By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Jun 10, 2015 at 1:09 PM

You've got just over a week until Father's Day. But, if you haven't yet purchased a gift for dad, you needn't fret.

If you've got a dad who enjoys the occasional tipple, we've got the perfect list of options to please his palate. Just search for your dad's personality among those listed below to find the perfect recommendation. Or just point and shoot. Every option on this list is guaranteed to make you a Father's Day gifting hero.

  1. The whiskey connoisseur:
    Notoriously difficult to buy for, this dad is the guy who has everything. Or so you think. What he may not have is a bottle of Glenfiddich 18 Year Old, the world’s most awarded Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Released by one of Scotland’s premiere independent, family-owned distilleries, this scotch indulges the palate with luxurious dried fruit, candy peel and dates, overlaid with notes of oak from aging in sherry and bourbon casks. $84.99 at Milwaukee's finer liquor retailers."


  2. The all-around stand-up guy:
    He's the kind of dad who won't blow your college tuition on a red sports car; but he also knows he deserves a little bit of frivolous luxury every now and again. He also knows whiskey, but he’s already sampled everything interesting. Make him an Old Fashioned with Great Lakes Barrel Aged Gin and he's guaranteed to fondly remember this gift forever. Around $39 at Milwaukee's finer liquor retailers or Great Lakes Distillery, 616 W. Virginia St.


  3. The craftsman:
    He’s the man who is happiest working hands-on. Whether he’s tinkering with something in his workshop or making home improvements, when he builds something, it’s both sturdy and attractive. If this is your dad -- and he also happens to be a lover of tequila, treat him to a bottle of Milagrro Select Barrel Tequila. Recipient of more international competition awards than any other tequila, Milagro employs the finest old-world techniques and traditions and applying modern technologies and processes to produce an agave-forward product that is crisp, clear and smooth in flavor. Milagro Select Barrel offerings are priced between $52.99 and $98.99 and available from a variety of Milwaukee’s finest liquor purveyors.

  4. The whiskey loving outdoorsman:  
    If your dad is the sort of man who is as comfortable on the trails as he is indoors, consider the gift of Central Standard Craft Distillery’s Oat White Whiskey. Built for the whiskey lover who appreciates a stiff cocktail, but also wants something refreshing, this oat-mash-based spirit  spends a brief aging period in an unused and uncharred oak barrel, resulting in a clear oat whiskey showcasing hearty flavor and solid notes of grain. Priced around $27.99 at Milwaukee's finer liquor retailers and at Central Standard Distillery, 613 S. 2nd St.

  5. The laid back and sociable dad:
    If you’re looking for a gift for someone who is never at a loss for words, consider a bottle of Tullamore D.E.W. – a triple distilled, triple blend Irish whiskey with an intriguingly smooth yet complex character. Great for seasoned whiskey drinkers or novices alike, the 12 Year Old Special Reserve is one of the best in the portfolio. And it's just $40 at at Milwaukee's finer liquor retailers.


  6. The perfectionist:
    He’s restless and ambitious. And he never – ever – settles for second best. That’s why he needs a spirit like Twisted Path Dark Rum in his bar. Made with premium molasses and slowly distilled in a copper pot still, this rum is delicious even before it’s aged in whiskey barrels. It’s full-bodied and complex enough to make an excellent sipping rum, even among whiskey fans. It’s also 90 proof, so it holds its own in cocktails like the Dark and Stormy. Available for $35 at Milwaukee's finer liquor retailers and Twisted Path Distillery, 2018 S. 1st St. (by appointment only).

  7. The self-made man:
    Maybe he’s an entrepreneur. Maybe he just heads up one of the most successful teams in the city. Either way, he’s always pushing, always moving forward, and always ready for the next best thing. So, give him a gift that reflects his values. Grab a bottle of Hudson Baby Bourbon , or Hudson Manhattan Rye – both produced by Hudson Whiskey, the first distillery in New York State since Prohibition. Using local grains – 90 percent of which are raised within 10 miles of the distillery – the Baby Bourbon ($39.99) is woody, smoky and filled with notes of vanilla and caramel, while the Manhattan Rye ($44.99) is bold and spicy with hints of coconut.

  8. The Individualist
    Your dad is like no one else in the world. He’s never a follower, and always marches to his own tune. And that’s why Monkey Shoulder – the world’s first "triple" malt (containing Balvenie, Glenfiddich, and Kininvie) – is the perfect selection. And don’t let the cute bottle fool you. There’s not a single drop of grain whisky in Monkey Shoulder, and the chosen malts mature in first fill ex-bourbon casks, imparting a smooth and mellow vanilla flavor. It’s delicious in cocktails, but also perfect served on the rocks. Priced well at $29.99.

 

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.