Carry a Torch

The infamous 18th Amendment kicked off Prohibition in the United States, and to this day it is still the only amendment to the Constitution to be repealed. Fratello is commemorating that infamous period with the first release in its Concealed Carry series, debuted at the 2024 PCA Trade Show. Concealed Carry 18th Amendment is a 5 1/2 x 54 robusto extra, packaged in 12-count cans. According to Fratello’s founder Omar de Frias, the Concealed Carry series is an opportunity for the brand to tell a story in each release. Six blends are planned for the release, with new blends being shipped over the summer. It’s hard to think of a better cigar to pair with bourbon. Almost 100 later, we’re still celebrating the repeal of Prohibition. $120 per can, fratellocigar.com

TWO TIMES OAK

Kentucky distiller 2XO has been putting together a world-class resume in the bourbon scene since its launch in 2022. The brainchild of master blender Dixon Dedman, the brand has just announced the fourth release in its Icon Series: the Kiawah Blend, named after Kiawah Island, a barrier island off the coast of South Carolina. The blend features two mash bills, a high rye 35% bourbon and a moderate rye 18% bourbon. 2XO means “two times oak,” and all of the distillery’s bourbons are treated to additional oak exposure. That oakiness builds a sweetness in the whiskey that balances out the spice from the rye. The Kiawah Blend carries notes of oak, clove, and vanilla. It’s a limited-time, small-batch release, and like all of 2XO’s releases, it will go fast. $99.99, 2xowhiskey.com

ANNIVERSARY ACCESSORIES

Ten years ago, Padrón celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special collaboration with French accessory company S.T. Dupont. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the company, and Padrón has again enlisted S.T. Dupont to release a super-limited collection of accessories. The crown jewel is the S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont Padrón 60th Haute Creation, a riff on the classic Le Grand Dupont lighter. The lighter is a two-for-one situation, featuring a double soft flame and a single-flame torch lighter. The Le Grand is embossed with a Padrón logo and a luxe textured metal surface that imitates the grain of a quality cigar. The collection will feature five types of lighters, a special version of Dupont’s cigar stand cutter, a three-cigar case, and an ashtray. Price TBA, us.st-dupont.com

Summer of Spritz

Summertime is officially spritz season. Fabrizia, the leading producer of limoncello in the U.S., is meeting that demand with its latest offering, a ready-to-serve limoncello spritz. The spritz combines Fabrizia’s popular limoncello (made with Sicilian lemons) with Italian sparkling wine and bubbly soda water. The company, founded in 2008, crafts all its beverages in New Hampshire, importing their lemons from Italy. While limoncello is as classic as it gets, spritzes have been all the rage recently, and for good reason: they offer the flavor and intensity of classic spirits but with a lighter, airier delivery. Every bottle of Fabrizia’s limoncello spritz comes with dehydrated lemons to make the perfect garnish. It’s practically sunshine in a bottle. Price TBA, fabriziaspirits.com

SUSTAINABLE SIPS

Alma del Jaguar Tequila has been making serious waves as of late. Named one of Esquire’s best tequilas of 2023, the up-and coming brand is, as of this spring, available for the first time in the tri-state area. In both their blanco and reposado tequilas, master distiller Sergio Cruz blends two different offerings: one fermented with wild yeast and the other with French champagne yeast. It’s the unique blend of fermentations that contributes to the tequila’s award-winning flavor. Named after the wild jaguars of northern Mexico (the brand name literally translates to “soul of the jaguar”), the company is devoted to the conservation of the endangered animal, donating a portion of its profits to conservation organizations. The company brings its ecological focus to the bottling itself, using recycled bottles, agave fiber labels, and repurposed cork stoppers. Starting at $49.99, almadeljaguar.com