Best scotches for Father's Day, from bargains to stupidly expensive

Best scotches for Father's Day, from bargains to stupidly expensive
There's a certain classic vibe that emanates from an open bottle of Scotch whisky. One whiff, and suddenly you're standing behind Sean Connery in line at the bar of a wedding that seems far too fancy to have you on the guest list.
That's an acquired taste, certainly, but a rewarding one. For a small sovereign nation, Scotland produces a tremendous amount of whisky with a wide spectrum of flavors. An Islay malt and a Speyside one will taste very different -- in a good way. Whether you're looking for something smoky and spicy or smooth and mellow, there's a Scotch out there for you (or, since this is a Father's Day guide, your pops).
MORE WHISKEY LISTS FOR FATHER'S DAY:
-- Best flavored whiskeys
-- Best and most affordable bourbons
-- Best spicy ryes
Let's talk about the Scotches I've been lucky enough to review this year and see if we can't find you something nice -- whether you're paying $40 per bottle or, deep sigh, $2,000.
Smokehead
Let's begin with a disclaimer; smoky, peaty Islay malts are my thing. The closer my dram tastes to a campfire between the ocean and a bog, the better.
Cracking a bottle of Smokehead reminds you exactly where it's from. A malty, smoky essence fills the room once poured. It promises you a complex, slightly tough to drink whisky that will, hopefully, reward you for diving into an Islay-born sipper.
Digging your nose into the glass unleashes a whole world of flavor. Salt, oak, smoke, peat, licorice and maybe even a little bit of leather. It's very nice.
The first sip begins gently, with a bit of a buttery feel. The spirit itself is a little denser than I'd anticipated, which leaves it to coat your tongue. Soon after, the smoke rolls in. It brings flavors like honey, oak and even a little citrus sweetness. For a bottle that promises a smoke bomb, it brings campfire vibes without being especially strong or acrid.
Since it's tempered down to 80 proof you're losing some of the bolder flavors you might get from a Laphroaig or Ardbeg. That means you're left with the smoky peat from start to finish while digging for the minor notes throughout. It's not a problem for me -- I love a good smoky dram -- but if you're mostly a Speyside or Highlands whisky drinker this may not be the kind of smoothness for which you're searching.
Still, at about $40 per bottle it clocks in at about half the price of better known Islay neighbors. It won't deliver the complex flavor and deep reflection that come with those bottles, but it will get you halfway there. It's an easy sell and a whiskey you won't feel too badly about mixing with soda or thinning out with a little bit of ice.
Tamhdu 12-year
The presentation here is lovely. The box has an unique open center (seen here framing bobblehead Christian Yelich. I did not think this photo through). The bottle itself is segmented like Suntory's Hibiki, and I love a good tactile bottle.
It pours a modest caramel. It smells similarly light, but there's enough to make you believe the sherry cask that ushered the spirit to near teenage years is still playing a role. There's some minor, gritty fruit -- a little citrus, a little... plum? Something with a pit, certainly.
That fruit is evident throughout the sip. It's a lighter scotch and true to the Speyside form, smooth and a little thinner on your tongue than some of the beefier malts. The sherry influence comes through in a way that reminds me of Great Lakes' Christmas Ale; a little cinnamon, maybe some clove and nutmeg and some warm fruit flavors.
The finish hits you with a little oak, which lingers pleasantly after it clears your lips. Tamdhu isn't a flavor knot that begs you to sip softly over the course of an hour to untangle it. You understand what the goal is right away, and the spirit hits it consistently and cleanly. This makes it a proper sip, though one a more experienced Scotch drinker may find a little easy. Still, it's smooth and flavorful, making it a nice dram to sit with.
Octomore
Let's talk about three of the latest Octomore expressions -- a whisky that brings some of the smokiest, peatiest flavors in the world to each bottle.
Octomore 15.1
True to its five-year age, this pours a pale golden color. Imagine someone left a lager out overnight and all the bubbles disappeared. It's got notable stickiness, leaving a ring of liquid slowly clamoring down the sides of a tulip glass when swirled.
