20 Best Gifts For The Bourbon Lover In Your Life

Some people are easy to get gifts for, but some can be a little more difficult. One way to pick out a personalized present for a loved one is to think about the things they enjoy and bourbon is a great topic to hone in on. Bourbon-related gifts are fun, exciting, and most importantly, they're often products that people wouldn't buy for themselves.

Of course, you could take the easy route and buy them a bottle from one of the more popular bourbon brands, but it may not have the pizzazz you're looking for. You could up the ante by purchasing one of the many rare and allocated bourbons, but those are difficult to find and often incredibly expensive.

To help you out on your bourbon gifting adventure, we've put together 20 gift ideas you can use to let your loved one know you care about them and understand what kinds of things they enjoy. Some of these ideas are more practical, like a set of Glencairns, while other ideas are more exploratory, like a whiskey smoker kit. There's a broad range of gifts here to choose from and, at the very least, it'll be good inspiration to get the gears turning.

Have you ever been at a bourbon tasting and watched in bewilderment as the other participants describe hints of cherry, leather, or tobacco? If so, this Bourbon Nosing Kit is here to help. It's a simple design with 18 individual containers containing a small amount of the actual items corresponding with popular bourbon notes which you can use to get more familiar with what people are talking about. There's also an expansion you can add on with an additional 18 items.

Purchase Nose Your Bourbon's Bourbon Nosing Kit from Bespoke Post for $74 or $149 with the expansion.

You can make whiskey infusions at home, but this DIY Whiskey Infusion Set is a great way to introduce the concept to friends and family. The set includes three types of wood chips and six different botanicals you can add to a whiskey of your choice (alcohol is not included) alongside two empty bottles with customizable labels and a half dozen stainless steel whiskey stones. Customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive, so be bold and give infusion a try.

Purchase the Do Your Gin DIY Whiskey Infusion Set from Amazon for $59.

This Whiskey Advent Calendar is part sampler and part free trial of Flaviar's Black Membership program. The advent calendar itself contains 24 different 50-milliliter bottles of a wide variety of whiskeys both new and time-tested. If you're getting tired of the same old whiskey options, this is a great way to explore what's out there. And it comes with a "hotel keycard" which gives you one full year of free access to Flaviar's VIP program, complete with special pricing and access to limited-edition bottles.

Purchase the 2024 Whiskey Advent Calendar from Flaviar for $250.

This is a great book for a coffee table as it's easy to pick up and flip through in passing. Full of lush photography and insider info, "The Bourbon Drinker's Companion" is a fantastic gift for the thinking drinker or anyone interested in the spirit's history. This hardcover book covers a lot of ground by sharing details about America's various distilleries while also offering tasting notes on the different whiskies America has produced. The price may vary as it appears to be currently on sale.

Purchase "The Bourbon Drinker's Companion" from Amazon for $19.39.

Every bourbon lover is going to be familiar with the ever-popular Knob Creek, but there's one bottle on offer that is just unique enough to make for a great gift. We reviewed Knob Creek's Bourbon x Rye earlier this year and the limited-edition blend of Knob Creek's nine year old bourbon and seven year old rye did not disappoint. You can buy a bottle nationwide at your local liquor store or from select online retailers while supplies last, so you may want to hurry before it's too late.

Purchase Knob Creek's Bourbon x Rye from Total Wine for $50.99.

Easily one of the best gift ideas on this list is this Whiskey Smoker Kit, which comes with a lot of goodies to play around with. The main idea is to provide your loved one with the tools they need to start smoking their whiskey, which is when you burn flavorful wood chips and trap the smoke inside the glass. There are six different wood chips provided alongside two gorgeous tumblers, two round ice molds, a cocktail smoker top in the shape of a whiskey barrel, and a butane torch.

Purchase ComboJoy's Whiskey Smoker Kit with Torch from Amazon for $29.99.

If the person you're shopping for enjoys unique bourbons, this cask finished bourbon is a fun and affordable option. If you want a deep dive on just what this bourbon is doing, we reviewed the Great Jones x Wölffer Estate Cask Finished Bourbon when it came out earlier this year. The bourbon is finished in red wine casks and best served either neat or with a whiskey rock.

