So you have a friend or spouse or relative who loves Scotch
whisky but you don’t want to go the usual route of getting them a bottle of
scotch . A bottle in a nice bag can be nice but you want this gift to stand
out, you want them to look at it for a few minutes, appreciate how thoughtful
it was, and enjoy it.
What can you do?
Why not build them a whisky gift basket? Who wouldn’t want
to get a gift basket or gift box filled with whisky and whisky accessories?
Pick a Theme
The best gift baskets follow a theme and while you might
think “whisky” is the theme, fans will know that there are a lot of sub-plots
within whisky.
Do you want to build an Scotch whisky after-dinner basket?
Buy a bottle of Black Dog Triple Gold Reserve and then air it with their neighbour,
shortbread cookies.
How about an Scotch whisky gift basket? Consider pairing up
some Black Dog Scotch with some candy or chocolates from Scotland, like
chocolates and caramels.
It’s all about the theme!
Filling the Basket
My approach to building a gift basket is to find one or two
centerpiece items, whether it’s 375ml bottles of scotch or a large box of
cookies or candies, and then build around it.
If your budget is higher, just buy more gourmet foods to
include! (or more bottles!)
The Basket
Next, you need to find yourself a wicker basket that can
hold your gift’s items and match the theme of the basket. You can usually get
these at your Supermarket or Botique shop, . You’ll want one that is sturdy
enough to hold the contents of your gift basket, so confirm it’s strong enough.
(if you want to get fancy, you can always go with a chest or a hardwood box!)
You will also want to pick up a large sheet of cellophane,
which you’ll use to wrap your gift basket, and a bow, which will be used to
close the top. If you get a basket with a handle, you can get away without the
cellphone.
Finally, pick up some paper you can use to pack into the
bottom of the basket. This will provide support and help you arrange the
contents.
Arranging the Basket
Once you have everything, arranging it isn’t very difficult
as long as you follow a few rules. First, search for gift baskets online and
just look at a few photos. It should give you an idea of how they’re organized.
Now, think about your elementary school class photos. Taller
kids in the back, shorter kids in the front (seems like I was always sitting on
the ground!). Any taller or wider boxes should be in the back, with smaller
items in the front. You want to be able to identify each item just by looking
into the basket, so the taller items in the back should be visible.
Next, makes sure you line the bottom with tissue or some
other padding so items don’t shift around and so that you can line the items up
nicely. You’ll probably put this in your car, it’ll get jostled, make sure
there’s enough padding to keep things organized. If you wrap it in cellophane
and tie it in a bow, it’ll be tough to move things back into place if they
shift.
Some item specific tips… if you do buy a bottle of
something, put it in the center if there’s only one. If there are two, I prefer
to put them to the side, together, and balance it out on the other side with
something large, like a box of biscuits or maybe a book. Or, separate the two
bottles and put them to the side as “bookends” to the rest of the items. If you
get a book, put it towards the back with the title visible and put smaller
items in front of it, like crackers or chocolates or pralines.
Honestly, as you arrange them you’ll get a sense of what you
like and what you don’t. In the end, your friend will love it no matter how it
looks and will appreciate the effort you put into making it!
Disclaimer: The content featured above
is only for people aged above 25 years. Underage drinking is illegal and
against the law. Drink responsibly
