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The 30 Best Gifts for Bourbon Lovers

Our list includes editor-tested glassware, whiskey-friendly snacks, and a few of our favorite bourbons.

By
Jason Horn
Jason Horn
Jason Horn
With a culinary degree and nearly 20 years of food-writing experience, Jason Horn has spent his entire career covering food and drinks. He's Food & Wine's resident knife expert and has tested hundreds of blades in dozens of categories, along with everything from pots and pans to cold brew coffee makers.
Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines
Updated on December 9, 2025

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One nice thing about having a friend or family member who loves bourbon is that there's no shortage of gift ideas. You can choose from Old Fashioned glasses and whiskey decanters, accessories from ice sphere molds to full bar carts, and a whole library of books — in addition to the hundreds of different whiskies you can find at any liquor store.

But with all those options, how should you actually pick the best gift for a bourbon drinker? We dug through our test results and consulted with our editors to identify 30 great bourbon gifts across all categories.

Anybody who likes their bourbon on the rocks should try it on the ball instead. From a mathematical standpoint, a sphere is the optimal ice shape for chilling whiskey without over-diluting: It has the least possible surface area for its volume, meaning it delivers maximum cold and minimum melting. In our ice cube tray tests, this set was our hands-down favorite for freezing ice spheres, as it produced perfectly round and clear globes with minimal effort.

Having a go-to rocks glass (also known as an Old Fashioned glass or lowball glass) is almost as important as having a signature bourbon, and this is one of two different Riedel models that came out on top in our tests. Not only is it durable and dishwasher-safe, but the vertical facets are also beautiful, with gleaming cuts and crevices that instantly elevate any sip. It's ideal for whiskey neat, bourbon on the rocks, or any strong, stirred cocktail.

While we're talking cocktail cherries, a jar of the most delicious ones on Earth is also one of the best gifts for bourbon lovers. In a completely different universe from the rubbery neon orbs you might be used to, Italian-made Fabbri cherries are intensely flavorful, preserved in a thick syrup made from their own juices. Any cocktail garnished with a cherry will be far better with one of these. (They're also just an excellent snack straight out of the jar, and the syrup is perfect over ice cream.)

We're big fans of Caraway's non-toxic cookware, and its new bar set has the same feel. It's a complete set of everything you need to make essentially any drink: shaker, strainer, jigger, bar spoon, muddler, and wine opener, plus a convenient base to keep them all organized and at hand on a bar cart or countertop. What makes it an extra-special gift is that the base's fabric back comes in any of six subtle colors, allowing you to customize the look to suit the recipient's taste.

Even with drinks, accessories matter. A properly presented garnish, whether lemon twist, lime wheel, or cheese-stuffed olive, can turn a good cocktail into a great one. These cocktail picks may have martini in the name, but they're equally perfect for the cherries in a Manhattan. The 36-piece set comes in three lengths made from durable stainless steel, which is reusable and won’t wilt in liquid like wooden versions can.

Whether you're an astrophysicist studying black holes or a bourbon enthusiast studying mashbills, learning is never done. With The Bourbon Bible, the spirited sipper in your life can broaden their knowledge of bourbon in a big way. Not only does the book drop interesting facts and historical details, but it also guides the reader through 140 of the finest bourbons worldwide, offering recommendations on how to enjoy each one. Want to wow them? Select a spirit from one of the chapters and gift a bottle of it with the book.

For a shaken whiskey cocktail or celebratory Champagne, the coupe glass is an old-school style that works beautifully. Libbey's Greenwich design was our favorite coupe glass in testing, thanks mainly to the tapered bowl and stem that feel elegant without sacrificing strength, along with the budget-friendly price. Gift a set of these solo or include them in a cocktail basket: We suggest pairing bottles of Aperol and Amaro Nonino to help the bourbon lover in your life master the Paper Plane cocktail.

The same roasted, caramel, and butterscotch notes that make bourbon so tasty are also found in coffee, and this is the perfect demonstration. Oak & Bond rests roasted Brazilian coffee in formed bourbon barrels. This mellows its sharp edges, while the beans absorb a hint of oaky sweetness from the residual whiskey that has soaked into the wood. Now your favorite bourbon lover can enjoy the same flavors to start their day.

Save your bourbon-loving friend's tables and countertops with these drink coasters. Wool felt may be an unusual coaster material, but it's dense and absorbent — and far lighter and less breakable than ceramic or wood. On top of that, the Graf Lantz coaster sets come in a wide range of colors and combinations. They're suitable for cocktail and rocks glasses as well as coffee mugs and espresso cups.

Bourbon tasting is a practiced art, and anyone who wants to take their palate-training seriously needs the right equipment. These bulbous glasses — which took home the title of best whiskey glass in our tests — are designed to enhance the tasting process by engaging all five senses. The wide crystal bowl allows you to fully appreciate the rich color of the spirit, while the tapered shape and narrow mouth bring aromas right up to your nose for maximum flavor. It's the ideal vessel for enjoying bourbon, Scotch, brandy, or really any spirit special enough to sip neat.

