Entertaining
Greg Horton, ReserveBar Spirits Contributor
Spirits Explained
Article 125: La Sirena, How the Goddess of the Sea Celebrates Women
From the Glass to Glory:
Article 187: The Work of Awarding Spirit Competition Medals
Spirits Explained
Article 185: Spirits that are Changing the World through Sustainability
Behind the Brand
Article 74: Dennis Malcolm, Master Distiller at the Glen Grant
Gifting quality wine and spirits is a tried and true way to make an impact, commemorate a special occasion, mark a significant date, or introduce someone to a beloved libation. Custom engraving takes your gift to the next level by inscribing the date, name or message on the actual bottle, and there really is no better way to say you didn’t just stop by the store and grab a bottle; you thoughtfully selected the gift and then marked the occasion on the bottle itself.
ReserveBar offers custom engraving to help you maximize impact or create a collector’s item for your own bar. Below is a list of many of the most frequently purchased premium selections for engraving across several categories, but this list isn’t exhaustive, and we would be happy to engrave your message on your favorite bottle.
This gorgeous release features Don Julio’s smooth Reposado Tequila aged in European wine barrels to create a sippable, complex tequila with notes of honey and orange peel. It is still delightfully agave forward with a zippy citrus twist, meaning serving it neat or over rocks with an expressed orange peel to yield an utterly unique tequila experience. The distinctive bottle design will ensure that this is a standout on any bar.
Backed by the Rolling Stones, from which the rum and the gift set take their names, the two-bottle set includes a 2024 Hackney Diamonds Tour bottle alongside the blended rum (Barbados, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica) that is the backbone of the brand. It’s a lovely gift for the rock-and-roller in your life, even if that’s you.
Founded as a cuvee for Moet & Chandon in 1921, Dom Pérignon has become the name most associated with luxury Champagne. Some of that reputation was earned by eschewing the traditional process of blending multiple vintages in one batch. Instead, Dom Perignon selects exceptional grapes from great years, and releases them according to their vintage, giving each release a unique, terroir-driven character and taste profile.
This one makes a great introduction to the style. Irish whiskey doesn’t get near the love it deserves, living as it does in the metaphorical and geographical shadow of Scotland. But for those who love the fruity, buttery, smooth character of Irish whiskies, there is nothing else quite like it. While other Dubliner releases are special in their own right, this limited edition release is a must for Pittsburgh Steelers fans in your circle, as it honors an exclusive partnership with this 6-time Super Bowl winning team.
Produced in a distillery first active in 1812, listed as a National Historic Landmark, the Kentucky Straight Bourbon from Woodford Reserve has quickly become a cornerstone in any whiskey collection. This Double Gold winning bourbon is released at 90.4 proof to accentuate the full range of more than 200 flavor notes from grain and wood, sweet aromatics, fruit and spices. Those flavors give it the versatility needed for whether this bourbon is being enjoyed neat, on a rock or in a cocktail. And given its wide open front, it is an exceptional choice for engraving.
Combine three brilliant icons – Napa Valley, Freemark Abbey, and Bosche Vineyard – and you get a super premium wine worthy of your attention. The vineyard has been associated with the winery since 1970, and in fact, this single-vineyard offering was one of the first vineyard-designated wines in Napa Valley. Ripe red Rutherford fruit shows through, and while the notes of cassis, chocolate, and plum synonymous with Napa Valley are present, this is a wine of restraint and great structure.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label is the epitome of the craft of blended Scotch whisky. The Blue Label is master blender Dr. Emma Walker’s finest offering, featuring a beautiful blend of smoky, sweet, balance and complexity. Stunning color, lovely nose, and lingering finish contribute to a whisky that checks every box. No matter what your whiskey collecting friends are drinking these days, a gift of Johnnie Walker will always create a standout memory.
The series of Distiller’s Cut selections came to the U.S. for the first time in 2019, and each vintage features an additional botanical chosen for its rarity and contribution to the flavor profile. It’s a tall order for a gin that is already famous for its complex, flavorful blend of nearly four dozen select botanicals. This is not a cocktail gin; it’s meant to be sipped, savored, discussed, and enjoyed neat or over a rock, much like a fine Bourbon.
Any release in the Patrón line-up is perfect for engraving because of a bottle design that allows for perfect message display. To truly gift something exceptional with your special note, look no further than Patrón Platinum. This is an exceptional blanco that has been triple distilled to accentuate the flavors developed from the agave with a smoothness that allows for an easy sip. To share something distinctive from Patrón, discover the Silver Limited-Edition Mexican Heritage Tin 2023. This beautiful set is a collaboration between Patrón and Mexican Formula One racer Checo Pérez. Patrón has been collaborating with Mexican artists and icons to release Mexican Heritage tributes for nearly a decade, and this one includes iconography and imagery important to Pérez’s life and passion. This release has limited engraving availability, based on shipping destination.
It’s unlikely that any Tennessee whiskey has a story as good as this one, a tribute to the original Jack Daniel’s distiller, a slave who trained Mr. Daniel how to distill whiskey, and the historicity of which was acknowledged by the Lynchburg distillery in 2016. In a sense, drinking Uncle Nearest is a taste of history, but story aside, this is excellent whiskey for sipping neat or mixing in a cocktail. The message on the bottle is, as with all of these selections, up to you.
This list is just a start to options available for that next gift. If you didn’t quite find the right match for the occasion, we have an entire collection of compelling bottles that can be engraved. Visit our Custom Engraving Collection for an extensive list of spirits, wine and champagne releases.
