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Best Christmas gifts for whisky lovers 2025
Lars is a bloodhound when it comes to sniffing out bargains, including on major sales events such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. He is also handy at unravelling tech jargon and anything related to gaming.
In this article
- Best Christmas gifts for whisky lovers – under £30
- Best Christmas gifts for whisky lovers – under £50
- Best Christmas gifts for whisky lovers – under £100
- Best Christmas gifts for whisky lovers – over £100
- Best Scottish whiskies to gift
- Best Irish whiskeys to gift
- Best American whiskeys to gift
- Other whiskies to gift
The world of whisky can be quite the rabbit hole. Peat, rocks, regions, cask aged, pot stilled, single malt – it can all be overwhelming. We've broken it down to help you buy a great gift for even the snobbiest whisky lovers.
Forget stones or smokers – the whisky lovers in your life may already have them. Our experts have picked out great Christmas gifts to pair with their next tipple, plus some of our favourite Irish, American and Scottish whiskies.
Read on to see our expert picks.
Stuck thinking of a gift for him? We've got round-ups of the best Christmas gifts for men and the best Christmas gifts for dads
Best Christmas gifts for whisky lovers – under £30
The Cocktail Bible recipe book
I received this as a gift recently and I love it. There are heaps of tasty cocktails in there that I had no idea existed – and I'm quite experienced in that realm! My favourites so far have been the 'Journalist' and the 'New York Sour'. There are lots of 'lesser-known' classics in there like the Vieux Carré and Boulevardier, too.
We like: 200 cocktail recipes to try out
Watch out for: Having to find all the ingredients and spirits for them
While it's not explicitly for whisky lovers, there are dozens of recipes for whisky cocktails in this book. It ranges from classics such as the Manhattan or Rob Roy to more outlandish and modern ones including the 'Vanilla Fix' or 'Georgia Julep'.
For someone who is looking to try something new or expand their repertoire of favourite cocktails, it's a great gift – we'd recommend also gifting some of the ingredients for a cocktail you think they'd like.
You can buy this book below:
Big ice moulds
We like: Lots of options for different shapes and sizes
Watch out for: Plastic ones might be difficult to get ice out of, so we'd recommend ones made with food-grade silicone
A cheap and easy way to keep whisky cold without small ice cubes quickly diluting it is simply to use larger ice cubes. These massive rocks of ice will melt more slowly, meaning your drink will stay colder for longer.
You can find all sorts of ice moulds available in various shapes and sizes. You can get them in cubes, spheres, stars, diamonds – even bulldogs or skulls (although these aren't the easiest to fill and can yield mixed results).
You can buy several moulds in all shapes and sizes from Amazon, or check out this popular set of cubes and spheres below:
Big chunky ice cubes are great, but what makes them even better is when they're crystal clear.
It's possible to make clear ice at home by sticking a cool box about three quarters full of water in your freezer. This forces the water to freeze from the top down and 'pushes' impurities to the bottom, which you later cut away. However, you'll often find that cool boxes are too big to fit in a freezer.
This ice mould achieves the same effect but takes up much less space. What's especially nice is that the cubes are pre-portioned, meaning you won't need to cut a big block of ice down to size. We spotted a popular one from Amazon that makes eight clear cubes per batch.
It will put you over the £30 mark, but it makes a great gift. Buy it below:
Cocktail mixing glass and a bar spoon
We like: Bar spoons make mixing cocktails easier
Watch out for: Some might not be dishwasher-safe
For anyone who enjoys a whisky cocktail or wants to get into home bartending, these tools are a must-have. These bestselling bar accessories make crafting cocktails a lot easier than mixing a drink in a pint glass with a tablespoon – you won't spill as much, and you'll make sure the ingredients are properly mixed.
As a rule of thumb, cocktails that include egg whites, citrus or juice (such as a whisky sour or mint julep) should be shaken to add texture and properly mix ingredients. Cocktails made mostly from spirits, for example an old fashioned or a Manhattan, should be stirred.
You can buy bar spoons and mixing glasses from retailers such as Amazon.
Compare prices on some Amazon bestsellers below:
For those who prefer wine, see our pick of the best Christmas gifts for wine lovers
Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions
While I learnt a lot being a bartender, I got this for Christmas last year and it's taught me so much more. It's not just a refresher on the basics; I learnt advanced techniques and methods to balance out the cocktails I want to create on my own. While I'm still fine-tuning my recipe for everyone's favourite future cocktail, I wouldn't have done it without the knowledge in this book.
We like: Lots of variation, with encouragement to experiment
Watch out for: May need additional equipment to try some of the techniques
Instead of focusing on a list of recipes, this book uses a handful of 'root' cocktails that teach you variations on drinks. It's not so much a recipe book, but more of a primer to help aspiring home bartenders understand the structures of cocktails and learn advanced techniques to elevate the drinks they make.
