I’ve received 48 Father’s Day emails at last count, pitching everything from “manly” cocktails to perfect drinks for grilling. Look, I love cocktails as much as the next guy – I have a new column dedicated to them – but Father’s Day is most certainly not a cocktail holiday. Hell, it’s barely a drinking holiday. If you’re going to toast your dad’s reproductive skills though, keep it simple. I’ve put together 10 simple whiskey cocktails for your pops. Share this article with him and let the guy pick his own gift.
Stagg Jr. – Buffalo Trace
This uncut and unfiltered bourbon is the whiskey-son of George T. Stagg, one of the greatest liquids on Earth. The upside is that you can actually find it.
Ingredients:
3oz whiskey
Ice sphere
Instructions:
Put ice in glass. Add whiskey. Drink
Rally Point Rye – STilL 630
Handmade by a random dude in St. Louis. He relatively recently became a father and his rye whiskey is spicy and delicious. What more reason do you need?
Ingredients:
3oz whiskey
Ice sphere
Instructions:
Put ice in glass. Add whiskey. Drink
The Macallan 10 Year Old Fine Oak – The Macallan
It’s Macallan… but it’s affordable. The fine oak series is lighter so it’s perfect if you don’t know how much your dad likes scotch.
Ingredients:
3oz whisky
Ice sphere
Instructions:
Put ice in glass. Add whisky. Drink
Laphroaig 18 Year Old – Laphroaig
Unlike The Macallan, Laphroaig is for smoke loving fathers. It’s a peat bomb in the greatest possible way.
Ingredients:
3oz whisky
Ice sphere
Instructions:
Put ice in glass. Add whisky. Drink
Forgiven – Wild Turkey
You probably forgot to get Dad a card, but he forgives you. Just like Jimmy Russell probably forgives the distillery worker who accidentally combined bourbon and rye to create this whiskey.
Ingredients:
3oz whiskey
Ice sphere
Instructions:
Put ice in glass. Add whiskey. Drink
Teeling Small Batch – Teeling Whiskey Co.
This whiskey proves the Irish can make spirits that are far too wonderful to be shots, which is good because your dad is too old for shots.
Ingredients:
3oz whiskey
Ice sphere
Instructions:
Put ice in glass. Add whiskey. Drink
Usquaebach 15 Year Old – Usquaebach
Scotch blends get a bad wrap, but there are plenty of great ones on the shelf. Usquaebach is full and complex, much like the single malt you can’t afford.
Ingredients:
3oz whisky
Ice sphere
Instructions:
Put ice in glass. Add whisky. Drink
Highland Park 15 Year Old – Highland Park
Highland Park is easily the best value in scotch, and the 15 year old should be on every shelf. If you respect your elder, make sure they have this.
Ingredients:
3oz whisky
Ice sphere
Instructions:
Put ice in glass. Add whisky. Drink
Jim Beam Signature Craft – Jim Beam
12 year old bourbon is pushing the upper limit of aging (there are a few exceptions), and Signature Craft nails the perfect sweet spot for maximum flavor.
Ingredients:
3oz whiskey
Ice sphere
Instructions:
Put ice in glass. Add whiskey. Drink
Russell’s Reserve Private Barrel – Wild Turkey
You owe your entire life to your dad. Reward him with his very own Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel. Sure you’re have to do some backdoor dealings with a bar or liquor store, but your dad gets to go to Kentucky and pick his very own barrel! You’ll be the best son or daughter ever.
*Russell’s Reserve 10 Year is shown in the photo above. I didn’t have a bottle of Single Barrel on hand. Forgive me.
Ingredients:
3oz whiskey
Ice sphere
Instructions:
Put ice in glass. Add whiskey. Drink
And there you have it! I hope you’re able to make these cocktails. If not, you’re probably already drunk, and good for you. If you need an spherical ice mold, here’s the one I use.