We’ve already given you a dose of inspiration for some top Father’s Day gifts, all of which will give you some serious brownie points with papa bear. But if you really want to go the extra mile to get into his good graces, we have a surefire hit you can’t really go wrong with, some fine hard liquor.
And for this Father’s Day we’re talking quality whisky. From sublime single malts to banging bourbons, here are five of the best whiskies on the market to put a proper smile on any dad’s face.
Elijah Craig | 70cl | 47% ABV | RRP £44.99
We start with a rather excellent small batch bourbon, one that bears the name of the man referred to as the “Father of Bourbon”. Reverend Elijah Craig established his Kentucky distillery in 1789. And he’s credited as being the first distiller to use the now famous process of ageing his whiskeys in charred oak barrels.
The delicious drop is crafted from malted barley, rye and local corn, combining to bring this award-winning super premium whisky it’s remarkably smooth woody taste.
Stauning Whisky | 70cl | 48% ABV | RRP £59.45
The mention of the word whisky is unlikely to conjure up anything to do with the lovely land of Denmark. But after one sip of this little number that may well change. Yes, this Danish rye whiskey from Stauning is rather special, crafted from a combination of local rye and barley, double distilled and matured in virgin American white oak barrels, it has a rich deep flavour that’s fruity and slightly spicy.
Stauning have three expressions, Smoke, Kaos and our personal favourite, Rye. It also doesn’t hurt that for Father’s Day, they’ve released limited edition DIY bottles so your pops can channel his inner Picasso and put his personal stamp on the container. Skål!
Ferg & Harris 12-year-old Speyside | 70cl | 55.7% ABV | RRP £69.99
A gold medal winning single malt here that’s smooth finish belies it’s super strength. Independent Edinburgh bottler Ferg & Harris have become known for their quality and their Speyside 12-year-old is without doubt that. It’s appealing dark hue comes from a dozen years in a bourbon barrel, after which six months are spent finishing in a Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead.
The depth of colour here also mirrors the flavour, with sherry sweet hits along with longer lasting spice tastes.
Oxford Rye Whisky | 70cl | 50% ABV | RRP £55
There’s a whole host of reasons we’re fans of The Oxford Rye Whisky. Up there has to be that their distillery is improving farming practices by using biodiverse populations of heritage grain, grown for them for its flavour. Oh and they refuse to use any chemicals or pesticides. So there’s lots to like even before we’ve got to the incredibly easy drinking spirit itself.
Oxford Rye is a blend of nine unique casks, including variations of American Oak and Portuguese sherry cask Moscatel Roxo for its sweet, fresh flavours, the excellent resulting whisky is creamy with a subtle smoky finish.
Starward Left-Field Single Malt | 70cl | 40% ABV | RRP £35
Left-Field couldn’t be more fitting when it comes to talking about a single malt from Down Under. And while Australia might be more synonymous with grape than grain, award-winning Melbourne distillery, Starward, are making some fine spirits to rival more traditional competitors.
This versatile dram is aged in red wine casks from nearby vineyards that lend the drink its signature fruity flavour. The New World never tasted so good.
Nomad Whisky | 70cl | 41.3% ABV | RRP £33.95
Last but certainly not least is a truly unique whisky for the father who yearns to roam. This well travelled whisky is distilled and aged in Scotland, blended from 25 grain whiskies and 5 cask-aged Scottish malts, before spending three years in Oloroso sherry wine butts. The amber liquid is then transported to Jerez for a final 12 months in butts at the González Byass Bodega in Spain.
The Herculean effort in the production phase makes for a seriously flavoursome dram that holds flavours of warm spices, yet with smooth caramel sweetness.
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