5 Tips for Gifting Whisky: A Guaranteed Success

Perhaps you're considering gifting a beautiful bottle of whisky to someone special in the near future. What do you give if you're not a whisky drinker yourself? We'll provide a few handy tips before you step into a store.

We often receive requests in our DMs for recommendations because someone is searching for a great bottle of whisky. Usually, the inquirer is not a whisky enthusiast themselves.

Heading to a dedicated whisky shop is always a good idea. The people there are passionate and knowledgeable and can guide you in the right direction. After all, it's their job!

But there are a few more handy tips to keep in mind that we will highlight one by one below.

It's a good idea to have a fair understanding of what the recipient enjoys drinking before you hit the shops. There are countless whiskys on the market, each boasting a unique blend of flavors. And as we all know, tastes differ. So not every whisky is to everyone's liking.

The person you're shopping for might have a preference for smoky whiskys or maybe not at all. These are the sort of things to consider.

Ask subtely if they have a preference for a particular flavor profile and if it's your partner: discretely snap a photo of the whisky collection they already have at home.

Guaranteed success.

Accompanying the taste preferences is the type of whisky the person enjoys. After all, there are numerous types of whisky and these beverages hail from varied countries.

Does the gift recipient drink only Scotch or are they drawn to the smoother spirits of Ireland? Or maybe they are in pursuit of a rye whisky or perhaps a bourbon? Once again, a sneaky photo could come in handy. 

Our third tip on this list to pay attention to when gifting whisky is the alcohol percentage. Whisky can only be labeled as whisky if it has an alcohol content of 40 percent. But what you might not know is that there are various levels beyond this.

Some whiskys are, for example, 'strong boys' and drinks that are bottled at cask strength (also known as cask strength whisky). These are whiskys with a higher alcohol percentage and not everyone likes to drink them. Though there are also those who prefer nothing else!

As it goes, tastes differ and this also applies to the ABV: alcohol by volume. The alcohol content essentially. If you are purchasing a cask strength whisky for someone, it would be thoughtful to include a pipette so the person can dilute the divine spirit.

Your next consideration is the age of a whisky and its maturation. Perhaps you're not knowledgeable in this aspect, and that's no problem at all.

Just be aware that different age whiskys are available on the market and that each of these whiskys has been maturing for years in beautiful, diverse barrels. Although the wood from which the barrels are crafted doesn't dictate the flavor of the drink, it plays a significant role.

For instance, American barrels generally lend a sweet vanilla undertone and European barrels a sweet fruity undertone. Of course, this is a very simplified explanation and an entire tome could be written purely about wood and barrels. Our advice: certainly seek suggestions from a specialist shop.

But keep in mind there are myriad options and that, in recent years, there has been extensive experimentation with numerous different barrels, including tequila, mezcal, rum, and many more.

As for the age: don't get carried away. Whisky geeks regularly swear by an aged whisky, but it's a fact that older whiskys are not inherently superior. Even young(er) whiskys can pack quite a punch in terms of flavor!

Last but not least, our final tip to heed when gifting whisky has less to do with taste and more to do with presentation.

Some whisky bottles are simply stunning, with playful or luxurious designs.

Whisky is much more than a simple spirit in a bottle. Oftentimes, the marketing begins with the packaging. Also, be aware that some bottles can even be engraved with, for instance, the recipient's name. Enquiries about this service can be made at a specialist shop.

Hopefully, our tips have been helpful and soon you will put a smile on the face of the lucky person for whom you purchase a bottle.

Good luck and cheers!