The BevX Holiday Gift Guide 2023

Chances are that since you are a person of impeccable taste and curiosity that you have friends who share your passion for wine & spirits.

December has arrived and the clock is running. BevX has made it easy to make your holiday buying decisions today. Why procrastinate? Did you know that last-minute shoppers represented 36 percent of the overall total? There is no reason to wait until the final moments.

We have assembled a modest list of stellar wine & spirits ranging in price from $14 to $456. It will be hard to resist picking up a bottle or two for yourself so why try? End the year by being generous with yourself as well. Have a great holiday season.

Wine

Padigan (formerly 2Hawk)

You may have learned that 2Hawk is now Padigan. Don’t worry — it’s the same people and the same great vineyards, only the name has changed. Padigan is an exciting and dynamic wine producer in Oregon’s Rogue Valley. The project is piloted by owners Ross and Jen Allen with winemaker Kiley Evans. Ross is a third generation farmer from Fresno County, California with over 30 years in agriculture. Ross manages Padigan’s 26 acres of vines on the estate ranch. Kiley brings nearly 20 years of winemaking experience to the team. We find that a winemaker’s wines are their strongest message and Kiley surely has a great talent and a symbiotic relationship with the fruit he utilizes. Padigan produces a wide range of wines. Their estate vineyard Padigan grows primarily Malbec, Tempranillo, Grenache, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and Chardonnay with smaller amounts of Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Petit Verdot. We look forward to seeing and tasting the product of the passionate labors in vintages to come.

Padigan Sauvignon Blanc Rogue Valley 2022 — $26, See the Featured Review
2Hawk Grenache Rogue Valley 2020 — $34, See the Featured Review

Troon Vineyard

Troon Vineyard started quietly over four decades ago when Dick Troon planted vineyards in Southern Oregon. He sold grapes to local wineries but soon discovered that the best business decision was to create his own wines. He converted his barn to a winery and slowly built the brand until he sold the winery to his friend Larry Martin in 2003. Today, Troon Vineyard is owned by Dr. Bryan White and Denise White. The Whites along with Craig Camp, general manager, and winemaker Nate Wall lead the innovative wine making efforts at Troon. Nate has extensive winemaking experience in the Willamette Valley and brings a nuanced, almost Pinot Noir approach to winemaking. Craig is a wine industry veteran with a sharp palate, encyclopedic knowledge of the wines of the world, and relentless energy. Troon offers a wonderfully diverse selection of varietal wines and blends ranging from Malbec to Grenache and Vermentino to name just a few. Beginning with the 2018 vintage the fruit utilized by Troon was farmed 100% organically and biodynamically. All Troon wines were crushed by foot, fermented with only native yeasts with no additives of any kind. If you are seeking unique wines with style and gusto you need to get acquainted with Troon Vineyard.

If you would like to sample some cool and innovative wines in 2024 Or share great wines with a friend we recommend that you consider Membership in one of Troon’s wine clubs.
http://www.troonvineyard.com/troon-membership/

Troon Vineyard Piquette! Applegate Valley 2022 — $25, See the Featured Review
Troon Vineyard Kubli Bench Rosé Applegate Valley 2022 — $25, See the Featured Review
Troon Vineyard Kubli Bench Amber Applegate Valley 2022 — $40, See the Featured Review
Troon Vineyard Vermentino Applegate Valley 2022 — $30, See the Featured Review
Troon Vineyard Syrah Applegate Valley 2021 — $35, See the Featured Review
Troon Vineyard Druid’s Red Applegate Valley 2022 — $25, See the Featured Review
Troon Vineyard Druid’s White Applegate Valley 2022 — $25, See the Featured Review

Tongue Dancer Wines

Tongue Dancer Wines is the creation of James and Kerry MacPhail. If you are a California Pinot Noir lover you likely know James’ previous work with MacPhail Family Wines. James knows how to make amazing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and James knows a lot of people who grow spectacular Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. We have been reviewing the wines from Tongue Dancer for the better part of a decade and we have never seen a Tongue Dancer Wine fail to earn Four-Stars or better. Tongue Dancer is constantly innovating, releasing new wines every year while never missing a beat. Last year they surprised us with the release of a great, dry cider! This is a winery to watch. The wines are always in short supply so be swift. Visit their website and join their mailing list to get direct access to their wines.

