quick gift idea?

[EricNoah]

Ok, I got blindsided by my brother and his wife -- they got us an Amazon.com gift certificate and I got them ... nothing.

I could use a suggestion for a gift -- I don't really know what they have or want, and I want to do something a little better than "here's the exact same amount back as a gift certificate." If you got something cool that basically anyone would enjoy, please share your suggestion.

Thanks!

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Would you have to mail the gift, or could you hand deliver it?

You can only rarely go amiss with a bottle of wine. Most states allow you to order wine via an online retailer and have it shipped. South Carolina is one of the few states where this is not kosher, but most of the others allow it. If you're able to hand deliver the wine, so much the better. Plus, the wide variety of vintages and labels out there will allow you to give something probably very tasty within your target price range.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

In the same vein, we gave out many bottles of Wild Turkey American Honey- a new product from them. Its kind of like amaretto in that it is a sweet liquor, but it has a bit more of a burn, since its about 35% alcohol.

So far, EVERYONE we've given it to has loved it.

Where I'm living, a small bottle is about $16, and a large bottle is between $21-26.

When it comes to wines, it helps if you know your intended recipient's taste. Personally, my family loves German white wines, and a good bottle of Riesling, Spatlase or Auslase can be had for under $30. Ditto Eiswein, but that is a very sweet desert wine- not for everyone.

 

[Hypersmurf]

... and I want to do something a little better than "here's the exact same amount back as a gift certificate."

That's easy.

The exact same amount, plus 1!

-Hyp.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Gift Card +1?

That is soooooo D&D.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Gift Card +1?

That is soooooo D&D.

And if you are playing 3.0, it'll be able to ver come */+1 damage reduction.

 

[EricNoah]

The wine idea isn't bad but they know a lot about wine and I know nothing. I'd probably end up getting them crap. I don't know their drinking habits otherwise. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Hope it works out.

If you decide to revisit getting them wine, Wine Spectator offers appellation ratings on a 100-point scale. Anything above a 90 is great. Most wine afficianados go for 90+ on the rating scale. Many of the internet wine retailers also sticky the Wine Spectator rating on their individual wine listings--it's pretty much an industry standard.

Sorry to prattle. My mum sold wine for quite a long time. I learned a lot from listening to her stories about work.

 

[EricNoah]

Good to know. As little as I know about wine, I know less about my own brother. We are, shall we say, not close. I got him and his wife a gift certificate to igourmet.com last year and would do so again except that it appers that they screwed up the order and my brother never received it (it was a real "certificate" not an e-mail code). I'd hate to have the same thing happen again.