Whisky Advocate's 2024 Holiday Gift Guide

When shopping for the whisky lover(s) in your life, it might be tempting to get them a bottle of whisky and call it a day. A beloved bottling is a thoughtful gift, to be sure (and our Top 20 list is a great place to look when going that route), but there are plenty of whisky-centric presents that are more personalized to certain interests, hobbies, or livelihoods. From whisky-themed jewelry and apparel to whisky-infused chocolates, whisky-scented candles, and even whisky-branded golf putters, there are a number of more distinctive gifts for all the pals and loved ones in your life who appreciate whisky.

Stuff Those Stockings

Tasting Note Notebook ($15)

Great for either the blossoming whisky taster in your life or the seasoned pro, this 48-page memo book from Field Notes is a fantastic way to log a whisky journey, and the notes tasted along the way. As a bonus, it's waterproof, so there's no need to cry over spilled whisky (unless it's more than a splash, of course).

Glencairn Water Pipette ($13)

Though small in stature, a water pipette can yield big results, taming barrel proof whiskies and bringing out hidden flavors from many a dram. This one from Glencairn (maker of the famous Glencairn tasting glass) is simple and understated.

Deck Them Out With Whisky Apparel

Old Overholt Chore Jacket ($229)

Suntory Global Spirits’ Old Overholt also jumped into the mix with outerwear this holiday season, debuting a chore jacket made in collaboration with Los Angeles clothing brand Seeker. The coat was made with bartenders in mind and features a screen print of the brand’s founder, Abe Overholt, on its inner lining.

Charlie Casely-Hayford x Aberfeldy Smoking Jacket ($900)

For this limited-edition jacket, Highlands distillery Aberfeldy turned to London-based designer Charlie Casely-Hayford. It’s a reimagining of the iconic smoking jacket, crafted from vintage cloth sourced from a Scottish mill. The jacket’s colors harken back to malted barley and honey. As a plus, a purchase comes with a bottle of Aberfeldy 12 year old.

Teeling Irish Spirit Jacket ($950)

Teeling’s Irish Spirit Jacket was created in collaboration with streetwear designer Kevin Leonel. The stadium jacket, which is the second drop in the collection, highlights Teeling’s partnership with the University of Notre Dame—it’s the school’s official whiskey partner—with vintage patchwork and Irish tartan threaded throughout. The jacket comes bundled with a limited edition bottle of Teeling Phoenix Legend 24 year old single malt, which was finished in Rivesaltes casks.

Ring In Their New Year

Manly Bands x Jack Daniel’s ($386-$3,157)

This year, Tennessee distillery Jack Daniel’s has partnered with Manly Bands on a variety of rings for both men and women. While they differ in material—some are crafted from 14K gold, others black zirconium, or something else altogether—they all feature wood from a Jack Daniel’s whiskey barrel, be it on the outer or inner band. The cream of the crop, The Old No. 7 ($3,157) even features color-enhanced natural black diamonds.

Chocolates, Egg Nog, and More

Woodford Reserve x Compartés Chocolate Bar ($10/$55)

Woodford has teamed up with Los Angeles chocolate brand Compartés on a limited-edition chocolate bar. Inspired by the Old Fashioned, the sweet treat is infused with Woodford Reserve Double Oaked bourbon and handcrafted in Compartés’ Beverly Hills-based workshop. When bundled with a bottle of Double Oaked, the bar's price goes from $10 up to $55.

Elijah Craig “Craig Nog” ($80)

For the egg nog lover in your life (or for your upcoming holiday party): the Elijah Craig “Craig Nog” cocktail kit. Included in the kit are 10 products, among them a 375 ml bottle of Elijah Craig Small Batch bourbon, pre-measured portions of eggnog ingredients, an Elijah Craig spice blend, a pitcher, and more. The kit makes anywhere from 8 to 16 cocktails.

Dewar’s x Kreuther 19-Piece Limited-Edition Collection ($125)

In tandem with its release of Double Double 38 year old, Dewar’s partnered with chef Gabriel Kreuther on a custom box of chocolates. Four of the pieces in the box were infused with Dewar’s Double Double 38; the rest are some of Kreuther’s signature confections. The box by itself is $125, but a purchase of the bottle (a cool $2,200) throws in the chocolates for free.

Great Jones x Angelina Bakery Bomboloni

Manhattan distillery Great Jones has partnered with another New York City establishment, Angelina Bakery, on a limited edition bomboloni. For those not so familiar with Italian patisserie, bomboloni is an Italian doughnut rolled in sugar and filled with pastry cream; in this case, that filling is a Great Jones whiskey-influenced chantilly cream. For New York City visitors and locals, a pairing of Great Jones and bomboloni is available at Upper East Side restaurant La Vogila for $15.

Whisky-Inspired Putting

Buffalo Trace x Bettinardi Golf Putter Series ($900)

We’ve previously espoused the virtues of whisky and golf, and this holiday season Buffalo Trace has taken the theme one step further, releasing a trio of putters in collaboration with Bettinardi Golf. Each putter is made from 303 stainless steel and features both a wood insert from a previously filled Buffalo Trace barrel and the distillery’s logo.

Ice is Also Nice

Countertop Whiskey Ice Maker by Newair ($700) ... or any Countertop ice maker by Newair, really

This ice maker can produce 32 spheres of ice every 24 hours. It works with just the touch of one button, making life easy for whoever you choose to gift it to.

Bottles With a Personal Touch

Keeper’s Heart Personalized Bottles ($30-$75)

Okay, we’re sneaking some bottles of whiskey in here, but these come with a custom touch—Keeper’s Heart will add names, dates, and/or heartfelt messages to your whiskey’s label, making for a bottle that’s not just for drinking, but for keeping as well.

On that note…other distilleries also peddle in personalization, be it year-round or exclusively for the holidays. Among them are Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, Heaven Hill, The Glenlivet, and Crown Royal, though you may very well be able to find custom labels for your loved ones’ favorite whiskies elsewhere too.

Copperworks Gift Bundles ($56-$98)

Seattle-based single malt maker Copperworks is offering four unique whiskey gift baskets this holiday season, ranging from The Cozy Collection—which includes a Copperworks-branded beanie, Glencairn, and Old Fashioned-scented candle—to The Holiday Party, which is a whiskey mule kit complete with a bottle of Copperworks Maltsmith American single malt and two bronze mule mugs.

Best Gift Ever: Their Very Own Single Barrel

Given their price tag, entire barrels of whiskey are extravagant gifts, but they’re truly a gift that keeps giving—theoretically, the hundreds of bottles of whisky that a barrel would yield stand to last for years to come. Other distilleries have single barrel programs that are open to the public, but we're highlighting the newest and most noteworthy additions.

Angel’s Envy Private Selection Single Barrel ($26,327.47)

Gift a loved one the ultimate Angel’s Envy experience—an immersive distillery tour that culminates in the ownership of an entire barrel of the brand’s bourbon. The purchase of a barrel includes a behind-the-scenes tour of Angel’s Envy, a chance to meet master distiller Owen Martin, and 250 personalized bottles of bourbon.

Knob Creek Private Barrel ($6,000-$10,500)

In the same vein, James B. Beam Distilling has created the Beam Private Barrel Club, which allows fans (or their generous loved ones) to select, buy, and bottle Knob Creek whiskey from their very own barrel. The purchase includes a guided tour of the Beam facility, which will reach parts of the distillery campus not open to the public.