We know just how difficult it can be to pick a gift for Father’s Day, but if you’re one of the lucky ones that are well aware of their old man’s taste for a good dram, things are a whole lot easier for you…or are they?

Knowing what type of gift you are going to get someone isn’t exactly the same as knowing what gift you will get them. The sheer amount of different expressions of whisky available in the world today is quite staggering, and it can certainly be overbearing, particularly if you’re not a whisky buff yourself.

So we thought we’d offer a helping hand.

Each of these recommendations is a single cask, cask strength whisky, so it could be said that they are purest form of the spirit available (besides drinking straight from the cask).

Bowmore 21 Year Old

Bowmore 21 Year Old First Edition (Hunter Laing, 1996)

$178.68

An exquisite Bowmore 21 Year Old from Hunter Laing’s sought after “First Editions” label. This whisky was produced at the famous Islay distillery in 1996 and was matured in a refill hogshead cask. The cask has imparted hints of citrus fruits on a peppery spirit that has subtle undertones of peat smoke. The peat is apparent from the nose to the finish but it’s certainly not overpowering, giving you more than ample opportunity to taste the array of other things that are going on in this complex dram.

With only 196 bottles of this cracker ever being produced, it’s rare, delicious and a special gift!

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The Macallan 1990 20 Year Old Artist #4 – LMDW

Macallan 20 Year Old Artist Series (La Maison Du Whisky, 1990)

$999.99

The thing about Macallan is that you don’t really need to say much about their whiskies. Everyone already knows just how good they are. The standard of Macallan whisky is something that is universally recognised and it for that reason that their whiskies are so popular around the World.

This particular bottle is an absolute beauty of a cask strength single cask whisky, a pure and delicious example of the distillery’s famous liquid. It was aged for 20 years in a hogshead cask and only 97 bottles of this fine dram were ever produced.

If you get your dad this incredible whisky for Father’s Day, expect him to be delighted.

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Lagavulin 25 Year Old

Lagavulin 25 Year Old (The Syndicate, 1990)

$1,569.99

The first thing many people think of when they hear “Lagavulin” is lots of peat (or James Bond) and they wouldn’t be wrong to think that about this bottle. Let’s not get carried away too soon, peat isn’t the only thing on offer from this vintage single cask bottling. It also offers subtle hints of citrus fruits, notes of the seaside, honey, vanilla and pears, but the peat is quite apparent (though it does mellow over time).

Only 243 bottles of this fine spirit were ever released, so not only is it a tasty gift, it’s a unique and rare one too.

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Benrinnes 18

Benrinnes 18 Year Old (The Maltman, 1997)

$149.99

A beautiful Benrinnes 18 Year Old that was produced at the Speyside distillery in 1997. Unlike most whiskies, this one was triple matured. First, it spent 17 years in a bourbon cask. Then it was transferred to ruby port wood cask for 6 months, picking up subtle notes of dark fruits and cherries. Finally it spent another 6 months in the finest Pedro Ximenez sherry cask available.

As a result of this triple maturation there are lots of subtle notes to be picked up in this smooth, sweet and fruity dram.

This is one of those whiskies that will be savoured from first sip to last. Only 380 bottles were produced.

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Clynelish 18 Year Old (Wilson & Morgan, 1997)

$184.99

An excellent Clynelish that sports the rather unique attribute of having been finished in a Tokaji Wine cask. The presence of this fruity wine is quite apparent on the spirit but it gets along with the whisky surprisingly well. Vanilla, pears, citrus fruits and raisins combine with a hint of smoke and a very subtle dusting of salt to create a well-rounded and very interesting dram.

This is a great example of experimental finishes resulting in astonishing flavours that will take a while to dissect. With only 196 bottles of this cask strength whisky released by world famous bottler, Wilson & Morgan, it makes an authentic, honest and special gift for Father’s Day.

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Laphroaig 15 Year Old 1997 Artist #4 – LMDW

Laphroaig 15 Year Old Artist series (La Maison Du Whisky, 1997)

$389.99

A superb 15 Year Old from one of Islay’s most successful distilleries – Laphroaig. The spirit inside this bottle was produced in 1997 before being aged exclusively in a refill sherry hogshead cask. This has imparted lots of interesting fruity notes on the drink that include sherried fruits, sultanas, dark chocolate and of course, the distillery’s famous whack of peat smoke.

As with the Lagavulin we mentioned earlier, the peat is far from overbearing, but it is quite apparent so if you’re thinking about getting your dad this whisky, it’s probably a good idea to make sure he enjoys a peated dram before you make your purchase.

With only 291 bottles, this dram is an excellent and unique choice for a peat-lover.

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Mortlach 24 Year

Mortlach 24 Year Old (Signatory, 1991)

$224.99

The Mortlach distillery is famous for producing top quality sherry bombs and this dram is exactly that. Produced in Speyside in 1991, this whisky was aged for 24 years in the finest sherry cask available. This has a resulted in a deep and rich tasting experience that includes hints of dark chocolate, coffee and lots of sherried dark fruits. It’s a mouth coating, relatively chewy dram that should be sipped and savoured.

Signatory are well known for their stringent cask selection process and the supreme quality of this liquid is another fine example of this in action. If you know your dad loves big powerful flavours and sherry matured whisky, you shouldn’t look any further than this.

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Octomore 6 Year

Octmore 6 Year Old (Rest & Be Thankful, 2008)

$369.99

A young whisky from the Bruichladdich distillery that makes up part of their Octomore range. If you haven’t heard of Octomore before, it’s the most heavily peated dram in the world. That’s right, this whisky really is bursting with smoke. At first, it may seem a bit overpowering (unless you can’t get enough peat in your life), but the more sips you take, and the more acclimatised to the extreme levels of peat you become, the more the dram will open up and other, much subtler flavours and smells will become apparent.

If you know your father loves a peaty whisky (and we mean really peaty!), then this could be the dram for you. If you’re not sure what they like, steer well clear! Only 302 bottles of this cask strength whisky were produced. It’s pure, it’s peaty and in our opinion, it’s a real delight.

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Glenlivet 35 Year Old (Silver Seal, 1979)

$879.99

An excellent expression of top quality whisky from the world famous Glenlivet distillery, this dram was produced in 1979 and matured for 35 year before being bottled by Silver Seal for their lauded “Whisky is Art” series. This whisky is just that, a work of art. The flavours are balanced and complex, meaning it will taking you several dram to fully dissect this beauty. Lots of woody notes are apparent (as a result of the lengthy time spent in the cask) and these mingle with dark chocolate, burnt coffee and a sweeter element that comes in the form of candied orange peels.

Glenlivet are seen as one of the best in the business for a reason, and that reason is drams like this. Truly exquisite. With only 178 bottles produced, this really is an extra-special gift for an extra-special dad.

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Port Ellen 35 Year

Port Ellen 35 Year Old (Gordon & MacPhail, 1980)

$1,624.99

This Port Ellen really is the daddy (pun intended) of all Father’s Day whisky gifts! It makes up part of Gordon & MacPhail’s highly sought after “Rare Old” series. The distillery has been silent since 1983, just 3 years after this bottle was produced, and their whisky has since become something of a commodity. There really isn’t all that much spirit from the sublime Islay distillery left today, so getting your hands on a bottle like this is a real coup.

Aged for 35 years, this dram is smooth, rounded, complex and easy to drink. It really does have it all. While Diageo is set to reopen the Port Ellen distillery in 2020, this bottle is one the last remaining examples of the top quality whiskies produced in the distillery’s heyday. Whether your dad decides to drink it or hold on to it for years and watch it’s value soar, he’s sure to be pleased with this present.

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