5 gifts for the boozehound in your life

Whether buying for a drinker of discriminating taste or a champion imbiber of, well, anything, it’s easy to douse yourself in options. Here we list (responsibly, of course) a gift for every breed of boozehound in your life.

Vintage glassware
Few things say sophistication like beautiful glassware. But if Great-aunt Vera is holding tight to her 1930s cut crystal while side-eyeing you at Thanksgiving, perhaps it’s best to head over to Miriam Switching Post. The shop is always stocked with an estate sale’s worth of stemware. Plus, all proceeds go to benefit the Miriam School & Learning Center, making you a family peacemaker and all-around do-gooder.
Prices vary. Miriam Switching Post, 2171 S. Big Bend Blvd., Maplewood, 314.646.7737, miriamswitchingpost.org

Pierre Gerbais Cuvee de Reserve Extra Brut
When gifting a bottle, one can never go astray with Champagne. This year, pass up the orange label and look for a grower Champagne. Emphasizing terroir and local production, farmer’s fizz is made by the very hands that grew the grapes, making each vintage unique. The small number of grower Champagne houses also means less of their bubbly reaches our shores – so make haste.
$40. The Wine and Cheese Place, 7435 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, 314.727.8788, wineandcheeseplace.com

Coasters
Experts on all things suds, Bavarians call their coasters Bierfilzl, or “beer felt.” Case in point: Graf and Lantz’s line of extra-thick felt coasters (they come four to a pack) in modern color schemes. Prosit!
$27. Frill Home, 8837 Ladue Road, Ladue, 314.696.2222, Facebook: FRILL Home

Scotch Club Membership
Winston Churchill, Mark Twain, Lady Gaga, Ron Burgundy: The list of people who enjoy a good scotch goes on. St. Louis has its own club of scotch lovers who gather bimonthly at The Wine & Cheese Place in Clayton to learn about and enjoy different whiskeys. An annual membership is perfect for someone looking for an approachable and communal way to experience Scotland’s finest export.
$200. Drummond MacDougall’s Single Malt Society, scotchstl.com

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible
In the beginning was scotch. And bourbon. And rye. Shouldn’t there be a guide? The range of flavors and sources is almost too varied for anyone who hasn’t spent years refining his knowledge. Thankfully, the annually updated Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible has the lowdown on all things whiskey. A man who knows such flavor profiles as burnt sherry and cigarette ashes is one you should listen to.
$20. Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 314.367.6731, left-bank.com