For the bourbon drinker who's also into camping and other outdoor adventures, this heavy-duty flask holds a full bottle and is rugged enough to carry in a backpack cooler. (High Camp's similar Firelight Flask is officially intended for whiskey, but we prefer the look of this wine one — and it holds bourbon just as well.) The top and bottom caps lift off to become drinking cups, making it a fully self-contained bourbon transport system. The flask is insulated to keep wine or cocktails cold. The Parkside comes in a variety of year-round pastel colors, but don't miss this year's limited Sundown Edition, which features deep blue, crimson, and cream with an Art Deco–inspired pattern.

Flaviar's famed whiskey Advent calendar is a perennial holiday favorite, but even if that's sold out, the brand still offers our favorite whiskey subscription at any time of year. The Champions of Bourbon package features a full-size bottle every month from Flaviar's extensive library of American whiskies. The selections span the country, and all are award-winning spirits. There are 3-, 6-, and 12-month gift subscriptions, and you can also add an engraved message on the first bottle to make it all the more special.

There are bourbon enthusiasts who are content with just pouring and sipping, and then there are those who want to get deep into the mixological arts. The best cocktail smoker in our tests, this tool is a pro-level way to impart extra flavor and aroma to straight bourbon or a range of cocktails — and to put on a show with smoke wafting. As a bonus, they can also use this gadget on fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and almost anything you can eat or drink, in almost any container.

This is a much better alternative to those awful whiskey stones that too many bourbon gift guides recommend. It's an insulated coaster that chills down the contents of any glass you put inside it without dilution. Neat whiskey is best enjoyed slightly below room temperature, and Vochill's clever gadget is a great way to get it exactly right without melting ice or chipping a tooth.

Douse your pancakes in bourbon-y goodness with this gourmet upgrade. Vermont-made maple syrup picks up an extra dose of flavor with time in ex-bourbon barrels. It's like regular maple syrup, only more. More intense, sweeter, more delicious. Runamok makes multiple barrel-aged syrups. We recommend either this large single bottle or the Smoke & Barrels sampler, which features bourbon-, rum-, and brandy-aged syrups alongside a pecan wood–smoked version.

Where better to start this list than with an actual bottle of bourbon? The storied legacy of Blanton's includes the first single-barrel bourbon, and the label has earned a place on any passionate sipper’s shelves. It's an ideal gift for the bourbon lover, as it's reasonably widely available at any time of year and luxurious without being astronomically expensive.

Made by the Buffalo Trace distillery (which also produces Pappy Van Winkle, among other legendarily hard-to-find bourbons), this bourbon is sweet with caramel and butterscotch notes, alongside plenty of complex citrus and spice. Each faceted bottle is topped with a different horse-and-rider figurine stopper, and many bourbon fanatics try to collect all eight poses that together spell out "BLANTON'S."

When a chef started brewing soy sauce in the bourbon capital of Louisville, Kentucky, bourbon barrel–aged soy sauce was the logical result. However, Bourbon Barrel Foods has since expanded its offerings to include a wide range of bourbon-infused savory seasonings, and we recommend selecting an assortment for your favorite bourbon lover. This trio is a splendid sampler, with barrel-aged soy, teriyaki, and Worcestershire sauces. Try any (or all at once!) on steak.

It seems like a simple item, but there's a lot of subtlety to this tool that makes it the best cocktail shaker we tested. Cocktail Kingdom sells professional-level tools that bartenders love, and the difference is easy to see. The stainless steel Leopold set is perfectly weighted to allow for quick and effective shaking with minimal effort, and the two cups fit together securely — with no danger of shattering a pint glass against a one-piece shaker.

Few things pair better with bourbon than grilled meats, and this is a very special box of grilling meats. Idaho-based Snake River Farms raises some of the best beef we've tasted, and the Griller's Pack has a little of everything, with two ribeyes, two filet mignons, packs of Wagyu hamburger and hot dogs, and a bottle of steak seasoning. If you're giving to a bourbon fan who's into barbecue, there's also the Pork Favorites collection, with three smoker-friendly pork cuts and a package of bacon.

Ohio-based Jeni’s Ice Cream won high praise for its specialty flavors during our hunt for the best ice cream delivery services, and this one is perfect for any bourbon lover. The rich custard base is made with Uncle Nearest Tennessee Whiskey and a generous amount of nutmeg for that classic holiday flavor.

The Jeni's minimum order for shipping is five pints, so you'll get to pick out a few more flavors for your favorite whiskey lover to try. We recommend some of the other 2025 holiday editions, like Cranberry Panettone with Chocolate Sprinkles, Dulce de Leche, or White Chocolate Peppermint.

