Father’s Day has come and gone—and if you found yourself stumped (again) on what to get the man who insists he doesn’t need anything, you’re not alone.
Let’s face it: dads can be notoriously hard to shop for. From lawn tools to tennis shoes, they tend to have strong opinions and very specific tastes. There are just some “dad” things he’d rather pick out himself.
So here’s an idea for next time—whether it’s his birthday, the holidays, or next Father’s Day: give him something he wouldn’t expect, but will definitely appreciate. Something refined, delicious, and quietly impressive. Like a classic brown spirit.
It’s a timeless gift—with just the right mix of thoughtfulness and taste.
What are brown spirits?
Brown spirits are a specific category of distilled alcoholic beverages that are aged, a process that lends a distinctive flavor and brown color. Important qualities of brown spirits include the aging process (typically done in oak barrels that add rich color and flavors), color (from light to dark, amber to brown), types (whiskey, bourbon, scotch, rye, brandy, cognac, dark rum, and more), and flavors (everything from caramel to vanilla, spice, smoke, or woodiness).
Brown spirits are rich and beautiful, offer a variety of flavors and textures, and are a warm, inviting beverage to share with good friends and family, making them the perfect gift for your father.
How to choose the right brown spirit
While all brown spirits are delicious, personal taste will guide your selection of one for your dad.
When picking out a brown spirit, consider the following factors:
- Taste
- Color
- Texture
- Origin
- Price
Whiskey
Whiskey has a lovely flavor that can include hints of caramel, vanilla, oak (from the barrels it was aged in), and occasionally smoke or spice. Whiskey is smooth and makes you feel warm. The color can range from light amber to deep golden brown (this is determined by the aging process).
Unique varieties of whiskey can be found from all over the world, and range in price depending on their quality.
Bourbon
A uniquely American variety of whiskey, bourbon goes through a more specific process to be developed and aged, but the results are amazing. Bourbon is sweet with notes of caramel, vanilla, and sometimes fruitiness or spice. It has a rich and velvety texture and a beautiful deep amber or reddish-brown color.
Bourbon tends to be pricier than whiskey due to the higher production costs and more limited supply, but the price is well worth the experience!
Scotch
A Scottish variety of whisky (the Scotts and Canadians spell whisky without an ‘e’), scotch can vary depending on which region of Scotland it’s made in. From Islay, it will be smoky and peaty, from Speyside, fruity and floral, and from the Highlands it will taste rich and nutty. The texture of scotch is smooth and has lingering flavors. It will be light gold to dark amber (depending on the variety).
Like bourbon, scotch can be pricier than whiskey.
Brandy
A fantastic brown spirit to pair with desserts, brandy has a fruity flavor with hints of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The texture is silky and thick, warm and syrupy. The color ranges from golden to deep brown.
Brandy is not one of the more expensive brown spirits, and its adaptability to different recipes and occasions makes it a popular choice.
Cognac
A special type of brandy, cognac is more luxurious in flavor with spice, fruit, and floral notes. The texture is refined and smooth, and the color is very dark brown (almost black).
Cognac is a more expensive spirit, but for good reason! The ingredients used and production of cognac are much pricier.
Dark rum
Rum is a unique spirit, while whiskey is made with a fermented grain base, rum is created by fermenting sugarcane juice or molasses. Both spirits are aged in barrels and look clear when distilled, but they are not the same.
Rum tastes sweet with molasses, caramel, tropical fruit, or spicy flavors. An exotic choice with a rich texture, smooth finish, and dark color.
Rum can be produced all over the world, but the heart of rum production is in the Caribbean region. Production costs for rum are much cheaper, which is reflected in the affordable prices of the spirit.
Raise a glass, celebrate Dad
Dads make so much possible in our lives with their love, protection, sacrifice, and cheesy humor. Celebrate your dad next Father’s Day (you can even make a great dad joke about him “aging well”) with a beautiful brown spirit!
If you need hints on where to start, don’t let cost or trending bottles dictate your choice, tune in to our podcasts featuring distillers from across the country and see if your local liquor store is ‘on’ the latest craft distillers. You’ll have a great story to accompany your gift and your pocketbook will thank you for not chasing moonshot allocated bottles.
All our distiller stories can be found in the Browns playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Rv6FQUpkv0&list=PL4tLHs1b8Pw2dDLDL6qGR26ULsjZZguBb