Purchase the Great Jones x Wölffer Estate Cask Finished Bourbon from Great Jones for $60.

A thoughtful gift is one where you try to make it as personalized as possible, showing you know the person inside and out. What better way to put that unique touch on a gift than with a personalized whiskey decanter set? The decanter has four different themes to choose from which allows you to put the recipient's name on it. It's a classy addition to any living room bar set complete with two tumblers and nine chilling stones.

Purchase the Frolk's Personalized Whiskey Decanter and Stones Set from Amazon for $89.95.

In the bar world, ice is king; but it doesn't need to be. Chilling stones are a unique way to cool off your bourbon without diluting the drink via melting water. There are a lot of great whiskey stones on the market, but Quiseen's set is a premium choice at an easy price. The stones are made from natural soapstone, come with a velvet carrying bag, and are infinitely reusable. Simply freeze them and pop them in your drink like ice.

Purchase Quiseen's Set of Nine Grey Beverage Chilling Stones from Amazon for $8.

A bottle of cherries may seem like an odd gift idea, but trust us, these babies are delicious. What makes these such a great gift is that unique space wherein gift products reside, somewhere between practical and desirable. High quality bourbon cherries aren't cheap, unfortunately, which means not many of us are going to buy them for ourselves. But a luxury food item that pairs perfectly with bourbon is just the thing a bourbon lover will be sure to appreciate.

Purchase a bottle of Woodford Reserve Bourbon Cherries from Amazon for $19.25.

Speaking of luxury whiskey products that people don't purchase for themselves, ice molds are a fun way to spruce up your home bar. There are a few different shapes that whiskey ice molds come in, but the sphere is a classic. There is a trick you can follow to make perfectly clear ice which certainly elevates the experience, but the process is simple: Just add water. This is a set of four which is also a plus.

Purchase Fosoe's Silicone Ice Ball Molds for Whiskey from Amazon for $12.99.

If all else fails, gifting premium whiskey glassware is always a safe bet. For the person who truly has everything, glassware is something you can always have more of. Sometimes glasses chip or get lost and a fresh supply is needed. The best glass for drinking whiskey neat is a Glencairn due to its tulip shaped body and sturdy base. Bourbon lovers are undoubtedly familiar with the brand and will be happy to receive the real deal instead of a cheap knockoff.

Purchase the 4-piece Glencairn Whisky Glass Set from Amazon for $30.

Elijah Craig's Toasted Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey bags recognition at global awards competitions for good reason. This bourbon is barreled twice, once to reach maturation, and then it's placed in a toasted barrel to reach the tasting notes of oaky, charred spice. This is a complex dram that offers waves of pepper and milk chocolate, and while this kind of libation can nestle nicely into a classic cocktail, a bourbon this layered deserves to be the standalone star in your glass. Serve neat or with ice, and any discerning bourbon drinker will toast to your smart choice. 

Purchase a 750-milliliter bottle of Elijah Craig's Toasted Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon from Total Wine for $54.99.

Whether you choose to fill this sleek Viski copper flask with bourbon or a nonalcoholic drink, the attractive copper-plated stainless steel container will add a touch of elegance to drinking on the go. The screw-on lid keeps contents securely inside the vessel, which can be discreetly tucked away, and the shape of the flask is slightly curved so it can be concealed in a pocket should you not want to share. Choose your color from black, copper, gold, or silver to match your mood board, or select one or two to blend in with your seasonal edits. This is a home-run of a gift for yourself or that office co-worker who you know has a stash tucked away in the desk drawer. 

Purchase the Viski Copper Flask from Amazon for $41.

If you're looking to surprise a bourbon-drinking adventurer in your life, look no further than Bourbon Excursions. The company offers both pre-arranged tours and custom itineraries so that you can visit bourbon distilleries throughout Kentucky and sample the spirit straight from the source without having to worry about logistics. Guides offer facts as participants make their way through some of the most famous distilleries throughout the state, and the company's friendly approach has landed its operations Trip Advisor's #1 spot for Louisville tours and activities. Prices vary according to the tour you book, but the veteran-owned business does extend a 10% discount to military families and service workers.

