Gifting for grownups

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/12/2023 (952 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The days are ticking down until the big man in the red suit and the white beard squeezes down the chimney with presents for good girls and boys.

For the grownups in your life who enjoy wine, beer or spirits, there are plenty of gift options in all price ranges that are actually useful (versus, say, socks that say “IF YOU CAN READ THIS / BRING WINE” on the soles … although it could be argued those are useful too).

Consider this your last-minute shopping guide for stocking stuffers and gifts for under the tree — or maybe even a little gift to yourself this holiday season.

Ice buckets

The range of shapes, sizes and styles in ice buckets is matched by the variety of prices at which they can be found at kitchen stores, department stores, wine shops and beyond.

An ice bucket filled with water, ice and a pinch of salt is the quickest way to chill down a bottle of white, sparkling or rosé (or beer, for that matter), so make sure whatever you’re picking up has enough room for all of the above (versus those really skinny ice buckets).

Whisky rocks

Whisky rocks are stones (typically cube-shaped) which you place in the freezer and pop into your glass to cool down your dram without watering it down. They also work well for taking the edge off a room-temperature red wine without any dilution. Again, they’re at most kitchen shops, wine stores, online retailers and the like, in a range of shapes, colours and sizes, and typically aren’t that pricey.

Decanters

A decanter is a great tool for softening up the grippy tannins on a young red wine; it’s also often used, with slow and careful pouring, to separate an older wine from any naturally occurring sediment. Decanters come in all shapes, sizes and prices, and can be found anywhere that sells kitchenware. Cool vintage decanters can also be scored at thrift stores if you’re on a budget.

Sparkling wine stoppers

Stoppers for bubbly typically clamp around the lip of the bottle in some way or another to preserve the fizz in the wine (and to avoid shooting out of the bottle from the built-up pressure inside). Depending on the style of stopper, they’ll often fit on an open bottle of beer, should you have some kicking around.

Festival tickets

The first few months of 2024 bring festivals for wine, beer and spirits lovers alike. First up is the Winnipeg Wine Festival, whose public tastings take place Jan. 26-27 at the RBC Convention Centre (375 York Ave.), with ancillary WineDown events running from Jan. 22 to 24 at various venues. This year’s theme region is Argentina; tickets start at $69.95 plus fees at winnipegwinefestival.com.

The Winnipeg Whisky Festival is also returning March 1-2 at the Fairmont Winnipeg (2 Lombard Pl.); for tickets (which start at $219 plus fees) and a list of spirits being poured see winnipegwhiskyfestival.com.

New for 2024 is Beer Is Art, happening Thursday, March 28, at WAG-Qaumajuq (300 Memorial Blvd.) and featuring local brewers with small-batch/seasonal brews plus music, access to galleries and more. Tickets start at $65 plus fees at wfp.to/jPf.

It’s never to early to get your holiday shopping done, so get going. (Speaking of which, tune in next week for a sparkling wine roundup for all your celebrating.)

Drinks of the week

One Great City Brewing Co. Humbug 2: Harder and Grumpier (Winnipeg — $4.25/473ml can, brewery, Liquor Marts, beer vendors)

Dubbed a “fruited Belgian dark strong,” the return of One Great City’s Humbug brew sees it bigger, bolder and stronger than the previous incarnation, this time around featuring the addition of candied sugar, currant, plum, cinnamon and oak.

It’s medium chestnut in colour and slightly hazy, offering baking spice, dried dark fruit, caramel and slightly sweet malt on the nose. The spice is front and centre on the medium-bodied palate, accentuating the dried fruit flavours and the lovely currant and malt notes.

Bitterness is low, but the 9.25 per cent alcohol gives this plenty of staying power on the long, warm finish. It’s like a boozy fruitcake in a glass, ideal for sipping while waiting for Santa. 4/5

Trans Canada Brewing Co. 2023 Cranberry Stout (Winnipeg — $7.74/500ml bottle, brewery, Liquor Marts and beer vendors)

Trans Canada’s cranberry stout has been stellar year in and year out, and the 2023 vintage is no exception. It’s deep cola brown in colour and offers well-balanced chocolate, roasted malt and cranberry aromas.

On the off-dry and rich, full-bodied palate the cranberry notes are big and bold, working beautifully with the dark malt, chocolate, mocha and creamy vanilla flavours before the long, warm finish (at seven per cent alcohol it’s dangerously drinkable).

Cosy up by the tree, light a fire and enjoy this exceptional stout. 5/5

Patent 5 Small Batch Whisky Release 3 (Winnipeg — $82.95/750ml bottle, distillery or online at patent5.ca)

The first two releases of Patent 5’s whisky were single-barrel bottlings; they were in short supply and sold out right away. This time around they’ve blended three barrels, with each highlighting different components — and, just as importantly, there are still a few dozen bottles left in the wild.

It’s deeper gold in colour than the previous two releases, with more caramel and vanilla aromas that come with the floral, tropical fruit, spice and grainy notes. It’s medium-bodied and rounder as well, with herbal and floral notes wrapped in caramel and vanilla notes and baking spice and anise accentuating the peppery note on the long, warm finish (it’s 44 per cent alcohol).

Brings hints of that bourbon sweetness with a more linear note that will appeal to a wide range of whisky lovers. 4/5

uncorked@mts.net

@bensigurdson