Gifts for Bourbon Lovers (That Aren't Another Bottle)

Buying for a bourbon lover is harder than it looks. They already have a favorite bottle, they have strong opinions about the ones you'd pick, and a nice bottle can easily run past your budget. The good news is that bourbon people love bourbon-adjacent things almost as much as the bourbon itself.

Here are our favorite gifts for whiskey and bourbon lovers that aren't another bottle, from things for the glass to things for the shower.

The short answer

Good gifts for a bourbon lover who has everything include a proper tasting glass, whiskey stones or a large ice mold, cocktail bitters, a smoker kit for old fashioneds, bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup or coffee, a distillery tour, and bourbon-scented soap or candles. Pick something that fits how they drink it, neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail.

For the glass

• A tasting glass. A tulip-shaped tasting glass, like a Glencairn, funnels the aroma toward your nose. Serious sippers swear by them, and a pair makes a great gift.
• A big ice mold. One large cube or sphere melts slowly and waters the drink down less than a handful of small cubes.
• Whiskey stones. Chilled stones cool a pour without diluting it at all. Some people love them, some prefer ice, so know your drinker.
• A nice decanter. More for looks than flavor, but a heavy crystal decanter on the bar cart is a classic for a reason.

For the cocktail maker

• Bitters. A small set of aromatic, orange and specialty bitters upgrades every old fashioned and Manhattan.
• A cocktail smoker. A smoker top or chimney fills the glass with wood smoke before the pour. It's a little showy, which is the point.
• Good cherries. Real cocktail cherries are a world away from the bright red kind, and they're an easy stocking stuffer.
• A cocktail book. A good bartending book makes a gift they'll actually use.

For the kitchen

• Bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup. Maple syrup rested in used bourbon barrels picks up oak and vanilla notes. Very New England, very good on pancakes.
• Barrel-aged coffee. Coffee beans aged in bourbon barrels have the aroma without the alcohol.
• Bourbon balls or chocolate. A box of bourbon-spiked chocolates is a classic holiday treat.

For the experience

• A distillery tour. Plenty of small distilleries offer tours and tastings, including some here in New England.
• A tasting class. A guided tasting teaches them something new about a spirit they already love.

For the shower

Here's where we come in. Bourbon notes show up in a lot of men's fragrance, and they work beautifully in soap, warm and a little smoky without smelling like a bar. It's an easy, inexpensive gift that fits right next to a bottle, or replaces it when the budget is tight.

• Give Yer Balls a Scrub ($9). Bergamot, bourbon and burnt lumber in a round, hockey-puck bar. A guaranteed laugh at the gift exchange.
• Post Game Interview ($8 to $9). Bourbon and bergamot in an everyday bar, made for the end-of-night shower.
• Slam Trans-Am ($9 to $10). Double-oaked bourbon misted with champagne, made for one of Boston's best '80s bands.
• Locker Room Gift Pack ($16). Give Yer Balls a Scrub plus Post Game Interview, two bourbon bars in one ready-to-give pack.

Small batches sell out, so if one is gone, check back soon. For more on how bourbon, leather and wood notes fit into fragrance, read masculine scents, explained.

Put together a bourbon lover's gift basket

For a bigger gift, combine a few of these in a small crate or box. A tasting glass, a bar of bourbon-scented soap, a bottle of bitters and a jar of barrel-aged maple syrup make a basket that looks like it cost far more than it did. Our guide on how to gift soap has wrapping ideas and free printable tags.

Shopping for the rest of your list? See our holiday gift guide and our soap gift sets.