We’ve found the perfect gifts for friends and family who enjoy a tipple at Christmas
From classic sips to exciting new products to try, this guide has something for everyone who likes a drink or two.
As Santa and his reindeers head into training camp, it’s time for us mere mortals to start thinking about the gifts that we’ll be choosing for our loved ones. That can mean finding gifts that will be appreciated by specific people, including the friends and family who are fond of a nightcap!
If you’re shopping for a budding cocktail enthusiast, selecting a bottle for an informed connoisseur or helping someone stock their bar, we’ve found some of the most exciting gifts for drinkers in 2023. Take a browse through the gallery below and get shopping …
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Best gifts for drinkers
Pacific Drifter – Spiced Rum, RRP $60.00
Pirate’s drink, liquid gold, sailor’s grog, whatever you call it, rum is Australia’s true all-occasion spirit. Your rum-drinking friends will love the socially-conscious, Australian Pacific Drifter, who just clinched the prestigious Spiced Rum/Cane Spirit Trophy at the esteemed 2023 Australian Rum Awards!
The meticulously crafted cane spirit is a fusion of locally sourced, fresh Queensland molasses, distilled to purity, and imbued with the vibrant zest of cinnamon pods, Madagascan vanilla, and citrusy notes of orange and lemon peel.
Cointreau x CLINQ Festive Margarita Gift Pack, RRP $119
As we gear up for Christmas, the Orange liqueur Cointreau has partnered with Australian homeware brand CLINQ to bring some cocktail magic into your Christmas gifts. This special holiday partnership will feature a pair of coupe cocktail glasses with rose gold detailing and a 700ml bottle of Cointreau that are bound to take your cocktail game to the next level. A great gift for a significant other, friend or family member.
Never Never Distilling Co Fancy Fruit Cup, 500ml, $56.00
Crafted using Never Never’s award-winning Triple Juniper Gin at its heart, which is lengthened with Earl Grey tea and sweetened with Australian orange liqueur. It’s a cocktail in a bottle – perfect for backyard barbies and poolside parties.
The recipe is easy – add equal parts Fancy Fruit Cup, lemonade and dry ginger ale along with your favourite seasonal fruit garnishes. Never Never Brand Director, Sean Baxter, recommends using orange, strawberries, cucumber and mint. Build it in a glass, jug, bowl or decanter, it just depends on how many thirsty mouths you need to fill.
Flamingo Moscato, RRP $25 (4-pack); $120 (24-pack)
The right Moscato has a refreshingly light and fruity taste, and is balanced with dry crispness – aka Flamingo Moscato. This award-winning, beautiful ‘frizzante’ style wine made from Frontignac grapes grown in the scenic Eden Valley. Delivering lifted aromas of citrus and honeysuckle, the palate is lightly structured with tropical notes of guava, lychee and rose petals, and balanced with a crisp acid line and natural sweetness.
The best bit? You needn’t worry about cracking open open a full bottle or toting around hefty glass, Flamingo Moscato comes in the convenience of a can, arriving in both 4 and 24-pack varieties.
23rd Street Tropical Gin & Soda, RRP $25 (4-pack); $142 (24-pack)
Bursting with the flavours of mango, pineapple, passionfruit, and finger lime and mixed with soda water, this perfectly balanced, sparkling drink is like a sip of endless summer.
23rd Street Tropical Gin & Soda artwork by Rebecca Mills, WA.
Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700mL, RRP $119.99
Made from 100% Scottish barley, trickle distilled, and non-chill filtered on the island of Islay, Scotland, The Classic Laddie isn’t just another whisky; it’s a journey through the rugged Scottish terrain, bottled for those who appreciate the finer things in life.
Refined and refreshing; elevated and warming; each bottle of The Classic Laddie showcases a unique flavour profile slightly different than the last. Think: ripe green fruit, brown sugar, barley, oak and sweet malt, The Classic Laddie was made for gifting to whisky connoisseurs and novices alike.
