15 Superb Whiskey Cocktails For Father’s Day

I am, by all accounts, a daddy’s girl.

My father was a single dad for the longest time until he married my stepmother. And for many years, it was just me and him—plus my beloved grandmother and my superstar nannies. But he did all the heavy lifting when it came to my upbringing, teaching me all the values (and skills) he wanted me to take to heart.

Over the years while growing up he taught me how drive, change a flat, negotiate and advocate for myself, spot red flags in dubious men, travel alone, and take grand leaps of faith—no matter where they took me. I was told not to be afraid because cowering never benefitted anyone. Beyond all that, he taught me how to evaluate and handle my liquor, which really meant: Don’t drink crap and stop when the slightest hint of intoxication hits you. His whole fatherhood philosophy revolved around preparing me for the real world.

And he’s not alone. I know of many dads who will do anything and everything for their children, which is certainly no walk in the park. Saying that it’s a lot of work is such an understatement, considering how difficult it is to raise little human beings to grow up into solid citizens with good hearts.

So make your dad (or husband, or partner) a stiff drink this Father’s Day. Make him his favorite meal—or order it in. Get him a present that’s neither a tie nor a pair of novelty socks. It doesn’t take a whole production to make Dad happy. But start with that drink.

The Best Whiskey Cocktails to Serve (or Enjoy) This Father’s Day

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STARWARD & TONIC

“When I envisioned Starward, I was inspired by Melbourne’s world-class food scene—one that is obsessed with excellence in all types of food and drink without getting too serious or formal about it. I created Starward to be a whisky for us to enjoy and celebrate alongside our world-class craft beers, wines, and amazing food. The classic highball is perfect for kicking back and enjoying slowly with my family—a truly perfect drink for enjoying on Father’s Day.” —David Vitale, founder at Starward Whisky

Ingredients:

1 part Starward Two-Fold Australian whisky

3 parts light tonic (preferably Fever-Tree)

Ruby grapefruit slice

Method: Build in a stemless wine glass or highball glass, add ice, and stir. Garnish with a wedge of ruby grapefruit.

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BROOKLYN RYE SMASH

“It’s Father’s Day: a day to relax and to spend with your family, enjoying the life you’ve built with them. By mid-June, I’m ready for a refreshing cocktail to enjoy outside—one that’s complex, but quick to prep and make, so I can get back to relaxing. Some people talk about whiskey being a fall or winter drink. But in-the-know whiskey lovers call those people quitters for half the year. This combines ideas behind two of my favorite drinks, the New York Sour and the Whiskey Smash, into one tasty glass. I make it with one of my favorite New York whiskeys as its base: Widow Jane Oak & Applewood Rye. The basil pulls out some of the rye’s herbaceous notes, while the red wine (I like a jammy zinfandel for this) plays well with the light spiciness of the whiskey—as well as the floral notes introduced by the applewood used during the whiskey’s aging process.” —Kyle McHugh, director of brand advocacy at Samson & Surrey; former national president at the United States Bartenders’ Guild

Ingredients:

2 oz. Widow Jane Oak & Apple Wood Rye

3–4 lemon wedges

0.75 oz. of 1:1 simple syrup

2 basil leaves

0.75 oz. red wine

Basil leaves

Method: Muddle lemon wedges in a mixing tin or glass. Add simple syrup, whiskey, and basil leaves. Fill with ice, cover shaker, and shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Double strain into rocks glass. Crush ice in a Lewis ice bag (or while wrapped in a clean kitchen towel). Fill glass to the rim with crushed ice. Layer red wine on top. Garnish with basil leaf. Lemon wheel or twist optional.

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CARS BIG AS BARS

“The Cars Big As Bars cocktail is a nice (and subtle) twist on a classic Old Fashioned. The bold taste of bourbon is tempered by the malty delicacy of Slane Irish whiskey—with the hint of additional sweetness layered in by the Jack Daniels. It’s a great way to add some depth to a ubiquitous cocktail like the Old Fashioned.” —Michael Neff, bar director at The Cottonmouth Club (Houston, TX)

Ingredients:

1 oz. Slane Irish whiskey

1 oz. Jim Beam bourbon

¾ oz. Jack Daniels Tennessee whiskey

1 sugar cube

Angostura Bitters

Method: Build in glass. Soak sugar cube with Angostura bitters, drop in the glass, and wet with a drizzle of water. Muddle until cube becomes a paste. Add whiskeys and half-fill the glass with ice. Stir until the liquid level rises to the top of the ice. Add ice to the top of the glass and stir a bit more. Garnish with an orange twist.

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THE MORAY CLAN

“A few of the life lessons I learned from my father focused on the juxtaposition of respecting tradition while embracing innovation. Sometimes single malt Scotch can be so rooted in tradition that we forget to be adventurous and fun. I love this recipe because it encapsulates the 120-year-old tradition of Glen Moray and blends it with a contemporary take on the classic Godfather cocktail­—creating a tasty, adults-only version of milk and cookies. The perfect Father’s Day cocktail.” —Brenden Raulerson, brand ambassador at Glen Moray

Ingredients:

2 oz. Glen Moray Classic Sherry Cask Finish Scotch Whisky

1 oz amaretto liqueur

1 barspoon heavy cream

1 speculoos cookie, for garnish

Method: Fill an old-fashioned glass up two-thirds of ice. Add the Glen Moray Scotch and amaretto. Stir until well chilled. Pour the cream over the back of a barspoon so lays on top. Garnish with a cracked speculoos cookie.

