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Growing up, your 21st birthday always feels like such an iconic event you are waiting to happen. Everything changes, the clouds part, and suddenly you are a REAL adult. An adult that can do almost anything they want to. Most notoriously, the age you can drink alcohol.
If you can’t decide what you want for your birthday or are shopping around for your future drinking buddy, this list will not disappoint!
Here are the 21 best gifts for a 21-year-old!
1. Mixology Bartender Kit
Tending bar might be one of the most exciting jobs on the market. Every night is a party, and yes, you are the one working, but it can still be enjoyable from across the room. Give your loved one this bartender kit and they can get a head start on their mixology skills now that they can buy their own alcohol.
2. Craft Beer Club Subscription
Start their 21st year of right with beer delivered to their doorstep! The Craft Beer Club offers 12 beers to your door a month from a multitude of different breweries across the country.
Help them find their taste for craft beer, as well as the knowledge surrounding the particular selections, like what pairs well and where it originates. Start now for $43 a month! This is the perfect gift that keeps on giving throughout the year.
3. Cameo
Purchasing a Cameo feature can be a hilarious and surprising way to say Happy Birthday! There are over 30 thousand celebrities on the app that will make a customized video for you. Just give them the rundown of what you want them to say. A happy birthday message, ask for advice or a good old fashioned roast.
My birthday is coming up, and I can’t think of anything more exciting than receiving a message from a familiar face from the silver screen.
4. Craft Beer Home Brew Kit
One of the joys of being a legal drinking age is experimenting with new hobbies like home brewing. There’s a special kind of joy that comes from the patience and tactic of brewing your very own batch of beer.
I know people that started with kits like these and now are brewing for a living. Anything can happen, so I will absolutely co-sign this $45 purchase.
5. Cards Against Humanity
What may be the ultimate drinking game, Cards Against Humanity will surely spice up any party. Yes, it’s ideal for a 21st birthday, and yes, it’s suitable for a 50th birthday. I’ve played with my parents and even grandparents. Nothing pairs quite as good as White Claw and a foul-mouthed card game.
Grab it on Amazon for $26, and when you have played through the whole box, grab an expansion pack!
Related: 25 of the Best Two-Player Board Games
6. Keychain Breathalyzer
Fun and Functional, this breathalyzer will help your loved one stay grounded. I think it’s healthy to know where you stand, especially drinkers at the young age of 21. An impressive feature of this particular breathalyzer is that it can estimate the time when your BAC will return to 0.00%—impressive technology for $60.
As always, never drink and drive.
7. Zappa Beer Bottle Opener and Cap Launcher
Why wouldn’t you have a device that cracks cold ones and shoots bottle caps? This bottle cap launcher is a textbook example of skipping “add to cart” and clicking “buy now.”
8. Tile Mate
Losing your keys is something that seems to happen more often after your 21st birthday. I wonder why? Tile is a Bluetooth enabled tracking device that you can attach to anything you’re worried about misplacing.
Stop losing sleep over canceling credit cards or having keys remade. Open up the app and locate your rogue items. Starting at $20, this is a no brainer.
9. Personalized Name Beer Caddy
A beer caddy is a right of passage for any young adult. Perfect for picnics, family gatherings or BBQs, you can now flex your new ability to purchase beer. A caddy might be especially useful if you decide to dabble with homebrew and bottling.
Now you have a little something to hold your kept creations. And what makes this the ideal birthday gift, you can have it personalized with a name etched on the side.
10. What do you MEME?
Another drinking game staple. These days it’s not even considered a party if there are no memes involved, so make sure you grab this profoundly addicting and hilarious card game.
It starts at $29.99, or go all the way and grab the bundle for $58.
11. Pizza Of The Month Club
I can’t think of anything better than a pizza delivered to me every month. Imagine receiving birthday gifts for an entire year! What a way to celebrate. When you purchase the Pizza of the Month Club, you get a selection of different types of Chicago style deep dish pizza. Who wouldn’t want it?
