Holiday Gifts 2025

Break out the bottles (above)
Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG: Banfi offers an elegant bouquet of ethereal violet, vanilla, and licorice in this Brunello. The palate is full, soft, and velvety, complemented by warm spice notes. Aged for a minimum of four years, including two years in oak barrels, and released in its fifth year after harvest—this wine is a gift that embodies patience and tradition. Retail: $75. At major and speciality wine retailers.

Avaline Cabernet Sauvignon: This full-bodied wine is a newer arrival to the Avaline line and is vegan friendly. This label brings in notes of ripe cherries and plums with a touch of cocoa. This winery only uses organic grapes and curated ingredients that don’t include added colors, concentrates or extra sugars. Retail: $30. DrinkAvaline.com; Sigel’s, TwinLiquors.com.

FAB FLAVORS

Thai Food and Travel with Chef Nikky: Easy Thai Recipes to Feed Your Soul: Asian Mint’s Chef Nikky Phinyawatana released this gorgeous cookbook where users can discover easy recipes in five steps or less and with 10 ingredients or less. But the book is so much more for that culinary aficionado in your life. The book is a journey in which she guides readers through sumptuous recipes and color-drenched photos of her homeland, all celebrating the beauty and richness of Thai culture, food and life. List price: $42. Amazon.com. AsianMint.com.

Chef Nikky Sauce Set: Created by the Asian Mint herself, this collection pairs nicely with her cookbook to capture some of the flavors of her restaurant at home. Sauce Set includes Pad Thai Sauce, Black Soy Sauce, Stir Fry Sauce, Gluten Free Stir Fry Sauce, Sweet and Sour Sauce, Hot Sauce (12 oz each). Retail: $65. ChefNikky.shop.

Good Lookin’ Cookin’: A Year of Meals – A Lifetime of Family, Friends, and Food: Dolly Parton and her sister Rachel Parton George team up for this lovely collection of recipes and tips for hosting events all year long, including 12 multi-course menus of holidays recipes featuring American classics such as country ham and biscuits, barbecue spare ribs, family favorite Meatloaf, Slaw of Many Colors, Strawberry Shortcake. Who doesn’t want a bit of Dolly in their dishes? List price: $35. At all major book retailers and Amazon.com.
Stocking stuffer: Gone with the Gin: This tiny book offers 50 movie-themed drink recipes and whimsical illustrations, making it the perfect gift for mixologists and moviegoers. The book includes cocktails for every genre: dramas (like the Ti-tonic), comedies (You’ve Got Ale), horror (The Moon-Shining), and musicals (Sippin’ in the Rain). Beyond the witty commentary and drink recipes — such as A Sidecar Named Desire and The Big Le-Brewski — it also features movie-themed snack recipes like The Silence of the Lamb Burgers. Go ahead, make that drink.

Stocking stuffers: Silver Moon Bar-B-Q Sauce: Looking for a spicy stocking stuffer? Something with a kick?The original sauce is a tangy, slightly spicy, vinegar-based BBQ sauce that’s perfect on pork and great on grilled chicken and a surprise gift for your foodie lovers. Retail: $8. SilverMoonBarbeque.com.

DECK THE HALLS

Grandin Road holiday trees, wreaths and decor: Holidays aren’t just about giving. They are also about setting the mood and this retailer can help you set the mood to “merry,” Mary. Get inspired by holiday scenes and festive finds that help you share out the warmth of the season. GrandinRoad.com.

BREAK OUT THE BOTTLES

The Kraken Black Spiced Rum: This 94-proof Caribbean black spiced rum is dark as hell. Born from the legend of a ship attacked by The Beast, Kraken Black Spiced Rum is a first-of-its-kind Caribbean spiced rum, created when the barrels contained on that ill-fated ship were dragged down to the Kraken’s lair and stained with its infamous black ink. It is now known as a liquid of unparalleled darkness. Retail: $23-$32. KrakenRum.com, Sigels and other major retailers.

Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto Liquer: This was created by the authority on Italian spirits, Giuseppe Gallo, to bring back the forgotten category of aperitifs. With keynotes of Calabrian bergamot, Italicus is made using the finest Italian ingredients to create a sip of Italy in a striking bottle to surprise any gift recipient. Italicus is one of the world’s most awarded apertivi globally. Retail: $42. Total Wine and More, Curiada.com, Sigel’s.

Piper-Heidsieck Code Rouge: How’s this for a bold new take on holiday gifting? Encased in a sleek red-and-gold package inspired by a vintage fire extinguisher, this bottle of Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut is the House’s signature vibrant Champagne. This limited-edition brings – or gives – the sparkle. $76. Piper-Heidsieck.com.

Cold cocktails (and drinks)
Euhomy Luna Portable Crystal Crescent Ice Maker: Elevate your entertaining game with this countertop ice maker. It produces crystal-clear, crescent-shaped ice in minutes, ideal for holiday cocktail parties, family gatherings and home happy hours for restaurant-quality drinks. The elegant design works well with any kitchen or bar area. Retail: $250. Amazon.com. Euhomy.com.

Shiner spirits: Did you know Shiner started its own spirits line that is made right alongside its beers here in Texas? These bottles can either serve as a unique gift or conversation starter at your holiday party bar. Shiner’s Craft Gin is crafted from the same malts and artesian water as Shiner Beers, featuring Ashe Juniper, Rio Valley Grapefruit Peel, and local botanicals. A genuine grain-to-glass spirit. The Craft Vodka is distilled 20 times for unparalleled smoothness. And Shiner’s ‘Shine Is a sweet mash blend of corn, rye, and malted barley, copper pot for a smooth spirit that honors over a century of moonshining heritage. Retail: Starts at $19.99. Total Wine and More.

TAKE IT TO GO

UVI Self Heating Lunch Box: This innovative lunch box is perfect for anyone on the go who values home-cooked nutrition. It ensures comfort food stays comforting, providing warm, satisfying meals during the busy holiday season and beyond. Whether it’s for leftover holiday feasts, homemade soup on a cold winter day, or healthy meals during hectic work schedules, it’s an ideal gift. Retail: $80. BestBuy.com. HomeDepot.com. UVILunchBox.com.

Tally Tumbler Sports Edition: This sporty tumbler is perfect for that competitive person in your life who also knows how to have fun. This edition features a built-in scoreboard that tracks up to 21 points for two teams or players, as well as the number of rounds or innings. The Tally Tumbler is a must have accessory for tailgating, barbecues, picnics, camping, parties and trips to the beach. It’s a great accessory for a wide array of games, including yard games like cornhole/bag toss, bocce ball, and horseshoes, as well as other popular sports such as pickleball, baseball, softball, and hockey. Retail: $40. TallyTumbler.com.

BEAUTY AND BITE

Stocking stuffer: Savannah Bee’s Greatest Hits: The Savannah Bee Company offers a diverse range of bee-themed products both for the pantry and the pampering that are perfect for gift-giving. Options include the Bee The Balm Gift Box ($25) and the luxurious Heel and Body Balm Gift Set ($38). For culinary enthusiasts, there are several honey-based treats, such as the popular Hot Honey ($18), a unique Honey Hot Sauce ($16), the festive Whipped Pumpkin Spice Honey ($22), and the Whipped Honey Sample Set ($24). Other notable items are the Raw Honeycomb Mini ($18), the Royal Jelly Body Butter Trio (1.65 oz) ($60) for personal care, and the Blossom to Bottle book/gift set ($59). Savannah Bee can be found at a variety of major retailers, including Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, Kroger, Sprouts Walmart, Macy’s, Williams Sonoma, Sur La Table, Sprouts and World Market (Cost Plus).