Top 10 Tinnies Gift Box by Craft Cartel Liquor, RRP $79.00
The good old tinnie holds a special place in Australian culture and it’s making a comeback with craft brewers around the country embracing this much-loved retro vessel. Airtight and light resistant, tinnies maintain the awesome flavour of beer and nothing beats the sweet sound of cracking open a cold one. Here 10 of the best have been bundled up just for you!
Cocktails By Vok Cans, RRP $18.99
From sparkling Pina Colada that’s fizzing with decadent coconut and tangy pineapple, to the cheeky Sex On The Beach bursting with sweet orange and fleshy peach, and Raspberry Ripple, a perfect blend of tart raspberry and smooth vanilla; summer is officially served.
With a slim design that fits easily into any jam-packed esky, the 4.0% ABV make Cocktails By Vok approachable whilst still delivering a taste profile that’s bursting with deliciousness.
McConnell’s Irish Whisky, RRP $74.
Aged 5 years, McConnell’s is a fine blend of Irish malt and grain whiskies which have been gently rested in select bourbon casks, bringing beautiful overtones of vanilla sweetness, ripe fruits, butterscotch, and pepper spice.
McConnell’s signature blended Irish Whisky is aged for 5 long years in handpicked, first fill, ex-bourbon barrels which add a delicate, subtle sweetness to the whisky and also provide a deep oak woodiness and light char to the finish.
Australian Whisky Tasting Kit by White Possum, RRP $149.00
Welcome to the ultimate indulgence in Australian craft whisky. This tasting set contains 12 local whiskies. Each whisky is presented in a 30ml matte-black glass sampler bottle and labelled with the distillery, whisky name and where it was distilled. A 14-panel tasting booklet contains all the nitty gritty facts to keep you occupied while tasting.
Hampton Water Rosè, RRP $34.99
Hampton Water is the result of a collaboration between Jon Bon Jovi, his son Jesse and leading French winemaker Gérard Bertrand which came around as a result of the family spending summer holidays enjoying delicious French Rosé wine in the Hamptons.
Described as an elegant pale pink colour, Hampton Water is fresh and lively with distinctive minerality and a long-lasting finish, intensified by ageing in French oak barrels.
818 Tequila Reposado, RRP $110
After an extremely highly-anticipated launch, Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila has landed in Australia just in time for Christmas. Stuff your stocking with 818 Tequila’s much-loved Reposado; a medium-bodied tequila with a smooth caramel finish, and bold notes of cooked agave and pecan pie after ageing in a blend of oak barrels for three months. The 818 Tequila Reposado is your new go-to for anything from a Tommy’s Margarita to an Espresso Martini.
OVATA by Oakridge, RRP $23.99
Ovata is a stylish new non-vintage sparkling wine crafted by Senior Winemaker Teresa Heuzenroeder, in collaboration with the award-winning Oakridge Wines team. A culmination of winemaking expertise, this delicate blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is a superbly balanced sparkling from the pristine cool climate of Victoria’s Yarra Valley.
Gingle Bells Gold Floral Gin and Vodka Baubles by Wild Hibiscus Flower Company, RRP $89.00
Perfect for the gin lovers, hard to buy for and adult Secret Santas, this gift contains 6 different gin and vodka filled baubles each threaded with a silver ribbon for decorating.
Gonzo Vino ’23 Splishy Splashy Chillable Red, RRP $66.00
Just in time to elevate your silly season soirees, Gonzo Vino’s Splishy Splashy is back. This cherished chillable red, crafted from the sultry Portuguese grape, tinta barocca, brings notes of dark plum, with dusty soft tannins, and spicy undertones, in a psychedelic 3L bag-in-a-box design. Whether it’s a festive crowd pleaser, unique Christmas gift, or eye-catching addition to this year’s table setting, don’t miss out on Gonzo Vino’s Splishy Splashy!
Twelve Gins of Christmas, RRP $299
Twelve Gins, Twelve Garnishes and Twelve Mixers – give the gift of twelve incredible experiences this Christmas. Each day of gin has enough to try with a friend (or have it all yourself, we won’t judge!). Box Bar tries hundreds of gins from Australia and around the world each year and these are their twelve ultimate favourites.
