Get Into the Holiday Spirit with These South Florida Spirits

If ever there was a year to give the gift of booze, 2020 is it. And if you're planning to put a bow on a bottle this year, support local. South Florida is home to several spirit brands that are spreading joy this holiday season, one cocktail at a time.

Grab a bottle and get ready to mix, stir, and shake up your holiday spirit. Here are a few favorite locally crafted boozy holiday gifts.

Coconut Cartel

The company that brought you poolside coconuts now has Coconut Cartel Special, a tropical take on a classic Guatemalan sipping rum made with coconut water. This holiday season, Coconut Cartel's "On the Run" old fashioned cocktail kit ($59.99 with a bottle of Coconut Cartel Special) includes all of the ingredients you need to mix premium old fashioned cocktails: cane sugar, Scrappy's bitters, a muddler spoon, cocktail picks, and a linen coaster. Available online at cwspirits.com.

E11Even vodka

Taste the Miami spirit with E11Even Vodka, sourced, distilled and bottled entirely in Miami. The first-ever nightclub-branded vodka is women-owned and -operated — the perfect gift to support both local and female. A one-liter bottle is $30 is available online via E11Even for shipping nationwide, as well as at select retailers in South Florida. The brand also collaborated with local bartenders and beverage directors on holiday-chic recipes like "The Cr11Mbus," created by Dave Simmons, bar manager at Lost Boy in Miami.

Duke & Dame

Salted caramel is the new pumpkin spice, especially when it comes to the holidays. Distilled and bottled in South Florida, Duke & Dame salted-caramel-flavored whiskey ($28) has a perfect balance of sweetness for those who are whiskey lovers — and even those who aren't. Try Duke & Dame neat, on the rocks, or mixed into your holiday eggnog or coquito. Get inspired with some festive cocktail recipes. Find it at local Total Wine & More and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits.

Funky Buddha

For a quick and easy gift under $20 for your boozy friends and family, grab a 12-pack assortment of Funky Buddha's premium hard seltzer ($19). The hard seltzers also make great holiday cocktail creations, like the "Pink Christmas Tree," a festive take on a French 75 made with Funky Buddha pink grapefruit hard seltzer. Each 12-pack contains three cans of each of the four funky flavors. Available at Publix grocery stores, Walmart, Winn Dixie, Whole Foods, Total Wine & More, and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits.

J.F. Haden's mango liqueur

South Florida is blessed to have mangoes year-round, so give the gift of mangoes (the boozy version) to those who long for the tropical fruit. J.F. Haden's mango liqueur ($35) is crafted and bottled in Jacksonville by Tropical Distilleries, using homegrown mangoes. It's a vacation in every sip! And while mango may lean more tiki than holiday, check out this recipe for a mango old fashioned. Shop directly on the J.F. Haden's site for 10 percent off with the discount code VIP10.

Shady Distillery

Shady Distillery is part of Sistrunk Marketplace & Brewery, the hip new food hall in Fort Lauderdale. The locally made Shady vodka ($25) is small-batch handcrafted with a proprietary finishing filtration that creates a smooth 80-proof vodka best served “straight-up Shady.” Or get festive this holiday with a fun recipe like the "Shady Mistletoe," made with vodka, seltzer, cranberry juice, and a garnish of rosemary and cranberries.