SPICY SENSATIONS

Rufskin limited edition pillowcases: Give a sexy touch of California artistry with this limited-edition 18” x 18” pillowcase, featuring original RUFSKIN Studio photography shot by Hubert Pouches. Each piece is crafted using a super-soft stretch microfiber front panel, sublimated with vivid, high-definition imagery for a gallery-worthy finish and individually named. Here we have Throb and Lure which gives you an idea of the vibes. The reverse side is fabricated from jet black stretch nylon, creating a sleek contrast that feels as good as it looks. Stuffing not included. Retail: $59. Rufskin.com.

SEX!!!: The game for any couple, thruple, or quad: Don’t play games in your relationships – unless it’s this one. This fast-paced game of positions and play might just lead to the best gift. Players get the opportunity to enjoy foreplay in many forms as they move around the board where the winner gets to spin for a winning sex position. The ideal way to liven up a sex party, your relationship of choice, or maybe new ones. Retail: $13. NewFineArtsAlternatives.com.

Erotic Lovers Chocolate Body Paint: Whether it’s you or another person, explore delicious desires with this three-pack collection of Erotic Chocolate Body Spreads. Use your tongue or a finger to apply these rich, tantalizing chocolates onto your lover’s most cherished areas, and let the intimate licking and sucking commence. Edible playtime has never been this sexy or tasted quite this wonderful. Available in three flavors: white chocolate, milk chocolate and strawberry chocolate. Retail: $25. ParisAdult.wpengine.com.

ICONIC STYLES

Style Codes: Dolly Parton and Style Codes: Cher: With practical tips, fashion inspirations, and anecdotes, this is not just about what to wear and how to wear it but about embracing the spirit of these icons: bold, authentic, and always fabulous. From chapter to chapter, the reader will learn how to incorporate elements of Dolly’s or Cher’s styles into their own wardrobe. Embrace the power of accessorizing with statement jewelry, feathered hats, fringe, denim on denim, and of course, big, voluminous hair. Embrace the power of taking risks with artistic makeup, bold colors palettes, and avant-garde designs. And who doesn’t? Retail: $20. AbramsBooks.com.

Annie Lennox: Retrospective by Annie Lennox: Made in close collaboration with the artist, this highly anticipated volume moves chronologically through the entirety of Lennox’s life and career — from the early 1970s when she first met Dave Stewart following through with Eurythmics in the 80s, and then as a solo artist starting in the 90s and onward. Extracts of her lyrics accompany the photographs throughout. Engrossing captions and personal anecdotes shine light on periods of her life, to tell the stories behind the pictures. Retail: $65. RizzoliUSA.com.

Queen by Aaron Jay Young: Capturing the beauty, elegance, humor, camp and personality of some of the industry’s most prominent performers, this coffee table book is the culmination of over four years worth of photographs. Showcasing the diverse and inclusive nature of the art, Young celebrates his subjects, capturing their individuality with each release of his shutter. A blue-gray backdrop serves as the lone constant across his requisite and grand photographs, each displaying an exclusive moment in drag history. Grab a seat and a drink and enjoy more than 125 photographs of the world’s most extraordinary and creative beings including Shangela, Bob the Drag Queen, Trixie Mattel, Gigi Goode, Sasha Velour, and more than 100 other queens. Retail: $99. QueenTheBook.com.

SOME GIFTS AREN’T MEANT TO BE WRAPPED, ONLY DRIVEN

The Maserati Grecale by Avondale: This year, give more than a gift, deliver an experience. This is where timeless Italian design meets modern performance, offering a blend of power, precision and everyday versatility. Perfect for those who value presence, performance and craftsmanship, the Grecale is more than a vehicle, it’s a celebration of elevated living. With its sculpted lines, finely crafted interior and advanced driving technology, the Grecale transforms every journey into something exceptional. Whether you’re taking in holiday lights or arriving in style at the next gathering, it commands attention without saying a word. Experience it at Avondale Premier Collection, home of Maserati Dallas. Starting price: $81,020. Avondale.com/Premier.

