Valentine’s day gift ideas for whisky lovers
As Valentine’s Day draws closer and closer, more and more people seem to worry about what to get their loved ones. Many will look to their sweetheart’s interests and try to find a gift idea there, which is a good idea indeed. The problem is, unless you share the same interest and with the same passion, it may be difficult to know just what to get them. This is a common “problem” with whisky, but fear not – the world of uisge beatha doesn’t have to be as intimidating as it may seem. Now, I could recommend a handful of outstanding whiskies of differing price, but that could be rather hit and miss. Instead, try to remember a couple of whiskies that they like to drink (or go have a peek at their collection) and make use of a flavor map (of which there are plenty on the internet) and look for one that they don’t have, but that is close to ones they like.
Granted, most of the flavor maps – including the one I’ve linked to – only contain a small selection of fairly standard expressions, so for anyone who may want to spend more than $60, give or take, they may not be fully satisfactory. In all honesty, though, I don’t know anyone who takes Valentine’s Day seriously enough to spend more than $60-75 anyway.
If you don’t feel comfortable buying a bottle of whisky and would rather go for something else that is still whisky related, I’ve got a few suggestions for that as well. In order of increasing cost:
Cheap but appreciated, the classic Glencairn whisky glass is widely acknowledged as one of the top whisky glasses around. You can generally get them for around $8 a piece – here’s a selection on eBay.
Jim Murray’s 2011 Whisky Bible is pretty much a must have for any whisky enthusiast, and costs just under $20. You can’t go wrong with this.
My next suggestion won’t be right for everyone, but spot on for others. If the recipient of your gift likes to take tasting notes when they sample a whisky, why not get them a leather bound journal. It adds a nice bit of legitimacy to the whole endeavor, and makes it even more enjoyable. You can generally pick a decent one up for $40+. Make sure it’s a quality journal, though, with real leather and that old, worn feel to it.
And finally, the best gift of them all, the ultimate accessory for any gentleman (or lady) whisky, or indeed drink, enthusiast – the Bar globe. You can occasionally find them in second-hand shops for around $75 (you can also try on eBay), and a new one will set you back anywhere between $150-600 (or more, but let’s not get carried away), though in all honesty there is little need to pay more than $3-380. The Columbus Brown from JustGlobes is close to what I have. Satisfaction Guaranteed.
That should cover it, I hope, and may you all have a lovely Valentine’s Day!
