20 Interesting Alcohol-Related Discoveries (And Gift Ideas) For Holiday Season 2020
Fall 2020 is now well underway as we are now well into November. While 2020 has already proven to be the most difficult year in recent memory, it has produced plenty of interesting new spirits and alcohol industry developments. In turn, below are 20 product recommendations and/or interesting news items that are keeping things interesting in Fall 2020 for everyday consumers, many of which also suitable as 2020 holiday season gift ideas if you are still in gift-seeking mode.
Truly Hard Seltzer x Compartes
Truly Hard Seltzer has teamed up with famed Los Angeles chocolatier Compartes to form one-of-a-kind hard seltzer-infused truffles. This set of 5 truffles, each inspired by Truly’s Berry Mix Pack, are filled with hard seltzer-spiked chocolate ganache encased in a melt-in-your-mouth chocolate exterior. This exclusive chocolate truffles gift box makes for an ideal gift for friends and family near and far and is sure to bring cheer and joy this holiday season. The truffles are perfect on their own, but do pair well with a crisp and refreshing Truly Hard Seltzer, of course. The Truly Hard Seltzer x Compartes 5-piece Gourmet Chocolate Truffles Gift Box, priced at $19.95 includes 2 Truly Wild Berry-infused truffle, 1 Truly Black Cherry-infused truffle, 1 Truly Blueberry & Acai-infused truffl, and 1 Truly Raspberry Lime-infused truffle.
Angry Orchard x Jasper Hill Cheese
Looking for a sweet and savory gift for loved ones this holiday season? Beloved hard cider brand Angry Orchard has partnered with Jasper Hill Farm for the second year in a row to deliver a delicious Willoughby Cheese made with Angry Orchard Unfiltered. Willoughby is a soft, washed-rind cheese developed by Jasper Hill Farm, a gorgeous working dairy farm and creamery based in Vermont. The Willoughby and Angry Orchard cheese collaboration delivers a succulent and buttery flavor, as paired perfectly with Unfiltered’s distinct crisp apple taste. Now available for purchase via jasperhillfarm.com.
Last month Legent Bourbon proudly announced a collaboration with American menswear designer Todd Snyder. Together, Legent and Snyder released a limited-edition Bourbon Selvedge Denim Jacket, expertly tailored using super-premium, hand-selected Japanese denim to deliver a collaboration rooted in American tradition with Japanese craftsmanship. The initial release of the jacket sold out in less than 12 hours, not only leading to a prompt online replenishment but people realizing the simultaneous coolness and commercial appeal of both the Legent and Todd Snyder brands.
Rosaluna is a certified gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan mezcal, as launched last month. With this launch, the new brand is leaning into the evolving delivery landscape and ever-changing consumer buying habits by introducing a palatable, health-conscious iteration of the in-demand spirit; the U.S. looks to be surpassing Mexico as the largest market for mezcal in 2020. Co-founders Nate Brown, a creative director known for his work with Kanye West, Jay-Z, Drake, and Beyonce, and Terry Lee, brand advisor to Thrive Market, merged their respective skill sets to launch a truly different lifestyle spirits company that honors the spirit’s storied history. Rosaluna is crafted on a sixth generation family-owned farm in Santiago, Matatlán — the heartland of mezcal in Oaxaca, Mexico — where brother-sister duo Frida and Juan Jiménez grow, farm, ferment and distill Rosaluna’s own agave from start to finish. Rosaluna has launched with Drizly, an alcohol delivery service offering added convenience to consumers.
Stella Artois’ Limited-Edition Midnight Lager
Stella Artois is the #1 best-selling Belgian beer in the world. Winner of the 2019 World Beer Award for World’s Best International Lager, Stella Artois is renowned for its wonderful floral aroma, well-balanced malt sweetness, crisp hop bitterness, and a soft dry finish. Its first-ever, limited-edition seasonal beer, Midnight Lager, is back just in time for the holidays. With notes of Belgian dark chocolate and freshly brewed espresso, a 5.4 percent ABV and a bold black and gold look, this brew inspired by the midnight sky itself. It hits shelves nationwide for its second season on November 9, 2020.
