Whiskey Sidekick's TOP 10 Whiskey Gifts for 2018
Here are our quick picks for the Top 10 whiskey gifts available this year…
Here are our quick picks for the Top 10 Whiskey Gifts available this year…
#1 - 33 Books Co.
33 Books Co. located in Portland, OR has some of the best whiskey related gifts and accessories available.
Famous for their pocket tasting journals they also offer many other great items perfect for the whiskey lover that is just getting started or is well on their journey.
The Whiskey Tasting Set comes with a Glencairn®, 2 tasting journals (Scotch & Whiskey), 33® Books Co. pen, and super cool gift box to make a great impression.
The 33® Glasses of Whiskey - Double Barrel Edition is hand numbered with 3 tasting guides inside a hand wax-dipped attractive tin.
The Original Drinking Coin™ is the perfect companion to help make a decision when you are being indecisive.
33 Glasses of Whiskey: Double-Barrel Edition
Whisk(e)y Tasting Set
The Original Drinking Coin
#2 - Probably Whiskey Enamel “Coffee” Mug
Great for “Coffee” and “other things”
Made with enamel-coated cold-rolled steel (much stronger than ceramic) these mugs are perfect for tailgating, camping, travel or your desk.
This is one of those awesome gifts that are impossible not to love when received and would help clear up a lot of confusion around the evening campfire.
Holds 16oz and is 4” across and 3.5” tall.
Just buy one already,
you know you want to.
#3 - Personalized American Oak Whiskey Aging Barrel
From American Oak Barrel
Pour in a cheap whiskey or a combination of your select spirits and in just a few weeks you will have a custom creation to call your own ready for the top shelf.
The Personalized Whiskey Aging Barrel from American Oak Barrel is great for taking your favorite spirits up a notch and getting that top shelf flavor in weeks not years.
Comes in 1, 2, 3 or 5 Liter sizes and hand-crafted from genuine American Oak by experienced coopers.
Backed by a 90-Day Guarantee, this awesome personalized gift comes with everything you need to get started aging right out of the box.
#4 - Whiskey Sidekick Sherlock Drinking Glencairn® & Rocks Glasses
Whiskey Sidekick - Glencairn® Whiskey Glass
Whiskey Sidekick - Rocks Glass
These glasses are awesome!
Yes, it’s a shameless plug but these glasses really are awesome!
The genuine Glencairn® Crystal Whisky Glass is designed specifically for the Scotch lover in mind and is the official glass endorsed by the Scotch Whisky Association.
Our Rocks Glasses are made of premium Stölzle Lausitz Glass from Germany and are perfect for serving a cocktail or a pour of your favorite Bourbon on ice.
The laser etched Sherlock Drinking logo will never fade and can go through the wash with ease!
Sold individually or in sets of 2 or 4, these glasses are the perfect personal gift to give this holiday season.
#5 - Hacking Whiskey
Not your ordinary whiskey book.
”Tips, recipes, and insider secrets about the weird yet delightful ways in which whiskey is being used today.”
This field guide of sorts from Aaron Goldfarb is a collection of ideas and DIY shortcuts that allow you to take your whiskey to another level at home.
Ideas like making your own blends of inexpensive whiskey that taste top shelf and adding to infinity bottles.
Give this to your whiskey aficionado friend or family member and tell them that they have to invite you over for their next experiment!
Available in hardcover and perfect as a coffee table conversation starter.
#6 - Denver & Liely - Whiskey & Bourbon Glasses
Denver & Liely - Whiskey Glass
These Aussies really know how to blow!
Made the old fashioned way, and designed specifically for whisky, the hand-blown shape of the D&L Whisky Glass takes the aroma enhancing form of a traditional whisky snifter and combines it with the versatility and style of a classic tumbler.
Denver & Liely - Bourbon Glass
After their research trip to Kentucky and Tennessee, Denver and Liely began the development of this dedicated bourbon glass. Designed to give you the experience the distillers and experts wanted.
#7 - Whiskey Aroma Kit - 24 Aroma Nose Training System
Awesome training kit for enhancing your understanding and enjoyment of Whisky.
24 aroma samples that cover the spectrum of aromas typically found in scotch whiskies (but also apply to Bourbon and other whiskey from around the world)
Comes with a 60 page explanation booklet and blank aroma strips to get you started.
The perfect addition to your next tasting session!
