With the holidays right around the corner, sometimes it becomes difficult to find a gift for your friends and family. Do you get them the same old, what they already have behind their bar? Or based on what you know about them, you get them something new that they might love and remember you for being thoughtful? 😊
Here is a Tonights Poison suggested guide for gifting something new. My 20 picks are fresh and different from the typical volume brands in the liquor store. The brands below are tried and tested several times by me and spirit experts that are part of my network. This is just my personal opinion on great products to gift to family, a friend, or even treat yourself. Cheers!
For the American Whiskey Lover:
Rabbit Hole Dareringer $80 - I have always loved Rabbit hole whiskies, this was an exceptional one in their line up that I absolutely love. I am a big fan of Sherry whiskies, so needless to say I was eager to get my hands on it . This is aged in American oak barrel then moved to a Pedro Ximenez cask for finishing. The PX cask gives you lots of raisins on the palate.
Here is a blurb from their website: "Our Straight Bourbon Whiskey, made with a high percentage of imported German rye, pays tribute to an immigrant maker. Strong and bold, this offering honors Christian Heigold, a German stonecutter who settled in Louisville prior to 1850. Taken by the hope of this new land, he carved symbols of his patriotism on the facade of his now landmark home."
For the Rye Whiskey Lover:
Whistle Pig Piggyback 6yo Rye $50 - I have always been a fan of Rye, and that made this pick difficult. There are many other great Rye's in the market also, but I chose Piggyback because one, its delicious, and two it's one of the few Rye whiskies with an age statement on the bottle. Some of the other Rye's in this price category are aged around 3-4 years, making this one extra mature and bringing out more flavors. A great one to sip or mix cocktails with.
Here is a blurb from their website: "In the summer of 2018, the late, legendary Dave Pickerell returned to our barrelhouses with one mission in mind: create the best Rye whiskey for use in the world’s best cocktails. He knew he wanted a mashbill of 100% rye to capture a full-flavored spice. He just needed to land on the ideal age statement and bottling strength to realize his dream. It didn’t take long for him to arrive at perfection: a rye aged not less than six years, carrying a strength of precisely 96.56 proof. A sturdy thread of cinnamon and citrus binds it all together. Stir or shake as you choose. But always sip in good company."
For the Single Malt Lover (I had two picks):
Macallan 15 Double Cask $125 - This is a very balanced whisky for me, probably due to the perfect harmony of the two oaks, American & European barrels. The two distinct oaks and the balanced age of 15yo. I like both the 12yo and 18yo versions of the double casks but the 15 years I feel is at the perfect age, which gives it the sweet and warm taste and character. I really enjoy the 15yo and would highly recommend if you are looking to give a gift to a Macallan lover.
Here is a blurb from their website: "The Macallan Double Cask 15 Years Old is a balanced single malt whisky created by bringing the perfect harmony of two oaks into one exceptional single malt whisky. Sherry seasoned American oak adds delicate vanilla to the subtle spice of European oak, delivering a whisky with a sweeter, warmer taste and character."
Aberlour A'Bunadh $95 - This was one of the whiskies that blew me away last year and I continue to relish each sip of it every time we meet at my bar. It's intense in Sherry flavor as it's cask strength, so you are certainly getting more sherry bang for the buck. Don't be shy, try out Aberlour whiskies, they are all fantastic.
Here is a blurb from their website: "Meaning ‘the original’ in Gaelic, A’bunadh is made in homage to Aberlour’s founder, James Fleming. A’bunadh is a whisky hand-made from start to finish with each batch being created to ensure a rich and complex flavour of moist raisin, and homemade fruit cake. It is bottled at cask strength resulting in a robust and deeply intense, sherried whisky."
For the Smokey Whisky Lover:
Ardbeg Uigeadail $80 - This was a hard one for me to decide on because there are so many good smokey whiskies I enjoy. I almost picked the 19yo from Ardbeg but I figured, let me pick something that someone will be able to find in the stores instead of something very rare. I like the mix of Bourbon & Sherry butts in this one, which gives this a unique sweet and smoky finish like no other.
Here is a blurb from their website: "Pronounced ‘Oog-a-dal’, it’s a special vatting that marries Ardbeg’s traditional deep, smoky notes with luscious, raisiny tones of old ex-Sherry casks. Ardbeg Uigeadail was voted by the 120,000+ strong Ardbeg Committee as the favorite Ardbeg."
For the Blended Whisky Lover:
Chivas Mizunara $45 - Reasonably priced and unique with its Japanese cask finish. I fell in love with this one last year and it is always in my bar. If you can't find a bottle of Yamazaki or Hibiki or have a budget of under $50, this is the way to go to get a little touch of that Japanese whisky styled essence in your glass.
