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ONE special gift which might go down well - literally - on Father's Day is a bottle of fine wine or spirits.

  Two places in Central which offer a particularly good choice are Oliver's, in Prince's Building, or Seibu, in Pacific Place.

  A bottle of French red wine could be the answer, because it can be stored for several years and only improve in quality.

  A bordeaux would be the most obvious choice, with Chateau Latour being one of the best known and respected names. Another good choice would be Chateau Margaux.

  If you don't want to spend too much money it is still more than acceptable to buy another red wine from this same region for a much lower price.

   You will still find exceptional quality and it is likely the cheaper wine was produced from a vineyard just down the road from that of the most expensive - the variable soil conditions in this part of France being one of the deciding factors on quality and classification.

  Dad may well of course be perfectly happy with wine from one of the New World producers, such as California or Australia. Unlike French wines, these have the grape variety from which they are made marked clearly on the bottle.

   A cabernet sauvignon is a good, heavy, satisfying red wine which is generally a pleasure savoured on its own, or with meat dishes. A pinot noir is lighter. Both make ideal gifts for the man who enjoys wine.

  If the preference is for white, a chardonnay is recommended. Again, a delicious wine which can be enjoyed during an evening in front of the television, or with a meal - seafood being the best accompaniment.

  Of course, a bottle of champagne is appreciated by just about everybody and you need not pay a lot of money to buy a perfectly acceptable bubbly.

  Only the champagne made in the Champagne district of France can officially call itself by that name, and the production controls are so strict that whatever you buy is guaranteed for quality.

   Krug is one of the top names, and you can spend more than $1,000 a bottle on it, but if you choose to fit your budget, no one is going to be disappointed.

  Other countries do produce good sparkling wines, and as these are cheaper than the French variety, that might be the ideal option if you are planning a small family get-together.

  For the dad who enjoys spirits, the possibilities are endless (in fact, it is worth bearing in mind that any father who enjoys wining and dining is going to appreciate any gift of that kind).

  Go for any of the well-known cognac names, such as Hine, Hennessy, Martell or Courvoisier. Despite the claims made in their advertising, they are all of a comparable (and excellent) quality, especially in their mid-range brands.

  You simply cannot go wrong and buy a bad cognac, because as with champagne, they are produced only in one clearly defined part of France, and are subject to tight quality controls.

  There are a number of quality whiskies on the market, and they vary greatly in price.

  Johnnie Walker, Ballantine's and Chivas Regal are three of the best-known brands, which also produce higher-priced scotches but again it really comes down to budget.

  But you may care to think about buying dad a single malt whisky. These come from the often tiny distilleries in Scotland, and are distinctive.

   Choose one of the best known names such as Laphroaig, Glenmorangie, Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, or the Macallan. Or simply buy one with a label you like the look of - a single malt whisky never disappoints.



Wee dram for the old man