Six ways to raise the spirits on Father’s Day
Looking for inspiration to make this Father’s Day extra special? Look no further than our Herald on Sunday gift guide for something a little out of the ordinary
1 LIVE WHISKY TASTING SESSION WITH DUNCAN TAYLOR
Sunday June 21, 7pm Cost: £20 + P&P
IF your dad’s into whisky, this little gift is, frankly, ridiculous value. Five samples from one of the truly great whisky bottling companies – some of which are seriously rare (and expensive) – and a great evening of chat and banter, where you can join brand ambassador Fergus Simpson and fans from all over the world, taste together, compare notes and just gossip about whisky.
Following the success of its “All Hail The Grain” virtual tasting recently, Duncan Taylor has really upped the wow factor – and the peat content – with this session, aptly called “Reek Of Peat”.
Anyone can join in the fun, but to make it a truly special occasion – this event is being held on Father’s Day after all – tasting kits are available from The Spirits Embassy. And what will you get for that paltry £20? A 30ml sample of the great peaty drams listed below, and on top of that a special discount code so you can get money off a full-size bottle of what you taste. The whiskies are:
Bunnahabhain Battlehill 4 Year Old, 46.0%
Benriach (Peated) Dimensions 8 Year Old, 54.0%
Duncan Taylor Islay Selection19 Year Old, 54.0%
Highland Park Octave 11 Year Old, 53.1%
Laphroaig Battlehill 21 Year
Old, 50.2%
For dads who like peaty whisky, this really is a can’t-miss event. But be quick – demand for anything with the words “Duncan Taylor” on it is always high. Go to thespiritsembassy.com and search “Reek Of Peat”. To join the tasting go to Facebook and search “Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd”. www.duncantaylor.com
2 LUXURY GARDEN HAMMOCK
THE Patagonia Wooden Chair Hammock has a sturdy and stylish wooden frame with a comfortable and colourful fabric hammock.
It it available from Cardwell Garden Centre, a long-established business on the banks of the Clyde offering plants, shrubs, trees and all your gardening needs.
It also stocks a wide variety of garden furniture, homeware and gift items. Price £239. Available from Cardwell Garden Centre, Lunderston Bay, Cloch Road, Gourock, Inverclyde, PA19 1BB. Tel: 01475 521536. www.cardwellgardencentre.co.uk
3 ISLE OF HARRIS GIN GIFT
THE award-winning Isle of Harris Gin is made in Tarbert, and every drop is distilled in a small copper gin still known as “The Dottach” before being bottled and sealed by hand. Your dad will love the beautifully designed bottle which captures the elemental nature of the Isle of Harris, while its contents reward the discerning gin drinker with refreshing maritime pleasures.
The inclusion of local, hand-harvested sugar kelp speaks of the island’s deep connections to the sea while working with eight other carefully chosen botanicals.
Each bottle is sent directly from the distillery.
Includes tasting notes and serve information plus gift message if required. £37, 45% vol, 700ml bottle
For more information go to https:// harrisdistillery.com/products/ buy-isle-of-harris-gin
4 SWEET TREATS FROM CHOCOLATES OF GLENSHIEL
TREAT your dad with the Big Classic Box, a selection of chocolates all made with produce from the Highlands.
It includes Dundee Marmalade, a dark chocolate filled with dark chocolate ganache and marmalade from Dundee.
There’s also Ginger, a dark chocolate filled with dark chocolate ganache and cristalised ginger; Highland Roast Coffee, milk chocolate made with real coffee, roasted in Inverness; Salted Caramel, a milk chocolate filled with salted caramel made with Isle of Skye Sea Salt; and; Heather Honey & Raspberry, a white chocolate filled with heather honey and freeze dried raspberries from Blairgowrie in Perthshire.
Price £39. Available direct from Chocolates of Glenshiel or online at www.chocolatesofglenshiel. com
5 LUXURY MERINO SCARF
WHY not send dad a little comforting gift. Johnstons of Elgin has a wide range
of items available online.
The spring/summer 20 collection showcases lightweight cashmere and merino knitwear or there is the Send With Love range which includes scarves and socks. Johnstons has been creating the finest woollen and cashmere cloth, clothing and accessories since 1797. It has a 222-year-old story of Scottish innovation and luxury, celebrating the skills of our craftspeople and generations of herding communities from Mongolia, China, Peru, Afghanistan and Australia, and of natural fibres.
Lightweight merino scarf. Price £89.
Go to www.johnstonsofelgin.com
6 FISH SMOKER
WHILE some fishermen might throw their catch back, others might be desperate to cook it even before they get home.
A perfect gift for your fishing
enthusiast father would be the Fladen Fish Smoker. It’s a fantastic, clean and easy way of cooking your catch.
This model is stainless steel with two meth burners which can also double up as a cooker.
Suitable for both fish and meat, it neatly packs away inside itself, making it tidy and extremely portable. Size: 40x25x11cm Price £30. Available online from the Glasgow Angling Centre
www.thefishingmegastore.com.
AND FOR THE ULTIMATE GIFT ...
ARRAN Whisky’s Special Cask Offer for June 2020 won’t leave you much change out of £3,000.
To celebrate its 25th Anniversary on June 29, Arran Whisky is presenting ts First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrels, valid for purchases between June 1 and 30. With every Bourbon Barrel that is purchased (cost £2,950) you will receive a case of 6 x 700ml Arran Single Malt, completely free – it’s worth £250.
As part of your gift you will receive:
2 x Barrel
Reserve 43% ABV 2 x Arran 10 Year Old 46% ABV 2 x Arran Quarter Cask ‘The Bothy 56.2% ABV
All of these core range Arran Single Malts are matured with an American Oak influence and bottled at different strengths, and are a great way to give a little insight into how your own ex-Bourbon Barrel may mature over the coming years.
You’ll find more information as well as the history of the company and the people who make the whisky at www.arranwhisky.com