Spirits Gifts of Every Stripe

My pet peeve is when retailers start throwing about the term “last minute gifts,” as if there’s somehow an implied judgement that we should have had this all figured out and wrapped and put under the tree already. I come to you with absolutely no judgement. We are busy, modern people with busy, modern lives! I come to you now only to let you know that we’re all in the same boat down the holiday stream with you, trying to stay afloat and make the merry while still getting all the non-merry quotidian things of life accomplished. Let’s keep it simple: here are some very excellent gifts for the spirits lovers in your life, hand selected by our Spirits Buyer and all-around font of knowledge, David Othenin-Girard. 

Gift for your boss: You want something that feels fancy, even a little flattering when you’re giving a gift to the man or woman who holds the purse strings at your job, right? Try New Riff Bottled-In-Bond Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, which recently was awarded a spot on the Top 20 from Whisky Advocate for only $45. It’s spicy and plush, made from 100% rye by bourbon veteran Larry Ebersold. A great gift for novices and rye geeks alike.

Gift for your quirky brother-in-law: Don Mateo "K&L Exclusive" Pechuga Mezcal ($99.99) We’ve all got someone who’s trying to steer as far off the beaten path as possible. For those folks, a Pechuga Mezcal (usually made by suspending a chicken breast in the spirit for flavor) might be wild enough, but when you throw in the additional flavors of turkey, venison, rabbit, and iguana, you’ve got a whole other animal—excuse the pun. Made from Cupreata and Cenizo agave, the Don Mateo is decidedly unique, but the flavors all come together in beautiful harmony of stone fruits, almonds, and baking spices. Your giftee will definitely be the only one on the block to have it. 

Gift for your friend who is trying to save the world: Any consumer who wants to feel that his/her dollars go toward ethical goods, will love the Mezonte Mezcal project. This is an NGO founded by Pedro Jimenez Gurria in Guadalajara, Mexico, dedicated to sourcing their products from small communities. While paying fair and living wages to their producers, they also work to support the infrastructure and invest in the future of Mezcal-producing communities. Education is an important component of the company, and they are working to increase awareness of the production and practices of traditional agave spirits of Mexico.

Gift for the home bartender: For $19.99, you can’t go wrong with Golden Devil "K&L Exclusive" Dark Navy Strength Rum, a custom K&L dark overproof rum that completely overdelivers. Made from a blend of rums from Jamaica and Guyana, this is going to take any tiki-lover’s game to the next level.

Gift for the serious Scotch collector: Sometimes you need to break out something truly special for someone who’s serious about collecting. You can’t go wrong with the 1988 Bunnahabhain 30 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($349.99). This is powerful and complex at 57.3% ABV, coming from a producer that’s been around since 1881. DOG says this is one of the finest, most impressive Bunnahs we’ve ever sold.

Gift for the martini buff: I’ve gotta admit, I love a good martini. The combination of bitterness, brightness, and sumptuous body really is something special. And for as easy as it technically is to make, it’s incredibly hard to get it just right. DOG recommends using Rock Rose "Navy Strength" Premium Scottish Gin ($49.99) as your base. From the northernmost distiller in Scotland made from local botanicals, this has a steely nerve to it that captures the chilly north. Use the Del Professore "Classico" Bianco Vermouth $22.99, based on Moscato from Italy’s northern Langhe area. GIving the martini some heft and complexity without adding sweetness.

And there you have it. Easy peasy—you’re so on top of your holiday game!

- Kate Soto