Spirits to Lift Your Holiday…Spirit

Below is a curated list of bottles that either strike me as having inherent Christmas vibes (read: winter scenery, short days, cold weather, and holiday flavors) or simply deliver well enough to make for a great gift recommendation. Some categories will have more recommendations than others, but I think all in all this list could definitely help with holiday shopping at the very least, if nothing else by providing something of a list of ‘things to try’ on your own whiskey journey.

Bourbon

• Barrell Bourbon Gift Box: While this box contains more than just bourbon, it’s worth taking a look at this holiday season as it offers a trio of 200ml bottles that are the perfect gift for someone looking to try a few offerings from Barrell Craft Spirits. It includes a personal favorite of mine (and former Whiskey of the Year) Barrell Seagrass, which is an excellent expression of finished rye. You can find this directly from Barrell Craft Spirits for a fair price, and combined with free shipping through Christmas, that makes this a no brainer.
• Pursuit United: Coming from the hosts of the Bourbon Pursuit Podcast is the Pursuit United brand that has been growing like crazy and dropping new releases (such as their double oaked) that have grown quickly in popularity. This is an affordable bottle that you’ll be able to find in an increasing market, but is also readily available online for purchase as well. I feel like it drinks reminiscent of a blend of Elijah Craig and Weller in that it has plenty of rich layers that scratch the itch for oakiness, a dash of chocolate, and a kiss of fruit as well. What makes this fun is the low likelihood of it being on everyone’s bar, so it’s one of those rare times you can show up to a get-together with something that’s brand new to the crowd.
• Ben Holladay bourbon has been growing in popularity (due to the high quality of the liquid) so quickly that it won’t remain a hidden gem for much longer, but it’s another bottle you can put on your bar to treat yourself to some Missouri bourbon, or bring along to a holiday gathering and surprise everyone with a taste of something new. If you haven’t tried Ben Holladay bourbon yet, you’re missing out.

Rye

• Old Ezra 7 Rye: This 114 proof rye will spice up your holiday cocktails nicely, but also sips nicely neat for a fireside nightcap. The flavor quality is there, and it’s aligned with a handful of adjacent expressions (Old Ezra 7 Year Bourbon, a lineup of Ezra Brooks 99, and even a bourbon cream offering). I consider rye whiskey to be an absolute staple for holiday sipping and cocktails, and I think going off the beaten path a bit with this newer (but still pretty available) whiskey is a great addition to any bar.
• Sagamore Spirit Rye is another up-and-comer in the whiskey world, and they’re expanding their product lines fast enough that by the time you read this they could very well have a new product hitting shelves. There’s really something for every rye fan in their lineup, but there is also enough crossover with products like their Double Oaked to invite bourbon drinkers to dip their toes into the rye whiskey pool as well. Hell, they even have a offerings with cask finishes to really please any drinker.
• WhistlePig PiggyBack is the bottle everyone wanted to see come from the Shoreham, VT distillery. Available in either bourbon or rye, and even as a single barrel select, PiggyBack is a six year aged-stated bottle that is a great way to get familiar with a brand that has previously resided on the luxury shelf. Affordable enough to experiment with cocktails, but quality enough to drink neat. I think that places it into both categories: great for gifting, or buying for your own bar.

Finished Whiskey

• Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series, The Heart Release: Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series is a collection of one-of-a-kind expressions that use an innovative wood stave-finishing technique to enhance distinctive characteristics already present in the brand’s iconic bourbon. The Heart Release focuses on the teams behind Maker’s Mark, shining a light on their unique taste vision. I recall the very first sip of this had me swearing and going to grab the bottle to re-read the label. I’ve tried every expression in the Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series, and haven’t been this moved by one since the FAE releases. A rich expression that layers big chocolatey vibes over dark fruits over and over with a ton of complexity and a nice mouthfeel. If you buy just one bottle of Maker’s Mark per year, you should buy their Cellar Aged (it’s hands-down the best product they’ve released in my opinion) but if you buy two bottles of Maker’s Mark, The Heart Release should be the second. Spoiler: you’re going to be able to find one of those bottles far easier than the other bottle.
• Jos. A Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon: It’s unlikely to register as a new product to the seasoned whiskey veteran, but perhaps you’re like me in that spending big on a bottle is something you only do with cautious consideration or a recommendation from the right place. Consider this my official recommendation. Finished in Armagnac, Sherry, and Cognac casks before being artfully blended (by whiskey-blending legend Nancy Fraley) will have you pausing to dissect this pour time and time again. This is luxury whiskey in every sense. One of the rare times in today’s whiskey world that the SRP reflects the quality of the whiskey inside the bottle rather than manufactured hype.

