With a logjam at the ports, ’tis the season to look local. Here’s our shopping list of favorite gifts manufactured in the Lone Star State.


Food & Drink

Firestone & Robertson Barrel Finish Series (Fort Worth): Firestone & Robertson is a distinctly Texan distillery. Made with Texas corn, wheat, and barely grown by a 4th generation farmer, and a proprietary yeast strain pulled from a Texas pecan, the results are award-winning spirits held in bold, statement-making bottles. With their barrel-finished release, a Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Cognac Casks, complete with optional engraving, F&R has the special spirit drinker in your life covered this holiday season. $64.99. www.frdistilling.com.

Renfro Foods Salsa Pack (Fort Worth): George and Arthurine Renfro’s Renfro Foods began as a spice and vinegar shop following the Great Depression. More than 80 years later, the Forth Worth-based family business continues to thrive as a charming local mom & pop store. For the holidays, Renfro Foods is offering a build-your-own four-pack of salsas, which features inventive options such as tequila and pumpkin as well as more tried-and-true variations such as raspberry chipotle and habanero. $35. www.renfrofoods.com.

Photo courtesy Pecan Deluxe Candy Co.

Pecan Deluxe Candy Co. Holiday Snack Mix (Dallas): Part of the holiday spirit is leaning into the plentiful, decadent snack offerings throughout Texas. Enter Pecan Deluxe, a small-batch candy and snacks emporium out of Dallas. The former 1950s ice cream parlor evolved into a supplier of proprietary ingredients by the 1960s, and has since broken into international markets. For the holiday season, Pecan Deluxe is offering a homemade snack mix featuring its signature sweet-and-salty popping candies, pretzels, and chocolates, topped with homemade fudge drizzle and kosher salt. Contact for pricing information. www.pecandeluxe.com.

Nuestra Nostalgia Dulce De Leche Restaurant Pack (El Paso): Since 1998, Nuestra Nostalgia has delighted customers with beautiful, tasty, El Paso-manufactured treats inspired by Mexican tradition. For 2021, their Dulce De Leche Restaurant Pack is the perfect 60-piece assortment of treats for the family, including conchas, barras, and cocadas. $60. www.nuestranostalgia.com.

Chorizo de San Manuel Foods Meat Gift Boxes (McAllen): Since 1975, the Flores family has blessed its customer base with delicious, high-quality, locally produced meats like chorizo, steaks, sausages, and fajitas. This year’s holiday gift boxes not only offer your choice of meats, but includes a paired seasoning — the perfect way to tell a loved one they are loved, and that they need to step up their seasoning. $85 to $385. www.chorizodesanmanuel.com.

Absolutely World Class BBQ Gift Pack (Abilene): Absolutely World Class BBQ prides itself on knowing and loving sauces. Their flare for flavor has earned them business throughout the state, including being carried by retailers like HEB. The Absolutely World Class Gift Pack showcases the best of the World Class catalog: sweet and wild jalapeños, famous barbecue sauces and chunky picante sauces (both of which are catered to the heat level of your choosing), and barbecue jerky. $30. www.absolutelyworldclass.com.


Photo courtesy Psychic Outlaw

Apparel

Psychic Outlaw Scrap Boot Stockings (Austin): Psychic Outlaw is what happens when beautiful artistry meets impeccable quality. Made using recycled vintage and antique textiles, Psychic Outlaw offers a bevy of products, including outwear, dresses, skirts, tops, tablecloths, pet wear, and more. While surfing the full catalog, be sure to grab a colorful scrap boot stocking for your holiday decorating. $85 and up. www.psychicoutlaw.com.

Lucchese Boots Sunset Suede Boot (El Paso): A good pair of boots can mean everything. In Texas, boots are a constant in and out of every city and town, and will continue to be until the end of time. The functionality, durability, and style of Lucchese Boots is every boot owner’s dream; throughout the centuries, Lucchese has been woven into history.Though still manufacturing in El Paso, Lucchese also partners with factories in China, Brazil, and Mexico for certain products. For the holidays, the playful flair of the Sunset Suede model is irresistible. $495. www.lucchese.com.

Texas Standard Texas Flannel (Austin): The spirit of Texas Standard lies in its namesake; the quality can be found in its product. The “Outfitter of the TX Gentlemen” clothing shop prides itself in making durable, timeless looks that elevates the wearer to new heights, with the intention of graduating from primarily manufacturing in Texas to fully manufacturing in Texas. For holiday gifts, take a look at the Texas Flannel made from pure cotton. $114. www.texas-standard.com.

