What Is a Good Whiskey to Gift for a Boyfriend or Girlfriend?

If your significant other loves whiskey, consider yourself lucky. You’ll never be at a loss for what to give them!

A great gift whiskey should be a little unexpected. On the other hand, it should still be something the whiskey lover in your life might actually like. If your partner loves Jack Daniels, for instance, reach for another Tennessee whiskey they may not have tried. That way, they get two benefits: A terrific whiskey, and the chance to taste something new.

Need a few ideas? Read on for a hand-picked Mash & Grape gift guide for whiskey aficionados of all stripes, from single malt fanatics to bourbon whiskey loyalists.

Bourbon

If your favorite whiskey drinker is bananas for bourbon, you’ve got plenty of options. One of our favorite recent bourbon releases is Barrell Bourbon Batch 032, a cask strength, limited-edition blend of straight bourbons from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana. It’s a crowd-pleaser, with a complex flavor profile that combines delicate florals, chewy oak, and buttery cinnamon rolls. 

We’re also big fans of Kentucky Owl’s The Wiseman Bourbon. Sweet caramel, warming allspice, and crisp citrus–plus a sturdy 90.8 proof–make this a great choice for enjoying neat or stirring into whiskey cocktails.

Single Malt

If she’s a committed Scotch whisky fan, expand her horizons a little bit with a single malt Irish whiskey. Irish producers are in the midst of a major renaissance. A wave of new distilleries that opened in the last decade are finally getting the chance to introduce their mature whiskeys to the world. 

IrishAmerican 10 Year Single Malt is a great place to start. Distilled on Achill Island, the most westerly point in Europe, this full-flavored Irish single malt is double distilled on pot stills, just like Scottish single malt. It’s also aged in first fill ex-bourbon barrels, giving it a rich flavor replete with cinnamon and vanilla. 

Or, explore Irish Pot Still whiskey, a historic style that uses malted and unmalted barley. Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength is a benchmark in the category. It’s triple distilled, giving it a light body, but its maturation in American oak and Oloroso sherry casks layers in profound depths of flavor. 

Rye Whiskey

Does your other half love the full flavor and cocktail potential of rye whiskey? Well, they’ve got great taste. And, you’ve got abundant gift options.

If they’re a whiskey and music lover, get them a bottle of Heaven’s Door Straight Rye Whiskey, songwriting legend Bob Dylan’s foray into the whiskey business. 

Not all celebrity whiskeys are a success, but this one has been handled with care. The whiskey itself is fantastic. It’s a straight rye distilled in Tennessee and aged in French oak barrels, which give it a little extra elegance on the palate. Dylan also designed the label, which features iron gates he designed and created himself. 

We’re also big fans of Wilderness Trail’s Single Barrel Kentucky Rye. It’s made from a mash bill of 56% rye, 33% corn, and 11% barley, giving it a balanced yet assertive flavor with citrus, cloves, and leather. 

The Indecisive

Can’t choose? Sit back and let Mash & Grape take care of all the decisions with one of our monthly subscription clubs. Choose from our various whiskey clubs–bourbon, Scotch, or whiskey–and we’ll ship that lucky gift recipient a different surprise bottle every month. Expect the unexpected, from limited-edition single barrels to brand-new releases from all their favorite producers. 

And, of course, one of the best parts about food and drink gifts is that they’re perfect for two people to enjoy together. So don’t forget to grab yourself a glass, too, and experience these great whiskeys alongside your love.