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If you are looking for the perfect gift for the discerning whisky, wine or booze lover in your life, you have come to the right place. From Father’s Day to Christmas, most special occasions call for a good get-together around the bar, kitchen or barbeque, so naturally, your drop of choice means a lot. Whatever your poison, whether it be whisky, beer, wine or gin, the work shackles are off and you’re free to enjoy as much (or as little) as you like. However, a good drink is more than just entertainment for the big day. In fact, it also makes for a pretty stellar gift. If you’ve got a family member or friend who doesn’t mind a tipple from the top shelf, we’ve got you covered. These alcohol gift ideas are perfect for the boozehound in your life, we guarantee it.
Best Alcohol Gifts at a Glance
- Best overall: Starward 100 Proof Whisky
- For the wine-lover: Coravin Pivot Wine Preservation System
- For whisky lovers: Waterford Marquis by Waterford Brady Decanter Set
- For value-for-money: Penfolds Bin 389 Shiraz 2019
The Glendronach 12YO Original Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700mL
In Partnership with Glendronach
Price: $127.99 AUD
No one has mastered the art of sherry cask maturation quite like The Glendronach. Operating in the heart of the Scottish Highland region for nearly 200 years, the distillery continues to deliver exquisite flavour across their entire range. Their 12-year single malt whisky is downright quintessential in terms of texture, depth, and taste, making it an ideal gift for beginners and experts alike.
Aged in a combination of imported Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, The Glendronach 12 year opens with the succulent aromas of raisin, chocolate, and malted barley. A similarly indulgent taste follows suit, bringing in layers of burnt caramel and sweet sherry accents. Dried fruit and oak spice kicks in on the sugary finish and whets the palate for another sip. There are few whiskies as easy to recommend as this one here so proceed with absolute confidence.
Penfolds Bin 389 Holiday
Price: $120 AUD
On their 180th anniversary, Australian winemaker Penfolds have found their first-ever creative partner in NIGO. So goes the Holiday Collection by NIGO, a limited edition release that comes with a collectible festive red gift box designed by the Japanese fashion icon. Joining that is a bottle of Bin 389, the exemplary Cabernet Shiraz that highlights the benefits of cross-varietal and multi-regional blending, complete with distinctive character and decades of cellar capability.
First made in 1960 by industry legend Max Schubert, Bin 389 was partly matured in the same barrels that held Penfolds Grange (one of the most iconic wines in Australian history). It goes by the nickname of ‘Baby Grange’ as a result, and combines the structure of cabernet sauvignon with the richness of shiraz. With its complex aromatics and luscious palate, it helped cement Penfolds’ reputation among red wine drinkers and continues to do so to this day. For the extraordinary wine lover, this is an extraordinary gift.
Georg Jensen Wine & Bar Carafe
Price: AUD$240
Georg Jensen is renowned for its excellence in glassware, and the Wine & Bar Carafe is no exception. Conceptualised by Swedish-born designer Thomas Sandell, the carafe not only looks beautiful with its natural organic shape but is also designed specifically for a wine connoisseur.
With its sleek and ergonomic structure, this wine accessory is designed to improve aeration, which will ultimately deliver the best drinking experience. Increased aeration highlights the wine’s natural bouquet, allowing you to enjoy every second of your sip. If your loved one is a fan of fine wine or just wants to make the house look a little fancier, the glass decanter is a stunning addition to the bar cart.
The Whisky Dictionary
Price: AUD$39.99
Got a whisky lover in your life? With this handy barroom addition, you can make sure they know their Islays from the Speysides, the Scotch from the Irish and their whisky from their whiskey. The hardcover guide touches on every aspect of the golden elixir, from history, ingredients and distilling techniques to flavour notes, cocktails and the many varieties of whisky from all around the world. Renowned whisky expert Ian Wisniewski is on hand to deliver insights that will dazzle drinkers and distillers alike.
Starward 100 Proof Whisky
Price: AUD$149
As one of the nation’s most respected and best-loved whisky makers, Starward has no shortage of incredible drams to gift your loved one. This 100-proof release is big, bold and definitely robust, able to satisfy the harshest of critics. It arrives fully matured in American oak, red wine barrels and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV). In true Starward style, it champions Australian ingredients, resulting in a stunning full-bodied and decadent flavour that is rich with juicy plum, ganache and sweet vanilla notes. make no mistake, this is an ideal gift idea for whisky lovers.
Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack 700ml
Price: AUD$75.99
What happens when Jack Daniel’s signature Tennessee whiskey undergoes its unique charcoal mellowing process not once but twice? It creates the ultimate smooth sipper, that’s what. Beautifully balanced and perfect for special occasions, it packs notes of vanilla, caramel and baking spice. Combine that with an affordable price tag and you’re looking at a terrific gift for any modern whiskey lover.
Dubbed the “smoother side of Jack,” Gentleman Jack was created back in 1987 as a tribute to the distillery’s original founder. Each batch is matured in handcrafted barrels on the lower floors of the barrel house, where the milder climate yields a softer flavour profile. The result is a truly effortless sipper, which reveals delectable nuance when enjoyed neat but also makes for a fantastic cocktail base. Pick up a bottle for Dad and make it a Father’s Day to remember.
Coravin Pivot Wine Preservation System
Price: from AUD$199.95
The best thing about Coravin’s Pivot Wine Preservation System is that it actually works. Using sleek components and 100% pure Argon gas, the system prevents oxygen from entering the bottle to preserve your vino for up to four weeks. Best of all, when you finish a bottle closed with a Pivot Stopper, you can remove and reuse that Stopper again and again. Purchase more Stoppers to preserve and enjoy even more wines. Cheers to that!
Waterford Marquis by Waterford Brady Decanter Set
Price: from AUD$299.50
Let’s be honest: buying alcohol for passionate drinkers can be a hit-or-miss scenario because they might have a picky palate. Perhaps it’s better to get them some classy drinkware instead. Enter this stylish decanter set from Waterford, which is forged from hefty crystal and adorned with opulent cutting patterns. Perfect for holding spirits, it’s also a veritable decor booster.
Archie Rose Personalised Label Gin
Price: from AUD$39
One of Australia’s most acclaimed distilleries is giving you the chance to craft your very own custom gin. Everything from the bottle size to the botanical blend to the label design is up for grabs as you put together a truly tailored spirit. Can you top the stellar work of Archie Rose and their blending experts? There’s only one way to find out! Naturally, this is a thoughtful gift for gin lovers.
Meehan’s Bartender Manual: A Cocktail Handbook for Hosts
Price: AUD$95
Some people are natural-born hosts. Others, couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery. This handy guide to cocktails, serving and the art of mixology is for the latter. Acclaimed mixologist Jim Meehan’s modern classic outlines the history of cocktails and bartending, service, hospitality, menu development, bar design, spirits production, and drink mixing techniques. Inside, you’ll find recipes for 100 cocktail classics—including Meehan originals—along with a bevy of insights into the origins and methods behind the mixology madness.
Best of all, the book also contains detailed annotations, with all recipes accompanied by fine art photographer Doron Gild’s breathtaking, full-colour photos. Whether your special someone is a cocktail fanatic or just getting into the art form, Meehan’s Bartender Manual is a surefire winner.
E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey
Price: from AUD$257.99
Named after one of the bourbon industry’s founding fathers, E.H. Taylor’s Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is as quintessential as they come. It’s crafted from quality ingredients and aged to perfection inside century-old warehouses, resulting in deep flavour and supreme sippability. For the whiskey lover in your life, this one’s a no-brainer. One might even call it the bourbon drinker’s bourbon so buy with confidence.
Don Julio 1942 Añejo Tequila
Price: from AUD$299.99
This premium tequila was released in 2002 to celebrate Don Julio’s 60th anniversary and it’s been seducing palates ever since. Aged for up to 30 months and double-distilled, it’s presented in one of the world’s most iconic and recognisable bottles. The liquid within is worthy of its legacy, delivering a sweet and luscious nose and the decadent taste of vanilla, toffee, and agave with fruity undertones. Don’t settle for the slew of modern imitators when you can score this original stunner instead.
Berlinzo Clear Ice Cube Maker
Price: from AUD$51.95
Do you even ice, bro? If not, it’s time to discover the wonders of a quality BFC (as in “big f**king cube”). This BPA-free silicone kit will bring you and your liquid up to speed, creating clear and solid cubes of ice that take much longer to melt. You’ll never go back to puny ice cubes again.
