When buying a gift for a whisky lover, the easiest—and most appreciated—option is simply to buy a bottle of special bourbon, scotch, or Irish whiskey. With Father’s Day coming up on June 17th, whisky-drinking dads are no doubt hoping that their kids or partners will be presenting them with a tall, slim-necked package to enjoy neat or on the rocks.
If you’re looking for a way to make a gift bottle extra special, however, you can personalize it through custom labeling or engraving. Here are several options to make Dad’s dram a little more memorable.
Get A Free Custom Label From Speyburn or Woodford Reserve
Speyburn offers some of the best value in single malt scotch, from Bradan Orach ($20) to the recently released 15 year old ($65). This year, the distillery is offering a free custom label to anyone who buys a bottle of Speyburn 10 year old, 15 year old, Arranta Casks, or Companion Cask (available at select retailers) before June 30th. (After June 3rd, delivery is not guaranteed in time for Father’s Day, but a belated gift of whisky is better than none at all!) For more information, visit celebratespeyburn.com.
Meanwhile, Kentucky’s Woodford Reserve offers free custom labels year-round. Simply visit the website and fill in the details, and the distillery will mail your label within 7-10 business days.
Have A Special Message Engraved
Several whisky brands offer engraving services when you buy a bottle. A classic gifting whisky thanks to its deluxe reputation and superb quality (Whisky Advocate rated it 96 points), Johnnie Walker Blue Label can be engraved with a custom message for any occasion. Use this as an opportunity to remind your dad of an inside joke or memorialize a shared experience. The bottle, engraving included, costs $244; order one at johnniewalker.com.
If you’re local to Kentucky—or heading there for a trip—Jim Beam’s American Stillhouse in Bardstown and Urban Stillhouse in Louisville offer engraving on any of the bottles for sale in their gift shops, including Jim Beam, Knob Creek, and Booker’s. Available year-round, the engraving costs $10 for most bottles, and you can watch it take place. Incidentally, Jim Beam is currently running a promotion for its Jim Beam Black bourbon that allows you to purchase a full trip to its distillery—including flights and hotels for two—for just $25. Obviously, the number of these packages is limited; Jim Beam will be sharing details about restocking dates on its Facebook page.
Or check with your local whisky shop. Many liquor stores offer engraving on certain bottles. Online spirits retailers like reservebar.com, Flaviar, and spiritedgifts.com provide engraving options on wide array of whiskies, as well as other spirits like rum, cognac, tequila, and vodka.
Put A Photo on the Bottle
Got so much to say that a label or engraved message won’t suffice? Express yourself instead with a photo—unlike an essay, it’ll fit onto the front of a bottle. Custom laser engraving website imageonabottle.com allows you to upload a photo, crop it to size, and use it to personalize a bottle of whisky, champagne, or other alcohol. Choose from whiskies like Balvenie, Laphroaig, Jameson, and Gentleman Jack, and then select that perfect Instagram shot to sum up your feelings for dear old Dad.