The best gifts for bourbon lovers don’t have to be large or extravagant; a slight but thoughtful nod to your recipient’s personality can make them feel seen and appreciated. These gummy bears from high-end candy company Sugarfina are as cute as they get, and they're made with real Off Hours Bourbon. Don't miss the rest of the Sugarfina Cocktail Collection for more spirited candy options, including bourbon-infused chocolate-covered caramels, plus Champagne and lemon drop bears.

While a wine decanter typically has a wide belly and open top to expose the contents to oxygen, a whiskey decanter is a long-term storage solution with an airtight lid. It's a bar cart essential, but as a decorative piece of servingware rather than something to actually improve the flavor of the whiskey within.

This Art Deco–style vessel is one of the best whiskey decanters available, thanks to its retro appeal, reasonable price, tight-sealing top, and dishwasher-safe design. You can even add to your gift thanks to Crate & Barrel's complete line of matching Hatch barware. There's an Old Fashioned glass, a footed cocktail glass, a mixing glass, an ice bucket, and more.

Jefferson's Bourbon is not even 30 years old, but founders Trey and Chet Zoeller have a long family history in the spirits industry. Their ancestor Marian McLain is one of the earliest documented women in American distilling, having been arrested in 1799 for making and selling whiskey without paying taxes. This special bottling is a tribute to her, a complex blend of five different bourbons up to 14 years old, distilled in both Kentucky and Tennessee. It has layers of sweetness, spice, and fruit flavors that you'll want to savor slowly and contemplatively.

Chocolate and bourbon pair perfectly, making them an ideal gift for anyone on your list. These particular creamy confections were dreamed up by the iconic Woodford Reserve, adding the distillery’s premium bourbon to a fluffy filling, coated with dark chocolate and topped with a pecan for a dessert that tastes as good as it looks. If you're lucky, there will still be some left when you visit the recipient.

Woodford Reserve actually produces a full range of bourbon-based candies, allowing you to match any sweet taste. There's bourbon toffee, bourbon caramels, bourbon cocktail cherries, and more.

Have you ever found yourself sipping a Hot Toddy so cozy and warming that you wished you could dive right into it? With this comforting candle, you can. Made from soy wax and poured into a recycled glass container, it’s scented with notes of peppercorn, cardamom, butterscotch, brown sugar, and — of course — bourbon, for a scent experience that’ll help them unwind at the end of each day.

A little bit of spice makes any warm drink better, whether it's a Hot Toddy, mulled wine, or cinnamon-spiked apple cider — that's also spiked with bourbon. A jar of The Spice House's mulling spice mix will last all winter long, and it's almost guaranteed to be fresher than whatever's on the supermarket shelf. The blend of cinnamon, allspice, clove, cardamom, and mace mimics many of the flavors you'll find in American whiskey.

Giving a bourbon drinker a bottle of something other than bourbon takes courage, but this one is a risk that will pay off. While many Japanese whiskies are barley-based single malts, Nikka Coffey Grain is distilled from a mashbill of mostly corn, which puts its flavor much closer to that of bourbon. It's a gentle, mixing- or sipping-friendly spirit with vanilla sweetness and a lot of oak.

A silver cup is most traditional for the bourbon-based mint julep, but a copper Moscow mule mug is equally eye-catching and drink-insulating. Williams Sonoma's hand-hammered version is our favorite, with an easy-to-hold handle and a generous size that accommodates plenty of crushed ice and whiskey. Even during the winter holiday season, a set of these mugs will have them looking forward to warm-weather cocktails al fresco.

Nonalcoholic spirits have been on the rise in recent years, and this is our favorite bourbon-esque option. It's made in Kentucky, which is your first indication that there's some real whiskey know-how involved. Spiritless uses a proprietary process to infuse oak into a mix of alcohol and water, then removes the alcohol to leave behind a zero-ABV beverage with the same caramel, vanilla, and spice as the hard stuff. It's tasty neat or over ice, or you can mix it half-and-half with "real" whiskey to lessen the impact (and lower the calories).

Angostura is probably the most famous name in cocktail bitters. You'll find its iconic too-big label at nearly every cocktail bar in the world. The classic Angostura Aromatic Bitters are intense with warm baking spice and pair perfectly with whiskey. But as a gift, we suggest one of the brand's lesser-known flavors. Angostura Cocoa Bitters swap cinnamon and nutmeg for chocolate, making them incredible in a wintry Old Fashioned or any amaro-based drink — like a Black Manhattan.

Our Expertise

Food & Wine senior writer Jason Horn has been covering food and drinks for nearly 20 years, including as a former senior editor at Liquor.com and spirits columnist for Playboy. He's a big fan of W.L. Weller bourbon — when he can find it — and likes his whiskey in a simple highball, maybe with a bit of lime or Peychaud's Bitters.

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