What to get Dad this Father’s Day? When we think Father’s Day, what comes to mind as far as gifts go are ties, fishing gear and bottles of Scotch.

Also, your dad may be the simple pleasures type of dad and look to simply grab a beer on a special occasion. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. We love a good beer. This Father’s Day, however, why not mix up something a little special for dad for all he does. Even if he’s not a cocktail type of guy, here are some drinks made with clear spirits we are sure he will love.

Here are some Ketel One cocktails crafted especially for Father’s Day.

KETEL ONE ENDLESS DAYS

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Ketel One Oranje
• 1 oz Aperol
• 1/2 oz Fresh orange juice
• 1/2 oz Fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 oz Simple syrup
• 3-4 dashes Rhubarb bitters
• Club soda

Preparation: Combine first six ingredients in a mixing glass. Shake with ice and strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with a long orange twist.

KETEL ONE DUTCH MARGARITA

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 oz Ketel One Citroen
• 2 oz margarita mix
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• Splash of Grand Marnier

Preparation: Shake with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a salt-rimmed rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Matt Light, New England Patriots player for 11 years, is a fun, hands on dad to four kids under the age of 12 and co-owner of a popular, premium light vodka. After playing football in the NFL for more than a decade, Light decided to launch KEEL Vodka with two Rhode Island entrepreneurs, Bill Dessel and Tom McGowan. The KEEL ownership trio created the nation’s lowest calorie vodka and below are a few of Matt Light’s favorites for Father’s Day.

KEEL & STRAWBERRY MARTINI

Ingredients:

• A heavy pour of KEEL Vodka
• Muddled basil
• Muddled strawberry
• Lemon

Preparation: Muddle strawberry and basil. Add a squeeze of lemon and ice on top. Pour KEEL over ice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a fresh basil leaf.

KEEL CUCUMBER MARTINI

Ingredients:

• A heavy pour of KEEL Vodka
• Fresh cucumber
• Lime Juice
• Mint

Preparation: Muddle lime, cucumber and mint. Add ice on top. Pour KEEL over ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a thinly sliced cucumber and mint leaf.

72 & SUNNY (The drink named for perfect weather – and Matt Light’s Patriots jersey #72)

Ingredients:

• A heavy pour of KEEL Vodka
• A splash of lemonade
• Top with soda water

Preparation: Build ingredients in a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lemon twist and mint leaf.

The vermouth category is on the rise, with many of the country’s top bars and restaurants turning their focus to aperitivo and vermouth-based cocktails. Instead of opting for that typical bottle of scotch, why not treat dad to MARTINI’s latest expression, a limited edition vermouth –MARTINI Gran Lusso, which has been in the making for more than 8 years.

Released in honor of the brand’s 150th anniversary, Gran Lusso is also the first super premium product in the MARTINI portfolio – the perfect gift for the spirits aficionado. The packaging itself is classic yet luxurious, with dramatic black and gold labeling. With only 150,000 bottles being produced for worldwide distribution, this exclusive product is available at select number of top bars and retail accounts across the country, ideal for the dad who has everything.

It is also available at 877-SPIRITS for nationwide delivery. Suggested retail price is $30 USD.

GRAN LUSSO MARTINEZ

Ingredients:

• 1 part Bombay Sapphire
• 1 part MARTINI Gran Lusso
• 1 dash Maraschino liqueur
• 1 splash Angostura Bitters
• Lemon peel or twist to garnish

Preparation: Build cocktail in a mixing glass. Add ice. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

GRAN LUSSO EL PRESIDENTE

Ingredients:

• 1 part Bacardi 8 Year Rum
• 1 part MARTINI Gran Lusso
• 1 dash Orange curacao
• Maraschino cherry to garnish

Preparation: Build cocktail in a mixing glass. Add ice. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

GRAN LUSSO ROB ROY

Ingredients:

• 1 large chunk of ice
• 1 part Dewar’s Scotch Whisky
• 1 part MARTINI Gran Lusso
• Orange peel or twist to garnish

Preparation: Build drink in a cocktail glass with ice. Garnish and serve.

GRAN LUSSO NEGRONI

Ingredients:

• 1 part Campari
• 1 part Bombay Sapphire
• 1 part MARTINI Gran Lusso
• Garnish with an orange slice

Preparation: Stir the ingredients over ice. Strain into a lowball glass with a large chunk of ice. Garnish and serve.

DEWARS 12 NEW YORK SOUR

Ingredients:

• 2 parts DEWAR’S® 12 Blended Scotch Whisky
• 1 part fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 teaspoonful of white caster sugar
• 1 dash egg whites
• Dash of Angostura bitters

Preparation: Put all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and fill with ice.  Shake vigorously to achieve a foamy texture, then strain into a sour glass. Garnish with a dash of Angostura bitters. Using egg whites is option but it will add a nice frothy consistency.

DEWARS 12 MANHATTAN

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 parts DEWAR’S® 18 or DEWAR’S® 12 Blended Scotch Whisky
• 3/4 parts MARTINI® Sweet Vermouth
• Dash of Angostura Bitters
• 1 twist of orange peel
• 1 Maraschino cherry

Preparation: Combine the DEWAR’S® 12, the Martini Rossi and bitters with 2–3 cubes in a mixing glass. Stir gently. Don’t bruise the spirits and cloud the drink. Place the cherry in a chilled Martini glass and strain the whisky mixture over the cherry. Rub the cut edge of the orange peel over the rim of the glass and twist it over the drink to release the oils but don’t drop it in.

DEWAR’S OLD FASHIONED

Ingredients:

• 1 part Dewar’s® White Label® Blended Scotch Whisky
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 dashes bitters
• 2 orange slices
• 2 maraschino cherries
• Water or soda

Preparation: In the bottom of a rocks glass, carefully muddle the sugar, bitters, 1 orange slice, 1 cherry and a splash of water or soda. Remove the orange rind and add Dewar’s and ice. Garnish with the remaining orange slice and cherry.

Great gift idea:

ABNER DOUBLEDAY’S “DOUBLE PLAY” VODKA

The new Abner Doubleday Double Play “vodka in a baseball ” has arrived!  It’s a wonderful tribute to the inventor of baseball, Abner Doubleday. This unique glass decanter comes packaged in a period, nostalgic box individually wrapped in tissue just like the old time “hardballs” were once wrapped. Each hand blown bottle is designed in the shape of an actual baseball right down to the 108 stitches on the “ball”. These decanter baseball shaped bottles will be perfect for gifting this holiday season. The “Double Play” Vodka is priced at $45 for a 750 ml. bottle.

For more info and to purchase click here.