What to Buy Best Whiskey Subscriptions Sip the best of the best with these subscriptions. By Will Franke Will Franke Will is a seasoned adventurer and traveler with a knack for storytelling based out of Chicago. If he isn't exploring new places or trying new foods or drinks, then he's probably writing about them. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on April 19, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images Being the common denominator between bourbon, rye, Scotch, and so many other iconic spirits, whiskey is a broad category that needs to be explored in depth to be truly understood and appreciated. Japan, Scotland, Ireland, the United States, and so many countries offer their unique twists on whiskey (or whisky, depending on where you live), and each can rightfully claim that they provide some of the best bottles in the world. With the world of whiskey having so much to offer, how do you properly explore it all? The answer is with a whiskey subscription. These are excellent resources for trying new bottles and stocking up on old reliables. With so many subscriptions specializing in specific categories, it’s not hard to find a new great source for Scotch, artisan whiskey, or whatever else your bar cart needs. So, without further ado, here is Food & Wine’s official list of the best whiskey subscriptions that will keep you coming back for more. Best Whiskey Subscriptions of 2023 Best Selection: Flaviar Best for Full Bottles: Mash&Grape Best for Samples: Shots Box Best Value: PourMore Best for Scotch: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Best for Irish Whiskey: Spirited Gifts Best for Bourbon: Taster’s Club Best for Artisan Whiskey: Craft Whisky Club Best for Gifting: Bounty Hunter Best Selection: Flaviar Flaviar Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $60 per monthFree Shipping: Yes, on orders over $60Products per Delivery: 1, 2, or 8 Why You Should Try It Flaviar lets you choose between a premium bottle or a curated tasting selection each month, making it an excellent choice for those who want to refine their tastes. Pros and Cons Pros Deep informational materials for club members Can be purchased as a gift Professionally curated and themed tasting boxes Cons Shipping not always included Only 25 states in delivery area Overview Finding the perfect bottle of whiskey can be difficult. Most whiskeys look more or less the same, but the wildly differing price points can make it hard to decide which are worth a splurge. Fortunately, Flaviar lets you put your choice in the caring hands of its whiskey experts, who will hand-select a premium selection and ship it to you every month. If you feel like changing it up, you can receive themed tasting boxes instead of a whole bottle, making it one of the best whiskey-tasting subscriptions on the market. Like many sites on this list, however, just make sure you live in its delivery area since Flaviar only delivers to 25 states. Best for Full Bottles: Mash&Grape Mash&Grape Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $69 per monthFree Shipping: NoProducts per Delivery: 2-4 Why You Should Try It Mash&Grape’s selection of excellent bottles from all over the world makes it the best whiskey club to join for full bottles. Pros and Cons Pros Extensive selection of global whiskey products to choose from Six different spirit clubs to join Most expensive club is less than $80 per month Cons Customer service only available through an online form Shipping costs extra Overview There are so many countries out there that have become beloved for their whiskey. Scotland, Japan, the United States, and Ireland, just to name a few, all have excellent native spirits, and Mash&Grape lets you purchase the best selection of full bottles from all of these whiskey-producing countries. Whether you sign up for its whiskey, bourbon, or Scotch subscriptions or purchase bottles individually from Mash&Grape’s online store, you and your bar cart will surely appreciate its bountiful inventory. Feeling like changing it up a bit from whiskey? No problem, since it has clubs for tequila, rum, and gin, too. Best for Samples: Shots Box Shots Box Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $600 per yearFree Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: Varies Why You Should Try It In addition to being a great resource for samples and shooters of any spirit, Shots Box offers an annual whiskey subscription, which is the best option for anyone looking to expand their whiskey repertoire. Pros and Cons Pros Can make purchases à la carte Dozens of cocktail recipes on website Free shipping Cons Does not ship to every state Only makes deliveries every other month Overview Can’t decide which bottles to get or don’t have enough space at your home bar to get a new full bottle every month? No problem. By signing up for its whiskey tasters club, you receive one tasting box every other month, each including a different assortment of premium whiskey. On top of that, you will receive two tasting glasses and an entire bottle of whiskey when you sign up. Once you expand your whiskey palate enough with Shots Box, you can explore the cocktail recipes it publishes on its site to hone your mixology skills. Just be sure to ration wisely: Shots