From friendsgivings to family gatherings, the holidays are a marathon of entertaining. And a big part of creating the ultimate experience are the drinks you serve. With some fun, practical, and delicious items, you can transform your cocktail nights into unforgettable memories. So up your game this holiday season with the must-have gear for cocktail enthusiasts hosting magical experiences, selected by Jean-Félix Desfossés, aka Truffles on the Rocks.

While Cognac is a spirit often enjoyed on its own, it is also the base of many classic cocktails. Three great options this holiday season include:

Rémy Martin XO is THE treat—the perfect pour. Enjoying a glass of Rémy Martin XO with loved ones is literally enchanting. There's truly something magical that happens when you pour that first glass. The aromas fill the room with a heartwarming smell. I recommend imbibing this absolute treat neat or with one single ice cube.

This special blend, created to honor the “savoir faire” of Rémy Martin, has wonderful notes of toasted wood and spices. The gourmet and graceful Cognac is particularly great in citrus cocktails, but I also love this expression in a spirit-forward mixture. I especially love it in a Champs-Élysées.

In a cocktail shaker, add 2 oz (60 ml) of Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal, 0.5 oz (15 ml) of Yellow Chartreuse, 0.75 oz (22 ml) of lemon juice, 0.25 oz (7 ml) of simple syrup, and 1 dash aromatic bitters. Fill the shaker with ice and shake for about 10 seconds. Fine strain in a chilled cocktail coupe. Garnish with lemon zest.

I like to describe this expression of Rémy Martin as “charming.” With some smooth notes of vanilla, ripened apricot, and a hint of spices, it has enough body to please the most erudite palates but will conquer the newcomer. It's a complex and balanced masterpiece everyone can enjoy.

I recommend using Rémy Martin VSOP to whip up a delicious Brandy Alexander. In a blender, add 2 oz (60 ml) Rémy Martin VSOP, 1 oz (30 ml) crème de cacao, 3 oz (90 ml) vanilla ice cream, and 120 grams (4 oz) of ice. Blend until smooth. Pour into your favorite mug. Add a straw, and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.

Making clear ice at home has become a must for mixology aficionados. At the bar or at home, this trend gained popularity in the past few years, and there's a good reason for that: It has the power to chill your drink faster and make it colder, all while resulting in a much slower dilution of your beverage. Also, the first of your senses activated when you receive your drink is your sight, and clear ice just looks better.

There's a new kid on the block who is making the clear ice experience even better. The Ice Designer Plate will carve some beautiful designs on your clear ice blocks in just a few seconds. It's a real talking piece that will make your next cocktail on the rocks the star of the evening.

I have been smoking cocktails for almost a decade now, and while I enjoy a good smoked cocktail year-round, they are particularly satisfying during the holidays. Just a couple of years ago, smoking cocktails was both complicated and tedious. Enter the Middleton Mixology SmokeTop. The SmokeTop is a cool contraption that couldn't be easier to use—it literally changed the game!

The brandy offers a wide variety of wood to aromatize your smoked cocktails for the perfect flavor, and it doesn't involve a battery or electricity-powered device, so it's extremely reliable. Middleton Mixology has some great, simple tutorials to show you how to use the SmokeTop to perfectly control the amount of smoke flavor you want to infuse in your liquid goodness. So if you are looking to fire up your parties this year, you know what to do!

A good mixing glass is an absolute essential for making cocktails at home. Of course you could add ice to whatever jar you have and make yourself a decent cocktail, but for me, there's a ritual in making cocktails—and using the right tools is the start. The Crate & Barrel Hatch Mixing Glass feels great when you hold it. It's sturdy and chic at the same time, and it's super affordable! It checks all the boxes. You'll impress and look like a pro home bartender when you use it to stir up your next delicious cocktail.

I will ALWAYS remember the first time I sipped on some Rémy Martin Louis XIII. My friend who offered me a glass told me to place the glass about 18 inches below our noses and lift it until we started to smell the Cognac aromas. I stopped at about 10-12 inches. He then told me that what I was getting on the nose was the real smell of the Cognac, because at that distance, the ethanol was pretty much all gone. The scent was exhilarating.

Letting your brain take in what you smell before you taste boosts the sensorial experience. This is why I LOVE to use atomizer spray bottles—it's a great way to enhance the aroma of my drinks. Adding a couple spritzes of absinthe over a perfectly made Cognac Sazerac will not only make it a stellar beverage, but it will catch everyone's attention, too. (Wait what?! Did you just perfume my cocktail?) It's the perfect magical touch.

Enjoying a glass of your favorite spirit by the fire is a soothing and relaxing experience, but something as simple as not using the correct glassware can ruin the moment. The Norlan Glass was specially made to elevate your drinking experience. Not only does it have a stunning look, but the unique shape of the Norlan glass also helps with the aeration of your spirit—dissipating the ethanol and making the scent of the spirit more present. More than 80 percent of what we taste comes from what we smell, so this gem of a glass will catapult your sipping to another level.

This story was produced by WIRED Brand Lab for Rémy Martin.