5 Scotch Whiskies For Father's Day
Dads and Scotch. Scotch and dads. It's a duo that's every bit as iconic as Tom & Jerry, peanut butter & jelly, and of course, the Jenner sisters. Even if dad isn't a big Scotch drinker himself, there will always be occasions – the coming of a grandchild, a big birthday with friends, a retirement – that call for a celebratory dram. With that in mind, you can give a nice bottle of Scotch with confidence, knowing that it will go to good use. After all, gadgets can be hit or miss, he likely already as all the golf clubs he needs, and not many people even wear ties to the office anymore.
If you'd like to get dad something different this year, but aren't sure which bottle suits him best, consider one of these five foolproof Father's Day gifting options, all under $120!
For the Outdoorsman – The Dalmore 12
If dad enjoys camping, fishing, and a weekend hunt, he may appreciate adorning his bar cart with this trophy piece of a bottle, emblazoned with its 12-pointed Royal Stag crest. The Stag has appeared on every bottle of The Dalmore since 1867, as according to legend, the operating family had long since adopted the symbol after an ancestor fearlessly saved King Alexander III from the charging beast while on a hunt in Scotland. Today, the Dalmore produces a range of single malts, but the original Dalmore 12 (SRP: $59.99) matured primarily in ex-bourbon casks, with a portion removed and reintroduced after resting for a shorter period in oloroso sherry casks, still stands up as a wonderfully rich and chocolatey whisky.
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For the Puzzle Lover – The Glenlivet Code
If dad was always the type to have an unfinished puzzle scattered across the dining room table, pick up The Glenlivet Code (SRP: $119.99), a limited edition release that has been issued in a black bottle with no information about casks used or the liquid's tasting notes. The bottling is being presented as a challenge to the consumer from Master Distiller Alan Winchester, and encourages curious tasters to go online to enter Glenlivet's virtual tasting room, where they can decipher the nose and palate through a series of available tasting note options. We got lots of dried fruit and baking spice, but challenge dad to a taste test of your own, and see whose palate is more accurate when the "Code" is revealed at the end of 2018.
For the History Buff – The Lost Distillery Company: Lossit
For the dad that's always glued to the History channel or head down in book about the ways of old, The Lost Distillery Company may just be his new liquid obsession. With the help of an archivist, the company has tracked down historically accurate recipes from Scotch producers that have shuttered their doors and disappeared with the times, whether due to restrictive trade routes, staunch competition, or economic hardship. Now they are recreating "present day expressions of [these] legendary whiskies" as faithfully as possible from the resources available today. Among the offerings is The Lost Distillery Company Lossit (SRP: $49.99) a peaty and peppery blended malt, inspired by the Lossit distillery, which operated in Islay from 1817-1867.
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For the dad that's done it all and needs a Scotch that can be sipped on a porch in Florida, the newly released Glen Grant 15 (SRP: $76.99) is a delightfully drinkable single malt option. Like the Glenlivet, Glen Grant is another Speyside whisky, though it is notably brighter and more delicate than many other single malts on the market. Distilled in 2002 and bottled in 2017, this new release was matured in hand selected, first-fill ex-bourbon casks, and is astonishingly light in color for a 15 year-old whisky. It carries sweet vanilla notes and nutty undertones, perfect for a sipping on a breezy summer night.
For the Adventurer – The Talisker Storm
For the dad who sails, surfs, or journeys the globe, The Talikser Storm (SRP: $49.99) carries all the character of his well-traveled soul. According to the brand, Talisker has been the only distillery to reside on the stormy shores of the Isle of Skye since 1830, and it conveys this weathered bravado in Storm, a smoky and slightly briny single malt. The whisky strikes a nice balance between sweet and spicy, a good option for pleasing a crowd while dad tells his old travel tales. And if dad prefers his adventures in books rather than the real world, let him know that Treasure Island author Robert Louis Stevenson once declared Talisker "The king o' drinks, as I conceive it," in his poem, The Scotsman's Return From Abroad.