It’s finally December, and that means that you had better get started on your holiday shopping. In fact, if you haven’t started yet, you’re a little behind. You should have already started months ago. Lucky for you, if you’re buying gifts for whiskey fans, there are a lot of options to choose from.
You can always go down to your local whiskey retailer and grab a pricey bottle. But, if you really want to show your whiskey-loving friends and family that you care, you’ll put a little more thought into it.
In my years of writing about alcohol, I get a chance to try some of the newest whiskeys and whiskey-related products on the market. When I enjoy a single malt Scotch whisky, bourbon, or any type of whiskey, a special glass, or a whiskey accessory, I often give it as a gift. Especially when I need to buy someone a stocking stuffer.
The best whiskey-centric stocking stuffers
When it comes to whiskey-specific stocking stuffers, there’s a lot to choose from. You can wrap up a full-sized bottle, but that takes up an awful lot of space in an average stocking. You might not have a lot of room for anything else. Instead, opt for useful, memorable whiskey-related items that fit more easily in a stocking and won’t break (and create a boozy mess) if they somehow fall off the mantel.
Whiskey-centric stocking stuffers include things like whiskey stones, smaller bottles, travel cocktail kits, whiskey candy, and much more. Keep scrolling to see some of our favorites for this holiday season.
Cocktail Kits 2 Go Old Fashioned Kit
Sometimes, you’re on the go, but you still want to make a cocktail. The perfect gift for a whiskey-loving traveler is the Cocktail Kits 2 Go Old Fashioned Kit. It has everything they need to make four Old Fashioned cocktails. It includes sugar cubes, aromatic bitters, a muddling spoon, and a recipe for a complex, flavorful Old Fashioned cocktail. It should be noted that it doesn’t include the whiskey. But this just means they can use your favorite bourbon or rye whiskey to make this timeless mixed drink.
Old Forester Bourbon Cherries
The cocktail fan in your life needs a jar of Old Forester Bourbon Cherries in his or her stocking. Well-suited for the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, and many other whiskey cocktails, it’s made with cherries that were grown in the Pacific Northwest. They are pitted and then sit in a combination of sugar, water, fruit and vegetable concentrate (for color), citric acid, natural flavors, and, of course, Old Forester Bourbon. It comes in a 10-ounce bottle that fits easily into any whisky-lover’s stocking.
Rabbit Jumbo Chilling Stones
Perhaps your whiskey-loving friend enjoys their whiskey or whiskey-based cocktails perfectly cooled, but they don’t like the watered-down flavor of ice. This is where chilling stones come in. Rabbit Jumbo Chilling Stones are made of stainless steel. One fits well into your favorite glass. It comes in a set of two dishwasher-safe whiskey stones as well as a storage case to keep them when they’re not sipping bourbon, rye, or any other whiskey.
Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Nib Brittle
Even if your friend or family member is an avid whiskey drinker, there’s a good chance they’ve had a chance to sip the highly coveted Pappy Van Winkle. Luckily, they can still enjoy it in candy form thanks to Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Nib Brittle. This bourbon-barrel-aged nib brittle is made by aging organic cacao nibs in 20-year-old Pappy Van Winkle barrels. This small batch treat is made by artisan chocolatiers at Olive & Sinclair in Nashville, Tennessee. The result is a creamy, bourbon-centric, chocolatey candy perfect for the bourbon connoisseur in your life.
Sonoma Syrup Co. No. 2 Mint Infused Simple Syrup
Simple syrup is a staple for many whiskey-based cocktails like the iconic Mint Julep. Instead of making your own with water and sugar, a great gift is Sonoma Syrup Co. No. 2 Mint Infused Simple Syrup. A great gift for home mixologists, this simple syrup is made with pure cane sugar and flavored with fresh spearmint. It comes in a 750ml or 375ml bottle. The latter makes more sense for stockings.
High Camp Firelight Flask 375
When it comes to whiskey-related holiday gifting, you can’t go wrong with a well-made flask. A great choice is the High Camp Firelight Flask 375. This vacuum-insulated, distiller-grade steel flask fits 375ml and has a wide mouth opening and a no-drip lid. As a bonus, it comes with a 6-shooter tumbler, so you don’t have to sip directly from the flask. Also vacuum-insulated, the tumbler fits 10.5 fluid ounces. It comes in a variety of colors, including copper, stainless steel, and onyx. It’s guaranteed to fit any whiskey-centric personality.
