The Campfire Dram’s Spirits Enthusiast's Holiday Gift Guide: Bourbon & American Whiskey
As the air turns crisp and the warmth of festive lights bathes the world in a soft glow, there's no denying that the holiday season is upon us. It's a time of joy, gratitude, and, for many, a season steeped in tradition. For those who savor the rich complexity and warmth of a fine spirit, the holidays present the perfect opportunity to indulge and share a dram of good cheer.
Welcome to our Spirits Enthusiast's Holiday Gift Guide, where we embark on a journey through the world of distilled delicacies. Whether you're searching for the ideal gift to delight a connoisseur or seeking a treat for your own discerning palate, join us as we explore a curated selection of expressions that promise to elevate your holiday celebrations to new heights.
For our inaugural article, we are focusing on bourbons and American whiskeys. In Belgium, the American whiskey and bourbon industry is not that fairly-known, and in my opinion, under-represented, though there is still a variety of excellent brands to choose from when you walk into a specialised shop.
But why bourbon or American whiskeys?
First of all, it’s a great idea to explore American spirits this holiday season. As the Scottish whisky industry continues to become more expensive, it’s worthwhile to explore alternative options. It’s not difficult to find fantastic bottles that are decently priced and offer great value for money, regardless of your budget.
Secondly, bourbon is often characterized by its sweet and full-bodied nature. With its richness in vanilla and caramel notes, its spice and fruit undertones, and its smooth finish, bourbons are excellent to be enjoyed during the holiday season or throughout the year. The expressions are often classified as ‘easy sippers’ and ‘crowd pleasers’, though some may be also ‘rare and complex’ in nature. Perfect to be enjoyed with family and friends, all in moderation, of course.
Thirdly, as mentioned above, high-quality bourbons and American whiskeys might not be as well-represented in specialty shops as Scottish or Irish whiskies, but there is still a plethora of varieties to be explored: classic bourbons, single malts, blended whiskies, rye-focused, age statements, single casks,… The American whisky industry is far more than your basic bourbon at your local water hole. Speaking of which, you can also make fantastic cocktails with bourbons and American whiskeys.
Which bottle should I get?
We have selected a couple of bourbons and American whiskeys based on what we enjoyed this year, but we also added a couple of expressions that are more easy to find or that we just think should be part of your drinks cabinet. And to make it even more easy, we ranked them based on the retail price. This is in no way a ranking based on quality. All of these expressions score well on the value/money scale.
Disclaimer: Prices might vary depending on the country you live in and/or availability. Also, please take into consideration buying these bottles in a physical store rather than ordering them online.
Option 1: Jack Daniels Gentleman Jack (70cl, 40% ABV)
Since 1988, this expression is part of the core range of Jack Daniels. With its focus on a longer finish and a blend of oaky, fruity, vanilla, and spice notes, this Tennessee expression brings a touch of sophistication at a very affordable price.
© Jack Daniel’s
Option 2: Eagle Rare 10 years (70cl, 45% ABV)
With it’s supposedly higher rye percentage in the mash, the Eagle Rare 10 years expression is a fantastic bottle at a very reasonable price, even with the age statement. Drier in nature than most other bourbons, this whiskey from the Buffalo Trace distillery offers toffee, oak, spices, honey, and subtle fruity notes. A premium product.
© Eagle Rare
Option 3: Four Roses Single Barrel (70cl, 50% ABV)
If you’re into collecting single barrel whiskies, then why not try a single barrel bourbon? The Four Roses expression I tasted is soft-spoken, slightly sweet, a little fruity, and offers up a long finish. Perfect as a dessert dram, don’t you think?
Option 4: Michter’s Sour Mash Whiskey (70cl, 43% ABV)
I couldn’t have a gift guide about bourbon and American whiskey without including a Michter’s release. Named ‘the most promising distillery’ in 2023 according to Drinks International, this brand is probably already seeing a sharp rise in their sales. The expression I selected, a sour mash, offers up cinnamon and vanilla, with a creamy texture and some spice to round it out. The sour mash refers to the composition of the mash, which in this case consists of a fourth or a third of an older mash. Think sour dough starter, but for whiskey making.
© Michter’s
Option 5: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys (70cl, 41.15% ABV)
Now that we’ve ventured into ‘blending’ territory, here’s an expression by Jefferson’s which contains Jefferson’s bourbon as a base, with 3 additional Kentucky straight bourbons. There’s a recognizable influence of toffee apple, vanilla, and cinnamon, and to me this is a rich all-American apple pie in a bottle.
Option 6: Rabbit Hole Cavehill Four Grain Triple Malt (70cl, 47,5% ABV)
Finally, there’s the Rabbit Hole Cavehill expression, a small batch bourbon limited to 15 barrels per batch. This one surprised me with its minty and toasted bread notes, with creamy vanilla as a finish. It’s not something I had experienced before, and it’s definitely a bourbon that is a bit a-typical, and thereby perfect for those who have a bit more experience in the bourbon department. The “triple malt” stands for the 3 malt whiskeys that were used to create this expression.
