It’s hard to explain how important gifts are across various Asian cultures. No guest would ever dare to cross the threshold of an Asian home on a holiday without a platter of food or a bottle of something strong, sweet or bubbly peeking out of an extravagant gold bag. Gifts of spirits play prominently in my memories of Lunar New Year. On the first day of Seollal, or Korean Lunar New Year, I would sneak into the kitchen and inhale the aromas of tall piles of just-fried golden mandu dumplings, sesame-scented platters of japchae with spinach and carrot and giant bowls of steaming rice cake soup flecked with seaweed. Though the food varied every year, there was one constant at our Lunar New Year—the strong scent of Johnnie Walker Black wafting from glass tumblers on a low rosewood table. Although Seollal is traditionally a family holiday, my immigrant parents were separated from their extended families, so they celebrated it with the only family they had: a tight-knit group of friends from their Korean church who loved to drink. Every Sunday, my parents’ social circle of doctors, professors and restaurant owners sat in their church pews, prim and pious, nodding their heads at the fiery preacher’s sermon reminding us Jesus died for our sins. Come 7 p.m., though, ensconced in the sanctuary of our home, they belted out Johnny Cash’s “Personal Jesus” on our karaoke machine and ate and drank like heathens, fêting their successes and drowning their failures over food and drink. As soon as my mom filled the soju glasses, there wasn’t a dry mouth in the house. I found these celebrations amusing, bewildering and especially tiresome when I had school the next day. After these 20-odd friends drained a few bottles of Johnnie Walker and even more of Chamisul soju, they’d throw their arms around one another, singing “Arirang” and calling to bring out the “jechigi,” the Hacky Sack-like Lunar New Year kids’ game. Inevitably, eyes would water for a homeland that was changing as rapidly as flowing water. At that age, I couldn’t presage that those drinks would someday serve as crucial bridges between me and my ancient homeland in celebrating Lunar New Year—that tasting makgeolli, a beverage my farming ancestors brewed, just felt and tasted right. While the specifics on Lunar New Year celebrations differ from family to family—admittedly, many are far more chaste than my parents’—it is customary to show up to the festivities with a gift. A special bottle of spirits or wine often does the trick (especially if paired with a cash-filled red envelope, mooncakes or a large basket packed with oranges and pomegranates). To determine what bottles make for the best Lunar New Year gifts, we tapped a range of industry pros, so you’ll be ready to impress come February 10. From AAPI-owned brands to classics—yes, Johnnie Walker included—here’s what beverage and hospitality insiders suggest. A Bonus Bottle: