When considering gift-worthy brown, many start with bottles that necessitate a whiskey goose chase. Don’t bother with that. Here are 15 bottles of almost-always-available whiskey that are perfectly giftable for Father’s Day.
Booker’s Bourbon
Jim Beam Distillery’s Booker’s Bourbon is credited as one of the first American bourbons to establish itself as a truly premium product. “Batches” are released quarterly at cask strength, but it’s not difficult to track down. Drink over ice.
Price: $70
Proof: Varies
Lagavulin 16
What could rightfully be called the Old Reliable of Father’s Day whisk(e) gifting. Lagavulin 16’s reputation is unmatched, and it comes in a wrappable tube to boot.
Price: ~$90
Proof: 86
Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit
Surprise: Wild Turkey makes much more than good old 101. Kentucky Spirit is the label’s single barrel line. With bourbon
legend Jimmy Russell picking barrels, it’s almost impossible to be wronged by this midshelf option.
Price: ~$55
Proof: 101
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
A gentle giant. Elijah Craig’s Barrel Proof expression is aged a minimum of 12 years, bottled at barrel strength and frequently available on the upper-middle shelf at liquor stores. It’s won every award a whiskey can win.
Price: ~$65
Proof: Varies
Knob Creek 12-Year
Earlier this year, Knob Creek made waves when it announced the return of the 9-year age statement to its small batch bourbon. The brand also unveiled a new, mainline 12-year-old expression at the same time, and it kicks ass.
Price: ~$60
Proof: 100
Eagle Rare
The conceit of this guide if highly findable whiskey, so some may bristle at the inclusion of Buffalo Trace Distillery product (all of which are allocated, and the brand is frequently accused of uneven distribution). That’s fair, but Eagle Rare is not Blanton’s, Weller 12 or one of the many E.H. Taylor expressions. For about $40, you get a mid-proof, 10-year-old bourbon. In today’s market that is a very rare thing.
Price: ~$40
Proof: 90
Old Pulteney 12 Years Single Malt Scotch
One of our go-to budget-ish scotches. Available in most American markets, Old Pulteney’s 12-year-old bottle is a nice alternative for dads (and sons) that aren’t into peat-bombs.
Price: ~$45
Proof: 40
WhistlePig 10-Year-Old Straight Rye
Canadian whisky by way of Vermont, WhistlePig gets flak from whiskey purists who scorn brands that don’t distill and mature their own spirit. Who cares? It’s delicious, available everywhere and offers a rare glimpse into higher-end Canadian rye whisky.
Price: ~$75
Proof: 100
1792 Full Proof
Near the end of 2019, this bottle wouldn’t have made a list like this. Jim Murray had named it his Whiskey of the Year and the hoarders picked the shelves clean. Thankfully, it’s not overly rare stuff and stock seems to have recovered quickly.
Price: ~$50
Proof: Varies
Nikka From the Barrel
A one-time Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, Nikka’s From the Barrel was hugely popular in its home country for decades before arriving in America. If you want to try Japanese whisky but are discouraged by the high prices and rarity, this is an excellent consolation, if you can even call it that.
Price: ~$60
Proof: 102
Green Spot Whiskey
Incredibly rich, delicate and light Irish whiskey from a storied distiller. Green Spot is the middlepoint in the Spot Whiskey range, and it’s blend of 7- to 10-year-old spirit.
Price: ~$60
Proof: 80
Barrell Bourbon
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Price: ~$90
Proof: Varies
Highland Park 18-Year-Old
Expensive? Certainly. Available? Thank goodness. Its another bottle that’s won all there is to win, and the sherry-infused oak casks its aged in combined with a long 18 year slumber in the wood lend it incredible delicate flavor.
Price: ~$170
Proof: 86
Redbreast 12-Year
What with bourbon being the way it is, Irish whiskey represents some of the best value on the shelf. If Redbreast 12-Year was an American whiskey it’d sell for twice its usually $50 ask.
Price: ~$50
Proof: 80
Hibiki Harmony
Harmony is Hibiki and Beam-Suntory’s answer to the Japanese whisky shortage. A reliable blend of various whiskies from the company’s array of distilleries and maturation warehouses across the country, it’s a light, sherry-rich taste of what made Japanese whisky popular in the first place.
Price: $TK
Proof: 86
