If you’re anything like us here at Above51, you’re spending some free time sipping on some brown water and scrolling feeds thinking of gift ideas. Or, maybe you’re looking for that gift for the lover of brown water. We are here to help! We’ve gone and looked for a number of items that are quick to please your bourbon lovin buddy without necessarily breaking the bank. A lot of times it is hard to know what is good bourbon or what bourbon do they like.
The items that we’ve found for you are aimed to help you please without having to become a secret squirrel to figure out their likes. No matter their tastes, they’re sure to like the items we’ve scouted for you. Arranged in no particular order, and also our disclaimer that we get zero kickbacks from any of these organizations so that means we’re free to talk about the item, and aren’t just an algorithm on your phone or feed telling you where to go… or are we? Just kidding. Here we go.
Bourbon Gifts for Every Occasion
Buffalo Bottle and Glass (The Combo that won’t steer you wrong)
This is the combination that you cannot get wrong. If you were to search for the nice Glencairn glasses by themselves, you’re going to pay anywhere from $25-$75 for a set. We’ll have a separate post regarding why your Bourbon Buddy loves the Glencairn style glass. Then, if you are going to try and brave the crowds at your local liquor store(s) to try and find a bottle of Buffalo Trace, you may have to hit a number of them, unless you happen to know Jim, the driver, or Patsy at the counter to know when they’ll be delivered. (Note to self: Maybe that’ll be my next app idea… delivery dates and times). This combination is going for $40 and if you sign up for the distro list, you can even get another $10 off your first order. So $30 for a bottle of Buffalo Trace and a Glencairn set, you’re already winning! Hopefully our staff will read this note, ha ha.
Personalized Barrel Gifts (Make sure you have time to order)
If you’re reading this on December 23rd, then this may not be the gift item of choice for your Bourbon Buddy. This site has a number of really neat items made out of Tennessee Whiskey barrels. Many of them can be personalized for you, from bottle openers to desk signs to coat hangers for the home. Items like the bottle opener are easily affordable at $25, but if you want to splurge (and are cool with them hanging it in the house) then there are a number of other unique items here.
Glassware (Useful and neat)
We stumbled onto this glass by Norlan. This particular one that we are highlighting is designed for increasing the aromatics and allowing for that full scent as you’re tasting and sipping your beloved brown water with your Bourbon Buddy. It is designed for those who like their whisky or bourbon neat (without that ice cube). Norlan also sells a variety of glassware as well so you have a few choices to go with here. All nicely priced, and this whisky glass is good for $26.60.
Get Freaky with a Flask (Ok, that was wordplay, but we don’t judge)
There are a lot of clever flasks out there that you can gift your Bourbon Buddy. There are some that are whimsical, clever, or show off their favorite teams, but if they’re just looking for good quality and a simple flask, then look no further than this Stanley flask. Convenient to add to your Amazon cart and for around $20 (it’s 23% off currently) it is functional, stylish, and convenient. The pro on this one is that you won’t have to worry about where your flask filling funnel went because of the larger mouth opening. But if you’re working to be on the sneak, it’s a con, because its’ about 7” x 3”. (If pocket friendly design is for you, check out this one by one of our faves, Rabbit Hole Distillery).
The Ice-ing on the Gift Giving Cake (No cake was harmed in this production)
If you want the easy win and high utility then look no further. Giving the gift of cubes is cheap, can be clever, but are always useful. You can go super artsy, where some places will offer shapes or sizes, or go with the classic balls or cubes. (Keep it PG folks ha ha… or don’t). There are many to list, but don’t overpay for these, especially if doing the small and simple. These run from as low as $6 to $35. Amazon has a number of these around $10 so they can be stocking stuffers or a white elephant gift.
De-Mystify Decanters (Custom brown water holders)
These are a little more pricy around $45, but with Black Friday codes (BK20EA as of this publishing) you can get 20% off. These may not be as friendly if there are little corn nuggets (kids) running around the house or sneaky teens, but for those who like to have their brown water set out and ready to entertain, this is a gift that offers personalization and can even add in a logo if you’d like.
Jot and Tittle (Yeah, you heard us)
Ever think that you or your Bourbon Buddy are super enlightened with the next great idea when having some sips of heavenly corn syrup? Then this is for you/them. A solid little leather notebook for all those bourbon infused brainiac ideas. It’s small enough to carry (7”x5”) and is under $20.
Where There’s Smoke (Bourbon Smoker)
This one is one we’ve been looking for a while. Smoking your bourbon takes a bit of time to figure out between how not to overcook your wood, types of wood, and how to blend them with the right bourbon flavors. But if there’s a bit of scientist in you, then experiment away. This is another gift you can go pretty pricy on, but at $29.99 (Currently 40% off) this is a steal, and especially for the cool little lids with a barrel make it almost a no brainer.
Wood You Like a Drink? (Wooden Bourbon Cup)
This is a style that is growing in popularity. They are bourbon cups made of wood. Other styles include a charred lining of the cup as well. This gives a vintage feel to having your drink and a unique conversation starter for sure. We’re using the Amazon link for the item, though you can order through OakSip (they’re pre-ordering). I’m sure these will be available for personalization later too. The quality is good on these and are made for preserving the flavor of the drink. If your Bourbon Buddy likes the smokiness, get the charred lining.
The Nose Knows (Nosing Kit)
This is one of the more expensive items that we have on the list, so it’s probably reserved for your more savvy Bourbon Buddies. This is also for the one that wants to be more sophisticated with the bourbon and understanding the notes that they’re giving off. There are certainly other kits which can go even higher. This set by Nose Your Bourbon has 18 ingredients which you match with your bourbon of choice by capturing the scent before tasting and discovering the note amplification in your sip.
Dispense with Formality (Bourbon Dispenser)
This is really cool and you can customize it. This is another one that you do not want to procrastinate on because it can take 2-3 weeks to arrive to you after customization. There are many sellers who have these items or like items but this one we found is at a great price at around $60 (at time of publishing). These will hold your more classic bottle sizes (~3 cm head) and may not fit the larger bottles in your inventory, but is clever for those who love the classics.
A Gift Above (Above51 Merch)
Last but certainly not least for quick wins you can check out our shop. For the Bourbon Buddy who might be drinking coffee, might be sipping bourbon, keep everyone guessing with the Might Be Bourbon mug.
For the clever t-shirt lover, they might want to embrace their love for the kernel and all that it brings to life in a glass of beloved corn syrup called Bourbon with our Embrace the Corn t-shirt.
