Skip to content

Cocktail Lover’s 2016 Holiday Gift Guide: Non-Local Edition

Spirited gift options for the cocktail lover in your life

By AJ Rathbun December 15, 2016

thumbnail_gift-guide-nl-combo

Last week, we showcased locally-made gifts for the cocktail lover in your life. While I like the idea of stuffing stockings with Washington-made products, there are definitely some choice items made outside our state lines that would also bring a smile to that home (or pro!) bartender who you’re shopping for, starting with the six picks below.

Ardbeg Uigeadail Whisky: Made like all the wondrous whisky on the Scottish Isle of Islay, this Scotch whisky is named after the loch where Ardbeg gets its water, and has won numerous awards including World Whisky of the Year from Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. It is a delicious and memorable tipple, with deep strong flavors, smoke, pepper, sherry and a little honey sweetness. If you know a Scotch lover, this is a good present and then some, as are its siblings in what the distillery calls its “Ultimate Range,” the peaty Ardbeg 10, and the forest-fruity Corryvreckan, named after a renowned whirlpool.

Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva Rum: If you have a special someone on your list that you know is daydreaming of island living (not hard to imagine with our current weather), putting a bottle of this in their stocking is sure to make you a favorite. Crafted from pure sugar cane in antique copper pot stills before being aged in oak for up to 12 years, this Venezuelan rum is a sumptuous mingling of caramel, nuts, orange, vanilla, nutmeg and allspice. They’ll want to sip this slowly and let the beach visions arrive (though it’s also superb in cocktails).

Sombra Mezcal: Another one for a recipient who just wants a break from the chill and the cold (even if it’s only a metaphoric break, and not an actual vacation), this mezcal is made in the Rio Hormiga Colorada valley, outside of Oaxaca, Mexico, from Espadin agave hearts that are cooked over mesquite-fired red hot rocks. It carries a lot of its history and geography in each sip, with a strong, smoky, mesquite nature, accented by citrus notes. It’s a serious drink, but also loads of fun and approachable, good with food, and it subs in nicely for cousin tequila in a margarita.

Cynar: As 2016 feels a lot like “the year of the herbal drink,” I’d be remiss for not having a herbally digestif on this list, and if you are shopping for someone who is developing a love for these types of drinks, or just expanding their cocktail repertoire, Cynar is a spot-on choice. Made from artichokes, of all things, in conjunction with 13 other herbs and plants, this Italian favorite is, like many of its brethren, adored due both to its taste (herbs, sweetness, a smidge of bitterness), and because it is thought to have a healing powers. Who knows, maybe it does? 

Follow Us

Restaurant Roundup: Dutch Bros’ Seattle Debut and Hatch Green Chiles

Restaurant Roundup: Dutch Bros’ Seattle Debut and Hatch Green Chiles

Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.

Stay updated on Seattle's food scene! From Dutch Bros' SoDo debut and Bite of Seattle to Hatch green chile pop-ups, here is the latest restaurant news.

Opening Night: This Tiny Pioneer Square Restaurant Is About to Be Standing Room Only

Opening Night: This Tiny Pioneer Square Restaurant Is About to Be Standing Room Only

In the former Salumi space, Doris serves martinis and playful snacks at tables close enough to make a new best friend. 

Welcome to Opening Night, our new column about hot new restaurants around Seattle. For our debut edition, we went to a media preview at Doris, a teeny-tiny Pioneer Square spot that oozes style. Longtime Seattleites may get a bit of a shock when they walk into Doris. The narrow, hallway-shaped space on the corner where…

House Special: Soondae Gukbap at Busan Jeong

House Special: Soondae Gukbap at Busan Jeong

Every component of the signature pork soup is made in-house to create a lasting impression.

Seattle is not short of quality Korean restaurants, but many offer similar menus built around the best-known, most popular dishes. When global restaurateur Hoyeon Park moved to Seattle, he noticed that it was difficult to find authentic Busan-style pork soup, a beloved comfort food in Korea but largely unknown in the States. Park currently operates…

Restaurant Roundup: Cold Noodles and Underground Italian 

Restaurant Roundup: Cold Noodles and Underground Italian 

Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.

Noodles might not be at the top of everybody’s list when it comes to treats to cool off this summer—but they should be. Slurping down cold udon, naengmyeon, or bún is as refreshing as it is tasty. There are plenty of Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese restaurants putting their best chilled dishes forward for the season,…