Whiskey Gifts for Men | 15 Bottles & Barware

Of the 23 whiskeys we've scored 88 or higher, 4 have price ranges where the top is at least double the bottom, or are sold mostly on the secondary market. Those bottles make hard gifts, because the store price is rarely the price you'll pay. None of the ten bottles below is in that group, and five pieces of barware round out the list.

1. Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Whiskey Gift for Men: bottle of barrel-proof bourbon with a gift tag and two rocks glasses — Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Whiskey Gift for Men #1 of 15

Barrel proof, easy to find, and priced like an everyday bottle. It's the bourbon gift that looks more expensive than it is. We scored Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon 90/100; it runs $42-55.

2. Lagavulin 16

Whiskey Gift for Men: smoky Islay Scotch bottle in a gift box with a Glencairn glass — Lagavulin 16, Whiskey Gift for Men #2 of 15

The gift for the Scotch drinker who likes smoke. It's the highest-scoring Scotch we've reviewed. We scored Lagavulin 16 Year Old 93/100; it runs $85-110.

3. Redbreast 12

Whiskey Gift for Men: irish whiskey bottle with a ribbon next to a tumbler on a green tablecloth — Redbreast 12, Whiskey Gift for Men #3 of 15

Rich, fruity Irish pot-still whiskey that pleases bourbon and Scotch drinkers alike. We scored Redbreast 12 Year Old 90/100; it runs $58-75.

4. Nikka From the Barrel

Whiskey Gift for Men: small square Japanese whisky bottle with a gift box on a minimalist table — Nikka From the Barrel, Whiskey Gift for Men #4 of 15

A small, strong Japanese blend in a bottle that looks like a design object. We scored Nikka Whisky From The Barrel 90/100; it runs $55-75 (500ml).

5. Four Roses Single Barrel

Whiskey Gift for Men: bourbon bottle wrapped in brown paper with a rose sprig and a glass — Four Roses Single Barrel, Whiskey Gift for Men #5 of 15

Single barrel at 100 proof, sold at a regular price on regular shelves. We scored Four Roses Single Barrel (OBSV) 86/100; it runs $40-55.

6. Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask

Whiskey Gift for Men: speyside Scotch bottle with a gift ribbon beside tropical fruit and a glass — Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask, Whiskey Gift for Men #6 of 15

Speyside malt finished in rum casks: sweet, easy and an obvious gift. We scored The Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask 89/100; it runs $70-90.

7. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof

Whiskey Gift for Men: dark barrel-proof bourbon bottle with a gift tag beside a whiskey glass — Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, Whiskey Gift for Men #7 of 15

Our highest-scoring bourbon that you can actually buy at a store, and very strong. For someone who adds water and takes notes. We scored Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 94/100; it runs $60-75.

8. Ardbeg 10

Whiskey Gift for Men: green Islay Scotch bottle with peat bricks and a glass — Ardbeg 10, Whiskey Gift for Men #8 of 15

Big peat smoke at a fair price. A good second bottle for someone who already likes Lagavulin. We scored Ardbeg 10 Year Old 91/100; it runs $50-60.

9. Green Spot

Whiskey Gift for Men: irish whiskey bottle with a green bow and two glasses on a pub table — Green Spot, Whiskey Gift for Men #9 of 15

A softer, lighter Irish pot-still whiskey for someone who finds most whiskey too hot. We scored Green Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey 87/100; it runs $55-75.

10. Rittenhouse Rye (Plus a Cocktail Kit)

Whiskey Gift for Men: rye whiskey bottle with bitters, a mixing glass and bar spoon as a gift set — Rittenhouse Rye (Plus a Cocktail Kit), Whiskey Gift for Men #10 of 15

Pair a bottle of bonded rye with bitters, a mixing glass and cherries and you've given him a Manhattan kit. We scored Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whisky BiB 86/100; it runs $22-30.

11. Glencairn Glass Set

Whiskey Gift for Men: set of four tulip-shaped whisky glasses in an open gift box — Glencairn Glass Set, Whiskey Gift for Men #11 of 15

A set of Glencairn glasses is the gift that improves every bottle he already owns.

12. Crystal Whiskey Decanter

Whiskey Gift for Men: crystal whiskey decanter with two matching glasses on a silver tray — Crystal Whiskey Decanter, Whiskey Gift for Men #12 of 15

A crystal decanter set for the desk or the bar cart.

13. Large Clear Ice Mold

Whiskey Gift for Men: large clear ice cube in a rocks glass beside a silicone ice mold — Large Clear Ice Mold, Whiskey Gift for Men #13 of 15

A clear ice mold makes bar-quality cubes at home. Big ice melts slowly, so the whiskey dilutes slowly.

14. Whiskey Flight Board

Whiskey Gift for Men: wooden whiskey flight board holding four small tasting glasses — Whiskey Flight Board, Whiskey Gift for Men #14 of 15

A flight board and four small glasses turn a few bottles into a tasting night. Our tasting party ideas have flights to pour.

15. Leather Coasters and a Tasting Journal

Whiskey Gift for Men: leather coasters and a leather-bound tasting journal beside a whiskey glass — Leather Coasters and a Tasting Journal, Whiskey Gift for Men #15 of 15

Leather coasters and a tasting journal are a small gift for the person who already has the bottles.

Which Whiskeys Are Hard to Buy as Gifts?

These are the bottles we scored 88 or higher whose price range on our review spans at least double, or is marked as secondary market:

George T. Stagg (BTAC 2025): 97/100, $150-2,000+ (secondary)
Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 15 Year: 93/100, $150-2,000+ (secondary)
Stagg Bourbon (Formerly Stagg Jr.): 89/100, $65-200+
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch: 88/100, $40-150

The low end of each range is roughly the shelf price. The high end reflects what they sell for on the secondary market or at marked-up stores. If you see one of these at the low end, buy it. If you're shopping a week before the holidays, the store price is the wrong number to budget around.

Which Highly Rated Whiskeys Can You Actually Buy?

These scored 88 or higher and hold a tight price range on our reviews, so the price you see is close to the price you'll pay:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: 94/100, $60-75
Lagavulin 16 Year Old: 93/100, $85-110
Laphroaig Cairdeas Quarter Cask: 91/100, $75-90
Ardbeg 10 Year Old: 91/100, $50-60
The GlenAllachie 15 Year Old: 91/100, $80-100
Nikka Whisky From The Barrel: 90/100, $55-75 (500ml)
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon: 90/100, $42-55
Talisker 10 Year Old: 90/100, $55-70
Redbreast 12 Year Old: 90/100, $58-75
Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old: 90/100, $50-65
Laphroaig 10 Year Old: 89/100, $45-60
The Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask: 89/100, $70-90
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style: 89/100, $55-70
Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof Blue Corn Straight Bourbon Whiskey: 89/100, $80-130
Angel's Envy Straight Bourbon: 88/100, $45-55
Highland Park 12 Year Old Viking Honour: 88/100, $45-60
WhistlePig 10 Year Straight Rye Whiskey: 88/100, $70-90
The GlenDronach 12 Year Old Original: 88/100, $55-70
Wild Turkey 101: 88/100, $22-30

Price ranges are from our reviews; your local price may differ. For a ranked list, see our 10 best bourbons.

15 Whiskey Gifts for Men (and the Bottles Not Worth Hunting)