
Last year I had a great time putting together a Slow Wine Gifts Under $40. But, this holiday season I’m shaking it up a bit. I’m still keeping things slow this year, but this year I’ve expanded to include a variety of handcrafted “slow” drink gifts – and still all under 40 clams.
Here are some ideas for gifts that your beverage lover would be happy to see under their tree this year.

Hero Bags is a San Francisco company that works with certified US fair labor stitchers and uses only materials either grown, manufactured and or processed in the USA. Each Hooch bag comes with a large ‘Lucky You’ gift card that’s attached with a ribbon. Usually $14.95, now $11.95.

Protect your table or counter top with these eco-friendly festive coasters. Both stylish and socially aware, this set of four is made with 100% recycled materials collected and re-purposed in Haiti. In the spirit of traditional Haitian rara bands — who create instruments from coffee cans and other discarded items to play in street festivals — these coasters are handmade by artisans in Haiti out of recycled materials as part of the RARA project that helps underprivileged Haitian women generate income to provide for their families, and trains them in skills such as sewing and weaving, all while promoting environmental responsibility. Find these awesome coasters at the
The Hunger Site store, where every time you shop you give extra cups of food for people in need — at no extra cost to you. Buying these coasters funds 25 cups of food. $12.95.
Nothing better than supporting your local brewery by picking up a growler of good beer. The two-color screen print on a Tultex green heather t-shirt (65% poly, 35% cotton) is ultra soft and will purportedly not shrink much. $20.00.
This one’s a bit of a cheat but this set of three artisanal jams includes one of my favorites in the world,
spiced bourbon-tomato jam. So, if you love cheese and booze or know someone else who loves cheese and booze (really, who doesn’t?), then this a great gift — and the only way to score a jar of this particular jam. In addition to a jar of
spiced bourbon-tomato jam, which is delicious with mascarpone, the gift set comes with a a jar each of
beet marmalade (pairs beautifully with blue cheese) and
Black Mission fig jam (dab it on grana or cojita). The Cheese Lovers’ 3-Pack comes in a custom-designed gift-wrapped box. $34.00. If you’re looking for something smaller and like kirsch, try a jar of
aprium jam with lemon and kirsch. $12.00.
And last but not least…
You can now find a bottle of locally distilled liquor from 240 distillers located in almost every state of the country (is North Dakota the only hold out?) as this
map of craft distillers from The American Distillers Institute shows. So, there isn’t much else you have to show up with for your favorite drinker than a bottle of single malt American whiskey (or vodka or gin or… you get the idea).