Cheers to Dad: What's His Drink?

From 10-year rye to aged mezcal, here are four bottles to gift dad this Father's Day.

Dad in his happy place: the cockpit.

Growing up I heard my dad order his go-to cocktail when we’d go out to dinner enough that after awhile I started ordering it for him. “Dewar’s sweet Rob Roy on the rocks with a cherry,” I’d say to the server with a smile on my face, dad sitting back chuckling.

Dewar’s, a blended Scotch whisky, was my dad’s drink of choice for years. Sure, sometimes he’d get a vodka martini (Chopin had been a favorite, I believe) and when he wanted wine, it was always red and, if possible, would get a “Medoc” or another Right Bank Bordeaux or possibly a Barolo. He likes his wines big and bold. Mom, on the other hand, always prefers a sweet white wine, a sweet riesling if it’s available. Specifically, the peachy Chateau Ste. Michelle sweet riesling.

My dad, at 88, still enjoys a tipple and if we’re at their place around cocktail time, will always hear, “Want a drink?” These days, my dad has moved more or less over to bourbon (he loves Woodford Reserve and recently discovered Clark & Sheffield Small Batch Bourbon made exclusively for Binny’s by Barton 1792) and sometimes a good rye in a Manhattan. I like that he transferred from smokey to sweeter and spicy, which is my preference in the brown spirits category when I’m not drinking tequila or mezcal.

So for this Father’s Day, I want to raise a glass to my dad and all the other awesome dads out there. Here are a few recommendations of some bottles that have come across my desk lately in addition to those already named above. Maybe you’ll get inspired to get one for your dad — or even yourself.

Michter’s 10-year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye
OK this is really special. This single barrel expression ages in fire-charred new American white oak barrels that give it a toasty oak nose with caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, marshmallow, honey, and some subtle herbal notes. All of that comes through in the mouth alongside that quintessential rye spice that’s softened by corn and malted barley in the mash bill. At $210 it’s definitely a prized bottle, if you can find it. It’s a limited release that’s highly allocated, but if you can get your hands on a bottle and you have a few extra bucks burning a hole in your pocket, grab it.

Shenk’s Homestead
This whiskey has a cool backstory. It originated in 1753 when Swiss Mennonite farmer John Shenk founded a distillery in Pennsylvania. In the 1800s, it became Bomberger’s Distillery before being bought by Michter’s, which changed the name, but continues to make the hooch. It’s a small batch, 91.2 proof Kentucky sour mash whiskey with a really pretty golden amber color. You get toasty notes backed by orange oil, baked cherry, and cinnamon on the nose. That’s followed by some serious spice from the high rye content in the mash bill that also has caramel malted barley. From that you get chewy caramel notes, more red fruit, and baking spice.

ALB Vodka
I don’t like this vodka because they named it after me (OK fine, they didn’t but these are my initials). I like this vodka simply because it’s incredibly smooth. It is a corn based neutral spirit that gets 4x charcoal filtered with Upstate water in Albany, N.Y, hence its name, by Albany Distilling Co. It was named spirit of the year and vodka of the year by 2025 USA Spirits Ratings. As for drinking it? I love a dirty martini and often make one with Filthy Olive Brine. With ALB, it’s delightful. It’s cold and crisp and bracing in the best way. Stir this one. Don’t shake it. Sure you may like those ice chips, but you don’t want to bruise this vodka or over dilute it.

400 Conejos Añejo Mezcal Artesanal
Sticking with the brown liquor theme, I recently got introduced to this aged mezcal that has enough smoke balanced with sweet that as a Scotch drinker turned bourbon lover, I think my dad would enjoy it. I’ve enjoyed 400 Conejos joven espadín in margaritas, but this spirit takes things up a few notches. Its color is reminiscent of a whiskey, but the nose and taste are anything but. Cooked agave and caramel on the nose lead to even deeper caramel, vanilla, cedar spice, cinnamon, and a hint of orange. Mezcal purists may snub their noses at this one as it is produced on a larger scale and not small batch, but it’s more affordable and accessible if you’re looking to tap into aged mezcal.

Since I haven’t had a Barolo recently to promote here, I’ll let this lady who just discovered natural wine talk about it. Just keep watching.

Happy Father’s Day!

And since it’s Pride month and we’re heading into Pride Weekend soon in many cities, here’s something to get your groove on.