Whisky Extras: A Gifting Guide For the Holiday Season

Selecting a gift for the whisky lover in your life can be tricky, given the range of styles and whether their bar cart is already fully stocked with their favorite bottles. So, we’ve rounded up an array of accessories, gadgets, sweet treats, and cocktail kits (whiskey included) to make for some unique gifts this year. There’s even a Western-themed gift for the tequila lover. Of course, you can always check online stores of your recipient's favorite distillery.

If it's a great whisky you’re after, there is no shortage of excellent options in our Top 20 list. An ultimate gift guide of our favorite whiskies this year, it considers affordability, availability, and special appeal.

Gifts With a Personal Touch

Elijah Craig Char No. 3 Cologne

Elijah Craig is extending its bourbon beyond sipping, crossing into the realm of men’s fragrance. No. 3 Cologne was designed to emulate the sensory experience of the label’s bourbon. Crafted from the label’s oak staves, the fragrance is an homage to its claim to fame as the first to age its bourbon in charred oak barrels. The 1.7 oz. bottle ($50) is available online.

Baker's Bourbon Biker's Gloves

One of Beam's special apparel offerings is a pair of Baker's Bourbon gloves, an homage to the label's eponymous founder and Jim Beam's grand-nephew, Baker Beam. These limited-edition gloves were made in collaboration with New York artist Elin Lundman Moses, who captured Baker's rough-and-tumble motorcycling spirit in the design. Only 125 pairs were made, priced at $40, making them a great gift for devoted Baker's fans and collectors. Available online.

Gadgets and Glasses

VoChill Spirits Chiller

Whether ringing in the holidays with a cozy cocktail or sipping a whisky neat by the fire, this personalized spirits chiller from VoChill will keep your drink cool. The custom glass and cooling stand are designed to prevent dilution and keep neat pours at an optimal temperature for up to two hours. The set ($60) is available online.

Widgeteer Gezellig Barrel Leaf Experience Whisky and Cigar Board

Perfect for the whisky and cigar enthusiast, this walnut wood board features slots to hold two whisky glasses (included), a stainless-steel ashtray, and a cigar cutter. Boards ($105) are available for purchase online.

The Modern Cocktail Glass Set

Whether entertaining friends or family, this set of cocktail tumblers is an elegant option for serving a holiday punch or a favorite cocktail. These tumblers feature a modern shape and festive gold rim, making them beautiful gifts. A set of four ($115) is available online.

High Camp Flasks - Insulated Highball Shaker

Instead of making individual cocktails this holiday, consider this insulated one-liter Highball shaker. It batches up to 6-8 servings of your favorite shaken cocktail. It keeps the beverage cold, without freezing your hands, thanks to its vacuum insulation. Inside is a strainer, built for easy pouring. It also comes with a measuring jigger. It’s available in four colors and can be engraved (an extra $15). The shaker ($129) is available online.

Boozy Bundles and Cocktail Gift Boxes

Glenfiddich 14 Year Old Bourbon Barrel Reserve and Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask Gifting Editions

Scotch lovers will be pleased to find small gifting editions of 14 year old expressions from Glenfiddich and Balvenie. Glenfiddich's 14 year old Barrel Reserve, known for toffee and toasted char flavors, is packaged in a 375-ml bottle, while Balvenie's 14 year old Carribbean Cask, comes in even smaller 200-ml bottles. Both are available exclusively in the U.S. this holiday season for $25 each. Order The Glenfiddich here and the Balvenie here.

Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Reserve Provisions Parcel

This caffeinated kit from Bib & Tucker includes Bib & Tucker 6 year old bourbon infused with Arabica whole coffee beans. Other goodies include custom Gold Roast blended coffee beans from Muletown Coffee Roasters, Bib & Tucker glassware, and branded leather coasters. The kit ($85) is available on ReserveBar.

WhistlePig Proof & Provisions Supper Club Cocktail Kit

Vermont-based WhistlePig Whiskey has unveiled a high-end cocktail kit centered around the idea of a supper club. It includes a 375-ml bottle of WhistlePig 10 year old Small Batch rye, which serves as the base for two cocktails–a Cranberry Rye Punch and a Rye Espresso Martini. All cocktail ingredients are included, along with QR-linked recipe cards for each cocktail and a recipe card for a chef-driven main course of Madeira pork loin, created by WhistlePig’s in-house chef Ashley Sanderson. $95 for the classic kit, available online.

Bradshaw Bourbon Holiday Bundle

Football and bourbon fans will be delighted with this holiday bundle from NFL legend Terry Bradshaw's eponymous label, Bradshaw Bourbon. It includes a 750-ml bottle of Bradshaw Kentucky straight bourbon, distilled by Green River Distilling in Kentucky. A collection of family recipes is also included in a copy of “The Bradshaw Family Cookbook” as well as one 10-oz. bottle of Bradshaw Bourbon barbecue sauce, developed by Dallas-based chef and restaurateur Noah Hester. The gift pack ($91.97) is available exclusively online.

