The 18 best bourbons of 2026 for Father's Day

Is it cliche to give your dad a bottle of whiskey for Father's Day? Maybe. But I'm on a streak of getting one every June and, I can assure you, it does not get old.

That's led me here, where I've pored over (and poured over) nearly 100 bourbons, blends , Scotches and more in service of journalism. A very specific branch of journalism that allows me to try wonderful spirits, certainly, but also one that could help you weave your way through the packed shelves of your bottle shop and find something to fit your Pops.

Let's start with some of the bourbons out there that deliver solid quality despite not being household names. Many are regional standouts that remind us that, sure, bourbon may have its origins in Kentucky but can be made well across the country. Then, we'll move into some of the better-known distiller's out there in hopes of finding the right pour for your dad this June.

Brother Justus American Single Malt 2025 Founder's Reserve

It pours darker and denser than the 86 proof cold peated whiskey -- a quirky, first-of-its-kind Brother Justus spirit we'll talk about later. This Minnesota whiskey, named after a bootlegging monk and not, you might assume, a rising and slightly problematic young country star, smells absolutely lovely out of the bottle. The mash is mild, and the flavors swirling around it are almost creamy with cherry and vanilla.

It opens sweet, spicy and slightly nutty. It's dense on your tongue, but despite that boozy payload it's warm but never burns. There's a little chocolate in there, along with some earthy oak and a nice balance that keeps you with enough to find something new with each sip. I get some caramel, some earthy flavors, a little pepper and some leather for a dense and rewarding dram.

Tattersall Bottled in Bond Wheated Bourbon

Tattersall knows how to sit on a fence. The distillery is in River Falls, Wisconsin -- home of your Division III football champions and pretty much on the border between the Badger and Gopher states. While this is "Minnesota wheated," they also offer a premade brandy old fashioned, which is a pile of cheese curds and a DUI away from being the most Wisconsin thing on the market.

This pours a lovely medium brown. It leaves a ring of slowly dipping legs across the top and smells like breakfast cereal, maple syrup and a little chocolate. It's big and bold and really quite nice.

It's sweet and spicy up front. You get some cherry and chocolate with a little bit of rye spice in a nice balance that's very drinkable and lighter than its 100 proof suggests. It's a smooth six-year spirit, leaving the heat to that rye but not the booze underneath.

There's a little bread pudding to it, but that spice leaves it from feeling too sweet. The result is an even-handed sip that works neat or on ice but, if we're escaping to the Badger side of things, probably makes a pretty nice traditional old fashioned, too. 

Woodinville Whiskey Aged 6 years

Woodinville is, I believe, the first whiskey I've had from the state of Washington. The pot distilled standard is lovely; a sweet, dense bourbon that ranges closer to an Irish whiskey as it sheds complexity for smoothness. It's a solid sipper, but we're venturing a little deeper with the more exclusive six year in honor of all the pops out there. 

The bottle has a pleasant rippling creek texture and clocks in at about $40, making it a modest upgrade. It pours with a slightly deeper, denser mahogany tinge. The smell off the pour is sweet and inviting, with a little banana pancake or funnel cake to it that's both unique and, yeah, kinda awesome.

The first sip opens with some sweetness before giving over to that corn mash. Then, more layers of sweetness. I promise, I'm getting a little banana clove in there like a proper hefeweizen, and it's melding with some vanilla and caramel to give you a drink that's not quite dessert strength but nicely sweet. There's a little rye and pepper that clocks in at the aftertaste to dial things back.

That ups the replay value of a spirit that doesn't quite bring premium flavors and depth but still punches way above the weight class of its price tag. Woodinville's six-year offering is immensely interesting, a spirit worthy of carrying the mantle of a home state not known for bourbon. 

Green River Wheated Bourbon

It pours a mahogany brown with that wheat apparent right off the top. It's light but slightly fruity, with a little hefeweizen hollowness to it. That feels bad, but it just means there's space for flavors to thrive inside.

