In the spirit: 8 holiday gift ideas from national and Wilmington distillers
Boozy holiday gifts don’t just magically appear on ABC store shelves this time of year via some North Pole magic. It’s a year-round process that starts with spirits companies and distilleries spending months thinking of just right way to set their bottles apart from the crowd.
By May, that year’s holiday selections are available for ordering, said Jeff Strickland, public affairs director for the North Carolina ABC Commission. For 2022, that amounted to 187 products. By September and October, those packages are being delivered to ABC warehouses.
Now, most of those options are on the shelves. The most typical holiday selections package a bottle with glasses with which to enjoy it. But some companies have gotten creative. Here’s a look at ways that both local and national distillers are helping shoppers ‘get in the spirit’ this season.
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Evan Williams Egg Nog
Strickland said that this particular product was one of the largest orders to the state’s ABC stores this year. Thousands of bottles of this popular version of the classic holiday drink will be for sale. Look for custard and vanilla flavors blended with seven-year-old Kentucky bourbon.
Blue Shark Cigars
The local vodka company partnered with Tampa-based J.C. Newman Cigar Company to create a special line of hand-rolled cigars with the help of brand ambassador and former NFL kicker Connor Barth. The high-end cigars are for sale this holiday season on the Blue Shark website as a limited-edition gift. They come in a collection of four with a white-lacquered box lined with Spanish cedar wood.
Fireball Candy Canes
This cinnamon whiskey brand is one of those that has packaged mini bottles in festive, oversized candy canes. You can find 10 ‘shot size’ bottles of the spirit that tastes like a cinnamon-and-pepper candy, which makes them a gift idea-- or something to bring to holiday parties.
Wilmington's Seasonal Flavors
Wilmington Distillery at 12 Dock St. makes spirits like Honey Cornbread Moonshine and Von Vodka. For this holiday season, though, they're adding three limited edition bottles. The seasonal flavors include limoncello, Apple Pie Moonshine, and a spiced rum.
1800 Taco Holder
The makers of 1800 Silver Tequila have a gift set that includes a bottle and a branded taco holder. What's better way to enjoy the popular Mexican dish that with this agave spirit? Unfortunately, the silver-toned holder doesn't actually fit 1,800 tacos, but three.
Four Hounds with Gift Wrapping
In Carolina Beach, this rum distillery has you covered for last-minute gifts. They have grab-and-go bottles pre-wrapped for Christmas, Hanukkah and more. You can also get a selection custom-wrapped while you wait, and maybe enjoy a cocktail at the bar at 1202 N Lake Park Blvd.
Elijah's Cocktail Kit
Speaking of cocktails, Elijah Craig Bourbon is offering a holiday gift set that includes what you need to make one in its Old Fashioned Cocktail Kit. It includes a branded double jigger, a bottle of Black Walnut cocktail syrup, and a bottle of their small batch bourbon.
Momentum's NC Bottles
Wilmington-based Momentum Distillery is in the process of getting its North Carolina-shaped bottles in ABC stores before the holiday. In the store at The Cotton Exchange in downtown Wilmington, they're also planning to add to the line of vodka and limoncello. That should include gin, rye whiskey and aged rum before the end of the shopping season.
Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington distillers and liquor companies have holiday gift ideas
