Lush-ious gift guides
Posted Wednesday, November 29, 2006 at 02:15PMWhat would the holidays be without a little holiday cheer? It would seem that ThisNexters are a cheerful bunch indeed. We’ve picked up some highlights from a selection of gift guides designed for the tasteful tippler.
When in doubt, wine makes a great gift. Even if you don’t know the tastes and proclivities of your giftee, there’s bound to be a bottle that will be graciously received. Culinary Detective Chris Cognac recommends Chateau Ste Michelle Reserve Chardonnay in his gift guide In the Kitchen with the Common Man. “Delicious and affordable,” says he. A winning combination indeed.
A bottle of bubbly is an unfailingly classy gift, but you don’t have to break the bank to impress. I’m a big fan of Gruet Brut , a sparkling wine from the otherwise unheard of wine region of New Mexico. You’ll wow your friends with the relative obscurity, and the flavor utterly belies its petite price tag. For more options on inexpensive imbibables, check out my list of Great Cheap Wines.
If your friends are party people, Courtney Cochran offers up this wine tasting kit . “This is a great excuse to get together with friends,” she effuses. The kit comes complete with bags for blind tasting and classy tasting score cards. See more in her guide of gifts for the wine-ish hipster.
Serious winos may merit a more hands-on gift, like this Provina Personal Wine Pod , designed to make small-batch artisanal wine in the home. According to our very own Sarah, it may also have an added benefit if your lovable lush also happens to be a belligerent boozer. “Let him crush out his frustration on his grapes, instead of taking it out on you.”
Tis the season to entertain. How often have you shown up to holiday parties with a freshly-bought bottle still in its crumpled brown bag? It’s time to get accessorized, and Alice Feiring has just the thing in her list of wine basics: this three-bottle thermal tote. “I like to toss a three bottle wine tote bag into the freezer (without the bottles!) before I take it on the road—of course with extra ice packs.” Now that’s keeping your cool.
Cozy comes off better than cool during these chilly months, and sometimes one bottle is enough. Todd likes the “classic lines” of this handmade felt wine bag from the Grateful Palate. His holiday gift guide of gourmet goodies sports the intriguing title, “Pigs Get Fat, Hogs Get…” No worries — any gift from his list is sure not to get your slaughtered.
Your guy go for the hard stuff? No problem. Stephanie of Stiletto Jungle has the goods to Deck the Bar for the Boy, including this très swank Julia Taylor Leather Initial Flask. The bejeweled Swarovski “T” is handy if you’re seeing a Tim or a Tom, but can be swapped out for other letters by special order if you’re dating elsewhere in the alphabet.
Gotta fill that flask with something good. Boutique booze producer Litty Mathew spots this unusual 25-year Armenian brandy as “the next Armagnac.” His gift guide of Good Tastes delivers what it promises on every front.
Lastly, if your boy’s greatest ambition is a cold one at the end of a hard day, Hail the Ale’s got your back with a top-notch list of beer stuff. We love the idea ofthis cleverly-named Tinchilla instant can cooler. “Uh, it cools cans. Cans of beer. What else do you need?” What indeed.
Tags: *Food/Drink, Gifts, beer, liquor, wine
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