Food & Drink

Drinkhacker’s 2022 Holiday Gift Guide – Best Alcohol/Spirits for Christmas

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Once they stated Covid was over, we didn’t suppose we’d be summarily dropped into a brand new monetary disaster to interchange the one we simply obtained out of. The excellent news is that the vacations have arrived simply in time to offer a welcome (if transient) break from yet one more yr of chaos. At Drinkhacker, we had much more madness than traditional, having picked up stakes from our California HQ, the place we launched the web site, relocating to Texas in June.

So what does 2023 have in retailer for us? We’re hoping for the most effective for everybody and every part, however whereas we chunk our nails over that, there’s some vacation gift-giving to get completed. As soon as once more our purpose is that can assist you out with one thing each distinctive and scrumptious, if searching for a cherished one means a bottle of their stocking or underneath the tree. Certain, whereas everybody goes gaga over $1000 whiskeys, we’ve tried arduous to maintain value firmly in thoughts this yr, with none of our picks coming in at greater than $135 — and most of them less expensive. As all the time, all costs listed under have been up to date with present, consultant prices — however these are all the time topic to market fluctuations and might change at any time.

You’ll discover most of those merchandise accessible from our retail companions at Caskers, Drizly, Frootbat, and Wine.com. You too can search multiple stores at wine-searcher to seek out the most effective costs on all these merchandise and extra. When you can’t discover one thing — or need a bespoke suggestion for a particular somebody that isn’t well-represented by our checklist — please don’t hesitate to go away a remark or drop us a line.

Blissful holidays to all of you. As all the time, don’t overlook to don your DH colours with the official Drinkhacker t-shirt, and we’d love to have interaction with you on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or all three.

Lastly, don’t overlook that earlier picks are nonetheless on the market and make nice items. For extra prime present concepts take a look at the archives and browse our 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008 holiday guides.

Bourbon – Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well Bourbon ($135) – Colour us impressed. In contrast to many a latest yr, there are many shockingly reasonably priced and accessible bourbons in the marketplace, together with this A+ ranking recipient, which is now promoting under its authentic $150 checklist value. If that’s an excessive amount of, different prime picks embody Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C922 ($80), Barrell Vantage ($95), and Blood Oath Bourbon Whiskey Pact 8, which we’ve discovered for as little as $90 on-line. For an actual cut price, seize the stable Nelson Bros. Whiskey Classic Blend of Straight Bourbons for simply $39. And hold a watch open for our huge prime 10 whiskeys of the yr checklist, which hits in mid-December.

Scotch – Dewar’s The Champions Edition 19 Years Old (2022) ($80) – You gained’t discover the identical offers in Scotch that you simply’ll discover in Bourbon this yr — or the standard, to be sincere — however there are some reasonably priced, giftable bottlings available, beginning with this 2nd version of Dewar’s 19 Years Outdated expression, a steal at simply $80 and even much less. Bonus factors in case your giftee is into golf, which this celebrates. Different prime picks — these ones single malts, not blends — within the near-$100 vary embody Glenmorangie The Cadboll Estate 15 Years Old 2021 ($80) and Cragganmore Distillers Edition 2021 – Distilled 2009 ($116) — each of which hit in early 2022 however that are nonetheless broadly accessible. Pay shut consideration to classic dates on all three of those, by the way in which.

Different Whiskey – Teeling Blackpitts Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey ($75) – Able to get off the crushed path? You’ll make new buddies with this peated Irish from Teeling (really a late 2021 launch). If that doesn’t sound like their jam, attempt one among these wonderful ryes: Rossville Union Straight Rye Barrel Proof ($60) or Sagamore Spirit Rye 8 Years Old ($80), each stable offers. Or journey additional afield with English whisky — Bimber Distillery Ex-Bourbon Oak Cask Batch No. 3 ($120) or Oregon single malt — McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt 6 Years Old ($100).

Gin – Procera Red Dot Gin ($100) – Gin from Kenya? You higher imagine it, and this new expression (the third we’ve seen from Procera) is one among our favorites thus far. We additionally suggest the brand new Gin Mare Capri ($50) from Spain, homegrown Chemist Navy Strength Gin ($47), and Italy’s Portofino Dry Gin ($60), that are all extremely giftable. For extra ideas, take a look at our most up-to-date top 10 gins checklist.

Vodka Hanson of Sonoma Pink Grapefruit Vodka ($25) – Our solely top-rated vodka of the yr was this vivid, citrusy version from the all the time on-point Hanson. Additionally stable are Belvedere Organic Infusions Vodka Lemon & Basil ($35), Hope Town Lime Vodka ($26), and — if you need one thing unflavored — One Eight Distilling District Made Vodka ($28).

Rum – Foursquare Mark XI “Sagacity” Single Blended Rum ($70) – A lot good rum hitting the market now, a lot of it at manageable costs, like this beautiful mix from Barbados’s Foursquare. We additionally extremely suggest Hampden “The Younger” Rum 5 Years Old 2021 ($61), Equiano Rum Light ($40), and Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum Belize 2006 ($98). For extra stable picks, see our most up-to-date top 10 rums checklist.

Brandy – Drouet Cognac Fine Mélina 7 Years Old ($77) – Maybe tougher to seek out, however within the sub-$100 vary, you gained’t discover a higher brandy (outdoors of the normal choices). Extra stable, reasonably priced choices embody the unique Gran Duque d’Alba Brandy de Jerez Solera Gran Reserva ($46), Germain-Robin California Alambic Brandy 7 Years Old ($70), and Brandy Sainte Louise ($35) — none of that are Cognac.

Tequila – Expresiones del Corazon Barrel-Aged Tequila George T. Stagg Anejo 2021 ($99) – This collection of particular editions from Corazon are aged in high-end whiskey barrels; this bottling which spends months in a George T. Stagg barrel isn’t simply delish, it’s a singular and excellent present for any tequila lover. For a lighter selection, attempt Calirosa Tequila Rosa Blanco ($50) or Tequila Gran Diamante Reposado ($62).  In fact, our sparkly new top 10 tequilas and mezcals checklist has a lot extra choices, too.

Liqueur – Luxardo Sangue Morlacco Cherry Liqueur ($30) – That is the most effective cherry liqueur you’ll discover in the marketplace proper now — and it doesn’t drip once you pour it. Additionally, whereas it’s not new, Barrow’s Intense Ginger ($29) has been reformulated and showcases how completely balanced a ginger liqueur can and ought to be.

Wine You’ll be able to’t ever go mistaken with a bottle of wine. Two latest prime 10s can be found in your perusal on that entrance: our prime 10 wines for summer and our top 10 wines for winter options.

Books – Stand up to hurry on the ingesting world by pairing a bottle with a e-book. A few of our favorites: The Wine Bible (3rd Edition), A Sense of Place: A Journey Around Scotland’s Whisky, Doctors and Distillers, Claridge’s The Cocktail Book, World Atlas of Beer, and The Art of Whisky: The Vanishing Spirits of Single Malt Scotch.

Bear in mind: When you want one other customized present thought (or have a distinct finances), drop us a line or go away a remark right here and we’ll provide our greatest recommendation!

Seeking to purchase any of the above? Give our retail companions at Flaviar, Caskers, Drizly, Frootbat, and Wine.com a attempt! Bear in mind you’ll be able to search multiple stores at wine-searcher for hard-to-find merchandise. And Flaviar’s spirits subscription kits are an effective way to attempt dozens of spirits every year for an inexpensive value.

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