History of Father’s Day

 The father or father figure in your life deserves a shout-out and a big  “Thank You” for all those words of wisdom, Dad jokes, bringing us a glass of water in the middle of the night, kissing our boo-boos when we fall, and for being there through thick or thin.  

I am blessed to still have my father. We have had a few health scares but he’s still going strong and for this, I am eternally thankful. He is and always has been a wonderful father, and instilled a strong work ethic in me. He’s a wonderful grandfather, too.  I am blessed to have a wonderful father for our girls.  Steve is my rock.  He works tirelessly to help keep this business thriving, he spent years being “Mr. Mom” when I was on the road, and he is always there for his family.  He had a wonderful role model. His father, Dave, who we lost a few years back, was a great Dad and his legacy lives on with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  

History of Father’s Day

Of course, Father’s Day is a spin-off of Mother’s Day but what are its beginnings? The holiday, always celebrated annually on the third Sunday in June, honors fathers, and celebrates fatherhood and the influence of father figures in society that first came about in the early 1900s. According to my sources, Father’s Day was started by Sonora Smart Dodd at the YMCA in Spokane, Washington.  Her father was a Civil War veteran and the single parent of six children.  She heard the story of Anna Jarvis’ Mother’s Day holiday and set out on a mission to create a similar event honoring dear old Dad. Others say it started across the U.S. in West Virginia when Grace Golden Clayton had a special service honoring her father and all fathers following a horrible mining disaster that took the lives of more than 240 fathers. 

But Father’s Day didn’t quite take off like its counterpart for moms.  As a matter of fact, it completely fizzled and was the subject of much ridicule. Interestingly enough, it was the New York Association of Men’s Wear Retailers who refused to give up and founded the Father’s Day Council to promote the holiday. They embraced the ridicule and even turned it into an ad campaign. FYI, Father’s Day is the second-best shopping day for men’s gifts only after Christmas.  It quite literally took an act of Congress decades later to make it an official national holiday in 1966 when President Richard M. Nixon signed it into law. 

Gifts for Dad

So if you’re looking for a gift as special as the father or father figure in your life, we are created a collection that will be a gift well received.  Fun fact:  when I started this business, my marketing plan was focused almost completely on women.  Women who love to cook, women who love to entertain, women who collect recipes. Women like me.  But much to my surprise an overwhelming percentage of my regular customers are men.  

Boozy Cherries.  Nothing complements an Old Fashioned or Manhattan better than our Boozy Cherries.  The finest dark Italian cherries meet the distinguished spirit of the Bluegrass–Bourbon–and are preserved in a delicious syrup sweetened by pure organic cane sugar. They are crafted to take your cocktails to a new level of decadence.

Bourbon Bitters Set with Boozy Cherries. Treat your Dad to a collection of bourbon-infused delights with In the Curious Kitchen’s exclusive Bourbon Bitters Bundle, a signature offering from our Just Add Bourbon collection.  This hand-selected trio isn’t just an enhancement to any home bar or liquor cart, it celebrates the intricate processes and natural ingredients that embody the spirit of Kentucky’s renowned bourbon tradition. The Cocktail Gift Set is designed for both the discerning enthusiast or the curious cocktail explorer, this set includes Boozy Cherries, BItters, and our Bourbon Honey Mustard–just in time to fire up the grill.  These delicious and thoughtful collections give you all the ingredients (except the bourbon) to transform any cocktail or sparkling water into a mouthwatering masterpiece. 

Bourbon Apple Butter.  Dad will love this unforgettable Bourbon Apple Butter made from locally sourced apples and infused with the finest Kentucky bourbon.  This handcrafted apple butter makes the perfect addition to any pantry.  The perfect blend of savory and sweet, our Bourbon Apple Butter makes a thoughtful and delicious gift for Dad.

Exclusive Collections. Pick up our jams and jellies for Dad, too:  Hot Pepper Jelly, Bourbon Blueberry Jam, and Strawberry Jalapeno. Sample them in the Cheese Board Collection or all three plus our incredible Bourbon Honey Mustard in our Bourbon Country Collection.   They are all equally delicious and if you haven’t tried them on a cheeseburger hot off the grill, you are really missing out.  The possibilities are endless.

Bar Tools.  And don’t forget about our bar tools.  Perfect for any gift-giving occasion but especially nice for Dad.  New bar gadgets are probably something he wouldn’t buy for himself.  We offer a Japanese-style Jigger, a Citrus Reamer, and a Vintage-Inspired 18-ounce cocktail shaker. 

However you end up celebrating, just don’t forget to celebrate.  Raise a glass to Dad!

Cheers!

MK