Vérité
La Muse
It’s Father’s Day: a bottle of Gallo ain’t gonna cut it. You need a bottle of the good stuff, stat. And not just because there’s a chance the old man will share it with you.
It doesn’t come much better than Vérité. Established in 1998 by visionary winemaker Pierre Seillan, Vérité Winery is a highly acclaimed Californian estate located in Sonoma County. Seillan is winemaking royalty – a vigneron par excellence, who first conquered Bordeaux and then went across the Pond to show them how it's done.
There are three expressions to try. Le Joie is a commanding cabinet sauvignon-forward Bordeaux blend that benefits from grapes grown on the steep hillsides and volcanic benches of the Mayacamas Mountains. There’s Le Desir – a cabernet franc-based blend with an opulent bouquet and plush, suede texture. And then there’s ‘La Muse’ – Square Mile’s personal favourite – a captivating red blend, with merlot as its dominant Bordeaux varietal.
The 2019 vintage reveals enticing aromas of ripe black cherries, plums and violets, complemented by hints of mocha and cedar. On the palate, the wine offers a rich tapestry of flavours, including black fruit, chocolate and well-integrated oak. The lingering finish underscores its ageing potential and overall finesse. Insert joke about your dad’s ageing potential and overall finesse here.
Prices from £199, hedonism.co.uk
Lock & Co
Fairbanks Mocha Panama hat
Lock & Co’s Fairbanks Mocha Panama hat is a masterpiece of artisanal craftsmanship. Handwoven in Ecuador from the finest toquilla straw, each hat embodies a rich heritage of skill passed down through generations.
This stunning mocha-coloured Panama mirrors the popular Fairbanks trilby shape, offering both elegance and timeless style. Adorned with a classic band and a luxurious leather internal sweatband, it's the perfect accessory for a sunny day.
At Lock & Co, every Panama is meticulously blocked by hand, ensuring each piece is a true work of art, and made to such a high standard that it’s the kind of heritage item that can be passed from father to son. So from that perspective, it may just be an investment in your future, too.
£795, lockhatters.com
Crockett & Jones
Falmouth
With its new launch Falmouth, Crockett & Jones has blended tried and tested shoemaking traditions with forward-thinking product design.
The new shoes are part loafer, part derby, fusing the desirability of both styles into a modern boat shoe.
They have the same fitting characteristics as Crockett’s famous Boston loafers with additional adjustment from the double-stacked leather lacing.
The Falmouths are fitted with Crockett & Jones’ new Wedge sole, which perfectly blends comfort, flexibility, durability and grip – ideal for your dad’s summer sojourns on his Sunseeker. Or, you know, to Skeggy.
Falmouth in Khaki Suede, £485, crockettandjones.com
HTD
Tennis Sport
Tennis is just cool – in the way that, say, golf is not. There’s a reason Zendaya chose to front a Hollywood film taking place on courts not fairways.
And while many top fashion brands are turning to the sport to inspire their latest SS24 collections (see Open Era, below), HTD is leading the charge in the horological sphere.
Its new Tennis Sport is a wrist-bound testament to the game – available with three coloured faces matching the different surfaces on the ATP tour. It also includes playful ball-shaped markers annotated with with the points system of a tennis game.
Made from polished stainless steel, it’s waterproof to 100m, so it’s just as capable in the ocean as on the courts, and it boasts a workhorse Miyota 9039 movement that will never let you down.
€690 + VAT, htdwatchinstruments.com
Open Era
Knitted sweater
A brand that prides itself on its sustainable business practices, Open Era is bringing the glamour of Björn Borg era tennis into the 21st century.
Inspired by the retro cool of the iconic tennis players from the 1960s and beyond, Open Era's designs hark back to classier times – what your father might refer to as ‘back in the day’.
One of our top picks from Open Era’s new collection is this knitted sweater. Made in Italy from a unique combination of half cable knit and half rib knit, it’s a perfect embodiment of the timeless fashion the brand is creating.
The sweater perfectly bridges casual and elegant – making it easy to dress up or down depending on the occasion.
€280, open-era.de
Ron Dorff + Bonton
“Family Crew” Capsule Collection
In case the old man forgets his name, Ron Dorff has you covered.
