Over the last year, we’ve been sampling the most interesting releases from the world of fine wine and rare spirits. This wine and spirits gift guide brings you the best of what we’ve tried throughout 2024. Looking past each release’s exclusivity (and price), we have chosen wines, whiskeys, tequilas and single malt Scotches that we have enjoyed drinking regardless of their retail price.
None of the below is aimed at investment. We want to see bottles open, not stored away. What better time to do so than the holiday season? Pop that bottle of champagne that’s been staring at you from the cellar all year or that bottle of whisky you’ve been hoping becomes a collector’s item and makes you a small fortune. Life is too short.
These are the bottles we’d love to open with friends, family and, of course, one’s self this holiday season.
[Visit the Elite Traveler Holiday Gift Guide here]
The very best wine gifts
Penfolds Grange by Nigo
Australian winery Penfolds continues to shake the sometimes dusty world of fine wine with a daring collab with Nigo, a fashion designer credited with the rise of luxury streetwear. This takeover extended to the jewel in Penfolds’ crown, Grange. This one’s for the true oenophiles in the family, ideally one who doesn’t shy away from a bit of double denim.
$1,035, penfolds.com
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Armand de Brignac, Blanc de Noirs Vintage 2015
Jay-Z’s ultra-exclusive champagne brand has gone from strength to strength since Moet-Hennessy acquired a significant stake in 2021, and this Blanc de Noirs marks the first vintage from the disruptive champagne house. Available exclusively in a 1.5L magnum, this one’s probably best saved for New Year’s Eve.
$3,400, armanddebrignac.com
Dom Perignon, 2015 Jean-Michel Basquiat Edition
Continuing the link between art and wine, Dom Perignon comes in with an innovative partnership with legendary artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. As a tribute to Basquiat, Dom Pérignon has crafted a special edition of its 2015 vintage. The label features artwork inspired by one of the artist’s most famous and influential pieces, In Italian (1983).
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$305, domperignon.com
Silver Oak, Two-bottle Holiday Box
Silver Oak Cellars is a genuine force for good. The California winery has trailblazed sustainable production in both Napa Valley and Alexander Valley, all the while making incredible cabernet sauvignon wines. This two-bottle gift box offers coveted wines from Napa and Alexander, giving the lucky recipient a taste of Silver Oak’s genius.
$300, silveroak.com
The Donum Estate, Zodiac Vertical
Drawing inspiration from Ai Weiwei’s renowned artwork that is showcased on the Donum Estate and wine labels, this exclusive vertical collection of Carneros Estate Pinot Noir is a blend of artistry and craftsmanship. The set features a bottle from each of three consecutive vintages: the Year of the Rat (2020), the Ox (2021), and the newly released Tiger (2022). The wines scored 95 points (2020), 94 points (2021) and 94 points (2022) respectively with top wine tasters, making for a delicious tasting vertical for an oenophile.
$325, thedonumestate.com
The very best spirits gifts
The Balvenie, Fifty
One of the most exclusive Scotch whiskies we’ve been lucky enough to try this year, The Balvenie Fifty is an ultra-exclusive single cask from one of the most coveted distilleries in the world. It’s 50 years in a refill sherry butt have been well-spent. Bottled at a cask strength of 52.3%, it still contains a youthful punch at cask strength and has plenty of ABV to play with if you’re adding water.
$54,000, thebalvenie.com
Brora, Untold Depths
Brora is one of the most revered Scotch distilleries, mainly because it closed down only to later emerge as a diamond in the rough. The ghost distillery was resurrected in 2021 and this year marked the moment its aging spirit became Scotch (three years of aging in oak casks). To mark the moment, Brora released something rather special: The Untold Depths 44 Year Old. This whisky comes from one of the few remaining casks from Brora’s lost era. The distillery closed suddenly in 1983 amid Scotch whisky’s last great downturn. Many casks remained untouched for decades, slowly morphing into some of the finest premium whisky ever produced. Want one? You’ll have to trek to the distillery to get one, as it is only available in the gift shop.
$12,000, malts.com
Littlemill, Cask Reflections
Littlemill is another one of Scotland’s ghost distilleries but unlike Brora, there’s little chance of this one coming back to life. The distillery closed in 1994, was dismantled in 1997 and the remnants destroyed by fire in 2004. No wonder it’s known as Scotland’s unluckiest distillery. But there’s plenty of whisky still to release, and this Cask Reflections series attempts to bring the whisky into the modern age with a quick finish in a coveted Japanese Mizunara oak cask. It’s a delicious whisky.
$4,900, littlemilldistillery.com
Weller, Millenium
When we asked Drew Mayville (Sazarac’s master blender) what he thought of the Weller Millenium earlier this year he replied: “It’s probably about as close to perfect as you can get”. For a man who’s been at the wheel of brands such as Pappy van Winkle and Eagle Rare for decades, it’s quite the statement. It is a blend of vintage straight wheated bourbon and wheat whiskeys that were distilled near the turn of the millennium and matured at Buffalo Trace Distillery for various lengths of time. It pushes bourbon aging to its limits and is sure to be a coveted collectible soon.
