Xmas - Rather have a gift or experience?

teddygirl9

I am debating between 1 last gift for SO, either a nice bottle of whiskey/bourbon, or going to a whiskey/bourbon tasting. The actual bottle would be more expensive, but it might be interesting to learn a bit and taste a variety, but maybe that's my nerdy side? What do you guys think, a gift or an experience?

GoldenPenguin

I'd go to a tasting, I think that sounds awesome! 

lacqueredlover

Tasting.  I would always rather have an experience than a material gift.  

AlPacina

I think if you guys occasionally have visitors that appreciate good alcohol, I would get the bottle. It would be fun to pull out a really nice bottle of booze and create an experience with your friends!

If you're not the type to host often, or if he's not one to share, I'd do the tasting!

phira

For that particular decision, I know that J prefers a nice bottle of scotch to a tasting, since the bottle will last longer.

In general, though, here's how I usually do gifts:

Person likes stuff: I try to get them a thing they want or need, or I get them a gift certificate for that particular kind of stuff (e.g. I'm getting my mom books, and my brother a gift certificate to buy ski stuff)

Person doesn't want any stuff at all: I try to get them an "experience," typically something like dinner and a movie (we got my in-laws movie tickets and a restaurant gift certificate one year; for my brother's birthday, we got him Sox tickets)

Person doesn't want stuff but doesn't like experiences/only likes expensive experiences: I get them something consumable. That way, they're not loaded down with extra belongings that they have to get rid of, but I can still get them a physical gift. (We gave the groomsmen bottles of scotch as thank-you gifts)

speakeasy14

Do the tasting, then if he really likes something, buy a bottle of that from the place you're at. 

CLoGreenEyes

I personally think the tasting would be super-fun! If he shares that "nerdy" side that would enjoy learning about the whiskey/bourbon, I would definitely do that! Like PP said, if he really loves anything in particular that he tries, you can always buy a bottle there.

bethsmiles

Apparently I have the UO here but I'd go with the bottle over the tasting because it will last longer and my BF would be unlikely to spend that kind of money on himself. But BF and I have also done a lot of tastings so it wouldn't be a new experience for us. If it was something new for you guys, I might choose the tasting and then buy him a bottle of whatever was his favorite.

AuroraRose41

I would definitely do the tasting! BF and I did a whiskey tasting as one of our first dates and we had so much fun. We did end up buying a few bottles of the ones that we had just tasted too and brought them back to his place.

[Deleted User]

I'd probably get Mr. H the tasting, just because he really loves Scotch and that nice, expensive bottle would probably last about a weekend in our house...

I tend to go for experiences over actual gifts most of the time.  Except for my family, because we apparently now email very specific lists of things we need to each other.  Although I'm not sure my 20-year old brother actually needs the Lego Star Wars set...but whatever.

FoxandBunny

I would go with the tasting if it was my BF. He's the type of person who would really love learning about that sort of thing. He loves learning about stuff. It's what he does in his free times when he's not obsessing over Destiny. 

I suck at giving gifts though, so I'm probably no help. I like to give practical things to the point where if I can't figure out something practical that you'd like (or at least something that you want) then you won't get a gift from me. It's pretty awful. My friends and family have just learned to accept the gifts when they show up, especially BF.

@furturemrshistorian - I think everyone needs a Lego Star Wars set. Take into consideration I am 21 though...

KeptInStitches

@futuremrshistorian, I'm all in favor of Legos and I'm 27. I hope never to outgrow Legos. 

[Deleted User]

@FoxandBunny & @KeptInStitches - I'm not judging.  I bought him the nicest set I could afford.  When I was in college, and I wanted stress relief, I colored in Disney Princess coloring books.  The Christmas that I got the 120-count Crayola crayons (I think I was 22) was the best Christmas of my college life.  :-)

TeaCee

Yesss! Someone else loves to color! I always get made fun of for this since. Fellow adult Crayolians unite!

Sorry for topic-jumping... I was really excited.

speakeasy14

@futuremshistorian I did the same!  My dorms and apartments were filled with coloring books and crayons.

[Deleted User]

Experience.  It sounds fun and what you learn will last longer than the bottle.  He can use his new-found knowledge to aid future liquor choices.

labro

Experience for sure!

I'll do a wine-tasting at a winery even if I've already gone before just for the sake of trying new wines...same with a brewery. I don't care if I've gone before or done other tastings. The experience of it is the fun part and I don't get tired of it. Plus while you're at the tasting there is always the option of buying a bottle of whisky or bourbon straight from the source.

Dignity100

If you would have asked me this a few years ago - I would have said 'I'd want the gift because the experience would have to be scheduled and would go against *MY* time.  Now it really depends on who the 'giver' is. 

Here's my thought for you - I would do the experience and then maybe get him like <THIS> to give to him the day of the experience so it'll take him back to that experience later on - if that makes sense.