The holidays are almost here. And with that comes a ton of parties, social obligations, and of course presents. Whether you’re buying a gift for a relative (dad, uncle, brother, etc.), a friend, or a Secret Santa, you’re going to want to stay away from cliché, boring ideas like ties, wallets, and novelty coffee mugs. They don’t need them, and you know it. Instead of being lazy this year, get them something they’ll really enjoy. We’re talking about the gift of booze. Specifically gifting a bottle of complex, nuanced, memorable whiskey. Yes, you can give whiskey as a gift.
If you’re gifting whiskey, there are a lot of styles to choose from. You can give them a well-made, long-aged bourbon whiskey, an herbal, spicy rye whiskey, a nuanced, balanced single malt Scotch whisky, or something more unique and a limited release.
Also, whiskey is the proverbial star of the show. It’s not the only thing worth gifting. There are countless whiskey-related books, tools, and other interesting, memorable gifts in the whiskey realm.
The best whiskey gifts of 2024
Now that you learned a little bit about why you’re going to be better off giving the gift of whiskey as opposed to another jelly-of-the-month membership (the gift that keeps on giving), it’s time to find some to purchase for your whiskey-loving relatives, friends, and co-workers. Fear not, we won’t make you do all the hard work. What are the holidays for if not the season of giving. In that vein, we’re giving you our list of the best whiskey gifts of 2024. Keep scrolling this gift guide to see them all.
Best for fans of peated single malt Scotch whisky who love a rum-centric version
Lagavulin Offerman Edition: Caribbean Rum Cask Finish
To say that humorist, writer, and actor Nick Offerman enjoys Lagavulin single malt whisky is an extreme understatement. He loves this smoky whisky from the Inner Hebrides island of Islay so much that the distillery collaborated with the Parks and Recreation star to release a new single malt whisky every year. The most recent addition of the Lagavulin Offerman Edition series is Caribbean Rum Cask Finish.
This limited-edition single malt whisky was released in March, but it’s perfect for holiday gift giving. Matured for 11 years in oak barrels before being finished for 8 months in Caribbean rum casks, it’s know for its mix of candied citrus peels, toasted vanilla beans, cinnamon candy, honey, toffee, sweet rum, and robust, peaty campfire smoke.
Best for drinkers who are open to unique, innovative flavor experiences
JYPSI Legacy Batch 1 The Journey Whiskey
Whiskey maker Ari Sussman blended three unique whiskeys to create this complex, balanced expression. It consists of 70% Indiana distilled bourbon that was matured between 7 and 8 years, 21% Canadian rye that was matured for 20 years, and 9% American single malt whiskey that was matured for 4 years. There are very few whiskeys as complex and interesting as this memorable expression.
Best for fans of whiskey with a little peppery heat to keep them warm all winter long
Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
This 90-proof Kentucky straight rye whiskey begins with a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. It was matured for two years using level 3/medium charred American oak barrels. The result is a balanced, memorable whiskey filled with flavors like candied orange peels, oaky wood, vanilla beans, and spicy cracked black pepper. Fans of
Best for fans of showstopping, smoky cocktails
Breville Smoking Gun & Cloche
If you frequent cocktail bars, you’ve probably seen the trend in crafting smoked cocktails in the last decade. Now, thanks to brands like Breville, you can recreate these smoky drinks for your friends and family. You can also give the Breville Smoking Cloche & Gun as a gift.
These unique tools allow your whiskey-loving friends and family members to infuse their cocktails with smoke. It’s breathtaking in appearance and perfectly smoky. What could be better than a well-made, smoky cocktail? We can’t think of anything.
Best for fans of single malt Scotch aho are open to new flavor experiences
Wolves Whiskey American Single Malt
If you have a fan of single malt Scotch on your list, they’ll be able to appreciate this well-made American single malt whiskey. This 48% ABV whiskey was matured for five years in California wine barrels in Arizona before being blended and finished in cognac casks. This creates a unique, memorable whiskey with flavors like dried fruits, honey, oats, and wintry spices.
This one is best enjoyed while adorned in a wintry sweater on a brisk evening, it’s the type of whiskey they’ll go back to again and again after being gifted a bottle.
Best for whiskey drinkers who prefer sipping their expressions with perfect ice spheres
Monogram Forge Heated Ice Press
Who doesn’t love a perfectly round ice cube to cool their favorite whiskey or whiskey-based cocktail. The problem is that perfecting them isn’t easy. That’s where the Monogram Forge Heated Ice Press comes in.
