These 23 Spirits Make Amazing Gifts

We often struggle to pick the ideal present when the holidays set in. Always seeking to get amazing gifts that will indeed wow your recipients. If your target receiver is a spirit enthusiast, then a bottle of whiskey will never disappoint. Studies show that during the holiday season, 48.6% of people will buy an alcoholic drink to gift to family members, friends, or colleagues. Additionally, a fine spirit is a good conversation starter and icebreaker due to most of these drinks’ immense history.

So, if you don’t know what to buy, here are a couple of exquisite spirits to consider.

1. Flor De Cana 25

Flor De Cana gets its rich taste from the fertile volcanic soils around Nicaragua’s highest volcano, San Christobal. This drink is a product of Compania Licorera de Nicaragua, a rum distillery more than 85 years old that takes great pride in helping the local community and the whole world. They never add any form of additives to their products, not even sugar.

Flor De Cana is a superb spirit and amazing gift you can get your family and friends thanks to its full-bodied wood, dark chocolate, and vanilla notes. You can enjoy it on the rocks or neat.

2. Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin

Only a few gins in the market will give your winter cocktails a taste like that of Jaisalmer Indian Craft. It’s made using sub-continental botanicals like vetiver, coriander, and Darjeeling green tea. Jaisalmer is an exquisite drink that also delivers a strong taste. You can use it to make a fragrant martini while relaxing. Additionally, it pairs perfectly with holiday food.

3. Blantons Single Barrel 

Bourbon is in high demand these days, so getting a bottle of this cherished spirit, a product of Buffalo Trace Distillery (owned by Sazerac corporation), can be difficult. However, if you do get one for someone who appreciates whiskey, you will undoubtedly earn their respect. Blanton’s bourbon has an oaky, citrusy, sweet profile with clove backend notes. Suppose your recipient needs to learn more about the spirit. You can tell them Blanton’s is the first ever single barrel bourbon commercially sold.

4. Yamazaki 12-Year Single Malt Whiskey 

You may not be aware, but the Japanese are avid whiskey lovers and have been improving their brands for years. Yamazaki is one of the pioneer Japanese whiskey brands that has slowly grown to become a global force and owns Maker’s Mark and Jim Beam. What makes Yamazaki stand out isn’t even its price. The spirit has fruity, bright, unique flavor composition that anyone who likes whiskey will appreciate.

5. Macallan 15 Year Double Cask Single Malt Scotch Whiskey

Macallan scotch is famous, known by even the casual spirit drinker mainly due to its attractive price point and outstanding quality. It’s also cheaper than the 20- and 30-year varieties. The Macallan 15-year double cask is aged in hand-crafted oak casks and seasoned using dried oloroso cherry. As a result, you get a unique Macallan spice with butterscotch, vanilla, and citrus notes.

6. Glendalough Double Barrel Irish Whiskey

About 1000 years ago, the Scotts and the Irish started using grain and barley to produce whiskey. This process was unique as most distillers were using wine to make spirits. They included an “e” to the word whiskey to differentiate scotch whiskey from Irish. Glendalough is a sizeable Irish distillery that got double gold during the San Francisco spirit competitions held in 2021. The brand got its name from Monastic City, founded by Saint Kevin in the early 6th century. It’s also where monks made the first whiskey bottles. This double barrel spirit has a deep history and would make an amazing gift.

7. Sagamore Spirit Straight Rye Whiskey 

Unlike bourbon, rye whiskey should contain a minimum of 51% grain. As a result, the spirit has an alcohol-forward, spicy, sharp flavor profile. Sagamore Spirit is a midsized distillery outside Baltimore that uses creative methods to produce its whiskey. Their signature rye spirit contains a mix of high and low mash bill, aged between 4 to 6 years. This tall, soft blend provides a sophisticated flavor profile containing sweet honey and spicy cinnamon notes. You can use this spirit to make cocktails like a Manhattan or take it neat.

8. W.L. Weller Special Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey 

A Buffalo Trace brand, the Weller Special Reserve is a classy gift for its the first-ever “wheated” bourbon. Typically, bourbon should contain 51% corn, and the remaining percentage is rye and barley grains. W.L. Weller distillery was the first to replace rye with wheat grain, giving the drink a delicate, smooth finish. There are numerous W.L. Weller variations, most of which are hard to find and expensive. However, the Special Reserve is affordable, retailing at about $90 a bottle.

9. Lagavulin 16-Year Scotch

If your friend is a mezcal lover and you have been trying to convert them to whiskey, then Lagavulin will make an excellent gift. This classy scotch has a smoky feel and smooth finish. Even though the smoke dominates this spirit, it has well-placed sweet tobacco and tea notes. In addition, Lagavulin undergoes a more extended maturation and distillation process than any other spirit in the Malt’s collection.

10. Wild Turkey Longbranch

Turkey Longbranch is an excellent spirit that’s also moderately priced, so you won’t have to go over your budget to get one. This bourbon is oaky and smooth, thus ideal for sipping neat or on the rocks. Plus, it’s backed by Mathew McConaughey. Mathew is an accomplished actor and even won an Oscar in 2014. So, you can be sure this spirit is more than “Alright.”

