Shopping for a seasoned whiskey drinker can be a fraught task. You could get them a bottle of their everyday favorite, but that’s not special. You could try to be bold and buy them something totally new, but what if it’s not to their taste? Or, worse—what if you get them something they’ve already had and hated?

If you’re going to drop some dough on a whiskey gift, you want to be sure it’s well-received. Don’t go in blind: at a minimum, find out the style of whiskey the recipient usually drinks. You don’t want to give a peat bomb to the person who prefers smooth Canadian blends, or a barrel-proof bourbon to a scotch hound.

This list aims to provide a diverse range of recommendations for many tastes, with a special focus on whiskies that are consistent crowd pleasers—but still special in some way. There are many bottles I’d love to recommend but that are hard to find at a fair price—the likes of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond and other limited editions. If you happen to find something along those lines at a price you can bear, and you know the giftee would be thrilled to receive it, by all means, snatch it up!  

But for everyone else who sets a holiday shopping budget, consider one of the whiskies below. And remember: many of these are beautifully packaged, with decanter-like bottles and sleek cartons lovely enough that you can skip the wrapping paper.

GREAT WHISKEY GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Tumblin’ Dice Single Barrel Bourbon ($70)

A perennial favorite from indie bottler Proof & Wood, guaranteed to outperform its price no matter which single barrel you find. Made with a high-rye mashbill at MGP and aged for six or seven years, it’s bottled at barrel proof, usually between 109 and 119. It’s damn good bourbon, full stop. And the brand’s single barrel rye, labeled in green, is every bit its equal, if that’s more your style.

Compass Box The Spice Tree ($72)

Though it was officially discontinued earlier this year, you can still find this excellent blended malt scotch all over the place as retailers sell through stock. (Ditto The Story of the Spaniard.) Existing Compass Box fans will appreciate the thoughtfulness of this bottle, while even newbies can appreciate holding a piece of what is now whisky history in their hands.

Booker’s ($100)

No one will ever be mad to receive a bottle of Booker’s. And that’s all you need to know.

Yellow Spot ($128)

Each color of the Spot range highlights a different maturation cask; in Yellow’s case, it’s Malaga, alongside the more standard bourbon and sherry. The dessert wine polishes the single pot still whiskey’s classic spiciness, adding stone-fruit sweetness and a sophisticated edge. Yellow Spot is underappreciated in the Spot range—all to the advantage of gift-givers seeking a true surprise.

Old Potrero Christmas Spirit ($140)

Longtime Anchor Brewery fans remember Christmas Ale, a holiday release featuring a different recipe of malts and spices every year. For a time, Anchor’s associated distillery—now called Old Potrero, and no longer affiliated with the brewery—turned the leftover Holiday Ale into clear spirit. And 12 years ago, some of that spirit made its way into a barrel—and now, into a bottle. This is a highly unique not-quite-whiskey that hits all the seasonal flavors of its beer base, with additional warmth and roundness from oak aging. A special treat for the whiskey drinker who likes it a little weird.

Hoste Gold Fashioned ($150)

I am on the record as a skeptic of pre-made Old Fashioneds, but this one actually succeeds where so many fail. It’s just sweet enough, it’s plenty strong, and it comes with a clever little atomizer for the crucial finishing touch: an orange oil mist. And it doesn’t try to slip in lower-quality whiskey: the base is split between 9-year-old, oloroso cask-finished Kentucky bourbon and 10- and 6-year-old Indiana ryes. The standard-sized bottle makes 10 servings, but, unlike wine, you don’t have to finish it quickly; at 42.2 percent ABV, this cocktail keeps.

Old Grand-Dad 16-Year-Old ($200)

This bottle is the exception to the “looks so good it doesn’t need gift wrap” rule. Old Grand-Dad is one of those IYKYK whiskies; a handshake bourbon that indicates the drinker has great taste but never overpays. This one comes with way more age than standard OG, a sturdy proof, and some bragging rights. And don’t worry about the ugly bottle, it’s going to taste so good that no one will even notice.

Single Cask Nation 21-Year-Old Glen Garioch ($215)

I love a good independent bottler and I love Glen Garioch—pronounced gear-ee, don’t ask me how—and I really love the price on this cask strength single cask. Even ardent scotch drinkers may be unfamiliar with this Highland distillery, tucked into a pocket of the town of Oldmeldrum in Aberdeenshire. It’s not all that easy to find bottlings, likely because most of the distillery’s output goes into blends. But tracking down a single cask like this should be highly rewarding, as Garioch’s house style tends to be malt-forward, heathery, and a bit muscular.

Glenmorangie Signet ($250)

The scotch that was almost banned, due to its use of heavily roasted chocolate malt—a no-no according to the Scotch Whisky Association, though it’s allowed here as a small part of the grain recipe. The resulting flavor is deep and rich, elegant in a way that most single malts aspire to and few achieve. A whisky that is always well-received, even among the most discerning critics.

Westward Milestone ($250)

American single malt is a young style, with most of its producers barely into the second decade of existence. But most producers, Westward included, have hit high marks from the beginning, and as the whiskey ages, it’s going from strength to strength. Milestone, released annually, is drawn from Westward’s solera, promoting consistency across batches while allowing a bit of individuality. It’s complex and enticing, unfurling slowly to reveal spice and tropical fruit, roasty flavors, and a persistent warmth.

A Non-Bottle

If you don’t know the recipient’s tastes or whether they’ve already had one of these whiskies, you might prefer to give them something whiskey-related instead. Here’s what I, the whiskey drinker who has it all, really like to receive:

·  A case of high-quality bottled water, like Icelandic Glacial or Acqua Panna.

·  Snacks that go great with whiskey, such as dark chocolate, cheese straws, fancy nuts, fine cheeses, and smoked fish.

·  A couple of really nice glasses, like these crystal ones from Hamilton & Inches. Or my personal favorite: the Denver & Liely whisky glass.

·  Fancy ice. It’s too frivolous for most people to purchase for themselves but a very special treat for folks who like their barrel-proof bourbon on a big rock, emblazoned with their initials.

Just remember this: whatever you choose, do not gift whiskey stones.

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