The Best Gifts for Whisky Lovers This Year

The weather outside is frightful — or at least, it particularly feels that way this holiday — and a dram of Scotch is so delightful. Now that the song’s over, what’s the best holiday gift for a die-hard whisky lover this season? In a year when many of us are spending more time at home and craving something fresh, it’s the perfect time to treat your loved ones (or yourself) to some new cocktail gear, or an excellent bottle of whisky to shake things up. From bar cart accessories to elevated drinkware, here are our top gift picks for whisky lovers in 2020 — with a few excellent single malts included, of course.

Highland Park 12 Year Old

Looking for an absolute gold-standard Scotch that won’t break the bank? Start with Highland Park 12 Year Old. The northernmost Scotch distillery in the world, Highland Park has more than 220 years of history on the remote Orkney Islands. Predominantly matured in sherry seasoned European and American oak casks, Highland Park 12 Year Old appeals to every whisky fan. Notes of smashed oranges and burnt honey intermingle with winter spices for a harmonious blend of flavors, reminiscent of a spiced fruitcake — and perfect for the holiday season.

• Drizly

Brixton Decanter

Although the bottles of great single malts can be stunning in their own right, an elegant decanter has an unmatched way of highlighting the whisky’s hue. This classic, geometric decanter is the perfect display for any spirit.
Price: $40

Flaviar Membership

This holiday season, send your loved ones on a trip to some of the world’s greatest distilleries. With themed tasting boxes, Flaviar brings the distillery tasting experience home, helping them deepen their knowledge, improve their palate, and make memories. In addition to the tasting boxes, each membership will come with a special welcome bottle of the award-winning Highland Park 12 Year Old — followed by a complimentary premium bottle of their choice each quarter, access to Flaviar-exclusive spirits, exclusive tasting events, plus much more.
Price: starting at $190

Old Fashioned Cocktail Bitters

For the cocktail aficionado, upgrade their bar cart with exceptional bitters. These are blended with honey and orange peels, and aged in American oak barrels to help create the perfect Old Fashioned at home.

Price: $13

Whiskey Cocktails book

A budding at-home bartender will ooh and ah over this recipe book, with fresh takes on whisky drinks by mixologist Brian Van Flandern and cocktails photographed in some of New York’s most beloved bars.

Price: $50

Cocktail Kingdom Essential Cocktail Set

The rarest single malts are best sipped neat, or with a splash of water. But Scotch can play a role in cocktails, from classics like the Rob Roy and Blood & Sand to modern favorites like the Penicillin. This barware set, with copper-plated shaking tins, a barspoon, a jigger, and a strainer, along with a Yarai mixing glass, is professional-caliber and awfully good-looking to boot.
Price: $140

Highland Park 21 Year Old (November 2019 Release)

• $350

What makes this unique release (the second batch from 2019) different from other whiskies? A variety of casks — nine first fill European sherry-seasoned oak, eight bourbon, and nine refill — to create the perfect harmony of flavor. The sherry oak casks give notes of root ginger and dried fruits, while the bourbon casks bring forth notes of tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, and pear. The refill casks soften the whisky and give it a hint of aromatic peat and toasted oak. In short, it’s a balanced single malt like no other, perfect for the whisky lover craving something new.

• $350 at Drizly

Moore & Giles Leather-Wrapped Flask

When you’re spending more time outdoors, you need a quality, portable flask to take on the go. For something gift-worthy, this leather-wrapped stainless steel flask from the venerable American Moore & Giles is a great pick — as rich and handsome as the whisky they’ll pour in it.
Price: $105

Kreuther Chocolates

If your giftee is already well versed in Scotch, then challenge their taste buds with a new kind of pairing: chocolate. This box set, curated by chef Gabriel Kreuther and pastry chef Marc Aumont, contains a mix of flavors that changes with the season; flavors may include Tahitian vanilla, gingerbread, Mexican hot chocolate, and other goodies.

Price: $70

Evaton Coasters

The more time spent at home, the more we crave a home refresh. Upgrade your friend’s coffee table or whisky nook with these ceramic coasters, dipped in gold for an Art Deco feel.

Price: $22

Old Fashioned Whiskey Glass Candle

A warm and spicy candle that makes drinking at home feel extra cozy. Even better, it can be reused as a rocks glass when the candle is finished.

Price: $36

Highland Park The Light 17 Year Old

• $300

Even a single distillery can produce dramatically different whiskies; the impact of casks on single malt Scotch is huge. And no bottle illustrates this as beautifully as Highland Park’s limited edition, The Light. The 17 year single malt, aged in refill American oak casks, is pale and vibrant with a harmony of flavors: a warm toastiness of nutmeg and caramelized pears, and a hint of smoky campfires on a (rare) Orkney summer day. Try it alongside its perfectly balanced counterpart, The Dark 17 Year Old special edition single malt, to complete the full cycle in nature.

• $300 at Drizly

Corkcicle Whiskey Wedge

Like the idea of craft ice, but not the price tag of an ice-ball maker? This Whiskey Wedge builds a sloped ice cube right into the rocks glass: a clever, eye-catching way to serve any beverage or boozy cocktail.
Price: $18

© 2020 Highland Distillers Limited. Highland Park® Scotch Whisky. Imported by Edrington Americas, New York, NY. “H” Device ®. Please Drink Responsibly.