Pinhook Bourbon’s Bohemian Bourbon
Bohemian Bourbon is Pinhook’s 2020 flagship bourbon, crafted using a proprietary mashbill distilled at Castle & Key distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Identified by its orange hand-dipped wax and label, Bohemian Bourbon was created to be an everyday whiskey, blended to withstand dilution when enjoyed in a cocktail or over ice. This vintage has aromas of orange peel, candied pecans, clove and wet stone, as met with a palate of tropical fruit and caramel, leading to a finish of almond and cinnamon. As with all Pinhook flagship expressions, Bohemian Bourbon is meant to be consistently available throughout the year, joining the 2020 flagship rye Rye’d On, on shelves nationwide. The 2020 flagship bourbon release also follows the April launch of Bohemian Bourbon High Proof, from the same group of Pinhook’s custom-distilled barrels with a mashbill of 75 percent corn, 15 percent rye, and 10 percent malted barley. A fraction of the production size, the limited-availability Bohemian Bourbon High Proof was the first bourbon released from the former the Old Taylor distillery — now called Castle & Key — since it was abandoned in 1972.
You can further explore the brand through the Pinhook AR app, as available via Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Pinhook is also available to purchase through Breeze, the brand’s new text-to-shop service. By texting the word PINHOOK to 926-848, users are able to shop any Pinhook expression and have it delivered to their door.
Haig Club Scotch Whisky x Inter Miami CF
Haig Club Clubman, a bold, stylish and modern Single Grain Whisky from Scotland, officially arrived in Miami in early 2020. To celebrate the arrival of Clubman in the market, Haig Club partnered with Inter Miami CF to become the official whisky of Major League Soccer’s newest club. In collaboration with business partner and Club co-owner David Beckham, Haig Club Clubman was designed to be different; a Single Grain Scotch taking the whisky world by storm through its light, smooth taste, stand-out blue bottle & versatility. Haig Club’s search for IMCF’s #1 Fan is calling on local Miamians and soccer fans alike to share an image of their IMCF swag on social media for a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dine on the pitch with three friends and specialty Haig Club Clubman cocktails. Photo entries for this contest are being accepted now through November 11, 2020 at 11:59 PM EST. The contest winner will be announced on Friday, November 13th, while the field-side dinner with the winner and 3 friends will be held on November 19th at 6:00 PM EST.
BON V!V Spiked Seltzer’s “Perfect Pink Cocktail”
Recently in honor of Mean Girls, BON V!V gave 21+ fans a new way to celebrate the cult favorite film with a delicious pink cocktail that’s — their words, not mine — “so fetch.” The “You Can’t Sip with Us” cocktail takes a new, sophisticated twist on the classic Paloma with mezcal, rosé and zesty BON V!V Grapefruit, so you can sip pink regularly. BON V!V Grapefruit seems to be the perfect addition to this bright and light cocktail, with great flavor, zero grams of sugar, 90 calories and the perfect balance of 4.5 percent ABV. Plenty of other BON V!V-related recipes can be found online, including several currently published to Drizly, like this and this.
Cutwater Spirits’ Tiki Holiday Spirit
A leader in the canned cocktails space, Cutwater Spirits is one of the few distillers in San Diego to distill authentic tequila. And last year, Cutwater recently launched its first-ever tequila, Rayador Tequila Blanco. There are currently 18 Cutwater canned cocktails to choose from, including drinks with whiskey, vodka, gin and rum. Notably, its Vodka Soda offering includes the award-winning Fugu Vodka, 6 times distilled and lightly-flavored with cucumber, grapefruit and lime soda water. Notably, earlier in the year Cutwater Spirits released a brand-new, ready-to-enjoy canned cocktail: a Long Island Iced Tea. The 13.2 percent ABV throwback everyone needs right now, Cutwater’s elevated interpretation of the notorious dive bar classic features 4 of the brand’s award-winning spirits: Rum, Gin, Cutwater Vodka and Cutwater Tequila, along with citrus notes and a splash of cola. Delicious and strong.