Book a Drink & Dip, Louisville Legends, or Bardstown Trifecta tour at Bourbon Excursions for $249.

Bitters make for a convenient addition to any bartender's arsenal, as a quick splash can instantly transform a drink or a cocktail with little effort. In one handy package, the Hella Cocktail Co. 5-Pack Bitters Bar Set offers five different flavors for cocktail tinkerers to experiment with. With craft Aromatic, Orange, Ginger, Mexican Chocolate, and Smoked Chili cocktail bitters to choose from, a simple old fashioned cocktail recipe can be taken to new heights. This assortment of flavors can help aspiring mixologists build layers of flavor in their glasses, or simply turn up the volume of some of the tasting notes already present in a poured glass of bourbon.

Purchase the Hella Cocktail Co. 5-Pack Bitters Bar Set from Amazon for $37.90.

Bourbon connoisseurs need little introduction to Blanton's world of whiskey. Though this classic item will take a significant chunk out of your wallet, holding one of these precious containers in your hand may help ease the memory of the purchase. These Original Single Barrel bottles contain bourbon that was left to age in the middle of Blanton's famous temperature-controlled Warehouse H. Sipping one of these drams will place you alongside royalties who also once imbibed, yet with a sweet, smooth tasting profile, this is a single barrel that can also appeal to the masses. To fully appreciate the subtle nuances of the nutmeg, cinnamon, and caramel, however, this liquid is best served neat. 

Purchase a 750-milliliter bottle of Blanton's Original Single Barrel Bourbon at ReserveBar for $299.

The right glass can elevate any measure of poured alcohol, and the neatly cut glasses that Riedel offers look just as crisp as the drams you pour. What's more, the brand's glasses made their way onto our list of the best glasses for sipping bourbon. If the Riedel Spey decanter and whisky glass set is listed as unavailable on Amazon, you can borrow inspiration from the pleasing idea and assemble your own combination to gift. Riedel's glass tumblers run under $30 for a pair, and you can then find a decanter that suits your liking — and your budget — to complement your choice. This is an easy gift idea that will immediately elevate any home bar and help make the person pouring feel that much classier when settling down for the night with a nip.

Purchase the Riedel Spey Decanter and Whisky Glass Set or the Set of Two Riedel Spey Whisky Tumblers at Amazon for $28.

Lake Champlain Chocolates declares that truffles are its specialty, and when approached by Maker's Mark to come up with an ethical and sustainable product that could mirror its own Bourbon Truffles, the company jumped at the idea. The result is a tempting package of handcrafted chocolates that merges the history of Kentucky bourbon with the principles of a family-run business. Dark chocolate lovers will delight in the taste of a dark chocolate truffle that gives way to a ganache center that conceals Maker's Mark 46, a Kentucky straight bourbon whisky. 

This aged No. 46 carries tasting notes of oaky vanilla and baking spices, and when nestled inside of a chocolate morsel, will require some restraint to eat slowly. Unfortunately, these delectable chocolates only come in packages of five, so it is worth savoring each indulgent bite. The good news is that Lake Champlain Chocolates is a certified B Corporation, like Maker's Mark, so the businesses are both committed to looking for ways to do good, not only turn a profit.

Purchase the Maker's Mark No. 46 Dark Truffle Sampler from Lake Champlain Chocolates for $30.

What was first tucked into "The NoMad Cookbook" is now a book of its own, offering even more drink recipes than what was found in the original print. Whether you're looking to serve classy aperitifs to your friends or would simply like to learn how to pour yourself a solid cocktail at the end of a long day, this book offers both complex recipes and more straightforward ingredient lists to make any aspiring at-home bartender feel like a star at a swanky hotel bar.

The James Beard Award-winning Leo Robitschek's book contains over 300 cocktail recipes that have been poured at The NoMad. Recipes are illustrated, so if you have no idea about how to garnish a drink that has serious aesthetic appeal, you can trust the good folk who station the NoMad Bars in New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. 

Purchase "The NoMad Cocktail Book" on Amazon for $14.99 for the Kindle version, or get a slick hardcover for your coffee table for $18.69.