Arte Italica’s Giorgio Octagonal Decanter is striking and unique, featuring pewter accents and a handy leather strap. It instantly elevates the look of any bar. $315. Available at Fischer Evans, 801 Market St.If you’re still working to cross a few names off your list, the shelves of your favorite local liquor store (or, in some cases, a back room) may have just the thing to impress that person who has everything.
Make your spirits bright:
Widely regarded as one of the world’s best bourbons, as well as one of the hardest to get, Pappy Van Winkle’s 23 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey can be found in Chattanooga – if you get to know the people at your favorite liquor store. Vickie Hurley, owner of Riley’s Wine & Spirits, says the store is set to receive an allocation, though she’s unsure how many bottles. But any received will likely go to Riley’s loyal customers, who always get first dibs on any allocated liquors, of which there’s only a limited amount in the market.
Last year, the store had a waiting list 200 names long of people itching to get their hands on a bottle of Pappy’s 23-year-old bourbon, which at Riley’s went for $319.99. Hurley says it doesn’t feel right to her to mark the price up more than anything else in the store, though she heard several stores in town were selling it for $500 last year. Since it’s hard to find, people sell bottles online and through auctions for thousands of dollars.
The same is true for high-end scotches, such as Macallan’s 25-year-old, which costs $750 at Riley’s when it’s in stock. Hurley says the reason many bourbons and scotches are in such low supply is their increasing popularity overseas, where they typically fetch twice the price. As for bottles available anytime, she recommends Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon ($69.99), a popular option that has the bonus of a really cool bottle.