It's very mellow and, yes, the grain creates a canvas for sweet flavors to paint your tongue. There's the vanilla you'd expect, but also a little citrus and cherry/plum/pitted fruit there. It's not as sweet as some of the other bourbons I've been drinking lately, but it's soft, smooth and incredibly easy to sip. If you like ice in your whiskey you can add a few cubes without feeling too badly about denting that profile. 

At about $30 per bottle, it's a smooth, sippable whiskey that looks and tastes a bit -- maybe not a ton -- more expensive. 

Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon Whiskey

This Nevada-based whiskey smells absolutely wonderful once it escapes the (very heavy, very cool looking) bottle. It's sweet and a bit fruity but boozy and warm -- a little leather and smoke and all the stuff you want from a classic bourbon.

It's lighter on your lips than the smell suggests. The vanilla is there, along with a little caramel and some fruit -- not quite wine grapes, but maybe a little bit of sour apple. There's a decent amount working here, and while it's not quite dessert sweet there's enough sugar to leave a pleasant aftertaste on your lips. Those flavors aren't bold and loud enough to be in surround sound, but they've got the amps of a decent Bluetooth speaker, at least.

That makes it a nice, softer option that still brings a lot to the table. You get a little rye spice, some vanilla and fruit and a little oak influence. It's not enough to supplant a spirit that's spent more time aging, but it's still a proper drink that delivers right at and slightly above its $50-ish price point.

Joseph A. Magnus Cigar Blend

I'm already on board with Magnus; the Michigan whiskey proved it's not merely a cash grab in the spirit of a revived recipe . Its bourbon, triple ask aged, was a cross stitch of big, bold flavors that ranged from sweet to heavy. Now it's time for the Cigar Blend, which promises a little less fruit (instead of being aged in sherry barrels, it's aged in sherry, armagnac and cognac vessels) and, as you'd expect, some tobacco notes.

You get less stone fruit from the top of the pour, but more grape as this offers an almost brandy-like fruit influence on the grain underneath. The first sip is sharp and sweet, rich and indulgent with strong caramel and pepper washing over the grape influence imparted by those barrels. It makes it less of a traditional bourbon, but a very interesting sip with several big flavors -- something that's become a hallmark for the folks at Magnus.

It's not just fruit and pepper. You get some baking spices, a little bitter chocolate, some white wine, vanilla... it's a lot! I'm not sure I'm getting the tobacco, but there's a nice dry finish that reminds me, at least slightly, of a nice Connecticut wrapper cigar. Despite clocking in at a cask strength 105-ish proof (there's a little label damage on my bottle where the ABV is), it's remarkably smooth and, again, incredibly complex.

$170 is a whole lot to spend on a single bottle. I wouldn't do it often. But Magnus remains worth a luxury price.

Penelope Fu Cancer blended whiskey

This blend is about 60-40 corn to rye, which suggests a little bit of spicy behind a classic sweet bourbon. It also clocks in at 94 proof, an appealing number that suggests it's not been watered down during the process.

It pours a bookshelf brown. The nose is light and suggests some modest barrel time; a little oak, a little sugar and some of that bready malt rises up from the glass.

The first sip isn't especially complex, which makes sense for a blend. It is fairly smooth and spicy, which tapers off the sweetness that opens each pull. There's a little caramel up front that turns into cinnamon and peppery clove toward the end. As you go back a few new layers unlock -- nothing huge, but enough to justify multiple pours in the name of research.

While this is a bottle sold to help others , it's more than a charity case. It's a proper spirit that's more than just a nice conversation piece. It's a bit trapped-between-worlds to be my go-to, but it's a pleasant tipple nonetheless.

J. Rieger Monogram

This limited edition bottle -- 1,096 of 2,000 minted for the 2025 edition -- clocks in at 100 proof like a proper bottled-in-bond spirit (though it's not). It promises a finish in oloroso sherry casks, promising a little fruit sweetness at the end of each sip. That shows up off the top of the pour, providing a nose full of stone fruits and oak.

