From premium steaks to whistle-whetting spirits, we’ve got Dads Father’s Day gift list.
Maybe skip the bolo tie this year, in favor of some flavorful surprises.
Cool Keepsake
For more than a century, 44 Farms, a fourth-generation family operation, has been raising cattle in Milam County, Texas. Today, its brand is renowned as a top producer of Black Angus and, as a result, the finest steaks. Luckily, you don’t have to dine out to try one for yourself. 44 Farms sells direct to consumers and has holiday gift sets that range from flavored beef jerkies to steak packs with a variety of cuts. Better still, the operation recently partnered with Yeti, uniting the best in beef with the best in coolers. Give Dad the gift of a 5-pound smoked prime rib or tenderloin this year and you won’t have to worry about wrapping it — you can just throw a bow on top of the 20-quart Roadie cooler it comes in ($225.95).
Mantry
This is yet another foodie gift that keeps on giving. Sign up for a Mantry subscription and you can surprise your dad every two months with a new crate of gourmet goodies curated to fit an original theme (like Bourbon Breakfast or Hecho in America). And these aren’t your average grocery store products. The Mantry team partners with boutique businesses, artisan makers, and award-winning chefs from across the country to bring you unique items and the stories behind them. All six products in each delivery are full-sized and come neatly packaged in a handcrafted wooden crate. An ongoing Mantry subscription runs $49 per month, but you can also pay a flat rate for one ($59) or three boxes ($159).
Taste of Texas
From Houston, Jim Goode’s family has been perfecting Lone Star staples for more than 40 years. Goode Company bestsellers include classic mesquite-smoked briskets, barbecue pork ribs, sausage samplers, and even pecan pies. But our favorite gift is the company’s award-winning spice set, which includes dry rubs for grilling ribs, brisket, and fowl, as well as a mesquite shake that pairs well with any meat. With these, Dad can enjoy a little Texas flavor for dinner on more than just one occasion ($30).
Texas Tipples
For the man who has everything, you can never go wrong with the gift of whiskey. And we suggest toasting to your dad this Father’s Day with a glass of brown water from Treaty Oak Distilling, which crafts genuine grain-to-glass whiskeys in the heart of the Texas Hill Country using local ingredients and handmade stills (contact for retailers). Its Ghost Hill Bourbon, with flavors of dark stone fruit and sweet corn, is a classic choice that any whiskey drinker is sure to enjoy. But maybe surprise Dad with a bottle of the Red Handed Rye, which is aged 10 years at 100 proof. It’s a complex blend of green pepper, pear, apple, and caramel that finishes with a fiery kick.
Caught Red Handed
2 ounces Red Handed Bourbon
½ ounce lemon juice
¼ ounce lime juice
1 ounce winter spice simple syrup
1 lemon slice or dehydrated lemon slice, for garnish (optional)
Mix ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake and pour into glass with ice. Garnish with optional lemon slice or dehydrated lemon slice.
Grilled Lemon Sour Recipe
1½ ounces Ghost Hill Texas Bourbon
1 ounce grilled lemon juice
1 ounce simple syrup (turbinado, preferred)
2 dashes orange bitters
1 orange slice or dehydrated orange slice, for garnish (optional)
Mix ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake and pour into glass with ice. Garnish with optional orange slice or dehydrated orange slice.
For more cocktail recipes, information on where to purchase Treaty Oak Distilling spirits, and tasting and tours, visit the distillery’s website.
From the May/June issue.