Let’s get one thing straight: this is not your average brunch drink.

This is a cold brew cocktail for the dads who’ve been up since 4 a.m. warming bottles, for the ones who rock a baby in one arm and a laptop in the other. For the fathers who are figuring it out moment by moment, heartbeat by heartbeat. For the boat-dad's raising kids to embrace a life on the water. It’s for the ones who are both exhausted and euphoric.

Father's Day Cocktail Recipe

We Made This For You... And For Me.

This Father’s Day is my first as a dad. Our son, River, was born in September, and nothing could have prepared me for what fatherhood actually feels like. I’ve worked in some of the most stressful environments on the planet, executing wedding dinners for 75 in the private dining room while simultaneously running dinner service for over 100 in the main room. The type of coordinated chaos that you get used to working in kitchens. But none of that compares to this. Fatherhood is relentless. It’s constant. There are no breaks, no hand-offs, no mise en place to fall back on.

But somehow… it's also the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced.

I look at our perfect little boy, and he gives me that magic look of combined innocence and pure love that only babies are able to conjure, and I feel wrecked in the best possible way. There’s a kind of love in him that’s so pure it stops time. Watching him grow, watching him become, it’s the most profound thing I’ve ever witnessed. These last eight months have taught me more about myself and the world than nearly two decades of kitchens and startups. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Father's Day Hosting Ideas

I’ve worked with so many people in hospitality who left work early to meet their partners giving birth, then came back to the kitchen the next day. I’m incredibly grateful to be in a role now that allows me to be home with my son, every single day. There was a time in my life when that wouldn’t have been impossible. But the culture Dockwa has created makes that time and presence not just possible, but valued. And I’ll never take that for granted.

All this to say, this Father's Day I’m only telling you what every parent already knows… it's time for a drink.

A cold brew cocktail with backbone, brightness, and just enough sweetness to keep you going.

We built The Old Man and the Sea as a kind of liquid metaphor. Strong, smooth, and complex, like the best dads you know. Cold brew for the fuel, bourbon for depth, orgeat for that unexpected tenderness, and a whisper of Cointreau and orange peel to lift it all. It’s got grit and softness. Kick and clarity.

Prep time: 2 minutes

Gear: Shaker, strainer, rocks glass, citrus peeler (if you're feeling fancy!)

How to make a coffee old fashion

Ingredients (Serves 1):

- 90 ml (3 oz) cold brew coffee
- 22 ml (0.75 oz) bourbon
- 22 ml (0.75 oz) coffee liqueur (Mr Black or Kahlua)
- 22 ml (0.75 oz) orgeat
- 22 ml (0.75 oz) Cointreau
- Dash of orange bitters
- Orange peel, for garnish
- Optional: a spoonful of lightly whipped cream to float on top

Instructions:

Add the cold brew, bourbon, coffee liqueur, orgeat, Cointreau, and bitters to a shaker with ice.
Shake briefly, just enough to chill and bring it together without over-diluting
Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube.
Express the orange peel over the top, then drop it in as your garnish.
Optional - Take the elevator: Gently float a spoonful of lightly whipped cream on top to add a little bit of finesse to your Father’s day.

Make it a Mocktail! Make a delicious, nutty iced cold brew with by skipping the bourbon, coffee liqueur and cointreau. Add the orgeat, some All the bitter alcohol-free bitters, and an orange twist to a tall glass filled with ice and pour your favorite cold brew over the top. It's going to take your iced coffee to the next level. You could sub in some strong black tea, like lapsang souchong, for a touch of smokiness that mirrors the bourbon in the original recipe. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

The Setting

Whether you’re anchored out, docked in, or on diaper duty at home, this is your moment. This is for the dads who show up, over and over. Take a second and enjoy this cocktail, that caffeine will kick in at any moment. You’ve earned this pour.

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To The Dads

To every father out there, whether this is your first year or your fiftieth, this cocktail is for you. For your strength, your softness, your chaos, your calm. You are seen. You are celebrated. And we’re raising a glass to you out on the water this Sunday.

Happy Father’s Day.

Cheers,
Max & Theresa