Raise Your Glass
My parents have pointed out to me a few times now that when it comes to holiday gift giving, at their age, they’d actually sort of kind of prefer I go for consumable items – like tickets to a show, a gift cert for a spa, or a bottle of my dad’s beloved Grand Marnier – as opposed to more ‘clutter’ for their house. I actually really like the idea of liquor as a holiday gift, because it’s something truly personal (everyone has their brand), and more often than not, liquor companies play up limited-edition brews or holiday gift sets around this time of year. But as a twist on that whole thing, I thought it would be cool for me to feature some liquor-inspired gift ideas to either accompany your boozy beverage purchase, or in lieu of your giftee’s already expansive alcohol collection. So without further ado…
For The Would-Be Bartender: Bartule – $44.99
If the person you’re shopping for has a wet bar in their basement or serves up the best mojitos at their annual summer BBQ, then they’ll definitely appreciate this all-in-one, modernist bar set-up. Although it takes up just a little bit of room, it actually features the essential gadgets for any night of getting a little buzzy – including an ice bucket, juicer, jigger, coaster / cocktail glass rimmer, corkscrew, and bottle opener. Available in six colours, this is a standout piece for any at-home brewmaster’s bar.
For The Big League Beer Drinker – Beer Wheel – $7.49 @ Organize.com
Boys and their beer. I’m not even being sexist here, because I do drink the odd pint here and there, but it seems like the truly beer-loving, brew-swigging experts out there are the guys. If someone in your family is a fan of the yeasty stuff, hook him up with this handy, way-affordable wheel to learn about beer styles from around the world, including the flavours, traits, and manufacturing process. As long as they’re not a know-it-all, this makes a swell stocking stuffer or Secret Santa present!
For The Immaculate Hostess: Scrabble Coasters – $29.95 @ Lakehouse
Eat, drink, and be merry when your precious furniture isn’t tarnished by a water ring or two. These funky cardboard Scrabble coasters will practically have people demanding to use one, and since there’s 54, you’ll never be short no matter how big your party. Bonus – consider using them for drinking games to liven things up that much more (like drawing a random coaster and having to do as many shots as on the letter – yikes for Z & Q!)
For The Refined Wine Palette – Le Nez De Vin Gift Sets – $139+ each @ The Wine Establishment
These beautiful, cloth-bound books are filled with a hidden bounty designed to tickle any wine connoisseur’s nose. Each gift set includes twelve aroma vials featuring the most commonly incorporated tastes in white, red, and oak cask-aged wines. The idea? Sniffing each vial (and reading about it with the included instruction booklets) trains our brains and our noses to easily identify flavours with a single whiff. The more sensitive your nose, the more flavourful your future fine wine sipping will be. Alternatively if you want to be able to spot a badly brewed bottle, there’s also the ‘Wine Faults’ set that sharpens your senses to avoid a rancid glass of wine. Definitely a splurge, but a worthy one if someone on your shopping list just screams VINO!
For The Whiskey Whisperer: Polar Stones Whiskey Rocks – $20+ @ Polar Stones
Never get between a man and his whiskey – this much I can tell you. And that goes for water too, which when frozen into ice cubes, has the habit of getting between an alcoholic beverage’s complex flavours and your tongue. Enter Polar Stones, an ingenious Canadian-made product that allows you to chill your favourite drink (including rye, bourbon, and rum – among many others) to the perfect temperature without watering it down – meaning you can quite literally enjoy your drink on the rocks. These cube-shaped rocks are made from soapstone, which thanks to its non-porous properties, makes it odourless and tasteless. They’re also pre-tumbled to ensure even cooling and to avoid scratching up your glasses. So how does it work? Simply store your Polar Stones in the freezer and pop them into your beverage when you’re ready to kick back and drink up. Also cool? Polar Stones sells moustache-emblazoned leather-wrapped flasks, making this an ideal groomsmen, boyfriend, or dad gift idea – fill up the flask with his favourite drink, and gift it to him alongside a bag of Polar Stones.
If you’re ready to indulge in a little holiday cheer, you may be in luck. I’m giving away three awesome prizes from Polar Stones to three very lucky winners. They are:
9-Piece Polar Stones Gift Set – Enough to chill three beverages (any more and you risk losing the dynamic flavour palette of your favourite drink) + you’ll be able to properly store your stones with the included muslin bag.
