Forget the socks, give ‘em something on the rocks

So it’s the time of year when every Dad, regardless of need, gets their sock drawer replenished, new slippers beside the bed and the Toblerone which has been so carefully personalised ‘Dad’.

Each year the same struggle happens with children throughout the land struggling to buy the right token gift to tell Dad just how much they appreciate him on Clinton Card’s Day… I mean Fathers Day.

For me this is a day to celebrate my mutual whisky love with my father-in-law. Over the years our passion has allowed us to explore many whiskies, build pretty robust collections and spent a lot of time together talking about our hobby.

It was whilst thinking about what I’d be getting him this Fathers Day that I thought I would write this list to give some inspiration to those of you who are searching ‘different gifts for Fathers Day’ or ‘what to get for the Dad who has everything’.

[divider]1. An obvious one here; a bottle of whisky[/divider]

Consider something new or surprising like:

Ardbeg & Craigellachie – Double Barrel Blended Malt Whisky – 46% – £52.95

Teeling 15 Years Old The Revival Single Malt Whiskey – 46.0% – £86.99 – available here

Lagavulin 200th Anniversary 8 Year Old Limited Edition – 48% – £58.25

Glen Moray Peated Whisky – 40.0% – £26.40 (great value) – available here

If none of these suggestions looks right then have a rifle through his current selection, take a couple of pictures and drop us an email ([email protected]) and we’ll recommend bottles that he might like.

[divider]2. The Dram Team subscription[/divider]

The Dram Team is a whisky-tasting-by-post subscription and gift service.

Each box of dram-based delight contains:

• Five 25ml drams of whisky averaging £50 RRP for 70cl, and up to £80 –
• The “Sixth Dram”: Our super-special 10ml taster dram at £125+ per 70cl –
• Full tasting note cards and a written tour of each flight –
• Monthly tweet tastings and exclusive subscriber offers –

– Standard pricing at £25 –

[divider]3. A GreatDrams personal tasting [/divider]

We love passing on our passion for whisky to everyone we meet so why not treat him to a private whisky tasting in the comfort of his own home. We take care of all the glasswear, the whisky and the tidying up so he and his friends / family will be free to concentrate on having a great time.

Private whisky tastings in the home available here

[divider]4. Perfect whisky drinking glasses[/divider]

The Glencairn Glass is synonymous with all things whisky, so buy one or a few of these to ensure he has the perfect whisky experience every single time.

Available here

[divider]5. Some seriously limited and unique whiskies from Chapter7[/divider]

Club membership for unique, rare whiskies delivered to your home direct from the independent bottler Chapter 7 available from their Indiegogo page here.

Chapter 7™, an award winning Swiss independent bottler, is the brainchild of Selim Evin. Selim was inspired by his Scottish grandfather’s passion for whisky and created Chapter 7™ in 2014 .

He was taught at an early age that casks (barrels) are not just vessels but they give the whisky its character and soul and thinks that each has its own unique story to tell. So Selim travels to Scotland and Ireland to hand- select single casks from different distilleries.

Then he custom bottles each one with its own story. For Selim it’s more than a business, it‘s a passion.

There are different levels of buy in so you can choose what would be most appropriate for you and your budget. 

[divider]6. 101 Legendary Whiskies to Try Before You Die[/divider]

I have been an avid fan of the 101 Whiskies series by Ian Buxton for a few years now. I use the books both to inspire my collecting, to alert me to releases I want to obtain or try and even in client research.

It is engaging, not copy heavy, tells interesting stories and uses visuals of bottles incredibly well to take readers on a journey of discovery whilst educating and inspiring.

High praise, I’m sure you’ll agree, but when you pick up one of these books you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Available here

[divider]7. A cocktail kit for the amateur mixologist in all of them[/divider]

The classic Old Fashioned is one of my favourite cocktails, a true classic that all true whiskey fans love, but has your dad ever made one, or two, for himself, and yourself? Well Woodford Reserve and Tipplesworth have just the answer in their Old Fashioned Mini Cocktail Kit for just £19.99.

In the pack you receive all you need to fashion a mean Old Fashioned:

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Bourbon 5cl
Tipplesworth Pure Cane Sugar Syrup 3cl
Tiny Angostura Bitters 0.35cl
Stirrer and a Recipe Card

And it looks great too!

Available for purchase here.

[divider]8. Johnnie Walker Blue dinner at M[/divider]

I was fortunate enough to attend the press preview of this Johnnie Walker Blue Label paired dinner at M Restaurant and it is genuinely stunning, see photos below. Quite a bargain too at £125 per person for this menu:

Welcome Drink
Johnnie Walker Blue Label cocktail, The Blue Rose

First Course
IKE JIME KING FISH
Bloody Mary Jel | Sea Fennel | Nori

The Bloody Mary Jel is made with Johnnie Walker Gold Label, allowing the strong and slightly sweet tone to cut through the meaty Ike Jim King Fish.

Second Course
SMOKED HAM HOCK RAVIOLI
Burnt Tomatoes | Olive Oil Foam | Pecorino | Truffle

Third Course
72 HOUR SHORT RIB
Artichokes (Puree, Roasted, Crisps) | Truffle Mayonnaise

The short rib is braised for 72 hours in a Johnnie Walker Blue Label marinade; the sugar and spices intensify the flavour of the meat.

Dessert
WALDORF SALAD
Blue Cheese Ice Cream | Walnuts | Celery

Book now

Restaurant location: M, Zig Zag Building, 70 VICTORIA STREET, SW1E 6SQ