Top Picks to Raise Your Holiday Spirits

The holidays are the season for sharing great spirits—and there’s no better time to refresh your whiskey and Cognac lineup. As guests gather around tables and bars from Thanksgiving through the New Year, barrel-aged spirits take center stage: neat pours for old friends, seasonal cocktails for festive crowds, and retail shelves that sparkle with gift-worthy bottles.

This month’s collection brings together standout drams from around the world—each chosen for its craftsmanship, character, and crowd appeal. Whether you’re building a holiday feature list, curating shelves for the gifting rush, or stocking up on versatile pours that perform behind the bar, these picks are designed to make your spirits program shine when it matters most.

ST. GEORGE SPIRITS “BALLER” SINGLE MALT WHISKEY NV

Japanese whisky-inspired American single malt whiskey produced by St. George Spirits in Alameda, California 100% American barley, predominantly two-row pale malted barley combined with lightly roasted barley Distilled in copper pot stills Aged a minimum 4 years; non-age statement Aged 3–4 years in ex-bourbon and French oak wine casks, filtered through maple charcoal, then finished in casks that previously held St. George-produced umeshu made with California-grown ume fruit Aromas of stone fruit, toasty malt, and purple flowers lead to a crisp palate with puffed-grain cereal, toasted almond, and a hint of lychee, finishing with a touch of sweet plum and lingering smoke 47% ABV

ST. GEORGE SPIRITS SINGLE MALT WHISKEY

Limited release American single malt whiskey produced by St. George Spirits in Alameda, California 100% malted barley; a combination of two-row barley varieties roasted at varying levels and unroasted Bamberg malt smoked over beech and alder wood Distilled in copper pot stills Lot 24 aged 5-and-a-half to 11-and-a-half years; non-age statement Aged in a combination of 25 casks including ex-bourbon barrels from Kentucky and Tennessee, apple brandy barrels, rum casks, and casks that previously held torrontés, tannat, port, and California sauternes-style wine Aromas of orange, pastry, cocoa powder, and hints of cola lead to brown butter, spice cake, and more cocoa on the palate with toasted marshmallow and bright smoke on the finish 43% ABV

CASTLE & KEY RYE WHISKEY, ‘RESTORATION RYE’ [5YR AGED]

Straight rye whiskey produced by Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky Mash bill of 63% rye, 17% yellow corn, and 20% malted barley Rye is sourced from Germany; corn is sourced from Walnut Grove Farm in Adairville, Kentucky; barley is sourced from Malteurop Malting Company (multiple US locations) Sweet mash fermented Distilled in 24-inch and 36-inch Vendome copper column stills and a 375-gallon doubler Aged a minimum of 5 years in untoasted char #3 new American oak barrels from Speyside Cooperage in Jackson, Ohio The nose offers lush notes of vanilla wafer, dried Red Delicious apple, and candied orange, framed by nutmeg and walnut. The palate broadens to cinnamon roll, brown sugar, peanut brittle, and allspice, lengthening into a satisfying pie crust–vanilla ice cream finish, spiced with black pepper. Non-chill filtered; 50% ABV

CASTLE & KEY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY, ‘SMALL BATCH’

Straight bourbon whiskey produced by Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky Mash bill of 73% white corn, 10% rye, and 17% malted barley Corn is sourced from Walnut Grove Farm in Adairville, Kentucky; rye is sourced from Germany; barley is sourced from Malteurop Malting Company (multiple US locations) Sour mash fermented Water for production comes from Castle & Key’s historic key-shaped limestone spring Distilled in 24-inch and 36-inch Vendome copper column stills and a 375-gallon doubler Aged 6 years in untoasted char #3 new American oak barrels from Speyside Cooperage in Jackson, Ohio The nose offers buttery graham cracker with hints of fresh red apple and honeysuckle, punctuated by clove. The palate deepens to toffee and molasses, framed by notes of raisin and orange zest, with a faint rasp of oak lifting to cinnamon and white pepper on the finish. Non-chill filtered; 50.5% ABV

