LIQUID DECADENCE
Colder months go hand in hand with brandy. The spirit shines in a variety of blood-warming cocktails and is a mandatory after-dinner pour following a hearty winter meal. The latest release in the Fundador Sherry Cask Collection from Gonzalez Byass USA is the Triple Madera Solera Gran Reserva. Just as the other releases in this collection, this brandy is aged in sherry casks from the oldest winery in the Spanish city of Jerez. This is a very old-school, 19th century-inspired brandy, featuring a time-intensive aging process in casks that have contained Amontillado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximénez sherries. The result is an amber mahogany brandy with spicy notes, a balanced flavor, and an elegant finish. Best enjoyed poured neat and post-dinner. $37.99, brandyfundador.com
FROM THE VAULT
2023 has been a year of celebration for Davidoff, as the company celebrated the 80th birthday of Zino Davidoff. We’ve seen three-anniversary releases from Davidoff this year, and the last of 2023 is possibly the greatest: Davidoff Aniversario No. 1 Limited Edition. As with every release in this line, this is a revival of a cigar from the Davidoff archives, and fittingly for a celebration, this one is massive, an 8 2/3 x 48 double corona featuring an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper, an Ecuadorian binder, and three Dominican fillers: piloto viso, San Vicente viso, and San Vicente mejorado viso. Each special-edition box features ten sticks, and for now, the release is limited to 6,500 boxes. With an estimated smoke time of 120 to 140 minutes, this is a cigar you have to make time for. $64 per cigar, sold in boxes of ten, davidoffgeneva.com
THE BIG CHILL
Some of the best releases in the cigar world come from collaborations between two powerhouses. The latest example is a meeting of the minds between Newair, known for its humidors, and Boveda, the company behind those ingenious two-way humidification packets that the aficionado in your life swears by. The result is the Newair x Boveda 500 Count Electric Cigar Humidor. Newair made its name on refrigerated humidors, a warm-weather necessity, and this latest release is no different; the touchscreen allows you to maintain a steady temperature anywhere between 54 to 72 degrees. The humidor deploys a peg system for its internal storage, holders for Boveda packs under each tray, and LED lighting. Good cigars don’t come cheap, and this is a humidor for those committed to keeping those cigars at the peak of their powers. $699.99, newair.com
Message In A Bottle
For the whisky drinker in your life, it’s hard to think of a better gift than a customized bottle of the good stuff. Fortunately, Westchester Wine Warehouse in White Plains is hosting an in-person tasting and engraving event on December 20. Up for grabs are personalized bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch, one of the brand’s premium offerings, known for its smoothness and buttery finish. Blue Label debuted in 1992 at a time when the single malt craze hadn’t yet kicked off and blended whiskies were still very much the biggest game in town. (Blue Label went on to win a Master medal decades later at the 2020 Scotch Whisky Masters.) The engraving is complimentary, giving tasters a chance to procure a gift that’s easily a notch above the straightforward and store-bought. December 20, 4-7 p.m. $209.99, westchesterwine.com
WHISKEY WONDERTOWN
Each year is full of whiskey-related events in the tri-state area, but New York City Whiskey Fest is one of our favorites. On December 9, whiskey-makers will descend upon Chelsea Industrial, just off the High Line, to kick off an afternoon of sampling and learning from the best in the game. From the same organizers behind the Jersey City Whiskey Fest, this is a rare opportunity to sample just about every type of whiskey on earth under one roof: single malt, blended, and rye, whiskeys from Tennessee, Ireland, and Canada alike. (Vodkas, wines, and other spirits will also be available.) Over 100 styles are on offer from a range of distilleries. With live music, food, and merchandise, we can’t think of a better way to put together your 2024 whiskey wish list. December 9, 1-9 p.m. $69.90 for general admission with discounts for designated drivers, newyorkcitywhiskeyfest.com
Cognac is poured into a glass from a bottle.