3-Piece Engraved Polar Stones Whiskey Blocks – Go big or go home – you’ll only need one of these jumbo-sized stones to keep your drink chilled. As a bonus, these stones come engraved with the Polar Stones’ Inuit art-inspired logo.
Whiskey Rock & Flask Kit – Just in time for Movember, gift your man with a leather-wrapped flask and a set of stones to keep his favourite drink perfectly chilled.
Wanna win? Here’s how to enter:
1) Leave a comment by December 2nd on which liquor-inspired gift idea you’d most like to give (or receive).
2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around December 3rd to select the winner, who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.
3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible to participate in this promotion.
4) Bonus Entry: Like or Follow Polar Stones on Facebook / Twitter to earn up to two bonus entries. Simply leave your Facebook username / Twitter handle in the comments below so I can track your bonus entries.
Canadian Gift Guide 
I like the Scrabble Coasters – so fun! Also that little Polar Stones flask is cute!
Cheers.
I follow Polar Stones on Twitter as @Alexandrina_M
Cheers.
The Le Nez De Vin Gift Sets look great for gift-giving. Thanks so much.
I would love the For The Would-Be Bartender: Bartule I would give this as a gift to my favorite bartender
Follow Polar Stones on Facebook-fb name Louise gilbert
I follow polar stone on twitter-wildcardacehigh (louise gilbert)
This would be my choice – For The Would-Be Bartender: Bartule – $44.99
I liked PolarStones on Facebook as Elaine Dyck and would love these as a gift for my hubby!
Wiskey stones would be a great gift, have discovered different types of wiskeys and
that is what friends and family are getting for Christmas
I would choose the Whiskey Rock & Flask Kit for my fiance 🙂
I would choose Whiskey Rock & Flask Kit for my fiance 🙂
I also “Liked” polar stones on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/originalmissnikki and “followed” Polar Stones on Twitter https://twitter.com/MissNikkiDotCom
Whiskey rock & flask for my Dad
I like the Bartoule
I think my husband would love to receive the For The Whiskey Whisperer: Polar Stones Whiskey Rocks.
msdickinson28 at hotmail dot com
Liked on Facebook as Wendy Dickinson.
Liked on Twitter as @wendylady75
i would love the Polar Stones Whiskey Rocks *LIKED ON FACEBOOK AS JULIE SNOW :)*
Like Polar Stones on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/john.crawley.311
Would love to get the Rfined Wine Palette
The Scrabble Coasters are a cute idea
love the scrabble coasters
I’d like the beer wheel
Polar Stone Whiskey Rocks – this would be a great gift for my boyfriend ; his drink of choice is single malt on the rocks, but he often drinks it neat to avoid it the water effect.
I think the Scrabble coaster are a fun idea.
I love the Scrabble Coasters!
‘Like’ Polar Stones on FB (Tricia Cooper)
‘Following’ Polar Stones on Twitter (pinecone8)
Le Nez De Vin Gift Sets – $139+ each @ The Wine Establishment would be the perfect gift for me.
Liked Pola stone on FB Brenda Fournier-Lacourciere
The Scrabble coasters are pretty cool.
I really like the Le Nez De Vin Gift Sets from The Wine Establishment
the Polar Stones Wiskey Rocks
I like the Le Nez De Vin Gift sets
I like the Bartule
I like the 3 piece engraved whiskey stones!
I liked the Polar Stones facebook.!
I like the Bartule
I like the Whiskey Rocks… I enjoy a good Scotch on the rocks, and this would truly be the real thing (much better than ice that waters down the good malt whiskey.)
I liked them on Facebook
I follow them on twitter @skeetersden
I like the Polar Stones and definitly the moustache flask! I also liked them on fb.
I’d love to receive the Bartule. It looks cool, as well as useful. I’ve liked Whisky Rock on Facebook (Alison Braidwood).
Whiskey Rock & Flask Kit
Liked Polar stones on Facebook
Following polar stone on twitter @fossie55
The Polar Stones Whiskey Rocks – $20+ @ Polar Stones
I’ve wanted a set of these since reading about them in the LCBO Food & Drink.
