Spirits

Ho Ho Ho and a bottle of cheer

By Michael Barnes
Web posted: Nov. 30, 2005

Liquor companies go crazy during the holiday season, dreaming up seductive packaging for their wares. Allow your Spirits Guy to recommend a few gift ideas.

For that headbanger nephew: Rocker Sammy Hagar has purchased a respectable tequila distillery and renamed it to match his party resort and cantina, Cabo Wabo. The blanco, reposado and anejo ($50 to $85 respectively) don't come with hair-shaking screams from Sammy himself, but these are bright, super-premium tequilas bottled in seaside colors and worth whiling away many an hour.

For that free-spirited sister-in-law: Following the just-have-fun marketing trend is Jon, Mark and Robbo's Malt Scotch Whisky, which comes in three varieties, cheekily named "The Rich Spicey One," "The Smooth Sweeter One," "The Smokey, Peaty One." These are fine, smooth, blended scotches (running $30 to $45) without highly distinctive tastes, but wonderful swirled with a double dose of filtered water.

For that traditionalist uncle: This column has sung the praises of Woodford Reserve. Well, now the small-batch bourbon offers a Four-Grain edition ($79.99), made from wheat, rye, corn and malted barley and smoothed through copper tanks. It reminds the nose and palate of whiskey aged in sherry casks, or even the complex wonders of Islay single-malt scotches, minus the iodine aftertaste.

For that aunt who "doesn't really drink": Who can resist the allure of chocolate? The Godiva Minis Sampler Pack ($12.99) includes the "original" flavor, plus chocolate cream, white chocolate and cappuccino. She'll think it's dessert, but it might elicit from her a few scandalous stories about Dad's youthful misadventures.

For that relative you really want to impress (better make it into the will, though): Nobody reading this column can afford $3,500 for a Johnnie Walker Anniversary Pack. But this little number includes a cask-strength bottle of Blue Label (forget Red and Black), a crystal decanter and book with Blue Label tasting advice. We have not sampled this baby, so we are taking it on faith that it will soften up the Scrooge McDuck in your family.