Your whisky lover won't just discover new recipes; they'll also learn how to experiment with their own variations. In addition, the book covers making syrups, how to fat-wash spirits (which works well with whisky), how to create infusions – it even suggests which spirits to try and which glassware to use.
Buy this book below:
Barfly weighted tin-on-tin shakers
Working behind a bar often has you wrestling with a fair share of stubborn shakers. These Barfly ones are my go-to for making cocktails at home. They've got a nice weight to them and rarely get stuck together after shaking, as you have a lot more leverage than a typical 'cobbler'-style shaker.
We like: Large capacity
Watch out for: Some styles have fluctuating stock
Like the mixing glass and bar spoon above, a good cocktail shaker is an essential for any home bartender. Even for someone who thinks they're just going to sip whisky, shakers can help them branch out and try some whisky cocktails.
Just make sure there's a good seal before shaking: if the tins are loose, it could cause spillages.
Some cocktails they could make include Sidecars, Penicillins or – of course – whisky sours.
You can compare prices below:
Best Christmas gifts for whisky lovers – under £50
Whisky glasses
If I had to give a piece of advice to a new bartender, it would be that the right glassware makes all the difference. It seems like it wouldn't be a big deal, but different glassware can affect aroma and taste. For whisky, a snifter can bring out aromas, and a nice chunky rocks glass can help someone really savour a pour. I love my LSA International whisky glasses, but Ikea's Planera glasses are another fantastic option at £2 each.
We like: Lots of variation in styles
Watch out for: Lots of variation in prices and whether they're dishwasher-safe
The most popular types of whisky glasses are low-ball rocks glasses (sometimes called tumblers or just 'whisky glasses'), and pear-shaped snifters. Both are good for different reasons.
Snifters are meant to bring out hidden aromas in a whisky served neat while being warmed up by the hand. Rocks glasses are a bit more versatile – they can be used for sipping whisky neat or on the rocks (with ice), and are frequently used for cocktails.
When choosing glassware as a gift, think about how your whisky lover likes their drinks. If they like the smells and sipping neat, go for a snifter. If they prefer ice with their tipple, we'd go for a rocks glass. Just be sure to check if they're dishwasher-safe before gifting.
You can buy whisky glassware from retailers such as Amazon, Debenhams, Ikea, John Lewis, Next or from your local home goods stores.
For premium glassware, try LSA International or Waterford crystal.
Coffee then cocktails? Read our guide to the best Christmas gifts for coffee lovers
A hip flask
We like: Whisky on the go
Watch out for: Some designs can be a bit tacky
If your whisky lover also enjoys hiking or going on walks, a hip flask means they can sip on the go. Search data peaks in wintertime for hip flasks, and they're a very popular Christmas gift in the UK.
There are options to engrave or customise many flasks, but be aware that some retailers, such as Aspinal, will charge extra for it.
You can find flasks from popular retailers such as Amazon or Aspinal. Otherwise, this flask from Yeti (£50) is another popular choice that comes in several colours.
Best Christmas gifts for whisky lovers – under £100
The Whisky Tasting Company Subscription
I got the rare and premium whisky subscription for my brother's 40th, and it was amazing. There were so many incredible whiskies, all beautifully packaged. He's quite a whisky snob, so the fact that he was impressed must mean it's good – right?
We like: Good way to gift a whisky without needing to know the recipient's tastes
Watch out for: Some sets may be out of stock
If you're not sure which whisky to gift someone (or aren't convinced by our recommendations), a good workaround could be a whisky tasting subscription. The Whisky Tasting Company offers boxes that mix classic, rare and premium Scotch whiskies.
Each set includes tasting cards with notes about the bottles, and you can opt in to add a personalised message too.
Just be aware that these are sets of 50ml bottles.
Get a subscription from £89 (three sets over nine months) at The Whisky Tasting Company.
Want to gift food, art and more? Read our guide to the best subscription Christmas gifts for more ideas
Best Christmas gifts for whisky lovers – over £100
A decanter
We like: Looks a lot nicer than just keeping it in the bottle
Watch out for: Huge variation in price
While many decanters cost less than £50, it's also not uncommon for them to be hundreds of pounds. From patterned to plain, there are loads of decanter styles, so you can get something that will suit the recipient's home.
Most decanters aren't dishwasher-safe, so it may also be worth gifting a bottle brush so they can clean it.
You can find decanters from retailers and home goods shops such as Amazon, Debenhams, John Lewis, Next, Selfridges or Waterford.
