Holiday Gift Picks for a Season of Splendor

As the holiday season approaches, the spirit of giving comes alive, and the search for the perfect gifts begins. In a world brimming with possibilities, finding the ideal present that combines thoughtfulness and delight can be both exciting and overwhelming. Fear not, for our curated, F&B-forward holiday gift guide is here to transform your seasonal shopping into a tasty adventure.

RocketFire Propane Torch (https://rocketfiretorch.com)
Perfect for lighting a grill or fire pit, starting a campfire or searing steak, the RocketFire Torch is reportedly the fastest fire starter on the planet. It’s also an ideal gift to help your loved one reclaim their time with friends and family. With typical fire starters, such as paper, logs, starter squares and lighter fluid, grilling can be a long and frustrating process—taking anywhere from 12-14 minutes to ignite and keep a steady fire going. The RocketFire Torch roars to life in a burst of flame that quickly and evenly lights a charcoal grill or fire pit. Simply place the tri-flame tip in the center of the charcoal or wood and allow the 60-degree flame to do all the work, without the need to add lighter fluid or chemical-soaked bits that could affect the taste of your food. You don’t even have to coax a fire to life by blowing on it or adding kindling. Plus, there’s no finicky cords or overcomplicated instructions. Just push the button and hear the rocket roar. Producing 2,000-degree heat within seconds, RocketFire Torch is the superior solution for fast and reliable fire starting. It’s made of quality stainless steel, brass and aluminum alloy and is safe, easy-to-use and offered with a money-back guarantee. The propane-fueled device is also compatible with Big Green Egg, Kamado and Primo ceramic grills, fire pits and charcoal smokers.

Travel Keg from DrinkTanks (https://drinktanks.com/)
Treat your favorite beer connoisseur to the best drinking experience anytime, anywhere and always on tap. DrinkTanks’ Travel Keg is a compact, durable and completely portable personal tap system that combines the company’s 64-ounce Craft Growler with its easy-to-use Keg Cap dispensing attachment. That way, users need only fill the growler and then set it and forget it until the next perfect pour. The patented technology eliminates the need to open the growler to dispense your drink of choice and creates even pressure all the way around the lid’s seal. The result? Far less gas can get in or out—allowing the sudsy beverage to maintain carbonation, temperature and flavor so you can keep your adventures flowing without ever sacrificing that first-pour freshness for up to 30 days. Other notable features include a cork insulated storage cap, stainless steel double-walled vacuum insulation, Perfect Pour Handle for easy transport and even laser-etched internal ounce markings for easy cocktail mixing. From craft beer purists to weekend revelers, this durable and BPA-free keg is sure to make their holiday wish list.

Damn, Man’s ‘12 Days of Winter Wonder’ Savory Meat Sticks & Nut Medley Advent Calendar (https://dmsnacks.com/)
The countdown begins to the most wonderful time of the year—and what better way to get into the festive spirit than through your taste buds? Damn, Man’s 12 Days of Winter Wonder – Savory Meat Sticks and Nut Medley advent calendar provides users with a different snack surprise each day. Plus, with six tins of delicious, flavored nuts and six meat sticks ranging from original to spicy, the salty and sweet combination is packaged together in a winter wonderland scene straight from the Alps. The advent calendar includes 2 oz. tins of salted pistachios, honey sea salt almonds, salted walnuts, butter cinnamon pecans, cranberry nut blend and lightly salted cashews, as well as two pepper meat sticks, two spicy meat sticks and two original meat sticks. Damn, Man got its start 28 years ago when mother-and-son duo, Fran and Neil, embarked on a culinary adventure from their modest kitchen. What started as crafting traditional chocolates, the company soon discovered an unmet demand for nuts and snacks with a unique twist. Listening to its customers’ desires, Damn, Man introduced innovative nut flavors presented in eye-catching packaging and collections—ideal for any special occasion. Make someone’s holiday countdown extra tasty this year with this sweet and salty take on the traditional advent calendar.

JYPSI Whiskey Legacy Series (https://whiskeyjypsi.com/)
Not sure which bottle to get for that special someone this year? Whiskey JYPSI provides the perfect touch of exotic with its cross-blending of international whiskeys to create a one-of-a-kind pour. Founded by country music star, Eric Church, and business leader, Raj Alva, the duo tapped award-winning blender, Ari Sussman, to break the mold with the brand’s unique approach to whiskey-making—helping to create an award-winning product that Whiskey Raiders called, “perhaps the best celebrity spirit on the market.” Take its Legacy Batch 001. This bottle is based on traditional bourbon mash bill, but instead of blending the grains before fermentation, Whiskey JYPSI’s well-aged whiskey components are sourced from various origins and use cross-category blending to reconstruct a traditional mash bill. This allowed the brand to select from a wider portfolio of international whiskeys, ensuring that each whiskey is at the exact right age and flavor profile to perfectly harmonize within this particular blend. Drinkers can expect rich layers of aroma, flavor and deep wood character that are not generally found in spirits. Each batch of Whiskey JYPSI’s Legacy Series will be unique in its sourcing, blending and finishing approach. So, when Batch 001 is sold out, it cannot be replicated.

Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque Brut & Grand Brut Champagnes (https://www.perrier-jouet.com/)
What better way to welcome the holiday season than with a toast of bubbly? Maison Perrier-Jouët’s iconic vintage cuvée, Belle Époque Brut, is a rare and elegant bottle that celebrates both the art of vintage and the excellence of the champagne house’s vineyard. First appearing in 1964, this 2013 brut is instantly recognizable throughout the world by Art Nouveau master Emile Gallé’s painted Japanese white anemones adorning the bottle—but even more for its taste. The vintage cuvée creates a combination of freshness and finesse on the palate, rounded out by its delicate and distinctive white fruit and floral aroma. Perrier-Jouët recommends pairing the Belle Époque Brut’s pale, translucent gold pour with noble ingredients, such as king prawns and polenta or sole meunière. Another fan favorite, the brand’s Grand Brut is a melting pot of aromas and flavors crafted to make each moment special. The rounded champagne is crisp and light and features a hint of buttery brioche and vanilla on the nose—making it an ideal beverage for food options spanning chicken breast and grapefruit, to leeks. Perrier-Jouët’s Grand Brut has a longstanding history in its own right, tracing back to 1846 when the champagne house launched its Cuvée K, the world’s first “brut.” Soon, Maison Perrier-Jouët would become renowned for its low-sugar brut champagnes—a philosophy maintained to this day.

Sparkling Pointe’s 2015 1.5L Blanc de Blancs Magnum & 2014 Brut Seduction (https://shop.sparklingpointe.com/)
Not sure what to bring the host or hostess of your holiday parties this season? Sparkling Pointe’s 2014 Brut Seduction is sure to make any get-together sparkle. The rare, mature cuvée’s organoleptic profile is aged eight years before its disgorgement—allowing it to showcase a deep gold color with aromas of lemon custard, almond croissant, baking spices and Bosc pear. Drinkers can also expect a textured and balanced palate of red apple, white cherry and nutmeg as they sip on this sparkler, which consists of 49 percent Pinot Noir, 45 percent Chardonnay varietals and six percent Pinot Meunier. But, for those who are looking to bring a true show-stopper to their next soirée, Sparkling Pointe has the bottle for you. The 2015 1.5L Blanc de Blancs Magnum is the equivalent of two standard wine bottles—carefully filled with the winery’s elegant and rich Chardonnay. The 2015 Blanc de Blancs features a golden yellow appearance and opens with aromas of apple, pear and marzipan. A depth of caramel and almond croissant is enhanced with mature secondary flavors of baked apple, lemon zest and butter cookie. Founded in 2004 by husband-and-wife team Tom and Cynthia Rosicki, Sparkling Pointe is a recognized producer of traditional méthode sparkling wines, in which the vino undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle to produce the sparkle. Focusing on traditional varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier), the brand’s grapes are sustainably grown on three vineyard sites spanning 40 acres on the North Fork of Long Island. Sparkling Pointe is North Fork’s only winery fully dedicated to producing sparkling wines, which have been consistently acknowledged as some of the best in the New York wine region.

2018 Ovation Sparkling Wine from Joseph Phelps Vineyards (https://josephphelps.com/)
Celebrate the holidays with something bubbly this year. The perfect bottle? A 2018 Ovation Sparkling Wine from Joseph Phelps Vineyards. The most recent project of the Napa, California, winery, Ovation has already received enthusiastic feedback from critics and consumers alike—dazzling them with its creamy layers of white peach, white raspberry, vanilla sponge cake and a pleasing saline character. This traditional sparkling wine is Joseph Phelps Vineyards’ third vintage and is made from 80 percent Chardonnay and 20 percent Pinot Noir from the Pastorale Vineyard in Freestone on the western Sonoma Coast. The wine is overflowing with aromatic green apple, citrus zest, stone fruit and toasted brioche, with hints of citrus blossom that boasts a firm acid structure and tension with additional flavor benefits following cellar aging. Additional characteristics vino aficionados can expect in the 2018 blend are the excellent overall phenological ripening, complex aroma and flavor profile in the finished wines that are a result of the season’s cool, mild weather. Ideal food pairing options for the Ovation Sparkling Wine include mussels, oysters and caviar and crème fraîche. For half a century and three generations, the Joseph Phelps Vineyards team has followed in Joe’s trailblazing footsteps for winemaking excellence, gracious hospitality and sustainability efforts in its California vineyards and wineries to preserve and enhance the cherished region it calls home.