Box only makes deliveries every other month. Best Value: PourMore Pour More Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $49 per shipmentFree Shipping: NoProducts per Delivery: 1, 3, 6, or 12 Why You Should Try It PourMore’s subscriptions start at just $49 per month, making it a steal compared to its competitors. Pros and Cons Pros Premium spirits starting at low prices Variety of clubs to join Each club has different tiers and frequencies Cons Shipping not included Customer service only available through email Overview Many whiskey subscriptions easily creep up to $100 per month or more, but with PourMore, you get a new bottle every month for nearly half that. If you’re looking for more whiskey than just one bottle per month, you can up your subscription to three, six, or 12 bottles upon signing up. The whiskey subscription specializes in small-batch and hard-to-find bottles, but if you decide to switch it up, PourMore also offers tequila, mezcal, and rum subscriptions. It also delivers to all but eight states, which is an unusually extensive delivery area for an alcohol delivery service. Best for Scotch: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $90 per monthFree Shipping: NoProducts per Delivery: Varies Why You Should Try It As the name suggests, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society is your new home for all things Scotch. Pros and Cons Pros Offers an extensive variety of international whiskeys, not just Scotch Option to buy bottles à la carte or sign up for a subscription Hosts private tastings, events, livestreams, and more Cons Shipping not included Basic membership level does not include bottle Overview With private events, a bottle-of-the-month club, an online store, and even its own magazine, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society isn’t just a whiskey subscription; it’s an entire lifestyle platform dedicated to Scotch. While the society started as just a few friends living in Edinburgh who pooled their money together to explore the highlands in search of great Scotch, today it boasts over 30,000 like-minded members, all of whom share a love of this nuanced spirit. Whether you are looking for a superb bottle-of-the-month club or want a community of people who can help you find your new favorite bottle, this place is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to taste what Scotch has to offer. If you choose to go with its bottle-of-the-month club, the society’s experts will pick a bottle every month that falls within the $90 to $200 range. Best for Irish Whiskey: Spirited Gifts SpiritedGifts Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $269 per quarterFree Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: 1 Why You Should Try It Spirited Gifts has its own subscription dedicated to Irish whiskey, including lesser-known bottles and fan favorites. Pros and Cons Pros Subscription dedicated exclusively to Irish whiskey available Large selection of rare whiskeys and bourbons Wide range of gifting options available for different occasions Cons Subscriptions are a bit expensive Only one bottle per delivery Overview Ireland is one of the most famous whiskey-producing countries in the world. In fact, it was the first country to stray away from the “whisky” spelling (initially to differentiate itself from Scotch whisky) before the United States followed suit. Today, Ireland is home to some world-renowned brands and distillers like Jameson, Teeling, and Bushmills, and all of these and more are available through Spirited Gifts’ Irish whiskey club. If you’re in the market for Irish whiskey, this is our top choice, and its personalization options like engraving, glasses, and cigars allow you to cater to your own or a loved one’s taste. However, keep in mind that it is a bit of an expensive option for a three-month subscription. Best for Bourbon: Taster’s Club Tasterâs Club Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $70 per monthFree Shipping: NoProducts per Delivery: 1 Why You Should Try It Looking for the best whiskey subscription for America’s native spirit? You might want to consider Taster’s Club. Pros and Cons Pros Bottles professionally curated Can buy bottles and ingredients à la carte Digital 101s with tasting notes and bottle info Cons Only one product per shipment No free shipping Overview Taster’s Clubs’ bourbon-of-the-month subscription makes exploring the increasingly popular spirit easy. This site sends you a new premium bottle of bourbon every month and gives you digital 101s and tasting notes to help you explore your drink’s subtle flavors and intricacies. Unlike many subscriptions with set delivery time frames, Taster’s Club allows you to choose between three-month, six-month, and 12-month options and an indefinite month-to-month subscription. While Taster’s Club sends you some excellent, professionally curated bottles, it isn’t the best option for stocking up on ingredients quickly since it only sends you one bottle per month. Best for Artisan Whiskey: Craft Whisky Club Craft Whisky Club Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $55 per monthFree Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: 1-2 Why You Should Try It You should check out Craft Whisky Club if you want to be