This heated ice press uses precision temperature control to make the most epic, showstopping ice spheres. Whoever gets this as a gift is sure to wow their friends and family with their epic, symmetrical ice.
Best for whiskey drinkers who also have an affinity for everything chocolate
New Riff Winter Whiskey
With a name like Winter Whiskey, you should have a pretty good idea about what you’re in for with this seasonal expression. Matured for at least four years, this popular holiday release gets its flavor from a unique mash bill of 65% corn, 20% malted oats, 7% pale ale malt, 5% steel cut raw oats, and 3% chocolate malt. The result is a 100-proof sipping whiskey loaded with flavors like oak, cocoa powder, vanilla, cracked black pepper, and wintry spices.
Best for fans of literature and complex, long-matured bourbon whiskeys
Remus Gatsby Reserve Bourbon
You don’t have to be an avid reader of F. Scott Fitzgerald to appreciate this unique whiskey. Neither will anyone you’re gifting it to. This blend of hand-selected 15-year-old bourbons is 104.9-proof whiskey known for its complex palate of fresh leather, pipe tobacco, dried cherries, candied walnuts, vanilla, and charred oak. This is the perfect whiskey to enjoy by a roaring fire while you enjoy a classic American novel (it doesn’t have to be The Great Gatsby).
Best for whiskey fans who also have an appreciation for the beauty of our national parks
Wyoming Whiskey National Parks No. 4
Fans of national parks, especially Grand Teton and Yellowstone, will appreciate this limited-edition expression. The Wyoming Whiskey National Parks No. 4 Straight Bourbon whiskey features Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. It’s the fourth collectible, limited-edition release in the brand’s annual National Park Series.
It begins with a mash bill of 68% corn, 20% rye, and 12% malted barley. Matured for five years in new, charred American oak barrels, it’s known for its palate of crème brûlée, candied ginger, honey, and toasted vanilla beans.
Best for whiskey drinkers who appreciate the intricate aromas and flavors created by marrying different whiskeys together
Widow Jane The Vaults 2024
If you have a true whiskey aficionado on your list this year, you must get them a bottle of Widow Jane The Vaults 2024. Released annually, this year’s version is a mix of old and rare bourbon whiskeys married together and finished Amburana casks to create a 99-proof sublime sipping whiskey. This creates a memorable whiskey with notes of cinnamon candy, raisins, rosemary, herbal tea, licorice, toasted coconut, candied orange peels, vanilla, and oak.
Best for fans of history and/or drinkers who enjoy a nice hit of warm smoke with their whiskey
FEW Spirits Chicago Smokeworks Whiskey
Evanston, Illinois’ FEW Spirits is one of those distilleries that seems to craft nothing but noteworthy expressions. Its FEW Spirits Chicago Smokeworks Whiskey is no different. This whiskey was created to pay tribute to the rebirth of the Second City after The Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
This traditional malt whiskey is known for its palate of dried cherries, caramelized sugar, vanilla beans, dried fruits, and rich, robust, smoke that floats throught every sip. It’s a smoky, sweet, memorable whiskey that deserves to be enjoyed neat or on the rocks on an unseasonably chilly evening.
Best for whiskey drinkers who would prefer a little background about the distilleries that make their favorite spirit
The World Atlas of Whisky 3rd Edition by Dave Broom
There are seemingly countless whiskey books available. But there are few as immersive as Dave Broom’s book The World Atlas of Whisky. First released in 2014, the third edition was released just in time for the holidays. This newest version is completely updated and revised while still allowing whiskey fans to learn everything there is to know about their favorite spirit.
This includes its history, how whiskey is made, and a look at more than 500 distilleries and 800 different world whiskeys. There's no better resource for the whiskey drinker in your life. This is a must-buy for fans of single malt Scotch whisky, bourbon, rye whiskey, and everything other types of whiskey.
Best for whiskey fans looking for an underrated bottled-in-bond bourbon
Watershed Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
This popular bottle-in-bond bourbon was distilled, aged, and bottled onsite at the Watershed Distillery, adhering to all of the rules and regulations of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. It’s a 100-proof whiskey that was matured in a Federally bonded warehouse for a full four years. The result is a bold, complex sipping whiskey with aromas of orchard fruits, rich oak, and vanilla beans.
The palate is loaded with flavors of dried cherries, toffee, vanilla beans, and oaky, charred wood. The finish is warming, lingering, and gently spicy.
Best for fans of whiskeys matured in extra charred oak barrels
Bib & Tucker Double Char Bourbon
If you’ve paid attention to the Tennessee-based whiskey brand Bib & Tucker, you’ve seen that the brand has been racking up awards in the last few years. One of its best expressions is its Bib and Tucker Double Char. This 88-proof whiskey gets its name because it first matured in new American oak barrels for six years at its Tennessee barrelhouse.
