Holiday Gift Guide to Brown Spirits

When it comes to holiday gifting, there is nothing better than a fine bottle of something special. Now picking the perfect bottle is dependent on each and every person. Each of us have our own style and preference, so if you have someone on your list who likes to indulge in brown spirits but you’re not sure where to start, we have you covered. Here are a few bottles to consider for clients, mixologist friends, enthusiasts or even for gifting yourself something for that fancy bar cart. Consider this your perfect brown spirits gift guide.

Crown Royal Canadian Whisky

Crown Royal Fine De Luxe Blended Canadian Whisky is the standard of excellence for Canadian whisky. It is an extraordinary blend of 50 full-bodied Canadian whiskies, matured to perfection aging in both new and seasoned white oak barrels. Light amber in colour the nose is lightly floral with corn, buttery/vanilla and peach aromas; on the palate look for light sweet peach flavour with wood spice on a dry finish and is loved and cherished by whisky lovers all across Canada and the world. Find it here.

St Remy Signature

a French producing distillery operating since 1886. St-Rémy matures in oak barrels and as time passes it acquires an amber color. The unique blend of St-Rémy is exclusively and historically made in small French-oak barrels for a smooth taste. St. Remy Signature is a fantastic gift for brown spirits lovers. It offers enticing aromas of plum, dried apricot, oak and vanilla, along with holiday baking spices. Find it here.

Yellowstone Bourbon

Yellowstone Select is an award-winning Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. Made by Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky, located on the famed Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Yellowstone Select features a handpicked blend of four and seven-year-old Kentucky straight bourbons which give it a delicate fusion of flavours. Tasting notes include complex aromas of rye spice with soft, leathered cherries, smoked caramel, hints of vanilla and honey, and finishing notes of smoky oak and brown sugar. Bright gold in colour, this fine bourbon has complex aromas of honey, vanilla, caramel and smoky oak. Smooth and medium-bodied look for flavours of spicy rye, coconut, vanilla and ginger. Find it here.

Grants Triple Wood 12 Year Old

Grants scotch is matured in three different types of wood: sherry, American oak and bourbon. This is what gives it an added depth and a deeper taste profile. Made for real scotch enthusiasts, many whiskies take their flavour from aging in just one cask. Grant’s Triple Wood 12 spends time in three different types of wood. The Sherry cask provides sweet spice robustness, the American Oak lends subtle vanilla smoothness and the Bourbon refill offers brown sugar sweetness, resulting in a rich, complex, vanilla taste. The overall taste of Grants Triple Wood 12 has notes of cereal, peat, honey, oak, dried fruit, vanilla and toffee lead to a sweet, fruity and medium-bodied palate with a long, rich finish. Find it here.

Hennessy VS

Among the most popular cognacs in the world, Hennessy VS is known for having a hip-hop fan club. From bottle service in clubs to sophisticated cocktails, Hennessy is a versatile addition to any bar cart and brown spirits lover. For over 250 years, Hennessy has been crafting one-of-a-kind cognacs in the heart of the Charente region in France. Named after Richard Hennessy, it is made with locally grown Ugni White grapes. The Hennessy reserve is one of the largest collections of eaux-de-vie in the world. It has over 350,000 barrels stored in 65 cellars. The intense character and full-bodied flavours of Hennessy VS make it very versatile and ideal for any cocktail possibility. Find it here.

Angel’s Envy Whiskey

Angel’s Envy is inspired by Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson’s lifetime crafting fine spirits. A deep amber with aromas and flavours of almond, honey, apple, cinnamon, and blueberry compote. It’s full-bodied and smooth with a long-lasting finish. The ideal after-meal dessert. Find it here.

The Glenlivet

The Glenlivet 15 Year Old single malt scotch whisky gets its distinctive character from a process of selective maturation in which a proportion of the spirit is matured in French oak casks. This increases the intensity of the whisky, resulting in a richer and creamier finish along with a distinctive spiciness. The Glenlivet was one of the first to use French oak for making whisky, a technique that has since been imitated the world over. Glenlivet 15 spends a minimum of 15 years in oak barrels to garner its ’15 year old’ title. Smooth and delicious Glenlivet 15 is deep golden in colour, and you can expect aromas and flavours of crème brûlée, sweet apple, gentle smokiness and peat alongside of lavendar notes followed by a rich and complex finish. Ideal for the scotch lovers who want to level up their love for Speyside. Find it here.

Tullamore Irish Whiskey

a leader in the industry and one of the world’s most recognized Irish whiskies. With over 192 years of history, Tullamore D.E.W. has partnered with the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) to launch O’Everyone, a spirited benevolence campaign benefitting the powerful education-led initiatives of the CCDI. From January 1st to December 31st, 2022 Canadians can purchase an O’Everyone t-shirt and bottle label bundle for $20 CDN at OEveryone.ca and sales are tracked via the live ticker on the site. 100% of dollars raised go directly to the CCDI and Tullamore D.E.W. covers all costs associated with production and shipping. Find it here.

Taylor Fladgate

Established over three centuries ago in 1692, Taylor Fladgate is one of the oldest of the founding Port houses. Port is one of the great classic European wines so if you haven’t been to Porto, you should put it on your list. The 20 year old ‘Tawny’ is named after its colour – which is known as ‘Tawny’. Designed around a very delicious taste profile, the 20 year old Tawny is a fortified spirit and then aged in large oak casks and blended to perfection. This well-aged Tawny features Taylor Fladgate’s trademark rich dried fig, floral and citrus as well ass roasted nut and notes of nutmeg. It can last weeks (if not months) when opened and is also great with blue cheese or as an after dinner drink. Find it here.