Holiday Gift Guide - For Dad

I hate shopping for my dad. It has always been a struggle. If he wants things, he just goes and buys them. This makes it especially tricky around this time of year when he sees a sale and goes ahead and gets what he wants….on sale…leaving nothing for us to pick up for him! This year, here are a few surprising, albeit thoughtful gifts fo the dads you know, young or old.

Apple Watch, Generation 4 or 5

Apple Watch is on generation 5, but because of that, the price on the G4s has come down considerably. If you’re looking for a tech-friendly gift for the guy who has everything, this might just be it. My dad has a brand new iPhone, but he hasn’t switched over to the watch yet. If he’s also planning on being anew years resolutioner, the fitness tracking on these is also fantastic.

Manly Cookbook

Cooking is one of those things that can be difficult, but also incredibly easy. If your dad is the cook of the family, or just needs to brush up his skills, a fun cookbook will do the trick. For something fun, I’ve been enjoying "Eat What You Watch”, which takes a twist on recipes seen in iconic films. Perfect if he’s a film buff, and also wants to be the next Gordon Ramsay.

Darn Tough Merino Socks

Since moving to the great north of Minnesota, I’ve been working on bulking up my winter gear. I was never the type of person who thought winter was fun until I realized that it is the clothes. These socks, for men or women, are the best. They last forever and are made in Vermont. They’re made of extremely high-quality merino wool and come with a lifetime guarantee. They are also warm. I hate having cold feet, and these are the absolute best all winter long. Does he need socks? Treat him to a little upgrade!

Chemex Pour-Over Coffee Maker

In my “for him” gift guide, I had a few pounds of fancy gourmet coffee as part of the list. If he’s already upgraded from Folgers, this is the next step up. The pour overtakes coffee up to the next level. It tastes…cleaner? It’s hard to describe, but it’s just better. It’s all I drink at my local bougie coffee place now. It’s a quick and delicious cup of coffee, and the whole maker looks delightful on the counter. It’s also so easy. Heat water, pour in. Coffee.

RocketBook

My dad is always taking notes. He has a pocketful of tiny notebooks that he keeps on him always and is filling them and leaving them around. What about a notebook that lasts forever? This notebook is reusable…forever. It uploads your notes to the cloud, and you erase it by microwaving it. Isn’t that neat?

Suntory Whiskey

Japanese whiskey is still incredibly popular among certain circles, and for good reason. I’m not a whiskey drinker, but I’ve heard that this is the best if you’re looking to dip your toes into the international whiskey market. It’s a blended whiskey at a mid-range price point. Toki is the easiest to find, with notes of basil, honey, grapes, and grapefruit, with a sweet finish. There are others available, as well if you have an idea of his tastes.

Record Player

In case he’s hanging on to his vinyl collection, the turntable can be easily upgraded. There are so many very nice record players now that look beautiful but also have fantastic sound quality. I like the one linked from Victrola, but there are many options out there because of the hipsters right now!

Smokehaus Smoke Meat

Strange one here. I love smoked fish. Smoked salmon? On a bagel? The best. I know I’m not alone judging by the Hillshire Farms booths that pop up in the mall at this time of year. Here in Duluth, the gold standard is Northern Waters Smokehaus. They ship all across the United States and make a great gift. I am personally a fan of “The Grand Gesture”, which contains essentially two of everything they make. It has smoked salmon, salmon pate, smoked pancetta, sausage, dry-cured salumi, local cheese, and crackers. Wonderful.

Happy shopping!