12 Bottles Dad Actually Wants This Father's Day

Your dad has enough ties, novelty T-shirts, coffee mugs, and socks. Upgrade your gifting game and get him something that will replace a forced smile with a wide grin: a wonderful bottle. Whether he’s a seasoned sipper or a whisky neophyte, we’ve selected 12 standout spirits ranging from special scotch single malts to cult-favorite bourbons to accessible, underrated ryes—and a few exceptional whisky-adjacent options—all guaranteed to earn you favorite-child status. Here’s hoping whatever you buy him, Dad will crack the bottle and pour a glass for you, too.

93 points - Yamazaki 12 year old Japanese single malt, 43%, $150

A mainstay among the best Japanese whiskies for good reason. This single malt whisky matures in three types of barrels: bourbon, oloroso sherry, and mizunara oak. The resulting liquid is floral, light, complex, and balanced. It’s pleasing, sip after sip.

92 points - Bowmore 15 year old scotch single malt, 43%, $76

If dad prefers peat, opt for Bowmore’s 15 year. This Islay single malt packs the right balance of smoke and sweetness, with notes of raisins, sherry, and dates mingling alongside sticky toffee and allspice.

92 points - High West Bourye, 46%, $125

High West has long been a master of the blend, and Bourye is Exhibit A. This annual limited release combines 10 to 14 year old straight bourbons and ryes (sourced from MGP, blended at High West Distillery in Utah) into something greater than the sum of its well-aged parts. It’s complex, beautifully balanced, and dangerously easy to revisit—again and again.

91 points - Blade and Bow bourbon, 45.5%, $48

This Kentucky straight bourbon is the rare gift that’s easy to find, easy to like, and won’t require a second mortgage. Made using the solera method—meaning there’s allegedly a whisper of pre-1992 Stitzel-Weller juice still in the mix, per brand owner Diageo—the final blend is soft, balanced, and approachable.

91 points - Johnnie Walker 18 year old blended scotch, 40%, $65

This 18 year blend pulls from 18 different Scottish distilleries—including Cardhu, Blair Athol, and Glen Elgin—and the final product is exceptionally creamy, smooth, and tasty, particularly given its affordability. Perfect for the dad who likes a hint of peat, but not an overwhelming amount of smoke in the glass.

90 points - George Dickel rye, 45%, $20

This 95/5 rye may wear a Tennessee label, but it's born in Indiana (MGP) before heading south for chill filtering at Cascade Hollow. That finishing touch gives it a green, herbal edge and a minty streak that lingers through the sip. It’s a solid solo pour, but really shines when it underpins a Manhattan or Vieux Carré.

89 points - Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat bourbon, 53%, $50

This 6 year old expression features 39% wheat in the mashbill. It drinks incredibly easy, with pops of crème brûlée and citrus on the palate. Given that it’s a wheated mashbill, you can give it to Pops and tell him it’s Pappy Van Winkle’s brother from another mother.

88 points - Paul John Brilliance Indian single malt, 46%, $80

Indian single malts have come a long way and this expression is proof. Hailing from the Sazerac-owned distillery in Goa, India, this unpeated single malt leans into its tropical upbringing, trading traditional smoke for sun-drenched flavors of grapefruit, pear, and cinnamon-kissed apples. It’s bright, bold, and anything but expected.

Widow Jane 20 year old Black Opal blended bourbon, 49.5%, $500

Want to splurge? Widow Jane’s latest limited edition 20 year old Black Opal is a wonderful choice. After two decades of maturation, including finishing in mizunara oak, this blend of Kentucky and Tennessee straight bourbons is bold, decadent, and has an extensive finish befitting such a pricey pour. Bonus: the presentation box itself is a work of art.

L'Encantada L'Esprit armagnac, ABVs and SRPs Vary

If dad likes armagnac, a bottle of L’Encantada will make his year. Prices and proofs vary by vintages, though there’s something available at most price points. The widely available XO Cigar Blend ($123) has a super nice body and texture and pairs well with cigars, while the Tattoo Series 3 ($169) boasts a beautiful label and liquid—the brandy's been finished in Weller barrels.

El Tesoro Single Barrel añejo Mundial tequila, ABVs and SRPs vary

For the father who likes tequila, El Tesoro’s master distiller Carlos Camarena’s core expressions are delicious on their own. However, Camarena’s kicked it up a notch with a series of single barrel offerings as part of the Mundial Collection, where añejo tequila is finished in a variety of whisky barrels. There’ve been two Laphroaig offerings, a Knob Creek variant, and a Basil Hayden Toast edition.

Appleton Estate 12 year old Rare Casks rum, 43%, $40

Ultra-aging rum doesn’t often make the rum better; it typically makes the cask influence more pronounced. Many find 12 years old to be a rum’s sweet spot, and that’s especially true of Jamaica’s Appleton Estate. It’s the perfect accompaniment to a cigar, if your father’s so inclined It’s also great just to sip, with a nice balance of funky, tropical fruit notes, and rich oak flavors.