The Lectric XP Trike2 (left) is the successor to America’s best-selling electric tricycle, the XP Trike. The model retains popular features — a low step-over height, foldable frame and powerful motor — while introducing numerous upgrades. Enhancements include a redesigned frame for increased stability, an adjusted stem for a more comfortable, upright ride, a new 750-watt motor option with a long-range battery and torque sensor, a TFT color display, and six new colors. Retail: Starts at $1,500 with upgraded models beginning at $1,800. Best Buy. LectricEBikes.com.

The Lectric eBikes XP4 ( right) upgrades the popular XP mode. Maintaining its utility focus, the XP4 features an in-house torque sensor for smoother power, a redesigned frame, new colors, a full-color TFT display, new 602 hydraulic brakes, and an 8-speed Shimano Altus drivetrain. Retail: The standard XP4 with a 500-watt motor and 10.4 Ah battery, $1,000 and up. The XP4 750 with a 750-watt motor and a longer-range 17.5 Ah battery, $1,300.

GET COZY

Evergrace Throw Blankets: Thoughtfully crafted and sustainably made, these luxurious throw blankets are the perfect gift to elevate any space. Cozy and comfortable, they add an elevated feel whether draped over a reading chair or snuggled under for movie night. An ideal gesture of care for the holidays and beyond. Bonus for the upscale packaging that just needs a ribbon on top. Retail: $20-$76. Wayfair.com. EvergraceHome.com.

“Steady” Soul Cocoon Blanket: This colorful covering is also a unique cozy gift from HeartWorks. Why? Because the blanket’s design is animal-created art by horse artist Gwen. She even has her own bio: Leading by example, Gwen renews and reinvents herself on a daily basis. Step by step, she will show you how to infuse your space with transforming, releasing, and cleansing hues of life.

At HeartWorks, animals like horses, Gwen and Sofi, and a rescue dog, Hanna, co-create energy-infused art to calm the body and lift the spirit. HeartWorks promotes energy therapy so unlike human-created art, animal-created paintings carry pure intention without the ego or agenda. Its methodology involves deeply attuned preparation and energy alignment with each animal before any creation begins. This process ensures each piece carries the intended frequency. Retail starts at $111. Heartworks.horse.

2022 Stewart Cellars Tartan Red Blend. Expect rich notes of dark chocolate, cherry, pepper, and all-spice with deep earthy undertones from this Napa Valley winery. Retail: Appx. $65-$70 per 750ml bottle. Available at major wine retailers.

Brucato’s Amaro Gift Pack: This might just be the perfect way to impress your cocktail enthusiasts either as a gift or a serving. This set of three 375ml bottles features all of its flagship brands, beautifully packaged and ready to gift. Chaparral’s features come from yerba santa bay, spearmint and cardamom. Orchards’ dominant ingredients are apricots, walnuts, Meyer lemon, orange and cinnamon. And the Woodlands amaro profile displays elderberry, cocoa nibs, black fig and citrus notes. The set comes complete with a postcard for your personal gift message. Retail: $90. BrucatoSpirits.com.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th anniversary deluxe vinyl: Housed in a heavyweight gold-foil jacket with a newly designed inner sleeve, the vinyl package features never-before-seen photos and production diary excerpts from producer Richard Hartley. Retails: $30. Amazon.com. RecordStoreDay.com.

GAY GARDENS

Digz gardening accessories: Inspired by nature, Digz gardening products are designed specifically for modern and pioneering women who possess a passion for plants. Combining form and function with a fashionable splash, Digz colorful gardening gloves like these Comfort Grip ($8) and Long Cuff Rose Pickers ($20) are ideal for gardeners, homesteaders, or just those looking to harness the beauty of nature. Digz tools like this Garden Trowel ($10) and Compact Garden Pruner Shears ($15) look upscale at half the price. Available at Home Depot, Amazon.com and DigzGardening.com.

THE VINTAGE EMPIRE

Head to this LGBTQ+-owned shop to find treasures new and old and some with a twist even. This hand-painted parakeet was delightfully dainty and special for any shelf, mantle or bedstand. Contact the story for pricing.The-Vintage-Empire.com.