Here is a blurb from their website: "The world’s first Scotch whisky selectively finished* in Japanese Mizunara oak casks. Chivas Mizunara is a perfect marriage of Scottish craft with Japanese tradition, creating a truly worldly blend. A wonderfully indulgent whisky with a touch of spice.Because blended is better, in life and in Scotch. A portion of this blended Scotch whisky has been finished in Japanese Mizunara oak casks."
For the Irish Whiskey Lover:
Powers Three Swallows $50 - Was ranked number 18 of Top 20 Whiskies of 2019 by WhiskyAdvocate. I suppose I look for my favorite whiskey traits in all whiskies of the world, and that is why I end up liking some over the others. Three Swallows is predominantly aged in ex-bourbon casks, with a small amount of ex-Oloroso sherry barrels used. I am definitely a fan of anything sherry and due to that this whiskey outshines others in this category. Powers Three Swallows is a revival of the old Powers styled whiskey with a modern twist.
Here is a blurb from Whiskyadvocate website: "The Powers Distillery in Dublin historically used the swallow to signify the age, quality, and purity of its traditional pot still whiskeys. This powerful expression, predominantly matured in bourbon with some sherry casks, has an intriguing nose of candied peel, dried apricot, mango strips, white pepper, herbal notes, almond paste, and sweet grapefruit flesh. Thick and velvety, there’s warm marmalade, sugared almonds, golden barley, citrus, green apple, and acrobatic spices. A superb introduction to this quintessential Irish whiskey style."
For the International Whisky Lover (I had three picks):
Brenne $65 - If you're looking for something refreshing, not as full bodied and in your face, Brenne Estate Cask does the trick. Brenne is a beautiful French single malt whisky aged exclusively in French Limousine oak and Cognac casks. This aging process gives off a unique sense of French terroir. On the palate the whisky reminds me of banana bread pudding. I can't recall if any other whisky has given me this kind of sweetness and flavor profile. The brand, the story and the team is all beautiful for this bottle. The owner Allison Parc's title should be "Humanitarian" as she does so much to help people and the community around her. I have had the pleasure to meet her a few times in person and virtually, and I can definitely say, there is no better vibrant and full of positive energy person I have ever met in the industry. Check out a little example of that here.
Here is a blurb from their website: "Brenne is the world’s first single malt aged exclusively in both new French Limousin Oak barrels and Cognac casks."
Rampur Asava $85 - Indian single malts have come a long way and they have earned their keep in the whisky world. You will notice that none of the Indian Whiskies put an age statement on the bottle. That is because the metric system of aging whisky was invented in 1495 in Scotland. The climate is vastly different in India vs Scotland, as such, the whiskies age much faster in India. Despite being aged for much less, a 5yo Indian whisky can have notes of a 15yo scotch styled whisky. Due to the higher temperatures, the angels’ share (the amount of liquid in the cask lost to evaporation during maturation) can be as high as two percent per month—versus around two percent per year in Scotland. This causes a very rapid extraction of wood-derived compounds that contributes to the uniquely spicy note we often taste in Indian whiskies. Asava from Rampur is their newest edition making it the first Indian whisky to be released with a Cabernet Sauvignon cask finish. I really liked this one as it had a really nice lingering finish with a touch of dryness that comes from the wine cask.
Here is a blurb from their website: "Matured in American Bourbon barrels and meticulously perfected in Indian Cabernet Sauvignon casks for the first time in History resulting in a unique expression with an impeccable balance. Creating history yet again with a royal marriage that is beautifully made in heaven. We have taken the Indus route and perfected this golden nectar in Indian red wine casks."
Paul John Nirvana $35 - Another major player from the Indian whisky market. Paul John has a great reputation for making brilliant whiskies. The one thing they were missing was an entry-level whisky that can possible replace the big volume driving whiskies you buy from the stores. I think they have accomplished that task with this great one. However, don't let the words "entry-level" fool you, this is a brilliant dram with a great taste profile. I am not going to bore you with the details, but I do have a video I posted when I got my hands on my first bottle of this one. You can check out the short video review here.
Here is a blurb from their website: "A captivating expression from the Goan shores of India, the Nirvana arouses the senses with a soft whiff of bourbon, fruitcake and an enticing caramel pudding. The honeycomb sweetness gently touches the palate with a mild salt-tinged barley while the succulent vanilla heralds the honeyed finish of this rich copper whisky, assuring sublime experiences beyond the worldly realm."
