My Father’s Day Drinks Wish List
·
KEVIN KOSAR –
American Spectator – www.spectator.org
Mom might want to help with the shopping.
Man does not live by bread
alone. And a father, well, he needs even more, what with the middle of the
night wake-ups, the tantrums, and the exploded filthy diapers. I have four
children. Under the age of 10. Just this evening, my four-year old got out of
bed 7 or 8 times with assorted excuses, including “My eye hurts.”
Yes, my needs are many.
Come Father’s Day, my hope is
that I can slip out at the sunrise and head to the river. There I’ll rent a
rowboat, and make my way onto the water still turbid from today’s rain.
Cormorants and other birds will lead me to a promising spot. I’ll pitch my
anchor, bait treble hook rigs, and let the heavy line from two rods sink in the
Potomac. With any luck, the catfish will hit, and I’ll return to dock midday
feeling like a master caster.
That’s how I want to start my
day.
And I will conclude Dad Day
sitting outside with a glass in hand. A special day justifies a special drink,
one I know and love. The possibilities are many, but any of these would do
quite nicely:
Four Roses Small
Batch Bourbon: I really like this whiskey. It comes
in a bulbous, perfume-like bottle that shows its deep amber color. Sometimes I
can handle this 90 proof drink straight up; but usually I prefer it with a
single ice cube, which softens it so I can better enjoy its rich flavors. It is
worth every penny of the $30 to $35 a bottle my local retailer charges.
Knob Creek Bourbon: One of my happier
memories is visiting the Beam distillery on lovely September morning some years
ago. I watched as the bung was popped from a barrel, and uncut Knob glugged
into a trough. I scooped up a little in a paper cup and sipped it. Knob’s
renown fat maple note was present but delivered by 120+ proof spirit. It was really
something, and each time I taste Knob Creek I recall that experience.
Hibiki 12-Year Old Whisky: The
Japanese began making Scotch-like whisky in the first half of the 20th century.
They do it very well. A friend gave me a bottle of Hibiki 12 to repay me for a
small kindness. What a reward. This whisky is terrific — it is loaded with
subtle floral and fruit notes. It feels like honey in the mouth, and I only
take it neat.
Laphroaig
10-Year Old Single Malt Scotch: They can bury me with a bottle
of this stuff. I love it. Pour three fingers in a glass, and buckle up — this
86-proof whisky is not for the faint of palate. Laphroaig reeks of smoke,
iodine, and seaweed, which seems fitting seeing as the distillery is right next to
the Irish Sea.
El Buho Mezcal: Tequila long has
garnered the limelight, but another Mexican spirit finally is getting its
due. Mezcal is
a remarkable spirit which is nearly as varied in flavors as single malt Scotch
whiskies. El Buho is a steal for $35. The flavor is really a trip — it begins
sweet then shifts to smoky and a touch salty. You don’t need ice or water
because this liquor is incredibly smooth.
Any one of these distilled
spirits would put a bow on my Father’s Day. Unfortunately, I so enjoy these
spirits that none of them presently reside in my liquor cabinet. The District
of Columbia permits Sunday sales of liquor. (Hint, hint, my dear family.)
Walter Siegmund/Creative
Commons
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