Getting your dad some whisky for Father’s Day? Here are our recommendations.

Socks. Something to do with sheds. A power tool. A DVD compilation of the 100 Greatest Premier League goals. A book on the history of World War II. A musical tie. A ‘World’s Best Dad’ mug. We’re willing to bet you’ve resorted to buying your Dad at least one of these things for Father’s Day at some point.

But there’s only so many pairs of socks he can wear, so many books on D-Day he can read and so many DVDs presented by Ian Wright he can watch.

But we’re also willing to bet that he’s never been bored with a bottle of whisky. A bottle of whisky for Father’s Day is a foolproof choice, not just because it’s something he’ll love and appreciate, but because it can be enjoyed together, over and over again.

And sure, a bottle of your run-of-the-mill high-street blend isn’t the worst present you can get him. But why settle for second best? Why not get him an independent bottling and let him try something completely different?

So, if you’re considering getting your old man a bottle of whisky for Father’s Day, here are a few of our favourite bottles that we’re sure he’ll love.

For a dad that likes his whiskies heavily peated: Port Charlotte 13 Year (Maltman, 2002)

If your Dad is a fan of whisky that packs a huge peaty punch, he’s in for a treat with this 13 Year Port Charlotte. It was bottled by Maltman and is exclusive to Whisky Foundation, which means that you can’t get it anywhere else.

And boy, is this a peaty whisky. But, following the colossal whack of peat, there’s a signature sweetness that comes from Maltman aging it for 13 years in a sherry cask, which adds an interesting finished.

Bottled at cask strength (50.3% ABV) – this is a perfect whisky for Father’s Day.

 

For a dad who likes a bit of a challenge: Highland Park 27 Year (Rest & Be Thankful, 1989)

If your old man is a bit of whisky nut, then this Rest & Be Thankful bottling could be the one for him. The Highland Park single malt was aged for 27 years in a bourbon cask and bottled at 48.4% ABV. The result is a complex, slightly tricky whisky that’s more than worth the effort you put in.

On the nose, there’s that distinct Highland Park smokiness, but once you’ve taken a sip, you’re given citrus followed by oak notes and then carried to a herby finish.

Like we said, it’s not the easiest of whiskies to sip, but if you’re looking to give your Dad a whisky for Father’s Day that’s unlike anything he’ll have tried before, this is the one.

 

For a dad who you want to spoil: Glenlivet 20 Year Sherry Cask (Signatory, 1995)

We’ve written about this whisky before, and we didn’t have the words to do it justice then.

(We still don’t.)

By the time this whisky was bottled in 2016, it had spent two decades in a sherry cask. And the result is not just a fine expression of Glenlivet, it’s fantastic journey from fruit and chocolate on the nose through nuts and toffee on the palate to a big, oaky finish with sherry sweetness.

Simply fantastic.

If you buy your dad this whisky for Father’s Day, you’ll be the favourite child for a long time afterwards.

For a dad who deserves a once-in-a-lifetime whisky: Glenlivet 45 Year (Gordon & MacPhail, 1967)

OK, OK. There might be one whisky that tops the Signatory Glenlivet: a Gordon & MacPhail Glenlivet.

A mature whisky for a mature gentleman, this Glenlivet was distilled in 1967 and aged for 45 years – 45 years! – in a sherry cask.

And, let us tell you, it was more than worth the wait. There’s fruits, nuts and liquorice on the palate with some subtle chocolate notes knocking around for a while. On the nose, you’ve the sherry sweetness you’d expect from just under half-a-century in sherry cask. To finish, there’s a gentle warmth of the fruit that slowly turns into diminuendo of wintery, Christmas pudding spice.

This whisky is a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime whisky. 

Of course, these aren’t the only whiskies that we have to offer. Far from it. Why not head over to our Father’s Day Gift Guide and see what else you can treat your old man to (or yourself, for that matter).