Photo courtesy Lucchese Boots

Twisted Arrow Local Goods Hannah Purse (Houston): Twisted Arrow creates gorgeous, finely manufactured leather goods ranging from leather coasters — its first official product — to guitar straps to knives to backpacks. It sources from all over, including from Rocky Mountain Leather, District Leather Supply, The Buckle Guy, and Tandy Leather, with hides coming from the United States, Italy, Argentina, and Brazil. For the holidays, the Hannah Purse is a great midsize carry featuring two outside pouches, one large interior pocket, a key hook, and a space specifically designed for holding cell phones. $200. www.twistedarrowgoods.com.


Sporting Goods

Nokona Gloves (Nocona): Since the 1920s, Nokona has specialized in elevating baseball, softball, and T-ball with quality craftsmanship, meticulous labor, and fine leather. Nokona gloves are individually cut, stamped, stitched, laced, and embroidered, which gives each one its own unique identity and feel. The Alpha series is not only lightweight and available to personalize but game-ready as soon as it arrives. $350. www.nokona.com.

Power Tackle Rods “The One” Rod (Richland Springs): Power Tackle designs and builds top-quality bass rods by hand, with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. “The One” is Power Tackle’s newest flagship rod and their most advanced rod produced to date — a result of partnering with Japanese manufacturing maestro FUJI. $399. www.powertackle.com.

Texas Timbers Custom Baseball Bats (Dallas): Quality baseball bats have a knack for standing out. The unmistakable “pop” when connecting with the ball, the glossy finish, the whoosh sound as it cuts through the air are all undeniable markers of craftsmanship at its best. Since 1998, Texas Timber Bats have helped elevate America’s pastime through their customization. Each pro series ash bat is made to order to fit the color and style of your choosing. Starting at $89. www.texastimberbats.com.


Wares, Scents, and Sounds

Sunset Canyon Pottery Mug Sets (Austin): Sunset Canyon Pottery’s finely homemade stonewares are crafted by a team with an enduring love for ceramics art. All glazes are mixed in-house, all forms are handmade, and all prices are determined with affordability factored in. Though easy to get lost in its collection of silverware and dinnerware, don’t miss out on their psychedelic flared, rounded, and straight four-piece mug sets. $137. www.sunsetcanyonpottery.com.

BrandNewNoise Krankie Music Box (Dallas): BrandNewNoise creates handmade lo-fi instruments and audio recorders that encourage creativity. Fully manufacturing and operating from Dallas, BNN products include kalimbas, xylophones, and music boxes, created with kids, audio engineers, and musicians in mind. For the holidays, a special item is in stock: Krankie, a lo-fi crank music box with audio recorder and pitch control effects. $129. www.brandnewnoise.com.

Music of the Spheres Pentatonic Soprano Wind Chime (Austin): There are run-of-the-mill wind chimes and then there’s a Music of the Spheres wind chime. Tuned to perfection by a diverse set of musicians, built with tempered aluminum tubes that won’t rust, and founded by a brilliant artist with a knack for unusual creations, Music of the Spheres is “the Stradivarius of wind chimes.” This holiday, transform outdoor soundscapes with the Pentatonic Soprano. $110. www.musicofspheres.com.

Photo courtesy Boyd’s of Texas

Boyd’s of Texas Fragrances (San Antonio): Boyd’s of Texas is an all-natural fragrance house manufacturing unisex perfumes, soaps, and candles. They bottle in-house and carefully curate and secure ingredients from all around the world to perfect each and every scent. Perhaps as equally mesmerizing to the scents themselves? The packaging. Rounded edged bottles, minimalist labels, and clean, easy-on-the-eyes typography. Fragrances begin at $128. www.boydsoftexas.com.

Chaos Woods Wooden Goblets (Lockhart): Chaos Woods is exceptionally suited for the wild world of Internet one-of-a-kind oddities and woodworkings. Team Sarah and Terry Snow hunt for recycled materials and usually purchase U.S. poplar due to its environmental and forest sustainability. They work from their wood shop located in Lockhart, and often use a wood turning lathe and a pyrography machine. For the holidays, Chaos Woods is promoting handcrafted customized wooden goblets, available to customize in just about any way imaginable. $20 to $80. www.chaoswoods.com.


Etc.

Houston Tintype Portraits (Houston): Photographer Laura Burlton found her footing as a tintype photographer — a niche subset of the ever-evolving world of photography. Her work creates a weighted, elevated sense within each and every picture. Her portraits and event photography transform memories from photo-worthy to utterly unforgettable. Portraits start at $150. www.lauraburlton.com.

Cooper’s Forge Custom Hardware (San Antonio): Charles Cooper has staked his flag in one of the oldest trades in human history: blacksmithing. The results are impossible to argue with: hardware, decor, furniture, knives, gates, railings, all with the touches of the highest level of craftsmanship. He even offers blacksmithing classes to elevate your own craftsmanship. Contact for item pricing quotes. www.coopersforge.com.

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