The Liquid Muse Holiday Gift Guide 2012

What’s that you say? You haven’t finished your holiday shopping?  Never fear – The Liquid Muse gift guide is here!  I’ve gathered a few suggestions for every imbiber in your life.  See ya in the check out lines… Got cash? Splurge here:

  • Shake up the “person who has everything” with a silver-plated, wicker-wrapped 1930’s shaker set. Paul Lobel designed the original prototype of this shaker for the groundbreaking exhibition Contemporary American Industrial Art in 1934at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, then produced by Wilcox Silver Plate Company. Bidding starts on Dec. 15 at Sotheby's, $40,000
  • The Tumi Mixology Set is a collaboration between Ketel One vodka and Tumi Luggage, and crafted from Italian leather, nickel hardware and Poplar wood.  Have your butler load it onto your private jet for that special NYE jaunt. $3,995
  • Love the liqueur? Ride the St. Germain Whimsical Wheels branded bicyclette along the French countryside collecting your own elderflowers. $1000
  • Cognac lovers will “oo-la-la” over Courvoisier 21 from the Connoisseur Collection $250, and Mandarine Napoleon XO oak-aged for 30 years and macerated with mandarin peels and 27 herbs and spices. Only 900 bottles created. $350

 Got geeks? Professionals and enthusiasts will toast your good taste:

  • Baby Barrels are made from American White Oak, easily ordered online, and perfect those loved-ones looking to experiment with home-aging spirits or cocktails. Start at only $45!
  • George Dickel rye’s mash is 95% rye and 5% malted barley. It then matures in new charred oak barrels for at least 5 years. It’s loverly and a must-have for the classic cocktail connoisseur. $24.99
  • Deco-Decadence!  I amass special bottles for my bar collection – and I’m a lifelong Campari-lover - so I found a special place on my shelf for the stylish Campari 2012 limited edition bottle. The label is Italian artist Ugo Nespolo’s reinterpretation of Leonetto Cappiello’s original Campari-commissioned “Spiritello” print from 1921.  $28

Got conscience? Greenies and Activists will love a sip of these:

  • SKYY Vodka and amfAR have partnered on SKYY Vodka Blue Velvet Limited Edition Bottle to benefit the fight against AIDS. $18.49
  • Frangelico and Celebrity Chocolatier MarieBelle have created the Hazelnut Liqueur Holiday Truffles benefitting Bideawee, a 100-year old animal welfare and pet adoption organization. the Frangelico MarieBelle truffles are available at the MarieBelle chocolate boutique in New York City and online from November through January 2013. starting at $15.00.
  • OM Cocktails stands for Organic Mixology. The certified organic cocktail-in-an-eco-friendly-bottle is on Whole Foods and Gelsons store shelves across Southern California, and expanding quickly. Also available online. A tree is planted for each bottle sold. I happen to have a soft spot for this product – see the video on my homepage.

Got Dessert?  These tasty treats go down sweetly.

  • Feeling full?  Try the new delicious Kahlúa Midnight, a 70 proof mix of rum and black coffee liqueur, instead of dessert. For an elegant après-feast, serve chilled shots alongside fresh orange slices. $23.99
  • Blame Canada if the Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey Toasted Caramel becomes a new guilty pleasure. Its the perfect hybrid of spirit and flavor with a touch of sweetness for an after-dinner tipple. About $27
  • RumChata is one of those pre-mixed bottles that had me skeptical at first – but its very tasty chilled, as a sipper straight from the bottle.  If you like your drinks a bit more rummy, it would also work as a modifier in a cocktail, as well as in a warm drink. Nearly 5 million bottles have been sold in all 50 states, which speaks “liters” for its popularity. $19.95

Got Books? Recipes, tips and more:These are a few of my top picks which have come out in the last year or so.  Yes, I included my own book. If you’d like a signed copy for someone, email me.