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THE COTTONMOUTH CLUB PICKLEBACK

“There’s nothing fussy about a pickleback: just Irish whiskey (in this case Slane) and dill pickle juice. Its simplicity makes it ideal for a day that’s meant to be fuss-free. At the bar, I initially wanted to serve the whiskey in a hollowed-out pickle—like a copita. But hollowing out enough to contain an ounce-plus of whiskey proved difficult. It was a small step from there to using the pickle as a vessel for the pickle juice itself, served on an oval plate with a shot of Slane Irish Whiskey and handful pretzels. “Shoot-shoot-chomp,” has become the official tagline of the pickleback service at the bar and it’s definitely got its own fan-club at this point.” —Michael Neff, bar director at The Cottonmouth Club (Houston, TX)

Ingredients and Presentation: Shot of Slane Irish whiskey, presented alongside a shot of pickle juice served in a hollowed-out pickle

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THE BAUDIN

“I don’t drink a whole lot anymore. But if I do have a cocktail this Father’s Day, it’ll be The Baudin. It’s delicious, peppy, and approachable—and it’s the signature drink at Twelve Mile Limit, which is my neighborhood bar, both in the sense that I own it and in the sense that it’s the closest watering hole from my home. Since I created The Baudin for the first cocktail list when we opened in 2010, it’s gone on to become something of a modern classic, popping up on menus around the city and in New Orleans-themed bars as far away as Los Angeles. It’s named for the bar’s cross street, which is named for a French hydrographer—although I’m not fully sure what the word ‘hydrographer’ means. Baudin can be pronounced boh-din (like slow); bow-din (like wow), or baw-din (like slaw)…or really however you like.” —T. Cole Newton, founder at Twelve Mile Limit and the Domino (New Orleans, LA)

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. bourbon

0.75 oz. honey syrup

0.5 oz. lemon juice

1 dash Tabasco

lemon peel, garnish

Method: To make honey syrup, thin two parts unfiltered local honey with one part hot water. Allow to cool before refrigerating to store. Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a lemon peel.

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OLD FASHION MAN

“My two favorite drinks in the world are an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan. This cocktail brings the best of both of those together into an Old Fashion Man drink for an old-fashioned man.” —Amin Benny, founder and consultant at The Bar Host Consulting Company (Irvine, CA)

Ingredients:

3 dashes Angostura bitters

2.5 oz. sweet vermouth syrup**

2 oz. rye whiskey

Maraschino cherry, garnish

Orange peel, garnish

**Sweet Vermouth Syrup: Put 1 part sweet and/or Italian vermouth and 1 part sugar in Mason jar. Shake as sugar settles, until sugar dissolves (no need to use heat).

Method: Stir all ingredients and pour into an old fashion glass over a large cube. Garnish with maraschino cherry and an orange peel

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JOURNEYMAN OLD FASHIONED

“There’s nothing old fashioned about an Old Fashioned. It’s a classic great American cocktail that only gets better with my favorite whiskey: Last Feather Rye, a beautiful combination of the spice of rye and sweetness of wheat. This recipe allows you to taste the whiskey and the craft of cocktail-making in perfect balance. As the proud dad of my daughter Islay, named after the island in Scotland where my dreams of distilling in America began, we are a family with whiskey in our blood. On Father’s Day, it’s a great time to reflect on the legacy we are building for her—and hope to continue building with her one day.” —Bill Welter, founder at Journeyman Distillery

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz. Journeyman Last Feather Rye

¼ tsp. honey

¼ tsp. orange marmalade

½ tbsp. orange juice

½ tbsp. simple syrup

1 dash of bitters

Method: Add honey, orange marmalade, orange juice and simple syrup into mixing glass. Stir for 5 seconds. Add Journeyman Last Feather Rye whiskey, dash of bitters, and a few ice cubes. Stir for 10 seconds until combined. Optional: Garnish with orange peel and Luxardo cherry. Enjoy.

