5 Whisky & Cognac Christmas Gifts For Under $500

Here are four great whiskies and one special cognac perfect for Christmas gifting, so you can check another name off your ‘to buy for’ list.
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The festive season is approaching and with it the need to find the perfect Christmas gift for your loved ones. Luckily, we have some fantastic bottles of whisky and cognac on The Whiskey Wash Shop that will make great gifts for the whisky lover in your life. The best part? All of these old, rare, and collectible whiskies are under $500, with free shipping to all US states excluding Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Mississippi, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, and West Virginia. We also ship for free around the United Kingdom. Browse the UK Shop here

So, here are four great whiskies and one special cognac perfect for Christmas gifting, so you can check another name off your ‘to buy for’ list. 

Highland Park 12 Year Old Crystal Decanter Set 

BUY NOW: $423

Highland Park Distillery, located on the rugged and remote Isle of Orkney off the north coast of Scotland, is a multi-award-winning distillery. In fact Highland Park was named ‘Best Spirit in the World’ by US whisky expert Paul Pacult in his 2005 Spirit Journal

The Highland Park 12 Year Old is at the center of the distillery’s core range. Having been introduced in 1979, the 12 Year Old has remained a fan favorite, and was recently given a makeover in Highland Park’s rebrand. 

However, there is a special place in the hearts of many scotch whisky collectors for the old-style Highland Park 12 Year Old, which is housed in a distinctly tapered bottle and features the iconic ‘h’ in the style of an illuminated manuscript. 

This Highland Park 12 Year Old is part of a limited edition gift set that comes complete with a small, crystal decanter. The perfect collectors’ piece for any Highland Park lover, this set will make a wonderful gift for the scotch whisky fan in your life. 

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“The Surreal Legend Of Cognac” 29 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac

BUY NOW: $330

Not a whisky fan? Prefer a dram of cognac? No problem. This high-aged 29 Year Old Grand Champagne Cognac bottled for Mark Littler Ltd is a stunning dram through which you can discover the history of cognac itself. 

The large ‘C’ that sits on the front of the label, again in illuminated manuscript style, tells the mythical story of cognac’s origins. The story features a Lord, divine punishment, Dutch trading ships, and the Devil. Each of these elements can be seen on the label. You can read the full and fascinating story here

This particular cognac hails from the Grande Champagne region of France, which is known for its high-quality, chalky soil. The cognacs produced here are often regarded of some of the best produced in the entire Cognac region. 

Angus MacRaild of WhiskyFun provided Mark Littler Ltd with tasting notes for the cognac. According to him, this Grande Champagne Cognac offers a deep amber hue and a robust, earthy nose with chocolate, leather, and marmalade, evolving to notes of dates, figs, and plums. The palate is bold and rustic, filled with earthy tones, tobacco, walnuts, and rancio, later unveiling prunes and aged teas. A lengthy finish highlights orange peel, clove, citrus marmalade, and dark chocolate, showcasing remarkable depth and finesse.

Only 247 bottles of this cognac were produced, making it rare as well as delicious. 

Bimber Cask Reserve #202021 70cl 59% With Original Tube

BUY NOW: $270

The world of English whisky is expanding, and Bimber undoubtedly played a role in the recent resurgence of English whisky with the release of the Bimber Underground Series. 

English whisky, being an emerging category, is not as strictly governed as scotch whisky, nor is it as entrenched in tradition. This particular Bimber expression demonstrates this well, having been exclusively matured in virgin oak casks. 

Whilst scotch whisky can legally be matured in virgin oak casks, this is not necessarily a common practice. Most scotch whisky distilleries choose to mature in ex-bourbon or ex-sherry, with cask finishes in casks such as wine and port. 

So, whilst scotch whisky distillers know what works for their customer base, English whisky distillers are still experimenting. 

This Bimber Single Malt London Whisky was bottled at 59% ABV in 2023 from single cask #202021. 

Bimber expert, David Cox, provided the tasting notes for this expression. According to him, it is a beautifully rich Bimber with a nose of vanilla custard, tonka bean, dark fruits, and nutmeg. The full, sweet mouthfeel is balanced by a gentle wood dryness and subtle herbal notes. Spice lingers elegantly in the long finish, making this virgin cask release exceptionally refined and well-timed. 

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch 010

BUY NOW: $266

Laphroaig is considered to be a quintessential Islay distillery. Having been founded by the Johnston brothers in 1815, Laphroaig has a dedicated following that can’t get enough of the smoky, medicinal whisky produced there. 

The Laphroaig 10 Year Old is one of the brand’s most famous expressions, introduced over 75 years ago by Laphroaig legend, Ian Hunter. Bottled at 40% ABV, the whisky has remained a firm favorite of Laphroaig fans and has served as an introductory expression for those wishing to venture into the world of peat. 

This particular Laphroaig 10 Year Old is a step up from the original in terms of ABV, bottled at a cask strength of 58% ABV.  It was distilled in 2008 and bottled in January 2018 as part of batch number 10. 

So, if you have an Islay whisky fan in your life that is looking for something of an ABV challenge, this 10 Year Old Cask Strength Laphroaig could serve as the perfect Christmas dram. 

The Balvenie 21 Year Old Port Wood 1997 Release

BUY NOW: $411

The Balvenie Distillery, Speyside, is considered a pioneer in the world of cask finishing. Former Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE pioneered a proprietary process with the launch of The Balvenie Classic in 1983 – a whisky initially matured in American oak and then finished in sherry. The process is now known as ‘wood finishing’ or ‘cask finishing’. 

Throughout the years, The Balvenie has remained committed to producing excellent cask-finished whiskies. The Balvenie 12 Year Old DoubleWood, for example, was launched in 1993. 

The Balvenie 21 Year Old Port Wood was initially released in 1996 and combined an impressive age statement with what was, at the time, an experimental finish. This bottle, therefore, is a great opportunity to own a piece of cask finishing history. This particular bottle was part of a limited release in 1997. 

David C. Stewart stepped down in 2023, handing the role of Malt Master to his longtime friend and apprentice, Kelsey McKechnie.

Beth Squires

Beth Squires joined Mark Littler Ltd full-time in October 2020 after completing her university degree. Since then, she has acquired extensive knowledge about all aspects of whisk(e)y and now holds the position of Deputy Editor at The Whiskey Wash. Beth is passionate about industry innovation, marketing, and sustainability. With a special fondness for independently bottled rare scotch, Beth also serves as a whisky bottle investment specialist.

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