13 Must-have Gins, Beers, Wines & Whiskies for Christmas 2020

The festive season is upon us and so is the stress of finding your loved one’s gifts. Although, this time around, it doesn’t have to be stressful.

The team at Bar Keeper have got you covered as we have put together our top picks to guide you. Skip the stress of last-minute gifts and queues and order from us today!

Table of contents

• Spirits for Christmas 
• Beers for Christmas
• Wines for Christmas 
• Whiskies for Christmas 
• Champagnes for Christmas

Spirits are a favourite to gift to friends and loved ones over Christmas time. They make the perfect companion for cocktails that burst with pungent flavours and enticing aromas.

From delicious gins, infused and classic vodkas, to tequilas that tantalize the taste-buds – our list of spirits below provides something for everyone to enjoy during the holiday season!

1. Ginologist Snow Globe Gin

For those who want to be extra festive this season, bring some of your nostalgic childhood memories back with Ginologist’s snow globe gin. 

The snow globe bottle lets you visualise the white Christmas us South Africans never had and the Festive cheer continues inside the bottle. Ginologist also uses all of the favourite Christmas flavours to create a Christmas pudding pie palate to the gin. 

Pair it with Secco’s Raspberry Rose Hibiscus garnish and Fitch & Leed’s Pink Tonic to present the perfect gift for a gin enthusiast!

2. Six Dogs Honey & Lime

Six Dogs has always been a fan favourite, but the new launch of their Honey Lime Gin has taken it up a notch.

Blending their typical dry-style with a sweet combination of farm honey and limes grown from their distillery, this zesty gin is not one to miss. To make things even sweeter, the honey comes from rescued bees that were relocated to their distillery. Enjoying a G&T while simultaneously saving the planet? Sounds like a win-win to us.

3. Crystal Head Vodka

Keep it classy this Christmas with Crystal Head Vodka. The brand was conceived and produced in Canada by actor Dan Aykroyd and artist John Alexander.

Crystal Head Vodka is filtered seven times with crystals that are millions of years old, producing a premium and pure spirit for the discerning vodka drinker. It has a palate of pepper and spice, which follows through to its soft, yet spicy aroma.

The unique design of the bottle has become a global icon and can be repurposed to a light, candle holder, vase or wherever your imagination takes you.

4. Roberto Cavalli Vodka Gold

Although we can’t club and party like we used to, you can still bring the party to your home this festive season with all the glitz and glam that Roberto Cavalli’s Vodka Gold brings! In fact, this limited edition bottle was specifically designed for nightclub lovers.

Along with its smooth and silky palate, the golden metallic bottle exudes style and splendour. For those who love luxury, you cannot go wrong with this ultra-premium vodka.

5. Clase Azul Reposado Tequila

Hailing all the way from Mexico is this sweet and smooth reposado or “rested” tequila is one for the tequila lovers.

Made with 100% Weber Blue Agave that is slow-cooked in traditional stone ovens for a minimum of 72 hours. The smooth taste of vanilla and fruit is just as appealing as the beautiful, intricately hand-painted bottle.

For the brave and the bold, this is the ultimate gift for your tequila-loving friends!

Beers are the perfect, refreshing cold drink to enjoy over the long, hot, summer holidays, and our selection for this Christmas is an exclusive collection of 6 craft beers sourced from some of SA’s top breweries.

We’ll give you a run-down of what you can expect from each of these limited edition craft beers to help you make your decision. You can also check out our full range of craft beers if you’re looking for more options.

6. Limited Edition 6 Craft Beers

Shake things up with a surprise box filled with limited-edition craft beer from some of South Africa’s top breweries.

This collection of 6 of our favourite limited edition craft beers aims to make your life easier and provides the perfect gift for beer fanatics this Christmas.

What’s inside the Limited Edition 6 Craft Beers collection?

Pilsner (Independent guest brewer – Jake Sandenbergh)

This Pilsner was brewed using the traditional Deocotion Mash technique to bring out a toasty richness in the malt. These rich, warm notes are balanced by a dry crisp and bitter finish. 

ABV: 5%

Size: 330ml

IBUs: 28

Hazy Pale Ale (Lakeside Brewery)

This limited edition Hazy Pale Ale hails from the Lakeside Brewery. It features tantalizing aromas that resemble a blend consisting of earthy pine notes and citrusy elements. This beer is well balanced with a subtle bitterness and is packed with flavour. 

ABV: 5%

Size: 330ml

IBUs: 25

Session IPA (Hey Joe Brewing Company)

Session IPA was brewed by the Hey Joe Brewing Company based in the Cape Winelands. Although this brewery usually crafts Belgian style beers, this Session IPA features a hop-forward beer that resembles a West Coast-style IPA.

You can expect a flavour profile consisting of subtle pine notes and woody resin, with lingering elements of citrus and marmalade. This beer is bitter with a clean finish that will keep you coming back for more!

ABV: 5%

Size: 330ml

IBUs: 40

NEIPA (Afro Caribbean Brewing Company)

NEIPA is brewed by the Afro Caribbean Brewing Company and is a cryo-hop that features strong tropical punch flavours and is considered a specialty IPA. You can expect NEIPA to taste smooth with a moderate bitterness that gives way to notes of resinous pine and citrus elements.

ABV: 6%

Size: 330ml

IBUs: 18

ESB (Shackleton Brewing Company)

ESB, or Extra Special Bitter, was crafted by Shackleton Brewing Company based in Salt River, Cape Town. This ESB pays homage to its traditional style and exhibits notes of malt and bitter hops. Its flavour profile has richer elements resembling bread or biscuit-type flavours, balanced by notes of floral hops and fruity esters.