The French-Swedish brand has teamed up with Bonton this spring for an exclusive capsule collection.
Mixing Ron Dorff’s sports aesthetics with Bonton’s iconic graphics, the “FAMILY CREW” limited-edition collection is a tribute to all kinds of families around the globe offering everything for their next family getaway.
It’s available in Ron Dorff’s classic and timeless colourways, including black, off-white and heather grey combined with Bonton’s iconic chessboard graphics.
See rondorff.com
Hambledon Vineyard x Fieldbar
Tête-À-Tête Bundle
Ah, the family picnic – a bucolic jaunt in the English countryside, the smells of freshly cut grass and wildflowers filling the air, and birdsong briefly interrupted by the pop of a cork.
Said cork will be from a bottle of Hambledon Vineyard’s exceptional sparkling wine – a vivacious English sparkling wine that makes its French equivalents blush.
And it will be beautifully chilled, because it’s been extracted from one of Fieldbar’s meticulously crafted wine cooler boxes, designed to perfectly complement any outdoor occasion – especially those that require lashings of chilled fizz.
Inspired by the elegant wooden ‘Drinks Boxes’ of the Victorian era, the Fieldbar Drinks Box is designed to accommodate two bottles (because one is rarely enough).
With the new Tête-À-Tête Bundle, the cooler will come preloaded with a brace of Hambledon’s finest.
£230, hambledonvineyard.co.uk
Ron Santiago de Cuba
Extra Añejo rum
Given the weather so far this “summer”, you might want to offer your dad a trip to sunnier climes. A plane ticket to the Caribbean may be a stretch, but surely a close second has to be a bottle of Cuba’s finest rum.
Ron Santiago de Cuba has relaunched its exclusive, 20-year-old Extra Añejo rum, produced from a small selection of barrels from one of the oldest warehouses in the country.
The Maestros del Ron Cubano have crafted this special rum, harnessing their knowledge passed from generation to generation since the 18th century.
The result is a heady balance of robust yet smooth; there’s plenty of fruit, too, thanks to the white oak barrel ageing; and you’ll also find barrel-loads of coffee, cocoa, and chocolate.
The finish is outrageous – seemingly a never-ending story courtesy of all that age. Indeed, the strict regulations surrounding Cuban Rum production mean that only the youngest rum used in the blend can be noted on the label, so this is strictly 20 years and above.
A suitably old expression for your old man.
£175, from The Whisky Exchange.
Rémy Martin
XO
This is the kind of Father’s Day gift that keeps on giving. Not just because this legendary cognac seems to have a finish that never ends, but also because once he’s opened the bottle, it’s not the kind you finish in one sitting. It will last for years to come – and provide the perfect way to complete an evening with your old man.
Old is certainly the requisite word here – or ‘Extra Old’ to be exact. The XO refers to a cognac consisting of eaux-de-vie which have aged for a minimum of ten years. And in the case of Rémy Martin’s XO, many of the exclusively Petit and Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie will date back much further than that.
Indeed the brand’s signature symphony is made up of more than 300 eaux-de-vie, with some dating as far back as 37 years.
The result is an opulent yet fruity serve with that aforementioned finish – one you (and your father) will need to taste to believe.
£167, thewhiskyexchange.com
Mount Gay
Coffey Still Expression - The Master Blender Collection Rum
As the world’s oldest running rum distillery, Mount Gay knows a thing or two about heritage. For this year’s Master Blender Collection, it’s offering a glimpse into how rum was made back in the 19th century – when the Coffey still was invented.
The distillery still has a rare 100% copper Coffey still – only one of three globally in operation. In disrepair for decades, the still was recommissioned in 2019 and this is the first time a distillation has been released since.
The revival of the historic still was only possible thanks to the extensive knowledge of Mount Gay’s late distiller Reynold Hinds, better known as Blues. This seventh instalment in The Master Blender Collection is a tribute to the distilling legend.
The nose is full of pear, vanilla, nutmeg and light leather aromas. The palate brings grapefruit, oak, honey and lightly spiced notes of cinnamon with layers of aromas that open up with every sip.
