Dan Gorman created General Thomas as an AI powered bourbon brand that lets each bottle “talk back.” Gift givers can create a personalized message for Dad, whether it is funny, sentimental, nostalgic, or a mix of all three. Then Dad scans the QR code on the bottle and hears a custom message made just for him.
Why do you think Father’s Day gifts are so hard to get right?
I think Father’s Day gifts are hard because dads are often the hardest people to shop for. Many fathers will say they do not need anything. They may already have the tools, ties, mugs, socks, golf balls, or gadgets people usually reach for. So families end up trying to find something useful, funny, meaningful, or surprising, and that can be a tough combination.
I also think Father’s Day carries more emotion than people sometimes realize. For a lot of families, it is not just about buying a present. It is about saying thank you to a father, husband, grandfather, stepdad, or father figure who has shown up in quiet ways for years. Moms often carry so much of the emotional labor around holidays, so they are not just thinking, “What should I buy?” They are thinking, “How do I help the kids give him something that actually feels personal?”
That is really the space where General Thomas Bourbon fits in. It is not just another bottle on a shelf. It is a way to turn a classic Father’s Day gift into a personal moment. The bourbon is part of it, of course, but the real magic is in the story that comes with it. When Dad scans the QR code and hears a message made just for him, the gift becomes more than the product. It becomes a memory.
What inspired you to create a bourbon bottle that includes a personalized message?
The idea came from the belief that gifts should feel personal, not generic. I have always loved the way bourbon brings people together. It is the kind of thing people share around a campfire, at a dinner table, after a big life moment, or during a quiet conversation. Bourbon already has a storytelling culture around it, so I started thinking about how to make the bottle itself part of the story.
With General Thomas Bourbon, I wanted to create something that combined old and new. On one side, you have authentic Kentucky bourbon, history, craftsmanship, and tradition. On the other, you have modern technology that lets the giver create a personalized message. That message can be funny, emotional, nostalgic, heartfelt, or completely unexpected. Then the person receiving the bottle scans the QR code and hears General Thomas deliver that message.
When I thought about Father’s Day, it clicked immediately. So many people want to say something meaningful to their dad, but they do not always know how to do it. Sometimes it feels awkward to sit down and write a card. Sometimes adult children do not say the things they really feel until much later in life. This gives people a simple way to say, “Dad, I remember this. I appreciate this. This moment mattered to me.” That was the inspiration.
People can learn more about the brand at GeneralThomasBourbon.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.
How can families use a gift to tell a story or share a memory with Dad?
The best Father’s Day gifts do not have to be expensive or over the top. They just have to make Dad feel seen. A family can use a gift to tell a story by tying it to a real memory, a family joke, a lesson he taught, or a moment that everyone still talks about years later.
For example, a wife might help the kids create a message that says, “Dad, we still laugh about the time you tried to assemble the playset without reading the instructions.” Or an adult child might say, “Every time I grill in my own backyard, I think about the summers you spent teaching me how to do it.” A granddaughter could record something sweet about the pancakes Grandpa makes every Sunday. A family could even create a message from everyone, with each person adding one line about what they love most.
That is where I think General Thomas Bourbon is different. The gift is not just the bottle. It is the moment when Dad hears the message and realizes, “They remembered that.” Those are the gifts people keep talking about.
For a Motherhood Moments audience, I think this matters because moms are often the ones helping shape the experience. They know the small things that will make Dad laugh, tear up, or feel appreciated. A personalized gift gives them a way to bring the whole family into it.
Why do you think personalized gifts feel more meaningful than generic gifts?
Personalized gifts feel more meaningful because they prove that someone took an extra step. A generic gift says, “I bought you something.” A personalized gift says, “I thought about you.”
That difference matters, especially on Father’s Day. Most dads are not expecting a grand production. Many would be happy with a simple meal, time with their kids, or a quiet afternoon. But when a gift reflects a specific memory, a private joke, or a message only that family would understand, it lands differently.
That is the reason I built General Thomas Bourbon around personalization. Bourbon is already a traditional gift for a lot of fathers, husbands, and grandfathers. But when the bottle includes a custom message, it becomes something more. It becomes a keepsake, a conversation starter, and a reason for everyone to gather around and listen.
I also think personalization helps families say things they might not say out loud every day. A lot of dads are quiet. A lot of kids are quiet too. Sometimes the love is obvious, but it still goes unspoken. A custom message gives families a way to say, “You matter to us,” in a way that feels natural and even fun.
You can also see how we are sharing the story behind the brand on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X.
