Spirits of the season: Boozy gifts in Philly

When it’s the holiday season, certain spirits shine bright—especially when it comes to gifting the bartender, cocktail connoisseur, or libation lover in your life. 

Baba’s Acid Trip

For the adventurous cocktail crafter or kombucha drinker, set your sight on Baba’s, a brand new line of tart and tangy kombucha vinegars created in Phoenixville. Created by Olga Sorzano, founder of the Baba’s Bucha brand, the beverages are said to be rich in probiotics and antioxidants from the green and black tea that form the backbone of their original kombucha brew.

Acid Trip boasts four flavors: Raspberry Lime, Grapefruit, Pear Ginger, and Cayenne, all are served in 12 oz. bottles for $12.99 each or $48 for the Strange Trip Variety Pack. Philadelphians can grab their hands on the beverages online, or in-person at Kimberton Whole Foods, as well as at boutiques, bottle shops, and some local spots such as Front Street Café, Rex at The Royal, Art in the Age, and more. 

And for those looking for inspiration, visit Baba’s Acid Trip’s website and Instagram for mocktails, cocktails, additions to certain foods and more. 

babasacidtrip.com

My Local Brew Works 

For the beer lover in your life, My Local Brew Works is offering their Bespoke Brewing Package. According to a release, gift-givers and recipients of the package have the ability to join the MLBW team in the brewery to brew their own custom beer with full creative control of beer style, hops, recipe, name, and more. 

While there, Philadelphians can choose the grain, design the label, and choose how hands-on or off they are for the process. The release also states that pricing varies based on a number of factors including volume of beer brewed, fermentation time, and ingredients, but starts at $120 per person. Those interested in the Bespoke Brewing Package can contact MLBW for a consultation by emailing beer@mylocalbrewworks.com.

4500 Worth St. Ste J2, mylocalbrewworks.com

Char & Stave

If coffee and spirits are the right combination for your loved one (or yourself,) Char & Stave’s Bourbon Barrel-Aged Espresso ($25) and Pumpkin Spice ($23) both offer great options. The first is a medium roast espresso blend aged in the barrels of Bluebird Distilling (their sister site’s) flagship spirit, Four Grain Bourbon, and the latter features flavors like cocoa, vanilla, rum, spice, and pumpkin pie roasted in barrels that once housed Bluebird Distilling’s Spiced Pumpkin Dark Rum.

The coffee blends are available in-store for purchase, as are coffee beverages and boozy libations featuring the roasts listed above. 

21 Rittenhouse Place, Ardmore, charandstave.com

New Liberty Distillery

The local spot recently announced the release of their 100% Pennsylvanian Bloody Butcher Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The heritage-rich spirit is now available to ship across the state, or to be picked up in the New Liberty Distillery bottle shop, at New Liberty Distillery’s satellite bar and bottle shop— The Bar Cart in Reading, PA, and at Old City’s Art in the Age.  

The brand calls the libation the “first of its kind” aged in Pennsylvania white oak barrels for two years and made with heritage grains including Pennsylvania-grown Bloody Butcher corn, malted rye, and malted barley. As the release states, 100% Pennsylvanian Bloody Butcher Bourbon is available now in a 200ml size (47.5% ABV / 95 proof) for $24.99 and a 750ml size (55.25% ABV / 110 proof) for $69.99. 

 1431 Cadwallader St., newlibertydistillery.com