Learn all about Tongue Dancer Wines: HERE

For the holidays we also recommend that you check out their large format (1.5 liter and 3 liter) bottles. These make a statement of good taste and holiday cheer!

Tongue Dancer Wines Foxtrot Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2021 — $40, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Wines Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2021 — $55, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Wines Pinot de Ville Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2021 — $69, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Wines The Sly One Chardonnay Dry Creek Valley 2021 — $59, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Wines Pratt Vyd Irwin Lane Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2021 — $45, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Wines Chardonnay Sonoma County 2021 — $55, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Wines Rosé of Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2022 — $22, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Putnam Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2021 — $75, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2021 — $50, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Pratt Vine Hill Vineyard Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2021 — $65, See the Featured Review

Tablas Creek

Tablas Creek is a unique animal on the California wine scene. They are unquestioned pioneers in the movement of Rhône-styled wines in California and many consider them to be the absolute best-in-class. While many wineries in California make wines with classic Rhône varietals, Tablas Creek makes wines with the heart and soul of the Rhône. They were founded in 1989 by a collaboration between two iconic wine families – the Perin family of Chateau de Beaucastel and the Haas family of Vineyard Brands. Together they chose vineyard locations in Paso Robles, imported vine cuttings from the Rhône, and built vineyards and a winery from the dirt up. Their vineyard site in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles is a close match to climatic conditions and soils found at Chateau de Beaucastel. Their wines are not at all typically Californian in style. While they are not merely replicas of Rhône wines, they are rather a unique expression of Paso Robles fruit grown at elevation with the winemaking touch of an old Rhône master. I love how the Tablas Creek wines are always true to their respective vineyards and vintages. The wines convey a sense of being expertly managed rather than manipulated. Bravo!

The best way to get all of the Tablas Creek wines you see is to join their wine club.

Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Blanc Paso Robles 2022 — $28, See the Featured Review
Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas Blanc Adelaida District 2021 — $60, See the Featured Review
Tablas Creek Grenache Blanc Adelaida District 2022 — $40, See the Featured Review
Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas Adelaida District 2021 — $70, See the Featured Review
Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Paso Robles 2022 — $28, See the Featured Review
Tablas Creek Mourvedre Adelaida District 2021 — $55, See the Featured Review

We Know Jack!

We Know Jack! — the humorous name has a deep double meaning. It all starts with the vineyard established by Jack Florence Sr. Florence Sr. developed this vineyard, among others, in the 1990s in what would become the Rockpile appellation (Sonoma County, CA). The Zinfandel clone was gathered from one of California’s oldest surviving vineyards in nearby Cloverdale at St. Peter’s Church. These Zinfandel vines were planted in the 1880’s and thrive to this day. Jack Florence Jr. took cuttings from this rare clone, grafted them to appropriate rootstock and planted them in their Rockpile vineyards. These were known as the St. Peter’s Church but many just call it the Rockpile clone. The wines are made by James MacPhail, an award-winning winemaker familiar to every BevX reader via Tongue Dancer Wines. This team with fruit from an elite vineyard conspire to create a phenomenal wine. Get it while it lasts.

We Know Jack! Jack Florence Sr. Vineyard Zinfandel Rockpile 2021 — $78, See the Featured Review

Spirits

DonQ

Juan Sebastian Serralles arrived in Puerto Rico in the 1820 and establishes a sugarcane plantation. His son Don Juan establishes his own sugarcane plantation, Hacienda Mercedita. In 1865 Don Juan purchases a pot still from France to distill Rum. In this same year he sells his first Rums giving birth to Serralles Rum. In 1934, the Don Q brand is launched. The name pays homage to fictional character Don Quixote a beloved character from the family’s favorite novel. In 1954, Don Q Rum becomes the heart of the Piña Colada cocktail at the Beachcomber Bar in San Juan and redefines the iconic cocktail. Don Q has one foot in the past with its incredible legacy and one in the future. They quietly leading the way in innovation in a number of areas from product development to their stellar environmental initiatives. Don Q  has also led the way by placing women in key roles once held primarily by men. Silvia Santiago, has worked with the company for decades and has earned the title of Maestra Ronera and VP of manufacturing. Silva was the first female master blender in Puerto Rico. Today you will find quite a few women in similar roles throughout the Caribbean Rum world.

