Cheery music, festive tidings, the promise of snow-topped trees and indulgent meals: It’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s the most stressful season of the year. A time to worry about what to serve at big family get-togethers, which nutty relative might make an unexpected appearance and who will bring what dish—plus, the impending headache of finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

This year, there’s one very adult way to knock out a few of these worries in one motion: An all-purpose drink that works as a hostess gift, an ingredient in a warming holiday Hot Toddy or as a heartfelt, homemade gift for the hard-to-please drink-lover.