10 incredible bottles of whiskey that make the perfect gift

The perfect whiskey for the drinker not terribly fond of peat. It's super-smooth relatively easy to find in most US cities. For those who really want to impress whoever they're gifting this year, there's an even better Redbreast (15 year) that's reasonably priced. It's the first of single pot still whiskeys on our list, but not the last.

Price: $63 and up

Hibiki is a phenomenal Japanese whiskey that we highlighted on last year's liquor list, saying: "It tastes sweet and rich, with fruity and oaky elements. This is one of the best Japanese whiskeys out there and is a Whisky Magazine editors' choice."

It was also less than $140 back then. Today the best deal we could find online was $233.

Green Spot Irish whiskey used to be a superb way of impressing someone who was both a whiskey drinker and someone who appreciated the effort of a gift-giver going out of their way (until 2014, you couldn't even buy it in the US).

Now, thankfully, it's a lot easier to find. Green Spot is, like Redbreast, owned by Pernod Ricard and, like Redbreast, wasn't available Stateside until recently. The best part is, like Redbreast, it's still available at a pretty reasonable price.

Price: $64 and at many local retailers

Not every whiskey and scotch on our list can be accessed with a quick ride upstate into New York. But, Hudson Whiskey (and, notably, its Manhattan Rye) is, and is worth the trip.

Price: $45 plus shipping

The Balvenie offers plenty of palate-pleasing options, so Business Insider decided to provide a few of them. The Balvenie 12 single barrel is a light, woody-tasting scotch; its Doublewood marks both a peatier and heartier drink and as for the Balvenie 21 year ... well, some of us are still working our way up the ranks. Feel free to write in, in our comments section, if you'd like to submit a review of one of Speyside's finer offerings.

Price: Balvenie 12 can be found at most local shops, the Doublewood can be found online as cheap as $40 (before shipping) and the Balvenie 21 is about $200

Now we're getting into the peatier picks. Lagavulin 16 is a scotch drinker's scotch, smooth, woody, and balanced with enough peat to make you stop and enjoy your drink. It hails from the Isle of Islay, and Business Insider was fortunate enough to sample a little bit of it earlier this year at a tasting we hosted, when Diageo's whiskey team paid a visit.

Price: About $60 and up, less delivery cost

Highland Park’s single malt Dark Origins whiskey uses double the sherry casks than its classic 12 year. The result is a spicier, darker, richer (tastier) drink.

Price: Around $100

If you're looking to upgrade your holiday whisky and enjoy a peatier sip, look no further than the Lagavulin 1995 16-year blend. It's an earthy whiskey, with a peat smoke taste and hints of sherry and vanilla.

Price: $72 before shipping

Laphroaig 10-year isn't a very expensive scotch, and it's also readily available at many retailer stores (unlike some of the more rare bottles we've got on our holiday tasting list). It's a peatier drink compared to other 10-years, like Macallan, but with what one reviewer called a smoky taste and a "hint of seaweed and a surprising sweetness."

Price: About $55