As part of our mission here at Why Daddy Drinks to revel in the humorous lunacy that is fatherhood, and to promote the drinking of quality beverages, we bring you our weekly segment highlighting something that should be in your glass. This is The Drink Of The Weekend.

If you’ve ever been to your local liquor store you know that it’s easy to get confused by all the selections on the shelf. Gin. Tequila. Vodka. Rum. It’s safe to say that there are hundreds of brands and sometimes you just go with the bottle that looks most interesting.

This goes true, too, what is the most-American of boozes, bourbon. Everyone knows Jack Daniel’s, even if they have never drunk it. Most people know at least one other name of bourbon whether it be Knob Creek, Wild Turkey, Old Grandad or Southern Comfort. That last one of which I have never been able to get close to since a terrible night of doing shots in my fraternity house that ended with me imploring some of my frat brothers to “don’t let me die like Jimi Hendrix.”

I don’t drink bourbon often, but I have one that I stick to any time that I do: Maker’s Mark.

I’m not sure how I discovered Maker’s Mark. Probably heard someone else mention it. Or maybe it was an ad that features Maker’s Mark’s famous red cap designed to look like it has dripped down the neck of the bottle. Whatever the case, it turned out to be a good solid, but not overbearing bourbon.

I’ve also found Maker’s Mark to be a very versatile bourbon. I’ve used it when making barbecue sauce and I’ve thrown a shot of it into a chocolate milkshake on occasion. And it’s also the main ingredient in the drink I named after my daughter, the Lily Rei.

This day, though, I decided to have a Maker’s Mark the [almost] old-school way. Straight, but on the rocks. I like a little chill with my bourbon and the ice cuts it just enough to enjoy while grilling up a ribeye like I did last Saturday night. And that’s exactly how you should enjoy it, too.