If you're looking for a more unique gift, consider an antique tantalus set. These decanter sets from the Victorian era come in a caddy that has a locking top to keep out unwanted sippers. They're named after the Greek myth of, you guessed it, Tantalus: the man stuck in the water who could never eat or drink.
They're always tantalising by being in sight but just out of reach – at least until the caddy is unlocked.
Watch out, though: it's not uncommon for sets to have lost their keys, and they're not cheap, either. Be sure to check whether the set you're considering actually has a key.
You can get these second-hand from sites such as eBay or Etsy.
Be sure to read our guide on how to buy second-hand online first.
A drinks cabinet or trolley
We got a drinks trolley for our living room and we love it. They're not always cheap, but they're a great way to keep everything for drams and tipples organised in one place – it also means we don't need to go all the way into the kitchen to get ourselves another pour.
We like: A great way to organise a whisky collection
Watch out for: Cabinets are more expensive than trolleys
If you're looking to blow the budget, drinks cabinets and trolleys could be just the ticket. They're also a great way to show off a collection of whiskies – or the opposite; tuck them just out of sight.
Many have built-in storage for bottles and glassware, and some have extra shelves that can serve as a space to prepare drinks.
We spotted some reasonably priced cabinets and trolleys we liked from Next – it's a Which? Recommended Provider scoring top marks for quality and range.
Best Scottish whiskies to gift
While several Scottish whiskies make popular gifts, several are peated whiskies – meaning that they have an earthy, smoky taste.
When we asked whisky retailer Berry Bros. & Rudd for gifting advice, Joshua Meyer, the commercial executive for spirits, said: 'Peat is like marmite for many, so it's best to err on the side of caution. If you don't know whether someone likes it or not, opt for a non-peated whisky and steer clear of ones that come from Islay.'
Laphroaig 10-year whisky
A Scottish author once recommended it, and I've bought it for my dad ever since. I buy it on offer and then stash it so I can gift it later. He doesn't drink much, so this is a special-occasion tipple for him.
- Region: Islay
- Peated whisky
- Aged for 10 years
This Scottish whisky is a well-known classic. It's aged in ex-bourbon barrels, and is great for those who love a rich and smoky whisky.
It has strong notes of iodine, lemon, pear, seaweed and peaty smoke. There's a hint of salt, too.
Compare prices below:
Mossburn 2012 Ben Nevis Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- Region: Highlands
- Non-peated whisky
- Aged for 9 years
A bestseller from Berry Bros. & Rudd, this exclusive cask whisky is a good option for those who prefer a non-peated Scotch.
It has the savoury and malty tastes of traditional Highland whiskies without the peaty flavours usually associated with Scotch. They should also get just a hint of sweetness at the end.
You can pick up a bottle from Berry Bros. & Rudd (£68).
Lagavulin 16-year Old
- Region: Islay
- Peated whisky
- Aged for 16 years in oak casks
This bestselling popular Scottish whisky is claimed to be one of the most heavily peated whiskies on the market.
It has strong flavours of orange, kippers and pineapple, with hints of smoke and brine. It's popular for a reason – it has won awards across the globe, including at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Compare prices below:
Gift hunting for someone who enjoys being out on the green? See our picks on the best Christmas gifts for golfers.
Best Irish whiskeys to gift
While Ireland is well known for Jameson, there are plenty of distillers that are creating a new renaissance for Irish whiskey – including several small-batch distillers.
Slane Irish Whiskey
Slane is a light and smooth classic Irish whiskey, but the marriage of three different cask finishes sets it above the rest. It’s a high-quality whiskey which truly overdelivers for the price, especially since it usually costs about as much as a bottle of Jameson would.
- Region: County Meath
- Non-peated
- Aged for at least 3 years
That's right, we're over to whiskey with an 'e'. This Irish one finishes in three different casks (one American oak, another ex-Jack Daniels, and finally a Spanish sherry). On tasting, there will be notes of sherry and butterscotch, with hints of oak and dark spices.
While it's one of the more widely available whiskies in the UK, it's still an often-overlooked one.
You can get bottles below:
Teeling Small Batch Whiskey
It’s delightfully smooth and easy to drink – a real charmer of a whiskey, and easily one of my favourites. I get a bottle every Christmas and I am never disappointed.
- Region: County Dublin
- Non-peated whiskey
- Aged for at least 4 years
This Irish whiskey has quite the story behind it: while originally founded in 1782 in Dublin, by 1976 all distilleries in the city had shut their doors (although it's unclear exactly when Teeling itself closed). However, in 2015, the Teeling Distillery reopened as the first new whiskey distillery in Dublin in more than 125 years.
It's finished in rum casks after ageing in ex-bourbon barrels. On tasting, you should expect vanilla, floral spices and some caramel.