Don Q Double Aged Port Cask Finish Rum — $79.99, See the Featured Review
Don Q Double Aged Zinfandel Cask Finish Rum — $79.99, See the Featured Review
Don Q Double Aged Cognac Cask Finish Rum — $79.99, See the Featured Review

FUNKIN Cocktails

FUNKIN Cocktails ready to drink line of cocktails is relatively new but FUNKIN has been in the cocktail business for more than two decades. Since 1999 FUNKIN has been supplying bartenders, at home and at the bar, with quality, real fruit cocktail mixers, purées, and syrups. Their experience and position in the market makes them uniquely qualified to enter the ready to drink market. Recently they have launched three of their cocktail expressions in the USA, Piña Colada, Strawberry Daiquiri, and Passion Fruit Martini. We see that they have introduced an Aperitivo Spritz in the UK and hopefully that soon finds its way to the USA.

FUNKIN Cocktails Nitro Pina Colada (RTD) — $13.99 — 4-pack, 200ml cans, See the Featured Review

Hardhide

Sidewalk Side Spirits is a spirits brand incubator company founded in 2020 by spirits industry veteran John Eason and the owners of Cocktail & Son’s, Lauren Myerscough and Max Messier. Their first brand was a collaboration with the undisputed King of King Cakes, Gambino’s Bakery to create Gambino’s King Cake Rum Cream. This award-winning product was born out of their love of Carnival and all it means to the hundreds of thousands of revelers who celebrate it across the country and the world every year. This was followed-up with Hardhide Ponchatoula Strawberry Flavored Whiskey — a flavored Whiskey that has not forgotten the Whiskey. Stay tuned to see what they create next.

Hardhide Ponchatoula Strawberry Flavored Whiskey — $32.99, See the Featured Review

Kuiper Belt

NASA describes the Kuiper Belt as a donut-shaped region of icy bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune. It’s believed that there may be millions of the icy objects that collectively make up the Kuiper Belt. Kuiper Belt by E-40 is an interesting brand created by multi-platinum recording artist Earl “E-40” Stevens. The brand has released a highly-acclaimed Gin, as well as this beautiful Bourbon.

Kuiper Belt 6 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon — $85, See the Featured Review

Christian Drouin Calvados

Christian Drouin Sr. bought a quaint country house set amongst orchards in Gonneville in the heart of Calvados Pays d’Auge in Normandy, France. He soon discovered that the price he could obtain for the apples he harvested would barely cover the cost of the harvest. His friend had a mobile still and advised on how to press the apples into cider and distill the cider into Brandy. Drouin Sr. had no previous experience but he did have good taste and had a great appreciation for quality wine and spirits. This, too, was his guide. The younger Christian Drouin is said to have contracted the Calvados virus from his father. While the stocks of incredible Calvados grew vintage after vintage, Christian knew that he must grow the reputation of Calvados and find customers for the great Brandy first in France and then the world. He succeeded. When I first met Christian Drouin well more than a decade ago he transmitted the Calvados appreciation virus to me and I’ve never been the same.

Christian Drouin Tres Pomme Calvados Pays d’Auge — $69, See the Featured Review
Christian Drouin Vintage 1974 Calvados Pays d’Auge — $360, See the Featured Review
Christian Drouin Vintage 1964 Calvados Pays d’Auge — $456, See the Featured Review

Non-Liquid Beverage Toys

VinOice — wine chiller

When you need refreshment, there is nothing like a perfectly chilled glass of wine. You can opt for the traditional bottle in the ice bucket method but this comes with a soaked and dripping bottle. VinOice uses a steel rod that you place in your freezer at least 30 minutes before using. Sure, you probably don’t want to do this with your prized Montrachet but for cheerful Rosé and whites served on the patio this tool really works.

VinOice — wine chiller — $28, See the Link to Product

Tongue Dancer Wines — Swag and accessories

BevX Readers know that we love Tongue Dancer Wines. Perhaps, a great Pinot needs a great glass and maybe even a wine pourer… Take a look around their store, you might even need a t-shirt.

TDW Branded Riedel New World Pinot Noir Glass  — $39, See the Link to Product

TDW Wine Suitcase — 12 bottles (Eight and Five bottle versions offered as well)  — $380, See the Link to Product