8 Reasons Why Whiskey Makes a Great Gift

Written by Josh Mitchell in General Info

Finding the perfect gift can often be challenging, which is why some people wonder whether a bottle of whiskey would be a good idea. The short answer is a resounding yes, but if you’re not yet convinced, here are eight reasons why whiskey makes a great gift.

1. It Comes in A Variety of Flavors and Styles

The first reason why whiskey makes a great gift is because it comes in a wide variety of flavors and styles.

Some of the most common flavors are:

  • Vanilla
  • Caramel
  • Malt
  • Honey
  • Apple
  • Pear
  • Citrus
  • Raisins
  • Peat
  • Smoke
  • Pepper
  • Cinnamon
  • Chocolate
  • Sherry
  • Leather
  • Roasted meat

To name just a few. And some of the common styles are:

  • Full-Bodied – meaning it has several if not dozens of dominant flavors.
  • Light-Bodied – meaning it has one or two dominant flavors.
  • Bold – meaning its flavors are rich and intense.
  • Light – meaning its flavors are mild and delicate.
  • Smoky / Peaty – from the peat used to fuel the kiln that dries the barley.
  • Spicy
  • Fruity
  • Briny – whiskeys produced near the sea can absorb some of the briny sea air.
  • Smooth

With so much variety you’ll easily be able to find a whiskey with the flavors and styles that you know the person receiving your gift will like. And to give you somewhere to start, I’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular whiskeys along with their flavors and styles, so you already have some great options.

Johnnie Walker Black Label
Flavors: Creamy toffee, sweet fruit, spices
Style: Bold, smoky
You can buy a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label at TIPXY.com hereOpens in a new tab..

Jameson Irish Whiskey
Flavors: Vanilla, spices, nuts with hints of sweet sherry
Style: Light-bodied, smooth
You can buy a bottle of Jameson at TIPXY.com hereOpens in a new tab..

The Macallan Double Cask 12 Year Old
Flavors: Vanilla, oak, milk chocolate, raisins, toffee, orange peel, gentle spice
Style: Full-bodied
You can buy a bottle of The Macallan Double Cask 12 Year Old at TIPXY.com hereOpens in a new tab..

Glenfiddich 12 Year Old
Flavors: Pear, apple, oak, vanilla
Style: Light, fruity
You can buy a bottle of Glenfiddich 12 Year Old at TIPXY.com hereOpens in a new tab..

Lagavulin 16 Year Old
Flavors: Intense smoky peat, malt, sherry, fruity sweetness
Style: Full-bodied, smoky / peaty
You can buy a bottle of Lagavulin 16 Year Old at TIPXY.com hereOpens in a new tab..

Talisker 10 Year Old
Flavors: Smoky yet sweet, pear, heather, moor, seaweed, black pepper
Style: Full-bodied, smoky / peaty, briny
You can buy a bottle of Talisker 10 Year Old at TIPXY.com hereOpens in a new tab..

Glenmorangie Original
Flavors: Citrus, orange, honey, vanilla, peach
Style: Light-bodied, fruity, smooth
You can buy a bottle of Glenmorangie Original at TIPXY.com hereOpens in a new tab..

Highland Park 12 Year Old
Flavors: Heathery peat smoke, honey, oranges, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove
Style: Peaty / Smoky, spicy
You can buy a bottle of Highland Park 12 Year Old at TIPXY.com hereOpens in a new tab..

Laphroaig 10 Year Old
Flavors: Medicinal peat smoke, seaweed, iodine, vanilla, oak, spices
Style: Full-bodied, smoky / peaty
You can buy a bottle of Laphroaig 10 Year Old at TIPXY.com hereOpens in a new tab..

Aberlour 12 Year Old
Flavors: Sherried character, fruits, rich chocolate
Style: Fruity
You can buy a bottle of Aberlour 12 Year Old at TIPXY.com hereOpens in a new tab..

2. It Suits Different Styles of Drinking

A man drinking whiskey

Whiskey can be drunk in several ways, so it makes a great gift because there are lots of whiskeys that will suit the drinking style of the person receiving your gift.

If they like to explore all the aromas and flavors of their drink or are willing to discover new ones they never knew they’d like, then a whiskey with lots of flavors will be perfect as it can be savored neat.

On the other hand, if they prefer to drink shots – so they’re less interested in the aromas and flavors and just want to relax and get alcohol into their body as fast as possible, then a whiskey with less flavors … and therefore a lower price, will be better.

And if they prefer drinks with a lower alcohol content level, then although it has between 40% – 68%ABV, whiskey can still make a great gift because there are many popular whiskey cocktails out there, where the alcohol is diluted by being part of a larger drink, but the character of the whiskey still stands out.

Once again, I’ve compiled a list of some well-known whiskeys and the best way to drink them, so you already have some great options.

Whiskeys For Drinking Neat

Whiskeys For Drinking in Shots

Whiskeys For Drinking in Cocktails

3. It’s Suitable for Many Occasions

Another reason why whiskey makes a great gift is because it’s suitable for almost any occasion. Whiskey can be given as a gift for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, holidays, promotions, retirements, or any other special event or milestone.

It’s also an appropriate gift in both personal and professional settings – for casual gatherings among friends and family, as well as formal occasions or corporate events.

