Brad Japhe Contributor Spirits FORBES
There’s no denying it. Whiskey (or whisky, if you’d like) is an enduringly popular gift this time of year. Every year, sales of the brown spirit spike during the first half of June. And it’s obvious why. Whether it be Irish, Scotch, Bourbon, Rye, Canadian, Japanese—even Taiwanese or Australian—a proper bottle is always a safe bet for dad’s day.
If you’re not already familiar with your dad’s drinking preferences, try and sneak a peek at his liquor cabinet to gauge his go-tos. If you see a lot of ‘glens’ in the mix, he’s likely into Highland and Speyside single malts of Scotland. Are there are lot of labels honoring deceased Kentucky colonels? He is clearly a bourbon guy. And if you’re seeing kanji characters sprawled across the glass, the big spender enjoys the Japanese stuff.
But you needn’t break the bank when shopping for ideal examples. Whether your father prefers sweet, smokey, rich and round, or light and dry, there is liquid waiting for him at the local liquor shop that can be procured for well under a C-note. Here are the best ways to stretch those dollars into sensational Father’s Day gifts.
KILBEGGAN
Kilbeggan — Single Grain Irish Whiskey ($32)
Irish single grain is a vastly overlooked subcategory of spirit. Thankfully, that means it’s also typically underpriced. Kilbeggan offers a point in case with this smooth sipping entry. Light in body with a tropical bouquet that ought to recall coconut, it’ll find immediate favor among dads who prefer the soft and rounded whiskies for which the Emerald Isle is known.
Woodinville — Straight Rye Whiskey ($37)
Rye drinkers rejoice. This is everything you love about the hearty grain distilled into a beautiful, amber-hued, 90-proof liquid. It all comes together in the pot still in the eponymous hometown of this craft purveyor, before being shipped to the central part of the state for maturation. There it takes full advantage of the tremendous daily temperature cycles, promoting robust conversation between whiskey and wood. What rolls out of the barrel sings with cinnamon, caramel and clove.
Maker’s Mark 46 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey ($42)
‘Wheated’ whiskey is all the rage these days with bourbon fanatics. But even if your dad is just a casual consumer, the softer, sweeter notes the grain imparts upon liquid makes it quite quaffable. It’s just hardly ever available: prominent examples such as Pappy van Winkle, WL Weller and Old Fitzgerald are all highly allocated. Enter 46. Here, the wheat-laced mashbill of traditional Maker’s is enhanced through the addition of seared French oak staves during the final weeks of barrel aging. This adds a complex baking spice to the underlying confectionary notes. And best of all, you can easily find it for under $50.
Starward — Nova Single Malt Whisky ($50)
Move over Japan. Australia is ready to pop as the newest epicenter of so-called ‘world whisky’: aged spirit born beyond the traditional countries of origin— the US, Canada, Ireland, Scotland. What makes this one so unique? This single malt was aged in casks that once held Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. It carries not only a cherry-ish hue in the glass, but also a potpourri of red berry fruit from bouquet to palate. Gift it to the adventurous dad who is eager to expand his drinking horizons.
WhistlePig — 6 Year PiggyBack Rye Whiskey ($53)
If your dad fancies a fine manhattan, look no further. This is dollar-for-dollar one of the best ryes you’ll find to construct the classic cocktail. Aged in virgin oak for a minimum of six years, this spice monster hits hard with notes of peppercorn, cocoa and cardamom. In the lengthy finish are threads of vanilla and orange zest. It’s well composed offerings such as this that set WhistlePig apart as the one of the world’s premiere purveyors of craft rye.
The Dalmore — 12 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($65)
Does your dad dig the sublime sherried notes of scotches such as The Macallan? He has expensive taste, indeed. Head to the Highlands of Scotland for some suitable alternatives that drink just as well—for less. The Dalmore 12 is an exquisite example, aged for nine years in ex-bourbon casks before being transferred to ex-oloroso sherry barrels for an additional 36 months. Celebrating half a century at the distillery, legendary Master Distiller Richard Paterson knows a thing or two about aging with grace. Indeed, he has produced some of the world’s oldest and most sought after single malts. But you’ll be hard-pressed to find a whisky this young that demonstrates as much richness and depth of character as this one right here.
The Balvenie — 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask Single Malt Scotch ($75)
For fathers with a bit of a sweet tooth, check out this elegant malt finished in rum barrels. As you might suspect it picks up a touch of sugar along the way; candied fruit notes, butterscotch, even a hint of pralines in an elongated finish.
Lagavulin — 16 Year Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($86)
Peated scotches are highly polarizing. So don’t shop here unless you know that your dad is into the smoky stuff. If he is—and you’re particularly happy with him this year—buy him a bottle of the gold standard. This is one of the malts that made the Islay region famous: thick, rich, oily, a powerhouse of peat and oak. Yet there remains a measured balance in each sip. The lengthy finish slowly unveils a fruited sweetness to level out that maritime maltiness at its core.
Kavalan — Concertmaster Port Cask Finish Single Malt Whisky ($90)
Taiwanese whisky is becoming a household name, thanks to this dependable producer located in the country’s hot, humid northeasterly climes. The weather here allows for maximum barrel extraction over a relatively short maturation period. A sturdy demonstration arrives in this release, a unique blend of finishes incorporating ruby, tawny and late vintage ports. They lend this liquid an incredible degree of depth and complexity. Especially when you consider it’s a non-age statement product. But as your dad will be the first to remind you: age is just a number.
Suntory — Hibiki Japanese Harmony Blended Whisky ($90)
One of the few expressions of high-end Japanese entries that you can still see on shelves today, Harmony is a non-age-statement blend of 10 different malt and grain whiskies. It comes bottled in an elegant, rounded bottle featuring 24 facets. Each one symbolizes the two dozen ‘sekki’ (seasons) of the traditional Japanese calendar. Inside the glass is a liquid with equal amounts of thoughtfulness. Light and bright, with lingering notes of honey and candied orange peel, this sipping spirit brings barrel and grain together into a sensible whole, far greater than its myriad parts.