Japanese Whisky Lover
Nikka From The Barrel $65 -Ever heard of Yamazaki 12yo? Well that bottle due to supply/demand has gone up so much in price that you normally find it in the range of $120-150. For half the price, the Nikka from the barrel is a steal and a damn good reason why. In 2018 it was named the #1 whisky in the world by WhiskyAdvocate. This Nikka is also a cask strength whiskey, upwards of 50+% vs 40% in alcohol that others give you. This one is rich and very complex on the palate, I would highly recommend this if you are looking for a Japanese whisky.
Here is a blurb from their website: "Nikka From The Barrel is a blended whisky created to deliver full flavors and richness of whisky “from barrels” which only blenders can sniff and taste.
The iconic bottle is designed to reflect “a small block of whisky” – embodying the rich, strong taste of the whisky within."
For the Tequila Lover:
Tequila Ocho $50+ - An estate tequila? Wow! Many know me for drinking whisky, but I am a big fan of Tequila's as well. This year, I was blown away by Tequila Ocho. What makes this one different is that it's the first tequila to designate both the year it was produced and the precise field from which the agaves are sourced from. Many times agaves are grouped together and mixed to make the tequila. I call this a Single Estate Tequila. The result is in the bottle, it makes a difference and this is a great tequila for the price, a true sipping masterpiece.
Here are some interesting facts on why it's called Tequila Ocho, you can read more about it here
For the Music Lover:
Villa One $40+ -This was a fun one to put together. What if you have a music lover that you want to gift something great to? I feel Tequila is a fun gift, and it's hot and trending at the moment. Let me ask you a question? If you were traveling to Mexico on a dream vacation and money was no object, where would you stay, a casa or villa? So forget the old tired celebrity brand Casa Amigos and try something young and vibrant with Villa One which is owned by none other than Nick Jonas. The tequila was hand-crafted by Nick Jonas & partner John Vervatos, bringing together fashion, music, and tequila together. Typically Tequila is made and comes from two different regions, either Highland or Lowland. The uniqueness about this one is that it blends both regions together to create a perfect harmony of herbaceousness and sweetness of the agave in a glass.
Here is a blurb from their website: "Villa One is created by Master Distiller Arturo Fuentes, the “Godfather of Tequila,” who has three decades of experience in crafting fine Cognacs, French Champagne and of course, barrel-aged Tequilas."
For the Sports Lover:
Cincoro Tequila - $75+ - Another fun one to gift for the sports lovers. Who is a living legend in Basketball? If you answered Michael Jordan, you are correct. Did you know he has been loving and drinking Tequilas for ages? Every time you see him golfing, he has a cigar in his mouth and is drinking tequila. Michael Jordan and four other NBA players created this tequila. Again, I have had many tequilas and this one is really nice, a well balanced tequila that pushes the agave essence forward in your mouth. Many of the other tequila's try to push and age their tequila and impart too much oak from the barrels. This one like the one mentioned above also mixes the Highland and Lowland to bring a balance to your tastebuds. The Reposado from Cincoro is one of the best sipping Reposado tequilas in the market.
Here is a blurb from their website: "Cincoro Tequila captures the essence of both terroris, uniquely using 100% Weber blue agave harvested from the Highland and Lowland appellations of Jalisco, Mexico."
For the Fragrant Cognac Lover:
Remy Tercet $100 - It's not every year that something new comes out in the Cognac category. However, last year Remy introduced the Tercet, which is picked based on fruity aromas, which makes this Cognac's my favorite to nose before enjoying and sipping on this smooth delightful Cognac. The Cognac itself is very rounded and coats the palate with a nice long finish.
Here is a blurb from their website: "Rémy Martin Tercet is a unique Cognac Fine Champagne blended from aromatic eaux-de-vie with notes of fresh exotic fruits. Reflecting the style of the Maison, Tercet lights up a new path for cognac."
For the Brandy Old Soul with Fusion Mind:
Bhakta 50yo $300 - This for me was the surprise brand of the year. I am all about pushing the limits and breaking the norm. Bhakta 50 certainly did that in the Brandy & Whisky category! Although the $300 sticker price might shock you, just know that this is a 50yo Brandy. Last month I had 1oz of a 40yo whisky at a bar, and it cost me $280. Just think for a moment, what might have been your father doing 50 years ago? Now think about what your family was doing back in 1868? Bhakta 50 is an Armagnac finished in Islay whisky casks with 50yo blends from 1868-1979. That is the history and story in the bottle of Bhakta 50. The reason I fell in love with it is not only because it's an amazing Brandy which is aged at 50yo but also that Raj Bhakta the owner pushed the limits and finished this beautiful Armagnac/Brandy in an Islay cask, giving it not only the smooth richness of the grape taste profile but also a whisky'ish (as I like to call it) finish.
