Look for more whiskey, food and travel posts over the next few months. It is good to be back blogging! It has been a crazy summer and it’s not going to stop anytime soon. Reasonably priced at $33.99, it practically jumped into my cart. I have never seen Pinhook there before and it was the last bottle.

My eyes locked on the bright green seal on the top of a bottle of Pinhook Rye. If you haven’t seen his Instagram page look him up.Īs is usual, I left with more than just a bottle of champage. While there, I ran into Old Man Bourbon, stocking the shelves. I had to wander the whiskey aisle while there it’s the law. On my birthday I stopped by Hi-Time Wine Cellar today to pick up a bottle Ployez-Jacquemart, our favorite champagne. You can find pretty much any type of whiskey gear a whiskey lover would like. There are many websites dedicated to the whiskey lovers of the world. The most amazing thing she ever got me from the Pappy & Company website is an authentic Pappy Van Winkle barrel head signed by Julian Van Winkle III. I’ve collected some good Pappy gear over the years, including a beautiful hand etched “Bourbon” decanter, glassware, and even napkins. I scored big time this year! (My son and daughter-in-law got me a Hydroflask, probably to make sure I’m hydrating in between bourbon tastings!) She also got me a golf shirt with the Pappy logo. For my birthday, she complimented it with their beautiful bar knife with a custom barrel stave handle. Lynn had already gotten me a Pappy & Company barrel stave cutting board for the bar. Anything whiskey makes a birthday a celebration. Yesterday I celebrated the 35 th Anniversary of my 30th birthday… I’m calling it a Pappy Birthday because my wife knows I love getting Pappy accessories for any occasion. If you’re looking for more ideas, check out past gift guides here, here, and here. We should all throw more impromptu porch parties these days! Lots of great drink and appetizer recipes. Porch Parties is one of Lynn’s favorite cocktail books for entertaining.I have the Dorset Crystal Double Old-Fashioned Glasses from Williams-Sonoma and really like them. No bar can have too many fun glasses to sip bourbon out of.I have my eye on this “Mint Condition” bow tie from A Taste of Kentucky’s website.The bourbon is some of the best, and the bottle is so perfect for Christmas. In Virginia, a bottle goes for about $53, if you can find one. generally requires making good friends at your favorite liquor store (or if you live in a regulated state, visiting stores often). If you can get your hands on a bottle of Stagg Jr., you will make a bourbon lover’s Christmas! If you can get your hands on two bottles – send me one! In all seriousness, finding a bottle of Stagg Jr.The packaging can’t be beat either – perfect for a Christmas gift. Blade and Bow was a favorite from our recent trip to the Bourbon Trail.Larceny is a favorite that we keep stocked on our bar.

I also made sure to include some splurges and some steals (Santa Hint: Airplane bottles are ALWAYS a great steal for stockings). Naturally, as someone who works in packaging, my bourbon choices for this year’s gift guide include bourbon bottles with good packaging. Keep an eye out for Black Friday sales at your favorite local liquor and beverage store! I know my blogging has been sporadic lately (VERY sporadic), but the Christmas Season seemed like a good time to get back online and share some gift giving ideas for bourbon and bar lovers alike.

Cooper and thief total wine