The 15 spirits gifts they really want this Christmas

1. Aperol Aperitivo

Corporate Christmas parties are the final hurdle before the sweet release of office shutdown, and they often involve some form of mandatory fun to get through. Think pass-the-parcel but for adults – a chaotic round of Bad Santa where people fight over the presents. So, if you’ve been roped into one of those office gifting games and told to bring something under $30, but you really want to show up with something that everyone will actually want, grab a bottle of Aperol. It’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser: perfect for summer Spritzes, bright, bittersweet and actually useful. Plus, if you’re lucky, they might even crack it open when the bar tab mysteriously vanishes after round two.

3. Midori Melon Liqueur

Midori is having a moment. Bartenders are all over it again, and it’s been sneaking back onto the menus of every dimly lit, small-plates-and-vinyl kind of bar for a while now. But you know who never left the neon-green, sweet, melon-flavoured liqueur train? Your 50-something neighbour – she’s been sipping Japanese Slippers since 1988 and will proudly tell anyone who’ll listen that she was into Midori before it was cool (again). This distinctive liqueur makes a cracking cocktail, whether that’s a retro classic (we love the Midori Splice) or something more restrained (see: Melon Apple Fizz). For your neighbour – and anyone else who loves a tasty drink – this is an unexpected gift that will more than deliver.  

5. Faccia Brutto Centerbe

Daaamn, this is a good-looking bottle. That label, that colour – ooft. It’s going to look pretty spesh on any bar cart. Actually, why are we gifting this again? Let’s keep it. Faccia Brutto is a bold, NY-made riff on classic European herbal liqueurs and an exciting new dupe for Green Chartreuse, if you ask us. Dried botanicals like lemon balm, anise hyssop, nettle and coriander steep for a week, while fresh herbs like parsley, tarragon, bay leaf and marjoram get just one night to lock in that vibrant green snap. It’s a punchy, aromatic liqueur sweetened with organic cane sugar and bottled at a confident 45% ABV. This is the ultimate treat yo’self Christmas bottle guaranteed to make your mates centerbe-green with envy.

7. Ukiyo Japanese Blossom Gin

Crafted in Kagoshima with over a century of distilling know-how behind it, Ukiyo Japanese Blossom Gin starts with locally grown rice, distilled into a smooth shōchū base. It’s then redistilled with juniper, regional citrus, cherry blossom and native botanicals, creating a delicate balance of flavour and restraint. The result is a beautifully refined gin with soft floral notes that echo the blossoms, mountains and coastline of its Japanese home. In short? It’s pretty special and, for under $100, also an absolute steal. So, whoever you’re giving it to this Christmas, make sure they’re someone who’ll pour you a little taste in return. That’s how gifts work, right?

9. Belvedere Organic Vodka

Got a Vodka Martini purist in your life? They’ll lose their mind over a bottle of Belvedere. It’s the go-to for anyone who takes their Freezer Door Martini seriously. Made from 100% organic rye, purified by water and distilled by fire, Belvedere Organic Vodka is pure Polish perfection – elegant, structured and smooth as silk. You’ll catch subtle notes of almond, vanilla and white pepper, all finishing with that signature velvety glide. It’s the ideal gift for your mate who likes their Martinis ice cold, crystal clear and top quality –  just don’t forget the accompanying bucket of olives with a bow on top (Merry Christmas). 

11. Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack Tennessee Whiskey

Gentleman Jack is, as they say, the smoother side of Jack. Charcoal mellowed not once but twice, it’s whiskey with its rough edges polished off. Aged in hand-crafted barrels on the cooler, lower floors of the barrelhouse, it develops that soft, rounded character – all the depth of Jack, just dressed-up in a tux. Pop it under the tree for your younger brother – the one who’s just moved out and still figuring out how many weeks he can go without washing his bed sheets. It’s the perfect ‘new place’ bottle, ideal for christening the rental and sharing with the 15 other blokes crammed into that slightly questionable sharehouse.

13. El Dorado Special Reserve 15 Year Old Rum

We’ve all got that someone – maybe they’re family, maybe they just feel like it – who loves a rum and Coke. At every family lunch, they’re not drinking anything else, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. This Christmas, instead of their go-to rum, surprise them with El Dorado Special Reserve. With notes of dried banana and warm baking spice, this rum slowly reveals juicy mango, nutty pistachio and rich molasses. Silky and indulgent on the palate, this has grilled mango, banana cake and caramel flavours, finishing long, smooth and perfectly balanced. Sure, they’ll probably top it up with Coke, but hey, that’s exactly why we love ’em.

15. Royal Salute 21 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky

Lastly, the crème de la crème. The big dog. The crown jewel: Royal Salute. Rich, refined and deeply layered, this Scotch whisky glows with notes of sweet orange marmalade, smooth chocolate and creamy coconut. Each bottle is housed in one of three regal porcelain colours: sapphire blue, emerald green or ruby red, inspired by the actual crown jewels. You can’t pick your colour online, but they all look fit for a throne – and the top shelf of Grandad’s liquor cabinet, and we think he’s going to love it. Then again, this would make an incredible pressie for the VIP whisky lover in your life, so gift wisely (and rope in a couple of friends or siblings to go in on it, too).