And it’s a great present whether the person receiving it is a connoisseur or someone who has never had a drop of whiskey in their life. Higher-quality whiskeys with more character and depth are needed for the expert whereas something easier to appreciate is necessary for a beginner. The following list will help you with that, as it contains great options for both.

Whiskeys For an Expert

Whiskeys For a Beginner

4. It Can Be a Very Personal Gift

A bottle of whiskey in a gift box

Whiskey can be personalized in several ways, which is why it can be a very thoughtful and even significant gift.

If the person receiving your gift loves the whiskeys of a particular brand then it will be very easy to personalize their gift – simply buy them a whiskey from their favorite brand.

Similarly, some whiskey enthusiasts have a fascination with specific distilleries known for their unique production methods and flavor profiles. If that applies to the person receiving your gift, then they would certainly love a whiskey from their favorite distillery.

You could even go a step further by finding a newer or rarer expression from their favorite brand or distillery. The only downside to this is that newer and rarer expressions can be significantly more expensive than standard expressions, but you may be able to find a not too expensive yet still somewhat uncommon expression that the person receiving your gift has never tried.

You can also personalize whiskey by finding one with a meaningful age or vintage. Age refers to how long the whiskey was matured, and vintage refers to the year the whiskey was distilled. You’ll have an absolutely amazing gift if you find a whiskey with an age or vintage that aligns with a special occasion or milestone in your recipient’s life.

For example, a 30-year-old whiskey to celebrate a 30th birthday, or a 1985 vintage to celebrate the year they were born, will be a very special gift indeed.

5. It Represents Craftsmanship and Tradition

Whiskey is a great gift because it represents craftsmanship and tradition, so it connects the drinker to something greater than themselves.

This hits me every time I drink a whiskey that’s 12 years old or more, because to me it’s mind-blowing to think that I’m about to drink something that’s taken over a decade to produce. It’s even more amazing when you’re drinking a whiskey that’s almost the age you are – although this happens less and less as you get older.

And that’s not all. Many distilleries are hundreds of years old. Some use kilns (used to dry malted barley) and stills (used to distill the alcohol) that are almost as old. And they make whiskey using the unique techniques and methods they’ve been improving upon and perfecting over the centuries the distillery has been operating.

That’s a lot of people, going to a lot of effort, over a long period of time, to make the most delicious and flavorful whiskey they can. And I’m connected to all the craftsmanship and tradition through 2fl oz of whiskey in my glass.

After all that, how can whiskey not be a fantastic gift.

6. It’s Elegant, Sophisticated and Luxurious

Man in a smart suit holding a bottle of whiskey

Another reason why whiskey makes a really great gift is because it’s associated with elegance, sophistication, luxury and indulgence.

This is partly to do with branding and marketing which has led to many whiskeys achieving the status of a premium product that’s associated with luxury and success, and sometimes a status symbol, but there are genuine reasons for this too.

The above-mentioned craftsmanship and tradition that goes into making whiskey, makes it something of substance and value. Its cultural and historical significance gives it added meaning and importance, and distilleries that are hundreds of years old will impart a sense of history and legacy to their whiskeys.

There’s also all the etiquette surrounding drinking whiskey. From the correct glassware to use to the techniques involved in drinking it properly – nosing, sipping and chewing your whiskey, to fully appreciate and savor its aromas and flavors.

All these things elevate whiskey, and give it an overall sense of sophistication, luxury and refinement.

7. It Can Be a Collectible Item or Investment

Whiskey is a great gift because it can be a collectible item or an investment.

There are thousands of brands, distilleries, expressions and styles of whiskey out there, which is why many have become collectible items. If the person receiving your gift already has a whiskey collection, then a rare or limited-edition or a bottle that fits with the type of collection they have, will be the perfect gift.

If they don’t have a collection it can still be a great idea to give them a collectable whiskey as a gift. That’s because owning a unique and highly coveted whiskey will give the person receiving your gift a sense of exclusivity that may be as good as or even better than drinking the whiskey itself.

Whiskey also has amazing investment potential. Certain bottles, especially those from closed distilleries or of renowned vintages, have demonstrated significant appreciation in value over time.

By gifting a whiskey with investment potential, you not only give the person receiving your gift an asset that can grow in value, but you also give them the ability to participate in the dynamic world of whiskey investments.

And as you paid for it, there’s no downside for them!

8. It Can Create Connections with Other People

Friends bonding over a bottle of whiskey

The last reason why whiskey is a great gift is because it can create meaningful connections with other people – including the gift giver.

That’s because drinking whiskey is a social activity and so it can be a catalyst for creating strong and even significant connections with other people.

This can be because of interest in whiskey in general, as discussions about the flavors, aromas, and nuances of the spirit can create a camaraderie through the shared knowledge and experience of whiskey.

It can also occur even when there’s no whiskey-based discussion, as people tend to relax when they drink whiskey, which often leads to a greater openness and the types of meaningful conversations that allow individuals to bond.

And of course, whiskey can also create a strong connection between people when it’s used to celebrate whatever occasion it is that the whiskey was gifted for in the first place.

Josh Mitchell

I'm Josh Mitchell. I love whiskey and am working on increasing my whiskey tasting abilities and my collection.

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