ABV: 5%

Size: 330ml

IBUs: 30

Barley Wine (Ukhamba Beerworx)

Barley Wine is brewed by Ukhamba Beerworx based in Woodstock, Cape Town. This beer is complex and delivers intense balanced flavours. The characteristics of its flavour consist of rich, bready, malt elements, and notes of grapefruit, spice, and blackcurrant hop aromas, as well as elements derived from a mix of English and American hops. 

ABV: 9%

Size: 330ml

IBUs: 55

For all of our wonderful loved ones who can’t get enough of wine, we’ve selected 2 delicious wines – a white and a red – to consider this Christmas! Both of these wines hail from and pay homage to the Cape. 

Find out more below (or have a look at our wide selection of red wines and white wines for more options)!

7. Alheit Vineyards Cartology

Originating from our home, the Western Cape, this award-winning white wine is 90% Chenin blanc and 10% Sémillon.

Made from of mature dryland bush vines and grapes that have been growing in the Cape for centuries, the Cartology 2019 is a rare work of art.

Through its high toned scent of citrus and honeysuckle, with hints of fynbos, Cartology is a true embodiment of Cape heritage.

8. Sadie Palladius 2017 & Pofadder 2018

The Sadie Family is a frontrunner in South Africa’s wine market and their Palladius and Pofadder wines are no exception. Also home-grown, the Sadie Family’s vineyards are located in Swartland.

While Palladius 2017 is a blend of 11 varietals across 17 vineyards and displays a variety of layers, excluding notes of white stone fruit, fynbos spice and a sense of quiet concentration on the nose., the Pofadder is aromatic and complex, bursting with strawberry and unripe cherry flavours that dominate this wine’s aromatic profile.

The Sadie Family’s wines are renowned throughout the world and are released in limited quantities to select buyers. This combination deal is hard to find in your typical bottle store making for a special Christmas gift for a wine lover.

Whiskeys are the perfect gift this Christmas and great to enjoy during Christmas lunch and dinner as well as after meals as an aperitif.

We’ve selected some of the best single malt and blended whiskeys that friends and family members will love to receive as a gift during the holiday season!

9. Dalmore 12 Year Single Malt Whiskey

A sherried, Scottish whisky with hints of citrus and Christmas cake is the perfect present for this festive season. Matured in American white oak ex-bourbon casks for the first nine years, it is then finessed in rare, aged oloroso sherry casks to produce a classic, award-winning single malt. 

As a bonus, the box set comes with two stemmed glasses so you and your loved one can begin the festivities straight away.

10. Suntory Toki Whisky

Old meets new in Suntory’s Toki, where they combine their traditional methods with innovation to bring a sweet yet spicy blend, from three of their internationally renowned distilleries.

Made from Hakashu single malt and Chita grain whisky, green apple is apparent on the palate with bright citrus notes and undertones of bitter herbs, toasted almonds and vanilla oak.

To top off the silky palate, it has a tantalising aroma of basil, green apples and honey. The demand for Japanese whisky continues to grow, so get your hands on one of these fast.

11. Suntory Hibiki Harmony

Another gem from the House of Suntory, the Hibiki Harmony is the most highly awarded blended whiskies in the world. The intricately designed bottle has 24 facets to represent all of the traditional Japanese seasons, reflecting the artisan both outside and inside the bottle.

The nose of the whiskey presents with red berries, green apple and layers of rich honey while the palate displays warm, comforting flavours of melted butter and caramelised dates, sandalwood, and oaky spice.

Composing of craftsmanship and class, the Hibiki Harmony is a must-have for any whisky enthusiast’s collection.

12. Blanton’s Gold Edition

Blanton’s Gold Edition is different from other whiskies on our list as it’s a bourbon, defined by a rich flavour profile that’s slightly sweeter than other whiskies and produced using a mash bill (grain mixture) containing at least 51% corn.

Blanton’s Gold Edition is a sought after single barrel bourbon that hails from Kentucky. The Gold Edition is 103 proof (51.5% ABV), compared to the Original variant which is 93 proof (41.5% ABV).

On the palate, Blanton’s Gold Edition is rich with dark fruit, citrus, oak, honey and cream with a long finish. You’ll also find that these flavours are accompanied by white pepper and rye. The nose is powerful and dry, with elements of honey, tobacco, oak, rye and vanilla shining through.

Blanton’s Gold Edition is an internationally acclaimed whisky and ideal choice for any whisky connoisseur.

Christmas is a time of year where the family gets together to celebrate and reflect on the year that has passed.

Toast to the trials and tribulations of 2020, and bring in the new year with a crisp Champagne that everyone around the table will love!

13. BOLLINGER SPECIAL CUVEE BRUT

Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut is the result of the delicate blending between harvest grapes and a majority of reserve wines and was produced in France.

This special champagne consists of 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Meunier, with an aroma that consists of striking flavours, spicy aromas, with hints of roasted apples, apple compote and peaches.

On the palate, the flavour profile consists of elements of pear, brioche, spicy aromas, and notes of fresh walnut. Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut has light velvety bubbles that complement its delicate taste.

Special Bonus Pick: Pulltex Champagne Sabre

Last but not least, we’ve added our star of the show! A tradition stemming from the days of Napoleon, a champagne sabre adds that extra pizzazz to any celebration. Make sure you pop your bottles in style this December and snag one of these as soon as possible.

But what’s a champagne opener without a special bottle of bubbly…