Whisky Gifts – Thinking Outside the Bottle

There are so many gift ideas for whisky lovers – we’re exploring them from the simple to the ultimate, from the wallet-friendly to the luxurious.

For a friend, colleague or family member who loves the odd dram

A set of personalised whisky stones. Made from soapstone, whisky stones are the ideal way to chill a glass of the good stuff without diluting the spirit with water. Soapstone retains a low-temperature longer than ice and is odourless and non-porous. Available online/high street, £15-£20.

Whisky infused toothpicks – Daneson toothpicks are made from sustainably forested wood which is infused with 14-year-old, barrel-aged single malt Scottish whisky. Expect a subtle-hit of whisky notes when you gently use the pick – guaranteed to be an unusual present! Priced at around £30 for a pack of 48 picks, packaged in glass vials in a smart gift box.

Water and whisky is a divisive subject, but science has proved than adding water to your favourite spirit does encourage a broader range of subtle flavours to emerge. A dual-chambered personal Whisky and Water decanter allows the drinker to pour their tipple and add a few drops of water without the need for a separate water container – pretty neat. Available online for approx £20.

For the millennial whisky drinker

The iconic sci-fi original, Bladerunner, was shot in 1992 and has been a firm favourite with film fans over the past three decades. Rick Deckard the film’s lead, played by Harrison Ford, is seen drinking Johnny Walker Black Label from his stylish CIBI tumbler. Now you can gift the art of ‘cool’ to the whisky fan in your life and they can imagine themselves in the rain-soaked, dystopian world of Deckard and the replicants.

Made by Italian glassware manufacturers Arnolfo di Cambio, this double old fashioned glass is available to buy from a variety of shops – prices start at £70.

Mature you own whisky kit. In a world of craft distilleries and artisan makers, everyone can be a master whisky maker (or at least they think they can). This great little kit contains everything the budding blender needs – a 1-litre American White Oak barrel, that has been freshly toasted and 2 x 50cl Malted Barley new-make spirit bottles. Priced approx £120.

Coffee is often another passion of the younger generation and what better than marrying the two worlds of whisky and coffee together? Whisky Barrel Coffee does just that. Green coffee beans are placed in ex-whisky casks from the Laphroaig and Auchentoshan distilleries in Scotland. Roasted after several weeks of barrel maturation this coffee is far from an average Starbucks! Available from Ovenbird Coffee Roasters, priced £18.

For the whisky fancier who imagines themselves sipping like a true connoisseur

To raise a home drinks bar to another level, how about gifting a table-top whisky barrel? Hand-crafted from white oak, these 1-3litre casks (depending on the size chosen) can be used to store a favourite whisky straight from the bottle. With a working tap and stopper, this present is sure to be a talking point for years to come. Available online from various retailers, £55-£80.

For a whisky loving couple

If you know a couple who are both fans of whisky, a two-handled, shallow drinking vessel known as a quaich, or ‘loving cup’, is a perfect present. Traditionally part of Scottish wedding ceremonies and a symbol of a warm welcome, the quaich is a sign of trust between two people. The cup has to be given and taken with two hands, so historically drinkers couldn’t hold their sword whilst drinking. As the contents of the cup are shared between two people, it proved the contents couldn’t be poisoned. Available online in pewter, silver, horn, crystal/glass and wood – prices range from £25-£550 depending on style and material.

For special occasions, where you really want to invest in the ultimate gift

Do you know someone with a very special birthday coming up? a couple getting married or a baby about to be born? If so, then buying a cask of whisky is a wonderful gift. There are lots of options for purchasing – online specialist investment sites, direct from distilleries or from whisky auctions. If you plan ahead, you can buy a cask of whisky that will mature on the special celebration year so that you can present the recipient with a gift certificate for a barrel that is ready for bottling.

A cask makes a fantastic wedding present as it can mature in time for a significant anniversary.

Again for a newborn baby, a barrel of whisky can mature and be bottled ready to be drunk on their 18th birthday!

Prices vary according to market demands.

Remember, there is always the option for gift recipients to sell a whisky cask if they decide they would like to cash in their investment rather than drink it themselves.