Outside of the canned space, Cutwater’s Tiki Holiday Spirit is a seasonal, rumbased libation which pairs Cutwater’s exceptionally smooth Bali Hai Rum with the subtle flavors of pineapple and coconut, as combined with cream, cinnamon and a hint of holiday spirit. The result is reminiscent of an eggnog, but with a Cutwater tropical twist — just pour, add ice, and enjoy. 20 percent ABV with a suggested retail price of $29.99.
Bonterra Organic Vineyards’ The McNab 2016
Bonterra Organic Vineyards’ biodynamically-grown wines are climate savers in a bottle, as the farming techniques used to grow the grapes are working to save the planet, all while the most deserving in our communities work to save us. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Old Vine Petite Sirah, The McNab 2016 showcases aromas of blackberries, black currants with a touch of cedar. Soft tannins and a long finish reveal flavors of raspberry, plum, vanilla spice, and well-integrated oak on the palate. Suggested retail price on this great-looking bottle is $50.
Also available from Bonterra, The Roost 2017 is a classic Burgundian-style Chardonnay, opening with notes of lemon, baked apple and crème brûlée and balanced with brisk acidity. Barrel aged, this wine provides an elegant finish with a touch of toffee and nutmeg. Meanwhile, The Butler 2014 is a Syrah blending hints of Mourvedre, Grenache and Zinfandel, while excuding aromas of ripe plum and dark cherries with a hint of violets. The Butler 2014 is a rich, velvety wine with good structure, well-integrated tannins and flavors of sweet oak and licorice spice.
Damrak’s Original Gin & Virgin 0.0
Damark’s Original Gin and Virgin 0.0 are both distilled in the heart of Amsterdam, steps away from the historic Damrak harbor. Owned by Lucas Bols, the world’s oldest distilled spirits brand, both spirits contain recognizable botanicals, including citrus peels, lavender, and coriander seeds. Damrak is notably the first gin brand to launch a non-alcoholic alternative. Lucas Bols’ master distiller Piet van Leijenhorst and head distiller Monique ten Kortenaar spent 2 years perfecting this zero-proof formula, ensuring that even at 0 percent alcohol, the spirit can stand out in a cocktail and mirror Damrak Gin’s flavor profile. Damrak Virgin 0.0, a gluten-free, sugar-free and calorie-free distilled spirit, was the highest rated in the 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Non-Alcoholic Spirit category. Meanwhile, Damrak Original Gin has been awarded numerous accolades, including winning the Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and receiving a 94-point score by Wine Enthusiast.
BEAU JOIE is a luxury Champagne that combines supreme quality with impeccable, cutting-edge design. Its ground-breaking patented bottle is encased in a striking, handcrafted copper suit of armor and developed with 100 percent recyclable materials. It specializes in zero dosage (no added sugar) Champagnes and appeals to today’s health conscious consumer who still appreciates a good time. Currently available via Drizzly, Minibar, wine.com and its own website, BEAU JOIE has 3 offerings on the market: BEAU JOIE Brut, BEAU JOIE Rosé, and MARCHESA for BEAU JOIE; the MARCHESA notably being adorned with over 10,000 beads and crystals that are all handmade and embroidered. As an added bonus, BEAU JOIE’s Global Creative Director and investor Tiësto is an internationally-recognized DJ and Grammy-winning producer, and a well-known figure on the global nightlife scene.
Budweiser’s World Series “Rally Buds”
The 2020 MLB season may be behind us, but Budweiser — the official beer of MLB — has been present for sports victories and losses for generations. This past World Series Budweiser asked fans to turn to Bud when their favorite team needs it most, thus introducing Rally Buds. There are many superstitions in baseball, including the popular “rally caps” worn upside down when your team is behind. To support this passion fans bring to the game, Budweiser had created limited-edition “Rally Buds” cans to champion the viewers’ quest for the W. The 2020 World Series is just the beginning for Rally Buds, as Budweiser will make Rally Buds cans available in baseball stadiums nationwide for the upcoming 2021 season.
