Ultimate Father’s Day Gift Guide (2007)
A selection of interesting gift ideas for the discerning dad
Father’s Day imparts an unprecedented challenge to consumerism — outdone only by the impossible task of purchasing his birthday present or Christmas gift. Luckily most dads appreciate booze, booze propaganda and boozy-related activities. We’ve scoured the aisles of our favourite booze emporium to bring you a few gift-ideas, from special bottles of cognac and scotch to converting the basement fridge into his very own draft dispenser. We’ve even included a biker-inspired wine tour, all perfect for the discerning dad on your list.
For the father whose discriminating roots reach across the pond, the fine folks at Johnnie Walker will engrave (for free!) a special bottle of their beloved Blue Edition. At a mere $239 Johnnie Walker Blue (750 mL) is considered the crème de la crème of blended scotches. Its signature butter-caramel-apple tones come from a combination of premium single malts that make it as smooth as your father was that time he dealt with your principal. If you want to hold off until the last minute, be warned, this very exclusive engraving tour is only available at select locations in Ontario.
LCBO Engraving Locations - Ontario Only
- Store #38: Ottawa Central, June 9 (after 12 p.m.)
- Store #329: Brampton, June 14 (after 5 p.m.)
- Store #355: North York, June 15 (after 5 p.m.)
If the father you’re buying for is a bit of an academic or a refined cognac drinker, Martell XO ($199, 750 mL) will make a wonderful edition to his bar. This extra old brandy, just recently made available in Canada, has a deep copper colour and emits manly aromas of bee’s wax and leather, while its round and fruity flavour will satisfy Dad’s softer side. Martell cognacs favour eaux-de-vie, double-distilled wine from the Borderies region of Cognac, lending them a distinctively nuttier and more floral flavour than brandies made from other regions, such as Grande Champagne. And the bottle is absolutely beautiful!
Cater to Dad’s frugality and do-it-yourself mentality with the Kegerator Conversion Kit. Basically, it converts your refrigerator (hopefully the spare one in the basement) into a keg-holding, draft-pouring, love-making party machine. Dad will love saving money on convenient draft beer and his supply will last longer than a weekend. The nice people at www.micromatic.com will ship any one of their conversion kits — they range from the simple ($43) to the double-keg super, premium version ($350) — to anywhere in North America. Warning: May cause neighbours to pop over uninvited and linger too long.
If your Dad shakes the neigbourhood when he fires up his hog, send him out of town and enjoy some peace! Other than the usual hedonistic pleasures, Las Vegas will also provide him the ride of his life through Death Valley — and some premium biker cuisine from the Harley Davidson Restaurant. What could he possibly wash this all down with? V-Twin Zin silly! That’s right, there is now a winery in Sonoma County that caters to the Harley Davidson fanatic. V-Twin Vineyards released its first vintage in March, a 2004 Zinfandel. Ideal with roasted or barbequed meats, this full-bodied “ain’t no sissy wine” will hold up equally well to a rack of baby back ribs or a monster burger. Wisit www.vtwinwines.com for more info.
Maybe your dad is more apt to lock his car door while stopped at a traffic light than get on a motorcycle, perhaps something more tempered will suit his pace. Hang up the old hammock in a shady nook of the yard and ply the gent with something sweet and fruity. We’d suggest the Southbrook Farms Framboise, a perfect sweet dessert wine, ideal for sipping while contemplating how to avoid the imminently arriving in-laws.