£215, thewhiskyexchange.com
Bladnoch
The Wave
If your dad is a whisky drinker, Father’s Day is a great excuse to treat him to something a little special. Or a lot special in the case of Bladnoch’s latest release.
The Wave is a five-part limited-edition series demonstrating the marrying process of whisky casks, with each annual release revealing one of the five whisky-making pillars used by the brand’s highly regarded master distiller, Dr Nick Savage.
The first release, Wave I: Time & Maturation, epitomises Bladnoch’s method of selecting casks at the peak time in their maturation process to ensure optimal flavours in the whisky. It's limited to just 1,817 bottles in tribute to the year the distillery was founded.
To embark on The Wave journey, Dr Nick Savage selected five 1,500-litre Amontillado sherry tuns. Each tun is filled with whiskies from various combinations of cask types to marry together from the distillery’s 207-year-old bluestone warehouses.
Each year the cask types will be revealed and depict another pillar of Bladnoch whisky making. The remaining whisky will be decanted into the following year’s tun, creating a common thread and a wave effect throughout the series, with the fifth and final release featuring components from the full collection.
Of course, if he likes it, that’s the following four years’ Father’s Day sorted, too. You’re welcome.
£150, bladnoch.com
Canyon
Neuron:ONfly
Speaking of helping hands, nothing has done more for ‘weekend warrior’ status than the e-MTB – opening up so much more of the UK’s trails to casual riders.
Neuron:ONfly is Canyon’s most versatile e-MTB to date, pairing a cutting-edge carbon chassis with Bosch’s recently launched Performance Line SX drive system, which packs 55Nm of torque and 600W of power.
The result is a bike that delivers the best of both compact, light-assist e-MTBs and brawnier, high-torque e-MTBs. And there’s rarely a situation where less weight and more power isn’t a winning combo.
But it’s no armchair ride: peak power comes with pedalling speed. Ride with a higher RPM and the Neuron:ONfly gives more power back, rewarding your efforts. Meaning you should still be able to beat Dad to the top of the rise.
From €4,849 to €7,999; canyon.com
Oakley
Sphaera
Whether it’s a long weekend ride or a spirited game of squash, playing sports with your dad has to be one of the best ways to bond. You know you’re both getting old, though, when you start letting him win.
Give him a further helping hand with these brand new Oakleys.
The mark of a great pair of sunglasses – especially ones designed for sports – is that they’re so light and comfortable, you’ll forget you’re wearing them. Enter the Sphaera – the American brand’s latest drop, which offers the most extended field of view yet. It’s perhaps no surprise that these are being launched in the lead up to the Olympics; they will be just as happy on the track as out in the field.
They also feature Prizm lens tech to help wearers see every detail, a front vent for enhanced airflow, and secure nose pads for no-slip grip.
They’re certainly help remove the excuse ‘the sun was in my eyes’, too.
£231; oakley.com
66°North
‘Snæfell’ Shell Jacket
Benjamin Hardman
The Nordics know a thing or two about coping with challenging weather. So when Icelandic outerwear brand 66°North won both the prestigious ISPO Outdoor Award and the Scandinavian Outdoor Award for its Snæfell jacket, you can be assured this is one coat that knows how to cope – even with your dad’s intolerance for a draft.
This Spring, it’s been updated with Polartec Power Shield Pro plant-based waterproof fabric technology, making it more waterproof, more breathable and more responsible than ever.
Named after the largest freestanding mountain in Iceland, the Snæfell jacket is designed for a broad range of weather conditions – even that Christmas walk to the pub and back.
Its comfortable cut and soft fabric make it incredibly versatile for everyday use.
£435, 66north.com
Target
Aspar Professional Dartboard
Not every father has the room for pool, ping pong or foosball tables (despite their best attempts). But most will happily be able to find room for a dartboard.
And the Aspar Professional Dartboard isn’t just any old dartboard – it’s been designed to modernise the dartboard as we know it. Its new features include symmetrical and minimalist graphics, an upgraded number ring (no more awkwardly twisted steel here, thank you very much), a finer wire system, and enhanced colour schemes throughout.
Naturally it boasts self-healing bristles which offer instant shape recovery thanks to highly compacted African sisal.
£52.95, Aspar Professional Dartboard, target-darts.co.uk