American Single Malt

• Westward Whiskey: This category has grown so much in recent years that it really cannot be ignored by today’s American whiskey drinker. With expressions rolling out from craft distillers as well as the major distilleries on the scene, it’s obvious to me that American single malt is a serious category in the spirits world. Westward Whiskey has consistently been producing some of my favorite American single malts for years now (evidenced by making my Whiskey of the Year List for 2023), and I think one of the coolest whiskey gifts of the season would be a gift to their Distiller’s Select Subscription. Having had the opportunity to try a few bottles from this lineup has opened my eyes to the range of unique (and seriously kickass) flavors Westward is unlocking with their single malts as well as cask finishes.

Rum

• Rolling Fork Amburana Odyssey: This particular bottle has me feeling a bit like a broken record, but if you’re doing something that works there’s really no sense changing it. I’ll recommend this bottle until they stop making it, or until the quality shifts and it longer drinks like the best Christmas rum of all time. The rich Barbados-distilled rum is bolstered by a background of baking spice and vanilla icing that screams “it’s the friggin holidays!” inside your skull, and resonates on your palate even after the glass is gone. To say this bottle is a great segue from bourbon into rum is also quite an understatement. If you’re new to the rum category, or if you simply haven’t tried a nice glass of neat rum by the fire, this is where to begin.
• For expanding rum drinkers, or anyone curious on the rum world, Hampden offers a tasting kit showcasing the myriad of variants available from the Jamaican producer. Certainly a neat kit. Don’t forget, readers, you can snag 10% off with SharedPour by using code: TheBourbonFinder.

Brandy

• The brandy world is a somewhat untapped resource for adventurous whiskey lovers looking to expand their horizons a bit; however, the market for Cognac and Armagnac in the United States is a bit lacking, and it only goes downhill as you start digging deeper for Calvados or rarer distillates. Don’t be scared away by this, because the straight brandy as well as single barrel offerings from brands like Laird’s and Clear Creek Distillery are American made options that are truly worth seeking out.

Liqueurs, One-off Gifts, & Specialties

• WhistlePig recently announced their riff on an advent calendar. A way to spice up the twelve days of Christmas. Displaying fun packaging and mini bottles of their offerings.
• If you’re here for a recommendation on where to get those rare and hard to find offerings in the whiskey world, I won’t have you going empty handed back to Google to look somewhere else, but I would like you to go forth informed. Please note that–in my opinion–there are diminishing returns on purchases in this realm. If for no other reason than you’re very likely to pay well over SRP for these products simply based upon hype and or rarity. Should you choose to continue down this path, you’ll find limited edition and other rare bottles on SharedPour. Yes, you can buy Blanton’s, Weller, and Eagle Rare. Yes you will pay extra for it (no matter where you buy online). You’ve been warned.
• I’m going to fire off a bit of Hail Mary recommendation with this, but if you’re in an area where Clear Creek Distillery products are available, they offer basically the widest array of liqueurs I’ve seen. Cranberry sounds like a great option for a holiday vibe. Take a look through their portfolio, and check if they’re available in your area (or order online) for sure.

Cocktails, Recipes, and More

Below you will find a pile of recommendations that will take you in many directions. Pick and choose from this as you wish. I hope you find something in here useful, even if it’s simply to not buy the damn whiskey stones for someone this year. Seriously…don’t.

Holiday Season “Do’s and Dont’s” for 2024

Alright–as I mentioned earlier–I want to share a few things that fall outside of specific gift ideas for this season. The question I hear pretty frequently goes something like this: “I’m shopping for a whiskey lover but I don’t know what to get them. What should I do?”. Obviously you can try the low-effort approach of buying a gift card to a chain (or better yet local) liquor store, and there’s value there, but let’s look just a bit deeper into what can be a thought gift to give–or not give–to show someone how much you care this holiday season.

