By now, your Thanksgiving turkey is likely brining and you’ve already baked rounds of cornbread in anticipation of transforming them into dressing. Time to start thinking ahead to the next holiday on the calendar. From breakfast sundries to no-bake sweets to seasonal snacks and sippers, these Southern mail-order foodstuffs are as delightful to give as they are to get. Though some holiday treats are best made at home, sometimes the most decadent indulgence is the kind that requires no more effort than the click of a mouse.
Breakfast
Bill-E’s Bacon
Is there a better fragrance to wake up to than bacon sizzling in the skillet? Not if you ask Alabama butcher William “Bill E” Stitt. Made with heritage pork from Berkshire Red and Chantilly White hogs, Stitt’s bacon is cured for eight days before being cold-smoked in hickory and sliced thick. Order yours in one-, five- , or ten- pound increments. billiesbacon.com
Pappy & Co. Syrup
Punch up a stack of pancakes with a drizzle of this bourbon-tinged, pure maple syrup—sourced from a sixth-generation family farm in Ohio before being aged for six months in Pappy Van Winkle barrels and then bottled. A splash dresses up a pan of roasted carrots and adds depths to cocktails, too.
pappyco.com; ggmercantileco.com
Courtesy of Pappy Syrup
Louismill Grits
White or yellow. Country or city. Smoked or standard. The folks at Louismill bag-up six varieties of grits using Kentucky’s highest quality organic corn. They make their own waffle and pancake mix, too. And if you’re the kind of person who prefers giving experiences, the company also runs an artisan bread camp. louismill.com
Sweets
Watanut Pecan Sandies
If you’re counting on having enough of these buttery shortbread cookies, loaded with Georgia pecans and dusted with powdered sugar, leftover for Santa, you better order double—or triple, depending on the size of your sweet tooth. Baked fresh daily, these pecan sandies come twelve to a sleeve. watanut.com
Stoneware & Co.’s Kentucky Bourbon Pie Filling
This one is for all the busy parents and non-bakers out there. Sold by the jar, this bourbon pecan pie filling is the tasty result of a partnership between two Kentucky companies: Louisville’s Stoneware & Co. and Najla’s Specialty Foods. Just add butter, eggs, and pour into a pie crust. The “Make Mine a Double” crate, which comes with two jars of filling, Stoneware’s classic thumbprint pie plate, and a server made from American cherry, makes a for a standout hostess gift. stonewareandco.com; ggmercantileco.com
Courtesy of Stoneware Co.
Snacks
Adams Apple Butter
As a cash-strapped college student, Theresa Adams made her very first batch of apple butter to give as Christmas gifts. Twenty years (and more jars than she can count) later, the South Carolina resident is still hand-jarring the sweet stuff. Add a dollop to warm buttermilk biscuits come Christmas morning. adamsappleeatables.com
Blackberry Patch and Sweet Grass Dairy Pairings
In creating two perfectly paired jam and cheese combos, Jessica Little from Thomasville, Georgia’s, award-winning Sweet Grass Dairy and the imaginative canners at nearby Blackberry Patch have taken the guesswork out of assembling a holiday-shindig cheeseboard. We’re especially partial to the bold matchup between Sweet Grass’s Green Hill, a smooth creamy, cow’s milk cheese, and the Peach, Bourbon, Cardamom jam. blackberrypatch.com; ggmercantileco.com
Courtesy of Blackberry Patch
Georgia Sourdough Crackers
Skip the Triscuits and round out the above-mentioned cheese plate with these simple Georgia-made sourdough crackers. In 2013, baker Tracy Gibbons turned a botched batch of sourdough bread into a booming business and now sells three cracker varieties—sea salt, cheese, and everything. georgiasourdoughco.com; ggmercantileco.com
Drink
Navy Hill
Equal parts club soda and tonic water, Navy Hill’s trio of mixers (original, ginger, and juniper) are made with natural quinine and topped off with extra electrolytes to help fight hangovers. Your head will thank you during the busy holiday social season. drinknavyhill.com; ggmercantileco.com
Courtesy of Navy Hill
Veritas 2014 Petit Verdot
Five of the twelve wines in the 2017 Virginia Governor’s Cup case are petit verdot, including this standout 2014 vintage from Afton’s Veritas Vineyard and Winery. The hardy but underused Bordeaux is coming into its own in the Commonwealth. Pair it with wild game or a Christmas roast. shop.veritaswines.com