FIDDLER WHISKEY, FIDDLER WHEATED BOURBON WHISKEY

Wheated straight bourbon whiskey aged, finished, and bottled by ASW Distillery in Atlanta, Georgia Distilled at MGP in Indiana Mash bill of 51% corn, 45% wheat, and 4% malted barley Aged a minimum 5 years in new, 53-gallon American oak barrels; component ages of each batch are listed on the front label A percentage of each batch is double oaked (indicated on the front label) Notes of clove and citrus are tempered by the wheated mash bill, leading to buttery toffee on the palate Very small batch (4 barrels are blended at a time) No added color Non-chill filtered; 46% ABV

CHARLES MEDLEY DISTILLERY BOURBON MEDLEY BROTHERS 102 PROOF

Straight bourbon whiskey produced by Charles Medley Distillery Distilled at a non-disclosed distillery in Kentucky Traditional family mash bill of 77% corn, 13% malted barley, and 10% rye Aged a minimum of 4 years in toasted, char level 3 barrels from Independent Stave Company Toffee, milk chocolate, creamed corn, and vanilla bean on the nose; the palate shows caramelized pineapple, roasted corn, pear, and cinnamon with apple fruit leather, orange peel, and grilled peach on the finish 51% ABV

HIDDEN BARN ORGANIC WHEATED BOURBON WHISKEY

Organic wheated straight bourbon whiskey distilled by Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan Small batch vatting of 9 barrels Produced from a mash bill of 70% corn, 25% wheat, and 5% rye; all grains USDA Organic Sweet mash fermented in stainless steel for 5 days Distilled in a copper pot and column hybrid still Aged a minimum of 6 years; non-age statement Buttery caramel, tart green apple, and sweet orange on the nose with robust white pepper on a medium-bodied palate transitions into a lengthy and clean tobacco finish. Non-chill filtered; bottled at a cask strength of 53.1% ABV (ABV may vary batch to batch)

AUGUSTA DISTILLERY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY “OLD ROUTE 8” CASK STRENGTH SINGLE BARREL

Single barrel Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey sourced and bottled by Augusta Distillery in Augusta, Kentucky Distilled at an undisclosed Kentucky distillery Mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley Aged 8 years in new charred American oak Lush aromas of maple sugar candy, smoked cedar, and dehydrated lemon lead to crème brûlée and an edge of saltwater taffy on the palate before leaning into a sharp finish of arugula and white pepper Gold medalist at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Non-chill filtered; bottled at cask strength (ABV will vary barrel to barrel)

COGNAC HARDY V.S

VS Cognac produced by Maison Hardy in Cognac, France Blend of eaux-de-vie from Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, and Fin Bois; aged separately by Maison Hardy and blended before bottling Produced from Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, and Colombard grapes Wine is twice distilled in Charentais copper pot stills Aged 3–5 years in lightly toasted Limousin French oak barrels 40% ABV

MARS WHISKY “THE LUCKY CAT, MAY & HANA” WHISKY

Limited edition blended Japanese whisky produced by Mars Komagatake Distillery (fka Mars Shinshu) in Nagano, Japan 10th edition of the Mars “Lucky Cat” series dedicated to the distillery cats of Mars Komagatake Blend of malt and grain whiskies lightly peated Malt distillate double distilled in copper pot stills Aged in ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry barrels and ex-port casks; non-age statement Aromas of vanilla, caramel, and raisin lead to a palate of stewed apricot, bittersweet chocolate, and ripe red berries No added coloring Non-chill filtered; 43% ABV

Whiskey has a way of bringing people together—especially during the holidays. From smooth sippers to bold barrel proofs, these bottles offer something for every kind of celebration. Each one tells a story your guests will want to share, whether they’re clinking glasses at a cozy dinner or gifting something special to a fellow enthusiast.

As you plan for the season ahead, consider these November selections for moments that last well beyond the pour. Here’s to full shelves, full glasses, and a very spirited holiday season!

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