Gifts for whiskey and history lovers

For the bourbon fan who reads, the history buff and the homebrewer. Every idea here is legal to own and use, and none of it is equipment for making spirits.

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Books they will actually read

• For the history buff: Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition by Daniel Okrent, the standard popular history of Prohibition.^[1]
• For the NASCAR fan: Driving with the Devil by Neal Thompson, on how moonshine running became stock-car racing.^[2]
• For the bourbon drinker: Bourbon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey by Fred Minnick,^[3] or Love & Whiskey by Fawn Weaver, the story of Jack Daniel and his master distiller Nearest Green.^[4]
• For the curious scientist: Proof: The Science of Booze by Adam Rogers, on what yeast, aging and our bodies do with alcohol.^[5]
• For the lawyer or policy reader: Bourbon Justice by Brian F. Haara, the history of bourbon told through its lawsuits.^[6]

More titles, with a note on each: best books on distilling history and the law.

For the whiskey drinker

• Glencairn whisky glasses: the tulip-shaped tasting glass that narrows at the top to hold the aroma. A set of two or four is an easy, affordable gift.
• A decanter set: a decanter with matching glasses for the person who likes to serve a good bottle.
• Whiskey stones: stone or steel cubes that chill a drink without watering it down.

For the homebrewer

Making beer and wine at home is legal under federal law for any adult, up to 100 gallons a year, or 200 for a household with two or more adults, as long as none of it is sold.^[7,8] State and local rules can add limits. More: making beer and wine at home.

• A one-gallon beer brewing kit: a small starter kit fits on a kitchen counter and is a good first try.
• A beginner winemaking kit: the basic fermenting equipment for a first batch of wine.

Why beer and wine but not spirits? The short answer is an 1868 tax law; the long answer is on our why it's illegal page.

What we do not suggest

No stills, still kits, "moonshine" kits, distiller's yeast or books that teach distilling. Outside a small group protected by a court order, using a still to make spirits at home is a federal felony, even when the equipment is sold openly.^[9,10]

Prices change often, so we do not list them; check the current price on Amazon.