Father’s Day is right around the corner, and if the dad in your life is a whiskey drinker, there’s no shortage of exceptional bottles to brighten his holiday. In honor of that day falling on Sunday, here are 21 new and noteworthy whiskies that are perfect for the occasion.
Single Malt Scotch
While the Scottish are capturing attention for their enthusiastic World Cup visits to the U.S. this summer, the Scots’ most famous export is more quietly turning heads.
Glenmorangie X Harrison Ford
As its name suggests, Harrison Ford helped to develop this limited edition, which combines whiskies matured in ex-bourbon barrels and Portuguese red wine casks. The result creates a nose tingling with plums, golden raisins, honey, and faint marzipan, while flavors transition to a prominent spice that hits mid-palate and lingers through the finish. ($100)
Ardbeg Dolce
A blend of classic bourbon barrels and wine casks is again put to good use, this time on the island of Islay, where Ardbeg has mixed up a special release that relies on casks that previously held Marsala dolce, Sicily’s sweetest fortified wine. The peat’s smokey character is always perceptible, but it’s softened by the Marsala’s sweetness. The end result is a whisky that tastes decades older than it is. ($110)
Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine III
Bruichladdich’s Yellow Submarine III is a bottle of surprises, as the 14-year Islay single malt, crafted exclusively from Scottish barley, is unpeated. On the nose, honeysuckle and butterscotch sweetness comes through, while flavors of tropical fruits are balanced by black peppercorn. Overall, it’s an approachable whisky that will still appeal to an experienced palate. ($135)
Diageo Rare Series – Blair Athol 1991
As a part of Diageo’s evolving collection of vintage whiskies with impeccable provenance, the recently released Blair Athol 1991 entices immediately with a dark mahogany hue, then grabs your attention with cocoa and dried figs and dates on the nose. Lusciously sweet on the palate, it departs with baking spice flavors that linger long after the sip. Only 347 bottles are available. ($900)
Glenfarclas Cathay Pacific 15-Year Cask Strength
To celebrate Cathay Pacific’s 80th anniversary, Glenfarclas has reintroduced a cask strength edition of its 15-year whisky, one that’s matured exclusively in Oloroso sherry barrels. Dried fruits and dark chocolate characterize the spirit’s prominent aromas, while leather and tobacco shine boldly on the palate. (about $180)
Bourbon
The bourbon boom is finally showing signs of softening — at least a little. That’s a good thing, as it means hard-to-find bottles may soon become easier to find.
Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel
Pouring a lighter hue than the standard Old Grand-Dad 114, this 7-year single-barrel release delivers more vanilla and spice on the palate — there’s a strong butterscotch quality to the spirit — and it drinks lighter overall. ($50)
Horse Soldier Liberty Edition
Initially, this limited-edition, 13-year-old bourbon showcases lots of caramel and butterscotch on the nose, with a touch of floral vanilla. On the palate, those characteristics give way to prevalent flavors of light brown sugar. ($800)
Frey Ranch 10 Year
Unlike so many Kentucky bourbons, this one, from northwestern Nevada, reveals hints of the grain on the nose, not just the oak. Super soft on the palate, Frey Ranch’s limited 10 Year delivers all the customary bourbon notes but in a nuanced, understated package. That’s a win all around. ($99)
Little Book, Chapter 10
Syrupy and pleasingly sweet, with lots of light brown sugar character (and a splay of vanilla), this barrel-proof bourbon drinks much easier than its proof would suggest. It’s a standout expression, one that flaunts a roundness when opened up with a bit of water. ($160)
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year
Black pepper and creamy vanilla collide on the nose. When sipped, this seldom-released bourbon reveals a sharp, Sherry-like quality that lends the whiskey a fruit-candy-like character. It finishes hot, but that’s to be expected given it’s overproof strength. ($200)
Eagle Rare 30 Year
It’s incredibly rare to encounter a three-decades-old bourbon, in large part because the wood influence can easily overpower. Eagle Rare’s oldest expression to date proves it can be done. The whisky is surprisingly bright and lively, with a great viscosity and just the right amount of oak-delivered spice. ($12,500)
EH Taylor Four Grain
Slightly more layered than EH Taylor’s traditional small batch bourbon, the recently reintroduced four grain expression flaunts cherry cola and faint roasted coffee notes on the nose, then backs them up with a mix of bubble gum and black pepper on the palate. ($80)
Finished Bourbon
Bourbon in its unaltered state isn’t for everyone. For those who like a dash of distinct flavor with their whiskey, these finished bourbons are sure to satisfy.
Sweetens Cove Father’s Finish
Smells undeniably of toasted marshmallow, while the whiskey’s grain character is surprisingly strong on the palate. In tandem, those two characteristics make this finished bourbon taste a bit like a sugary breakfast cereal. But then, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. ($65)
Oaklore Old Fashioned
This one smells as it should — like a boozy cocktail. After the island-spice character from aromatic bitters capture your attention on the nose, the sweetness of the bourbon takes center stage on the palate. It drinks just like an old fashioned poured straight from the bottle. ($90)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch
A blend of toasted casks and maple syrup barrels combine to create this finished straight bourbon, where bright cherry cola notes define the nose, spiced oak anchors the palate, and hints of maple fade in and out along the way. ($90)
Gambit No. 6
The mix of six different barrel finishes — wine, apple brand, sherry, and tokaji (a Hungarian dessert wine) — create an interesting finished product that only occasionally smells and tastes like a Kentucky straight bourbon. It’s good, but also hard to wrap your head around it. ($70)
Widow Jane Ocho Tequila Finish
The herbaceous character of distilled agave shines brightly on the nose, while the bourbon’s innate sweetness takes over on the palate. On the finish, this 10-year whiskey continues that two-pronged attack, as bright agave mingles with oak spice. ($75)
American Whiskies
Bourbon may be the United States’ official whiskey, but there are plenty of other American categories with new offerings to discover.
WhistlePig Declaration Wheat
Smelling sweetly of ripe apples and pears, WhistlePig’s latest limited release, crafted from homegrown wheat, surprises with soft, smokey flavors. Sips immediately conjure up thoughts of campfire cookouts. ($74)
AJ Bond Tennessee Whiskey
Sazerac’s first Tennessee Whiskey, AJ Bond, is bound to delight whiskey drinkers who ordinarily order Jack Daniels. This new offering delivers the same honey-meets-black-pepper flavors, but it delivers them in a softer and rounder package. ($40)
Lasso Motel James Dean 13-Year Rye
Rye’s black-pepper spice character reveals itself subtly on the nose of this 13-year whiskey; however, it takes a more prominent role on the palate, sharing space with dark fruit and hints of cocoa. ($150)
Irish Whiskey
Recently, it’s been mostly quiet on the Irish front, with one notable exception.
Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition
With aromas that showcase white grapes and honeycrisp apple, this non-age-statement Irish whiskey dazzles with flavors of floral honey and sugar-glazed fruits. It’s a celebration of the influences of multiple sweet, Spanish fortified wines. ($110)
