To have given this as a gift?

[JMSA]

A colleague really helped me out today, and I wanted to give her a token of my appreciation. I remembered that I had a lovely, unused bottle of limoncello that I bought while in Sicily over the summer. So when she dropped me off at home after work today, I nipped inside to grab it for her.
On taking it out of the cupboard, I saw that the cellophane had been removed from the stopper and a wee bit was missing. Bloody teenagers! (not underage, I hasten to add).
I gave it to her anyway because I was completely caught out. But now I feel silly and a bit embarrassed. I'm hoping she won't mind. It could only have been opened recently and she is very thrifty - as well as an incredibly resourceful and amazing human being - so I know that it definitely won't go to waste. She likes the drink and is a keen baker, etc.
I'm hoping that maybe she'll think it's more authentically Italian with the cellophane removed, and that that's how it's supposed to look

Would you be insulted by this gift? I would have lined up something else had I known the bottle was opened.

I'll tell you a funny wee story about this lovely colleague. One day she walked into the staffroom as I was about to chuck out some milk. It would have been off by the time we returned from a long weekend. She insisted that she take it and that it didn't go to waste.
She gave me a lift home and I sat in the front clutching the milk. But it was in a carton with the corner snipped off. I sat there thinking 'you're a bit bonkers' as the milk splashed on my handbag
So I'm really hoping she won't mind.

Are you SURE????

I would have to explain.
She will get it.

Well depends - did the teens empty it and fill it with lemon squash?!

I’d be really touched to have received a spontaneous gift- you said she helped you on the day, so it’s not like it was planned. You didn’t maliciously or, even carelessly, give her something already opened. If it were me I definitely wouldn’t notice any missing cellophane. I think you did a lovely generous thing. You said she seemed delighted- I’d trust her reaction and forget about it.

No. I only ever buy orange

This sounds like a sensible plan.

ETA I bet she says no need for you to replace but it shows willing.

Okay, Hyacinth.

Thank you. On my life, I 100% expected this bottle to be still untouched. And it was totally spontaneous.

It sounds like she probably won’t mind but even if the cellophane had been on, it would’ve been clear you were giving her something random from a holiday unless you’ve been abroad this last week

The irony is, I'm normally very generous!

But yeah, because the favour was so last minute. I couldn't pretend that I had bought it for her specifically, as I don't own a crystal ball.

I wouldn't give anyone a spontaneous gift which they can't put in their regifting drawer if they don't happen to like it.

No , an open bottle of anything is not a gift at all , it smacks of after thought , weirdness , don't care . I'd be poring it straight down the sink .
Would have been much better to wait and buy some flowers , chocs infact anything that's new .

@ThisHangryPinkBalonz

This. You've made it awkward now if she's thinking ew...backwash

God, I really am unreasonable. If I had known in advance that it had been opened - and she wasn't waiting outside - I'd never have given it to her.
It was a split second decision ... and not my finest, admittedly!

Just tell her!

@ahemfem

Any more ways you can express the same thing, to make me feel worse?! 😆

Yeah this isn't great. I'd be chuffed till I realised it was already opened, then would be a bit miffed!

And because my last day at that particular workplace is on Thursday, I may well never see her again.

You only have a couple of days to feel embarrassed then. 😂

I wouldn't worry about it OP. She sounds like the sort of person who wouldn't care, and if she'd did, the worst she'll do is not use it.

I'll tell her and bring something else in. She's great and will see the funny side.

You sound lovely, and she sounds like the type of person who would totally understand. Don't worry about it!

An opened bottle of tourist souvenir is not a gift. If it were unopened it would still be weird, like me running into my house and picking up a random object like a box of tissues or magnet from Spain to 'gift' someone.
Plus limoncello is minging

I think you'll feel better if you do this. Just say you hadn't noticed when you gave it her but then someone in your household said they had already opened it, then give her new gift. You'll both laugh and all will be well. She'll know you're a thoughtful person.