A boo basket with whiskey or cigars in it is for someone 21 or older, because 21 is the federal minimum age for buying tobacco and the age federal highway funding ties to alcohol. Built from our reviews, a basket of the best whiskey we've scored under $35 and two of our top cigars under $12 costs $37–$52 before the candy. Fifteen basket ideas follow.
1. Bourbon and Candy Corn Basket
The classic: one good bottle, a bag of his favorite candy and a rocks glass, in a black basket lined with orange tissue. Wild Turkey 101 (88/100) is the bottle we'd pick at this price.
2. Mini Boo Basket of Whiskey Miniatures
A small pail of 50 ml miniatures lets him taste five whiskeys instead of committing to one. Our stocking stuffers guide has what each small bottle size actually holds.
3. Cigar and Rye Basket
A bottle of rye and one great cigar. Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whisky BiB (86/100) costs $22-30, and My Father Flor de las Antillas Toro (94/100) is at Gotham Cigars.
4. Pumpkin Bucket Basket
Use a trick-or-treat pumpkin bucket as the basket. It's the most recognizable boo basket there is. Fill it with Elijah Craig Small Batch (84/100) and the candy he hoards every October.
5. Peated Scotch and Dark Chocolate Basket
Smoke and dark chocolate is a pairing that suits a spooky night. Laphroaig 10 Year Old (89/100) brings the smoke; add two or three bars of 70% dark chocolate.
6. Old Fashioned Kit Basket
Everything for his own Old Fashioned: Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon (80/100), bitters, an orange, sugar and a big ice-cube mold. Tuck in a card with our Old Fashioned recipe.
7. Pirate Rum Basket
A treasure chest box, chocolate coins and a funky Jamaican rum: Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaica Rum (90/100). A skull glass finishes it.
8. Irish Coffee Basket
For the man who wants his whiskey in his coffee. Redbreast 12 Year Old (90/100), good beans and two Irish coffee glasses. Our Thanksgiving cocktails post has the Irish Coffee recipe.
9. Coffin Box Cigar Sampler
Three cigars in a coffin-shaped box: Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story (91/100), Oliva Connecticut Reserve Robusto (89/100) and Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Robusto (89/100), all at Gotham Cigars.
10. Whiskey Glassware Basket
No bottle needed. Two tasting glasses, whiskey stones and a water dropper upgrade what he already pours.
11. Horror Movie Night Basket
A night in: popcorn, movie candy, two glasses and Maker's Mark Bourbon (75/100). Add a list of the horror films you'll watch together.
12. Cigar Smoker's Kit
The tools plus one stick: a Vertigo cutter, a torch lighter and Padron 2000 Natural (89/100) from Gotham Cigars.
13. Black Cauldron Basket
A cauldron instead of a basket, and a bottle that already looks the part: Maker's Mark Bourbon (75/100) has the red wax drip.
14. Manhattan for Two Basket
Date-night basket: Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whisky BiB (86/100), sweet vermouth, cherries and two coupes. Our Manhattan recipe goes on the card.
15. Scotch and Salty Snacks Basket
Easy-drinking Scotch and the salty snacks that go with it: Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (82/100) with nuts and pretzels.
How Old Does He Have to Be?
21, for both halves of a whiskey-and-cigar basket. FDA's Tobacco 21 page says the federal Tobacco 21 law, signed December 20, 2019, set the minimum age of sale for all tobacco products, cigars included, at 21, with no exceptions.
Alcohol works through funding rather than a federal ban. Under 23 U.S.C. 158, the federal government withholds 8 percent of a state's highway funds if buying or publicly possessing alcohol under 21 is lawful there. If he's under 21, build the glassware basket (#10) instead.
What Does a Whiskey-and-Cigar Boo Basket Cost?
Using the price ranges on our reviews, the best-scoring whiskey we've reviewed that tops out at $35, plus the two highest-scoring cigars that top out at $12 a stick:
| Item | Our score | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Turkey 101 | 88 | $22-30 |
| My Father Flor de las Antillas Toro | 94 | $7-11 |
| Tatuaje Black Label Petite Lancero | 93 | $8-11 |
Total: $37–$52, before the basket, candy and glass. Those three aren't priced here, so check them where you shop. Shop cigars at Gotham Cigars.
Keep Exploring
- 15 Whiskey Gifts for Men (and the Bottles Not Worth Hunting)
- 15 Cigar Gifts for Him (and the Age Rule That Applies to Every One)
- 15 Stocking Stuffers for Whiskey Lovers (and How Much a Mini Really Holds)
- 15 Thanksgiving Cocktails (and How Strong Each One Really Is)
- The Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe: How to Make It Right