Nothing shows how much you care about someone during the holidays like rubbing it in their face that you live in one of the most incredible places in North America.
So while it’s not exactly kosher to be tossing Colorado kush into your Christmas care packages, there are plenty of other homegrown fruits of the Centennial State’s labors to share with your loved ones who live outside our square state.
Kaladi Coffee
Contrary to commercial jingle lore, there’s nary a sadder way to start your day than with a mucky cup of instant coffee. It’s watery, it’s bland and it circumvents the general rule that foods and beverages should require at least some diligence and preparation before consumption — otherwise, leave it to the astronauts. And not to name names, but there’s a certain red jug of brown dust that has a particularly nefarious reputation among the snootier bean barons. Please, don’t let your loved ones be doomed to an upcoming National Hangover Day (see: Jan. 1) with nothing but that crimson tin of sawdust. Instead, make sure all nearby cupboards are prepared and stocked with some of the good stuff from Denver’s own Kaladi Coffee. A mainstay of The Queen City of the Plains for more than 15 years, the Kaladi bros crank out arguably the best beans in the Front Range. We recommend the Pioneers blend (formerly Red Goat), which is a bit bolder than your typical cup o’ mud. A ground pound usually runs about $15. 1730 E. Evans Ave, Denver, CO 80210 or online at kaladicoffee.com.
Bjorn’s Colorado Honey
If you’ve ever been to a metro area farmer’s market, you’ve probably see Pontus Jakobsson. Owner of Boulder-based Bjorn’s Colorado Honey, the dude is hard to miss — and so is his honey. A looming, translucent Swede, Jakobsson is a third-generation apiarist who knows how to present a sugary jar of bee butter. The beekeeper offers products ranging from crystallized honey — which is very similar to an American whipped variety — to lip balm to skin creams, all of which are made with golden nectar cultivated here in the Front Range. The stuff is damn tasty, and the lip balm in particular offers a local, cool-kid alternative to Maine’s pervasive Burt’s Bees. A 12.75-fl.-oz. jar of honey runs about $12 and can be picked up at most area farmer’s markets. And although most markets close shop for the season in mid-November, Jakobsson is willing to make holiday orders and accommodations via email at bjornscohoney@gmail.com. Visit beecarenatura.com for more information.
Pine Brand “Beer Socks”
It’s difficult to assess George H.W. Bush’s sock game. The man’s iridescent heel cushions seem to defy gravity, and, generally the laws of fashion as well as nature. But we bet there’s one pair of sock’s the 41st president doesn’t have. Pine Brand is a two-man outfit based out of Fort Collins that makes outdoor-themed apparel to be worn, well, outdoors. Among the company’s arsenal of largely cotton blend clothing, Pine offers some rather, how do we say, badass socks. For their fall line, the company is boasting a pair of foot wrappers aptly titled “beer socks” that sport images of hops, grains and beer cans. For $15, the garb would make a great stocking (ha! puns) stuffer and could put a potential wearer in a sincerely solid position to challenge the hard-hitting game of Jeb!’s pops. Oh, and if they’re gifted with beer in hand, even better. Order online at pinebrand.com.
Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey
Whiskey and mountains, that’s what Colorado does. Alright, that may be a bit of an overstatement, but those two passions are certainly ubiquitous favorites among transplants and natives alike. And Denver-based Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey is a Front Range institution that manages to exquisitely marry the pair. A peerless gift for those who choose to indulge, the whiskey is made with local barley and mountain water in itsy, bitsy micro batches. It’s a strong, tasty sauce. Buyer’s hack: A standard 750-ml. bottle — all of which are signed and dated by the individual bottler typically with the song he/she was listening to at the time of spirit entrapment — runs for about $60 at the distillery off of South Kalamath Street, but can be found for about $15 less at most area liquor stores. Despite an assuredly foggy affect, don’t get bamboozled following one of the free tours or tastings at their Denver plant. Visit Stranahan’s in-person at 200 S. Kalamath St., Denver, 80223, or online at stranahans.com for more information.
Icelantic Skis Giclee Prints
One of the hardest parts of giving up a beloved pair of mountain wands is parting with the graphic. Love it or hate it, the image cast onto a set of skis becomes a part of the rider’s identity. And although not many folks buy skis for their design or color, a graphic is always etched into the skiers lifetime memory of shredding. For those that want to forever enshrine a certain ski, season, or perhaps even an injury, the wizards at Icelantic Skis on Santa Fe Drive have you covered. The company offers Giclee, canvas prints of every ski they’ve ever made, and just about all of them are hypnotizing wonders. From icy animals to tribal mayhem to musical masterminds, Icelantic now has 10 years of products and nearly 100 images to thumb through. Each piece of artwork is the original size of an actual pair of skis and runs $75. Even for those who aren’t inclined to be gliding down any white stuff any time soon, the ink-jet prints are sport-neutral and do a fine job of creatively covering a wall for any art enthusiast on a budget. Contact Icelantic at their store in the Battery 621 building at 621 Kalamath St., Denver, 80204 or online at icelanticskis.com.