It’s then aged for an additional five months in heavily charred and smoked new American oak barrels. The result is a rich, complex bourbon whiskey that begins with a nose of oak, toffee, wintry spices, and gentle smoke. Sipping it reveals flavors like sweet corn, maple candy, oak, vanilla, cinnamon, and gentle smoke.
Best for drinkers who are tired of boring, cardboard coasters
Barsys Smart Coasters
Regardless of which whiskey you’re drinking or if it’s neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail, you’re going to need somewhere to rest your glass. And while you can use a boring cardboard coaster, why not use a smart coaster instead?
Barsys Coaster 2.0 is an aluminum coaster made from eco-friendly materials, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a smart coaster that connects to your phone via Bluetooth. You input your favorite spirits and mixers into the app, and it curates drinks for you.
Best for cocktail fans looking to add a little extra flavor to their drinks
Bittermilk Mixers Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Fashioned
If you’re anything like us, the thought of most cocktail mixes leaves a bad taste in your mouth (literally). They are often overly sugary and generic tasting. But every now and then, we come across a brand that develops well-made, flavorful mixers. This is the case with Bittermilk Mixers. While you can’t go wrong with any of the mixers from this Charleston, South Carolina-based brand, we especially enjoy its Bittermilk Mixers Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Fashioned mixer.
The mix is made from Florida golden cane sugar, burnt cane sugar, water, orange peel, spices, Gentian root, Cinchona bark, and Tartaric acid. It gets extra flavor from being aged in Willet bourbon barrels. Just mix it with rye whiskey to create a perfect, holiday cocktail.
Union Horse Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Made with a proprietary sour mash recipe of corn and rye, this popular whiskey is distilled in traditional copper pot stills. Made in small batches, it’s matured in charred oak barrels for at least five years.
This non-chill filtered bourbon begins with a nose of dried cherries, toffee, candied orange peels, and oaky wood. The palate is centered around butterscotch, wintry spices, dried fruit, vanilla, and charred oak.
Best for drinkers who enjoy unique, flavorful whiskey blends
TINCUP American Whiskey
Named for the cups miners traditionally used to drink water, this popular whiskey is a blend of two different American-made whiskeys. They are straight a bourbon sourced from Indiana and a single malt American whiskey distilled in Colorado.
Both were matured in charred oak barrels. It’s known for its aromas of peppery rye, candied orange peels, and vanilla and its palate of toffee cracked black pepper and vanilla. It is sweet, spicy, and very warming on a cold winter day.
Best for beginners to Irish whiskey who want to get started on the right foot
Green Spot Irish Whiskey
Green Spot Irish Whiskey is a great gateway into the Irish whiskey world. This non-aged statement whiskey was triple distilled before being matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and sherry casks. The result is a memorable sipping whiskey loaded with notes of orchard fruits, toasted vanilla beans, dried fruits, oak, and wintry spices. They’ll want to enjoy this one neat or mixed into a whiskey-based cocktail.
Best for drinkers looking for an exceptional vessel to imbibe their whiskey
Riedel Crystal Rocks Glasses
If you’re purchasing a holiday gift for a whiskey drinker, a great idea would be to buy them vessels to drink their favorite expressions. You can’t do much better than Riedel Crystal Rocks Glasses. This dishwasher safe, clear crystal glass is great for sipping single malt Scotch whisky, bourbon, and every other style of whisk(e)y. The best part? Not only do they get one glass, but they get two. This way they can share a glass of whiskey with you.
Best for whisk(e)y fans who enjoy the aromas and flavors of sherry
Aberlour A’Bunadh Single Malt Scotch
If you really want to add excitement to your holiday gift giving, you’ll give your whisk(e)y-loving friend or family member a bottle of Aberlour A’Bunadh Single Malt Scotch.
This cask-strength whisky was matured completely in sherry casks. The result is a multilayered whisky known for its flavors of dried cherries, candied orange peels, dark chocolate, vanilla, sweet sherry, and oaky wood. This borderline indulgent whisky deserves to be enjoyed neat, slowly, while sitting in front of roaring fireplace.
Best for fans of rye whiskey who enjoy the idea of wearing a comfortable jacket while they sip it
Seeker x Overholt Chore Coat
The only thing better than drinking whiskey is drinking whiskey while adorned in a comfortable whiskey-centric coat. The folks at Old Overholt recently collaborated with Los Angeles-based clothing brand Seeker to create the Seeker x Overholt Chore Coat. Featuring the Overholt signature pantone embroidery on the chest pocked and back collar, this comfortable coast is the perfect gift for the whiskey fan in your life.
