Edmonton Journal

COUNT DOWN TO CHRISTMAS WITH A DAILY TIPPLE

- JUANITA ROOS

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Time for a holiday gift guide for the wine and spirit lovers on your list.

Opening those secret cardboard flaps on an Advent calendar is just plain fun and there are several holiday versions to choose from. Although beer calendars launched this craze a couple years ago, they’ve diminished in popularity. But there are many other exciting Advent calendars out there, such as gin, whisky, port and wine calendars.

Advent calendars can be opened by removing one item at a time for the traditiona­l 24 (or condensed 12) days before Christmas.

The Boutique-Y gin calendar has beautifull­y labelled 30 ml glass bottles that would be perfect to open on those glorious days when the weather shifts and the flowers are blooming — the perfect time for a gin and tonic. Be a rebel and wrap one up to place under the tree and let the recipient (or yourself ) enjoy opening each surprise at leisure.

If that’s too big of a commitment, build a customized holiday hamper of wines or spirits and add some associated accompanim­ents. For example, put together a cocktail hamper with all the ingredient­s needed to make an Old Fashioned or a Negroni and then add a couple glasses, a citrus rind curler, fancy ice cube tray, cocktail shaker, mixing glass and a bar spoon. For a wine hamper, choose some wines (you can’t go wrong with a bottle of bubbly and Port) and add some snacks to pair along with a candle, a decanter or a beautiful waiter’s corkscrew. Consider a Lambrusco with some local charcuteri­e or a bottle of Sparkling Blanc de Blanc or Champagne and popcorn ( bubbly is perfect with salty, buttery popcorn). And for those last-minute shoppers, a gift card from your favourite boutique is a terrific idea.

Here are a few more great holiday gift ideas:

TWELVE WHISKIES OF CHRISTMAS ADVENT CALENDAR $127

If you’ve a whisky-lover to shop for, look no further. Presented in a terrific custom box complete with a dozen 30 ml drams of a range of styles from Scotch single malts, single grains and blends. Whether it’s an evening dram on the countdown to Christmas or something to savour post holidays, it’s a fabulous package.

THAT BOUTIQUE-Y GIN CO. ADVENT CALENDAR $260

We have had many requests for a gin Advent calendar in the past and finally here it is. There are two dozen 30 ml bottles that are wax dipped with gorgeous labels. A variety of styles are offered from fruity to fun. A gin-lovers dream. These are award-winning gins from renowned distilleri­es in the UK.

WINE DOWN TO CHRISTMAS ADVENT CALENDAR $325

Shameless promotion of a product that my daughter, Kelsey, and I created and are very proud of. Color de Vino’s holiday wine Advent calendar is packaged in custom boxes specially designed to remove just one wine a day. It’s the ultimate holiday gift for wine-lovers to stock up for the holidays, add to their cellar or simply uncork and enjoy. Twelve 750ml bottles in total that aren’t widely available from mostly small producers.

REGIONS OF SCOTLAND WHISKY TASTING SET $68

Though not an Advent calendar it’s a fabulous gift with five 30 ml bottles covering a spectrum of styles and regions from Scotland.

It ranges from the peaty and smoky Islay to the fruity, malty Highlands, the soft, floral Lowlands to the honeyed Speyside. The one I opened had: Glenfarcla­s 15 Year Old, Lagavulin 16 Year Old, Talisker 10 Year Old, Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old and Glenkinchi­e 12 Year Old.

CHURCHILLS PORT EXPERIENCE $45

For the Port-lover on your list, or as the perfect hostess gift, this three-bottle set is the ticket. Each 200 ml bottle contains a different style of Port: a 10-YearOld Tawny, a reserve Port and a wonderful white Port. A great tasting set to discover the world of Portuguese fortified wines.

Wine selections are available at select Alberta shops. Log onto liquorconn­ect.com to check availabili­ty and give them a call to verify. Juanita Roos opened Color de Vino, a fine wine and spirits store, with her family in 2014. She has travelled to wine regions around the world and completed the prestigiou­s WSET Diploma from London, England, the prerequisi­te for the Master of Wine program. Send your questions about wine to info@colordevin­o.ca.

 ?? ED KAISER ?? Looking for a holiday gift for the wine aficionado in the family? Consider a Wine Down to Christmas Advent calendar consisting of 12 bottles that are not widely available.
ED KAISER Looking for a holiday gift for the wine aficionado in the family? Consider a Wine Down to Christmas Advent calendar consisting of 12 bottles that are not widely available.
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