This is the perfect beginner Christmas whisky gift guide. Ideal if you’re new to whisky. New to Christmas whisky. New to gift guides concerning whisky and Christmas whisky alike.
Even if you’re not a whisky drinker at all, this guide will help you shop for the loved one who wants a bottle under the tree. It might even persuade you to join the dark side…
Buying whisky when you don’t drink it can feel like trying to pick a film for someone who’s seen everything. But worry not, this whisky gift guide for beginners covers bottles that are easy to love, impossible to get wrong, and taste far more expensive than they are. These are gifts that’ll impress enthusiasts without confusing non-drinkers.
Oh, and #WhiskySanta is back. Look busy.
The Beginner Christmas Whisky Gift Guide
Not a whisky drinker? You’ll still love these, as will the people you’re buying for.
Angel’s Envy 70cl Whiskey
Perfect for… Anyone with a sweet tooth, likes to try new drinks, enjoys the finer things, is a mince pie fiend.
Angel’s Envy is a rich and silky bourbon finished in Port casks, and that finish gives it a festive flourish of dried fruit, chocolate, and vanilla that feels tailor-made for December nights. The Port cask sweetness makes it an easy step into whisky, with layers of cinnamon, caramel, and gentle spice that pair perfectly with mince pies or, frankly, the smell of a good Christmas candle.
Burnt Ends Blended Whiskey 50cl Whisky
Perfect for… Self-appointed “grill masters”, people who have 25 bottles of sauce on the table, smoke lovers, anyone who would drink a pint of gravy.
Burnt Ends Blended Whisky takes inspiration from the barbecue joints of the American South, combining smoky Scotch whisky and smooth American rye. It’s meaty, warming, and gloriously rich. Think liquid charcoal meets toffee pudding. The bottle even looks like a barbecue sauce. Pop it next to the gravy boat for a nice festive prank.
Shop Kyrö and more gift sets here
Kyrö Whisky Tasting Set 20cl
Perfect for… Secret Santa shoppers, the indecisive, Nordic minimalists, bargain hunters.
This neat little tasting set from Finnish distillery Kyrö is made entirely from rye whisky and includes four 50ml minis: Malt Rye Whisky, Wood Smoke, Peat Smoke, and Oloroso Cask. It’s a brilliant introduction to whisky for the curious, and the compact set makes a perfect stocking filler or Secret Santa gift. Bonus: the sleek packaging makes it look much more expensive than it is.
Green Spot 10 Year Old 100 Year Anniversary Limited Edition 70cl Whiskey
Perfect for… Whiskey nerds, artsy types, sentimental collectors, and apple crumble enthusiasts.
Celebrating 100 years of Green Spot, this 10-year-old single pot still Irish whiskey is a slice of history wrapped in a bold, festive green. Matured in bourbon and sherry casks, it offers notes of apple tart, baking spices, and vanilla… wonderfully Christmassy enough. But the bottle is a work of art in itself, every bit the collector’s Christmas gift.
Starward Left-Field 70cl Whisky
Perfect for… Lovers of wine, home bartenders, devourers of sweet and rich desserts, and Kylie Minogue appreciators.
All the way from Melbourne, Starward Left-Field is a lively single malt matured in Australian red wine barrels. Expect flavours of dried fruit, maple syrup, and baking spice – festive, flexible, and friendly to new whisky drinkers. Whether poured neat, splashed into a hot toddy, or mixed with ginger ale, it’s the kind of bottle that makes Christmas drinking easy.
The Beginner Christmas Whisky Gift Guide won’t let you down.
Whisky 12 Dram Advent Calendar (2025 Edition) 36cl
Perfect for…The gifter who can’t commit to one bottle, the giftee who enjoys surprises, anyone bored with the same ol’ Advent Calendar.
Forget cheap chocolate this year. A proper Advent Calendar hides 12 wax-sealed drams of top-quality whisky, don’t you know? Sourced from brilliant distilleries across the world, each day brings a new discovery, making the run-up to Christmas feel like a proper tasting adventure.
Balvenie 21 Year Old PortWood Finish 70cl Whisky
Perfect for… Connoisseurs, people who think they are connoisseurs, anyone who loves to drink by a roaring log fire.
Balvenie’s 21 Year Old PortWood is the definition of refined Christmas indulgence. Finished in port pipes, it brims with soft fruit, honey, and spice, making it feel like dessert in a glass. It’s an elegant, classic Speyside dram that turns Christmas night into something unforgettable.
That was our Beginner Christmas Whisky Gift Guide. Need more inspiration? Head to our dedicated Christmas gifting shop. Or let us know what you’re looking for on our Instagram.