Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Christmas madness is in full swing. The twinkling lights, Christmas carols on a loop, and seemingly unending traffic have gotten people into a state of holiday frenzy. You’ve probably done most of your Christmas shopping by now, but for those who are still stumped on what to get their drink enthusiast friend, we have some ideas for you. 1) Okinawa Gin If gin is near and dear to your heart, why not give someone a bottle of this intriguing Japanese gin. The beautiful blue bottle holds a unique aromatic craft gin from Masahiro Distillery. Okinawa Japanese gin uses Awamori as its base spirit, a type of rice-based spirit unique to Okinawa (Okinawan distilled sake), made from long-grain rice distilled like shōchū. The gin also uses guava leaves, long pepper, roselle (a type of hibiscus), goya (a kind of bittermelon), and shekwasha (a green citrus fruit native to Okinawa) as its botanicals to make up its unique flavor profile. Perfect for sipping after a long day, or as part of a gin and tonic. Masahiro Okinawa Japanese gin sells at Php2,500 SRP. Okinawa gin is available online at Hotei Japanese Premium’s website hjpwinesandspirits.com. 2) Cocktail Critters Bar Pins These cute Cocktail Critters are the perfect stocking stuffers! A personal project of bartender Mitchell Kai Lum, he features cute and clever designs of creatures, both real and mystical, together with different cocktails and spirits. They’re great gifts and perfect for any of your boozy industry friends, or pin collectors. Each pin costs $12USD (around Php 600). As a special promotion, use the discount code ‘DRINKMANILA’ and receive 25% off until December 31, 2019. They offer free worldwide shipping, so you can send them to your friends around the world with no hassle. Go to www.cocktailcritters.com to get your orders in. 3) Sorgin Can’t decide whether to give wine and gin? With Sorgin, you have the best of both worlds. Sorgin (which means ‘witch’ in Basque) is an ingenious gin made from Sauvignon Blanc wine distillate. It is the brainchild of winegrower and vineyard owners Francois Lurton and his partner Sabine Jaren. Francois Lurton represents the fourth generation of winegrowers from this large family who have been producing wines in Bordeaux since 1897. Francois Lurton launched his benchmark wine, Les Fumées Blanches Sauvignon, and his passion for the grape variety only deepened from there. Sorgin is a gin that would link the worlds of wine and spirits together. It is aromatic and full-bodied, with notes of citrus and blackcurrant, and has a long, elegant floral finish. Perfect for a simple gin and tonic with orange slice and peel. Sorgin is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by Apotheke Craft Spirits and retails for Php 2,100 at winedepot.com and Wine Depot outlets. 4) That Boutique-y Company Advent Calendar An advent calendar for adults! It’s a bit late to start counting down to Christmas, we know. But this seasonal treat from one of the brands we met at Whisky Live, That Boutique-y Gin/Whisky Company has teamed up with Drinks By The Dram to bring joy to one and all. Every dram is handmade and wax-sealed with the perfect serving. Count down to the new year, Chinese New Year, Valentine’s day, next Saturday, whathaveyou. There’s always a reason to celebrate and break open a new spirit discovery. That Boutique-y Company Advent Calendar starts at Php3,200 and above depending on the box and numbers of drams. Get yours today at Wine Depot. 5) Plantation Rum 20th Anniversary Set For the lovers of fine rums, this is the perfect gift to wrap for the holidays. This extraordinary vintage marks the 20th anniversary of Maison Ferrand (one of the world’s premier boutique producers of fine spirits); the liquid is a mixture of 12 to 20 years old fine rums all originating in Barbados. A great sipping rum, it has a rich palate of chocolate and ripe banana with fresh and delicious mango notes. As with the other rums in the Plantation range, this exotic spirit is aged first in its original country, Barbados, and then benefits with further aging and nurturing in Cognac. Resting in casks originally used for Pierre Ferrand cognac, and meticulously nurtured by Cellar Master of Maison Ferrand, a unique expression is achieved using traditional local methods. The gift set includes a Plantation XO Rum and 2 Original Plantation nosing glasses and is available for Php3,900 at Wine Depot. 