Knowing that we’re all spending more time at home cooking and dining around our kitchen tables, the first annual Unpretentious Holiday Wishlist celebrates home cooks and finding the joy at home centered around food. We will release a new category each day this week starting with the kitchen followed by: baking, cookbooks and pantry, beverage, and gifts for hosts and food lovers.

Gifts for Local Drink Lovers 

Just as much as we became better home-cooks this year, we also improved our skills making cocktails, brewing coffee, adding to our wine collections, and gaining a greater appreciation for drinking locally-sourced beverages. Whether you’re looking for a small gift, a token of appreciation, or meaningful stocking stuffers, the UP team put together a list of local beverages that we think would make a great gift for local drink lovers. 

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Kristen’s Picks

Sutler’s Gin, Sutler’s Spirit Co.
Winston-Salem, N.C. 

This gin is one of the most-often recommended North Carolina spirits among bartenders. Use it to make a delicious Bee’s Knees.

Damn Fine Chocolate Liqueur, Durham Distillery
Durham, N.C.

Sipping on this chocolatey, boozy drink straight from a snifter besides a fire pit while toasting a marshmallow makes for a delicious, low-key dessert.

“Big Bear” & “Rizzo” Bitters, Crude Bitters
Raleigh, N.C.

There are too many flavors to name, but all of them will upgrade your cocktail game. Take your old-fashioneds up a level with a few dashes of bitters such as “Big Bear” (coffee and cocoa) and “Rizzo” (rosemary, grapefruit, and peppercorn).

Craft Ginger Ale, The Unknown Brewing Company
Charlotte, N.C. 

For those who don’t drink, or love a Moscow Mule, Charlotte’s The Unknown Brewing Company makes a ginger ale that’s wonderfully heavy on the ginger spice.

Charlotte Old-Fashioned Sampler Kit, Unpretentious Palate
Charlotte, N.C. 

Eight of the city’s best bartenders give you everything you need (minus the bourbon) to make their takes on the classic old-fashioned cocktail.

Birch Fine Tea
Charlotte, N.C.

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Justin’s Picks

12-Pack, Updog Kombucha
Winston-Salem, N.C.

Updog Kombucha is a great choice for new or regular kombucha drinkers. The small-batch kombucha has a balanced flavor — not too sweet or too pungent. Variety pack flavors can include: Apple Ginger, Mojito, Hibiscus, Blueberry Chamomile, Jasmine Lavender, Ginger Turmeric, and Peach Basil. 

Beer-Gram, Sycamore Brewing
Charlotte, N.C.

With five options, Sycamore Brewing is delivering beer-grams this holiday season to your friends and family. The grams come with a variety of pints plus Sycamore glassware, plus a personalized note and wrapped in ribbon. Beer-gram options include: The Fresh IPA Lover, Christmas Party, Mountain Candy Lover, The Ultimate, and The Festive & Fruity Holiday. 

Custom Wine Label, Davidson Wine Co.
Davidson, N.C.

Personalize a custom label on any of Davidson Wine Co.’s bottles of wine. The first urban winery wines include: merlots, cabernets, chardonnays, barolos, gewürztraminers, pinotages, petit verdot, and ports. 

House Made Orgeat & Falernum, Dot Dot Dot
Charlotte, N.C. 

Upgrade your Tiki drinks at home with Dot Dot Dot’s house made syrups. Orgeat is a sweeter syrup made with almond, sugar, and rose blossom water. Falernum is thicker, more complex Caribbean syrup made with almond, ginger, lime, clove, allspice, and sugar. Dot Dot Dot also has a house blend vermouth. 

Hex Coffee
Charlotte, N.C.

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Travis’ Picks 

Cardinal Gin, Southern Artisan Spirits
Kings Mountain, N.C.

The mint-forward gin is a great addition to gin drinkers who like gin and tonics, brambles, and gimlets. 

Defiant Whiskey, Blue Ridge Distilling Co.
Bostic, N.C. 

Distilled from 100 percent malted barley and mountain spring water, Defiant Whiskey is a complex spirit that changes from the nose to the palate. 

Gift Card, Bond Street Wines
Charlotte, N.C. 

Bond Street Wines has a variety of limited and small production wines that will peak wine drinkers’ interest. Instead of selecting a wine for someone, let them have the pleasure of shopping at Bond Street Wines with a gift card.   

Pure Intentions Coffee
Charlotte, N.C. 

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