FOR DAD DRINKS

Whether he’s a collector of fine wines or a whiskey man at heart, here are some drink suggestions that will most certainly make your dad feel valued and thought of this Father’s Day.

Father’s Day brings with it not only the opportunity of celebrating your dad (or being a dad), but also the opportunity to spend quality time together as a family. Here are some drinks to have with dad this year:

For The Wine Connoisseur

Allesverloren’s latest port-style wine was recently unveiled and it serves as the perfect winter wine. Deemed the must-have for drinks connoisseurs, it re-affirms Allesverloren’s status as a producer of premier quality wines. With the launch of this 2020 vintage also comes a new name. The Allesverloren Fine Old Vintage has now become the Allesverloren Cape Vintage - a change linked to the early 2000s’ ban on wines outside specific European areas using the name port. The Allesverloren Cape Vintage 2020 is the wine farm’s latest expression of a 150-year-old heritage and should most definitely be enjoyed with those held dear.

For The Bourbonite

Comprising of more than 200 detectable flavour notes, Woodford Reserve is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey boasting notes of bold grain and wood, sweet aromatics, spice, as well as fruity and floral notes. It was in 1812 that the first bourbon was produced on the site of the Woodford Reserve Distillery - a National Historic Landmark - and well, you can certainly taste generations in every sip.

For The Vodka Fan

We celebrated World Water Day with a sip of SKYY Vodka this year and with good reason: The vodka brand’s reiteration of its commitment to responsible water stewardship. Any vodka fan and family man will see value in this, as we’re all bound to protect our environment not only for our own sake, but for that of our children – the next generation. At the core of SKYY Vodka lies a deep appreciation for the intrinsic value of water, not just as a cornerstone of its product, but also as a vital resource for us all. SKYY infuses its vodka with a subtle salinity and minerality from the waters of the San Fransisco Bay area. This enriches the mouthfeel and enhances the crisp taste of their iconic cocktail: Vodka and soda.

For The Whisky Man

If your dad is a man who knows the difference between peat and Pete, perhaps a bottle of whisky will do the trick this Father’s Day. Rated 98/100 by Wine Enthusiast, the Delmore Cigar Malt Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Highlands, Scotland, is one of the best buys for your old man. It’s undoubtedly a gift that dad will sip on slowly while reminiscing about special family memories. The malt whisky comes with initial smoky and tobacco-like aromas, whereafter a bouquet of semisweet to sweet honey, pipe tobacco, sherry and dark chocolate aromas appear. On the palate, the first evident flavour is that of caramel, followed by a mid-palate smokiness that comes alive with additional flavours like sweet butter, toffee and honey. Smoke, charcoal and ash finish off each sip perfectly.

FOR THE RUM-PAPA

Sugar Baron White Rum is produced locally on the Seafield Farm in the KwaZulu-Natal’s picturesque Mkhuzane Valley. It is made in the Agricole style (fermenting and distilling the juice pressed from sugar cane instead of using molasses) and aged in glass demijohns before bottling. The rum, which will be appreciated by any proudly South African dad, is perfect for sipping over ice, or even for using in a multitude of cocktail recipes. Aromas of freshly cut cane lead to a natural bouquet of floral and tropical flavours and a whisper of fresh vegetal, reminiscent of classic Rhum Agricole. It’s a tangy, smooth rum with a rounded warmth, perfect for the cooler months.

For The Gin Prince

Another local favourite is the South African winner under the 2024 World Gin Awards’ category for the World’s Best London Dry Gin. KWV’s Cruxland Kalahari Truffle is infused with Kalahari truffles and brings together the area-specific truffle and nine South African botanicals. In addition, the most recent in this gin collection is the Cruxland Gin infused with Black Winter Truffles. In this gin, the rare Périgord truffles - originally exclusive to Southern Europe, but now also cultivated in select South African regions - merge wonderfully with an impressive thirteen botanicals. The result is a complex gin filled with flavour.

For The Beer Bro

It’s not too long ago that Heineken® released their Heineken® Silver – an impressively refreshing beer, brewed using an ice-cold lagering process at -1°C. The 4% premium lager boasts a crisp and subtle finish, complete with the brand’s original signature fruit aroma which your dad is accustomed to. This version is just extra fresh, perfect for the freshest dad! H

The Sidecar Cocktail

We’ve gone in search for the perfect cocktail recipe for Father’s Day and after tasting he Sidecar at The Queens in Cape Town, we could not resist sharing a similar recipe with you. Finally, we came across Rémy Martin’s Royal Sidecar – a cocktail that’s in a league of its own. If you have a dad who’s also in a league of his own, perhaps this cocktail would then fit the bill for celebrating Father’s Day…

The Sidecar - a cognac cocktail with an enchanting story - is said to have been created in 1921, with the Ritz Paris making a deluxe version of the drink in 1923. It was named after a motorcycle sidecar owned by a man in Paris. Later, London popularised it and now, it’s literally a tale of two cities.

The Sidecar is a well-balanced classic that will most certainly go down well.

RECIPE

30 ml Rémy Martin 1738

Accord Royal 20 ml Cointreau 10 ml lemon juice

Pour 30 ml Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal, 20 ml Cointreau and 10 ml lemon juice into a shaker filled with ice. Strain and pour into a coupette glass. Finish with an orange peel for a rich flavour or lemon peel for freshness.