Having a whiskey blog led to a nice trend this holiday season - whiskey-inspired gifts. I guess in a way, a whiskey blog could be considered a wish list - not only for the whiskey itself, but also for whiskey accessories (yes - they exist!).

One couple searched my blog to figure out which bottle of Scotch to give me and decided on a Lagavulin 16-year. Well-played. My mom sent me a pair of tasting glasses from the Washington distillery we visited as a stocking stuffer. Those have already been put to good use with the Lagavulin.

A good cocktail is a nice way to ring in the New Year, especially when two kinds of whiskey and a bourbon-soaked cherry are involved. This year, I was treated to a little whiskey in my whiskey by our hosts, who introduced me to the cocktail "Honey on Rye":

Honey on Rye:
Rye (we used Ri)
A splash of Wild Turkey American Honey (a liqueur blended with honey and bourbon)
Maraschino cherry (preferably of the bourbon-soaked variety)

A delicious start to 2012!