Father's Day Gift Guide: The Most Interesting International Spirits

Forbes

11 hours ago

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 20: A judge selects a bottle of wine for tasting during the 'International Wine Challenge' event at the Barbican centre on April 20, 2010 in London, England. Judges will taste from over 10,000 bottles of wine from across the globe, with wines in each category winning either Gold, Silver or Bronze in the biggest and most important event of its kind in the world. (Photo by)
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For the dad who has everything (including a half-full bottle of bourbon he "forgets" to finish), maybe it's time to introduce something new. And not just new-to-him, but new-to-his-bar-cart.
This Father's Day, skip the expected and look globally: there's a whole world of interesting, complex, and straight-up fascinating spirits waiting to be explored. Some are cultural staples abroad, others are locally revered oddities, but all of them are worth a pour.
Whether he's the kind of guy who wants to know the entire backstory behind every bottle, or just wants something cool to sample, these picks deliver. Here are eight global spirits that bring character, craft, and a little surprise to your Father's Day lineup.
Stems of bison grass float inside completed bottles of Zubrowka vodka as they move along the bottling line.
Copyright 2012 Bloomberg Finance LP
Infused with a blade of bison grass that grows in the Białowieża Forest, Żubrówka isn't just a vodka with a gimmick. It's an herbaceous, subtly sweet spirit that delivers a whisper of spring meadow. It shines in a chilled shot or the Polish classic 'Żubrówka and apple juice" (known locally as a "tatanka"), but it's also one of Poland's most successful alcohol exports: Żubrówka is consistently ranked among the top-five bestselling vodkas in the world. It got there even in the face of a banned in the U.S. by the FDA, because of the possible blood-thinning effects of the grass that was lifted in 2010.
A flagship of China's baijiu category, Moutai is a divisive icon: intensely aromatic, famously funky, and loaded with umami. Distilled from sorghum and aged in clay, it's been a favorite of many prominent historical diplomats. Distributed stateside by Kweichow Moutai Co. via specialty importers, it ranked as the most valuable liquor brand globally in 2025, surpassing $250 billion in market cap. Gift this to your dad if he isn't afraid of a challenge.
Nardini is one of Italy's largest and most well-known grappa producers, with a history dating back to the 18th century.
Courtesy: Winebow
Made from grape pomace, grappa is Italy's answer to 'nose to tail' winemaking. Fragrant, fiery, and full of rustic charm, Italy produces roughly 40 million bottles of grappa each year, with many grapperias in operation for centuries. Nardini is widely considered the oldest, with a history dating back to 1779; given their status, they're a great place to start with picking your gift. Grappa comes in a number of different expressions, starting with clear, unaged 'bianca' (white) and moving through a variety of ages and cask-finishes.
A plum brandy with punch, Slivovitz is a mainstay in much of Eastern Europe, especially Serbia and Croatia. It ranges from fire-breathing moonshine to elegant, aged eaux-de-vie, and usually packs a fragrant, fruity punch. Look for bottled-in-country versions for the best quality, with popular brands like Maraska (Croatia) and Navip (Serbia) available in U.S. specialty shops (many with the distinctive circular bottle that Slivovitz fans know and love).
Pisco is the national spirit of both Peru and Chile; while the drink is traditionally clear, experiments with cask-aging has lead to expanded colors for pisco expressions.
Courtesy: Winebow
South America's grape-based spirit has long had loyal fans on both sides of the Andes, with Peru and Chile each claiming it as their own—the Denomination of Origin (DO) is accepted from both countries, though an ongoing legal battle could change that. Floral, silky, and typically unaged, pisco brings a bright, fragrant profile that works well neat or in a cocktail (Pisco Sour, anyone?). Recently, distillers have also tried aging their pisco to add different profiles, which resulted in a variety of colors, but the traditional pisco is clear.
Often referred to as "lion's milk" when mixed with water (thanks to its opalescent coloration), Raki is an answer to Greek ouzo or French pastis: an anise-flavored spirit with big, bold aromatics, with production dominated by Diageo. Other countries in the Ottoman sphere also claim Raki, but Turkey considers it their national drink—with an intense flavor and even more powerful nose, Raki is best served with mezze and plenty of stories.
Viamundi is one of the brands attempting to bring sotol consumption to the mainstream.
Courtesy: Viamundi
Not quite tequila, not quite mezcal, sotol is made from a wild desert plant (not agave!) and delivers a grassy, mineral-forward character all its own. Often earthier and more savory than its cousins, sotol is still relatively under the radar in the U.S., which is exactly what makes it cool. Given tequila's ascendant position in the market, it makes sense that distillers would try to glom onto the trend and bring another spirit to the market—especially one that doesn't compete for agave, which has had large price fluctuations in the past and is in demand.
Made from fermented cashew apple (or coconut, depending on the region), feni is hyperlocal to Goa and shockingly expressive. The nose alone is a journey: fruity, funky, and a little wild. It's not for everyone—but if you're shopping for a dad who wants something nobody else has heard of, this is it. Goa feni has geographical indication (GI) status in India, making it a protected regional specialty. Much of the production is still artisanal and non-commercial, though brands have been bringing feni to the U.S. market since 2015.
Whether you wrap it, pour it, or set it out next to a globe and a cigar, these spirits are more than just thoughtful gifts. They're drinkable passports to somewhere else—which, depending on your dad's travel plans this year, might be exactly what he needs.