America has so much diversity when it comes to whiskey. Sure, bourbon is considered America’s native spirit — and we published a list of bourbons to gift for Christmas last week.
But what if the whiskey fan in your life likes other types of whiskeys? Well, we’ve got a list for that too. The following list of the best American whiskeys for gifts includes ryes, wheaters, American single malts and more.
We promise, there’s something for everyone here.
The Best American Whiskeys for Gifts this Festive Season
Minden Mill American Single Malt
Minden Mill is a craft whiskey distillery based in Nevada, and this grain-to-glass whiskey company’s American Single Malt is its calling card.
The brand’s Master Distiller Joe O’Sullivan apprenticed under the legendary Steve McCarthy of the McCarthy’s whiskey brand. McCarthy’s is credited with creating the first American Single Malt back in the 1990s.
The American Single Malt category is red hot, and it was just ratified in December 2024. It’s an incredibly diverse whiskey category, and Minden Mill’s expression is an elegant example of it. With loads of brown bread and butter on the nose, coupled with a savory palate, this whiskey appeals to drinkers looking to step outside the norm.
If there’s a Scotch fan in your life, Minden Mill’s American Single Malt is the perfect whiskey to gift them. A 750 ml bottle is priced at $59.99 from the brand’s website, and it hosts an ABV of 47%.
High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 13
For a rye whiskey that captures the flavor of Christmas, look no further than A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 13.
This cold-weather-friendly rye whiskey spent time finishing in port barrels. These barrels lend the liquid the perfect kiss of black fruit, which interplays well with that wintergreen profile of the rye.
Rendezvous Rye is the base spirit for this whiskey, and it clocks in at an ABV of 49.3%. The whiskey costs $149.99 and is a cult favorite amongst High West fans, so be sure to act quickly when snagging a bottle. You can purchase a bottle of Midwinter Night’s Dram from High West’s website.
Jack Daniel’s Tanyard Hill Rye Whiskey
Maybe the whiskey drinker in your life loves hazmat-proof whiskeys and thinks in terms of proof that bigger is better. If so, Jack Daniel’s Tanyard Hill Rye Whiskey needs to be on their radar.
The Tennessee whiskey brand known for Old No. 7 has quickly gathered critical acclaim for hazmat-proof releases, like Coy Hill. Now, Jack Daniel’s has a second hazmat-proof whiskey on its list: Tanyard Hill Rye.
Like its other hazmat sibling, Tanyard Hill’s rickhouse sits at a uniquely high elevation on the Jack Daniel’s campus. This results in a rye whiskey with a hefty proof that ranges from 130.2 to a whopping 148.8 proof.
Jack Daniel’s hosts a suggested price of $79.99 for a bottle.
Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey Barrel Strength
This next whiskey on our list sits within Heaven Hill’s portfolio, and it has a bit of a cult following. With its honeyed and buttery flavors, this soft whiskey is gentle. Consider it the perfect pour for those who love subtlety in a spirit.
Bernheim Barrel Proof is a wheat whiskey that is the first within Heaven Hill’s portfolio to use winter wheat.
Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey Barrel Strength drops twice a year, and it possesses age statements that range from seven to nine years.
This wheat whiskey costs $83.99 and can be bought from Heaven Hill directly.
Old Potrero Christmas Spirit
Old Potrero is a San Francisco brand specializing in rye whiskeys. Each year, it drops a limited edition whiskey to celebrate the holidays: Old Potrero Christmas Spirit. This whiskey clocks in at 50% ABV, and costs approximately $139.99 for a 700 ml bottle.
This whiskey was created from San Francisco Christmas Spiced Ale that was twice distilled in copper pot stills. The craft beer base pays homage to San Francisco’s brewing scene.
The whiskey has aromas of evergreen, orange, sweet malt, ginger and light oak. Just 462 bottles are available of this limited release.
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