Tomatin 12YO Single Malt Whisky
Price: from AUD$91.99
First built in 1897, the Scottish distillery Tomatin is now owned by a Japanese company that takes an “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” approach. From locally sourced water and traditional maturation methods comes an effortlessly sippable spirit and an affordable one at that. This particular expression underwent finishing in Oloroso Sherry casks for an extra layer of sweet flavour and nuance.
Barrel Lane Whisky Club
Price: from AUD$135
Why try one delicious Aussie whisky when you can try them all? That’s the idea behind Barrel Lane Whisky Club, a subscription-based service that sends Australian whisky tastings to your door every one to two months. There are plenty of goodies included with each subscription, including notes, stories, glassware, and exclusive access to limited-edition releases.
Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Price: from AUD$99.95
Among those who love smoky single malts, Ardbeg needs no introduction. Hailing from the island of Islay, the iconic distillery has been bringing the peat for over two centuries and counting. Their signature Ten Years Old is as classic as they come and by that we mean it’s one of the most uncompromising drams you can ever experience. Only the bold need apply.
Now that we’ve scared off the lightweights, we’ll add that Ardbeg Ten Years Old is far more complex than its peaty reputation would suggest. Intermingled within the smoky profile are notes of lemon, lime, black pepper, sea brine, and liquorice root. Combine that with a full-bodied texture and you get a taste that starts at your mouth and runs straight down to your toes and back. The finish goes on and on long and smoky with tarry espresso, aniseed, toasted almonds and traces of soft barley and fresh pear.
Pick up a bottle of Ardbeg Ten Years Old for your favourite whisky drinker and prepare to make their holiday. Indeed, who needs chestnuts roasting on an open fire when you can have the fire instead? Now you’re getting it!
Soho Home Barwell Cut Crystal Martini Shaker
Price: from AUD$200
James Bond preferred his martinis shaken and it’s a fair bet that he also would have liked them prepared in this cut crystal shaker. The Barwell release from Soho Home is a sparkling ode to the heyday of premium home mixology, complete with a touch of old-world charm. This shaker is made from cut crystal with a 24 per cent lead content because, as the brand says, “the higher the lead content, the greater the brilliance and the more it sparkles in sunlight”. Can’t argue with that.
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LG 8 Bottle Mini Wine Fridge
Price: from AUD$499
Perfect for the wine collector who is short on space, the LG 8-Bottle Mini Wine Fridge is a serious piece of kit. The mini wine fridge measures 282mm wide by 497mm high and 534mm deep, which is enough room for eight bottles of wine. The fridge also includes double-glazed glass, adjustable temperature settings, and an LED Electronic Temperature Display Window so you can monitor the temperature without opening the door.
MORRIS Australian Single Malt Whisky Tokay Barrel
Price: from AUD$145
If you want to surprise someone with an award-winning alcohol gift, the Australian Single Malt Whisky Tokay Barrel from MORRIS might be your best bet. After the first release was named Australian Whisky of the Year by The Whisky Club, MORRIS returned to the warehouse to revisit the collection. The second release builds on the inaugural success, crafted from all Australian local ingredients and aged in predominately French oak ex-red wine casks at MORRIS’ regional distillery in Rutherglen Victoria. Expect to find intense flavours of toffee, mocha, and soft caramel with a generous mid-palate.
Cote D’or Murano Red Wine Glass Set
Price: from AUD$330
The perfect gift for wine lovers, the NasonMoretti Cote d’Or Murano Red Wine Glass takes craftsmanship to new levels. The unique drinking vessel is characterised by a handblown, traditional ribbed glass texture that Fairfax & Roberts says has been “reinterpreted with a new, contemporary silhouette to breathe life into any tablescape”. The delightful pistachio colour comes by way of the meticulous alchemical practices and ancient recipes, which NasonMoretti reveals has been secretly handed down over the centuries.
The Japanese Art of Cocktail Making | Image: Amazon
The Japanese Art of Cocktail Making
Price: from AUD$57.99
Want to elevate the Christmas cocktail list? This 2022 James Beard Foundation Beverage with Recipes Award-nominated book explores the fabled flavours of award-winning mixologist Masahiro Urushido. Renowned for his work at acclaimed Japanese-American cocktail bar Katana Kitten in New York, Masahiro’s ability to not only capture traditional flavours but reinvent them has become the stuff of legend. In The Japanese Art of the Cocktail, Masahiro shares his extensive knowledge of Japanese cocktails, while dishing out 80 recipes that best encapsulate Japan’s contribution to the cocktail scene.
