Gin With A Dark Side
Never Never Distilling Co. has a reputation for the unusual; their Triple Juniper Gin, for example, features so much juniper that the final product turns out lightly clouded. The award winning South Australian distillery’s newest spirit from the limited edition dark series combines their famed Triple Juniper Gin with Grenache grapes for a spirit called, fittingly, Ginache. A fruity, dry gin with a luminous ruby red tint, Ginache is a perfect base for summer cocktails a Negroni, possibly, or something as simple as a gin and tonic. The grapes, picked from Chalk Hill’s Slate Creek vineyard in the heart of Australia’s McLaren Vale wine region, lends the gin a jammy raspberry brightness, while the abundant juniper provides bright citrus and spice. $80, neverneverdistilling.com.au

THE GOLD STANDARD
In a much anticipated collaboration, famed humidor maker Daniel Marshall has teamed up with Carlos Fuente Jr. to commemorate Marshall’s 38th year in business. The project, which includes a macassar ebony humidor, eight cigars (torpedoes measuring 6 3/8 inches by 52 ring gauge), and a signed book, also features a dazzling last minute addition: a single gold wrapped cigar. Despite being wrapped in two grams of 24 karat gold (personally applied by Marshall), the cigar still offers a familiar smoking experience, plus the unusual perk of the gold sticking to the ash. This isn’t Marshall’s first dance with gold wrapped cigars (his Gold Torpedo has been around for years), but the inclusion of one in a collaboration with Fuente makes this a project not to be missed. $1,495, danielmarshallshop.com

THE BIG SMOKE
The newest cigar from veteran Ernesto Perez Carrillo, dubbed Pledge, is the third in a series of smokes intended to honor his family legacy. The standard is high; Pledge comes on the heels of Encore, Cigar Aficionado’s 2018 Cigar of the Year, and La Historia, runner up for the same prize in 2014. Perez Carrillo is legendary for his modesty and meticulousness the release of Encore, for example, was pushed back two years so that the cigars would have more time to age. Pledge, featuring a Connecticut Havana Seed wrapper, Ecuadorian binder, and Nicaraguan filler, is slated for limited release in August, with larger scale distribution to follow. Price TBD, epcarrillo.com

Safe Travels
Lighting up a Habano from the comfort of your home is easy, but transporting all your precious accessories can be a completely different story. Leather cigar cases from Peter James give aficionados the ability to safely carry everything one might need, cleverly condensed in an attractive, Italian leather package. The large magnet closed pockets allow for easy storage of oversized lighters, cutters, or even a travel folding cigar rest. The case’s largest pouch is lined with a leather wrapped metal guardian, allowing safe keeping for up to six cigars (maximum 60 ring gauge and 7.5 inch height). $355, peter james leather company/myshopify.com