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People that love whisky tend to really love whisky. Sure, you can be a casual fan. But there are also many people who take their love of the rich, smooth and spicy drink very seriously. Which means if you’re looking for the best gifts for whisky lovers, you need to be sure that you’re getting a present that they’ll actually like and, crucially, want to drink.
We don’t think it’s hard to see why whisky is such a well-loved spirit. It’s infused with the complex flavours from distilleries all over the world, it’s aged to perfection and, if you choose wisely, good bottles are packed with surprising notes.
Although that means there’s a huge amount of choice for the best gifts for whisky lovers, it also means finding the right present for your whisky-obsessed loved one can be an intimidating endeavour. Which blend of whisky should you buy for them? Do you need to choose Scottish whisky or Japanese whisky? Would it be wise to give them a whisky-related gift or always go for the strong stuff?
Don’t worry. We don’t think you need to find the best whisky on the planet to please most whisky fans in your life. Although if you’d like to, our guide to the best whisky in the world will help you choose. Below we’ve selected our favourite fun and interesting gifts to buy for your favourite whisky lover. We’ve got special edition whisky bottles, tasting sets and even some stones to choose from.
Dram deals! Best Black Friday whisky offers
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The Glenlivet Founder's Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70cl
£21.99 - Was £32.50
Matured in selected traditional and american first-fill oak casks, this single malt is well balanced and sweet, with a fruity taste and a smooth finish.
Don't consider this one only for your perennially single friend as the distiller's use of American and European casks contributes to the lovely espresso and brown sugar taste notes here.
This 40% ABV is a single malt made from 100 percent Irish malted barley. Triple distilled for smoothness and then aged exclusively in Oloroso Sherry Casks, it's rich, dark and nutty notes are accompanied by flavours of marzipan, allspice and fruits.
Penderyn Single Malt Welsh Whisky - Madeira Finish
£23.75 - was £32.98
Bottled at 46% ABV, Penderyn's ‘house style’, delectable offering distilled in unique copper pot stills, before maturation takes place in bourbon barrels. Finished in rich Madeira wine casks, this crisp and well rounded whisky balances sweetness and vanilla with a drier finish.
If you want to try something a little different then try this wonderful rye from New Orleans. Similar to bourbon, but made with at least 51% rye it makes for a smoother taste. We are big fans of this bottle.
A brand new addition to the anCnoc range, this sherry cask peated edition is a sumptuous blend of sweet and smokey. Finished in sherry butts, this is the cheapest price we've ever seen it on Amazon!
Nikka From The Barrel is a wonderful way into Japanese whisky. It is a blended whisky comprised of 60% Coffey Grain and 40% malts and made from one of the most famous distilleries in the world.
If you want something special bourbon wise, thenElijah Craig is for you. Packed with vanilla and maple flavour, there's a nice and spicy heat from the booze, too. This won the whisky of the year 2017.
An 8-year aged single malt that was originally released as a special edition, before being brought into the main line-up through its sheer popularity. We've seen it cheaper on Amazon, but it's still a good buy.
The Tamvavulin distillery matures this whisky in red wine casks to bring out some of the flavours of cabernet sauvignon wine. It has a hit of spice with notes of pear and almond.
This unusual whisky is distilled in three different cask types, and its maker claims to be the only distiller in Scotland to use such a technique. Toffee and sherry notes stand out, and it came out with a gold award in the 2021 World Spirits Competition. This is the cheapest we have seen it on Amazon.
With its sweet, honey-infused taste, Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve is a Gold Medal winning blend created by the best-selling brand. This is the cheapest we have seen it from Amazon.
This David Beckham endorsed whisky is at a cracking price right now. Matured in bourbon casks, with a lovely bit of vanilla coming through when you are drinking, this is a whisky that goes well with cola - or as a dram on its own.
With 15 years' maturation, this is a warming whisky with fantastic honey and dark fruit notes. This one has a lovely red hue and is an award-winner, too.
Lagavulin 16 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
£59.99 - WAS: £83
Considered a classic around the world and favourite of Ron Swanson of Parks and Recreation, Lagavulin is not a whisky for the novice drinker. It has an extremely smokey nose followed by an intensely rich and malty flavour with fruity sweetness.
If you are looking for a different whisky to give as a gift, then something that's been distilled in England is certainly it. This Cotswolds Reserve Single Malt Whisky has been taste tested by ShortList and is a great-tasting spirit. There's a real smoothness to the taste, with honey and vanilla notes. This is truly a product of its region, using locally sourced water and barley from the Cotswolds.
Now, we would just recommend the Dewar’s 12 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky for taste alone. Neat if offers a rich butterscotch taste, with a smoky peach finish. But, this is also an essential whisky for a Christmas cocktail treat. Recently, to celebrate the launch of the bottle, Ollie Sagerstrom Blom, bartender at Satan’s Whiskers in Bethnal Green, created a cocktail for the whisky.
Called The Ancestor, it's a spin on an Highball and a joy of a drink, and this is how you make the simplified version of it:
Ingredients
40 ml DEWAR’S 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky
10 ml pear liqueur
15 ml Stones Ginger Wine®
15 ml maple syrup
5 ml lemon juice
Soda water (to top)
Orange twist (for garnish)
Directions
Build all ingredients in a Highball glass and fill with ice
This superb gift set offers five 3cl samples of some of the world's best whiskies. You'll get drams from France, Sweden, India, Australia and Denmark in the set which is a fantastic way to widen any whisky fan's palate - especially if they usually stick to Scottish, Irish and American varieties.
Well, if this doesn't scream Christmas then we don't know what does. Bourbon Bourbon - Candy Cane is one for those with a sweet tooth. Now, it's not named Bourbon twice because of a mistake, it's because it has been made from whiskey and bourbon biscuits. Kentucky bourbon to be precise, as well as dark chocolate, vanilla, and peppermint, actual bourbon biscuits and real candy canes.
There's a buttery taste on the finish, coupled with hints of peppermint leaf.
Nope, we wouldn't usually put seaweed into our Christmas tipple either but it really works in this whisky. What is on the bottle is what you get: Seaweed & Maple Syrup & Butterscotch & Christmas Cake Whisky is a mixture of all these flavours, culminating in a taste that mixes Scottish tablet, booze-soaked raisins and subtle smoke. Incredible stuff.
We are big fans of Smokehead, a modern twist on Islay whiskies. There's now quite the Smokehead range but our pick is the punchy Unfiltered. Dark chocolate, black smoke and ash-flecked almonds all mix to create a smooth and smokey assault on the senses. This one is perfect for those who crave a peaty dram.
You can't go wrong with getting the whisky lover in you life the official 'whiskey of the year' as chosen by judges at The Whiskey Exchange. This 18 year old has a lovely balance of salt, smoke and fruit - offering a light peatiness that never overshadows the complex taste mix. Lovely stuff.
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8. Ballantine's x Flying Goose Sriracha Limited Edition
This collaboration ticks EVERY box for us. Ballantine's x Flying Goose is a hot sauce that's been created in collaboration with Rza from the Wu-tang Clan. The rapper brought the whiskey distiller and original sriracha chilli sauce maker together to "break the mould of what incredible flavour should taste like". We've tasted it and it's a delicious spicy treat that has nods to Ballantine's ripe pear and creamy caramel notes, mixed up with a whole lot of heat.
Wolfie's Whisky is a dram that's been created by singer Rod Stewart, in collaboration with whisky legend Duncan Frew. They met at a Celtic game, naturally, and Wolfie's was born. It's a blended whisky with lots of rock'n'roll charm, offering up vanilla and apple notes. This new Christmas Edition is a perfect present for any whisky - and music - fan.
There's no better time to become a member of the The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Not only do you get exclusive access to whisky events, tastings and members-only bar access at venues across the UK, the club membership offers monthly Outturns of around 20 new single cask, single malt bottlings — as well as a bottle tailored to the taste of the person signing up for membership.
Lagavulin 16 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
£59.99 - WAS: £83
Considered a classic around the world and favourite of Ron Swanson of Parks and Recreation, Lagavulin is not a whisky for the novice drinker. It has an extremely smokey nose followed by an intensely rich and malty flavour with fruity sweetness.Buy now from Amazon
