Don ’ t let gift-giving catch you unawares
CHARCUTERIE BOARD
Outdoor entertaining is in ! Take to the deck or porch with an informal presentation of cured meats , cheese , crackers , jams , nuts , and fruit for you and your parent to nosh on . As the edibles disappear , the real gift will reveal itself — a handsome , handmade wooden tray or board to keep long after the celebration is over . “ We build with walnut , maple , cherry , purple heart , padauk , and a variety of other exotic hardwoods ,” says Mark Deskin , a former U . S . Marine and the guy behind the camera of Aggieland Photography . As the pandemic hit , he and his wife Shannon turned their focus to woodworking . The Aggie-proud couple recently expanded their Bryan shop from 200 to 1,250 square feet to accommodate the size and growing demand for their bespoke products — from drink coasters and trays to barn doors and beds . Size , materials , and cost may vary ; shown here in walnut , 10 ” wide by 22 ” long , with a leather hanging strap , $ 75 .
Live Oak Woodworx | ( 979 ) 353-1270 | liveoakwoodworx . com
LUXURY WINE CARRIER
Toast Mom and Dad on their special day by pairing a fine varietal with the finest top-grain leather for an ageless gift that ’ s meant to be savored . The King Ranch brand continues the South Texas tradition of leatherworking born of the company ’ s roots as a saddlery , established just after the Civil War . In a rich rio latigo leather , this stylish wine holder makes B . Y . O . B . not just easy but elegant , whether to an afternoon picnic at Lick Creek Park or an outdoor event on the Green at Century Square . Carriers can come with one , two , or four compartments that keep bottles snug in place with a flap that buckles them in and a side pocket for a bottle opener . $ 151 to $ 296 .
King Ranch Saddle Shop 166 Century Court , Suite 106 , College Station ( 979 ) 209-9744 | krsaddleshop . com
WHISKEY DISTILLERY TOUR
Treat your whiskey-loving parent with an hour-long tour of a local distillery . Watch the process of how corn and barley are cooked in a kettle then distilled in a 500-gallon pot still to create a pure , natural alcohol . The distillery , which opened in 2013 , produces five kinds of whiskey . “ We certify that all of our corn , wheat , and malted barley is grown and malted in Texas by Texas family-owned farms ,” says Nathan Barkman , the business ’ sole proprietor . Four 1.5 oz . whiskey samples are provided during the tour , and 700ml bottles are available for purchase afterward for $ 30 –$ 89 . Tours are $ 15 per person by appointment ; the tasting room is currently closed .
Rio Brazos Distillery | 11405 N . Dowling Road , Unit H , College Station ( 979 ) 703-7935 | riobrazosdistillery . com insitebrazosvalley . com 9