$7,500, buffalotracedistillery.com
The Dalmore, 30 Year Old
The Dalmore is known for producing highly-prized whiskies and its 30 Year Old is up there with the best of them. Sure, you’re paying a heavy price for it, but in return, you get a whisky aged in a combination of Colheita and Tawny port casks from long-term distillery collaborator Graham’s Port. The redesigned bottle, with its chrome cap, gives it added shelf appeal for good measure.
$6,000, thedalmore.com
The Macallan, Time : Space Mastery
Revealed earlier this year with a global advertising campaign that stretched from Piccadilly Circus to Times Square, The Macallan Time : Space Mastery is a simple whisky at its heart. The non-aged statement comes in at a very drinkable 43.6% ABV but is set apart with one of the most distinctive bottle designs ever seen. Love it or loathe it, you can’t deny the continued demand for The Macallan. Bottles have sold out pretty much everywhere.
$1,400, themacallan.com
The GlenAllachie, Master of Wood 17 Year Old
If you want more bang for your buck, head to The Macallan’s neighbor, The GlenAllachie. Known for its commitment to using only the finest oak casks, the Masters of Wood series offers an incredible blend of Mizunara oak and ex-Olorosso casks. It makes for an intensely tasty dram, full of dry fruit and spice. The perfect winter Scotch whisky to enjoy by the fire.
$340, theglenallachie.com
Redbreast, 18 Year Old
Continuing the bang-for-buck trend, Redbreast is a reliably tasty dram and one of Ireland’s leading brands. The 18 Year Old is the latest (and final) edition to its core lineup. The whiskey has been aged in a combination of bourbon, Oloroso sherry, cream sherry and ruby port casks for an intense and complex flavor profile. A wonderful whiskey for anyone celebrating their Irish roots this season.
$249, redbreast.com
Highland Park, 18 Year Old
Highland Park, located on the island of Orkney, is a sleeping giant in the Scotch whisky industry. Reliably turning out fantastic whisky, Highland Park was often dismissed as a gimmick due to its Viking branding. That’s now gone, with the brand unveiling a new identity earlier this year. There’s no better way to introduce yourself to the brand than the 18 Year Old, offering the perfect blend of Orkadian and cask influence.
$190, highlandpark.com
Kanosuke, Limited Edition 2023
Japanese whiskey has gone from strength to strength this year, but my gosh it has become expensive. With so few brands controlling such a large share of the market, and demand higher than ever, the companies have taken advantage by pushing up prices. Enter Kanosuke, one of the first new names to take on those big brands. The Limited Edition, offered at a punchy cask strength of 59%, gives drinkers a taste of where Japanese whisky may be going.
$200, kanosuke-en.com
House of Hazelwood, The Transatlantic
House of Hazelwood is an independent venture from the family behind Glenfiddich and The Balvenie. With access to extraordinary stocks, it has become a vessel for oddities that would never fit under one of those carefully managed brands. Out of all eight whiskies in its 2024 collection, The Transatlantic sums up House of Hazelwood’s ethos the best. This 33-year-old grain whisky spent its final eight years in virgin American oak casks, which is simply unheard of in Scotch production. At 57.3% ABV, this is a big and bolshy whisky full of vanilla, caramel and oak spice. Blind-tasted, even the most seasoned of whisky drinkers would have a hard time identifying this as a Scotch and not a bourbon.
$1,700, houseofhazelwood.com
The Glenturret, Still Life Summer
The Glenturret Still Life Decanter Series takes inspiration from the unique character of Scottish seasons from dark and cozy winters to endless summer days. Master whisky maker Bob Dalgrano has instilled the four Still Life whiskies (Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn) with flavors associated with those seasons. For summer, Dalgrano looked back at his time working as a farmhand, as well as what is traditionally a silent period for Scotch distilleries. It’s a beautiful whisky out of the bottle, offering boozy fruit salad with hints of strawberries, pineapple and sweet vanilla.
£5,500 (approx $7,000), theglenturret.com
Martell, Noblige Noir
Rushing through the airport, heading back home, and you need to pick up one last gift. Martell, one of the world’s most underrated cognacs, is bringing Noblige Noir exclusive to travel retail for this holiday season. The cognac is the darkest blend in the Noblige collection, reflected by its dark liquid and dramatic bottle design, Noblige Noir is aged in extra-toasted casks to extract more spice from the wood. Perfect for an upscale Sidecar.
$135, martell.com
Clase Azul, Gold
There haven’t been too many tequila launches to speak of this year, but fortunately Clase Azul Gold remains the pinnacle of the genre. A joven tequila, Clase Azul Gold is a blend of Clase Azul Tequila Plata, and two other tequilas, a special reposado tequila that is matured in French oak casks, in addition to an extra añejo that’s finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. The result is a delicious tequila that’s well worthy of a Mexican sunset.
$300, claseazul.com
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