18 Best Gifts to Buy for Whiskey Lovers in 2024
A bottle of whiskey makes for a great gift, there's no doubt about it. Whether you want to spend $25, $50, or more, any whiskey drinker will be happy getting a bottle with a bow on top. Lucky for them, today's selection seems to just keep getting better.
From Kentucky bourbon to Japanese whisky, incredible bottles are getting the attention they deserve right now. Unfortunately, that means some of the most coveted Scotch or rye whiskeys might be a little hard to track down.
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The good news is that for every Van Winkle you can’t find, there are a dozen great bottles (some even better) that make the perfect bottle for the whiskey fan in your life. We’ve collected 18 incredible bottles for our whiskey gift guide—some new, some rare, some affordable, but all just downright delicious. Our top pick, Michter’s 10 Year Bourbon, is a must-buy bottle for any bourbon geek.
Related: 50 Best Whiskeys in the World 2023
Best Over Whiskey Gift: Michter’s 10 Year Bourbon
The talented whiskey makers at Michter’s don’t always grace us the 10-Year Bourbon. But it’s not for lack of trying. Master of maturation Andrea Wilson is continually scouring her warehouses, just outside of downtown Louisville, in search of single barrels demonstrating the precise flavor profile defining the label: brimming with toffee and charred oak, creamy—almost maple syrupy—in texture. No two releases are exactly the same, of course. But whatever hits the bottle, bourbon geeks are guaranteed to go gaga for.
Best Rye Whiskey Gift: WhistlePig x Alfa Romeo F1 Team Piggyback
It’s hardly an accident that WhistlePig x Alfa Romeo F1 Team Piggyback Single Barrel so exceptionally well-rounded. The barrels it aged in were subjected to wind tunnel tests typically reserved for the Alfa Romeo F1 Team in Switzerland. Feel free to debate amongst yourselves whether this unorthodox approach helped accelerate and streamline the interaction between wood and whiskey. But what’s not up for debate is the wondrous approachability of this 96.8 ABV sipping spirit. It’s deeply herbal in the nose and yet downright tropical in its fruity finish.
Best Celebrity Whiskey Gift: Fraser & Thompson
Billed as the first ever truly North American whisky, Fraser & Thompson is an easy drinking 84-proof blend of Canadian grains and Heaven Hill-sourced Kentucky bourbon. Noted crooner Michael Bublé is one of the founders of the brand, so perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised that his associated liquid is smooth as velvet.
Best Vanilla-Forward Whiskey Gift: Traveller
Buffalo Trace is one of the most revered names in all of whiskey making. The historic 212-year-old distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky is responsible for Pappy Van Winkle, George T. Stagg and WL Weller. Now it can name another legendary name to the ledger: 8-time Grammy Award winning country artist Chris Stapleton. He’s teamed up with master distiller Harlen Wheatley to create Traveller Whiskey, a vanilla-forward blend. It goes down easy, with a pinch of baking spice and shortbread at 45 percent ABV. And it’s easy on the wallet, too—readily available at under $40 a bottle.
Best Irish Whiskey Gift: Teeling Wonders of Wood
We love this ongoing series of Irish pot still whiskies aimed at highlighting unconventional forms of oak aging. Teeling Wonders of the Wood exists as a perfect gift for the adventurous drinker who wants to explore new flavors from the category. There’s been two releases thus far. The first was a gingerbread-bomb that spent time in a rare species of North American chestnut known as the chinkapin. Volume two relied on virgin Portuguese oak to impart pear and red berry fruit in the resulting liquid. Happily for the whiskey-loving dads out there, number three is slated to drop just before Father’s Day 2024.
More Great Whiskey Gifts
Best Classic Scotch Gift: Lagavulin 12
Part of the Diageo Special Release Collection, Lagavulin 12 is a limited edition release. It’s younger than the core 16-year bottling, and yet this might be our preferred choice for its relative strength and liveliness. Pick it up for the friend who’s always game to try something new.
Best Bold Whiskey Gift: Old Ezra 7-Year Barrel Strength
Old Ezra 7-Year Barrel Strength is surprisingly complex and bold, with tons of burnt sugar and caramel, and the rye mashbill makes for a lot of flavor and spice. We recommend this as the perfect bottle for the drinker who likes their whiskey loud.
