Secret. Santa. Sorted.

While gifting alcohol around the holiday season is a tradition as old as the yuletide itself (we like to think the three wise men had a cheeky tipple after trekking it to Nazareth), it’s an undertaking that can be strangely difficult to get right. After all, the person on the receiving end isn’t likely to be an aficionado, so it’s vital to make sure the drinks you’re buying is, well, actually good.

The natural solution to this has always been to buy a pricey big brand bottle. A tried-and-tested label. No-one’s going to turn their nose up at a bottle of Moet or Johnnie Black, are they? But what about when the limit is lower? What can you pick up for, say, under $30, that has a solid back story to tell when your mate opens it up at Secret Santa?

Well, you might be surprised. Below, we’ve rounded up 12 killer wines, beers, spirits and in-betweens we’d be happy to receive for Christmas (or any day of the week) – all under $30.

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1. Shady Lane Pet Nat Pinot – $23

Pet nat, with its signature funky notes, bold flavours and fridge-friendly, summer-ready fizz, is quickly emerging from the world of natural wine hipsterdom to become one of the most popular warm-weather choices around. Shady Lane’s pinot-based take on the method is both affordable and approachable, rich in flavours of summer berries and cream rather than the tangy notes that often accompany pet nats. If you’re lucky, they’ll pop it on Christmas Day so you too can enjoy a taste.

2. The Craft Collection 6 Pack – $27.99

What do you get for the beer lover who can’t make up their mind? This mixed 6-pack from The Craft Collection, celebrating some of Australia’s most beloved brewers, is a one-size-fits-all option that’ll sort you out in a pinch. The collection covers the entire spectrum of beer appreciation, starting with light pale ales and lagers from New Dawn, Initial Brewing and Ballistic Beer Co, punchy IPAs and sours from Bentspoke and Colossal Brewing, and rounding things off with a Velvet Stout from Zytho brewing. There’s enough here to make for the best tasting paddle they’ve ever had.

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3. Native & Ancient Marlborough Lo Fi Pinot Noir – $25

It feels like an increasing contingent of Aussies are opting for reds that are light in body, full in flavour and low on intervention, and Native & Ancient’s Lo Fi Pinot Noir fits the bill perfectly. Organically farmed, hand-picked and made without added sulfites, the grapes on Marlborough’s Isabel Estate Vineyard are simply left to thrive in NZ’s cool climate, imparting bright flavours of red berries and a hint of tobacco. It’s a true steal, with great pinots traditionally being tricky to find under the $30 mark.

4. Monday Distillery Classic Gin & Tonic 300mL (4-pack) – $19.49

We’re seeing more and more zero% alcohol options in the RTD fridge, but picking the right one can still be a tricky task. Monday Distillery has nailed its own offering with a zero-alcohol taste on the Gin and Tonic that more than stands up to the original. The classic botanical profile of a dry gin is mixed with layers of rosemary, sea salt and quinine to give an authentic tonic feel that’s on the drier, crisper side, and perfect for a summer’s day.

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Cocktail Porter Poor Toms Blood Orange Negroni Bottled Cocktail 100mL

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5. Cocktail Porter Poor Toms Blood Orange Negroni – $20

Let’s be clear: everyone owes it to themselves to learn how to make a Negroni at some point. Few things are made so simple, yet so delicious. But if your giftee doesn’t have the ingredients or mixing confidence at hand, Cocktail Porter’s bottled version – made with Poor Toms’ Sydney Dry Gin and Imbroglio, Regal Rogue Bold Red Vermouth and just a hint of blood orange – is about as good as a ready-made option gets.

6. Pizzini il Soffio King Valley Prosecco – $29.99

Summer is the season of popping corks and unashamedly loud ‘woo!’s, and while prosecco is often simply seen as a cheaper alternative to the fizzy stuff that comes from the north of France, it can be every bit as nuanced and vibrant – and a far better choice at this budget-friendly price point. At a little over $20, Pizzini il Soffio’s King Valley Prosecco (hand-harvested by one of the nation’s most respected Prosecco makers) practically bursts out of the glass with bright citrus notes that refresh without the overwhelming acidity. If you can imagine eating it on a summer’s day on the Med, this’ll go with it.

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Pals Vodka, Watermelon, Mint & Soda Cans 330mL

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7. Every flavour of Pals cans (4-pack) – $21.99

Pals are unique among the ever-growing cavalcade of low-calorie RTD makers, shunning the obsession with hard seltzers and instead relying on good liquor and natural, well-sourced flavourings to deliver pre-mixes that hit the classic ABV levels without sending calorie counts spiralling in the process. Think fresh flavour combos like Gin, Lemon and Cucumber and Vodka, Watermelon and Mint, all sweetened with natural sugar derived from Hawke’s Bay Apples.

8. Zonzo Estate Bellini Di Cristina – $20

Perfect for Boxing Day brunch, Zonzo Estate’s Bellini Di Cristina is basically made for that person who wants to come to the table with something truly unique and a little bit funky, but doesn’t know quite where to start. Essentially a bellini in a bottle, Bellini Di Cristina tempers the bright acidity of prosecco with sweet peach nectar, resulting in an effortlessly drinkable drop with a gentle fizz and an almost creamy texture. A $20 bottle that’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

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9. Gintonica Ready-to-Mix Negroni Cocktail Pack – $29.95

Remember what we were saying about everyone learning to mix their own Negroni? Well, with this Ready-to-Mix pack left under the tree there are no more excuses to be had. Put together by the experts at Gintonica, it has everything you need to make a perfectly balanced Negroni, simply by pouring the contents over ice in whatever glass you have at hand. The vermouth, bitter orange and Patient Wolf gin are all made by local producers, too.

10. Santa Margherita Prosecco Di Valdobbiadene 100mL – $10

The $10 secret santa limit should, in this humble writer’s opinion, be illegal. After all, what can really be enjoyed for under a tenner that doesn’t come as part of a McDonald’s Daily Deal? The answer is this single-serve bottle of prosecco from Italy’s northern Veneto region. One of the best bang-for-your-buck bottles of fizz around, it’s rich in fresh, fruity flavours of pear and apple that give away to stone fruit. A 96-point rating from Dan Murphy’s own wine panel isn’t to be sniffed at, right?

Santa Margherita Prosecco Di Valdobbiadene 375mL

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11. Heaps Normal Another Lager – $13

Heaps Normal are more responsible for upending alcohol-free beer’s formerly lacklustre reputation than any other brewery – and while their zero-alc Quiet XPA is a best-seller, they’ve now come out with a crisp non-alcoholic lager for those who prefer their beer on the classic side. It hits all the notes you’d expect from a proper Aussie summer lager, with just 0.5% of the alcohol.

12. High Pour Sally cocktail cans – $22

Cocktails in a can? In this age of self-taught mixologists and boujee bars dishing out pre-made libations en masse? You betcha. High Pour Sally have brought a new finesse to the art of doling out pre-made cocktails that’ll keep in the fridge for whenever you need them, focusing on summery concoctions like Watermelon Margs and Pineapple Mojitos that work best served straight out of the chiller.