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THE LAST SUMMER ROSE

“No man stands taller than my father! He didn’t tell me how to live. He simply lived and let me watch him do it. On this Father’s Day, I pay my tribute to the man I respect most by raising a glass of a special cocktail called The Last Summer Rose—created by Cleveland bartender Erin Katz. Paul John Nirvana’s caramel notes shine alongside the vanilla from the rosé vermouth and citrus in the amaro. It’s light and refreshing: the perfect cocktail to savor on a hot June day.” —created by bartender Erin Katz and provided by Michael D’Souza, master distiller and blender at Paul John Indian Single Malt Whisky

Ingredients:

2 oz. Paul John Nirvana unpeated Indian single malt whisky

¾ oz. Lustau Vermut Rosé

½ oz. Amaro Nonino

Lemon twist, garnish 

Method: Fill a mixing glass up two-thirds with ice and add all ingredients. Stir and serve up in a coupe or Nick and Nora glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

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CUTTY & GINGER

“It’s Father’s Day—a time to take a break with your family and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. I like to spend the day outdoors exploring with my kids and then relax with a refreshing cocktail. I’m fond of the Cutty and Ginger—quick and easy to make, this cocktail of character is still smooth and light. The distinct taste of ginger ale complements this fresh and citrusy blended whisky perfectly. I’ll certainly be enjoying one of these while watching the entries for our Father’s Day Spirit of Adventure Campfire Contest, where we’re asking all adventurers to tell us their dad’s dream adventure for a chance to live it out together.” —Stephen Woodcock, master blender at The Glen Turner Distillery

Ingredients:

2 oz. Cutty Sark blended Scotch whisky

Ginger ale

Lime wedge, garnish

Method: Add Cutty Sark into a highball glass filled with ice. Stir until well-chilled. Fill to the brim with ginger ale and garnish with a lime wedge. Enjoy.

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HORSE’S NECK

“I think the Horse’s Neck might be as close to the perfect whiskey drink for Father’s Day as you’re going to find. It’s simple to assemble, yet delicious. It’s whiskey-forward, yet universally accessible. It’s delightful as is. But after a long day with the family, it’s even better as a double. What more could you ask for on a warm summer Sunday?” —Josh Novaski, bartender at the High West Distillery and Saloon (Park City, UT)

Ingredients:

2 oz. High West Double Rye

0.25 oz. fresh ginger juice

0.25 oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice

2 oz. light ginger beer

Lemon twist garnish 

Method: Fill an old fashioned glass with chip ice. Mix and pour ingredients into glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

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NIGHTCAP OLD FASHIONED

“My dad instilled in me the mindset of always doing my best at whatever I was trying to achieve. He always believed in my career choices, despite them being so different from his own and shows a huge amount of support in everything I do. I crafted this Three Spirit non-alcoholic cocktail for him, since he enjoys the occasional dram—but this drink also allows him to enjoy it even when he doesn’t want something boozy. It’s delicious, decadent, and soothing—the perfect way to spend our evenings while chatting and catching up.” —Thomas Aske, bartender at Black Rock Bar (London, UK)

Ingredients:

2.5 oz. Three Spirit Nightcap

5 dashes of Peychaud’s bitters

Orange wheel, garnish

Method: Combine all ingredients in a whiskey glass and fill with ice. Optional: Garnish with an orange wheel.

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FEELING AL-RYE-GHT

“This is the perfect well-balanced cocktail for a father who is coming home from a hard day of work—or for celebrating with family and friends. Its rye whiskey base is not to sweet and very herbal, with hints of strawberries and basil.” —Jesse Lopez, bartender at Fishbar (Manhattan Beach, CA)

Ingredients: 

2 oz. Templeton rye

¾ oz. strawberry shrub**

½ oz. elderflower liqueur

1 oz. lemon juice

Basil leaves, garnish

**Strawberry Shrub: Clean and destem 1 case of strawberries. Muddle them fully in a pot. Pour in 8 ounces of water and 16 ounces of sugar. Zest 1 whole lemon straight into the pot. Let it sit and simmer for 3 to 5 hours. Once it’s cool, pour 2 ounces of apple cider vinegar and filter into a vessel.  

Method: Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain over crushed ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a basil leaf. 

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OLD FASHIONED (WITH A LIL’ SOMETHING NEAT ON THE SIDE)

“I actually get to be a participant this Father’s Day (we had a pandemic baby). And although my wife’s banana bread has already been dialed in, I gotta say, our baby was one of her finest creations. So for Father’s Day, after I make myself an Old Fashioned (I like using Old Forester 100-proof bourbon) I will have a neat pour for her in her favorite sipping glass. Classic, solid, and though I’m down with their 86-proof, the 100-proof is what we need. Happy Father’s Day to me.” —Eugene Lee, bar manager at Big Bar (Los Angeles, CA)

Ingredients:

1 sugar cube

4–6 dashes of Angostura 

2 oz. of Old Forester 100-proof bourbon

Method: Build in a double Old Fashioned glass. Stir over a large ice cube. Express and garnish an orange peel. Pour 2 ounces of bourbon in her favorite glass. Toast to parenthood.

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PICKLEBALL!

“Dads are a fun group of fellas. They’re the conjurers of bad jokes, the grill masters, and they often have a drink in hand. This one is dedicated to fathers who like something a little boozy, a little spicy, and a little unique—just like them! This is inspired by Chris Patino, my friend and colleague from Simple Serve, and my dad, Jack.” —Jesse Peterson, Simple Serve

Ingredients:

2 oz. Proper No. 12 Irish whiskey

0.5 oz. lime juice

0.75 oz dill pickle juice

Ginger beer

Dill speak or gherkin, garnish

Method: Shake with ice, top with ginger beer, and pour into a rocks glass. Garnish with a gherkin or dill spear.