Sip and Savor

Father’s Day Whiskey: 12 Great Bottles to Share With Dad

Toast dad in style with one of these excellent bottles.

by Nicholas McClelland
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

A nice bottle of whiskey — and there are some great new whiskeys for 2021 — is a classic Father’s Day gift for a reason. Every bottle of bourbon, scotch, or rye tells a story, a story of ingredients, of process, of time, of land. Well-chosen, a bottle of whiskey speaks to a dad’s taste and style, sure, but also reflects how his palate has changed. Maybe he used to be a whiskey and coke man but now, with more time to sit and relax, he prefers to sip a well-aged scotch. Or maybe you just want to treat dad to something a bit more expensive than he normally buys himself because he deserves it. Either way, if you’re searching for Father’s Day whiskey, one of the bottles below is bound to hit the right spot. Here, in order of price, are a variety of selections for dads of every style.

We only include products that have been independently selected by Fatherly’s editorial team. However, we may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Two hundred years into its vaunted history as an excellent, affordable whiskey, Buffalo Trace still boasts hints of vanilla, toffee, mint, and molasses. While smooth on the surface, it has great depth, as notes of brown sugar and spice evolve into oak, toffee, and anise. This is a bourbon that punches well above its price point.

$33
Jefferson's Very Small Batch

Jefferson's isn't afraid of experimentation — their ocean-aged bourbon, which develops in barrels aboard their ship out at sea is probably the best example of their seriously playful approach to production — and this handcrafted mix of four bourbons delivers approachable, light hints of vanilla, fruit, and caramel. It's an affordable, drinkable whiskey from a premium brand.

$45
Michter’s US1 Kentucky Straight Rye

Rye is the elder statesman of American whiskey, its founding spirit. Still made from American rye grains, each bottle of Michters US1 is aged in a single barrel, offering one of the best and most affordable ryes out there. It has hints of nut, mocha, and leather, as well as a dry finish.

$48
Pinhook Vertical Series Tiz Rye Time 5 Year

One of our favorite whiskies of the year so far, drinking the Vertical Series from Pinhook is a bit like watching children grow. They’ve taken 450 MGP rye barrels and released them as they age from four to 12 years, so we can follow the change in flavors over time. The second installment of the rye, now five years old, started out as 95% with 5% malted barley and is rounding out and increasing in complexity. It’s a great bottle. And if you’ve socked away a bottle of the four year to compare, it’s even better.

$50
Starward Nova Single Malt

Australian label Starward has only been available in the U.S. for a few years, so you may not have seen it on shelves yet. But their initial release, Nova, is one worth searching out. Aged for two years in Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir barrels, it’s a treat dad will dig. It's less fruit-forward than one would expect, with notes of oak, cherry, honey and a whiff of vanilla.

$55
Ardbeg WeeBeastie

This Islay single malt whisky may only be aged for five short years in in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, but it’s a punchy spirit perfect for dad’s who love a good dose of smoke. WeeBeastie, named as such because it’s a peat monster, is deeply flavorful for such a young whisky. Big notes of cocoa lead the mouth to a smoked, meaty note that’s hard to forget, followed by a pop of the medicinal flavors Islay Scotch is known for, all of which return to perform lengthy encore on the finish.

$70
The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Years Old

This Speyside icon is a classic gift that will be sure to bring a smile to any Scotch-drinking dad’s face, The whisky ages for a dozen years in Spanish Sherry casks sourced from bodegas in Jerez giving it lovely notes of oak, fruit, and spice as well as a sweetness that makes it eminently approachable, even for whisky noobs.

$80
Stranahan's Sherry Cask Single Malt

For the dad that’s into the burgeoning American single malt scene, we like Stranahan’s Sherry Cask Single Malt. It’s a four-year-old whiskey that gets transferred to 40-year-old Oloroso sherry casks for an additional spell. The result is a rich, flavorful drink with a fruity sweetness that balances nicely with flavors of salt and leather.

$89
Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon

Once an under-the-radar bottle, Henry McKenna Single Barrel is now one most bourbon aficionados look for. If your dad is a fan of the Kentucky spirit and you can find a bottle, he will certainly be stoked. It spends 10 years in oak and is bottled at 100 proof, which makes it rich and flavorful with a long finish that beckons another glass.

$100
Knappogue Castle Single Malt 16 Year

If your dad favors the Irish, this single malt spends its first 14 years in ex-bourbon casks and then completes the aging process Oloroso sherry wood. The result is a deliciously balanced dram with nutty notes and a fruity sweetness that pops will dig.

$105
The GlenDronach Revival Aged 15 Years

If someone is looking to share a gift with us, GlenDronach 15 is a bottle we’d love to see a bow on. Back after a five-year absence, the GlenDronach 15, aged in sherry casks from Andalucía, delivers refined notes of dark fruit, dark chocolate, and manuka honey, with a finish that keeps you cozy well into the night.

$110
Glenmorangie Signet Single Malt Whisky

Glenmorangie Signet is a real treat. Deep amber in color, the whisky is beautifully complex thanks in part to the roasted chocolate barley used in the distilling process. After a long time maturing in virgin American oak, the result is flawless and like all great whisky, there is something new to discover in every bottle.

$190

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