I love when beautifully packaged delicious liqueurs come with nicely illustrated stories around their necks… like the Art in The Age of Mechanical Reproduction SNAP ~ a ginger snap spirit, from the makers of ROOT. Previously i showed you ROOT as well as a sample of Snap in a glass jar we tasted… since the production bottles were not yet ready… This time you can see the finished product! Popping the cork on this bottle, it smells like gingerbread houses wafting out, perfect for this wintry holiday season… the mix of blackstrap molasses, cloves, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, rooibos tea and vanilla is just irresistible! Perfect for getting creative with cocktails playing with everything from apple cider to toasty fireside drinks. The story was so cute (and educational!) had to share the booklet details with you… lovely illustrations… check it all out on the next page!

--> to more images

Sometimes that Christmas Spirit, comes in a bottle. Apparently for 2010, that was true. And the spirit came in the form of the Green Fairy. And it is delicious, and beautifully packaged, courtesy of Stranger & Stranger… it’s not enough that they make some of the most beautiful alcohol packaging around, every year for the last 12 years, they have also sent out a special Christmas Spirit, and i sip this year’s absinthe as i write this post. It’s delicious. Absinthe handmade in a single batch, not available for purchase… It is deliciously beautiful! When a bottle says “After one glass, you see things as you wish they were.” how can you resist? “Nectar, bitter-sweet - like the last kiss on the lips of a discarded mistress, is the secret charm of my existence; green as the moon’s light on a forest pool it glimmers in my glass; eagerly i quaff it, and, as i drink, i dream.” Marie Corelli, 1890.

See the close ups on the next page, and a very merry christmas to you!

--> to more images

Ice balls are definitely a huge 2010 trend! Down to the last week of 2010! From The Macallan Ice Ball Machine to the Muji Silicone Ice Ball Mold… and freshly arrived from Maker’s Mark, Bourbon Ball Mold! Also i recently acquired some Fred & Friends Brain Freeze ice brains as another ice ball alternative for scotch and bourbon sipping. So check out the Maker’s Mark and Brain Freeze variations on the next page!

--> to more images

‘Tis the season for a bit of overindulgence and there is no better way to get started than with some gorgeous, droolworthy inspiration from Tasteologie and Liqurious. To find out more about each temptation, click on its individual image.

Sweet, savory and stylish, it’s another roundup from the ever tasty Tasteologie and Liqurious. To find out more about more about these delectable delights, click on their individual images.

On fun collaborations, last week Kiehl’s and Jeff Koons teamed up to launch the annual Holiday Creme de Corps: A Wonderland of Merry in NYC, and Anna went to go check it out for us. Highlight? Besides Koons in person? CRACK PIE BITES! Who knew they did these in mini form? Also, Cake Truffles - with sprinkles? Momofuku catered the event, and the food looks lovely (lots of pics on the next page!) So take a look at the world of pop art meets skin care meets deliciousness that descended up on NYC that night, see the festivities (and the adorable retro americana decor!) on the next page!

--> to more images

Is molecular gastronomy ready to go main stream? Tucked in the rear of the new Marina del Rey Jamaica Bay Inn on Mother’s Beach (where we were quickly warned not to go in the water!) ~ there is a newly opened restaurant, Vu. With the look of an all-american restaurant in a business hotel perched on the marina, it is so well lit, we felt no shame in grabbing a camera for a few food snap shots! My friend kept joking that if we were going to do the molecular gastronomy thing, we may need to go for burgers after… but the dishes here were far more filling than we expected! With deep fried grits, pork belly, bacon powder, collard green fluid gel, goat cheese hush puppies, micro cilantro/arugula/basil, aerated cream cheese, apple roe, sweet tea poached lamb, chicken fried watermelon, coffee-glazed cous cous, and more… it’s a fascinating experiment to taste! Chef Kyle Schutte has crafted quite the mix of comfort foods and local socal deliciousness! See some of the dishes we tried on the next page… and here are the Vu menus.

--> to more images

On beautiful holiday editions, Perrier Jouët’s Dandy Champagne Bag is stunning! It’s a “lavish leather bag containing a bottle of Perrier Jouët Fleur de Champagne, two glasses and a notebook on the art of drinking champagne,” along with two hats and two artistic flutes from ad hoc Borsalino. It is a limited series of 40 for the whole world! The bag is made by leatherwork designer, Isaac Reina, and is numbered and signed. The details are just lovely! The Dandy’s Champagne Notebook by David Piper has illustration by Kareem Ilya, who did the Perrier Jouët’s Dandy Ball paintings which are absolutely gorgeous! See more details of this new Holiday 2010 Perrier Jouët’s Dandy Champagne Bag on the next page!

--> to more images

Gift Guide time! In addition to the NOTCOT Holiday Coupons and the many Holiday Giveaways that will be unfolding daily… today is a Gift Guide for the Kitchen! as sponsored by Starbucks who is celebrating their 12 Days of Sharing with us by hiding fun goodies, all over NOTCOT.org! Ready for a bunch of fun product picks to surprise anyone’s culinary side? See the next page!

--> to more images

On fun birthday surprises, this gorgeous gift box of The Macallan 18 arrived earlier, and there is something so dazzling about it i can’t stop staring. Especially alongside the Absolut Glimmer, sparkly is definitely going around this season. Also the 2D 3D cube patterns… like the Samsung Tweet Wraps! Well this gift box is mesmerizing, between the various shades of purple and silver, embossed and matte, the pretty little ribbon pull tab and built in card, who wouldn’t smile receiving one? A few fun snap shots of the real thing on the next page!

--> to more images

The holidays are upon us! Here are some delicious treats over at Tasteologie and Liqurious this week!

Here’s a look at the adorable packaging of Fearless Chocolates ~ to be fair, the elephant logo and the actual bite taken out of the chocolate when you unwrap it have won me over. Cute graphic details too! See all the packaging details on the next page ~ including a gold badge/sticker thing!

--> to more images

Gift Guide time! In addition to the NOTCOT Holiday Coupons and the many Holiday Giveaways that will be unfolding daily… today’s gift guide is all about deliciousness (that you can order and have surprise someone at their doorstep)!!! It’d hard for anyone to turn down delectable delights ~ especially when they are this beautiful or surprising! (You won’t believe some of the flavors!!!) See it all on the next page…

--> to more images

The posts are looking delicious on Tasteologie and the drinks at Liqurious are quite literally on fire! To find out more about these posts click on their individual links.

Thanksgiving is nearly upon us and the season of overindulgence is on its way. Get ready to feast with this mouth watering roundup from Tasteologie and Liqurious. To find out more about each post, click on its image.