The Best Whisky Gift Sets For Valentine's Day and Beyond

Frankly, we can think of no better way to lean into full-on festive mode than with this impressive advent selection, handpicked by the experts at the Whisky Exchange.

True to form, they’ve shone the light on lesser-known styles and artisanal producers – including spicy ryes for sazerac cocktails and sultry sweet Japanese drops – making it perfect gift to give (and receive) this Christmas.

This seriously smooth Japanese sipper is made on Coffey stills imported from Scotland in the 1960s, producing a flavour-packed whisky with a distinctive creamy texture.

Expect notes of oak, warming caramel and fresh coconut; perfect for sipping fireside. Keepsake tongs and a suitably minimalist steel ice bucket ensure the gift has life long after the whisky runs dry.

Blue Label is the brand’s rarest release to date and it’s a corker. Full of woody cinnamon, cedar, honey and dried fruit sweetness, the dram wraps up with a whiff of Highland-style smoke and tobacco.

Paired with keepsake glassware to savour long after the last drop, it’s a foolproof – yet thoughtful – gift for the guy that has everything.

Redbreast – AKA Ireland’s most awarded single pot still whiskey – is worthy of a spot on any connoisseur's bar cart. Matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, the nose is full of spicy sweet character, with toasted oak, buttery hot cross bun and mixed spices at the fore.

Inside, there’s a copper bird feeder and a portion of proceeds will be donated to support bird conservation charities. Drink good, do good? Sounds like a win win to us.

The natty packaging sets this premium selection of drams apart, with an interactive QR code playlist to accompany your fireside sipping this festive season (and reassuringly Bublé free).

It’s a great way to discover new drops; standout expressions for our expert panel were the GlenAllachie 10-Year-Old and Speyside #4, which was butter-soft and full of peppery spice.

This 12-year-old is as classic as they come; deep gold in the glass, with a sweet dried fruit aroma and dark coffee backbone, while buttery vanilla rounds out the blend.

Do this complex blend justice by sipping straight up – preferably, out of the engraved tasting glasses.

Made from field to bottle in Yorkshire, marking the county’s first foray into single malt Scotch production, this tasting set makes the perfect gift for whisky drinkers to discover a new drop.

The set itself includes miniatures of its core range, including a creamy, spiced Flagship (with notes of orange blossom, gingerbread and baklava), STR Finish (which is finished in re-charred red wine Rioja barriques, imparting a rich, red berry flavour) and Moscatel, which makes a fine digestif.

Forget the standard chocolate advent calendar; this year, we’re all for discovering a wax-sealed dram behind each door.

Drinks by the Dram has curated a stellar line-up of world whiskies to pique the interest of enthusiasts, with high praise across the board for Samuel Oliver’s English Malt and the rich, smoky blended Scotch by Burnt Ends.

Ready to dip your toe in a dram from the Emerald Isle? This gift set – complete with chintzy rocks glasses to add to your collection – is bound to prove popular on the big day.

The drop itself is triple-distilled and matured in bourbon barrels, resulting in a moreish, malty flavour with vanilla sweetness and a hint of rye spice to finish. It’s versatile enough to sip straight up or stir into your favourite whiskey-based cocktail – may we recommend a classic Blackthorn to really up the ante?

Opening with baked apple, malt, barley and a buttery vanilla note, The Singleton reminded our panel of a “warm tarte tatin” – that’s us sold, then. Alongside this expert-approved bottle, you’ll find two glass tumblers, perfect for serving up a Speyside Sazerac.

We’re big fans of NIO cocktails (which stands for “needs ice only”). While you may have been burned by ready-to-drink cocktails in the past, make no mistake, NIO is all about crafting bar-quality cocktails with equally premium ingredients.

There are three whisky-based cocktails to choose from: a classic Manhattan (made with Bulleit Bourbon and Cocchi Storico, of course), an Old Fashioned, and a citrussy sour we can't get enough of. This is one of those gifts we love to give – but, if we’re being brutally honest, would prefer to be on the receiving end of.

This Dublin-based brand rests its small-batch whiskey in rum casks for 12 months, giving the liquid a whole load of spice. Our panel loved its honey-caramel aroma and heady dried fruit flavour, with high praise for the quality whisky glasses, too.