12. Godinger Gas Pump Liquor Dispenser
Fill up your friends’ glass when they run out of gas. Shot glass not included. Mic drop.
Related: 15 Ways to Make Your College Dorm Room Look More Mature
13. USA Beer Cap Map
The best way to drink through the states is definitely with this beer cap map. Try a beer (or multiple) from every state and place your bottle cap in the matching state.
Drink 50 different types of beer, and you have just created a piece of art! Hang this on the wall for $34.
14. Whole Bottle Wine Glass
Filling your wine glass only a third full can be pretentious. Sometimes we know exactly what our intentions are, and that is why you need a wine glass that can fit, say….an entire bottle. No more unnecessary trips for refills. One and done baby.
Only $12 to live your life.
15. Winc Wine Subscription
Now that you have your whole bottle wine glass, you need a constant flow of the juice. Winc is the best and most popular wine bottle subscription service that delivers to your door.
Take a small quiz about your preferred palate pleasers, and Winc will send you options they think you’ll like. Wine birthday presents no matter what age you will always be a hit.
16. Electric Wine Opener
Learning to open a wine bottle can come later in life. On your 21st birthday, your only goal is to drink the wine. Get to the point with this electric wine bottle opener. Easy as pie. Check it out for $20 on Amazon.
Grab a bottle of wine while you are at it, and you’re sure to get that birthday party started!
17. Shower Koozie
If you’ve never had a shower beer, you may be missing out on the finer things in life. I’ve said many times, “your first shower beer will not be your last shower beer.” Now you can enjoy a cold one with ease using this handy shower beer koozie. Pick it up for $13.
18. Mini Beer Pong Set
For a ponger on the go, here’s a set you can keep in your car! Be ready to battle at all times with this beer pong tabletop set. It comes with everything you need (except beer) to show your skills.
Pick it up now for $36, and you will surely win your money back.
19. Hidden Lotion Flask
Perhaps the greatest invention ever, I present to you: The Lotion Flask. Whether you are at a concert, sporting event, spelling bee, whatever it is, you can “apply as needed.” The selling point for me was the security seal for added credibility.
They thought of everything! Grab these now for $8, and be the hero at your next event. Fill it with tequila, vodka, whiskey, whatever is calling your name!
20. Das Boot Oktoberfest Beer Stein Glass
Das Boot is hugely versatile. It can be a regular beer glass when you’re feeling extra. It can become a drinking challenge amongst friends, or it can naturally become a centerpiece.
All are fantastic options that make Das Boot a must purchase. Grab the one liter for $18, or man up and get the two liters for $25. Cheers!
21. Whiskey Stones
A set of crystal glass scream sophistication. I urge any 21-year-old to up their game, and instead of going out, have a fancy night in with this whiskey stones gift set. $31 is a small price to pay for class.
21st birthdays can be hard to shop for. You don’t want to just get a gift card and call it a day. This is a milestone birthday for the young person celebrating! These 21st birthday gift ideas and gadgets are sure to make the birthday boy or girl happy on their big day.
You might also be interested in: The 11 Best Hangover Remedies [Plus 5 Ways to Prevent One]
The 21 best 21st birthday gifts:
- Mixology Bartender Kit
- Craft Beer Club Subscription
- Cameo
- Craft Beer Home Brew Kit
- Cards Against Humanity
- Keychain Breathalyzer
- Zappa Beer Bottle Opener and Cap Launcher
- Tile Mate
- Personalized Name Beer Caddy
- What do you MEME?
- Pizza Of The Month Club
- Godinger Gas Pump Liquor Dispenser
- USA Beer Cap Map
- Whole Bottle Wine Glass
- Winc Wine Subscription
- Electric Wine Opener
- Shower Koozie
- Mini Beer Pong Set
- Hidden Lotion Flask
- Das Boot Oktoberfest Beer Stein Glass
- Whiskey Stones