Father’s Day Cocktails: Fun Dad Drinks to Serve at Your Restaurant

With Father’s Day just around the corner, ensure your restaurant is prepared to make dads feel extra special when they visit. One surefire way to delight fathers and their families and boost your sales is to offer a selection of dad-approved Father’s Day cocktails.

Dads and father figures of all kinds appreciate a well-made adult beverage, so get creative and concoct some fun cocktails to feature for the holiday for families gathering to celebrate. Not only will this give your guest of honor a chance to indulge, but it will also provide a great upselling opportunity for your beverage program. Here are some ideas to consider:

What is a Good Father’s Day Drink?

Here are some fun Father’s Day cocktails that use common bar ingredients:

Old-Fashioned Dad:

• 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
• 1 sugar cube or 1 tsp sugar
• 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
• Orange slice or twist for garnish
• Maraschino cherry for garnish (optional)

Instructions: Place the sugar cube (or teaspoon of sugar) in an old-fashioned glass. Add the bitters and a small splash of water or club soda. Muddle the sugar, bitters, and liquid together until the sugar is dissolved. Add the bourbon or rye whiskey and stir gently. Add a large ice cube or a few smaller ones and stir briefly to chill. Garnish with the orange slice or twist and optionally add a maraschino cherry.

Food Pairing Idea: This classic cocktail is robust and smooth, making it an excellent partner for rich, savory dishes. Consider suggesting it alongside a perfectly grilled Ribeye Steak, Smoked Brisket, or hearty BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders. For smaller bites, bacon-wrapped dates or a charcuterie board with aged cheeses would also complement its depth.

World’s Greatest Godfather:

• 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
• 1 sugar cube or 1 tsp rich simple syrup
• 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
• Orange slice for garnish
• Brandied cherry for garnish

Instructions: Place the sugar cube in an Old Fashioned glass. Saturate it with the Angostura bitters and a small splash of water or club soda. Muddle until the sugar is dissolved. Fill the glass with large ice cubes. Add the bourbon or rye whiskey and stir gently to combine. Garnish with the orange slice and brandied cherry.

Food Pairing Idea: Similar to the Old-Fashioned, the Godfather’s rich whiskey base calls for equally bold flavors. Pair it with Spicy Dry-Rubbed Chicken Wings, a Gourmet Burger with caramelized onions and blue cheese, or Pork Belly Burnt Ends. If offering dessert, a dark chocolate lava cake could be a decadent finish.

Man-hattan:

• 2 oz rye whiskey or bourbon
• 1 oz sweet red vermouth
• 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
• Brandied cherry for garnish

Instructions: Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes. Add the rye whiskey or bourbon, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters. Stir gently with a bar spoon for 10-15 seconds until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.

Food Pairing Idea: Similar to the Old-Fashioned, the Godfather’s rich whiskey base calls for equally bold flavors. Pair it with Spicy Dry-Rubbed Chicken Wings, a Gourmet Burger with caramelized onions and blue cheese, or Pork Belly Burnt Ends. If offering dessert, a dark chocolate lava cake could be a decadent finish.

Bow Tie Boulevardier:

• 1 1/2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
• 1 oz sweet vermouth
• 1 oz Campari

Instructions: Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes. Add the bourbon/rye, sweet vermouth, and Campari. Stir gently for 20-30 seconds until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe or rocks glass. Garnish with an orange twist or cherry if desired.

Food Pairing Idea: Similar to the Old-Fashioned, the Godfather’s rich whiskey base calls for equally bold flavors. Pair it with Spicy Dry-Rubbed Chicken Wings, a Gourmet Burger with caramelized onions and blue cheese, or Pork Belly Burnt Ends. If offering dessert, a dark chocolate lava cake could be a decadent finish.

