We have over 1000 different whiskies in stock so we're certain you will be able to find the perfect gift for the whisky lover in your life but when choosing whisky for a gift there are several points to consider.
- Do you know what style of whisky the person you are giving the gift to likes? Are they lovers of peated whisky or do they prefer something with no smokiness? Do they enjoy soft, light whiskies or big sherried types? A quick look through their current whisky collection may give you some answers here, or some casual questions dropped into conversation…
- Are they happy to try whisk(e)y from a country other than Scotland?
- What is the occasion you are buying for? Is it a special birthday or anniversary?
- Is this the main present or just a little extra?
- What’s your budget for the gift?
Once you have some idea of the above then you are well armed to find the right whisky and below is some guidance on each of the points. If you need any help choosing then email us or give us a call and we'll help you select the perfect gift
Whisky style
For those who enjoy a lighter style of whisky a good choice can be found amongst the Lowland and Speyside whiskies - perennial favourites include Auchentoshan, Glenkinchie, Aberlour, Benriach and Balvenie. Other interesting alternatives can be found by exploring Irish whiskey, Japanese whisky, American bourbons and grain whisky.
For a slightly more robust and richer whisky one that has been matured in sherry cask such as GlenDronach or Glenfarclas, or any of the whiskies ‘finished’ in sherry or Madeira, should be well received, as would the elegant yet bold and characterful Mortlach. A browse through the Highland or the Islands section will produce some worthy contenders.
There are various levels of ‘peated’ whiskies and gentle introductory ones include the Tomintoul with a Peaty Tang, Highland Park 12 year old and the superb Springbank 15 year old. Mid peated whiskies include BenRiach Curiositas or the Caol Ila Moch and then it’s on to the ‘big boys’ such as Ardbeg, Laphroaig or Lagavulin (the Distillers Edition being a particular stunner).
If you don’t know whether someone likes peated whiskies then it is best to steer clear of them as they are very much like marmite – people either love or hate them.
Other than that, most whisky lovers do enjoy trying different styles so don’t worry too much if you can’t find out what their favoured whisky is - you may just introduce them to something they love but would never have tried otherwise!
Once whisky is bottled it does not age so if it is 40 years old when it is bottled it will always be that age. This means that when buying whisky for a special birth or anniversary present you can either choose one from the year the special event happened (e.g. birth year of 1962) or the age (e.g. 40 years old). This gives you more available options and means you may be able to find something within your budget more easily as whiskies bottled at significant ages tend to be more expensive.
To narrow down your search use the options that allow you to shop by Vintage or Age or check out the special section in the Gift Guides category. If you can’t find a suitable whisky then we also do some beautifully presented Armagnacs that have Vintages on them.
Budget
If you have a price range you want to keep to then just use the Shop By Price option to narrow down your search.
As an alternative to a full size bottle of whisky you might like to look at the various Gift Packs and 20cl bottles we have in stock.