#8 - Sherlock Holmes Drinking Coaster (Black Walnut) - Set of 4
Whiskey Sidekick - Sherlock Holmes Drinking Coaster - Set of 4
Perfect for the Sherlock Holmes or Whiskey fanatic, the Sherlock Holmes Drinking Coaster Set is the classiest way to hold up a glass of Scotch, Bourbon, Vodka, Wine or any other drink/cocktail that you can think of.
Polyurethane coated for protection and hand-crafted of beautiful Black Walnut with black metallic resin infill, these will accommodate any size Rocks Glass, Glencairn®, wine or shot glass with ease.
Buy one for a gift and grab a set for yourself at the same time!
#9 - Sempli Cupa-Rocks Clear Whiskey Glasses, Set of 2 in Gift Box
The Sempli Cupa-Rocks is specially designed to create a swirling rotation that enhances the taste of your favorite Whiskey and they plain look cool!
Each glass comfortably fits in your hand and holds up to 9oz of your favorite spirit! Great for everyday use, cocktail making or for dinner parties, receptions, weddings...
Makes the perfect present for any occasion.
As optional accessories, Sempli’s Cupa-Stay coasters and Cupa-Lift trays will keep your glasses from rocking back and forth while dining!
#10 - Whiskey: The Definitive World Guide
Big-ole book with a ton of good info to boot!
Discover the secrets of whiskey's aromas and flavors, the stories behind great distilleries, and expert tasting notes in this updated edition originated by one of the most highly respected commentators in the whiskey world, Michael Jackson.
This book will tell you everything and anything you'll ever want to know about whiskey, from storing and serving whiskey, to whiskey cocktails, to pairing whiskey with food.
This is the updated edition that includes all the recent names in whiskey today, a section devoted to American craft distilleries, and the addition of new distilleries from across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
And just because… here are a few white elephants that you might want to consider:
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Whiskey Sidekick @ Multnomah Whiskey Library
Located on Alder St. in the heart of downtown Portland, the plain facade of the Multnomah Whiskey Library leaves all to the imagination of what's behind that door at the top of the stairs
"The Multnomah Whiskey Library holds an exhaustive collection representing all major, and lesser, styles of distilled spirits known to the modern world."
Located on Alder St. in the heart of downtown Portland, the plain facade of the Multnomah Whiskey Library leaves all to the imagination of what's behind that door at the top of the stairs. Upon entering you are hit with the majesty of the great wall of 1500 bottles. Unless you know exactly what you are looking for... and you will find it here if you do... leave your selections in the very capable hands of their extremely knowledgeable bartenders and prepare to spend some time soaking in the atmosphere.
Brett did an excellent job of whipping up our first couple of drinks for the evening & recommended an Improved Whiskey Cocktail for myself and Josh was dead set on a classic Old Fashioned. One of the signature mixed drinks that the Library opened with three years ago, I can attest that it is one of the best I have ever had.
Bartender Brett
Left to Right: Improved Whiskey Cocktail, Old Fashioned
To pair with our cocktails we grabbed a heaping bowl of bacon fat popcorn. A word of warning... don't go for the last bits as it will leave your fingers dripping in grease (unless you like that sort of thing). Both of us were pretty hungry so I ordered the chef's flight and Josh the mac & cheese.
I started off the straight stuff with a dram of Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2016 Barrel Strength. It made a great pairing with what was left of the bacon fat popcorn. Josh picked out the Ardbeg Ardbog. This thing turned out to be a smokey peat monster with a very complex profile and he said that it was the best Ardbeg yet and now is on a personal quest to secure one of these bottles.
Click either of the images above to check out our reviews
If you ever find yourself in Portland for the evening definitely look up the Library. They do have a membership program for reservations and even though the well-worth-it wait for a table upstairs can be rather long for walk-ins, their "Green Room" downstairs offers the essence of the library with a slightly reduced yet more attainable selection of spirits and spots at the bar.
Birds, Brews & Baltimore
We arrived at the local watering hole Birds of a Feather. At first glance the front of the building in the dark looked unassuming but upon further inspection was more old world and historic. It was smack-dab in the middle of the week and upon swinging open the door we were greeted by all the local regulars.
So here's a recap of all the libations and enjoyment Baltimore has to offer.
First, a little background... I spend most of my days working as a kind of jack of all trades for the family wholesale plant nursery Blue Mountain Nursery. I was in Baltimore with my father exhibiting at MANTS, one of the biggest nursery tradeshows in the US.
