Gift Guide: American Whiskey Bottles, Books & Bows
What to give in, and outside, the bottle for the bourbon lover
photo by Maggie Kimberl
Sometimes people can be hard to shop for. If you have a whiskey lover in your life, going into the liquor store to find a present can be a challenge, especially if you don’t feel as knowledgeable on the subject as the recipient. Fortunately, whiskey lovers can be plied with more than just bottles—there’s everything from books on the subject to socks bearing their favorite brand name. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the whiskey lover in your life, you’ve come to the right place.
Bottles
You don’t have to get a limited edition bottle to find something new and interesting. Single barrel store picks are always a great choice, because they are a little different from a shelf standard and they are only available at that particular store, club, or chain. However, there are so many impressive bottles to choose from this year. Here are some to look for:
Uncle Nearest 1884 - $50 This is the latest release from the brand being built to honor the legacy of Nearest Green, the former enslaved man who taught Jack Daniel the art of distillation. It’s a beautifully sourced whiskey, and Fawn Weaver, the Founder of the brand, is currently building a distillery in Tennessee to honor Green’s legacy. This bottle also won Silver in the 2019 New York International Spirits Competition.
Breckenridge Port Cask - $60 The Breckenridge Distillery is located in the snowy ski town of Breckenridge, Colorado, and the mountain snow melt water is used in the distillation process. Because of the climate and altitude, the maturation process is also quite unique, emphasizing the sweeter notes in the mix. Wine barrel finishes add to the variation in flavor profile, and if you can get to the distillery, get yourself a bottle of the Sauternes Cask Finished Bourbon. Otherwise, pick up this 2019 NYISC Silver medal winner.
Black Dirt Bourbon - $45 As the craft distilling industry grows to meet consumer demand, whiskeys from all across America add to the landscape of American Whiskey. This particular bottle from New York State was a Silver Medal winner at the 2019 NYISC!
Legent Bourbon - $36 Because Jim Beam is now part of the Suntory Group, it made sense to produce a collaborative release that’s partly the Japanese way of doing things and the Kentucky Bourbon way of doing things. Meet a 100% Kentucky Bourbon blended by a Japanese Master Blender! It’s available just about everywhere and it’s also a Gold Medal winner of the 2019 NYISC.
Heaven Hill Bottled-In-Bond - $40 The 6 year with the green label was a secret favorite in Kentucky that you could often pick up for $10-12 a bottle. The fun couldn’t have lasted forever at that price, but its new older and more sophisticated namesake is out at 7 years, still bottled-in-bond, with a new bottle, priced at a still very reasonable $40, and this time it’s available outside of Kentucky, too.
Traverse City Whiskey Co. North Coast Rye - $49 The bourbon is award-winning, but this little distillery’s rye whiskey is every bit as good if not better. It’s great in holiday cocktails or even as a slow sipper.
George Dickel Bottled-In-Bond - $40 This 13 year old Tennessee Whisky, the first official release from the distillery by the talented Nicole Austin, had made many top 10 lists of late, including being named Whisky of the Year.
Baker’s Bourbon Single Barrel 7 year - $70 This variant in the Jim Beam lineup used to be a batched whiskey, but now it’s released as a single barrel, which means it comes from a different location in the warehouse each time (look on the neck of the bottle for details), so each one is a bit different, which makes it a fun gift for collectors. ABV (53.5%) and age (7 years or a little more) and (hopefully) price will stay the same for each release.
Blade & Bow Bourbon - $50 Produced at the Stitzel-Weller distillery, this unfussy bottle is the perfect one to gift if you want to show someone what bourbon without all the bells and whistles tastes like.
Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Straight Rye - $55 This distillery started with contract distilling, but has been making its whiskey in an ultra modern facility in Louisville since 2012. This chewy rye really showcases the toastiness of the grain, perfect for neat sipping and cocktails.
Books
There have been a lot of new books released this year, and they always make great gifts for the whiskey lover in your life. The added bonus? You also get to support the awesome people who write the whiskey news!
The American Whiskey Tasting Notebook: Rye, Malt, Tennessee, and Others (Except Bourbon) by Susan Reigler and Michael Veach - This dynamic whiskey duo’s first tasting notebook was all about the bourbon, now they’ve branched out to cover many of the other American whiskeys produced across the nation. It’s a handy reference for those unfamiliar with a bottle, or looking to try something new.
