Drinks for Dad: Show Pops the Love with These Untraditional Father's Day Cocktails

Father's Day can be tricky. It's not nearly as easy to pull off as Mother's Day, when breakfast in bed and a simple Mimosa are sure to win praise. I can't picture my Dad drinking a Mimosa any more than I can picture him propped up in bed eating waffles. So with my Father, and yours, in mind I went straight to the people who always know exactly how to get a celebration started —mixologists.

Ginger Strawberry Mojito
For Gerry Riker, mixologist at Hotel Manisses in Block Island, celebrating Father's Day is all about relaxing. What better way to kick back with Dad than with a mojito in hand? Riker's Ginger Strawberry Mojito contrasts the cool mint of a classic mojito with loads of spicy ginger.

INGREDIENTS:
4 quarter-sized rounds of peeled ginger root
8-10 mint leaves
Juice of 1 lime
1 tsp. sugar
2 oz. Bacardi Limon rum
2 tbsp. of pureed strawberries sweetened with agave nectar
Soda water

PREPARATION:
In a tall glass, muddle ginger root, mint, lime juice and sugar until the ginger breaks apart and the mint begins to bruise. Fill the glass with ice. Add rum and strawberry puree. Stir and top glass with soda water. Garnish with a wedge of lime and a sprig of mint.

Daddy's Bourbon Fresh
Jason Ferris, mixologist at Bar Artisanal NYC believes that fathers deserve two things: a strong drink and sly way to make sure no one knows how strong their drink actually is. With this in mind, he created Daddy's Bourbon Fresh, a cocktail that looks deceivingly like an innocent glass of iced tea. But don't be fooled — this isn't a drink Dad should share with the kids.

INGREDIENTS:
Juice of half a lemon
2 tsp. sugar...or 1 oz. simple syrup
6 mint leaves
2 oz. bourbon (Ferris suggests Woodford Reserve Bourbon or Wild Turkey Jim Russell's Reserve Bourbon)

PREPARATION:
Squeeze lemon juice into a pint glass/cocktail shaker. Add sugar and mint and muddle. Add bourbon and desired amount of ice. Shake vigorously. Pour into an iced tea or favorite pint glass and garnish with a wedge of lemon. Better yet, garnish with a raw veggie that your kids hate (asparagus, broccoli, whatever is in the fridge) so they'll let you drink in peace.

The Original Manhattan Cocktail
For fathers who value things like tradition and manners and wearing a carefully tailored suit to work, only one cocktail will do: a Manhattan. Jason Kosmas at Employees Only recommends the oldest (the recipe dates back to 1876) and most classic version, a Manhattan that presents a subtle balance of flavors and is finished with a lemon twist instead of a modern-day maraschino cherry.

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 oz. Rittenhouse 100° Rye Whiskey
1 3/4 oz. Cinzano Rosso —Italian (Sweet) Vermouth
1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
3 dashes of Angostura Bitters
Lemon twist

PREPARATION:
Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass. Add large, cold ice cubes. Using a bar spoon, stir for 40 revolutions. Strain into a chilled martini-cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

The Earl of MarTEAni
This is not tea for teetotalers. Rather, it's a sophisticated cocktail for sophisticated fathers. Tavalon Tea Sommelier Chris Cason created this soothing blend of earl grey-infused vodka and ginger ale. Not sure you can make The Earl of MarTEAni at home? Then plan a visit to Tavalon Tea on Father's Day where the Tea Sommeliers will make sure you and Dad are well taken care of.

INGREDIENTS:
2 oz. earl grey-infused vodka (see below)
3 oz. ginger ale
1 tsp. agave nectar
Splash of lemon juice
Lemon zest (garnish)

PREPARATION:
Combine earl grey vodka, ginger ale, agave and lemon juice in a tumbler and shake. Pour in chilled martini glass, garnish with lemon zest.

Earl Grey-Infused Vodka

INGREDIENTS:
750 ML bottle vodka
2 tbsp. loose earl grey tea leaves

DIRECTIONS:
Add leaves directly into the vodka bottle, cover and share vigorously. Allow to "steep" for 1/2 hour, turning bottle over occasionally.

— Written by Jennifer Meier

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