Best Japanese Whisky Gift: Nikka From the Barrel
Nikka From the Barrel is an unusual whisky and a new import for the U.S. market. It’s spicy with notes of orange, and as Japanese whisky goes, it’s one the best deals on the market right now. You simply can't go wrong picking up a bottle as a gift—even if it is just for your own collection.
Best Sweet Whiskey Gift: Old Forester 1910
Old Forester 1910 is one of our favorite bottles on the market today, so we balked at the idea of it getting a prequel release (those don’t tend to go well). 1910 Old Fine Whisky is a surprise treat.
It’s finished in a second set of heavily, heavily charred barrels that give it dark chocolate and vanilla notes and a long, dry finish. Perfect for the whiskey lover with a tiny bit of a sweet tooth.
Best Jameson Upgrade: The Sexton Irish
You may have seen The Sexton Irish on some of our lists in the past. It’s going to keep making appearances, because for the price and the complexity, it’s one of the best Irish whiskeys on the market today. Upgrade someone’s Jameson, or show the bourbon snob what he’s missing across the pond.
Best Sipping Scotch Gift: Compass Box The Spaniard
Compass Box is one of the best names in Scotch whisky today, and the blends are more than worth your time. The Spaniard bottle is an affordably priced, immaculately balanced sipper with tons of character. It’s light and approachable, and a must-gift for the pickiest of whisky drinkers.
Best Dessert Whiskey Gift: Dalmore Port Wood
Dalmore Port Wood is one of those perfectly balanced whiskies designed to close out a great night. It’s sweet and fruity, dark and oily, all in perfect harmony the way you’d expect from a much older and much more expensive whisky. It’s perfect for someone who takes a dram for dessert.
Best Affordable Scotch Gift: Jura 18
One of the lesser-known islands, Jura is currently home to one distillery of the same name. Jura 18, released in 2018, is a well-matured whisky with a balance of fruit and just a hint of smoke. It’s a perfect addition to any enthusiast’s collection—and probably a new favorite.
Best Budget Whiskey Gift: Bushmills Red Bush
If you're on a budget, Red Bush is a great mixing whiskey for everything from Irish coffee to winter toddys. This bourbon-aged Irish blend comes across bright and light, playing well with citrus and bolder flavors. In other words, it's a bar cart essential.
Best Cask Strength Whiskey Gift: Aberlour Casg Annahm
Aberlour Casg Annahm is bright and fruity, but balanced with a dry and spicy finish. Consider it a lovely sipping Scotch for a totally reasonable price, and the fact that it’s a limited edition means it will be a special member of anyone's collection.
Best Wheated Whiskey Gift: Smooth Ambler Big Level
Big Level, a delicious wheated bourbon, is heady with sweetcorn notes and hints of caramel and vanilla, along with a nice representation of what younger whiskey (5 years or so) can bring to the table. It’s a perfect addition for the connoisseur’s growing collection.
Best Canadian Whisky Gift: Caribou Crossing Single Barrel
Caribou Crossing is a lovely example of great Canadian whisky. It’s light, well balanced, and smooth, with tons of vanilla and floral character. It’s ideal for the drinker who’s always loved Crown, and is ready to try something new.
Best Sherry-Seasoned Whisky Gift: Highland Park Valknut
Here's what you can expect from Highland Park’s Valknut: a deep, earthy whisky matured in sherry-seasoned American oak casks with enough age to make use of all that potential. It’s an unusual bottle you might have missed until you've had the chance to taste it.
What We Look for When Choosing the Best Whiskey Gifts
Not all whiskeys are created equal. In fact, during this categorical golden age, it assumes all shapes and sizes. But not all of those shapes and sizes are suited to gifting purposes. A great gift whiskey is one that’s accessible and not overly allocated; awesome and not egregiously priced. It’s fun and stands apart amongst a dense field of competitors; something new-ish, with at least a modicum of novelty.
Why You Should Trust Us
I’m a professional whiskey drinker. While that might sound like a fanciful—or even outright fabricated—title, I actually boast the CV to back it up. I’ve been writing about the category professionally for 15 years. I judge for some of the world’s biggest competitions. I host shows dedicated to the liquid. And I’ve even helped develop new brands. In any normal year, I’ll sample over a thousand expressions of aged spirit from across the globe. It's more than mere hobby. I know what I like, sure. But I’m also adept at helping you pinpoint what you prefer based upon your own palate.