After boarding our 5:30am flight out of PDX and a short layover in Denver we landed in Baltimore. I spent the next three hours at the convention center slugging potted dirt around and was ready for a brew and some food.
Oliver Brewing Co. - Noche Del Chupacabra Copper Fox Barrel Aged
Being directly across the street from the convention and just around the corner from our hotel, The Pratt Street Ale House was conveniently en-route. That night I enjoyed a hefty order of fish and chips and a very interesting brew from Oliver Brewing Co. Labeled as a Smoked Red Ale, the Noche Del Chupacabra Copper Fox Barrel Aged started out slightly bitter with a touch of mesquite smoke. It had a very subtle and mellow feel after aging in Copper Fox whiskey barrels for 6 months. At 7.2% abv it packed quite a punch and finished off with the spiciness of the chipotle and ghost peppers. After dinner my father decided we should run to the closest office supply store to grab some items for the show so we hailed an Uber.
Within a minute or so our pilot Shawniece pulled up in her maroon SUV. Unfortunately for us this lovely young woman had two GPS units and could not seem to follow either. Proceeding to miss 3 exits as she continued to talk about how she frequented the local Walmart and blasting the heat so high that my Dad finally had to open the window we made it the 10 miles to our destination.
Photo Credit: Laura Gentry
That afternoon I received a phone call from from my wife letting me know that Portland was getting a foot of snow. The whole area was gridlocked and she ended up spending two nights at the hospital before finally making it home on Thursday evening.
First day of the show was busy but nothing spectacular. We grabbed dinner again at Pratt Street Ale House and since I knew this was the only night we had time available I decided it would be good to check out the local whisky bar.
After grabbing another Uber trip and we arrived at the local watering hole Birds of a Feather. At first glance the front of the building in the dark looked unassuming but upon further inspection was more old world and historic. It was smack-dab in the middle of the week and upon swinging open the door we were greeted by all the local regulars. Although somewhat intimidating for a tourist, they were all very welcoming. We bellied up to the the end of the bar and were given a primer on the place by one patron who had obviously gotten off of work early.
Owner, bartender and whisky connoisseur Alicia Horn came over and asked us what we would enjoy. As the gentleman previously suggested, I sought her opinion on the matter and was recommended Glengoyne 18 (Check out my review here) and my father a Balvenie 12. I proceeded to enjoy my dram all the while taking in the nautical themed atmosphere and the great wall of Scotch behind the bar.
Alicia has been running the bar here for the last 36 years with her husband and lives in the apartment upstairs. Even though outside of the building they claim to have over 60 single malt scotches on hand at any one time, I personally counted over 100 different offerings from my vantage point at the bar. We spent the next hour and a half laughing at all of the incoherent conversations and apparent inside jokes only enjoyed by Baltimore's own. On our way out I made sure to grab a complimentary bite-sized Twix and thanked Alice and our fellow drink mates for their hospitality. I would definitely recommend this place as a stop and stay a while destination to anyone visiting Baltimore who enjoys whiskey and wants some lively and slightly eccentric company for the evening.
2nd day of the show over and we set up to take one of our customers out to dinner and I found out apparently that customer doesn't drink so... Cheesecake Factory and waters all around! The original party of 4 became a party of 7 with a bunch of random people and lets just say that we didn't end up paying for dinner and couldn't get back to our hotel fast enough. Unfortunately I hadn't been sleeping well and ended up with a head cold so I put together the best mind-numbing cocktail a hotel could provide...
mind-numbing cocktail
Day 3 and as the show finally came to an end we grabbed another Uber to the airport. Somehow we flew through security and with 2 hours to spare found ourselves seated in The Firkin and Flyer. It was conveniently located just down the way from our gate and it had a nice view of the gradually setting sun. I knocked back a couple 20oz Samuel Adams Winter Lagers and polished off an awesome order of probably the best dang onion rings I've ever had. We jumped on the airplane and after 6 hours of flying in which i spent $14 on two mini-shots of Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 (which was disgraceful I might add), watched Ride Along 2, Central Intelligence & stuck in the window-less seat (who makes a plane with no window in a spot?) with another broad-shouldered gentleman next to me...my Dad...I was looking forward to being on the ground, home and sledding with my son in the morning.
It would be putting it lightly to state that I am not a fan of flying but Birds of a Feather in Baltimore will definitely be an annual destination for me.
Cheers!
Matt