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 think so much here depends on the type of person she is. Personally, I would have been really grateful. As she seemed genuinely delighted, I think she sounds like she's someone more like me than the other posters calling it rude or 'icky'! Don't beat yourself up about it, honestly.

Maybe try and recover.... Sally, my son pointed out to me that he had opened that bottle. I didn't notice. I feel so embarrassed as I wanted to gift it to you for your kindness. Here's another one from the shop for you to enjoy and thanks again for helping me.

You can leave it to her to decide to keep the original, or give it back, but don't mention it.

There are some weird people on here. I’m honestly not convinced they live in the real world. Talking like you’ve committed a horrendous gifting faux pas and should never dare to step out in public again!
You were grateful for her help and spontaneously decided to show your appreciation. You weren’t attending a wedding, you were running inside to grab a small token of thanks. She doesn’t care what you gave her, she’s just touched that you thought to bother.
Please show her this thread tomorrow and have a right good laugh together

I think this is fine!

I think if it was a gift for a proper occasion like a birthday, wedding, Christmas etc, I may find it a bit of a weird thing to receive, but in the context you’ve given it, I’d say it’s fine.
She helped you out, it was a spur of the moment thing, you’ve given her a gift to say thanks. And you said in one of your responses she seemed delighted so I think that says it all 😊
If I helped a colleague, and the next day they came in with a broken-sealed bottle of lemoncelo I would just be so grateful at the unexpected gift, and really appreciative!

Yep, this

what did you do op

because if nothing… i’d say the moment has passed on

She knew your present wasn't planned so I wouldn't worry at all.
She probably hasn't even noticed.

I would buy her an unopened bottle and explain exactly what happened - nobody wants a used gift

Call her and say you’re mortified but you’ve just discovered that your teenager opened the bottle.

From.what you've said about them I'm sure they will be over the moon with it. Almost full, free, what's not to like? It was a situation of quickly finding a thank you gift and I would've been happy with an opened bottle of alcohol 🍸 ☺️

Exactly, you know her well, she will be chuffed! Xx

Bloody hell I would be really insulted if someone gave me an obviously opened random bottle of booze as a ‘gift’ . 🫣

I think it's probably fine but I would own up to her. You could explain it that your teen opened it without realising that you had bought it as a gift.

Still better than the bloke I worked with who gave me a box of chocolates for helping him with a project. They were half eaten and the remaining ones were covered in fluffy mould - 3 years out of date! 🤢

I wouldn't have minded at all.