Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Best Liquor Gifts for a Man Who Loves a Great Cocktail

It’s time to get in the gift-giving spirit by giving someone on your shopping list a nice bottle of booze. (That person could very well be you, we’re not going to judge … because we’re going to be gifting ourselves some alcohol as well).

Below, you’ll find our picks for the best bottles of booze to give someone regardless of the occasion. Whether they’re a fan of whisk(e)y, gin, rum, or something else, we’ve got you covered. The only thing left to do, then, is to decide what you’re getting for yourself.

Please note that prices may vary slightly depending on where you buy the products.

Rye

Old Forester Rye Whisky

Old Forester Rye Whisky
Image used with permission by copyright holder

One of the best-value rye whiskeys on the market, Old Forester Rye Whisky is made of 65% rye, 20% malted barley, and 15% corn, leading to rich floral notes blending with the typical rye spice characteristics.

Sagamore Spirit Cognac Finish Rye

bottle of sagamore cognac.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Finished, as the name states, in Cognac barrels, this rye whiskey from Baltimore’s Sagamore Spirit is full of bold rye spices mixing with apple, pear, and brown sugar. The oak notes stick with you from beginning to end.

Sonoma County Distilling Black Truffle Rye

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sonoma County Distilling is known for doing things a little different – namely using direct fire to heat its still, but this new expression also falls into the “different” category. After distillation, their rye whiskey sits on Périgord truffles from France for a few months, adding an umami, earthy component to the spicy rye whiskey.

Bourbon

Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2019 Limited Release: Stave Profile RC6

Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2019 Limited Release: Stave Profile RC6
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The newest special edition from Maker’s Mark is a super limited release – only 255 barrels of the stuff were produced. The name of the stave refers to the proprietary wood stave inserted into the barrels. The staves work to bring out the fruitier notes of the whiskey and balance the spice characteristics.

Widow Jane The Vaults 14 year

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The first in the company’s new “The Vaults” annual line of whiskeys that feature the oldest and rarest from the company, this is a 14-year and older Tennessee and Indiana bourbon drawn from 20 barrels hand-selected and blended. Look for tobacco, vanilla, brown sugar, and some menthol notes.

Bourbon Batch 2019-04 ‘Beaten Biscuits’ 

Bourbon Batch 2019-04
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Named after the small, cracker-like biscuits Booker Noe used to make, the final release from Booker’s in 2019 is 6 years, 6 months, and 19 days old with oak on the nose with caramel sweetness and a hint of spice on the palate.

Jefferson’s Ocean Aged At Sea Cask Strength

Jefferson's Ocean Aged At Sea Cask Strength
Image used with permission by copyright holder

By now, you’ve probably heard about Jefferson’s Ocean, a whiskey that crosses the equator multiple times as it sits on the deck of an OCEARCH ship. This is that same whiskey but as cask strength.

Tennessee Whiskey

George Dickel Bottled in Bond

George Dickel Bottled in Bond
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This whiskey won Whiskey Advocate’s Whiskey of the Year 2019 for a reason. A 13-year-old Tennessee whiskey, it is 100 proof and costs a mere $36 bucks. Expect a mix of softness and intensity, with plenty of caramel apple, toffee, and dark chocolate flavors.

Single Malt Whisk(e)y and Scotch Whisky

Virginia Distillery Company Prelude: Courage & Conviction

Virginia Distillery Company Prelude
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Coming ahead of the launch of the distillery’s flagship American single malt whiskey, Courage & Conviction, early next year, Prelude is also a single malt and is made from 100% malted barley and aged a minimum of three years in Sherry, cuvée, and bourbon casks. Expect oak, fig, dried fruit, and caramel notes.

Cragganmore 12 Year Old

Cragganmore 12 Year Old
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Distilled in 2006, this Speyside malt whisky is known for its particularly entrancing aromas above all. Both sweet and savory on the nose, you’ll find apple pie and leather in almost equal parts. The palate is slightly sweet with a little smokiness and with spice notes throughout.

Aberlour A’bunadh Alba

Aberlour A’bunadh Alba
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The first batch of this expression from Aberlour, A’bunadh Alba (a-boon-ack alba, if you were wondering how to say it) is a derivation from the Sherry cask aging that Aberlour is known for. Instead, this takes inspiration from American whiskeys with a decidedly more bourbon-like profile.

Gin

Tod & Vixen Gin

Tod & Vixen Gin
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Created by master distiller Roselyn Thomson, star bartenders Jeffrey Morgenthaler and Leo Robitschek, and the late Gary “Gaz” Regan, Tod & Vixen Gin was designed to be a gin that could function as a base for a wide variety of cocktails – in other words, a bartender’s gin. You’ll find big juniper notes and a mix of the other seven botanicals, a variety of other bold flavors.

Benham’s Barrel Finished Gin

Benham’s Barrel Finished Gin
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Finished in Zinfandel barrels, this gin is a bold option for those looking for Juniper flavors that are a little heavier. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom juxtapose the floral juniper and other citrus notes of the gin.