For now, elsewhere on the Budweiser spectrum, there is the new Bud Light Seltzer Ugly Sweater Variety Pack. Extending the brand’s popular hard seltzer portfolio just in time for the holiday season, it includes Apple Crisp, Peppermint Pattie, Gingersnap and Cranberry flavor offerings. I could drink the (very delicious) Bud Light Seltzer Peppermint Pattie flavor year-round, personally.
Oh, and speaking of Budweiser, have you seen their 2020 limited-edition holiday cans? The 2020 Budweiser Clydesdale Holiday Stein? The Shinesty pajama collaboration? The Oliver Logan denim jackets? Some great merchandise offerings from Bud this year.
Originated by a spirited family with over 25 years in the tequila industry. El Sativo is an innovative tequila that lifts the spirits and stands apart from the crowd. Our sweet agave dances in waterfalls of stone fruit soaking in memorable days and fun-filled nights. El Sativo sets itself apart by utilizing a special distillation method that naturally highlights the agave plant’s precious resources known to have mood lifting and energy-boosting attributes that exemplify #SoSativo. A Single Estate masterpiece and the winner of 2 “double gold” awards — including 2020 Tequila of the Year (San Francisco World Spirits Competition) — El Sativo Tequila is Certified USDA Organic, Non-GMO and kosher, and each bottle is 100 percent smart combustible recycled glass with organic soluble label; every bottle sold also gives back to ocean conservancy. Truly “A Better Tequila for a Better World.”
In lieu of egg nog, how about ice pops soaked in spirits to share with family and friends — or just yourself — this holiday season? Ice pops may have you feeling nostalgic for childhood, but in fueling them with alcohol, adult-oriented memories are now in store thanks to Boozie Freezies. An alcoholic freeze pop product line made with premium spirits, fruit purees and concentrates and a dash of sugar, as sweetened with Monk Fruit, there are less than 100 calories in each Wreck Beach Boozie Freezie. Wreck Beach Boozie Freezies arrive unfrozen are available in 4 flavors: Brisky Frisky Daiquiri, Glacier Margarita, Sunshine On the Rocks, and VodkaBerry Snow. They are available in a 12-pack MixerPack and can easily be ordered via www.wreckbeachspirits.com.
FUN WINE is a “better for you,” low ABV, low-calorie, flavored, all-natural, and lightly carbonated everyday wine drink. Available in bold and refreshing flavors inspired by Miami’s distinct art, fashion and music culture, its bottles happened to have been designed by renowned Miami graffiti and pop artist Miguel Paredes. Its Hard Bubbly reportedly includes an ingredient never seen before within the industry: monk fruit. Meanwhile, all 6 FUN WINE flavors have 59 calories per 5-ounce pour, less than half the calorie content of traditional wine and the lowest globally for a 5.5 percent ABV wine product. All 6 offerings are produced with all natural, gluten-free ingredients, and all are manufactured in a vegan-certified plant in the European Union. My personal favorite FUN WINE is the Espresso Cabinet, which also comes in 250 mL slim can and 330 mL aluminum bottle offerings.
19 Crimes made headlines earlier this year when it collaborates with Snoop Dogg. But beyond that headline and its well-regarded wine, 19 Crimes also has people talking about its eerie AR feature which animates “The Infamous” through the brand’s Living Labels app. The faces pictured on each label represent the brave figures who went from criminal to colonist and live through the app to tell their tales of sentencing and survival. This includes the 19 Crimes 2018 Red Wine offering, which features intense, lifted vanilla aromas, as balanced with riper red to dark berry fruits that rise in defiance from the glass. I also recommend 19 Crimes’ 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, which pairs vanilla aromatics with red currants, violets, and mulberry fruits.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s Sistrunk Marketplace & Brewery’s recently opened a full-production craft distillery, Shady Distillery, in the heart of Fort Lauderdale’s historic Sistrunk; Shady Distillery is part of the Sistrunk Marketplace & Brewery, a hip food hall, that opened in September. Using a blend of old world and new world technique along with the best ingredients, the distillery prides itself on not cutting corners or mass producing its products while making every drop count. Its namesake and interior theme are inspired by Florida’s long history of controversy, and suspect events. The Distillery reflects on all those considered shady and will be creating craft spirits inspired by these shady moments in time.
