Spirited
GIFTS
Deepen Dad’ s appreciation of his top tipple this Father’ s Day.
BY BEN SMITHURST
M
any fathers gravitate towards their preferred corner of the liquor cabinet, which makes that first Sunday in September a prime opportunity to restock the old boy’ s bar trolley … or yours. When it comes to spirits, says Kayla Gafa from Diageo Australia, whose brands include Johnnie Walker whisky and Don Julio tequila,“ it’ s not just about age, it’ s also all about accumulated knowledge”.
Whether your dad saves himself for a special occasion whisky or is a full-on mixology maestro, here’ s a contemporary guide to a range of quality spirits available at Costco – just in time for Father’ s Day gifting.
Tequila
It’ s crafted from the fermented juice of the cactus-like Blue Weber agave plant, and tequila’ s popularity in Australia has exploded, both as a sipping spirit and in cocktails. Like Bordeaux or single malt Scotch, true tequila can only be produced in one place – Mexico, primarily the Jalisco region – ensuring every bottle carries a sense of terroir.
“ Tequila has really‘ premiumised’,” says Kayla.“ A quality blanco tequila will show really fresh agave character, while aged tequilas feel balanced, with oak notes that enhance rather than mask the agave. For us, Don Julio Blanco, for example, is a great reference for purity of balance, while Casamigos is a softer, smoother style.”
Bourbon
Bourbon must be made with a grain mix of at least 51 per cent corn, making it sweeter than whisky. It’ s usually smoother, too. Primarily produced in the US state of Kentucky, it’ s another spirit that’ s undergone a creative surge.“ We’ re
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10 | JUL / AUG 2026 COSTCO CONNECTION