Father’s Day is this weekend, so here’s a Father’s Day Cocktail for the dad who is classic but doesn’t take himself too seriously. 

My dad, Doug Kogel, was ahead of his time. When I think of my dad in summertime, I think of him wearing cut-off jean shorts, tilling the garden and then cooling off with what, at the time, I thought was the most repulsive summer refresher- tomato juice and (non-alcoholic) beer. Ewwwwww. 

But then the Michelada craze hit, and I had to admit, maybe my dad, with his o.g. heirloom tomatoes and my mom’s homemade heirloom tomato juice, was actually onto something, albeit a less seasoned something. Granted, the idea of beer and tomato juice still makes my face squish with disgust, but I can at least accept that my dad’s gross drink of choice is a popular gross drink of choice. Agree to disagree. 

I wrote off his drink, and I didn’t listen enough in those ways that come back to haunt me- why don’t I know the butcher’s diagram of a cow?!? I have only myself to blame (shameful for the daughter of a cattlemen)! But, we’ve both acknowledged a need to listen to each other more, and that is worth celebrating. (More on those thoughts + a BBQ Sauce recipe in this post.)

Unfortunately, my dad and I will be separated by multiple states and a time zone this Father’s Day, but I hope he’ll be rocking some jean shorts and his drink of choice. I’ll be sipping this licorice flavored Chilled Sazerac and indulging in its cake counterpart. If you’re lucky enough to share the day with your dad, and even luckier enough to both count whiskey as your spirit of choice, then this Father’s Day Cocktail might be for the two of you!

This icy Father’s Day Cocktail is a riff off a classic cocktail- the Sazerac– a staple from one of America’s cultural hot beds, New Orleans. I’m adding extra chill because this father’s day, I’m playing it cool (like dad used to be). I’m also using Pernod, Absinthe’s less hallucinogenic, lighter-on-the-wallet-and-alcohol-content kid brother. To top it off, I’m baking up Sazerac style Healthyish cakes because if there is one realm where my dad and I align, it’s definitely the dessert realm! 

If your dad has a sweet tooth, and you’re still stumped on what to give him for his years of shaping you into the human you are today, consider gifting a Healthyish cake subscription. 

A Gift for Dads- a Discount on Healthyish Cakes!

If you’re still looking for the perfect gift for dad, indulge his sweet tooth and sign him up for a monthly subscription of Healthyish cakes and keep experimenting with cocktail pairings. Enter DADSROCK at checkout for 10% off your gift subscription, and be sure to tag your Father’s Day dessert moments with #HealthyishFoods on Instagram.

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there and an extra special hug to all those missing their dads this weekend. 

Cheers,

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Healthyish Foods, the makers of organic, perfectly portioned cake mixes, but all opinions are my own. I’m excited to partner with Healthyish Foods to bring you ideas for appeasing those sweet cravings in ways that won’t include a kitchen full of dishes or elaborate frosting techniques.

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Sazerac Style Healthyish Cakes

Yield: for 3-4 Healthyish Cakes

About this Recipe: This recipe yields enough glaze for 3-4 individually portioned Healthyish cakes, but you can follow the same ratio and process to increase quantities and glaze a larger cake. 

Ingredients

Healthyish Baking Kits
3-4 Tablespoons Whiskey

1 Tablespoon Pernod Anise
2 Tablespoons Organic Powdered Sugar

For the Cakes

Follow the Healthyish baking instructions. Immediately after removing the cakes from the oven, use a cake tester or toothpick to poke holes in the cakes’ surfaces. Pour 1 Tablespoon whiskey onto the surface of each cake (or more whiskey, to taste), spreading the liquid evenly over the surface.

For the Glaze

Whisk together the Pernod and powdered sugar until smooth. Drizzle over cakes.

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A Father’s Day Cocktail: The “Spazerac” (A Frosty Take on a Sazerac)
Recipe adapted from Liquor.com

Ingredients

2  1/2 oz your favorite whiskey
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
1 teaspoon Pernod Anise (or absinthe)
1/4 oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
3 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
Ice

Garnish

Lemon twist
Fresh rosemary or other herbs

Glass

Old Fashioned

Directions

Add all the ingredients to a blender with just under 1 cup of ice. Blend until smooth and pour into an Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Cheers!