Head Distiller Jonny VerPlanck has been creating and collaborating on many different variations of vodka, rum and bourbons in small batches to release. The first batch is Shady Vodka and next week Shady’s limited-edition RECOUNT 2020 Vodka, just in time for this year’s U.S. Presidential election. Shady Distillery’s American craft made Shady Vodka is a small-batch handcrafted vodka that is 7 times distilled from corn and is gluten-free and carb-free with no sweeteners or additives. The proprietary finishing filtration process has created an 80-proof smooth vodka that is best served “Straight Up Shady.” No matter which way you vote, or how Shady you think the other guy is, make sure to watch the still-ongoing fiasco unfold with a bottle of RECOUNT 2020 Vodka.
The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve
The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve is a newer release from the Glenlivet label that combines the heritage of Scotch whisky with the flavor and soul of the Caribbean. The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve draws sweet and tropical fruit notes from the oak, creating a spirit with a smooth and well-balanced finish, making it the ideal expression to be enjoyed neat, over ice, or in a refreshing tasting cocktail, giving a tropical twist to any culinary occasion. For newer yet traditional fare from Glenlivet, consider trying The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve.
Triple-distilled and aged 8-12 years in double charred bourbon barrels, Jameson Black Barrel gets its rich smooth taste from charring, an age-old method for invigorating barrels to intensify the taste. As a tribute to its coopers, who pain-stakingly give their bourbon barrels an additional charring to reveal their untold richness and complexity, the label’s select double charred barrels produce a whiskey with even richer flavor and intense smoothness. Jameson Black Barrel offers aromas of butterscotch, fudge and creamy toffee. Nutty notes are in abundance alongside the smooth sweetness of spice and vanilla, as followed by the richness and intensity of toasted wood and vanilla.
Saint Liberty Whiskey’s Variety Pack
Thanks to Saint Liberty Whiskey’s Variety Pack, you can knock out 3 gifts with 1 set. This one includes 3 full-sized, high-quality craft whisky bottles, including the Bertie’s Bear Gulch Straight Bourbon, Josephine’s Flat Head River Straight Rye and Mary’s Four Grain Straight Bourbon. Priced at $154.99, this set is available for purchase online, while individual bottles ranging from $49.99-$59.99.
As developed and overseen by singer Sammy Hagar and chef Guy Fieri, Santo Spirits offers nicely-nuanced bottles with smooth and balanced spirits inside them. Santo Spirits’ Tequila Blanco and Mezquila both ought to appeal to a tequila enthusiast, to say the least. Named 1 of the top 7 Blancos in the world, the Tequila Blanco costs $47.99. Taking silver in San Francisco’s World Spirits Competition, the Santo Mezquila starts at $69.99. Having tasted both spirits, I look forward to interviewing the brand’s founders to learn more about Santo Spirits in the near-future.
Frescobaldi Tenuta Castiglioni 2017
Artesa Vineyards & Winery sits high on a hilltop overlooking the renowned appellation of Carneros in California’s southern Napa Valley. The winery’s roots date back to the 1980’s when the Raventós family, heirs of the Spanish wine-making dynasty Codorníu, began acquiring land in Napa Valley. In 1997 it was named Artesa, from the Catalan word for handcrafted. Today, Artesa focuses on producing small lots of the varietals for which Carneros and the Napa Valley are best known and aims to capture the essence of terroir through exceptional winemaking. Los Carneros Chardonnay 2017 displays ripe Meyer lemon and white blossom aromas along with flavors of nectarine and lemon grass, ending with a note of apple pastry. The wine pairs well with turkey, chicken and cream-enhanced fish dishes alike.
TweetAbout the Author
Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."
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