Great spirits to give and receive year ‘round

Wine with turkey

What’s popular: Belle Glos Pinot Noir Clark & Telephone

What we suggest: Éric Texier Côte-Rôtie Vieilles Vignes

Wine with ham

What’s popular: Orin Swift’s The Prisoner Napa Valley Red

What we suggest: 2008 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr / Riesling Spätlese one star

Cheap but good red wine (under $10)

Banfi Col di Sasso Cabernet
Sauvignon Sangiovese

Cheap but good white wine (under $10)

Alois Lageder Pinot Grigio / Riff Terra Alpina

Host/hostess gift

Champagne / Sparkling wine; Add a bottle of Chambord or St. Germain Elderflower liqueur for cocktails!

Three spirits to add to your hot chocolate

Frangelico • Tequila / Rum or a Rum-based flavored liqueur such as Kahlua

Seasonal winter beers to try

• Cold Mountain Winter Ale by Highland Brewing Co.
• White Christmas, Samuel Adams by The Boston Beer Company
• Frosted Frog Christmas Ale (Winter Warmer) by Hoppin’ Frog Brewery

Great alcohol gift under $15

• Eggnog for the holidays
• The Irishman, Irish cream
• Ivanabitch Vodka and flavors

Alcohol gift if money is no object

• Colgin Cariad 2005 Napa Valley Proprietary Red ($529.99)
• Don Julio Real Tequila ($359.99)

Alcohol gift if money REALLY is no object

• Hennessy Richard Cognac ($2,999.99)
• 1997 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon ($4,649.97)

 

Top photo: Drink up, big spenders! This Hennessy Richard Cognac goes for almost $3,000 a bottle (Publicity photo)