Here is a blurb from their website: "BHAKTA Brandy is the rarest spirit known to mankind. A blend of 8 Armagnac vintages 50-152 years old. This makes it among the oldest spirits on the market. We finish our brandy in Islay Scotch casks for a unique, smoky intrigue. "
For the Rum Explorer at Heart:
Papa's Pilar 24 - $50 - The cool thing about this one is that Pilar was the name of a customized boat commissioned by Papa - Ernest Hemingway, one of the greatest adventurers of all time. The rum is pure deliciousnes on the palate probably because the rum is hand -selected from the Caribbean and Central, South, and North America. They use a proprietary Solera blending process to marry all the rums from various regions together.
Here is a blurb from their website: "A Rum as bold, yet nuanced as Papa Hemingway himself, Papa's Pilar is born of a complex creative process inspired by his artistic expression. Aptly named after Papa and his boat, The Pilar, our award-winning ultra-premium spirit reflects Rum's gutsy roots."
For the Gin Lover:
Bobby's Genever $40 - Have you heard of Genever? Genever is a Dutch Gin with similarities to Gin in its juniper base. It's a traditional liquor in the Netherlands and has a history older than Gin. Gin was developed in Britain after the introduction of Jenever to the island. I recently started to indulge in Genevers and learning about them. I was blown away by the history and the versatility along with the personality each different brand has. Genevers history dates back to 1777 in Netherlands when the first malt wine Gin was distilled. They say sailors called it "Dutch Courage". Genever is the granddaddy of London Dry Gin. Bobby's is an exceptional Citrus froward Genever that I thoroughly enjoy in my cocktails. Genevers also tend to have a touch of Malt or a whole heap of Malt in them, depending on which brand you are having. It is said, if Whiskey and Gin had a baby, it would be called Genever.
You can learn more about Genevers by going to this website where they feature many Genever brands.
For the Vodka Lover:
Hanson Organic Vodka $30 - There is something about the craftsmanship that just cannot be gimmicked. A brand can talk about how it's "handmade" after selling 9 million + cases but we know the difference between marking gimmick and true craft. Hanson Sonoma Organic vodka is craft culture at it's best. The proof is in the taste, I got to taste this against 6 other "Major" vodka brands, and hands down this was the best. The vodka is made of grapes and it's made from distilled Sonoma Wine. If you know wine, you know Sonoma's reputation doesn't need repeating. The vodka is brilliantly complex and due to that it is my sipping vodka. Don't get me wrong, it would be great in cocktails too but it's just that good that you can sip on it. The flavors are brilliant too. The vodka is not flavored, instead, they hand peel, hand seed, and hand chop the ingredients and macerate them in their organic Vodka to give it its flavor, which results in the freshest flavored vodka in the market.
Here is a blurb from their website: "Where do we get our inspiration to make unique artisan craft spirits? From each one of us! As a family we have found our passion — one might say obsession — for making something truly unique that gives you the opportunity to choose something different and — we’re convinced you’ll agree — better. Our vision of an organic, grape-based, gluten-free and non-GMO vodka is the embodiment of Hanson of Sonoma. In the spirit of artisan craft, we distill in a combination pot and 50-plate column still. Our vodka is always distilled from organic grapes and infused with real, organic ingredients to create a pure, clean, and above all deliciously smooth vodka."
For the Wine Lover:
Iron + Sand Cabernet Sauvignon $25 - I cheated and put a wine in 20 Spirits pick category. What goes better with food than wine, nothing? 😊 Before and after dinner, I definitely indulge in spirits, however, during dinner I love a bottle of good wine. The one wine that impressed me the most this year was Iron + Sand from Paso Robles. Notes of red raspberry, vanilla, and on the palate a bit fruitiness, with dark fruits with earthy rich chocolate covered cherries finish. This also feels like a wine that will taste even better after a few years in the cellar. For the $25 I just had to list this as my pick for gifting.
Here is a blurb from their website: "The natural draw of the historic hot springs, Iron Spring and Sand Spring, propelled Paso Robles into a bustling destination known as California’s oldest watering place."
I hope you enjoyed these picks that I selected, these brands impressed me the most and made a mark on my palate. Please register and subscribe to this blog to comment below and to get updates on future blog posts and news on upcoming events. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @TonightsPoison
Cheers 🍸
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