What are some examples of messages people could create for their father, husband, grandfather, or father figure?
There are so many directions you can go, and that is what makes it fun. The message does not have to be perfect. It just has to sound like your family.
For a father, it could be heartfelt:
“Dad, thank you for teaching me how to work hard, keep my word, and never give up. I probably did not say it enough growing up, but I was paying attention. I am grateful for you every day.”
For a husband, it could be from a wife and kids:
“Happy Father’s Day to the king of backyard grilling, bedtime stories, and pretending not to cry during kids’ movies. We love you more than you know, and we are so lucky to have you.”
For a grandfather, it could be sweet and nostalgic:
“Grandpa, some of our favorite memories are sitting with you, hearing your stories, and laughing at the same jokes you have told a hundred times. We would not change a thing.”
For a father figure, it could be deeply personal:
“You may not have had to show up for me, but you did. You have been steady, kind, and present in ways I will never forget. Happy Father’s Day, and thank you for being part of my life.”
Or it can be completely funny:
“Dad, we got you this bourbon because we finally realized you were right about almost everything. Please do not let this go to your head.”
That is the beauty of General Thomas Bourbon. The message can be emotional, funny, sentimental, or a mix of all three. The giver gets to decide what Dad needs to hear most.
How can AI be used in a way that feels more personal and human, instead of cold or gimmicky?
AI feels cold when it replaces human thought. It feels meaningful when it helps people express something they already feel.
That is the distinction I care about. With General Thomas Bourbon, the technology is not the point of the gift. The relationship is the point. The AI is simply the tool that helps bring the message to life in a way that feels fun, surprising, and memorable.
I think a lot of people hear “AI” and think of something impersonal or futuristic. But in this case, the technology is being used to make a very old fashioned thing feel fresh again. People have been giving gifts, raising a glass, telling stories, and honoring fathers for generations. This just gives families a new way to do that.
For example, the giver can think about Dad’s personality and choose the tone. Is he the kind of dad who would love a joke? Does he tear up when the kids say something sweet? Does he love history? Does he like a little drama? The message can be built around him. That is what makes it human.
To me, the best use of AI is not to remove emotion. It is to help people get closer to it. If a family uses this to say something real, then the technology has done its job.
What makes this different from a typical Father’s Day bottle of bourbon?
A typical Father’s Day bottle of bourbon is usually opened, poured, enjoyed, and eventually forgotten. There is nothing wrong with that. Bourbon is a classic gift for a reason. But General Thomas Bourbon adds something that lives beyond the pour.
When someone receives the bottle, they are not just looking at a label. They are being invited into an experience. They scan the QR code and hear a custom message created just for them. That message might make them laugh, it might make them emotional, or it might spark a story around the table.
That is what makes it different. It turns a gift into a moment.
It also makes the giver part of the experience. The person buying the bottle is not just picking something off a shelf. They are thinking about the recipient. They are deciding what to say. They are creating something that belongs to that relationship.
For Father’s Day, I think that matters. A dad may receive another bottle of bourbon and appreciate it. But a bottle that includes a message from his wife, kids, grandkids, or family members is something he will remember. It becomes part of the celebration.
More details are available at GeneralThomasBourbon.com, and people can follow the brand on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
What advice would you give to someone trying to make Father’s Day feel more thoughtful this year?
My advice is to focus less on the price tag and more on the feeling you want Dad to have when he receives the gift.
A thoughtful Father’s Day does not have to be complicated. Start with one memory. Think about something he did that mattered to you, even if it seemed small at the time. Maybe he coached your team, showed up to every recital, taught you how to drive, helped fix your first house, made breakfast on Sundays, or quietly worked hard so everyone else could have what they needed.
Then say it. That is the part people often skip.
You can write it in a card, say it over dinner, make a video, have the kids draw pictures, or create a personalized message through a gift like General Thomas Bourbon. The format matters less than the honesty behind it.
For moms helping kids celebrate Dad, I would say this: do not worry about making it perfect. The misspelled card, the goofy inside joke, the little voice saying “we love you,” the memory from five years ago that Dad did not know anyone remembered. Those are the things that make the day meaningful.
At the end of the day, Father’s Day is not really about the gift. It is about giving Dad a moment where he feels appreciated, remembered, and loved.
About Dan Gorman
Dan Gorman is the founder of General Thomas Bourbon, a Kentucky bourbon brand that combines premium bourbon craftsmanship with patent pending technology that allows each bottle to “talk back” through a personalized message experience. Follow General Thomas Bourbon on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X.