Yellowstone Ready-to-Serve Cocktails

The ready-to-serve Gold Rush, Old Fashioned, and Espresso cocktails are made with all-natural ingredients and come in eco-conscious packaging, making them a thoughtful gift for anyone who enjoys bar-quality bourbon cocktails that aren’t harsh on the planet. Each features the Yellowstone bourbon, with a special twist—The Gold Rush (25%, $25) includes fig honey, the Espresso Martini (25% ABV, $25) features vanilla and honey, and the strongest of the bunch, Old Fashioned (35% ABV, $25) has a lively punch of blood orange. Available on ReserveBar and select retailers nationwide.

Green River “Salute to Service” Program Shipping and Personalized Labels

Through the end of the year, Kentucky-based Green River is offering to create and ship personalized labels, free of charge, to adorn a bottle of its Army 250th Anniversary or any Green River label bottle. The Anniversary bottle is the perfect gift to honor a serving or fallen military member. The form to fill out customized labels and the Anniversary bottle ($50) are available online.

New York Cocktail Company Ready-to-Serve Old Fashioned

New York Cocktail Co. tapped renowned bartender behind Manhattan’s speakeasy Please Don’t Tell, Jeff Bell, to create his version of an Old Fashioned. This 375-ml ready-to-serve iconic drink serves four and is packaged in a glass decanter-shaped bottle, perfect for any cocktail lover. It's made with Texas-sourced Milam & Greene bourbon, apricot liqueur, sherry, and honey. Options to purchase it as a solo bottle ($30) or in two-bottle gift sets alongside the label’s other classic ready-to-pour cocktails: Vesper Martini or Negroni (both sets $79). An Old Fashioned and tumbler gift box is also on offer for $59. Available online and in select retailers.

Codigo Coffee cocktail kit + Resistol Cowboy Hat Voucher

Codigo 1530, co-funded by country music star George Strait, is offering a Cowboy Cocktail kit inspired by the West. It includes a bottle of Código 1530 reposado tequila, honey fig syrup, cold brew, milk for cold foam topping, dried figs for garnish, and a recipe card.

It comes in two versions: the classic kit, which makes 4-8 cocktails ($80), or the deluxe kit, which makes 8-16 cocktails ($144). The Deluxe also includes a hat box voucher to secure a custom-fit, limited-edition Código 1530 hat from Resistol. Available online at Cocktail Courier.

Brighten Up the Bar Cart with These Ingredients

Storied Goods Flavored Sugar Cubes

The ideal stocking stuffer for those looking to add a little flavored decadence to their next cocktail or coffee, Storied Goods offers tins of sugar cubes in a variety of flavors. Festive options include orange-cherry, perfect for an Old Fashioned, or classic cinnamon-vanilla for a spiked hot cocoa, alongside lighter flavored options such as lemon, lavender, and rose. Individual tins ($18), bundles of two tins ($32), and bundles of three tins ($47) are available online; select flavors are available at bloomingdales.com.

Bluegrass Bitters Black Walnut Bitters

Crafted in Kentucky, Bluegrass Bitters has released black walnut bitters just in time for the holidays. Creator Shawn Herbig tested two dozen recipes before landing on this rich, earthy combination of real black walnut and baking spices. The new label, launched this summer, also has 5-spice orange bitters and Smoky simple syrup, perfect for stocking up the bar cart this holiday. The Black Walnut Bitters ($13.50) and other items are available at select retailers and online.

Boozy Sweet Treats

Baileys x Funny Face Cookie Box

Funny Face, known for its playful decorated cookies, has teamed up with Bailey’s Irish cream to create a “Swap the Small Talk” cookie box. The cookies are decorated with funny sayings often overheard at the holidays, a nod to all the festive chaos of the season. Each is infused with Bailey’s Irish Cream, making for an adult sweet treat. Cookies are available in 5-pack ($5), 7-pack ($68), or individually ($10-$11.50). Specialty flavored cookies–Baileys Peppermint Mocha Martini Cookie and Baileys Hot Cocoa Cookie (both $39 for a box of 6) are also on offer. Available online.

Copperworks Peatsmith Rosemary Salted Caramel Chocolates

Copperworks Distilling has teamed up with fellow Seattle company, Allelon Chocolate, to create festive chocolate-shelled truffles. Each enrobe a meltaway caramel filling with the label’s Peatsmith American single malt, finished with a hint of rosemary and flaky sea salt. The chocolate box ($16) includes four chocolates and is available at the distillery tasting room and online.

Crown Maple x Widow Jane 10 year old Anniversary Bourbon Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup

Crown Maple has teamed up with fellow New York label, Widow Jane Distillery, to age their craft maple syrup in barrels that previously held the label’s 10 year old bourbon from the Brooklyn-based distillery. The perfect gift for the culinary-inclined or anyone who has a sweet tooth. The two brands have a history of exchanging barrels, as Widow Jane finishes its annual Decadence bourbon in Crown Maple’s maple syrup barrels. Bottles (each $34.95) are available at Widow Jane and Crown Maple.

Xocoatl Barrel-Aged Dark Whiskey and Chocolate Bar

For those who love whiskey’s deep, rich notes, consider this indulgent 70% dark chocolate bar from Atlanta-based Xocoatl Chocolate. An extra whiskey hit comes from organic cacao nibs first soaked in ASW Duality Double Malt (an Atlanta-based distillery), then aged in its whiskey barrels. 2.6oz bars are $14, available online and at select retailers.