• (1) blancos (“whites”), which are not aged, although some are colored gold with caramel to make them look aged, and are known as joven abocado or oro
• (2) reposados (“rested”), which are aged for two to nine months, and
• (3) añejos (“olds”), which are aged from 18 months for up to 4 (some up to 5) years.

Margaritas are made with mixtos or blancos; reposados and añejos are enjoyed straight for their oaky, complex qualities. Many añejos are aged in old cognac or bourbon casks, and pick up some flavors from the barrels. Someone who enjoys a fine scotch or bourbon would appreciate an añejo. Herradura Seleccion Suprema Muy Añejo Tequila is considered one of the world’s great spirits. El Tesoro de Don Felipe Paradiso Añejo Tequila is also top-ranked. They can cost upwards of $125. In the $50 range, and almost as good, look for Espolon Añejo Tequila and El Diamante del Cielo Añejo Tequila. Serve fine tequila in a snifter—no salt, no lime. By the way, the spiky agave plant, from which tequila is made, is not a cactus—it’s a member of the lily family!

• See more of our favorite spirits—and lots of cocktail recipes.
• Find more favorite spirits in our Father’s Day Gift List.

The mellow color of an añejo tequila. Añejos should be sipped straight like a fine Scotch; blancos are for Margaritas.

It Makes Me Giggle’s party-in-a-box delivers a yummy cake.

Then, the lucky recipient gets a party box with your greeting(s) plus the cake, candles, matches, knife, forks, plates, napkins, party hats, and if that’s not enough, a noisemaker and confetti. We’re pretty picky about our chocolate cake, and we enjoyed every crumb. It’s made with fresh orange juice,orange peel, chocolate chips, cocoa and a bit of whiskey, although the cake contains less than .5% alcohol. Yet, there’s enough alcohol flavor so that the kids will leave it for the grown-ups.

• Find more of our favorite gifts in our Gift Finder Section.

We needed no arm-twisting to dig into these for bagel breakfasts, luncheon sandwiches, casual snacks, baked potato garnishes (hold the Strawberry) and best of all, easy entertaining. You can turn out quick, impressive canapés with soft, easy-spread flavored cream cheese. Just look at the easy, tempting recipes on the Philadelphia Cream Cheese website, and you’ll be chilling the wine and calling your friends.

Easy, elegant hors d’oeuvres: Your favorite cracker (here, a Triscuit), new Sundried Tomato Philadelphia Cream Cheese Spread, a bit of shredded mozzarella and some snips of fresh rosemary.

• Hors d’oeuvres recipes & ideas on TheNibble.com.

No one will throw this mortarboard up in the air—it’s full of chocolates! Photo by Emily Chang | THE NIBBLE.

As we all love quoting Forrest Gump, “Life is like a box of chocolates….” Perhaps you can share that wisdom with your young graduate before he or she starts devouring the life lesson.

If all this talk of chocolate and education has made you hungry to learn more about the finer aspects of chocolate, feed your mind with facts from our Chocolate Glossary.

Seegars are made from milk chocolate that’s been rolled and packaged in brown foil to resemble actual cigars. Of course, Dad will have to enjoy these in private—we don’t want him influencing the kids! Seegars are available at See’s Candies stores and online at Sees.com. Certified kosher by KSA.

• Want even more ideas for what to get Dad this year? Take a look at last year’s “Best Father’s Day Gifts” for ideas.