Drinkhacker’s 2025 Holiday Gift Guide – Best Alcohol/Spirits for Christmas

Did 2025 turn out the way you were expecting it to? The world’s gone so insane that, at this point, I don’t think anything that happens in the next 12 months could possibly surprise us.

Did you also get the memo that the alcohol business is in massive decline? Turns out people stopped drinking, just when they needed it the most.

If you’re holding fast to the good stuff and are still planning to gift a liquid present to loved ones this year, good news: Our holiday gift guide is back for its 18th year, and we’ve scoured the some 1000+ reviews we’ve published in 2025 to find the best wine and spirits products out there that are a) something special and worth giving as a gift, b) reasonably available online or off, and c) not outrageously priced. As usual, we try to keep our gift selections in the $100 and under range, though you’ll find a splurge or two in the list where it’s warranted.

As a reminder, the prices listed below are current “street price” averages as of press time, but they can fluctuate, often quite a bit. Shop around before you pull the trigger.

You’ll find most of these products available from our retail partners at Flaviar, Total Wine, Frootbat, and Wine.com. You can also search multiple stores at wine-searcher to find the best prices on all these products and more from shops across the internet. If you can’t find something — or want a totally unique recommendation for a someone that isn’t well-represented by our list — please send an email or leave a comment below.

Also this year we revamped our Drinkhacker merch with a new provider — we’ve got lots of cool options now and quality is great. We also appreciate if you follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, or all three for the latest and greatest, and sign up for our weekly newsletter to get Drinkhacker via email.

Finally, don’t forget that previous picks are still out there and make great gifts. For more top gift ideas check out the archives and read our 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008 holiday guides.

Bourbon – Maker’s Mark The Keepers Release 2025 Limited Release ($86) – Maker’s Mark rightfully gets all kinds of ink for its excellent Cellar Aged series, but the best whiskey it put out this year was this beautiful special edition in the wood finishing series, selected by the rickhouse workers at the company, finished with 10 virgin toasted American oak staves. More outstanding $100-or-less (but special edition) picks include Booker’s Bourbon “By the Pond Batch” 2025-02 ($100), Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask 2024 ($63), Lasso Motel Bourbon Tokaji Cask Finish ($65), and the already iconic Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 7 Years Old ($94). If you can’t find any of these, take a gander at our top bourbons under $50 and top bourbons under $100 list, which is filled with ubiquitously available stock.

Scotch – GlenDronach Ode to the Dark ($99) – As is often the case, many of our favorite Scotch whiskies this year were on the costly side, but the frugal shopper will readily find plenty of value in the category with a bit of digging — providing the tariffs don’t bite you. This GlenDronach, aged in PX sherry casks, is one of the most decadent single malts of 2025, and it’s available for just under 100 bucks. More great deals include Aberfeldy 15 Years Old Finished in Semillon Wine Casks ($71), Arran Sauternes Cask ($68), or Loch Lomond 12 Years Old ($49). For those peat lovers worthy of a little extra, consider a bottle of Port Askaig 17 Years Old ($158).

Other Whiskey – New Riff Sour Mash Single Malt Whiskey 2025 ($70) – I don’t think you’ll find a better deal on (or better quality from) cask strength American single malt than this 7 year old from New Riff. For a splurge, check out Blue Spot Irish Whiskey 7 Years Old ($196), and for something way off the beaten path, consider a gift of Hard Truth Mizunara Finished Sweet Mash Rye ($85). One final option worth picking up: If you can find Bushmills Private Reserve 12 Years Old Bordeaux Cask Finish 2025 ($80), it’s one of the best Irish releases of the year for under $100.

Gin – Hendrick’s Oasium Gin ($42) – This Middle Eastern themed special edition is one of the best Hendrick’s releases in years, an exotic crowd-pleaser that won’t break the bank. A couple of additional solid picks include Conniption Navy Strength Gin ($41) from North Carolina and As Above, So Below Elvira Autumnal Gin ($41), which boasts Cassandra Peterson herself as brand ambassador. For more thoughts, check out our most recent top 10 gins list.

Vodka/Soju – Hoodoo Espresso Vodka ($36) – Mississippi-based Cathead Distilling produces this coffee-flavored vodka, which is basically an espresso martini, ready to be poured over ice, shaken, and consumed. It’s a massive crowd pleaser and better than any of the RTD espresso martinis on the market — and probably better than what you’d cook up yourself. Sailor raved about the expressive Mutiny Island Ginger Lime Infused Vodka ($27), and I also found the cherry-licorice-pepper flavored Yobo_Kish Bliss Soju Aperitif ($42) a real delight and a low abv way to enjoy a vodka-adjacent festive sipper. Finally, for the drinker who truly has everything, splurge on Pegasus Shooting Star Vodka ($259), which is made with meteorites.

Rum – Planteray Mister Fogg Navy Rum ($38) – The rum world is now undergoing a bit of the price inflation that the whiskey world experienced over the last decade-plus, so it’s refreshing to find a rum that offers insane quality at a solid price, with this blend of four island rums, bottled at navy strength, at the top of our list. More great buys: LM&V Flag Series Jamaica 2015 ($149) can often be found for under $100, and almost anything from Arhumatic ($50 to $60), which is some of the most wildly infused rum we’ve seen to date. For more great rum picks, see our most recent top 10 rums list.

Brandy – Ferrand S.D.A. Cognac (2025) ($238) – It was a light year for brandy releases for us, with not a whole lot of value out there except for a surprise in the form of Martell VS Cognac ($38), which isn’t entirely new but is a great discount. This indulgent “Selection des Anges” release from Ferrand is worth the splurge, as is Germain-Robin California Alambic Brandy XO ($123) and Hine XO 1er Cru Cognac ($247). Apple lovers should also check out Bhakta Calvados 1989 ($235).

Tequila – Espolon Tequila Flor de Oro ($46) – If you want to give a unique tequila gift this year, this unique marigold-infused tequila will have folks talking — and reaching for the bottle for a second shot. Mijenta Tequila Blanco Maestra Selection No. 1 ($100) is a more traditional style of tequila with an equally unique story behind it (the agaves used to make it are all grown from seed), and highly worth the extra outlay. More traditional options include Tequila Herradura Blanco ($48) — the first truly unaged tequila from Herradura available in the U.S. — and Lalo Tequila Blanco High Proof ($74), a massive crowd-pleaser. Check out our top 10 tequilas and mezcals list for more picks.

Liqueur – Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey Eggnog ($21) – Sailor makes a strong case for peanut butter eggnog being on your holiday table, and I’m not going to argue with her. St. Elder Espresso Liqueur ($20) is another outstanding, festive choice, or track down a bottle of Angostura Bitters 200th Anniversary Edition ($70/200ml) for the discriminating Old Fashioned fanatic in your fam.

Wine – You can’t ever go wrong with a bottle of wine. Check out our latest best-of lists for great picks, including our top 10 wines for summer and our top 10 wines for winter features.

Books– Some of our favorite boozy titles of the year: The Japanese Way of Whisky, In Session: Low-Proof Cocktails for High-Quality Occasions, and The Botanical Bar are all great gifts, depending on the interests of your giftee.

As a final note: If you need another custom gift idea (or have a higher/lower budget), drop us a line or leave a comment here and we’ll offer our best advice!

Looking to buy any of the above? Give our retail partners at Flaviar, Total Wine, Frootbat, and Wine.com a try! Remember you can search multiple stores at wine-searcher for hard-to-find products.

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The post Drinkhacker’s 2025 Holiday Gift Guide – Best Alcohol/Spirits for Christmas appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider’s Guide to Good Drinking.