The opening sip is warm and sweet. There's a lot swirling behind that, from red wine to plum and cherries to a little bit of salt that closes each sip dryly -- almost a bit of a popcorn vibe to it. There's a minor amount dark chocolate in there -- a touch bitter along with that sugar. Importantly, there's enough bold flavors that an ice cube only stretches them out rather than denting them. 

That makes it a nice, complex sipper. It's also in the three digit club for a bottle, which makes it a bit of a tougher sell. But if you're looking for an old school, lesser known brand with big flavors, Monogram is your jam.

J. Rieger Kansas City Whiskey

This promises a little extra booze at 92 proof and a sweeter finish. That comes through the moment you pop the bottle, as some sweet cereal grain rises up to meet you. It's boozy and spicy behind it, giving off a modest rye vibe in that nose.

And, yep, there's some spice here. But while there's some boozy heat to it, there's also a rich melange of sweet, dark fruit flavors. Raisin, plum, cherry -- if it's purplish and makes its way into a hippie's trail mix, it's here.

There's some caramel and vanilla in there as well, bringing you back for more. It's a lovely mix at a pretty reasonable $30 to $35 per bottle. I may like it even more than the Monogram -- it's got more compatible flavors even if it comes with a less compatible roughness around the edges. The KC whiskey has enough flavor to stand out in a cocktail and is cheap enough you won't feel stupid doing so. But it's also a nice dram on its own, neat or over ice, especially for the price.

Hooten Young bottled-in-bond bourbon

It pours the expected light caramel. It smells light, malty and sweet. There's a little boozy burn to the end of each sniff. 

The first sip is light, with a little hard candy to the start. It warms up and you get plenty of classic bourbon flavors. It's not especially deep, but it's smooth and sippable, bringing minimal burn and a dram that works neat but is even more drinkable over ice. 

There's some molasses and vanilla, honey and oak and a dry finish. Dig deep and you get a little bit of peach in that sweet finale, which does help bring you back for more.

Ultimately, it's a totally fine whiskey. There's nothing bad about it, but nothing especially memorable either. Your lasting takeaway will be "this is the whiskey from guys who did hero stuff in Mogadishu and were immortalized in one of the most relentless films of the 2000s." Drinking it isn't a statement of any sort, but that's still pretty cool . 

At about $35 per bottle -- less at my local bottle shop, but I live in Wisconsin where the competition is STOUT -- it's a proper deal. Hooten Young is offering a perfectly respectable dram at a decent price with a pretty cool backstory. Whether you're drinking for quality or just want something to explain to your friends when they come over for a drink, it's a solid fit.

Chicken Cock Wheated

This is a blend with the youngest batch clocking in at five years -- which, at prices as low as about $45 here in Wisconsin, is a solid deal. It's about one-fifth wheat, which helps build a slightly lighter complexion in bottle and in the pour. And, as a tactile weirdo whose manias break down shapes into a series of hexagons, I truly appreciate this simple-but-elegant bottle.

Like most wheated bourbons, the addition of a little extra grain softens the sip. You're left with a lighter palate where the corn of the mash stands as the canvas for an array of sweeter, fruitier flavors. Vanilla is obvious, along with some caramel and... yeah, I'm getting a little green apple here as well. Dig deep and you've got a little pie going.

A minor heat ties it together in the end -- more spicy than burning. Ultimately, it stands up nicely on its own... but could make for a pretty decent cocktail along the way.

Elijah Craig Small Batch 1789

The edition I'm reviewing is a special 2026 PGA Championship edition, which makes it arguably the most dad-coded whiskey on the market. At about $25 to $35 per fifth, it's also an affordable bourbon that looks more expensive than it is. Which is nice, but won't matter if it doesn't taste any good. 

My 108 proof pour is slightly light but maintains a Cinnamon Toast Crunch color. The oak is apparent off the first sniff, with a little bit of brown sugar. The corn is the headline here, roasted and warm but in familiar, well-balanced quantities. It gives way to a seesaw of sweet flavors -- vanilla, honey -- and spices. There's a little black pepper and an earthy char that lets you know where it came from.

It's not an especially complex sip, but it is a smooth one. You can sit with this a while and, if you're inclined, add some ice without feeling too badly about it (and, honestly, don't feel bad about it. Drink the way you want, not to please some bourbon dork). 

Angel's Envy Distiller's Edition 10 Year

This is my first taste of Angel's Envy aside from what it's barrels have done for Goose Island's Bourbon County Stouts in the past (made them better). The bottle is lovely, like a stand-up bass with sleeker curves. My cask strength pour clocks in at 122.6 proof and pours a lovely Wyoming Cowboys brown. A swirl leaves a line of traceable legs slowly dripping back toward the body.

It smells absolutely wonderful, with vanilla and caramel ringing the grain underneath along with just a little bit of... huh, melon? at the end. Notably, there is minimal alcohol to that scent despite the heavy booze load within.

It starts a bit neutral on your tongue, with the corn opening things up softly before a wave of flavors comes at you as it moves toward your esophagus. There's a modest grape and stone fruit and... yeah, I'm still getting just a hint of light honeydew melon that really does a nice job elevating what I expected to be a heavy spirit. There's some baked bread, a little bit of chocolate and some rum raisin bread pudding in there as well.

It's a lot, but it's also bright and remarkably sippable. The price tag reflects its age at over $200 per bottle. But it's a lovely elevation of what I understand to be a solid spirit. This distiller's edition is a tipple you can find something new with in every sip. That makes it a worthy splurge, even if it's out of my price range.

Whiskey JYPSI Double Barreled

It pours with the darkness and density you'd expect from a cask strength whiskey. It smells sweet and oaky, with vanilla creating a ring you hit approaching the sniff off the top and then again on the way out when it clears your nostrils.

It's sweet and spicy on your tongue with the oak, yep, pretty front and center. It's fairly mild all together, with some apple pie to it -- well, a little apple pie to it -- and some cinnamon at the end to send it off on a high note. It's a very smooth sip, without a boozy burn but a nice amount of pepper and cinnamon.

That's a fairly simple dram, but an entirely pleasant one. If you've got some affection for Eric Church, cofounder and country star, it'll make even more sense for you.

Ole Smoky

My experience with Ole Smoky is probably similar to most; it's the whiskey specifically designed not to taste like whiskey. Mint chocolate chip cream whiskey. Salted caramel whiskey. Salty watermelon whiskey. There's a lot going on there.

Today, we venture to the base and, admittedly, I have no idea what to expect. This pours lighter than it looks in the bottle. It smells like light, sweet corn and a little bit of white wine. The first sip is... very light but also very smooth. There's not much to it, but it's sweet, with honey and cinnamon accents to keep you coming back.

That's about it. It's completely reasonable to sip neat, if very basic. It's cheap and sweet enough to be a useful cocktail addition. 

King of Kentucky Eighth edition

The actual bottle is much nicer. But this is a fairly exclusive spirit, and, at about $400 per bottle, a very expensive one. Just getting a media sample at all is awesome. I'd have been happy if they'd sent it as loose liquid in a Ziploc bag. I would have accepted a damp sponge for me to suck on. 

My past experience with the brand was a bold, spicy bourbon that brought deep single cask flavors to your lips. This pours the color of a muddy horse saddle and smells considerably better. There's a lot of vanilla and caramelized sugar rising off the top, with little to betray the 127 proof within (since this is sourced from a wide array of barrels, the proof ranges from 124 to 135). Right at the end of each sniff there's a quick turn that's almost like those old chocolate oranges that used to show up in stores around Christmas time. Remember those? Whack, then unwrap? 

