COCKTAIL GIFTS FOR DAD: A FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE
Photo copyright A Bar Above
It’s almost Dad’s special day, and you don’t know what to get, right? Dads can be hard to shop for, so we’re here to help you out with the ultimate brainstorm of unique dad gifts! Below, you’ll find our gift idea list for the #1 cocktail-loving guy in your life.
BAR TOOLS
If we do say so ourselves, our barware makes the perfect gift for dads (and everyone else). For a seasoned pro or someone just starting out, we have tons of options for any cocktail enthusiast.
Photo copyright A Bar Above
STIRRED COCKTAIL SET
If your father is a classic cocktail lover, our stirred set is a really thoughtful gift– perfect for spirit-forward drinks like a Manhattan or martini. So if one of those is Dad’s favorite drink, grab this stirred set for him and celebrate the cool dad he is in Rat Pack style.
If you want to complete the gift, throw in a bottle of his favorite liquor, cocktail bitters, and/or a set of rocks glasses or coupe glasses.
Photo copyright A Bar Above
4-PIECE COCKTAIL SHAKER SET
If the dad in your life is just starting to make drinks at home or has old barware that is falling apart, our simple 4-piece barware tool set is a great start for making a variety of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Containing a Boston shaker, a jigger that measures from a bar spoon to 2 ounces, and a Hawthorne strainer, this is a great present for any spirits lover.
SPIRITS
If your Pops likes a good cocktail, gifting a bottle of alcohol is a pretty practical gift. Personally, my dad loves margaritas, so a bottle of Casa Noble’s organic, aged tequila would be an ideal gift for him.
Photo copyright A Bar Above
If the dads on your list aren’t tequila drinkers, pick up one of these bottles instead:
Whiskey lovers: Try Koval— They even have a variety gift pack containing rye whiskey, bourbon, and four-grain.
Vodka connoisseurs: Grab a bottle of vodka from Loft & Bear.
Gin fan: Our resident bartender, Rob, often reaches for Drumshanbo gunpower gin.
DIY DRINK GIFT BASKETS
You could even put together a cocktail kit to make his favorite cocktail. This works for an array of cocktails!
For example, if I wanted to make a margarita basket for my dad, I could add fresh limes, sweet and sour or homemade simple syrup, oranges (because my family does margaritas with a splash of orange juice), and Cointreau to go with my tequila of choice. Pops will appreciate the bonus gifts and thoughtful gesture of you putting together a complete kit.
BROBASKET SPIRITS GIFT SET
If you want to make things easy on yourself or have to mail your present, get a pre-made gift basket from BroBasket instead of making one. They have a ton of options for every type of alcohol or hobby.
PUFFIN DRINK WEAR
If Dad loves beer or pre-made cocktails– or even just soda– a fun accessory to add to your gift basket is Puffin Drink Wear’s specialized koozies that look like clothes for your beverages. We’ve featured them before, but they just keep coming out with the cutest styles that we can’t resist.
They also have a line for wine bottles that would be the perfect gift for any wine lover.
Photo courtesy of General Electric (stock product photo)
THE PERFECT ICE CUBES
Wanna go big? As someone who has received this pebble ice machine as a gift, I cannot sing the praises of the GE Opal ice maker enough. I’m obsessed with mine and use it every single day. Seriously, if Dad loves pebble ice, this is one of the most thoughtful gifts you could possibly give.
You know Dad wants the good ice– and their TikTok ad with Ice-T is pretty hilarious, too. It’s definitely the most expensive gift on our list, but it’s a great option if you have a lot of family members who want to go in on a present together.
Photo courtesy of Macmillan/Media Lab Books (Product stock photo)
THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE: COCKTAIL BOOKS
A recipe book full of delicious cocktails just waiting to be made is the perfect gift for Dad. He can create lots of cocktails– and show off his knowledge when you come to visit. Here are a couple favorites from our Craft Cocktail Club:
I’m Just Here For the Drinks by Sother Teague: Sother Teague is a friend of our A Bar Above podcast, and we love his creations! He also has a holiday cocktail book that you should check out.
Death & Co Welcome Home: Bartenders love any book by Death & Co, so you can’t really go wrong; they also sell all three books together.
The Aviary cocktail books: Like Death & Co, The Aviary offers several books, including ones for summer cocktails, zero proof cocktails, and holiday cocktails– So you can choose which is the best fit for your cocktail lover!
THE PERSONAL GIFT OF TIME TOGETHER
Take Dad on a date: Get him a gift card to a local craft cocktail bar and plan a date together. Bonus: You’re helping a business that has been hurt by the pandemic while also having a fun time out!
Photo copyright A Bar Above
UNIQUE ALCOHOL-RELATED GIFTS FOR DAD’S NEW HOBBY
Does your retired dad need a new hobby? Here are a couple bartender-related ideas he can do from the comfort of his own home.
FLAVORING ALCOHOL WITH PERSONAL OAK BARRELS
Want something truly unique? Dad can age and flavor his own liquor with personal oak barrels from Redhead Barrels. They have a ton of other fun gift ideas, too– for a variety of people and occasions– so make sure to check out their whole site.
BARTENDING COURSE
We’ve featured these before, but we’re constantly putting together new content and think that Dad would love to take one of our courses! We have a lot of education coming out for both at-home enthusiasts and professionals alike, so make sure to check out our options throughout the year and into next year as well.
GIFTS FOR COCKTAIL LOVERS: WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS FOR DAD?
So what will you get the dads you’re shopping for this year? Whether it’s for your own father, your spouse, an uncle, or another father figure… Let me know in the comments or join us over in our community group to tell us what’s on your shopping list– or what you want for yourself!
