Guaranteed to Raise your Spirits for the Holidays

By Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

BottleWise Bag Makes a Smart Gift for Wine Lovers on Your Holiday List
This new TSA-friendly tote lets wine travelers safely transport wine in checked
luggage, making it the must-have accessory for wine country travel or for picnics in the park, or for bringing your favorite wines when you travel

If your holiday gift list includes a wine enthusiast or two, the BottleWise Duo wine bag makes the perfect gift.
Developed in response to U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) restrictions on liquids in carry-on bags, BottleWise Duo lets travelers safely transport two wine bottles inside their checked luggage. The padded liquid tight bag provides peace of mind for anyone who's tried to bring wine home from their travels. For gift givers, the innovative carrier removes the
stress and intimidation of shopping for that special wine gift for the oenophile who has everything.

Pricing for BottleWise Duo starts at ($48.95). It is available in three > colors: Black, Bordeaux and Cork. For more information or to order, visit www.BottleWise.com.
To order by phone, call 800-673-9770.

Celebrate with Ice Tea and Lemonade

These Southern favorites are even more comforting when combined with champagne or vodka.

A quick and easy cocktail that is even simpler than using a simple syrup. Based in Austin, Texas, Sweet Leaf

Tea tea was founded in 1998 by Clayton Christopher. Using his grandmother's tried-and-true iced-tea recipe, Clayton and his best friend and business partner, David Smith brewed the original batches of Sweet Leaf Tea in pillowcases, using crawfish pots as brew tank. The Texas tea tradition can be a new tradition for your holiday parties. My favorite is Organic Peach Sweet Leaf Tea combined with champagne.
www.sweetleaftea.com
512-328-7775

Teahouse Fantasies

I still remember the first time I was in a Japanese teahouse. I spent a day in a geisha girl training school (please don't tell my ex-husband about that) to film a TV segment. For four hours, I learned how to hold the cup, how to turn the cup, how to lift the cup, and finally how to drink form the cup. Sounds boring but it was really fascinating. Time flew—or perhaps it stood still.

So when a friend sent me a book on Japanese Teahouses, I remembered my wonderful afternoon. And each time I look though the book I remember the serenity of the teahouse.

A welcome armchair retreat, The Contemporary Tea House: Japan's Top Architects Redefine a Tradition (Kodansha International, September 2007, $39.95 hardcover) is brimming with stunning images that impart to the reader the sense of tranquility that is intrinsic to the Japanese tea house. The authors are three of Japan's top architects: Arata Isozaki, Tadao Ando, and Terunobu Fujimori. This sumptuous volume presents an array of modern structures that are as well suited to reading and relaxing as they are to the ceremonial serving of tea.

Five visionary Japanese architects share, in their own words, insight into the creative process of reinventing this iconic architectural form. Complementing the informative text are thoughtful, often surprising accounts of the architects' deeply personal experiences during the design and building processes. Accompanying the text of The Contemporary Tea House, superb color photographs bring these unique spaces to life, lingering on the gorgeous materials and stunning natural settings that elevate these thoroughly modern structures into precious sanctuaries from our everyday concerns—just as they were intended to be, half a millennium ago

Santa's Winter Whiskey

Have you been naughty this year? A bit more spice than sugar? Not to worry, Santa won't cross you off his list.

Simply, follow the lead of celebrities staying at the W Hotel, New Orleans this holiday season and treat yourself to a gorgeously naughty but oh-so-nice drink: Santa's Winter Whiskey. Named after the jolly round man himself, this is one of many delectable cocktails whetting lips at W Hotels this time of year.

So what are the ingredients of Santa's eponymous libation, you ask?
With a mischievous start of Jack Daniels, a sexy splash of white Godiva, a kick of peppermint Schnapps, a pour of rich whole milk and a dusting of powder sugar, Santa's Winter Whiskey is whipping up quite a storm. And jolly Old Saint Nick tops off his signature drink with an accoutrement of peppermint leaf and a mini candy cane tucked into the glass.

See, nothing to fear. Santa is generous at the W even if you've been naughty.

Santa's Winter Whiskey

2oz Jack Daniels
Splash white Godiva
Splash Peppermint Schnapps
Splash Whole Milk
Powder Sugar

Garnish:

Peppermint Leaf
Mini Candy Cane

Exclusively at W New Orleans on Poydras!

Madelyn Miller is a food and travel writer. Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.coffeeAtlas.com and www.teaAtlas.com