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What do I want for Christmas?

A Christmas list by and for a 40 something year old man (2023)

What do I want for Christmas? A win for Southampton FC would be amazing but I shouldn’t really ask for things that are impossible to buy.

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Gin gifts | Beer gifts | Whisky gifts | Cigar gifts | Chocolate gifts | Sport gifts

Hobbies and bad habits

Hobbies and bad habits are a great place to start when thinking about the things I’d like for Christmas. Whilst I don’t especially “need” anything, I am always very happy to receive gifts relating to gin, beer, whisky, cigars, chocolate, and sports.

As a family, we always try to be quite sensible with budgets, usually between £20 and £50, mainly because there are so many of us, but also because Christmas isn’t especially about the gifts for us. It’s as much about getting together, playing silly games, and eating all of the food – oh, and celebrating the birth of Christ – we do love a good Midnight Mass and Carols by Candlelight service to belt out the old classics.

Gin gifts

I’ve been enjoying gin for a good few years now. About 6 or 7 years ago my partner bought me a gin advent calendar which was a complete luxury, and a lot of fun. And whilst this present would be over budget for a usual Christmas for us, I couldn’t recommend this gift more highly.
If you and your loved one both enjoy gin then this is a great pre-Christmas present to enjoy together.

Gin Advent Calendar – Premium 2022 Edition

Within the snazzy walls of this Advent Calendar you’ll find 24 different 30ml wax-sealed drams of juniper-based brilliance, made by some of the most excellent gin producers around the globe

We tried 25 different gins and made a few notes so we now really know what we both like. I particularly like Old Tom gins.

Langley’s Old Tom 70 cl

GIN. AS IT SHOULD BE: No gimmicks and no pink. Award winning, quintessentially English gin.

I also really enjoy Monkey 47. I got a bottle of this a couple of years ago from my in-laws and it is delicious. 

Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin, 50 cl

47 hand-picked botanicals, blended with extremely soft spring water, give Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin its unrivaled complexity and quality.

If you are a gin drinker then you will know that the tonic can make or break a good G&T. And personally, I’ve not found any tonic that I enjoy half as much as Fever-Tree tonic.

Fever Tree Tonic Water Mixed Selection Pack (24 x 200ml)

Award winning products which taste clean, subtle and balanced with authentic flavours and perfect carbonation, so just as good as the spirits you’re pairing them with.

The ideal gin and tonic should be 3 parts tonic to 1 part gin so having a good amount of tonic is always a good present.

Another great gin related present for a gin lover is this gin making kit.

The Ultimate Gin Making Kit- Create 10 Bottles of Classic, Colour-Changing & Pink Gin. The Perfect Gin Gift Set. Includes 13 Botanicals, Recipe Book & Rose Gold Accessories!

Vemacity specialises in only Gin Gift Items. We truly are obsessed with Gin! This is the best of Gin Gifts for any Gin Lover. Each Gin Kit is beautifully presented in a stunning Gift Box.

The final gin related gift for my list is a pair of gin glasses. Having the right glasses to drink out of does make a difference. I don’t want to drink a warm gin and this longer stem keeps my ice from melting so quickly.

Beer gifts

Is there anything better than a cold beer on a hot summers day? or after a long week at work? or on any day ending in y?

OK i’ll admit it. I love beer and I don’t care who knows it. So here are some beer related gift ideas that i’d be delighted to recieve in my stocking this year.

To start off I’ve gone for a craft ale selection pack. Since craft ale became a big thing a few years ago I’ve been working my way through a lot of them and there are some new ones here that i’d be very happy to try.

Beer Hawk Traditional Ales Selection, Case of 6 x 500ml Beers 

6 Exceptional Traditional Ales Handpicked by Our Inhouse Experts.

My father-in-law got this next gift for Christmas last year and I have to admit to being a little jealous. The Salter Professional EK4919 Chilled Beer Dispenser is a thing of beauty. Not only does it look great but it pours a fantastic pint. And whilst we don’t have loads of room in the house I’d be more than happy for this to live in my garden office.

Salter Professional EK4919 Chilled Beer Dispenser

Bring the bar home with the draught beer dispenser from Salter Professional. This draught beer tap is compatible with any universal pre and non-carbonated 5-litre kegs; available online and in supermarkets.

Sometimes you can get a gift that ticks more than one box, and this awesome Star Wars Stormtrooper Christmas Thirst Aid Beer Kit does just that. Beer and Star Wars – What a great gift.

Star Wars Stormtrooper Christmas Thirst Aid Beer Kit

This is an out-of-this-galaxy craft beer gift set!

Officially licensed Star Wars merchandise

Comes with 5 beers, 4 coasters, pitta chips, and a pint glass

Whisky gifts

When I was 18 I got horribly drunk on beer and Bells whisky. Drunk enough not to want to touch whisky again for many, many years. However, more recently i’ve tried a couple and I seem to be truly over my phobia. What I have discovered is that good quality whisky is nothing like Bells (sorry to those who enjoy it). So hear are some that I’d like to try and some whisky related gifts that I think are pretty cool.

Mini Whiskey Barrel by Sharper Image

Made from high-quality wood this cool little whisky barrel holds up to 800 ml of whiskey.

This would make an awesome present and decanter for any whisky fan.

Now this is a whisky I’ve had my eye on for a little while. It was voted whisky of the year for 2022 and I’ve only read good things. It’s not the cheapest bottle you will find but it is something a bit special to savour.

Deanston 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70 cl

A sweet and spicy Highland whisky, with notes of barley sugar, gingerbread and a dry, warming finish.

Aged in second fill traditional oak whisky casks for a minimum of 16yrs and finished in first fill Bourbon casks for 2 years.

If the man in your life likes the idea of Whisky but doesn’t yet know what he likes then this next gift could be just the job.

Whisky Tasting Set – Regions of Scotland – 5 x 30ml Malt Whiskies, plus a Whisky Tasting Glass in Presentation Box

This Whisky Gift Set features Malt Whiskies from the five Whisky producing regions of Scotland: Speyside, Highland, Island, Lowland, and Islay. Taste them all for a truly authentic drinking tour through Caledonia.

Cigar gifts

If you enjoy smoking cigars, there are countless varieties available, not to mention the associated parafinala that you’ll probably be converting and would be delighted to receive as a Christmas gift. Whether you like strong flavours, mild flavours, or something inbetween, there is always something new to try.

The Famous Smoke Shop ship world wide and have a fantastic range of cigars at very reasonable prices. Purchasing cigars online for import into the UK is perfectly legal. It is important to note though that it is possible that cigars coming into the country may be taxed by customs (Though it is often still a lot cheaper than buying from a shop in the UK).

ALEC BRADLEY 9 CIGAR SAMPLER

When it comes to creamy-smooth, rich-tasting and complex cigars, no one does it like Alec Bradley Cigars. This very affordable flavorfest gets you 4 pairs of their outstanding Occidental Reserve Connecticut & Double Maduro, Medalist, and MAXX cigars, plus one of their new Maxx Traditional cigars.

These next cigars are something else and are probably my favourites if I had to choose just one type of cigar. And at a little less than $100 for a box they are great value.

OLIVA SERIE V MELANIO ROBUSTO

The Oliva Serie V Melanio Robusto is a top-honored cigar. It scored #8 in cigar Aficionado in 2018. The cigars flavors are true of Nicaraguan tobacco, and well-aged Jalapa valley ligero takes the stick to new heights. It’s full-bodied smoke delivers pepper with hints of chocolate and cream in a natural wrapper. It doesn’t get any better than this!