SOUTHERN CHARM

Tennessee and Kentucky have long been powerhouses in American whiskey and bourbon. But as craft regional distilling continues to grow, North Carolina has emerged as the latest Southern state with a claim to world-class whiskeymaking. Case in point is Oaklore Distilling Co. out of Charlotte, which in late April announced the nationwide release of its flagship Four Grain Bourbon. This bourbon is distilled on 24-inch Vendome all-copper column stills and features a balanced mash bill that brings corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley together in a layered, complex flavor profile. Aged in North Carolina’s Piedmont region, Oaklore takes advantage of the region’s unique climate to produce a uniform, consistent aging of its whiskies. The end result is a 92-proof non-chill filtered bourbon with notes of pecan on the nose, toffee on the palate, and a lightly spiced butterscotch finish. With its national debut, Oaklore’s Four Grain Bourbon puts the Tar Heel State on the national whiskey map. $69.99, oakloredistilling.com

A Perfect Match

Meier & Dutch Cigars has been partnering with Buffalo Trace since 2021 in an ongoing celebration of the kinship between cigars and bourbon. Their latest release, Buffalo Trace Limited Edition 2025, is a perfect marriage of sip and smoke, down to the tobacco leaves themselves: the cigar uses a Dominican Criollo 98 binder that has been aged in Buffalo Trace barrels. Finished with a Habano 2000 wrapper and trio of Domini can fillers, this is a medium-bodied cigar with savory, earthy notes that transition into a floral, light finish, a perfectly balanced experience that can stand up to bourbon without overpowering it. This release comes in a box patterned after bourbon barrels, and includes a branded coin that doubles as a cigar rest. Pairing cigars and whiskies is one of life’s greatest pleasures; this time around, Buffalo Trace and Meier & Dutch have done that work for us. Limited to 3,000 boxes; expect a public release in September. $149.90 for box of ten, meierdutch.com

NEW FLAME

The 2025 PCA Convention & Trade Show is the cigar industry’s chance to wheel out its new toys for the year. Among a crowded field, The Lotus Group, maker of Lotus and Vertigo brands, stood out with a compelling new lineup of cigar cutters, cases, and gift sets. Two new standout lighters include the Lotus Cyberjet, a triple-flame torch lighter featuring an electronic, touch-sensitive ignition. The Lotus Skywalker, a more analog triple-flame offering, features a side-squeeze ignition mechanism and closes with a curved lid that doubles as a cigar rest. For smoking on the go, there’s the new Marco Zippered Leather Cigar Case, a luxe cedar-lined portable storage option. The Marco holds up to five toro-sized cigars and includes two carrying pouches. Stuff it full of Lotus and Vertigo cutters and lighters and you’ve got a complete, portable kit. Lotus Cyberjet $59.95, Lotus Skywalker $49.95, Marco Leather Cigar Case $99.95, lotuslighters.com

Helles Bells

Just in time for summer, iconic Bavarian brewers Hofbräu München have announced the stateside arrival of their Helles Lager. Known for Okto berfestbier, Maibock, and the perenially popular Hefe Weizen wheat beer, Hofbräu, as one of Germany’s oldest breweries, has long set the standard for beermaking worldwide. Helles is a traditional German pale lager with a moderately malty flavor, less bitter than a Pilsner, and Hofbräu’s Helles is as traditional as it gets. A bottom-fermented lager with a smooth profile and mild aroma, this is a beer made for all that summer has to offer. As part of Hofbräu’s special release of the Helles Lager, the beer is available in special half-liter cans whose design pays tribute to the 1950s, when the Helles Lager style became synonymous with beer culture in Munich. The cans also feature the brand’s iconic “Schutzmarke” logo, one of the city’s oldest registered trademarks, dating back to 1879. But this is no museum piece; for all its history, this is a beer meant to be enjoyed. Price TBA, hofbrauhaus.us

TIME TRAVEL

Anniversary releases are common in the cigar world, often paying homage to classic blends or styles. But rarely are anniversary releases literal time capsules, which makes Asylum Cigar’s 13th anniversary celebration all the more exciting. Dubbed the Asylum Time Capsule, this release bundles Asylum anniversary releases from every year since 2019, when the company launched its first ever anniversary cigars. With production capped at around 20,000 cigars for each annual release, Time Capsule brings together aged versions of each cigar, set aside by parent company CLE Cigar Co. with a special release such as this in mind. With 13 cigars in each box, the Asylum Time Capsule is an exciting opportunity to walk down memory lane and sample seven years’ worth of cigarmaking from one of the industry’s most exciting brands. The release is available in two different versions, an 11/18 vitola and a 7×70 set. Each one is a trip through nearly a decade of cigar history. 11/18 box, $307.58; 7×70 box, $372.58, clecigars.com