whiskey releases for winter sips and gifts

As winter approaches, many drinkers are leaving clear spirits like gin and vodka behind in favor of whiskey — Irish, Scotch, bourbon, Canadian, rye and more. Of course, you can and should be drinking whiskey all summer long (mint julep, anyone?), but shorter days and sweater weather practically beg for a warming dram of the brown stuff.

Fall and early winter are when whiskey brands release new, limited edition and special releases, ranging from the easily affordable to “only for the 1%”. As whiskey becomes more and more popular in the USA, some of these releases can prove difficult to find, as collectors will line up a day or two in advance to nab a bottle. And some new expressions a➱re released in limited runs that drive the price up into the tens of thousands of dollars.

But there is no shortage of options for whiskey drinkers throughout the colder months, as releases that run the gamut in terms of age, cask, mash bill and region can satisfy every taste and budget. Browse the gallery above for some of the most notable new releases in 2016 — they just might make for perfect holiday gifts.