Father’s Day Mocktails

Offering non-alcoholic specialty drinks is a great way to make your guests feel like they are having an experience! Here are a few inspirational beverages:

Papa’s Punch:

• 4 oz pineapple juice
• 2 oz orange juice
• 2 oz ginger beer
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1⁄4 oz grenadine
• Orange slice and cherry for garnish

Instructions: Fill a glass with ice cubes. Add the pineapple juice, orange juice, ginger beer, lime juice and grenadine. Stir to combine. Garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

Food Pairing Idea: Similar to the Old-Fashioned, the Godfather’s rich whiskey base calls for equally bold flavors. Pair it with Spicy Dry-Rubbed Chicken Wings, a Gourmet Burger with caramelized onions and blue cheese, or Pork Belly Burnt Ends. If offering dessert, a dark chocolate lava cake could be a decadent finish.

The Designated Dad Driver:

• 3 oz cold brew coffee
• 2 oz chocolate milk
• 1 oz cream or milk
• Whipped cream and cocoa powder for garnish

Instructions: Fill a glass with ice cubes. Add the cold brew, chocolate milk and cream/milk. Stir gently to combine. Top with whipped cream and dust with cocoa powder.

Food Pairing Idea: This rich, creamy mocktail is essentially a dessert in a glass! It pairs best with breakfast/brunch items or desserts. Think French Toast with maple syrup, Chocolate Chip Pancakes, Coffee Cake, or any chocolate-based dessert like brownies or a rich chocolate cake.

Man-go Breeze:

• 4 oz mango nectar
• 2 oz pineapple juice
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1 oz soda water
• Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions: Fill a glass with ice. Add the mango nectar, pineapple juice and lime juice. Top with soda water and stir gently. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Food Pairing Idea: This light and tropical mocktail is incredibly versatile. It would be excellent with Spicy Asian Noodles, Coconut Shrimp, Chicken Satay with peanut sauce, or even a refreshing Arugula Salad with citrus vinaigrette. For dessert, a fruit sorbet or key lime pie would be delightful.

Make Father’s Day Cocktails a Hands-On Experience

For restaurants looking to elevate their Father’s Day offerings with a memorable and interactive twist, consider introducing a “Build-Your-Own Cocktail” station or take-home kit. Tripleseat’s event management features can make planning, promoting, and executing these special events seamless.

On-Site Option: Interactive Cocktail Station

Set up a dedicated area where diners can mix and match ingredients under the guidance of a bartender. Offer a curated menu of spirits, mixers, garnishes, and flavor infusions tailored to classic “dad-approved” drinks like Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, or even custom bourbon or mezcal blends.

• Use TripleseatDirect’s custom event booking pages to allow guests to reserve their spot at the cocktail station or even pre-purchase drink/food packages.
• Manage event details and communication within Tripleseat to ensure your bar and event staff has all the necessary ingredients, garnishes, and tools prepared for the event needs.

To-Go Experience: DIY Cocktail Kits

For guests celebrating at home, offer custom cocktail kits featuring:

• Pre-measured ingredients for 2-4 servings.
• A recipe card with tips from your mixologist.
• Optional branded glassware or bar tools as a keepsake.
• QR code linking to a video tutorial for a fun at-home experience.
• TripleseatDirect can be invaluable here. It allows you to create an online storefront where customers can easily purchase these kits for pick-up or even local delivery.
• Use Tripleseat’s reporting features to analyze the popularity and sales of your DIY kits, which will help you plan future holiday promotions.

These kits not only bring the celebration home but also serve as an excellent branding opportunity and potential add-on revenue stream, all easily managed and tracked through your Tripleseat platform.

Funny Dad Drink Names for the Win!

Get creative with cocktail naming, descriptions, and garnishes too. Develop a whole “Drink Like A Dad” menu section using fun names and imagery. Dads will appreciate the chance to enjoy perfectly made Father’s Day cocktails, and you’ll enjoy the bonus revenue! What dad-approved drinks will you offer this Father’s Day?

For Better Private Dining and Events at your Restaurant, Check Out Tripleseat

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