Brandy

Copper & Kings American Craft Apple Brandy

Copper & Kings American Craft Apple Brandy
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A leading distillery when it comes to American brandy, this release from Copper & Kings is a solera-blended copper pot-distilled brandy matured in a 90-10 mix of bourbon barrels and new white oak with a medium char.  Look for honey and toasted oak on top of cooked apple flavors on the palate.

Rum

Diplomático Planas Rum

Diplomático Planas Rum
Image used with permission by copyright holder

While it is clear-ish in color, Planas is actually an aged sipping rum that has sat for anywhere between two and six years, which is then charcoal filtered to strip all of the color from the product (much like crystalino tequila). What you are left with is a clear rum that packs much of the flavor gained from time spent in a barrel.

Chairman’s Reserve The Forgotten Casks Rum 

Chairman’s Reserve The Forgotten Casks Rum 
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Named, as the story goes, because the casks were recently uncovered after being lost for a time due to being moved after a fire, this rum from Saint Lucia is a spicy spirit with hearty coffee and dry dark chocolate flavors. You’ll find more coffee, toffee, and some vanilla on the palate.

Vodka

Headwind Craft FWD Pacific Northwest Vodka

Headwind Vodka 
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Made in Portland, Oregon to be an expression of the Pacific Northwest, Headwinds Vodka is crafted using grain spirit that is then filtered with pure Oregon water. Each bottle comes with a wooden wrap that is as different from the next bottle as snowflakes.

Cîroc White Grape

Cîroc White Grape
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The newest limited edition release from French producer Cîroc, White Grape is the adult equivalent of Welch’s white grape juice that most people probably had at some point as children. Rich white grape flavors are enhanced with fresh floral notes and just enough sweetness for a smooth pour.

Agave

Nosotros Reposado Tequila

Nosotros Reposado Tequila
Nosotros

While most tequilas either come from the highlands or lowlands of the state of Jalisco, Nosotros is a blend of both, offering up both the peppery notes of lowland agave with the sweeter, more tropical flavors of highland tequila.

Montelobos Tobala Mezcal

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Made from Tobala agave (as opposed to Blue Weber, which must be used to make tequila), this release from Montelobos is rich in lemon and fresh green pepper on the nose, with more citrus, some nutty flavors, and truffle on the palate.

Liqueur

Apologue Saffron Spiced Liqueur

Apologue Saffron Spiced Liqueur
Image used with permission by copyright holder

With the base of this liqueur being the world’s most expensive spice, saffron, this offering from Chicago’s Apologue is bright, fresh, citrusy, and spicy all at once thanks to the addition of ingredients like cardamom, coriander, lemongrass, and more.

Editors' Recommendations

Sam Slaughter
Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…
The 4 Best Spritz Cocktail Recipes To Drink This Spring
grapefruit sprtiz cocktail

The spritz is liquid springtime, utilizing the power of sparkling wine and the floral nature of this time of year. The classic involves prosecco and Aperol but that's merely one of countless permutations to make and enjoy this iconic sipper. Think of it as a fizzy cooler, a drinkable bouquet of sorts cut to your liking based on your favorite accents, aromatics, and mixers.

While we advise you to go with the Italian classic and utilize the famous bitter aperitif, at least some of the time, we also want you to be curious and inventive. Like the Old-Fashioned or Negroni, the spritz is so much more than one thing, and very much worth plunging into and fully exploring. And there's no better time to do so than the thawing, rejuvenating, increasingly-thirsty days of spring.

Read more
The Best Barware for Your Home Bar To Make Amazing Cocktails

We know you have a bar tool or two but what if you need a more extensive setup that goes beyond the wine glasses or the whiskey rocks glass? We've put together some of the best of the best barware products out there that focuses on quality, style, and function. Yes, you can have style AND function. Never let anyone tell you differently.

There are some items that we didn't cover in this list because we just feel they may be unnecessary. For instance, while an ice bucket can look cool, it's really unrealistic because you'll have ice melting faster than you can drink, especially if you're using specialty ice such as spheres, cubes, or cocktail ice. We suppose that if you want a small ice bucket to hold a round's worth of ice, that would work but for us, keep the ice where it belongs, in the cocktail glass.

Read more
The Best Hiking Snacks To Fuel Your Time on the Trail
best hiking snacks the preparation for tomorrow is doing your today

Warmer weather is on the horizon and it's finally time to dust off the hiking gear that’s been hibernating in the back of your closet all winter, and make some hiking snacks that will get you ready to hit the trails. From getting fresh air and exercise to enjoying scenic vistas, hiking is one of the best ways to get outdoors and enjoy nature. But, whether you're taking on one of the most physically challenging hikes in the United States or embarking on a short and simple day hike, it's important to be prepared with the right equipment -- and that includes the best hiking snacks. 

If you're keeping your hike relatively short, there's no need to reach for the dehydrated meals. What you do want are snacks that won’t spoil, don’t take up a ton of space in your backpack, and help you stay energized and feeling good all day long. That means you'll want a mix of carbohydrates and protein, both of which your body needs to perform at its best during the hike and recover properly once you're done. So, stuff your pack with these nutritious, tasty snacks (plus plenty of water, of course) and you'll be ready to hit the trail. Just remember to pack out any wrappers or other trash you brought with you! 

Read more