FOOD & DRINK, ARTS & CULTURE, LIFE & TRAVEL
It’s that time of year: secret Santa gift giving season! Or perhaps you’re more of a stealing Santa crew, but either way, you need inspiration for a gift on budget! Let us help out: $20 and under $50 and under $100 and under
If there’s one thing that gets us through Christmas, it’s alcohol. And if not that, then plenty of food while thinking about drinking. So with that healthy approach in-mind, let’s take a look at some of the top bottles of grog to wrap your lips around this November-December as we descend into the madness that is Christmas. Manly Spirits’ The Beaches With a flavour profile that combines iconic summer ingredients – mango, coconut, and pine-n-line ice cream, The Beaches is a full-flavoured gin that’s perfect for tropical summer cocktails. Available for limited time only, this exclusive spirit is perfect for Christmas gifting and is sure to get your name on Santa’s ‘nice’ list. Get it for $95 The Botanist Gin Your Christmas table will never have looked so good, as The Botanist Gin and Eden + Bell pair up to create the perfect finishing touches for entertaining over the festive season. The gift pack includes a 700ml bottle of The Botanist Gin and a stunning table centrepiece from Eden + Bell. The table centrepiece curated by Eden + Bell has been designed to complement The Botanist Gin by using plants and flowers that are reminiscent of the botanicals used in the gin and found in Islay, while using all Australian produce. Get it for $220 from Eden + Bell Cointreau Christmas Gift Pack An ideal gift for margarita enthusiasts, this pack contains a 700mL bottle of Cointreau, as well as a complimentary salt rim tray for creating the perfect margarita, all in a special decorative gift… Read More
Stuck for gift ideas for your cocktail loving friends and family? Luckily, Cointreau has come to the rescue with this stylish limited edition Christmas pack that comes in a neatly packaged tropical box which includes a bottle of Cointreau as well as a super cute brass pourer. It’s the perfect gift for the Margarita lover in your life. Available at all leading independent retailers for RRP $56.99, Cointreau serves as a flavour amplifier, helping reveal the other ingredients while bringing balance, depth, and freshness to the mix. Zesty, fresh, floral and sweet with an instant freshness, lingering on the palate, it is a harmonious blend of nuanced notes yet remains intensely orange, it’s perfect for creating those summer cocktail recipes. Here are a few summer cocktail ideas to kick start the party. Holiday Margarita Ingredients: 30mL Cointreau 60mL Blanco Tequila 30mL Fresh lime juice 6 drops Aromatic Bitters Top with Rosemary Sprig Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker and add ice. Shake and strain into a cinnamon sugar-rimmed coupe glass. Garnish with rosemary sprig. Summer Margarita Ingredients: 30mL Cointreau 50mL Tequila 20mL Lime 4 Fresh Strawberries 1 bar spoon Sugar Syrup Method: Rim the glass with some fleur de sel. Combine Cointreau, Tequila, lime and strawberries in a shaker with ice. Muddle it, shake it, strain it and serve it. Tip: Garnish with mint sprig on the top of your glass to bring some freshness. Original Margarita Ingredients: 30mL Cointreau 60mL Tequila 30mL Fresh lime juice Method: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker…. Read More
Candles, ethically sourced crystals, tea, soaks, essential oils, crystal lamps – this is just a small sample of thoughtful gifts available at Cleanse & co. The brand exists to help you align with your higher self through products and practises, reconnecting, healing and inspiring you to all that you truly are — loved, worthy and whole. Cleanse & co. candles are lovingly handmade in Australia and currently have a gorgeous Cleanse-mas range which includes Gingerbread Candle, Holiday Eve, Santa’s Treat, as well as Rose Quartz ornament candles which are perfect for the Christmas tree. The candles include crystals (which should be removed before burning) and if you prefer a particular fragrance, you can make it personal by selecting a custom scent for an extra $10.00. Here are some of our favourite picks from the Cleanse-mas range: Santa’s Treat Candle ($69) Indulge in the scents of Santa’s treats, a blend of sweet, chocolate and minty joy. This delicious blend will warm your senses and create the most mouthwatering aroma in your space this Christmas. Infused by only the best vegan-friendly scents, supported in a blend of natural Soy & Coconut wax. 400g approx. 70 hour burn time if candle care is followed. Clear Quartz string lights ($34.95) Shiny and bright, illuminate the darkness, I am now surrounded with love and light.” The amplifying stone. Clear quartz is essential when manifesting intentions. It encourages thought clarity and heightens the purpose in your heart and mind. It is a powerful stone for energy as it enhances all levels…. Read More
Gift-giving is an art in and of itself. Think about it, coming up with the perfect present to surprise someone can be really complicated. To make matters worse, the market is full of gift options nowadays. No matter how well you may know someone, there’s always the person who has everything, is a minimalist, or is difficult to decipher as to what their likes and dislikes might be. Regardless of what your gift-related problem is, I’m here to tell you there’s the ideal solution, fit for any occasion and any recipient, available at both online and brick-and-mortar stores. Yes, I’m talking about the versatile gifts called hampers Melbourne and Australia, in general, have fallen in love with. Curious as to why that is? Hampers Are an Easily Customisable Gift It can be a hassle to come across the perfect present for a specific occasion that transmits the right message – well, that’s the case with every other gift but hampers anyway. And, if you haven’t bought one by now, get it for yourself and you’ll come to see how kind of shopping can be a burdenless experience. Without any pressure whatsoever, you’d be able to get the ideal gift for various occasions. This could be a housewarming party, baby shower, birthday, anniversary, Mother’s or Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas and Easter festivities, corporate events, end of school year, or a simple just because. If I were to pick an adjective that would describe the handy gift baskets in one word, then it would definitely be… Read More
Research shows that Australians prefer to buy Australian products and today – National Buy Aussie Day which is held on 1 October – is the retail sector’s initiative calling on consumers to support small Aussie businesses that have faced two years of uncertainty during the pandemic as well as the bushfires and floods in 2019/2020. There are 2.2 million small businesses across Australia, with the sector accounting for almost half of Australia’s entire workforce, which is in excess of 5 million workers, and just under 60 per cent of total employment growth in the private sector. “In the way that Singles Day in China and Black Friday in the United States have become landmark shopping days, we hope October 1 will forever be our National Shopping Day, supporting Aussie owned businesses producing Aussie made goods,” said Mr White. “When small businesses thrive, so does the Australian economy, and therefore it follows that we create more jobs at home and profits stay here. I think we all want to look for ways to support each other right now and this is a simple mechanism. So, let’s stop and shop Australian, and make it a permanent shopping switch.” Small business makes up one-fifth of the entire national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and contributes to more than a third of all production across the country. National Buy Aussie Day founder, Chris White is hopeful every Australian will do their bit on the day whether it is $2, $20, $200 or $2,000. “When small businesses thrive, so does the… Read More