I would like the 3-Piece Engraved Polar Stones Whiskey Blocks
Follow Polar Stones on Twitter – vesper1931
I love the Polar Stones and the Scrabble coasters!
I love the whisky rocks–I’ve actually tried these (a friend has them) and they’re perfect!
Followed Polar Stones on Facebook.
Followed on Twitter.
I would love to give or recieve the polar stones whiskey rocks.
I like the Polar Stones.
My choice (to give OR get) would be the 9-piece polar stones gift set.
I love the Le Nez De Vin Gift Sets!
I follow Polar Stones on Twitter @rebthecatsitter
I love the Scrabble Coasters!
Liked on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tagnacontest
Followed on twitter: @tagna09
I’d most like to give the Polar Stones! How cool are those??!
I would love to try the Whisky Rocks!
I like to give the Bartule to my husband.
Like Polar Stones of Facebook
Angela Mitchell
Follow Polar Stones on Twitter @skyalive1976
i really like the Le Nez De Vin Gift Sets
follow Polar Stones on twitter
@tooliecat
I like the Bartule.
I like Polar Stones on facebook as Donna Lee.
I love the Polar Stones engraved Whisky Blocks. Interesting.
I would love to give the Scrabble coasters to my sister. We play Scrabble on FB everyday together!
I like the bartule
Le Nez De Vin Gift Sets – $139+ each @ The Wine Establishment
3-Piece Engraved Polar Stones Whiskey Blocks – Go big or go home – you’ll only need one of these jumbo-sized stones to keep your drink chilled. As a bonus, these stones come engraved with the Polar Stones’ Inuit art-inspired logo.
The polar stones would be very cool!
I like the Bartule – my daughter is just finishing off a bar in her recroom and it would be a perfect gft.
I would like to give the Beer Wheel to a friend I met in university.
I would most like to give/receive the Bartule – $44.99 ‘cos it’s both elegant, practical & most versatile for the majority of people I know.
Bonus Entry: Liked (Alison K) and Followed (SoulSeeker0) Polar Stones on Facebook / Twitter to earn up to two bonus entries.
Thank you
I would love the Scrabble. So cute!
I like the scrabble coasters
Polar Stones Whiskey Rocks.
I love the Bartule as a little hostess gift for a holiday party organizer.
I’d love to give the flask to my bro!
I like on FB (Erin W) and follow on twitter (@erockspell)
Love-Love-Love the BarTule! Great idea! My hubby would love the Whiskey Rocks.
I would love to give Polar Stones Whiskey Rocks, I think they are very unique and cute, what a great idea, I also liked their facebook page, fb username Cheryl MacIntyre
The “Scrabble Coasters” are so nifty! They speak to my inner word nerd!
I really like the Polar Stones Whiskey Rocks. I imagine if I gave my mom a drink with the rocks inside it, she would start screaming. I think it looks wicked!!
I follow PolarStones on twitter – @melzzzzzzzzz
I love giving or getting wine. It feels so practical… maybe just because I really love wine?
Whiskey Rock & Flask Kit is super cool!
Followed as @VictoriaEss2, liked as Victoria Ess
My father-in-law would absolutely adore the Beer Wheel.
I like on FB (Caroline Morin) and follow on Twitter. (@caromorin)
The Scrabble set would be sweet. I likes polar stones on facebook (shamrock Snow)
I’d like the scrabble coasters
I really like the polar stones and the bartule. Both make beautiful and useful gifts!
Followed Polar Stones on Twitter: @FabAndSassy
whiskey stones would be a super idea
the scrabble coasters look fun
I think the Le Nez De Vin Gift Sets would make a really awesome gift!!
ayoung3360 (at) hotmail (dot) com
I like Polar stones on fb (amber lynn)
The polar stones!!! We have a tiny freezer for a fairly large family so we never have enough space for ice cube trays. These stones would be awesome!
Polar stones would be great!!!!!!
the Scrabble Coasters – $29.95 @ Lakehouse would be great in a game room
The scrabble coasters are super cute!
I would love the Bartule
bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
I follow PolarStones on twitter as prairiebelle
bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
I like Polar Stones on facebook as belinda m
bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
I would love to get the whiskey stones
I would love to get the whiskey stones
The scrabble coasters are amazing!
scrabble coasters