It smells great and a little harsh at the same time. The roasted malt is there under a dense layer of peaty smoke. The first sip is, siblings, strong as hell. The peat is as advertised, unmistakable from the second it hits your lips to long after it's settled in your stomach. While there's heat involved here, there's surprisingly little burn from a whisky that clocks in at 59.1 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). This is, undoubtedly, a slow sipper. But it's also not an unpleasant one.
There's a tremendous feeling after that sip clears your throat. You exhale and feel like you're breathing pure delicious and beautiful smoke. This sounds unappealing, I'm aware, but it feels like a superpower; like I'm exhaling magic. Like the best parts of Scotland have been distilled into a glass and processed in my body, which is churning out exhaust as I spring to life.
Too dramatic, perhaps, but hot damn. This is A LOT in all the best ways. It's exactly as advertised, and while it lacks the cache of an 18-year Scotch it never feels unfinished or underdone. It just tastes great in a very specific way that will be WAY TOO MUCH for some people but right in the wheelhouse of a celebratory drink for me.
Octomore 15.2
Again, it pours much lighter than you'd expect for a dram as expensive as it is. But what it lacks in oak influence it makes up for in smoke and peat. That much is clear as soon as you stick your nose in the glass. It's like a salted caramel bonfire and, friends, that rules.
There's a roasted malty sweetness up front. Then comes the smoke, weaving through vanilla and grain and a little salty stone fruit. You hit that exhale I loved so much in the 15.1 -- for me, the best part of drinking Octomore. It's strong, certainly, but there's no burn even for a Scotch less than half the age of most of its peers.
The difference for me between 15.1 and 15.2 is that sweet, nearly fruity start. It's milder in that regard and that smokiness, while still light years ahead of other malts, is a little less notable. This doesn't make it a tame whisky. It just makes it a little more accessible for a drink most people will have to ramp up to (me. That's me. If i tried to drink this in my 20s I would have tried to keep it together in front of my friends while my eyes slowly boiled behind this facade).
Octomore 15.3
This pour is slightly deeper in color than the other two. It smells salty and smoky but not boozy despite the 61 percent ABV inside. OK, maybe it's a little boozy, but not as much as you'd expect.
The first sip is gentle and sweet up front but a monster on the back end. It's warm and smoky and a little harsh. Which, again, we're dealing with a 122 proof spirit so that makes sense. It's much drier than the 15.2. and slightly more than the 15.1, snapping off each sip with a crisp, smoky and slightly spicy finish.
The end result is a complex spirit that works the way good hot sauces do -- adding flavor without letting the heat entirely take over. There's a whole journey here, and while it's not as enjoyable as the other 15-series Octomores it's still very nice. For something with triple the peat of the other malts it's not quite as smoky as I'd expect, but that extra PPM does seem to mute the swirling flavors that make the others so special.
It's strong and lives up to the Octomore reputation. It's not my favorite, but it's still pretty dang good.
Ardbeg Wee Beastie
I will go to bat for the Wee Beastie whenever possible because it packs so many big bold flavors into a five-year Scotch. For a fraction of the price of the Octomore you get many of the same vibes, albeit with rougher edges.
Don't get me wrong, Wee Beastie is not for beginners. It's smoke and peat and big spicy flavors up front, which can be a turnoff. If you stick around you're rewarded.
There are nice little moments of vanilla and caramel underneath that campfire vibe. It's not especially smooth, and it's gonna take you a while to get through it. Still, you get that post-sip exhale where I breathe smoke and try to figure out exactly what I just tasted. It's always a positive thing -- and, again, it's only gonna run you about $50 compared to the $125-plus of the Octomore above.
Ardbeg Smokiverse
"Ooooohhhh ohhh OOOOH ooooh OOOOOOOH." That was my expression after just sniffing this pour. The Smokiverse delivers exactly what it promises; big smoky flavor against the backdrop of a gentle salty canvas. So while it's lighter in color than you may expect, it still brings all the hallmarks you'd expect from Ardbeg.
