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Fail-proof gifts for life’s mini moments

Read time 4 Mins

Posted 27 Mar 2025

By
Emily Reed

A line-up of various wines, beers and spirits bottles against an illustrated background

Because plenty of things deserve to be celebrated, like no more Open For Inspections.

Everyone loves a milestone. We hold week-long festivals for all the big round birthdays, engagement announcements and wedding celebrations. But what about those moments in between? The ones that are worth acknowledging but sometimes pass us by. We like to call these ‘mini-stones’ – the other occasions in life that deserve celebrating but don’t get as much fanfare as their milestone counterparts. From ‘friendaversaries’ to wrapping up a degree, we’re all for celebrating the smaller (but wildly important) moments in life. And when these moments arise, a nice bottle of something delicious makes a thoughtful gift. 

Here are some of our favourite other moments, along with a drinkable gift idea to match.

A bottle of Frogmore Creek Pinot Noir

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1. The housewarming dinner

Let’s be honest – if someone manages to secure a place to live during a cost-of-living and rental crisis, they deserve a round of applause. And a nice bottle of wine. Most of us know the pain of house hunting. If you're renting, you’ve probably spent Saturday mornings lining up with what feels like hundreds of other hopefuls, all vying for the perfect place. If you're buying, the stress of bidding at auctions (not too early, not too late… how far past our limit can we push it?) is enough to bring you to tears. So, when the new home is secured and the housewarming dinner invite lands, show up with something nice to mark the occasion. We love Frogmore Creek Pinot Noir, a standout from Tasmania’s Coal River Valley – an area known for high-quality, full-bodied pinots. Expect vibrant crimson hues, ripe berry aromas, a hint of spice and silky cherry notes balanced by refreshing acidity. It’s the perfect bottle to gift and enjoy when you visit.

2. Friendaversaries

By far the most underrated mini-stone, a ‘friendaversary’ is a moment to celebrate a mate you can’t imagine life without. Whether it’s been months or decades since you first met, you’ve probably shared countless adventures, inside jokes, heartfelt conversations and navigated the highs and lows of life. Show this friend how much you appreciate them with a bottle of Casamigos Blanco Tequila – a very fitting bottle to celebrate your friendaversary because it was co-founded by three friends – George Clooney, Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman (perhaps to celebrate their friendaversary?). Initially created as a private label, Casamigos – meaning ‘house of friends’ – is known for its exceptional smoothness, making it perfect for sipping neat or mixing into cocktails. The flavour is crisp and clean, with notes of tropical fruits, citrus and a refreshing hint of mint. We’re pretty sure the best friendships are built on spicy Margs, so why not whip up a few using this tequila? Here’s a stellar recipe to try.
A bottle of Casamigos Tequila

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The Starward Whisky Negroni is a cocktail ready to go

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3. The promotion they’ve been working for

Climbing the workplace ladder is no mean feat. We all know that landing a promotion is the result of hard work, late nights, nailing big projects and maybe enduring a few too many “quick” Zoom calls. If you know someone who’s just taken the next big step in their career, they deserve more than a LinkedIn like. We think a bottle of Starward Whisky Negroni is way better. This ready-to-pour twist on the classic cocktail swaps gin for Starward’s signature red wine barrel-aged whisky, adding depth, richness and just the right amount of celebratory flair. All they need to do is pour it over ice, garnish with a slice of orange and toast to their well-earned success. Cheers to the next chapter!

4. The side hustle takes off

Pursuing a side hustle takes guts, passion and a whole lotta late nights, so when someone you know takes the leap, it calls for a toast. There’s probably at least one person who springs to mind – maybe that friend who’s always running app ideas by you at the pub. If you’re lucky enough to have an entrepreneur in your midst, celebrating their new venture with a bottle of Gérard Bertrand Côte des Roses Rosé will go down a treat. A wine that’s just as elevated as their new venture, it’s crisp, dry and packed with fresh berry and citrus flavours, making it the perfect way to say, "Congrats, you did the thing!" Bonus points if you pair it with a heartfelt pep talk and an offer to be their first (and biggest) customer. 
Gérard Bertrand Côte des Roses Rosé is from France

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The Archie Rose Native Botanical Vodka is made in Sydney

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5. The new job

A new job! Nice one. This new chapter – and the fact your mate made it through multiple interviews with HR – is well worth celebrating. Whether they’ve landed a role in a hot new advertising agency, a corporate gig, or something in between, the thrill of a fresh start deserves a drink as bold as the journey ahead. Our pick for this mini-stone is a bottle of Archie Rose Native Botanical Vodka, a smooth, crisp number infused with Australian botanicals that’s perfect for toasting to new beginnings. If you really want to kick the celebrations up a notch, then consider making a cocktail or two. Nothing beats a classic Vodka Martini (those botanical notes will really shine) or a Pickletini because a new job calls for something a little fancier than your stock-standard pickle back.  

6. The uni degree with flying colours

The journey to graduating uni can feel pretty long and arduous. Those years of studying are filled with long hours spent in lecture halls (trying your hardest to pay attention to that tutor drone on), endless assignments (and references!) that you pushed through because you had to keep up with a packed social calendar, and, of course, the gruelling exam prep. So, if someone you know has just graduated, it’s time to raise a glass of something good. Croser Vintage is a great celebratory drop that’s made in the traditional method, resulting in fine bubbles and a refined mouthfeel. It’s approachable yet sophisticated, and popping it after the graduation ceremony is the perfect way to say, “Seeya!” to uni. 
Croser Vintage is an excellent example of local sparkling wine

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A bottle of Nikka Whisky From The Barrel Japanese Whisky

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7. The retirement

In the words of Dolly Parton, “Workin' nine to five, what a way to make a living.” And when you finally don’t have to work those hours for the boss man, it’s a great feeling. Finally, the person you care about who’s retiring gets to swap the rat race for the wide-open road in their newly purchased caravan. Or maybe they’ll finally take up bee-keeping. Or join a line-dancing class. Their newfound freedom to indulge in the things they've always wanted to do is a well-deserved reward, and a sip of Nikka Whisky From The Barrel Japanese Whisky feels like the perfect celebration. It’s rich and complex, with a smooth finish that perfectly balances sweet and smoky notes. This special drop is a blend of carefully chosen malt and grain whiskies, expertly combined and then returned to the cask to marry and develop further. Pay homage to its Japanese roots by adding it to a Whiskey Highball – a simple, yet classic cocktail that’s perfect for retirement adventures.
Want to know how to make a gift feel extra special? Read up on the five ways to elevate the bottle-as-gift.   
Shop related products
Frogmore CreekPinot Noir
Pinot Noir
$43.99 each
 
StarwardWhisky Negroni Cocktail 500mL
  • product badge
Whisky Negroni Cocktail 500mL
Member Offer
$44.99 per bottle Non-Member: $51.99 each
 
Gérard BertrandCote des Roses Rosé
  • product badge
Cote des Roses Rosé
Member Offer
$22 per bottle Non-Member: $23.95 each
 
Archie RoseNative Botanical Vodka 700mL
  • product badge
Native Botanical Vodka 700mL
$70.99 each
 
CroserVintage
Vintage
$39.99 each
 
Authour image
Emily ReedEmily is a Melbourne-based writer partial to a good pét nat. Her hobbies include lining up songs on Spotify at house parties and hovering near cheese platters.
Tags
Hit ListRed WineVodkaRoséSparklingPinot NoirTequilaWhisk(e)yPre-batched cocktailsWineChampagneSpiritsJapanese Whisky
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