In partnership with Bacardi Limited
To say that 2020 has been a trying year would be the world’s biggest understatement. It’s important to remember, however, that there’s still much to be grateful for this holiday season. While we may not be able to celebrate with friends and family as we normally would, we can still let them know we’re thinking of them and look forward to raising a glass together soon.
And what better way to do that than with a bottle of premium liquor. Below, we’ve curated three of our favorite bottles for the various types of drinkers we all know and love, along with a couple other bits and bobs that make for quality accompaniment and a nice reminder of the good times to come.
We all know someone who loves nothing more than to fix a drink and curl up by the fire with a good book. For such a giftee, look no further than Aberfeldy 12. Known as the “Golden Dram,” Aberfeldy single malt whisky is made in the only distillery in Scotland that utilizes water from the Central Highlands’ famed Pitilie Burn stream. A longer fermentation process yields notes of honey across all Aberfeldy expressions, with Aberfeldy 12 featuring additional notes of spice, fruit and vanilla, as well as just a whisper of smoke on the finish. The distillery is also the proud sponsor of the “Barrels and Bees” program, a partnership with Scotland’s apiarist community focused on educating bartenders on using better honey in mixed drinks (see: a cozy Scotch Hot Toddy) and raising awareness of the global decline in bee populations.
A nice touch to send along with that bottle? A set of diagrammed Hot Toddy glasses, a Scotland-appropriate tartan wool blanket and maybe some really nice honey.
This is for the friend who, by virtue of an innate love of social pastimes like poker, board games or charades, always seems to be holding court among friends in their home — and who, having spent nearly an entire year without guests to entertain, could use a reminder of raucous evenings to come in the form of this delicious blended Scotch whisky. The first whisky created by Stephanie Mcleod (Dewar’s first female master blender), Dewar’s 15 was created to be a lighter, sweeter blended Scotch whisky via a unique double aging process. The result is a surprisingly smooth dram with notes of floral, honey and toffee that appeals to Scotch whisky veterans and novices alike. Call it a crowd pleaser.
As for what to give with that bottle of Dewar’s 15, might we suggest a clever glass with space for a cigar and a set of deluxe coasters?
Know somebody who always seems to be cluing fellow drinkers (you included) into under-the-radar spirits and cocktails in an effort to broaden everyone’s libational horizons? Endulge their inquisitive nature with a bottle of Bacardi Reserva Ocho. Created in 1862 as a private reserve for the Bacardi family (and kept that way for seven generations), Bacardi Reserva Ocho is one of the oldest private rum blends in the world. Taking eight full years to mature (hence the “ocho”), the result is a refined, complex rum featuring notes of prune, apricot, nutmeg and vanilla. For the adventurous drinker, this makes it an excellent base for unexpected cocktails like the Treacle, a twist on the Old Fashioned using Bacardi Reserva Ocho and fresh pressed apple juice.
In terms of gift pairings for that bottle of Bacardi Reserva Ocho? In our opinion you can’t go wrong with some classy Old Fashioned glasses and a top-shelf cocktail recipe book.
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