Even the best dad needs a little pick-me-up from time to time, and this Father’s Day, Oliver’s has the fine spirits that make every dad feel like a king. Whether it’s a luxurious, small-batch whiskey or a classic stand-by, we’ve got unbeatable deals on everything you need to make the father figure in your life feel special.

To start, let’s just establish what exactly we mean with all these funky terms. For starters, there’s a difference between different types of whiskey. Bourbon is made from at least 51% corn mash and follows very specific guidelines; it’s aged in new, charred oak barrels and must meet a specific percentage of alcohol (called proof) at various stages in the distilling and aging process. Scotch whisky can only be produced in Scotland and must be made at least mostly with malted barley, while Irish whiskey is any whiskey made in Ireland, regardless of the content. Japanese whisky was actually inspired by Scotch and features a similar reliance on barley as a base; however, because Japanese whisky has only been in production since the early 1900’s, there isn’t a distinct style attributed to it. Japanese distillers instead focus on creating refined and innovative whiskies based on Japanese aesthetic ideals combined with traditional Scotch-making techniques. Rye whiskey is even trickier to define, mostly because its production is far less stringent than a Bourbon or a Scotch – for Canadian rye, it merely needs to have rye mash in it somewhere, while American rye must be made with at least 51% rye mash.

As far as descriptors, the term small batch is also fairly vague and slightly difficult to define. Generally, it means that a distillery has produced less than 150 barrels of a particular batch; this implies that the whiskey has been more-carefully treated and is of a higher quality than what is ordinarily produced. This can be a bit tricky, however, because there’s no true legal definition for small batch, so the meaning can change from distillery to distillery. A blended whiskey contains a mixture of two or more whiskeys from any number of distilleries, while a single malt whiskey is a whiskey produced with whiskeys from a single distillery. A single malt whiskey will still be blended, but any whiskeys used will be from the same distillery. Finally, single barrel whiskey takes the idea of small batch to the extreme. The distillery will pick a particular barrel or barrels, each of which exemplify some key aspect of the whiskey, and sell each not as a group of barrels but as an individual batch. This is done to highlight the unique qualities of that barrel.

Now that you’re up on your booze terms, check out the collection we’ve put together for this Father’s Day. Here’s what the experts in our wine department have to say about these awesome spirits!

Suntory Whisky Toki

(750 ml. Bottle, $29.99/ea)

“A Japanese blend consisting of whiskies from three of Suntory’s distilleries. Light and balanced with subtle notes of honey, citrus, and green apple. Toki is a prime whiskey for Highballs, perfect for these hot summer days.” – Thomas Wall, Windsor Wine Manager

Suntory Whiskey Highball, Suntory Whiskey Sour

Glenfiddich 12 Year Single Malt Whiskey

(750 ml. Bottle, $25.99/ea)

“Carefully matured in the finest American Oak and European Oak Sherry casks for at least 12 years, it is mellowed in oak marrying tuns to create its sweet and subtle oak flavors.” – Richard Williams, Wine Buyer

Basil Hayden’s Bourbon Whiskey

(750 ml. Bottle, $28.99/ea)

“To preserve the subtle sophistication that makes it so sharable, Basil Hayden’s is aged to the perfect expression of its novel, spicy-sweet flavor profile.” – Richard Williams, Wine Buyer

Basil Hayden Old Fashioned

Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

(750 ml. Bottle, $19.99/ea)

“Never bitter or sharp, Maker’s Mark is made with soft red winter wheat, instead of the usual rye, for a one-of-a-kind, full-flavored bourbon that’s easy to drink.”                  – Richard Williams, Wine Buyer

Knob Creek Bourbon or Rye Whiskey

(750 ml. Bottles, $19.99/ea)

“Knob Creek is a part of the original Small-Batch Bourbon Collection that coined the term ‘small batch’. Since then, Knob Creek has become widely renowned for their big, full flavor and continues the tradition.” – Richard Williams, Wine Buyer

Redemption Bourbon or Rye Whiskey

(750 ml. Bottle, $18.99/ea)

“Redemption’s award-winning whiskey is produced in small batches for those appreciate a nod to the past but have a taste for what’s new.” – Richard Williams, Wine Buyer

Redemption Rye Sazerac

Teeling Irish Whiskey

(750 ml. Bottle, $26.99/ea)

“While being very approachable, the influence of the rum cask and higher percentage alcohol creates a uniquely smooth, sweet, and slightly woody marriage that sparkles on the tongue.” – Richard Williams, Wine Buyer

Speyburn 10 Year Single Malt Scotch Whiskey

(750 ml. Bottle, $17.99/ea)

“This perfectly balanced Single Malt was born in the Scottish Highlands more than century ago. It’s created using fresh spring water from Speyside. It’s this water that give it its distinctive taste.” – Richard Williams, Wine Buyer

Jameson Irish Whiskey

(750 ml. Bottle, $18.99/ea)

“Triple distilled whiskey isn’t just born smooth and balanced. It takes a carefully crafted process used over hundreds of years to get it just right. In 1780, Master Distiller John Jameson discovered that three distillations were best.” – Richard Williams, Wine Buyer

Jameson Hot Toddy

Jack Daniel’s Barrel Aged Rye Whiskey

(750 ml. Bottle, $17.99/ea)

“Crafted with a 70% rye grain bill, natural spring water from their own Cave Spring Hollow, and Jack’s time-honored charcoal mellowing process, this is a whiskey that could only come from Tennessee.” – Richard Williams, Wine Buyer

Pyrat Rum

(750 ml. Bottle, $16.99/ea)

“To age its rums, Pyrat uses both barrels made from French Limousin Oak and barrels made from toasted American Oak. Rums from all over the Caribbean are blended, and have been produced in a traditional pot still.” – Richard Williams, Wine Buyer