That salt and smoke are front and center, but it makes for a remarkably smooth and interesting dram. The salt keeps things dry, while the smoke lends cover to the rich well of flavor lying underneath. There's a gentle touch of licorice and a little light citrus -- not much, but just enough to reward you if you keep coming back.
And the Smokiverse has some tremendous replay value. It's dry and has those tiny notes of leather and vanilla and pepper that all operate under that cover of classic Islay flavors. Ardbeg's special releases come out on a regular basis, and it's reasonable not to collect them all. But if you're looking for something slightly difference, they're always worth a splurge -- and, my sample bottle aside, typically come in the kind of lovely bottle that suggests, yep, you're treating your guests to something niiiiiice.
Ardbeg doesn't miss, and this is another beautiful example of it.
Glenfiddich Grand Chateau 22
My sample bottle isn't nearly as ornate as the real thing, which comes in a lovely shoebox-sized case. The bottle itself is Glenfiddich's signature triangular mold, which you can see here but not in my own photos because, understandably, the company didn't want to mail an $1,800 bottle to a random journalist. Fair play, Glenfiddich.
Understandably, that's going to make it a niche purchase -- a dram that's more of a conversation piece than a functional whisky. Here's where I level with you and say, no, I'd never buy a bottle of this myself. Tragically, I was raised with an incurable case of poor brain. But I could be tempted to buy a pour on a special night, and maybe that's what you've got in mind for Father's Day. Or, hell, maybe you've got the kind of cash to drop two grand on Scotch. So, you know, good for you. That rules.
Anyway, this Speyside whisky is greatly affected by the Bordeaux red wine casks it spends the final nine years of its 31-year aging cycle inside. The smell from the top brings the undeniable aged grape/young brandy vibe of a nice bottle of wine. Underneath that is a little salt, leather, chocolate and oak. While it's going to be smooth -- 31 years! -- it's also going to have a lot going on below the surface.
That wine influence creates a sweet and soft landing spot up front. You get lots of rich fruit flavor and a little honey sweetness the moment it hits your lips. Then comes a little pepper, swirling with that fruit and oak and just a little bit of salt to keep things dry. There's more than just grape here, as you get some orange and cherry in each dense sip. That applies to the texture as well, as this brings a little heft to your tongue. If *feels* expensive, which is great because, you know, it is.
There's a little bit of a "creme brulee at a fancy restaurant" vibe given the lush fruit flavor, vanilla and hints of caramel that linger through each sip. It really is quite nice. $1,800 nice? Maaaaan, I dunno. But it's still extremely good whisky.
Longmorn 30
Once more, we venture into the world of the stupidly expensive. There's nothing ostentatious about the sample bottle Longmorn mailed for review. But that's about $250 worth of whisky in that small bottle labeled so lightly you can hardly see. The actual bottle is much nicer and, at around $2,000 USD per fifth, it damn well better be.
Longmorn may not look it, but it certainly smells expensive. This is clearly a spirit that's taken its time getting to us. It pours a rich deep copper. The smell off the top is imbued with the oak it's spent three decades sitting in. You get vanilla, cinnamon, caramel and a little pepper. There's a steady current of mashed fruit underneath -- spreadables like marmalade and grape jelly (you know, but fancy). All in all it gives off the impression of a fancy, complex dessert at a place you had to make reservations at three months ago.
The first sip is, as you'd expect, remarkably smooth. There's a gentle sweetness that carries each pull along, acting like a slow-moving river of honey and brown sugar. You get hints of that fruit influence along with the vanilla you'd expect. Things aren't overly sweet, but that's undoubtedly core to Longmorn's flavor profile. Soft, sugary fruit, honey and vanilla before just a little bit of roasted almond and cinnamon remind you of its roots.
It's delightful to drink; complex, sweet and incredibly easy to come back to. Is it worth the money? Personally, I'm not going to drop two grand on whiskey, even if it's so old Leonardo DiCaprio would ignore it. But there's no questioning the smoothness and quality at play. If you're looking for a gift that serves as a status symbol but backs it up with more than just empty displays, Longmorn's your huckleberry.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Buzz Feed

13 hours ago

• Buzz Feed

Jon Stewart Shocked His Staffer Won A Pedro Pascal Lookalike Contest

The fake Pedro Pascal may be as charming as the real Pedro Pascal. On Tuesday, The Daily Show shared a behind-the-scenes clip to its X account in which Jon Stewart revealed to fans that the winner of a New York-based Pedro Pascal lookalike contest was George Gountas — who happens to be the lighting designer for The Daily Show. After inviting Gountas on stage, who looks like he could be a long-lost member of Pascal's family, Stewart made a confession. 'I've never noticed he looks like Pedro Pascal,' Stewart admitted, before showing a photo of what Gountas typically looks like in the office, which looks less like Pascal, but still very Pascal-esque. 'How did you do this?' Stewart asked Gountas. Gountas then launched into a very funny explanation as to how he went from 'Pedro No. 5' during a silly contest on Sunday to its ultimate winner. Gountas explained that a fellow Daily Show staffer noticed fliers for the contest last week. The contest was held at Son Del North, a Mexican restaurant in the lower east side, and the prize for the winner was $50 and a year's supply of free burritos, according to local news station FOX 5 New York. The co-owner of the eatery, chef Annisha Garcia, told People she was inspired to create the contest after coming across an interview with Pascal in which he said that there isn't any 'good Mexican food in New York City.' Gountas went on to tell Stewart about the contest, who was only mildly interested, and completely forgot about it. That was until he mentioned it to his wife, Jenny, just two days before the contest — and Jenny told Gountas he was absolutely doing it. Contesting whether Gountas liked it or not, Jenny enlisted the help of a neighbor, who was a stylist, in order to pin down Pascal's look. 'And I showed up on Father's Day — you were supposed to pre-sign up, I did not sign up,' Gountas said. 'I rolled up, and I was like, 'Yo, I'm here.' And they're like, 'You're going to win.'' And he did. The winner of Pedro Pascal lookalike contest in New York City 📹 jameskleinmann | instagram — Pedro Pascal Daily (@pascalarchive) June 15, 2025 @pascalarchive/X/jameskleinmann / Via Later on in his discussion with Stewart, Gountas eventually revealed that his wife had an ulterior motive in her insistence that he enter the Pedro pageant — and it's that she wanted to use Gountas' 15 minutes of fame to meet the real Pascal. So, Gountas decided to be a good hubby and shared his wife's request on camera in hopes that Pascal would receive the message. 'Hey Pedro, this is Pedro No. 5 from New York,' Gountas began. 'It would be a great, great, great gift if you could meet my wife, Jenny. It would mean the world to her. We need to make this happen.' The winner of the Pedro Pascal lookalike contest is also The Daily Show's lighting designer, George Gountas! #AfterTheCut — The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) June 17, 2025 Although it's currently unclear if Pascal is even aware of this whole fiasco, fans of the Daily Show were blown away by how much Gountas does look like the Last of Us star. See their comments below. I almost feel like that is Pedro Pascal and they're punking us. Anyway Pedro has to meet Jenny he just has to! — Nice4What (@mizztotal) June 18, 2025 @mizztotal/X / Via @dailyshow should change their intro to say "now featuring pedro pascal on camera 2" — Lucas Lyons (@lucaslyonsart) June 18, 2025 @lucaslyonsart/X / Via Pretty amazing!!! He's got the body language dialed in. — Wear your masks (@tonyver45) June 18, 2025 @tonyver45/X / Via He's got the mannerisms down! If that's not him trying to do that, it's even more eerie — j🍥 (@Noteless) June 17, 2025 @Noteless/X / Via

Yahoo

16 hours ago

• Yahoo

This is the one Netflix movie I'm watching on Father's Day — and it's a gripping apocalyptic thriller with heart

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Father's Day is here, and like every year, the question of what to watch inevitably comes up. My dad and I don't exactly have a long list of traditional movies as we usually lean toward gritty thrillers, sci-fi flicks, or anything post-apocalyptic (bonus points if it involves zombies). His first suggestion was actually 'Cloverfield.' It's a great sci-fi flick for sure, but we've both seen it more than a few times. I told him to pick something he hadn't seen for once, and after a few minutes of scrolling, he landed on 'Cargo,' which still fits our tastes. I'd seen it back when I first wrote about it as a great watch for anyone excited about '28 Years Later,' and I remember really enjoying it. So I was pretty keen to revisit it. 'Cargo' is a fitting movie because at its core, it's about a dad doing everything he can to protect his child even when time's running out. It's intense and emotional without being overly sentimental, and it's perfect for anyone who also enjoys gripping thrillers. I can confidently say (in my opinion, of course) that it's Martin Freeman's best role. So, if you're looking for a Father's Day movie that delivers both adrenaline and emotion, here's why 'Cargo' is worth adding to your Netflix watchlist. Cargo follows Andy (Martin Freeman) and their infant daughter Rosie as they navigate a post-apocalyptic Australia ravaged by a deadly virus that transforms people into infected creatures. Their safety is compromised when Andy is bitten by an infected individual. As the virus progresses, he realizes he has only 48 hours before he succumbs to the infection. Determined to ensure his daughter's survival, Andy goes on a dangerous journey across the Australian outback to find someone willing to care for Rosie. Along the way, he encounters various survivors, including a young Aboriginal girl named Thoomi (Simone Landers), who is also dealing with the loss of her father to the infection. Andy's quest leads him through desolate landscapes and abandoned towns, all while trying to protect Rosie and find a safe haven for her future. Set against the dry, desolate backdrop of the Australian outback and beautifully shot by seasoned cinematographer Geoffrey Simpson, 'Cargo' is anchored by a deeply human and emotionally grounded performance from Martin Freeman. He stars as Andy, a soft-spoken but determined father making a dangerous journey with only his infant daughter, Rosie, by his side (or rather, on his back). Freeman is usually cast as the comic relief or plays second fiddle, but in this thriller, there's solid evidence that he is more than capable of leading a movie on his own. And he brings a surprising amount of emotion to this apocalyptic story, enough to have you reaching for tissues. Story-wise, it leans more toward a thoughtful, character-focused narrative than your typical chaotic zombie bloodbath. It might not fully scratch the itch for hardcore horror-thriller fans, but the eerie atmosphere and slow-building tension should be enough to keep you engaged, even when the middle portion of the movie slows down to focus on Andy's struggle. In 'Cargo,' the zombies aren't front and center either. They're definitely present, but more as a constant, looming danger than the main focus. Instead of driving the action, they linger in the background, allowing the story to zero in on the human side of survival. This shift ultimately works in the movie's favor, spotlighting the ways people respond under pressure as well as just how far someone will go to protect the ones they love. In this case, Andy will do anything and everything to find his daughter a home before he succumbs to the infection. The gore, when it does appear, is used sparingly and with purpose. So don't worry, zombie lovers, there are still scenes where the infected transform in all their grotesque, oozing glory, and even a moment where entrails are tossed into a cage to bait the infected. Thankfully, these scenes have meaning and aren't thrown in for the sake of ticking off a genre trope. Most of all, 'Cargo' ended up being a surprisingly perfect Father's Day pick. There's tension, survival, a bit of gore for the horror fans, and just enough heart to make you think about the people you'd do anything for. Watching it (again) with my own dad somehow made it land even harder. If you're looking for a solid movie to watch with your dad on Father's Day, 'Cargo' is a great pick. It's got enough suspense and action to keep things interesting without going over the top. Plus, it's fitting for the occasion considering the story focuses on a dad trying to protect his daughter in some seriously tough circumstances, which makes it feel deeply personal (and very emotional). Those seeking more proof that this movie is good will only have to glance at its 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The site's critics consensus reads: 'Cargo takes a refreshingly character-driven approach to the zombie genre that's further distinguished by its Australian setting and Martin Freeman's terrific lead performance.' 'Cargo' is available to stream on Netflix. For even more streaming recommendations (and potential Father's Day picks), check out these five thriller movies. New on Netflix in June 2025 Netflix's new homepage is getting pushback from some users Netflix's hilariously fun action-comedy series is back

Yahoo

17 hours ago

• Yahoo

Kylie Kelce Says Her Daughters Are Going to Camp for the First Time — and Reveals How She'll Manage Summer as a Mom of Four

Kylie Kelce is sharing her plans for the summer The podcaster revealed that her older daughters, Elliotte Ray and Wyatt Elizabeth, are going to be going to camp for the first time The mom of four shares her children with husband, retired NFL star Jason KelceKylie Kelce is opening up about her plans for her first summer as a mom of four. During the Thursday, June 19, episode of the Not Gonna Lie podcast, the mom of four, 33, revealed that her older daughters, Elliotte Ray, 4, and Wyatt Elizabeth, 5, would be going to camp for the first time. Since they are still young, Kylie said that it's only going to be for a couple of hours and not for the full week; however, the ultimate goal is to simply get them out the house. "My kids are officially done with their school year, so I thought I'd get honest about summer break as a parent. Everybody knows that when school lets out, that means we have all day every day at home with each other," the mom of four began. "This summer is the first summer where the girls are actually going to do some camps. And when I say camps, I mean, they're 5 and 4 guys. It's like a three- to four-day situation." "I think it's maximum three hours," she continued. "We're really it's just to get them out somewhere else, anywhere else, and moving around." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. She went on to express the hardships of finding an activity that all of her children could enjoy, before sharing how she plans to manage summer break as a mom of four. "I will say that our age range right now, 5 to — I don't even know how old the youngest one is," she paused, before continuing, "I don't know. You get it. She's new. It's hard to find an activity for everyone." "So, as long as I can hook Finn to the front of me and everybody else has their shoes on, we just we get the heck out," she added. Kylie and her husband Jason Kelce, 37, who announced his retirement from the NFL in March 2024, are the proud parents of four daughters — newborn Finnley 'Finn' Anne, Bennett Llewellyn, 2, Elliotte Ray and Wyatt Elizabeth. The podcaster mused about Father's Day gifts that are 'actually for Mom,' during the June 12 episode of her Not Gonna Lie podcast. One of the items on her gift guide list was 'clothes you would like him to start wearing.' Kylie then quipped that if she was going to buy Jason clothes, she would go down a more unconventional route. "I'd probably buy him a banana hammock,' she noted of the revealing spandex thong one-piece famously worn by Sasha Baron Cohen's character Borat. 'Just kidding. Four kids is enough.' is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! In an exclusive clip shared with PEOPLE ahead of an episode of the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast in April, Kylie joined host Amanda Hirsch to discuss everything from parenting to welcoming her fourth baby. Kylie opened up about the exact moment she realized she wanted a fourth child. 'I've always said that I wanted four kids, [and] room for one pleasant surprise. If we had 5 kids, I'd be like that's enough, like we really need to stop,' ' Kylie explained. 'The one thing I will say is there was this moment when our third was probably like 6 months old, where I was like maybe this is good?" "And then when she hit about a year and some change, I … had this moment of 'Oh, I forgot one' because I kept thinking like I forgot the baby," she continued. "And then I'm like 'S--- no. All my toddlers are here.' I had three kids.' 'The switch that happened was when our youngest really started acting like a toddler, and then my brain started saying, 'You're forgetting the baby,' " she said, noting that this was the moment she knew she wanted to have a fourth baby. "I did not approach our third as if it were going to be my last, and so I have this mental block now where I think that one more baby is right.' Read the original article on People