• DO: Ask the person you’re shopping for what they like to pair with their whiskey. To be totally honest, a lot of whiskey fans don’t want other folks to shop for bottles for them, and getting them an accompanying treat to go along with their whiskey can bring more satisfaction. This could be a box of their favorite cigars, some top tier chocolates (which would be my choice), or even a quality cut of meat from a proper butcher.
• DONT: Buy whiskey stones, rocks, bullets, cubes, etc.. I cannot say this enough. These are a waste of time, money, and freezer space (not to mention potential dental risk). I’ll say this every year until we can make it through a holiday season without someone telling me they got a set of whiskey stones as a gift. If you’re sick of reading this, do your part and spread the word. Don’t buy whiskey stones, dammit!
• DO: Find branded merchandise for your whiskey lover. The whiskey world has expanded so much in recent years that nearly every brand has a plethora of merch available from hats, to logo shirts, even dog toys.
• DONT: Buy a bottle of their favorite whiskey (caveat: if you’re in a position to get a limited edition or other highly allocated bottle that you know they couldn’t simply pickup on their own that would make a great gift). Special editions aside, if you’re shopping for someone who is, say, a Wild Turkey lover, do you really think they need another bottle of something that is available in nearly every liquor store?
• DO: Get a little unique. If you’re shopping for a whiskey lover who is also handy, or gets the itch for a DIY project here or there, hunt around for some barrel heads, staves, or even entire whiskey barrels they could repurpose. Alternatively, support a crafty Etsy shop by searching out some killer personalized gifts that will look great over any bar. I have personally received a gift along these lines and was totally surprised and impressed by it. Be awesome. Be unique.

Curing the Holiday Hangover

When the stereotypical holiday joke of having one too many crosses the barrier into becoming part of real life, we sometimes reach for a little help. How do we pick ourselves up the next morning after a bit too much holiday cheer? Not to say I’ve walked a mile in those very shoes, but if I had, these would be some ways I would recommend a spirits lover combats the scaries:

• Fin & Field Coffee: Stay out a bit late a-wassailing? Fire up a yuletide morning with a quality cup of coffee from Fin & Field. I was introduced to this brand by a friend who told me the story of how their award-winning coffee beans are sourced, and I have to say that a fresh grind and brew of their coffee can certainly bring you back to life–I have really enjoyed the River Camp Blend and Columbian coffee recently. As a holiday bonus, Fin & Field Coffee is offering 20% off to my readers (use code: BOURBON) so now is the time to get some seriously top tier coffee delivered right to your door.
• Get yourself moving! This bit of holiday advice won’t cost you a dime, although it’s certainly the hardest to accomplish. Waking up a little groggy? Make good use of that fresh winter air and get yourself outdoors for a brisk walk. Bring the dog, the kids, the spouse, whomever! Do this early in the day (and do it safely) and then maybe come back home to kick back with a cocktail. Speaking of which…
• Tired of Mimosas? No sweat. Try this riff on the French 75 cocktail (that I stole fair and square from the fine folks over at @RoyalRiverGrillhouse) “Bubbles in Pear-adise” includes pear-infused gin (make this at home to your own liking), St. Elder liqueur, lemon juice, & champagne. This is a light and bright pick-me-up that will having you back to singing Christmas carols in no time. If you want my advise, grab a quality gin like Barr Hill then use a sous vide method to infuse with fresh pears, and Bob’s your uncle!

Brown Butter Bourbon Spice Cookies Recipe

Have you heard the George Strait song “Christmas Cookies”? Of course you have, it’s great. It’s also very likely to get stuck in your head…which coincides nicely with the fact that my wife makes these brown butter bourbon spice cookies each year at Christmas, and I can promise you won’t be able to get them off your mind either. Seriously. This is your warning.

I want to take the time to thank you for being a reader of my website, and for any engagement you have provided.  Comments, follows on social media, enjoying content on YouTube, or the Whiskey Raiders Podcast are all more support than I could have ever asked for.  I’m thankful for you, dear reader, and I wish you a happy closing to 2024 and a bright start to 2025.  Cheers!

Quick note: in the event I end up trying something new that really captivates me, or seeing a sale you should really know about, I will update this guide for you.  I really appreciate you taking the time to read through this guide and especially thank those of you willing to share it.