The Complete Whiskey Course: A Comprehensive Tasting School in Ten Classes by Robin Robinson - This book breaks down the vast body of whiskey knowledge into ten courses, covering all categories around the world.
Are You Afraid Of The Dark Rum? By Sam Slaughter - It’s not just about rum, but it IS about nostalgia for the 1990s turned into drink recipes with trivia scattered throughout. It’s a fun option, and tiny enough to fit inside a stocking. (See our review here)
Bourbon & Bullets by John C. Tramazzo - The Bourbon industry has long been intertwined with military history, from famous distillers who were and are military veterans, to the spread of Jim Beam across the globe thanks to Army base stores. (See our review here)
Bourbon Curious: A Tasting Guide for the Savvy Drinker by Fred Minnick - This is a new edition of the book that originally came out in 2015, with updated information and new tastings. It’s a great primer for the bourbon newbie and worthy addition to any whiskey library.
Whiskey Master Class by Lew Bryson - It’s not out until February, but you can preorder this long-awaited tome from one of the most notable authors in the whiskey world. Then your recipient will be one of the first to read it!
Bows
There’s no shortage of whiskey-adjacent gifts for the whiskey lover in your life. You can literally wear your love of whiskey from head to toe these days, and you can put whiskey in just about everything that you eat or drink. Here are some ideas for whiskey-related gifts. (For other boozy accessories, please see our latest gift guide here).
All I Want For Christmas Is Bourbon T-shirt - $33 I’m a sucker for the ugly Christmas sweater look, and this t-shirt combines it with my other favorite thing—bourbon!
Oak Barrel Vase - $55 Whisky By The Glass is a great place to find everything from bar tools to cufflinks, and this oak barrel vase will make a great hostess gift for any holiday party.
Bourbon Barrel Smoked Cacao Nibs - $18 Just one of dozens of bourbon barrel smoked products offered by Bourbon Barrel Foods, it’s a great addition to a yogurt parfait.
Bourbon Bicycle Playing Cards - $5 Kentucky for Kentucky is a repository for all things that scream “Kentucky is Awesome” and these bourbon playing cards are sure to make a great gift for the bourbon lover in your life. And if fried chicken scented candles are your thing, they’ve got that, too.
The Party-To-Go tote by Bellmonde - $59 I can’t tell you how often I get volunteered to bring and make cocktails at get-togethers. This tote sure beats shoving bottles and tools into a club-sized cereal box! It also makes a great reusable shopping bag for liquor store runs.
Whiskey Barrel Watch - $199 I keep seeing these at whiskey festivals and they are so cool! There are several styles of watches with parts made from reclaimed whiskey barrels.
Monogrammed Glencairn Glasses - It’s too late to get them shipped in time for the festive season, but it’s something they will treasure for a lifetime, even if it’s not on time and you can only show the recipient a photo for now.
Bourbon & Beyond, photo by Maggie Kimberl
Bonus! Experience Gifts
No matter where you are in the world, there’s a whiskey festival near you. Whiskey festivals are great places to learn more about favorite brands and meet the people who make the whiskey world so great. Here are some whiskey events in 2020 not to miss:
The Bourbon Classic - Nothing says “here comes spring” quite like The Bourbon Classic. It’s the first of the major whiskey festivals in Kentucky each year and it’s a great chance to thaw out from the winter. (See our review here)
Whisky Live! - Whisky Live takes place all over the world, so no matter where you are reading this, chances are there’s one near you. It’s one night of tastings and VIP events with a local twist. Check site dates and other details.
The New Orleans Bourbon Festival - Entering its fourth year, this festival features experts from across the country for classes, tastings, dinners, and more in The Big Easy. (See our review here)
Bourbon & Beyond & The Kentucky Bourbon Affair - These two festivals have teamed up to be the biggest, rockingest bourbon extravaganza on the face of the planet! There are all manner of ticket combinations to plan the bourbon fantasy camp of your dreams. (Check out our reviews here and here)
Whiskey on Ice Minnesota - April is still cold and snowy on the great white tundra of Minnesota, so that makes it the perfect time to warm up with a few drams.
The Kentucky Bourbon Festival - Perhaps the oldest of the bourbon festivals, this multi-day event takes place in Bardstown, Kentucky and has events from “Bourbon, Cigars, and Jazz” to “The Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Relay.” (See our review here)