The Dalmore 18-Year-Old
Price: from AUD$475
Is your special someone a fan of the top-shelf? It doesn’t get much more premium than Scotch whisky icon The Dalmore. This 18-year-old release showcases the Highlands label’s house style; a unique single malt with a rich, deep chocolate character. The Dalmore 18-Year-Old is finished in some of the rarest casks in the world matured for 18 years and finished for up to two years in Matusalem Sherry casks, exclusive to the Alness distillery. A special gift for a special person.
Laguiole Jean Dubost Waiter’s Corkscrew
Price: from AUD$55
If the wino in your life wants to do as the professionals do, the Laguiole Jean Dubost Waiter’s Corkscrew is a gift you can’t go past. Crafted using ultra-strong, durable stainless steel and olivewood, this drinking utensil is designed to withdraw corks in a single movement. Best of all, it comes by way of the Dubost family, who have been creating fine flatware for four generations in France’s Laguiole region. Made in France and designed using the most meticulous of techniques, this Waiter’s Corkscrew is a gift that won’t disappoint.
Riedel Tumbler Collection Shadows | Image: Riedel
Riedel Tumbler Collection Shadows
Price: from AUD$60
Designed by Maximilian J. Riedel, the Shadows Tumbler by Reidel is the pinnacle of classic glassware. A versatile piece of drinking equipment, these tumblers are perfect for complimenting any table setting, from elegant to casual. Designed to mimic a reflective shadow with its linear pattern, this drinking vessel is seriously high-class.
Kentucky Owl Confiscated Bourbon Whiskey
Price: from AUD$254.99
Kentucky Owl Confiscated goes out to bourbon lovers everywhere with its rich and classic flavour profile, which counterbalances sweet notes of vanilla and brown sugar with a dry backbone of oak spice. It clocks in at 48.2% ABV and tastes as terrific neat as it does on the rocks or in a spirit-forward cocktail. This is American whiskey done right.
Jacob’s Pardon Whiskey Batch #3
This small batch American whiskey is named for two bootlegging brothers who were pardoned by Franklin D. Roosevelt. It’s bottled at a whopping 71.4% ABV and loaded with dense notes of sweet caramel, brown sugar, creamed corn, and cacao. Sip this one neat and you might grow some extra chest hair as a result, but we’ll be damned if it doesn’t pack an intense flavour punch.
Things to Consider for Alcohol Gift Ideas
When it comes to alcohol gift ideas, simply wrapping a bow on a bottle of whisky isn’t quite enough. In fact, if you want to get the special occasion right, there are a few things you need to consider:
- Price: Perhaps the most obvious consideration, the price will inevitably play a factor in your purchasing decision. While you may want to splash out for a significant birthday or gifting event, more often than not, you’ll be aiming around the $50-$100 mark. To get the most out of your alcohol gift idea, don’t be afraid to shop around for the best price.
- Spirit choice: Is your special someone a wine fan or do they prefer a whisky? Knowing what to get is half the battle when it comes to buying gifts for wine lovers and drinks experts. Start by identifying what kind of drink they regularly go for and then look to elevate their every day by going one step higher than the average.
- Investment: Over the past few years we’ve seen alcohol become more than just a Saturday afternoon sipper. If you are looking to purchase an alcoholic gift for a friend or loved one, maybe you should consider an investment piece. New or special releases might grow in price or collectibility, so it’s always a good idea to consider investment as a gift idea.
Alternatives to Alcohol Gifts
If you are looking for something other than just a great tipple or some of the hard stuff, we’ve got you covered. Outside of just alcohol gift ideas, we’ve collated our favourite releases across a number of different categories. So, no matter what that special someone in your life is keen on, you’ll find it here.
How Man of Many Chose the Best Alcohol Gift Ideas
With more than 10 years of experience sipping the best drops on earth, Man of Many’s editors are sticklers for research and certainly know a thing or two about drinks. This list of gift ideas was curated through the personal experience of experts, alongside extensive and online research from drinks critics and expert reviewers. Each product on this list was checked by the Man of Many staff prior to publication for the official tick of approval. You can review our editorial policy here surrounding how we maintain our independence in our editorial reviews.
