Special beer, wine holiday packages offered locally

Lifestyles
By Mark Fisher
Dec 10, 2011
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Producers of alcoholic beverages have embraced the holiday spirit — and hope those who enjoy spirits will do the same.

Some of the world’s largest and most prestigious producers of spirits have put together special holiday packages to help generate interest in their products. And some of the deals are rather attractive.

A swing through Arrow Wine & Spirits and the Kroger Fresh Fare stores in Kettering (check your local stores for availability) prompted these suggestions:

Beer

A gift pack from Weihenstephan, the world’s oldest brewery, containing five different bottlings of various brews and a tall glass, $14.99.

A gift pack from Sam Smith’s containing three different bottlings and a glass for $8.99.

A single 50-ounce bottle of Anchor Steam Christmas Ale — built to share at the equivalent of four bottles plus — for $14.99.

Chimay gift pack of three beers and a glass for $13.99

Spirits

Johnny Walker Gift Set consisting of one 750-ml bottle of Johnny Walker Black Label Blended Scotch with a metal hip flask, $38.15.

Macallan 12-year Scotch (a standard-sized 750 ml bottle) paired with a sample of the Macallan 18-year Scotch, $52.

Multiple types of Jack Daniel’s gift sets, including a 1.75-liter bottle with flask for $47.95.

Wild Turkey gift sets consisting of one bottle of 81-proof with two glasses for $37.05 or one bottle of 101-proof Wild Turkey with flask for $21.

Liqueurs (42-proof or less)

Bailey’s Irish Cream gift box that includes one bottle of Bailey’s and two decorative glasses, $18.99.

Chambord gift set with one bottle of Chambord and two glasses, $16.99.

Kahlua gift set that includes one bottle of Kahlua and two special coffee mugs, $17.99.

Wine

Note: There were very few wine gift sets but here are some other suggestions:

A Christmas-tree-shaped bottle of Haus Am Markt Baden Pinot Noir 2009, $14.99. I haven’t tried the contents, but the bottle design is close to irresistible.

Beaujolais Nouveau wines are getting better every year, and here are two 2011s that merit attention: Domaine Rochette Beaujolais Villages Nouveau, $13.99, the best of the bunch this year, and the more widely available and also quite good Georges Dubeouf Beaujolais Nouveau, $11.99.

Here’s a very convenient electric corkscrew that works well: Oster Electric Wine Opener, which is normally $24.99 but is on sale at Kroger for $19.88 with Kroger card. The sale runs through Dec. 25, but supplies are limited.

Contact this reporter at mfisher@DaytonDaily News.com.

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About the Author

Mark Fisher, a 1981 graduate of Ohio State University and a 1976 graduate of Beavercreek High School, is a third-generation Dayton-area resident who has worked for the Dayton Daily News since 1983. He covered higher education and K-12 education accountability issues for nearly 20 years before taking over the food and dining beat in 2006.