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.

You sound like a thoughtful and kind person OP, and I would have regarded you as such if you'd given me this gift. Regardless of whether or not I liked it or would have made use of it, I'd have still thought fondly of you for the gesture. I hope your colleague does too.

You said you liked it at dinner, he gave you what was left, why did you bin it?

I hadn’t eaten any, it was just a type (Stilton) I like but I didn’t want to take a half eaten pot home. I had no idea how long he’d had it etc.

Will she definitely have noticed? I wouldn't notice the cellophane missing so it depends how much is gone.

I think bringing in chocolates tomorrow and saying your teenager confessed last night is the best course of action.

No idea why you're getting so much heat for the gesture, a spontaneous (unopened ) bottle is a lovely way of saying thanks for a favour.

YABU to buy Limoncello

You could always say you mentioned it to DC and they said they opened it, you didn’t realise, mortified etc?

Gosh there are some ungrateful types here. What happened to "it's the thought that counts"? Even if I didn't like Limoncello or thought maybe someone had tried it, OP, I'd still think it was a sweet, generous thought of yours.

I love Limoncello!
I think it was a really nice spontaneous gesture. I think if you tell her she will laugh and still be delighted with the gift.

I have been the recipient in similar situations before and been nothing short of delighted that someone appreciated my help and wanted to thank me. The gift itself is largely irrelevant.

I have long made it point to take things in the spirit they are intended and it honestly makes life much nicer. Why on earth would you choose to sneer at a sincere expression of appreciation rather than bask in the glow of being well thought of?

Just text her and explain the situation. Just say you thought she might have liked it but your dd has since informed you that she did pour a tiny bit from the bottle to taste. Because of this, please feel free to tip it away and you will get her another gift. From the sounds of things she will probably tell you not to be silly and not to waste your money.
Last year my mil bought us easter eggs. She bought one for each of the kids, one for me but nothing for her son (DH). Anyway, she opened mine first, ate both bags of minstrels that came with the egg and still gave it to me and saw nothing wrong with this. I posted about it on facebook and what a numpty she could be at times and my sil blocked me lol. Ah families.
I think there's a difference between gifting someone something you've swigged (or eaten) half of, and a bottle that may not even look like it had been opened anyway.

I think I'd have said something like, "oh no , I wanted to give you this but looks like teens have been at it" and gone off her reaction. From what you've said of her I expect she'd have said thanks and taken it off your hands.

Hoping she wouldn't notice is a bit off imo.

Nah this is lovely. She did you an unexpected favour, expecting nothing in return and you wanted to repay this with something you already had that you thought she'd like. I'd find that absolutely fine and not weird at all. The fact it's opened is not ideal but I doubt I'd notice and if I did I wouldn't care. It's limencello not chicken! She sounds lovely I reckon she was grateful.

How much was actually missing though?

Seriously don’t sweat it. I think what you did came from a good place and i wouldn’t be offended at all. it’s the sort of thing at work we would laugh about and would certainly not be upset about.

Could you send her an email along the lines of...

"Hope the limoncello was OK, it's been kicking around for ages, but I had a quick swig and it seem alright - well I'm not dead yet. Ha ha!!!"

That's what I would do.

I work for a charity and we often have donated bottles out as raffle prizes at events. After a fashion show I received a call about a nicely boxed bottle of brandy....which turned out to be only three-quarters full. The embarrassment! Luckily the lady was very gracious and declined a replacement. Lesson learned we now open all boxed donations.
Hope that makes you feel better OP?

Just text her and explain the situation. Just say you thought she might have liked it but your dd has since informed you that she did pour a tiny bit from the bottle to taste. Because of this, please feel free to tip it away and you will get her another gift. From the sounds of things she will probably tell you not to be silly and not to waste your money.

This.

Some people on here absolutely crack me up. Have none of you ever had a drink in a pub? I hate to tell you they don’t open a new bottle of gin for each G&T they sell. Far more likely to be contaminated with Mumsnet germs than from a friend.

Just send the message and she will laugh and tell you not to be silly.

She may come to work looking hungover tomorrow.

Send her a message:
When I told my family I'd given you that bottle, one of my teens 'fessed up to having had a taster from it. I'm so embarrassed, and I'm obviously going to have to start locking the drinks cupboard... I hope you can enjoy the rest of it, and I've told the teen that they owe you a drink!

He wouldn’t have just taken off the cellophane Op

he would have had a drink

so you would have given an already open, tasted and then discarded bottle!

this

WTF

you posted on FB about your MIL eating your chocolate? Ok she was wrong to do that, but come on. That’s not on.

@SicParvisMagna

It's fine. Don't overthink it. It's a token of appreciation, given with gratitude and love.

I wouldn't mind an opened bottle of something if it came from a friend, and it sounds like your friend is the type who wouldn't bat an eyelid. Don't worry about it!