11. Sazerac Rye Whiskey

Sazerac has up to 20 different spirit brands under its belt. Therefore it’s only fair it appears on this list. The company has deep roots in New Orleans since the early 1800s. It got its name after a famous civil war drink consisting of Peychaud’s Bitters and rye whiskey. Apart from being deeply rooted in tradition, the drink is delicious yet highly affordable.

12. Sweeten’s Cove Tennessee Bourbon 

Jointly owned by Peyton Manning and Andy Roddick, Sweeten Cover has built a solid reputation for releasing luxurious limited products over the years. Their Kennessee bourbon brings stellar artistry but at an accessible price point. Chief blender Marianne Eaves made this union of Tennessee and Kentucky bourbons utilizing her deep knowledge of the drinks and what they can offer. She tops it off with a layer of sugar maple wood to add more flavor. Sweeten’s bottles the drink at whooping 110 proof, and it works well with cocktails.

13. Hennessy XO Cognac

Made in 1870 by the legendary Maurice Hennessy, this is the first and true extra old (X.O.) cognac. According to whiskey regulations, for a spirit to bear the X.O. mark, it must have been aged for at least ten years. However, cognacs in this category average 20 to 30 years old. The bottle also has an attractive pear shape, making it a valuable gift. To enjoy maximumly, you can serve the drink after a barbeque meal or while chilling at a fireplace in a tumbler or snifter.

14. Whistle Pig Rye 15

If you’re looking for an amazing gift to impress someone that loves complex rye whiskey, the Whistle Pig won’t disappoint. Made with 100 percent rye mash bill, aged in brand new oak casks and finessed in charred white oak casks. This wood’s dense structure adds unique flavors to the spirit. You can expect chocolate, lemon zest, toffee, black pepper, and clove notes.

15. Mars Shinshu Tsunuki 2022 Edition Japanese Single Malt Whiskey

Produced in the Tsunuki distillery, this is a worthwhile drink matured in previously used bourbon casks and bottled at 50% ABV. It’s also made using spring water from the infamous Mount Kurata found in southern Japan. The warm weather of these areas enables the production of a complex spirit. You will taste balanced notes in one sip, including cacao, black tea, orange, lemon, and smoke, and a long lingering finish.

16. Grand Marnier Cuvee du Centenaire

Are you willing to splurge on a deserving whiskey? The Grand Marnier takes you out of the typical spirit spectrum and introduces you to a world of luxury. The drink combines some of the most distinguished cuvee cognacs up to 25 years old. Distillers also include wild oranges to provide a lush tipple, making the drink delicious in cocktails or neat.

17. Nolet’s Reserve Dry Gin 

Most people don’t think Gins ranks as an elegant gift. Nolet’s Reserve gin makes a strong argument proving that gin can be classy. It’s a flavor-forward drink with clear notes of verbena and saffron. Moreover, it’s not an ordinary bottle, so your recipient will feel appreciated.

18. Hennessy Paradis

Blended from the rarest and finest eaux-de-vie inside Hennessy cellars, this silky, soothing cognac contains truffle, honey, rose petal notes, and delicate spice traces.

19. Jack Daniels Tripple Mash Blended Straight Whiskey

Generally, some whiskey lovers will prefer a particular spirit over another, but Jack Daniels Tripple Mash ranks as an all-around crowd-pleaser. It’s a drink that combines three straight bottled whiskeys, including classic Tennessee spirit and spicy rye. This triple mash makes superb cocktails and has enough pull to excite rye lovers and strong malted notes to keep bourbon fans engaged.

20. Diplomatico Ambassador Rum

After taking a glass of this quality rum, you will be impressed. Diplomatico has cinnamon, nutmeg, and raisin notes, giving it a delightfully long finish. Furthermore, the rum is 100% pot distilled, aged inside oak barrels for at least twelve years and an extra two years in Pedro Ximenez casks to achieve a wholesome flavor profile.

21. Uncle Nearest Gift Set

Gift your loved ones or friends with a taste of history using these two bottlings from Nathan Green. Mr. Green was a black distiller credited for teaching Jack Daniel the ins and outs of making whiskey. The bottles also come with four stylish crystal tumblers to sip the spirit.

22. Jeffersons Ocean Aged at Sea Rye Whiskey

Jefferson’s are aged inside barrels aboard a ship as it travels worldwide. A process that gives each product a unique story. The intense heat, rolling waves, and salt spray give the finished product a rare flavor. For instance, Ocean Rye goes through the savannah, Georgia, Panama Canal, East Asia, and around Australia. You can expect much caramelization in this spirit. It contains a smooth but complex palate of toffee, sea salt, cinnamon, and toasted marshmallows.

23. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Blended Scotch Whiskey

Spirit lovers worldwide regard Johnnie walker as a luxury brand, and rightfully so. The company usually takes Malt and grain whiskeys from selected distilleries throughout Scotland and uses them to make a phenomenal blend. This drink has vanilla, honey, sherried fruits, and cacao notes, leading to a relaxing smoky finish. It’s a bottle that any spirit lover will be proud to receive.

Conclusion 

Now you have a comprehensive list of spirits you can buy as amazing gifts. Some are costly; others are affordable. However, you can be confident that they are all quality drinks.

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