Holiday Spirits (and Wine), To Gift and to Drink

America is drinking more of everything, from the finest champagne to the least expensive chardonnay to the mellowest aged bourbon. Liquor stores report record sales, and even QVC, normally a go-to place for kitchen appliances and clothing for many Americans, has begun offering vintage wines.

With so many recreational opportunities shut down during the pandemics, many of us focus on food—and drink. And with the holidays ahead, planning has already begun, for gift-giving, and also for special celebrations that call for cocktails and spirits.

A superb and sure-to-be appreciated gift is Hennessy’s new collaboration with world-renowned architect Frank Gehry to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Hennessy X.O.

Created in 1870 by Maurice Hennessy for the enjoyment of family and friends, Hennessy X.O was the first “Extra Old” Cognac ever created, ultimately establishing the category. A century and a half later, Gehry has drawn inspiration from the rich, complex blend and natural elements, like the Charente River and Cognac soil that surround the Maison’s estate, to reinterpret the blend’s iconic legacy is his signature sculptural style.

The prolific creator marries gold and glass for a striking bold masterpiece, available starting Fall 2020 in an exclusive, limited run of 150 numbered decanters, each signed by Gehry (SRP: $17,000). A wider release of inspired limited-edition Hennessy X.O bottles also created by Frank Gehry, has launched in markets worldwide to further celebrate the collaboration (SRP: $200).

A purchase of this Hennessy remains committed to supporting communities around the world impacted by the pandemic. In the US, proceeds from the original (#1) Frank Gehry X.O 150th Anniversary Masterpiece will go towards Unfinished Business – the brand’s new initiative that helps small businesses with the financial and mentorship means to power through challenges of COVID-19.

Lovers of Irish Whiskey may swear by Jameson’s, but there are a couple of cool new kids on the block: The Busker Irish Whiskey Triple Cask Triple Smooth (SRP: $24.99). A “new to world” Irish Whiskey, The Busker is born out of a modern Ireland, where the contemporary and bold meet at the crossroads of tradition.

The Busker Triple Cask Triple Smooth is an extraordinary Blend made with a high-quality Single Grain and a very high percentage of Single Malt and Single Pot Still. It is a beautifully yellow gold colored whiskey, full, with an unmistakable rich body. The nose often leads off with tropical fruits and vanilla notes. The journey continues with notes of malt, sweetness and dark chocolate, while more subtle notes of toffee, fudge and cinnamon add intensity. The whiskey concludes with a mellow, well balanced, sweet finish.

Honored to be the first Irish whiskey named after a woman, Grace O’Malley Blended Irish Whiskey  (SRP: $36.99) is dedicated to the legendary 16th Century Irish Pirate Queen. Born into Irish nobility in Co Mayo in 1530, Grace O’Malley was a charismatic and natural leader. Gifted as a negotiator, she was a fearless mariner throughout her life and her great rebellious life should never be forgotten.

Created by Master Blender, Paul Caris, Grace O’Malley Blended Irish Whiskey combines multiple batches of whiskey of varying age statements from three to 10 years old. Each batch of whiskey is matured in a range of barrel types, including French oak. Casks are hand selected according to each whiskey’s characteristics, including grain whiskey aged in ex-bourbon casks and malt whiskey aged in ex-rum barrels. The resulting blend delivers a whiskey perfectly balanced between flavor, age character, complexity and smoothness. With a 46% malt content it’s a truly unique Irish blend.

As the weather turns in some parts of the country, colors are transitioning to golden landscapes of warm browns, vibrant ochre and crisp crimson–autumn is here. The season for sensible holiday meals and favorite after-dinner drinks. Members of my family love, love, love Tawny Ports: the Dow 10 Year Tawny Port (SRP $39)–and for really special occasions, the Dow 20 Year Old Tawny Port (SRP $67). Port was once considered a “Grandpa” drink. No longer. The young members of my family tell me it’s being embraced by a much younger crowd.

The Symington Family Estates, fifth generation producers from Porto, Portugal, age their Tawny ports in small oak barrels. As a result, the ports are gradually exposed to oxygen which lightens the color of the wine from deep red to eventually amber, or tawny. Aged for 10 and 20 years in the Boa Vista Lodge on the banks of the Douro River, across from the city of Porto, the wine components that make up these Tawny Ports have been aged in small vats longer than most, resulting in striking hues and rich flavors.

Dow’s Aged Tawnies strive to balance the proportion of wood character with original fruit. To achieve this style, the Dow’s tasters age a proportion of their tawnies in the larger well seasoned oak balseiros, with capacities ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 liters. The result is that the Dow’s Aged Tawnies retain freshness and lose less intensity over the years as reflected in their concentrated colors.

• Deep russet with a distinctive garnet rim and a hint of amber, Dow’s 10 Year Old Tawny Port offers bright flavors combined with an intense complexity as result of prolonged ageing in well seasoned oak. As a result, it is fuller bodied and darker, with rich hues of polished mahogany reflecting characteristics of both a young wine and Dow’s renowned Vintage Ports. Dow’s hallmark drier finish makes it the perfect pairing for fall favorites such as honey-roasted figs, cheese boards as well as apple and pumpkin pies. 

• With a saturated brown center and orange amber edges, Dow’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port exemplifies aged Tawny Port, an elegant balance of mellow fruit combined with the complex characteristics from extended wood-ageing. This delicious wine offers subtle butterscotch notes and concentrated red berry flavors and is the perfect accompaniment to nuts, dried fruits as well as vanilla ice cream and crème brûlée. 

Sparkling wine is always welcome, either as a gift or to add a festive air to a special meal. A fine choice is Sosie’s 2018 Sparkling White Wine, “First Things First,” Vivio Vineyard, Bennett Valley, Sonoma County (SRP $30). 

“First Things First” is made from some of the precious Roussanne grapes grown in the United States – less than 400 acres in all of California, where Roussanne ripens late and unevenly. In a cool site such as Vivio Vineyard in the Bennett Valley AVA of Sonoma County, one might eke out two tons per acre if lucky.

The delicate grapes are picked in the coolest hours of the middle of the night and gently treaded on in the picking bin by Scott, allowing the grapes to express their true flavors. Thoughtfully fermented with native yeast and full malolactic fermentation, this complex wine is aged in neutral oak for six months before undergoing in-bottle secondary fermentation, méthode champenoise. Rich and creamy with a beam of ripe fruit shining through, there is an unexpectant fullness from this low-dosage sparkler at 0.625 g/l, classifying the wine as brut nature.

Feature Photo by Robert Svebeck on Unsplash