Fruit And Chocolate

There’s something about the holidays that have us reaching for liqueurs. Amaretto, Baileys, Grand Marnier: these spirits feel right in the colder, more festive months. This year, we’re watching two new liqueurs making strong bids for a spot in your festive season roster. First, there’s the latest stateside release from French powerhouse Marie Brizard: Marie Brizard Aperitivo. Winner of a Double Gold medal at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, this citrus-forward sipper beautifully blends bitter and sweet for the perfect wintertime spritzes and seasonal cocktails. On the other end of the flavor spectrum, check out the second annual release of Unsinkable Chocolate Liqueur from the California distillers Sausalito Liquor Co. A collaboration with Berkeley’s TCHO Chocolate, this year’s liqueur uses a blend of Ghanian and Peruvian cacao nibs and ups their quantity from last year by 50%, making for a seriously proofed spirit with real (not cloying) chocolate flavor. $19.99, mariebriz ard.com; $34.99, sausalitoliquor.com

BUBBLY MOOD

The story goes like this: Lindsay Silberman, founder of luxury candlemaker Hotel Lobby Candle, was visit ing the Italian winery where Josh Cellars Prosecco is produced. While there, she was struck by the beauty of the vineyard and set out to recreate that experience in a new fragrance. The limited-edition Hotel Lobby Candle x Josh Cellars Prosecco fragrance carries notes of plum, soft florals, and lemon zest, all mimicking the bubbly, fruity brightness of a glass of sparkling wine. For a multi-sensory pairing, check out the Prosecco set, which includes the new candle and a bottle of Josh Cellars Prosecco. Both brands have built a strong following by elevating the experience of everyday life: it’s not quite a trip to Italian wine country, but with a glass of bubbly and a freshly lit candle, you’ll hardly know the difference. Candle $58, Prosecco set $75, reservebar.com

MASTERCRAFTERS

In 2021, Cohiba Cigars and Weller Bourbon announced their partnership, Weller by Cohiba; in 2025, the two brands are taking this teaming to the next level. Their latest collobaration, which began hitting stores in October, once again sees Cohiba using Weller bourbon barrels to age their binders. This time, though, the cigar features a binder aged in barrels that previously held Weller Antique 107, one of the whiskey maker’s premium offerings. This release brings together the best of both brands in a 6×50 toro with an Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed wrapper over an American broadleaf binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Beyond the cigar itself, this year’s collaboration will see the release of a suite of accessories, including an ashtray, cutter, lighter, and travel humidor. Pair them with a bottle of Antique 107 for the ultimate in synergistic smoking. $29.99 per cigar, $299.99 for the 3-Piece Gift Set, cohiba.com

Bottled In Bond

For whiskey historians, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is absolutely vital: since 2000, releases in the collection have honored the distillery’s historic whiskey brands and the people who made them. The latest release, the first addition to the collection in nearly 20 years, honors Colonel E.H. Taylor, who purchased O.F.C. Distillery now Buffalo Trace in 1869 and brought a host of modern innovations to the distillery’s operations. (Taylor also played a role in the movement that led to the passage of the Bottled-in-Bond Act in 1897, a consumer protection law that ensured quality in whiskey production.) E.H. Taylor Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon is aged 15 years and four months and hand-bottled at 100 proof. Vanilla and oak notes on the nose give way to sweet, spicy notes on the palate and a lingering finish of caramel and cherry. Each bottle in the release bears the Colonel’s signature as a living testament to whiskey history. Thankfully, history never tasted so good. $149.99, buffalotracedistillery.com

HOLIDAY HIT

If you’ve ever gotten your hands on an Arturo Fuente OpusX, you know what all the fuss is about. For three decades, this legendary cigar has been one of the most sought-after and coveted releases in the biz. This holiday season, a renewed partnership with S.T. Dupont celebrates that legacy with a new line, the latest in their Fuente Fuente OpusX Collection. Riffing on the classic “X” logo of OpusX releases, the collection showcases the French luxury manufacturer’s bright, colorful patterns on a variety of classic items, including a 3-cigar case, a cigar stand cutter, an ashtray, and a host of lighters, from the Biggy to Le Grand and Ligne 2. (For those looking beyond cigar accessories, there are even camera and tote bags on offer.) The ultra-exclusive, made-to-order OpusX Haute Creation line takes things a step further, working textured embellishments and premium metals into the OpusX iconography. Prices vary, st-dupont.com