Best for friends and family members looking to get acquainted with classic Canadian whiskies
Pendleton Canadian Whisky
If you’re buying holiday gifts for someone looking to get into Canadian whisky, you might want to gift them a bottle of Pendleton Canadian Whisky. First distilled and aged in Canada, it’s proofed using glacier-fed water from Mt. Hood in Oregon and bottled there.
It’s well known for its mix of toasted vanilla beans, honey, candied fruits, cinnamon, oak, and wintry spices. You don’t need to be a fan of the rodeo or the Pendelton Round-Up to enjoy this well-made, value whisky.
Best for cocktail fans who are tired of generic-tasting, grocery store maraschino cherries
Traverse City Premium Cocktail Cherries
Your whiskey-loving friend or family member is probably going to make a cocktail or two this holiday season. They’re going to need some high-quality, flavorful cocktail cherries to add to their Manhattan. A great choice is Traverse City Premium Cocktail Cherries. Made with premium Northern Michigan Balaton cherries that are slow cooked and candied, it’s the perfect addition to their whiskey-based cocktails.
Best for smoky whisky fans looking to get immersed in the world of Islay single malts
Ardbeg Wee Beastie Single Malt Scotch
In the pantheon of peat-smoked Islay single malt Scotch whiskies, it’s tough to beat the appeal of Ardbeg Wee Beastie. This popular peat-smoked whisky was matured for five years in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels and ex-oloroso sherry casks.
It’s known for its palate of dried fruits, vanilla beans, smoked bacon, salted caramel, and peat smoke. This is the best gateway to Ardbeg and the rest of the renowned Islay single malts.
Best for home mixologists who enjoy making mint juleps at home
Buffalo Trace Copper Julep Cup
There aren’t many whiskey-based cocktails more well known than the traditional mint julep. The official drink of the Kentucky Derby is a southern staple. The Buffalo Trace Copper Julep Cup is a great gift for anyone looking to make their own cocktails at home. embossed with the traditional Buffalo Trace Distillery logo. This is the perfect vessel to imbibe the bourbon-based cocktail.
Best for bourbon drinkers interested in seeing what single malt Scotch whisky has to offer
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year Single Malt Scotch
If you’re looking for a unique single malt whisky to give as a gift this year, look no further than Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year. This single malt Scotch whisky was matured for 14 years in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels and ruby port casks. The result is an award-winning, 46% ABV sipping whisky known for its balanced flavor profile featuring notes of candied orange peels, caramelized nuts, raisins, dried cherries, dark chocolate, sweet sherry, and oaky wood. It’s a complex, nuanced whisky that they’ll savor all winter long (or as long as the bottle lasts).
Best for Irish whiskey fans who also enjoy the flavors of bourbon and sweet sherry
Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey
If you’re going to give the gift of Irish whiskey this holiday season, you can do much worse than Redbreast 12 Year Old. This award-winning expression is a traditional single pot still whiskey that was matured for at least 12 years in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. The result is a sublime, memorable whiskey that’s known for its vast palate of flavors including dried fruits, rich oaky wood, sweet sherry, vanilla beans, candied cherries, and gentle wintry spices. This is the type of whiskey that is best enjoyed neat on a chilly evening.
Best for whiskey fans looking to try one of the best whiskeys in the world
Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye Whiskey
To say that Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye Whiskey is a good expression is a ridiculous understatement. It was named the “World Whisky of the Year” by Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021.
If you (or whoever you’re giving whiskey-centric gifts to this year) haven’t tried this whisky, it’s never too late to get on the spicy, peppery rye bandwagon. While it carries no age statement, it’s believed that this bold, cask strength whiskey was matured for at least five years. It’s known for its flavor profile of vanilla beans, herbal tea, cracked black pepper, dried fruits, oak, and baking spices.
Best for drinkers looking for a traditional experience when sipping single malt Scotch whisky
Crate & Barrel The Glencairn 6-oz. Whiskey Glass
Fans of single malt Scotch whisky (and other fine whiskeys) know that the best way to enjoy their favorite expressions is as a dram in a traditional Glencairn glass. While you can find random Glencairn glasses for purchase all over the internet, we prefer the Crate & Barrel The Glencairn 6-oz. Whiskey Glass. With a maximum of 6 ounces, using this tulip-shaped glass is the best way to get the most out of the aromas and flavors of a nuanced, complex whisky.
