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Gift Edit 2024

The “Gorgeous” Personalized Glasses I’m Giving as Gifts to Everyone I Know

updated Apr 25, 2024
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cognac coctail sits next to a shaker and a plate witj lemons
Credit: Brittany Conerly

This feature is part of The Kitchn’s Gift Edit, our editor-curated collection of gift ideas. Need more inspiration? Check out all our guides here.

Quick Overview

Why Do We Love Uncommon Goods’ Personalized Hometown Map Glasses?

These glasses are thoughtful one-of-a-kind gifts that work for anyone and for any occasion. You can personalize the glasses with a name, date, and special location to give your loved ones all the feels.

I was born and raised in the Chicago area and went to college in the city as well. After graduation, I spent the next two decades in Los Angeles and New York. However, even when I was on either coast, there was always a place in my heart for Chi-town. When it was time to get married and start a family, I knew I’d come back home.

Soon after I arrived back where I grew up, my sister sent a heartfelt gift to welcome me home: a set of customized rocks glasses elegantly etched with a map of the Chicagoland area. It was perfect.

What’s So Great About Uncommon Goods’ Personalized Hometown Map Glass Set?

Whether they’re for a Mother’s Day or graduation gift, or even a wedding gift, the endlessly customizable Hometown Map Glass Sets from Uncommon Goods are a one-of-a-kind gift that will evoke beautiful memories. Even when I’d start getting nostalgic for my years living in other cities, I’d look at the glasses and remember how much this city means to me. 

Credit: Kristina Vänni

The glasses come in pairs, with three styles available — 11-ounce rocks glasses, 15-ounce stemless wine glasses, and 16-ounce pint glasses. Each one is made to order according to your exact specs.

To design your customized glassware, start by choosing the type of glasses and then the custom engraving. This will be a single row of text with a maximum of 50 characters, and you can highlight an important date, a loved one’s name, a heartfelt message — whatever you’d like. Then, enter the city or town that holds a special place in your heart. After that, the artists will work their magic to etch in that city’s distinct grid around the glass. I should note that at this time, the glasses can only be customized with U.S. cities.

At first glance, the map almost looks like some sort of abstract art. It’s subtle and unique from afar, but when you look closer, the map reveals itself. 

It’s recommended to run the glasses through the dishwasher before the first use. This helps remove any residual dust from the etching process so it’s safe to drink from. In the couple of years that I’ve been using these glasses, they’ve held up well to regular washing. They’re not designed to stack though, so it’s better to store them side by side to keep the glasses safe. 

The glasses are great conversation pieces, so if you’ve got the space, you can just keep them out on display at a home bar or on open shelving. These glasses are such a wonderful personalized gift and I love that I can take a mental stroll through the familiar streets every time I take a sip. They’re beautiful keepsakes that I will certainly be enjoying for years to come. 

Buy: Uncommon Goods Personalized Hometown Map Glass Set, $50-$54