The opening sip is big, boozy and swirling with sharp flavors. This is a spirit that begs you to slow down and untie the knots it's created over 17 years of aging. It's also going to knock you on your butt once you've figured it out, but that's a problem for later.

A dense texture gives way to sharp cherries and a bit of that chocolate. The roasted sugar is there as well, like the cracked top of a creme brulee. You get a hint of a few different desserts -- chocolate cake, bread pudding, pie crust -- but the battle between sweet and heat is the throughline. It's not a casual sipper -- which, with about 5,000 bottles produced per year and an exorbitant price tag, duh -- but it's one any big ol' whiskey nerd will appreciate.

Suntory Toki

In a perfect world, I'd be drinking Hibiki -- a wonderful Suntory spirit I was lucky enough to be gifted a bottle of about a decade ago. But a shortage made that tough, and while you can still find it in stores it's a pricy proposition. The Toki, on the other hand, has been seen on Costco shelves and only runs about $30 per fifth. So, an easy substitution even if I'm not quite sure what I'm getting into yet.

It's light in the bottle, looking more like a chardonnay than your typical bourbon. It's light and lacks the sweet profile of a well-aged bottle, instead leaning a bit on citrus and pepper underneath that grain. 

That malt is sweet on your lips and rings across the life of the sip. There's a bit of... man, I don't want to say "creamsicle" here, but.. yeah . Orange and vanilla are prevalent in a sweet, but crisp, draw. It's not especially complex, but it's easy to drink -- familiar but just different enough to give you an interesting departure from your typical Jim Beam, Jack Daniel's or Evan Williams.

Since it's reasonably priced, that sweet profile makes it an easy cocktail upgrade. It'll bolster a boring mixer like club soda or punch up an old fashioned with some extra citrus sugar. It can't match its more experienced colleague -- the Hibiki -- but it punches above its weight class.

Maker's Mark Cellar Aged

This is the 2025 edition -- I'm behind -- but the idea remains. This pours a little darker than the usual 46. The smell off the top suggests extra barrel time as well; oaky vanilla weaves through the malt to give you a sweet profile with a minor heat once you sniff so hard you hyperventilate (I'm, uh, still figuring out that fine line between discerning a spirit's nose and nearly passing out. If I were a truffle pig, I would be bacon by now).

It starts out smooth before morphing into a stronger, spicier bourbon. This blend of 11, 13 and 14 year spirits clocks in at just under 113 proof as a blend of cask strength goodness, and it shows on that initial exhale. While the original Maker's Mark is accessible for relative newcomers, this brings a bit of a learning curve to it.

That extra effort unlocks some nice flavors underneath that McLaren-style acceleration. Cherry vanilla oak lead off before you get into a little leather and pepper -- a combination that would work wonders with a darker cigar. There's a little chocolate there, but it's subtle. Mostly, it gives you a reason to come back and dig for more, which is the kind of replay value you want for a premium bottle like this.

Oaklore Old Fashioned Cask Finish

North Carolina-based Oaklore has several options, but today we're pulling from its Story Series for this 98 proof, four-grain bourbon. It unleashes a wave of big flavors on the pour, bringing a little cherry and citrus to the top of that mash with a sweet, fruity pour that serves as a loving tribute to the iconic cocktail.

That holds up through the opening sip. It starts with the mash and grain you'd expect, but that zesty citrus/cherry lingers in the back before moving up the rankings through the aftertaste. There's some vanilla and cinnamon as well, giving you a nice push/pull between sweet and mildly spicy. It's that finish, however, that will keep you coming back for more.

Pop an ice cube into this and you're pretty dang close to an old fashioned. The balance is deftly handled, giving you a little complexity before slinging you toward the cocktail garnishes that give you just enough of a twist to become a classic. At $90, you're paying a lot for a barrel-finished spirit some folks might think is a gimmick. However, if you like old fashioned, you're gonna be happy with this.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Father's Day Bourbon gift guide with the best bourbons for 2026