Father’s Day approaches. You know what dad really wants? A tie!
Just kidding. He wants booze!
To celebrate, here are five options for the thirstiest of dads, all new (or at least new to the U.S. market) since Father’s Day last year.
• For Beer Dad: There are more breweries than at any time in the nation’s history, which is great news for Beer Dad, who wants the “it” beer style of the summer: a moderate alcohol, dry-hopped sour beer. Many fit the bill, but we’re going with Lagunitas’ Aunt Sally ($10.99 for a six-pack), which was introduced in March. A little sweet, a little fruity and a little sour, Aunt Sally lives in perfect harmony as a post-work refresher or beside that big, bad steak Beer Dad is grilling in the backyard.
• For Scotch Dad: Scotch is generally equated with the overriding sensation of smoky peat, but Scotch Dad knows there’s much more to this wonderful sipper than that one dimension. That’s why he’ll be thrilled to get his hands on 18-year-old Deveron Single Malt Scotch whisky. Huge fruit — think peach, apricot and cherry — mingles with elements of milk chocolate and a little lavender in a gorgeous, smooth and easy-drinking spirit that goes down well in summer. It is not cheap ($129.99), but, hey, dad deserves a treat now and then.
• For Bourbon Dad: Bourbon Dad loves the good stuff from Kentucky but appreciates the adventurousness and excellence of the best craft whiskeys. Oppidan Solera-Aged Bourbon ($44.99) qualifies on both counts. This Wheeling distillery makes its bourbon with unlikely malts, including chocolate malted rye and a couple of kinds of barley more commonly seen in brewing. The real adventure comes in the solera aging process, which employs three types of wood. This out-of-the-box bourbon with notes of chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch, oak, a little Band-Aid (in a good way, I swear) is as fascinating as it is delicious.