Get a bottle from The Whisky Exchange (£36.25), or from retailers below:
Redbreast 12-year Whiskey
It's one of my favourite Irish whiskeys – while it's not the cheapest bottle you can get, it's great with a rock or two and sipped. Plus, it typically comes with a gift box, making it easier to wrap.
- Region: County Cork
- Non-peated
- Aged for 12 years
As the name suggests, this whiskey has been aged for 12 years in bourbon and sherry casks after distillation in a single pot still.
It's on the sweeter side, while retaining the spiciness that Irish whiskies are often known for. Tasting notes include ginger, honey, hot cross buns, liquorice root and baking spices.
You can get a bottle below:
Best American whiskeys to gift
Bottles of American whiskey, particularly bourbon, are great for those who don't like peated whiskeys.
Buffalo Trace Bourbon
It's my go-to for mixing whiskey cocktails. It costs about the same as a bottle of Jim Beam, but the difference in taste is astounding. You can also find great bargains on it from supermarkets – sometimes even as low as £18 a bottle with a Tesco Clubcard.
- Region: Kentucky
- Non-peated
- Aged anywhere between 4 and 8 years
While it might be one of the most widely available bottles of bourbon in the UK, don't take it for granted; it can be hard to find in the US. It's great for mixing into cocktails while being good enough to sip on its own, too.
It's aged in new American oak barrels. When sipping, there will be flavours of toffee, cinnamon, caramel, custard, mint and vanilla.
It's not uncommon to find deals on it, either. You can sometimes find it for less than £20 a bottle from supermarkets.
Woodford Reserve
If you've ever ordered an old fashioned in a bar, it's very likely that the bartender used Woodford Reserve. It's the gold standard for cocktails like Mint Juleps, but it's also quite easy to drink on its own. It's tasty and smooth, with just the right amount of spice.
- Region: Kentucky
- Non-peated
- Aged for at least 6 years
Another bottle that's widely available in the UK, Woodford Reserve is an extremely popular bourbon. It's pot stilled and then aged in charred American oak barrels.
Tasting notes include dried fruit, cinnamon, brioche and much, much more – the brand claims to have more than 200 detectable flavour notes.
If you're buying for a whiskey lover who loves cocktails, this is your bottle to gift.
Blanton's Original
I'm not going to sugarcoat it – the hype is real. Luckily, it's usually a lot easier to find here in the UK than it is back in the states. It's a delicious bourbon that's perfect for sipping, and I try to get a bottle (or three) for my mum and dad every Christmas.
- Region: Kentucky
- Non-peated
- Aged between 6 and 8 years
This single-cask bourbon can be difficult to find – especially for a reasonable price. Production is limited, and ageing takes between six and eight years in American white oak barrels.
There are tasting notes of caramel, raisins, toffee, oak and spices including cinnamon, clove and vanilla. If you can find a bottle, it's well worth it and makes a fantastic gift.
Bottles are in stock from The Whisky Exchange (£79.95), where it's also a bestselling whiskey.
Other whiskies to gift
While the UK, Ireland and the US get a lot of attention for whiskies, there are several other distillers from other countries that produce great bottles. Joshua Meyer from Berry Bros. & Rudd says:
'There is a world of whisky out there to be enjoyed. Whether it's non-traditional regions such as Japan, Australia, or even Sweden, or different styles like blended malts or single grains – there's plenty of fun and esoteric styles to discover, and lots of value for money as well.'
Nikka Coffey Grain Single Malt
- Country: Japan
- Non-peated
- Aged in American Oak casks, although age is not stated
It's not coffee, but coffey – referring to the type of still used in distillation. This popular grain whisky has tasting notes of toffee, citrus and other tropical fruits such as mango and papaya.
While not traditionally known for its whiskies, Japanese distiller Nikka has been around in Hokkaido since 1934.
Buy a bottle below:
Meet our experts
- Lars Stannard worked as a bartender for an upscale whisky and cocktail bar for more than half a decade in the USA. He has extensive knowledge of how to mix cocktails, and always enjoys a nice pour of whisky – particularly bourbon. These days, he writes for Which?, usually covering deals and tech.
- Ruby Flanagan specialises in finance journalism for Which?, but she's also an avid whisky enthusiast. She prefers Irish whiskey served neat or on the rocks, and often has one after working a bartender shift at her second job.
- Berry Bros. & Rudd is the UK's oldest wine and spirits merchant. It was founded in 1698 in London, and employs several experts on all things whisky. We spoke to them for gifting advice and asked about some of their bestselling whiskies to help you narrow down your options.
- The Whisky Exchange was founded in 1999 and is one the UK's most popular online whisky retailers. To help you in your search for gifts, we asked it about some of its bestselling bottles and what to look out for when buying whiskies.
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