Boozy bottle: Camus Cognac
Perfect for: The spirits connoisseur who loves any opportunity to trot out his snifter glasses
We’ll drink to that: From the Île de Ré, a salt-mining island off the west coast of France, Camus is the only island-made Cognac to bear the designation A.O.C. Just launched in July, the amber-hued ether has a smoky finish and salty maritime notes similar to a single-malt scotch.
Boozy bottle: Carpano Antica Formula
Perfect for: The obscure-liquor aficionado and wanna-be mixologist
We’ll drink to that:The red vermouth aperitif, based on Italian distiller Benedetto Carpano’s original 1786 recipe, has bittersweet flavors of vanilla, spice, dried fruit, and orange rind. No need for gift-wrapping, as both the bottle and its tin case are adorned with beautiful crests, curlicues, and ornate lettering.
Boozy bottle: Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur
Perfect for:Your Italophile sister-in-law who purrs when she hears the word “Sicilia”
We’ll drink to that: Made from the skins of Sanguinello oranges and poured from a sexy red Murano glass–inspired bottle, this heady, citrusy liqueur from Sicily can be sipped as an aperitif with club soda or prosecco or added to gin or tequila cocktails.
Boozy bottle: Champagne Pommery Cuvée Louise 1999
Perfect for: The Champagne fanatic who can’t get enough of French history and strong women
We’ll drink to that: Named for the legendary Louise Pommery, who was known for the development of the modern “brut” style, this cuvée is made from grapes native to the top Grand Cru vineyards of Avize, Cramant, and Ay. Like Madame Clicquot Ponsardin slightly before her, Madame Pommery was one of 19th-century Champagne’s innovative widows, and this bottle befits her elegance, sporting a bright white label with embossed lettering.
Boozy bottle: Pine Barrens American Single Malt Whisky
Perfect for: Your hipster friend who thinks he wrote the book on single malts
We’ll drink to that: Long Island’s first locally created whisky since Prohibition, it’s handcrafted in micro-batches in a unique process using Blue Point Distillery’s Old Howling Bastard Beer as a base, then aged in petite charred American new oak. It has an unexpected Old World flavor and the smooth character of fine Highland scotch whisky.
WHISKY A GO GO For the whisky fanatic who can’t stay loyal to one brand, consider sponsoring a membership in the new 1494 club, a Manhattan whisky lovers’ venue where you can savor single-malt scotches in the comfort of its fully stocked private bars and lounges. Connoisseur memberships start at $15,000; for more information, go to 1494ad.com.
