World Whisky Day 2022: 11 best gifts for whisky lovers: From prints to tumblers

When a tumbler or hip flask just isn’t enough, a real whisky lover needs a proper decanter to store and sip in style. This one goes beyond your average off the shelf design for a truly stunning, elegant and unusual twisted shape that will look eye-catching yet classy on any discerning whisky lover’s bar cart or side table. Deceptively simple, the strong crystal glass feels weighty and solid in our hands and can hold a considerable 850ml of your recipient’s chosen spirit.

Created by a family run, engraving specialist workshop in Suffolk, the decanter’s sandblast stencil letters on the side – which can be personalised with your recipient’s initials – look high-end yet delicate. Also available with matching glasses, this decanter is admittedly more expensive than other items on this list, but it offers a truly special way to show someone you love them as much as they love whisky.

Few words spark more joy in a chocoholic’s heart than the phrase “slab” and this hefty chunk of creamy milk bar infused with butterscotch bourbon ganache is perfect if their love of chocolate is matched only by their love of whisky.

The Slabb has worked to combine alcohol with chocolate without seizing the ingredients, and the result is boozy and blissful and great value too. This bar comes sprinkled with butterscotch pieces and crunchy caramel balls, offering a melt in the mouth, sticky, pleasingly textured experience – and cute packaging to match.

We admit that bourbon isn’t technically whisky, but the two are close enough that a whisky lover will surely appreciate this tasty treat – which will go exceptionally well with a shot of their favourite scotch.

Know someone who loves coffee as much as their favourite tipple? These sugar spoons from Northamptonshire micro roastery Perkulatte are a sweet way to add an extra kick to their usual latte. Each pack contains five golden and glossy teaspoons that will sit perfectly in most mugs, and melt satisfyingly slowly into your drink encouraging you to sip mindfully and enjoy.

Handmade with natural flavours in the UK, they are a cute alternative to coffee syrups. Packaged in Perkulatte’s signature sleek black box, they are also carefully wrapped in tissue paper, making them feel like a real treat to open adding a touch of luxury despite the small price. Each spoon is also individually wrapped for practicality.

Unsurprisingly, they can become a little sticky when hot, but we loved their novelty factor and the extra smooth flavour in our usual morning mug (hey, it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere!).

If you’ve ever wondered why people love whisky so much, this print might offer some humorous insight. The simple design from the small team at Northamptonshire studio Coulson Macleod features a series of cheeky statements such as: “To relieve stress, do yoga. Just kidding! What I really meant was, drink whisky”, and is part of their “Wise Words” series.

Printed in a distressed-style typewriter font on heavy, textured paper, it has a high quality feel even when unframed, and has been designed to fit a standard frame (although a perspex frame can be ordered at extra cost). It arrived simply wrapped in recyclable materials, with a lovely handwritten thank you card. The design can be printed with the spelling of “whisky” or “whiskey”, making it suitable for drinkers of all kinds. The website describes it as a “print for grandfathers” – but we reckon it makes a good value, artistic choice for any whisky lover with a way with words.

Nothing says luxury like Fortnum & Mason, and your recipient will know you’re spoiling them when they unwrap this beautifully packaged box of decadent, whisky infused truffles enrobed in milk and dark Belgian chocolate. The smell alone is divine, with the deep cacao aroma mixing with flavours of Fortnum’s very own single malt whiskies from Islay, Highland and Speyside as you lift the golden lid.

The tasting notes promise notes of peat smoke, violet, pepper, vanilla, citrus, malt, dried cranberry, roasted nuts and sandalwood, and all combine with the rich, creamy chocolate to create a high end, delicious, grown up treat. As the inside of the box reads, “love at first bite” – and your recipient will surely love you too for this small but serious indulgence.

Impress your friends and family with these ice cubes, which unlike traditional ice cubes made from water – will cool your whisky shot effectively, without diluting the precious taste. Sure, some whisky lovers might add a splash of water after pouring to bring out the flavours – but no-one wants a sad, watered-down puddle. These cubes from Ginger Rose solve that problem and can be personalised in a choice of three fonts for an extra high-end, tailored feel. But they are quite heavy, so will work best in more robust glasses.

The gorgeous packaging deserves a special mention. Not only do these cubes come with their little tote bag, but they also arrive in beautiful wrapping paper finished with a luxurious ribbon – plus handwritten cards – making them feel like a real treat. Harriet Gray at Ginger Rose describes her brand as “gift ideas for the man who has everything”, and these are no exception, whoever you’re buying for.

You may wonder why someone who already loves whisky needs a tasting set – but this super cute array of wee drams might just explain it. Cleverly-packaged in a letterbox-friendly, sturdy pack with a card inside – making it great for sending to friends far afield – this selection contains five 3cl bottles of whisky from the famously-peaty, Inner Hebridean isle of Islay.

Even us hardened whisky fans enjoyed testing our taste knowledge by guessing the flavours, and checking our reactions against the tasting notes included. We had a fun after-dinner, lockdown evening distinguishing between hints of smoke, peat, cinnamon, black pepper, chilli, salted caramel, and – more unusually – soy sauce, TCP and “whiffs of a first aid box”, and even found some new favourites. A great choice for new whisky fans and experienced drinkers alike.

This print can’t fail to help you or your lucky recipient brush up on distillery knowledge, as well as inspire any whisky lover to widen their horizons. Whisky-related words plus the names of distilleries in their geographic locations make this a fun gift for anyone who knows their Islay from their Highland; and their Speyside from their Lowland.

The art is printed on 230g heavy weight paper in three typefaces and is sold unframed in sizes A4, A3, A2 and A5 (although we recommend at least A2 or A3 if you want to read everything without squinting). A touch of Tartan at the top provides a splash of colour, but what makes this special is the personal touch – each print is designed in Glasgow by artist Adrian McMurchie at gift brand Dead Famous Cities, and ours came signed at the bottom too. The packaging we received wasn’t as beautiful as some on this list, but the personal touch and artistic flair made up for it and the print itself felt high-end and satisfyingly stylish.

For the whiskey lover who knows their favourite tipple, but needs something just as cool to keep it in. This matte-black hip flask has metallic vintage-style writing on the front, in a historical nod to the classic whiskey distilleries of Tennessee, USA, in the post-prohibition era.

Produced by personalisation specialists The Letteroom, the flask can also be engraved with your giftee’s name and a year, to make it extra personal – and its spelling of the word “whiskey” makes it especially suitable for those who prefer a US or Irish variety. Slim, sleek, and cool enough to be carried discreetly; but bling and bold enough to be displayed on a shelf if preferred, this is the perfect little vintage package for the stylish, whisky-toting friend who has it all.

Personalised glass “whisky tumblers” are a dime a dozen, which is why we especially loved this one for its high-end, unusual, solid oak design. The smooth, elegant wood provides a rounded, tactile way to drink whisky – and recalls the wooden, traditional storage barrels used to enhance flavour. The wood also keeps the whisky insulated from the heat of your hand, meaning it stays nice and cold for longer.

Crafted by MijMoj Design founders, Gafyn and Sean, at their North Wales workshop, this small-but-sculpted tumbler can be personalised with a laser-engraved message or discreet initials, making it both a tailored gift and a sure bet that no one will steal your recipient’s new favourite glass! Finished with protective beeswax mineral oil, which further adds flavour, ours came with its own little beeswax tin for continued maintenance. This is a unique, special – and surprisingly affordable – handmade gift for the whisky lover in your life.