ahead of the curve when it comes to trying the best new distilleries. Pros and Cons Pros Free shipping included Delivers liquor to more states than most clubs Full bottle of hand-selected whiskey with each order Cons Only two membership options are available Bottles come every two months rather than monthly Overview Who doesn’t want to be a trendsetter? Every Scotch fan knows the classic bottles, but wouldn’t you like to be the one to give the Scotch lovers in your life the new bottle that they fall in love with? The subscription begins with a quiz to help you kick off your personalized whiskey experience, and from there, the professionals at Craft Whisky Club source the best and most unique new bottles on the market. It even sends you special pairing delicacies and glasses to help enhance your tasting experience. Whether you subscribe to Craft Whisky Club for yourself or on a friend’s behalf, it’s tough to go wrong with it. Best for Gifting: Bounty Hunter Bounty Hunter Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $249 per monthFree Shipping: Yes (with membership)Products per Delivery: 2 Why You Should Try It Bounty Hunter has extensive gifting options for every occasion and budget, making it the perfect choice for this category. Pros and Cons Pros Dozens of gifting options Free shipping included Multiple subscription options Cons Only members receive free shipping Eligible states for delivery not listed on website Overview When it comes to booze-based gifts, it's hard to beat Bounty Hunter. The company's website boasts an entire section of gifts ranging from wine cases to cocktail kits to cookbooks. But Bounty Hunter's two whiskey clubs — the Whisky Runner Club and the Bourbon Trail Club — are of particular note. Both available in either monthly or quarterly installments, these clubs showcase premium bottles of the best whiskeys around, from bourbon to Scotch to rye and beyond. While these subscriptions make a great treat for yourself, they're totally giftable as well. You can even include a custom gift message to the recipient for an even more personalized touch. Compare the Best Whiskey Subscriptions Company Starting Price Free Shipping? Products per Delivery Delivery Area Gift Option? Flaviar Best Selection $60 per month Yes, on select orders 1, 2, or 8 25 states Yes Mash&Grape Best for Full Bottles $69 per month No 2-4 39 states Yes Shots Box Best for Samples $360 for half-year membership Yes Varies 41 states No PourMore Best Value $49 per shipment No 1, 3, 6, or 12 42 states Yes The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Best for Scotch $90 per month No Varies Not disclosed Yes Spirited Gifts Best for Irish Whiskey $269 per quarter Yes 1 28 states Yes Taster’s Club Best for Bourbon $70 per month No 1 46 Yes Craft Whisky Club Best for Artisan Whiskey $55 per month Yes 1-2 41 Yes Bounty Hunter Best for Gifting $249 per month Yes (with membership) 2 Not disclosed Yes Frequently Asked Questions What Is Whiskey Made From? Different whiskeys worldwide have different ingredients and traditions that make them unique, but they all follow the same general rules. All whiskeys are made from a mash of different grains, which often include rye, wheat, corn, and barley. Then, this fermented mash is aged in a wooden (usually oak) cask or barrel. What Is the Difference Between Whiskey and Bourbon? All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Whiskey is a broad category of distilled liquor made from fermented cereal grains and aged in wooden barrels. Bourbon, however, has some specific characteristics. For a whiskey to be bourbon, it must be bottled at no less than 80 proof, have a mash bill of 51 percent corn, and be a product of the United States. Do All States Allow Whiskey Delivery? No, many states have laws against shipping alcohol, which is a pretty inconvenient relic of the United States’ history of prohibition. Before getting too excited about a new whiskey subscription, you should double-check the company’s website or with its customer service team. Methodology Our team of writers and whiskey experts evaluated each of these companies on a long list of criteria, including price, quality, variety of offerings, customer reviews, and overall user-friendliness. We are confident that we have chosen the best places for you or the whiskey lover in your life to find the best bottles out there. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Related Articles The Best Bourbon of the Month Clubs for Discovering Your New Favorite Bottles Best Places to Buy Bourbon Online The Best Craft Beer Clubs for Every Type of Brew Buff Best Places to Buy Beer Online The Best Champagne Delivery Services to Facilitate the Festivities Best Alcohol Delivery Services The Best Grilling Subscription Boxes to Up Your Grilling Game Best Produce Delivery Services The Best Wine Delivery Services for Every Type of Vino Enthusiast Best Tea Subscription Boxes Best Beer Subscription Boxes Best Japanese Snack Boxes The Best Coffee Subscriptions According to Our Network of Caffeine Connoisseurs The Best Baking Subscription Boxes for Desserts, Bread, and More Best Fruit of the Month Clubs The Best Vegan Subscription Boxes for Easy Plant-Based Meals Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies