COCKTAIL GIFTS FOR DAD: A FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE

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 drinker in your life with a wide range of options.

Of course, anything on this list would make a great birthday gift, anniversary gift, something for the holiday season, too. So move over, macaroni necklaces, framed family photos, and funny socks: We have amazing gift ideas for the type of dad who appreciates the finer things in life.

(Editor’s Note: These are all items that we personally love or have heard amazing things about through research; they are not affiliate links.)

 

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– And since they’re our own high-quality tools, they obviously top our list of thoughtful gift ideas.

 

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 an excellent gift 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– and it comes in an array of colors to choose from.

Dad doesn’t drink alcohol but is a coffee connoisseur? Did you know that you can make a cup of coffee iced using a cocktail shaker? Well, you can! This box gift set is a great idea for making iced coffee for the coffee snob in your life– Check out this article from our buddies at Bon Appétit for a starter recipe. 

 

Photo copyright A Bar Above

 

SPIRITS

If your Pops likes a good cocktail and drinking gifts in general, 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.

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.

And if you really want to step it up, there are alcohol subscription boxes like those from our friends at Flaviar.

 

 

DIY DRINK GIFT BASKET IDEAS

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,  homemade simple syrup, oranges (because my family does Margaritas with a splash of orange juice), a citrus juicer, and Cointreau to go with my tequila of choice.

Of course, you could pair that with some of our favorite tools for behind the bar, like our 32-piece kit— But it’s not necessary. Pops will appreciate the bonus gifts and thoughtful gesture of you putting together a complete kit. Let me know in the comments if you have more ideas!

 

 

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– It’s a fun surprise in the mail! 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 & modern designs that we can’t resist– They’re definitely a crowd favorite!

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 this cool gadget 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. It’s also an awesome gift for someone who doesn’t just enjoy cocktails or fun drinks but who is also a kitchen tech lover.

 

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 great, cheap gift for  a bookworm Dad who loves stirring up his own drinks. 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!

For a personal touch, make notes on your favorite recipes or set aside some time to craft some of the cocktails together.

 

 

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 to spend some quality time together. This just might be his favorite gift because it involves being with you!

Bonus: You’re helping a business that has been hurt by the pandemic while also having a fun time out!

Another fun idea for an experience-based gift is to take him on a distillery tour or– if he’s a beer nerd instead– local craft beer brewery tour to wherever makes his favorite brew in town.

 

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. If Dad loves alcohol gifts, this is the way to really take it one step further.

 

 

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? Did this gift list help? Whether it’s for your own father, your spouse, an uncle, father in law, another father figure, or even your single mom who plays both roles… No matter who the gift recipient is, let me know in the comments what’s on your shopping list– or what you want for yourself!