9 gift ideas that’ll expand their cocktail kit or set them up for a holiday sip.

Christmas spirit – need we say more? It’s the time of the year for distilled drinks and top-shelf tipples to make their way under the tree as perfectly delicious holiday presents.

Whether it’s a bottle of nan’s favourite whiskey or a craft gin you know your colleague hasn’t tasted yet, gifting spirits is a chance to showcase your thoughtfulness. But how do you navigate the abundant spread of spirits on offer and know you’ve got it right? You leave it to us, that’s how.

Below, we’ve pulled together a list of spirits that we’d happily unwrap for ourselves if we could. From sultry single malts to golden tequilas, there’s an option here for everyone that’ll make for a spirited holiday season.

The best spirits to gift for Christmas 2022:

1. Talisker 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Buy it for: the person who appreciates proper craftmanship

Any scotch fan will immediately recognise (and be overjoyed to see) the Talisker name when they unwrap this 10-year-old single malt. Talisker crafts single malts on the seaswept shores of the Isle of Skye, where they run the island’s oldest working distillery. Since 1830 they’ve distilled whiskies informed by the rugged coastline, with each sip tasting like a warm welcome from the wild sea.

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2. Roku Japanese Craft Gin

Buy it for: the friend who’s always up for a sundowner

There’s nothing like kicking back during the long summer days of Aussie Christmas – especially if that day features a refreshing Gin and Tonic in your hand. Bright summer days call for a brightly flavoured gin and we can’t think of a better one than Roku Japanese Craft Gin. Distilled with a mix of six uniquely Japanese botanicals (like citrusy yuzu), every aspect of Roku Gin is crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Grab a bottle, wrap it up and give them the gift of the perfect summer sundowner.

3. Basil Hayden's Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Buy it for: the person who’s a little too stuck in their lane

Let’s be honest, some spirit drinkers can be set in their ways. They like what they like and they tend to stick to it. Which is exactly why gifting them a unique bottle is perhaps the only chance they’ll have to try something outside their lane. Mix things up by grabbing them this intriguing and downright delightful drop of bourbon from Basil Hayden. It's artfully aged to be spicy yet smooth, rich yet sweet – with an approachable flavour that just might become their new favourite.

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4. Patrón Reposado Tequila

Buy it for: the friend who loves to whip out the cocktail shaker

Need a gift for someone who loves a cheeky cocktail? Look no further than Patrón’s Reposado Tequila, a worthy addition to any at-home mixologist's lineup. Patrón age their reposado for a minimum of two months, creating delicious hints of mature character without losing any freshness. That’s why it’s the key ingredient to any Margarita worth your time. Give them a bottle and tell them to get shaking – it’s time for Christmas margs.

5. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Blended Scotch Whisky 1L

Buy it for: anyone who loves a D&M over a nightcap

The sparkling sapphire of the top shelf, Johnnie Walker’s Blue Label is the pinnacle of the Johnnie Walker stable. They’ve been carefully crafting this masterpiece for over 190 unbroken years – with only one in every 10,000 barrels making the cut to be featured in the blend. It’s an extraordinary whisky for extraordinary occasions – and an extraordinary gift too.

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6. Rocca di Montegrossi Imperiale Gin

Buy it for: someone dreaming of an Italian getaway

Capturing the essence of southern Tuscany is no easy feat – how can you possibly replicate the abundance of nature within the region, from the blue sea to black rock or the rolling hills covered with woods? Thankfully for us, it’s something Rocca di Montegrossi have managed to encapsulate in the bold botanicals of their Imperiale Gin. You can almost taste the warm Tuscan breeze of a summer evening.

7. Cazcabel Reposado Tequila

Buy it for: the person who likes to have it all

Reposado style tequilas do double duty – they’re a fantastic base for cocktails and mixed drinks, but also smooth and complex enough to be enjoyed neat. Cazcabel Reposado Tequila is crafted in an independent micro-distillery in the town of Arandas, located in the highlands of the Jalisco mountains in Mexico. It’s a well-rounded and balanced tequila with boundless flexibility that makes it a fantastic gift.

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8. Wild Turkey Longbranch Bourbon Whiskey & Glasses Gift Pack

Buy it for: your friend who secretly loves country music

This is no ordinary bourbon – it’s not even an ordinary Wild Turkey – this is Longbranch, a rare, small-batch Kentucky bourbon with a star-studded origin story. When A-lister Matthew McConaughey joined Wild Turkey as creative director, he developed this bourbon alongside their master distillers. It’s refined with oak charcoal, along with Texas mesquite from McConaughey’s home state to create a sweet and slightly smoky bourbon. This limited edition gift pack comes with two stately glasses, perfect for sipping like a Hollywood star.

9. Silent Pool Gin

Buy it for: someone who’s always looking for the next big thing

Silent Pool is an English sustainable distillery who are committed to producing handcrafted, artisan spirits with locally sourced ingredients and botanicals. And when they say botanicals, they mean it – with a whopping 24 of them working in unison to create their delicious gin. To balance so many botanicals, Silent Pool uses a unique tea infusion process (so very English) to draw out the delicate floral notes and create a gin with a light smooth finish.