6) The Glenrothes Soleo Collection If you have a friend who loves their whisky with some sherry influence, get them a bottle (or all the bottles depending on your budget and how much you love them) from the Glenrothes Soleo collection. This new range of single malt whiskies are matured in first-fill sherry seasoned casks (they seasoned their own barrels with sherry). The 12 Year Old is the classic Glenrothes house style with notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and melon. The 18 Year Old is smooth, peppery, with notes of dried fruit. The Whisky Maker’s Cut is spicy, with notes of vanilla, caramel, and orange peel (and is at 48.8% ABV). Choose which one fits your giftee’s tastes, or better yet, get them the whole set. The Glenrothes 12 Year Old starts at Php 3,649 at boozy.ph 7) Liquor Gourmet Spreads by Felicisimo Gourmet Homecooking Whisky Chicken Liver Paté—rich and creamy paté with a kick of whisky; Bourbon Bacon Jam— a combination of the bourbon’s oaky sweetness and the bacon’s smoked, salty and savory notes; Guava Rum Jam—made from native Philippine pink guavas combined with rum. Level up your holiday charcuterie with liquor-infused gourmet spreads. Felicisimo’s Whisky Chicken Liver Pate (Php440), Bourbon Bacon Jam (Php 460), and Guava Rum Jam (Php 350) are great on crackers, bread, vegetables crudités, or chips. Gift them to your foodie friends and keep some for yourself. These rich and flavorful spreads are great as appetizers or snacks at any time of the day and night. The liquor adds depth to the flavors, but don’t worry; they won’t get you buzzed. You can order by sliding into their Facebook and Instagram DMs @felicisimogourmet. 8) Wilmax Bar tools For the friend who is building their own home bar, a set of shiny Wilmax Bar tools would be a great gift to give. These sleek and stylish tools are handy in creating classic or modern cocktails without having to leave the comfort of the home. Shop for Wilmax bar tools in their Lazada store. Wilmax England bar tools are exclusively distributed by World Class Concepts Corp. For more information about their products, visit wccc.com.ph, @worldclassconceptscorp on Facebook, or contact +632 824 385 659. 9) Lucaris Rims Collection Lucaris Rims Collection Nick & Nora, Rims Orient Saucer, Coupe, Lotus, Martini, and Deco glass Every cocktail connoisseur would be happy to have a set of stemware from the Lucaris Rims Collection. These sexy glasses make great gifts for people who love to entertain at home and want to feel luxurious while doing so. Check out our feature on these beautiful glasses on this link and see what drinks can be used for them in this feature. Get these items in select department stores or get sets from their Lazada store. Stemmed glassware ranges from Php 4,164 to Php 5,024 per six-piece set. The Lucaris Rims Collection is exclusively distributed by World Class Concepts Corp. For more information about their products, visit wccc.com.ph, @worldclassconceptscorp on Facebook, or contact +632 824 385 659. Follow Lucaris Philippines at @lucarisph on Instagram. 10) Lakan Lambanog For lovers of local craft spirits, this premium lambanog is the perfect gift. Lakan Lambanog is a multi-awarded coconut liquor made by using the old tradition of harvesting and distilling nectar from the inflorescence of coconut trees. And yes, they are FDA approved and trusted and rated international award-giving bodies for its quality and taste. The spirit is distilled several times in small batches. Lakan Bronze (Php 1,401) is smooth with a hint of sweetness, Lakan Silver (Php 3,049) has hints of jammy fruit and vanilla, and Lakan Gold (Php 4,549) is distilled multiple times to and is smooth, has a good mouthfeel and a nice finish. Purchase them from boozy.ph or the Lakan online store. 11) Marble Wine Cooler For wine lovers who have everything, give them a unique marble wine cooler to chill their favorite vino. This wine cooler is made with local marble and crafted in Romblon Marble Manufacturing Plant and can be custom-monogrammed. It costs Php3,500 with free initials engraving. For inquiries, email andre_estanislao@yahoo.com. We tried to be good this year so that Santa will put any or all of these items under our Christmas tree. These drink lovers’ gift ideas are perfect for those who love to entertain at home or just simply enjoy the joys of mixology and craft spirits. Send this list to your loved ones for some hints and ideas on what you would like to get for the holidays!