UNDER WRAPS

Leaf by Oscar’s meteoric rise comes down to the details. Since its launch as a private label in the early 2010s, the brand has built a reputation for quality, thoughtfully made cigars, an ethos that is best seen in their packaging; each Leaf by Oscar cigar comes wrapped in a tobacco leaf, rather than the typical cellophane. This year, the brand introduced a much-hyped limited cigar, the Leaf by Oscar Broadleaf Limited Edition 2025. Again, the details here are key: this cigar’s wrapper features a Connecticut broadleaf seed planted in Honduras and aged for three years; the rich, oily wrapper is a first for Leaf by Oscar. Rounded out by a Honduran binder and filler, this is a medium- to full-bodied smoke with notes of dark chocolate, espresso, and spice. With only 1,500 individually numbered boxes in production, this is a true one-anddone collector’s item, an exercise in thoughtful design, presentation, and cigarmaking. $360 per box, leafbyoscarcigar.com

RARE FIND

n today’s ultra-savvy whiskey world, it’s increasingly rare to find styles that haven’t hit the mainstream. But that’s exactly the case with Irish Grain whiskey, a style that has long played second fiddle to more popular Irish whiskeys, like single pot still. Since its founding in 2020, Two Stacks’ mission has been to redefine Irish whiskey on the global stage. With its latest release, Single Grain Double Barrel, Two Stacks Irish Whiskey is giving this underrated style the red carpet rollout it deserves. Irish Grain whiskey must include unmalted cereal grain; the mashbill for the Single Grain Double Barrel brings together 6% Irish malted barley and 94% maize. The end product, after a lengthy two-part aging process in a traditional Irish rickhouse, is an 86-proof whiskey with a light, nuanced flavor with notes of baked pear and almond mingled with orange and citrus. While Irish Grain has typically been used as a blending component, Two Stacks’ take on the style has already won awards at the World Whiskies Awards and the Ascot Awards. $42, twostackswhiskey.com

SMOKE ‘N JAM

The latest collaboration between S.T. Dupont and guitar-maker Fender is an exercise in influence. Drawing on Fender’s legendary legacy in music and marquee models like the Stratocaster, the collab series, which debuted in late June, features five pens, a cutter, lacquered lighters, a cigar stand, a necklace, and a porcelain ashtray. In a nod to the opening of a new Fender boutique in the Harajuku area of Tokyo, these pieces draw on the Japanese art of kintsugi, in which broken pottery is mended with gold or silver lacquer. The lighters themselves are absolutely stunning takes on the classic Dupont Ligne 2, bringing together top-quality craftsmanship with subtle nods to the silhouette of the Stratocaster and the cracked, lacquered lines of kintsugi pottery. The collection is ultimately a celebration of quality across cultures and fields by a pair of marquee brands at the top of their games, even all these years later. Ligne 2 Fender $2,195, st-dupont.com

SUMMER IN A CAN

Casamigos has long been the gold standard in celebrity-backed tequila. Now, the George Clooney-backed brand is tossing its hat into the ready-to-drink ring with a new line of Casamigos Margaritas. Each craft cocktail is made with tequila, triple sec liqueur, real juice, and natural flavors. With interesting flavors like Passionfruit & Prickly Pear, Guava & Hibiscus, Strawberry & Colima Lime, and Classic Lime, these new cocktails take the ultra-premium ingredients and techniques that put Casamigos on the map and release them in fun, summer-ready packages. Each 200ml can is a party in its own right, featuring bold teal logos and bright, matching pastels. As ready-to-drink cocktails continue to pick up steam, Casamigos makes a bold play to take over this year’s barbecues, pool days, and beach adventures. 8-pack $19.99, casamigos.com

SAVE THE DATE

Group of friends drinking whiskey together indoors, closeup

Back for a third year, the Atlantic City Cigar Social is quickly becoming a can’t-miss annual tradition for cigar aficionados in New Jersey. Slated for September 27 and held once again at Oscar E. McClinton Waterfront Park, the event is a who’s who of major players in the cigar space, featuring 24+ cigar brands, craft beers, wine, and spirits. As with previous iterations, expect live entertainment, plenty of food, and interactive programming. Past events featured panel discussions and conversations with executives from major brands. Best of all, as with any festival, the ACCS is an opportunity for cigar fans to get together, try new smokes, and bond over the excitement of a shared passion. Whatever your interest in cigars, whether it be the business, advocacy, or simply the thrill of discovering a favorite new release, the Atlantic City Cigar Social is an opportunity to hit the shore and cap off another summer with a day of smoking in the sun. accigarsocial.com