HOLE IN FUN
With golf season approaching, many are pining for the greens. Scratch that itch with a set of club themed cocktail stirrers. This set, dubbed 19th Hole by Buffalo-based designer Marta Cornwell, features the four staple clubs of any golf bag: driver, iron, wedge, and putter. Made of 60% post consumer recycled stainless steel, these stirrers are the perfect accessory for any bar cart, as at home in an ice-filled Tom Collins as they are skewering a cherry in an Old Fashioned. All of Cornwell’s designs are made in Buffalo, New York. Whether you’ve already started hitting the course or are waiting for warmer days, these stirrers are sure to bring a bit of the golfing spirit to whatever you’re serving. $35, uncommongoods.com
OUT OF THIS WORLD
Special bourbon is like a solar eclipse – it’s rare and disappears all too soon. To commemorate the 2024 solar eclipse on April 8, Casey Jones Distillery is releasing a pair of bourbons: an all-new Total Eclipse Kentucky Straight Bourbon and a re-release of their Total Eclipse Moonshine. The latter was dubbed the “Official Spirit of the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse” on the floor of the Kentucky Senate, and the Casey Jones Distillery, positioned within the optimal viewing path of that event, hosted over 12,000 guests on that day. This time around, they’re bringing back the moonshine, a 100-proof Prohibition-era recipe distilled from equal parts corn and cane. The Total Eclipse Bourbon is a four-grain, two-year-old balanced blend. Either one is perfectly suitable for eclipse viewing, providing you don’t forget your solar safety glasses. $29.99 for moonshine; $49.99 for bourbon, caseyjonesdistillery.com
VINTAGE SMOKE
The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Convention is always a circled date on the aficionado’s calendar. It’s an opportunity for manufacturers to launch their most anticipated releases. One we’re looking forward to is the latest in the La Aurora Puro Vintage series, the Puro Vintage 2014. The series is a snapshot in time of a given year, a bringing together of tobaccos from across the globe by master blender Manuel Inoa. This latest release features an Ecuadoran Havana-seed wrapper, a Brazilian binder, and a trio of fillers from Nicaragua, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. The 6 1/2 x 50/60 salomon vitola features a unique “doble figurado” shape that opens and closes the ring during burning, lending a variety of flavors and notes throughout the experience. So far the profile has been described as dark woody notes with leather, walnut, and a bitter, fruity finish. La Aurora is only putting out 8,000 boxes of Puro Vintage 2014, making this cigar a must for the collector. $212 per box, laaurora.com
Rare Find
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Maker’s Mark is partnering with Vital Voices, a non-profit that invests in female leadership across all fields, to put out a limited-edition customizable label. Designed by Gayle Kabaker, the limited-run labels are inspired by Ken tucky wildflowers and the flagship Maker’s Mark colors. The brand has good reason to celebrate the strength of women: one of its co-founders, Margie Samuels, was one of the first women inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame and helped make the brand the global juggernaut it is today. The label is totally customizable and can be ordered through the Maker’s Mark website; the company invites its customers to use the label as an opportunity to celebrate the inspirational women in their lives. Currently the company is offering labels for its 750mL bottles. It’s a great opportunity to make a bottle your own. makersmarkpersonalize.com
NEW FLAME
In 2022, Cigars International announced the end of the beloved CIGARfest, held in the Poconos every May. Thankfully, carrying on its spirit year is the first-ever Smoke-onos, hosted by distributor Best Cigar Prices. Organized by Laura Barlau, one of the architects of CIGARfest, the event aims to carry on the event’s legacy of discovery and celebration. Slated for May 18, 2024, the event will be hosted at the company’s Drums, PA, headquarters and warehouse. A who’s-who of the cigar industry will be in attendance, including blenders and top people from Diesel, Rocky Patel, Asylum, and Villiger. Each ticket holder will get a ticket book redeemable for cigars. Beyond the event itself, Best Cigar Prices is planning to make a weekend of it, with parties, golf, and brunches for guests. With a total of 700 tickets available, this is an event not to be missed. $175, smokeonos.com