Nathaniel’s Hat Shop
Owned and operated by Native American Master Hatter Nate Funmaker, Nathaniel’s fine fur felt hats are put together using 60- to 100-year-old equipment and maintaining centuries-old technique. The hats — which are traditional in styles that range from fedora to “Laredo” — are simple greens, grays and off-whites. They often don’t come with much more than a stylistic band around them. No rhinestone cowboys to see here. But Funmaker’s intricate process of pressing, ironing steaming and stretching the fine rabbit and beaver fur makes the hats works of art in themselves and one-of-a-kind Colorado gifts. Prices vary depending on the type of fur. A 100-percent rabbit hat goes for $500, while 100-percent beaver goes for a steep $875. Visit in person at 140 Mesa St., Mancos, or shop online at nathanielsofcolo
rado.com. Trying to not break the bank on this one? Goorin Bros. in Denver’s Larimer Square sells a plethora of premium-style hats that cost usually just a little more than $100. Shop in person at 1410 Larimer St., Denver, Colorado 80202, or online at goorin.com/shops/denver/.
Hammonds Candies
You could pick up your stocking stuffer staples — candy canes and the like — just about anywhere, and you’d be showing just how much you don’t give a flip in doing so. Instead, considering saturating those decorative stocks with Denver confections from Hammond Candy. Sure, there may be a few folks on your gift list who deserve a lump of coal crammed where the sun doesn’t shine, but they probably aren’t even worth the effort. For them, drop between $3 and $8 on the “Oops!” candy that Hammonds sells. But for everyone who made your “good list,” a peppermint puffs gift bag will run you $7.95. For something a bit more substantial, the Colorado Chocolates package includes four of the shop’s Chocolate Mitchell Sweets, a bag of chocolate caramel popcorn, a tin of toffee bites, two peanut butter cups and two chocolate candy canes ($34.95). And if you’re not worried about filling the kiddos up with sugar, the $14.99 Children’s Stocking Stuffer package will cover all the sweet bases: A cherry lollipop, cinnamon candy “coal,” a “sea side” caramel chocolate bar, three pieces of Vanilla Mitchell Sweets and a packet of candy cane crunch cocoa mix. 5735 N. Washington St. in Denver, 303-333-5588 or www.hammondscandies.com.
Fancy Tiger DIY crafts
Anyone who has traversed South Broadway between East Sixth Avenue toward Interstate 25 South knows this street is not only a marijuana mile of pot shops. It’s also festooned with boutique stores filled with quality, handmade clothes, jewelry, and yes, even those oh-so-hip terrariums hanging in every shop window. One “locavore” spot that should not be missed on this strip in Denver’s beautiful historic Baker neighborhood is Fancy Tiger, a boutique on South Broadway that specializes in local crafts and clothing, and has been celebrated for years as a hub for local design trends. The crafts shop features solid selection of fabric, yarn and books, and the clothing store next door has one-of-a-kind threads. Check out their wares in person at 59 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203, or shop online at fancytigercrafts.com and fancytigerclothing.com.
Fudge from Stedman’s
It might seem a little odd at first to see a line out the door of a shop attached to a gas station, but this is exactly what happens most days outside of the Stedman’s Old Time Soda Sweets and Other Treats shop attached to the Shell gas station in the mountain town of Buena Vista. That’s because this place sells, like really good, homemade fudge. Like get out of your car to try a plethora of fudge flavors ranging from Dreamsicle and Rocky Road to maple nut and chocolate walnut. Of course, you’ll need to sample all of the flavors to ensure you put together the perfect mix for a friend or family member’s gift. And to top that off, the nostalgic shop offers 250 flavors of glass bottled soda with goofy names like Henry Weinhard Vanilla Cream, vintage candies with even hokier monikers such as Slo Pokes and Necco Wafers; and Blue Bell Ice Cream for classic shakes and malts. Visit in person at 227 South Hwy 24 at the Shell Station, Buena Vista, Colorado 81211, or buy up to 5 pounds of fudge online at stedmansbv.com.
Gems from the Buffalo Bill Museum
First of all, acquiring a gift from The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave site in Golden allows you to visit the inimitable and (questionable) final resting place of the legendary William F. Cody. “Buffalo” Bill Cody was famous and infamous for his Wild West Shows, and also an acclaimed bison hunting. He got his nickname — so they say — from having killed more than 4,000 bison in 18 months. Buffalo Bill’s Pahaska Teepee gift shop features nostalgic print T-shirts of the roaming cowboy and shot glasses fit for a king, well, really more for a cowboy or girl. The shop also sells its wares online, but if you visit the site in person, you can take in all the sweeping Colorado views Golden’s Lookout Mountain has to offer, where the museum and grave site is located. Gifts and knickknacks can be purchased in the store at 987 1/2 Lookout Mountain Road, Golden, CO 80401, or online at buffalobill.org
Wine from Guy Drew Vineyards
First of all, it’s always cool to shop 5,700 feet above sea level, and second, a bottle of wine is a gift that rarely goes to waste. And that’s exactly how high Guy Drew Vineyards is located in McElmo Canyon, just southwest of Cortez in the heart of the historic Anasazi trade route. Guy Drew and his wife, Ruth, started the winery in 1998, and over the years, have transformed it into one of the state’s finest for choosing a local drink of the gods. The tasting room is open every day from noon to 5 p.m. for the adventurous winos. Going for $16, suggested gift wines include Riesling and the Metate Blanc, a blend of Riesling and Chardonnay with flavors of lemon, pear, tart apple and orange. Wine club members get shipments twice a year, as well as discounts on purchases and availability of limited and new release wines. See it in person at 19891 Road G Cortez, CO 81321, or shop online at www.guydrewvineyards.com.