Selecting winter holiday gifts can truly be considered an ordeal. What will the recipient really like and cherish?
The following are several gift items that stray from the norm.
Speyburn Arranta Single Malt Scotch ($40)
The Speyburn Arranta Single Malt Scotch is rather exceptional at an affordable price. While most of the single malt Scotch whiskies sell for much higher prices, this one offers quality far in excess of its cost.
Cruze Silver Tequila ($45)
Cruze Silver Tequila is a crystal clear tequila that is light and smooth and the perfect ingredient in your recipients’ favorite margarita or mixed cocktail, as well as being delicious neat or on the rocks. Cruze Silver Tequila is resplendent with an earthy tone, which is embellished by hints of citrus. This tequila is supplied in an attractive triangular shaped bottle, which enhances its value as a memorable gift.
Tariquet 1993 Vintage Armagnac ($90)
Armagnac is a French brandy similar to Cognac, which is not as well known, is no less elegant. Unlike Cognac, an Armagnac can be vintage dated if there was a distinguished grape harvest on a particular year. If your gift recipient is a Cognac lover, get him or her a Tariquet 1993 Vintage Armagnac and change their beverage amour forever.
Porton Pisco ($40)
Pisco Porton is an exceptional crystal clear brandy coming from, of all places, Peru. This brandy is also smooth and stands shoulder to shoulder with higher-priced beverages.
Champagne Billecart Salmon Brut Rose ($80)
If a true French Champagne is the order of the day, Champagne Billecart Salmon Brut Rose is a superb choice and a considerably finer wine than many of the more common overpriced brands that live by their name alone.
Sandeman Founders Reserve Porto ($20)
If your recipient is an after-dinner sweet wine enthusiast, there is none better than the Sandeman Founders Reserve Porto. It is a big, sweet wine, full of berry fruit flavors and an ever-present and delightfully haunting incense-like background.
Wild Turkey American Honey ($25)
Wild Turkey has taken a fine bourbon and mixed it with high quality honey to produce an interesting and novel beverage. If your recipient enjoys bourbon or honey - or even if they are not familiar with either - he or she will love this straight, on the rocks or as a mixer for a new designer cocktail.
Plantation Barbados Rum ($22)
The holidays of old were celebrated with rum - or at the least a rum punch - so a gift of this rum should go over well. The Plantation Barbados Rum is a rich, full-flavored drink that is among the most popular styles of this beverage.
Bisol Crede Prosecco Superiore ($25)
Prosecco is becoming a more popular sparkling wine in this country. While not a true Champagne, the variety is a less expensive high-quality sparkling wine at a more affordable price. A gift of this wine will certainly be appreciated and can dramatically reduce some of the costs associated with Christmas.
Nixa resident Bennet Bodenstein is a wine columnist and manages ArticlesOnWine.com. He can be reached at ben@articlesonwine.com.