Founder’s Pair & Holiday Dinner Trio Gift Boxes by Mark Ryan Winery (https://shop.markryanwinery.com/)
‘Tis the season for gift sets and bundles—and Mark Ryan Winery has you and your loved ones covered. Its Founder’s Pair Gift Box features two of the first wines the brand made 23 vintages ago: The 2021 Dead Horse—made up of 91 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, three percent Merlot, three percent Cabernet Franc, two percent Malbec and one percent Petit Verdot—and the 2021 Long Haul, which is 72 percent Merlot, 17 percent Cabernet Franc, 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and one percent Petit Verdot. For those looking to gift their friends and family with a variety of options to serve with holiday meals, the Holiday Dinner Trio Gift Box treats recipients with a lineup of bottles from three different Mark Ryan Winery collections. This set is priced at $105 and includes the winery’s Megan Anne Pinot Noir, 2021 Monkey Wrench Red Wine and The Vincent Chardonnay. Founded in 1999 by Mark McNeilly, Mark Ryan Winery resides in the heart of Woodinville, Washington. His first vintages were crafted in the garages of friends and family, and through dedicated craftsmanship, the winery’s reputation blossomed—captivating both wine enthusiasts and critics alike. Mark Ryan Winery’s growth and acclaim are a testament to its commitment to shaping the Washington wine landscape, while producing truly exceptional vinos.

‘The Significant Moment’ Gift Set from Eleven Eleven Winery (https://shop.elevenelevenwines.com/)
Whether celebrating a milestone or creating cherished memories, Eleven Eleven Winery’s Significant Moment Gift Set adds an extra touch of elegance and sensory delight to any occasion. Presented beautifully in a branded gift box, this luxe package features a bottle of 2020 Laki’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon paired with an Eleven Eleven Scented Candle to bring an extra festive touch to the curated set. The 2020 Laki’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is sure to be a standout addition during holiday festivities, with rich aromas of black cherry, blackberry and cassis, and a true expression of the unique terroir of Oak Knoll District in Napa Valley, California. Eleven Eleven Winery’s name represents meant-to-be moments that celebrate everyday life by embodying synchronicity, inspiration and soul. It’s one of the region’s only urban wineries and crafts 100 percent varietal vinos produced by winemaker Kirk Venge—allowing the true expression of the single vineyard and varietal to shine through. These limited-production wines from Napa Valley and Sonoma County are polished, fruit-forward and balanced, with bright acidity that’s reflective of the relatively cooler vineyards where they are grown.

Zero-Sugar Wine Varietals from Lifevine (https://lifevinewines.com/)
Gift someone a bottle of guilt-free vino this year with Lifevine’s Zero-Sugar Wine. There are more than 70 FDA-approved additives currently allowed in wine and wine brands, but companies aren’t even required to put ingredients on their labels. Yet, at Lifevine, the award-winning brand has embraced transparency with its nothing-to-hide and more-to-love approach. Lifevine is one of the first wines in the U.S. to list both serving facts and ingredients on the bottle—believing in providing consumers with all the information needed so they can make the best choices about what they put into their bodies. For those who like to limit their sugar intake and are mindful of their health, Lifevine’s winemakers go above and beyond traditional practices to ensure their product is free of sugar, harmful toxins and pesticides—without compromising quality or flavor. Not sure which varietal to purchase? Lifevine’s Holiday Bundle offers customers its Cabernet, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Rose wines, so you can share more holiday spirits with loved ones at an even greater price.

Read Also: Editor’s Top Picks for the best products suitable for gifting
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Merilee Kern, MBA is an internationally-regarded brand strategist and analyst who reports on cultural shifts and trends as well as noteworthy industry change makers, movers, shakers and innovators across all categories, both B2C and B2B. This includes field experts and thought leaders, brands, products, services, destinations and events. Merilee is Founder, Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List” as well as Host of the  “Savvy Living” lifestyle TV show that airs in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Atlanta and other major markets on CBS, FOX and other top networks; as well as the “Savvy Ventures” business TV show that airs nationally on FOX Business TV and Bloomberg TV. As a prolific lifestyle, travel, dining and leisure industry voice of authority and tastemaker, Merilee keeps her finger on the pulse of the marketplace in search of new and innovative must-haves and exemplary experiences at all price points, from the affordable to the extreme. Her work reaches multi-millions worldwide via broadcast TV (her own shows and copious others on which she appears) as well as a myriad of print and online publications. Connect with her at www.TheLuxeList.com and www.SavvyLiving.tv / Instagram www.Instagram.com/MerileeKern / Twitter www.Twitter.com/MerileeKern / Facebook www.Facebook.com/MerileeKernOfficial / LinkedIN www.LinkedIn.com/in/MerileeKern.

***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided at no cost or sponsored to accommodate if this is review editorial, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way.***