This Father's Day, get Dad whiskey and chocolates

Whiskey and dads, go together like honey and bees. A bottle of whiskey has always been the classic Father's Day gift, but this year spice it up a bit. Did you know that whiskey and chocolates can be paired together? Just like wine, though there's an art to the whiskey pairings. So depending on what type of whiskey dad loves, you'll have to figure out just what type of chocolate you are going to get him. 

This year, impress Dad with an experience he's never had before: A whiskey tasting course paired with fine chocolates.

It's also ideal for social distancing, because you can always drop it off for dad on the porch, and Facetime him later to do a tasting together. 

Since this is Father's Day in the year of lockdown, chances are you may not have spent too much time with Dad in the past few months. So, doing an unforgettable tasting with your old man, virtually or in person, will give you the chance to put your feet up and perhaps have a little chuckle, over those times  and memories growing up. You can order Whiskey: A Tasting Course from Amazon Prime before Father's Day, and have it delivered to him before June 21st. You'll also save a few extra bucks because they're on special right now. 

Whiskey unites fathers with their sons and daughters. Perhaps it's a signalling of maturity, a right of passage that fathers bestow on their children. If you are able to sit in the company of your dad and enjoy a good scotch or your whiskey of preference together, then you would have earned his respect. It signals an understanding that he is proud of you. 

Whiskey: A Tasting Course is truly a hands-on book that takes you on a tasting journey to discover your own personal whiskey style. Through a series of guided at-home tastings, you'll get familiar with the full spectrum of whiskey aromas and flavours on offer—from the smoky tang of Islay peat to the aromatic scent of Japanese oak. This is the ideal book to help expand your horizons so you can find a world of new whiskies to enjoy.

A study done by Esquire magazine suggests that our dads drank way more whiskey than we do. And, that's okay. Because we have refined out tastes. We experiment, and curate our preferences. And frankly, there are many more varieties of whiskey available today than in yesteryear, thanks to a confluence of open markets, availability, knowledge, and interest. Whiskey isn't the only drink we drink. From cocktails to hipster beers, the choices available to us are endless, and we partake in the adventure. 

More great Father's Day ideas, if your dad is not a whiskey lover. 

FOR THE DAD WHO LOVES TO ENTERTAIN 
With the melding of the world, you don't have to go to Japan to enjoy Japan's incredible drinking culture. Some of the finest Japanese sake, whisky, beer, umeshu, plum liqueur, shochu and awamori can be enjoyed wherever you live. 

~ The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks 

By Stephen Lyman and Chris Bunting 

Chris Bunting the author of the widely acclaimed Drinking Japan, wrote the book on the premise that Japan is the best place to drink alcohol in the world. In Japanese Drinks he retracts this notion, and suggests that Japan's drinking culture can be enjoyed anywhere in the world. Bunting has collaborated with Stephen Lyman, a New Yorker who's recognized as the foremost Western expert on traditional Japanese shochu and Okinawan awamori. For anyone who's both a Japanese culture history buff and a lover of Japanese drinks, The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks is indispensable. It covers each of the traditional Japanese drinks in detail, right down to the history and production methods. 


FOR THE DAD WHO LOVES PHOTOGRAPHY 
Tom Ang is the expert when it comes to photography. I already have a few of his other collections including Photography: The Definitive Visual History and Photography: History. Art. Technique. Some of these are available on Amazon until Father's Day for a discounted price, but you'll have to hurry because the last I checked there were only a few copies left. 

Digital Photographers Handbook by Tom Ang, is one that's both practical and in-depth. Whether you need guidance on how to use a flash or want to remove backgrounds from your image, "quick fix" troubleshooting tips assist you with frequently encountered issues. A buying guide reveals capabilities and limitations of all types of cameras, from phones to dSLRs, so that you can be sure you are getting the most out of your technology all the way through to the printing stage.

What I loved about this book:
Each photograph is a teaching lesson. Tom Ang explains how he took the shot and what techniques to use when taking similar photos. The book is categorized into various chapters that focus on different types of photography that you may be interested. Landscape, portraits, long exposure and even weddings. It doesn't matter the level of expertise or type of camera, there's something in the handy book for everyone. 

And if you are on the look for other great ideas of books for the Dad who probably already has a lot of books in his collection, DK has put together a list of ten books that they think dads will love, including Pocket Birds of Canada, The Sicily Cookbook and World War II Map by Map. 

I'm glad that the number of people gatherings in Ontario has now been lifted to 10; perhaps this Father's Day, I just may get to see my dad.