tested a box ourselves.

But from a browsing perspective, there are several appealing features.

The range includes more than 100 cocktail sets.

There are familiar classics alongside unusual variations.

Mocktails provide alcohol-free options.

Subscription boxes turn a single gift into a recurring experience.

Charcuterie and pamper upgrades create more substantial packages.

And free tracked UK delivery is currently available, although customers should allow for the published delivery timescales.

For anyone searching for a specialist UK online shop for cocktail gifts, there is plenty here worth investigating.

Ready to Explore Cocktail Crates?

Maybe somebody’s birthday is approaching.

Perhaps you’re planning a date night.

Maybe you’re hosting friends and would like the evening to involve something more exciting than opening a bottle of supermarket wine.

Or perhaps you’ve always wanted to make a proper Espresso Martini without buying six separate ingredients.

Cocktail Crates is designed for exactly that sort of occasion.

👉 Visit Cocktail Crates and browse cocktail gift sets, mocktails and subscription boxes

Pick a favourite cocktail.

Follow the instructions.

Shake responsibly.

And enjoy the satisfaction of serving something that looks considerably more impressive than the amount of effort you actually had to put into sourcing the ingredients.

Cheers to that!