RAISE A GLASS

I ALWAYS like to give you lots of notice for special days of the year. The ones which would cause you no end of trouble should you forget. Father’s Day is almost upon us, Sunday, June 17, so make a mental note of that right now. Sorted? In that case here’s gift ideas for dad.

If dad likes whisky… here’s one with a twist. The Glenfiddich IPA Experiment (RRP £44.93 at major retailers, including Master of Malt) is a collaboration between malt master Brian Kinsman and craft brewer Seb Jones. Three craft beers of different strengths were created which rested in whisky casks; then the casks were later filled up with whisky to develop combined flavour notes. The whisky has a delightful fruity nose of apples and citrus and to taste the citrus notes freshen a malty, spicy edge. If dad likes rum… Elements Eight Republica (£30.45, thewhiskyexchange.com) won a Rum Master – the top award possible – at the Rum & Cachaça Masters organised by The Spirits Business magazine. Elements Eight make artisan rums and Republica is a five-year-old blend of two single rums from Cuba and Panama aged in Bourbon casks. It has a smoky, peppery nose of orange peel and wood, there’s a citrus and spice bite in the mouth, with vanilla peeking through.

If dad likes wine… treat him to a bottle of carmenere, if dad has a tendency to lose things, don’t worry, the wine world once lost this grape variety. The carmenere grape was thought to be extinct until DNA checks discovered it was growing happily in Chile (where it was thought to be merlot). Veramonte Carmenere 2015 (RRP £12, Ocado, 14.5% abv) is full-bodied with plum and bramble fruits, with a dash of white pepper and a lick of vanilla. A note of five spice creeps in, giving the sense of a sweetly concentrated wine with an alcohol kick just like port.

If dad likes gin … well this leads me to another topical theme because if dad likes gin then this Saturday sees a double cause of celebration as it’s World Gin Day (June 9).

How about a glass of Peaky Blinder Spiced Dry Gin (£22.95, Sadler’s Ales, Amazon)? If dad is a fan of the TV show, this gin and its Peaky-hatted character on the label, might be up his street. It is created from nine botanicals and won a bronze at the International Spirits Challenge 2018; it has a fresh aromatic nose with punches of spice.

■ Hot off the press – or rather I’m hot off the train – I visited Langleys Distillery today and I was really taken by the citrus notes of its bespoke creation, Palmers

London Dry Gin (RRP £28, Master of Malt, Selfridges, Whisky Exchange). Master Distiller Rob Dorsett told me that grapefruit leads from the front on this gin – but you know what? I dipped in and found a reflection of Cointreau and then I couldn’t shake it off. Yes there was grapefruit and lots of citrus and classic juniper notes but an orange note shone through for me.

■ It’s the 10th year of World Gin Day and find out more at worldginday.com or follow the social media hashtag #WorldGinDay or @GinMonkey

■ Jane is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Find her on social media and online as One Foot in the Grapes.