Posts Written by Vic Arkoff

Since 1865, Don Q has consistently delivered great rums. Don Q Reserva 7 is a robust Puerto Rican blend of rums aged in American white oak barrels for seven years. Rich in flavor, it’s just the ticket for seasonal hot drinks like Hot Buttered Rum and many other tasty cocktails.

Reef makes some awesome golf flip-flops with spikes for 18-hole play, but Reef’s Mulligan II thongs are made for laughs and post-game beers at the 19th hole. The footbed’s lined with faux turf, the heel sports a cushy “golf ball” pad, and the sole hides a built-in bottle opener.

Made in Scotland with infusions of rose and cucumber, Hendrick’s Gin is unusually smooth and much more than just juniper berry flavored. Hendrick’s 10 other botanicals are chamomile, elderflower, lemon peel, orange peel, caraway, coriander, cubeb berries, angelica root, yarrow root, and orris root. To make one gin, they actually make two.

Slip into REEF’s Swellsole Scallywag, a lightweight, waterproof boot to protect the crew in all kinds of wet conditions. It sports a molded TPU upper with a neoprene lining and a soft EVA insole with arch support. The no-slip rubber outsole maintains traction whether you’re sailing, SUP’ing, fishing, or walking a slippery plank.

Two of Mexico’s very best — Patrón Tequila and Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Driver Checo Pérez — teamed up for the 2023 edition of Patron’s Mexican Heritage Tin. Debuting at the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, the 8th annual edition of the tin features symbols inspired by Checo’s life on and off the racetrack.

Discommon creates tastefully uncommon handmade leather objects like the Watch Wallet 2, which transports documents, moolah, and two wristwatches. With organizational slots for a passport, tickets, currency, and timekeepers, it’s a nifty package to travel with your most precious valuables.

Budding artists are often encouraged to draw trees for quick sketching success. Drawing Trees branches out from that lesson with 30 meditative guided drawings of trees, leaves, and other identifiers. Trace the images with a pen or pencil to grow your skills and knowledge of tree species from Black Walnut to White Ash.

Kick it with these limited-edition Shiner Beer x Boot Campaign mid-boots in a cool Kryptek camo pattern with patches on the ankle and tongue and a Kryptek logo down the heel tab. A sales portion supports the Boot Campaign mission to assist active duty service members, veterans, and their families.

Mezcal is a unique and multi-faceted spirit with a storied past and a bright future. Distilled to be served neat, on the rocks or in cocktails, sweet and smoky Mezcal Unión Uno is blended from two types of agave Espadin (taking 6-8 years to reach maturity) and Curial (8 to 20 years to maturity).

Troubadour recycled more than 121,000 plastic bottles to make the Orbis Circular Bag Collection, zero-waste bags that are 100% recyclable at the end of their lifespan. Their award-winning backpacks, duffle, and laptop tote will last a long time, but when they’re finished, they can be reclaimed and recycled over and over again.

Trick or treating is for kids, but these decadent Halloween treats are not. For its limited-edition Kraken Dark Donuts, NYC’s Dough Donuts spiked its cream filling with Kraken Black Spiced Rum, and decorated the dark chocolate icing with a purple beast from the deep. Available through October 31 at Dough Donuts locations and via Goldbelly shipments.

When camping requires something small that emits lots of light, get lit with Klymit’s Everglow Light Tube. The USB-powered 270-lumen LED light fits in your pocket but inflates to become an 18″, 26″, or 34″ tube with a carabiner loop that attaches to your tent, awning, or car door.

Troubadour gave its bestselling Apex backpack a smart makeover, and it’s their most luxe EDC bag yet. Its refined design and vegan leather/neoprene construction give it a premium look. A zipped phone pocket on a shoulder strap, an enhanced laptop section, and twin bottle sleeves make the Apex 3.0 extra functional.

Imbibe Magazine collaborated with Dot & Army on this swanky, limited-edition cocktail napkin set featuring an embroidered Negroni on each of four handmade linen-blend napkins. Not only do they class up the joint, they’ll help you remember what you’ve been drinking.

A car-nut fantasy came true for Wayne Dick of Alberta, Canada, whose custom Chevrolet Corvair Rampside Truck won top honors at Hot Wheels’ El Segundo HQ in the toymaker’s coast-to-coast Hot Wheels Legends Tour quest to find real wild cars to recreate as genuine Hot Wheels toys.

Gin has been an anchor in Holland America Line’s history dating back to the cruise company’s start 150 years ago. To toast its big anniversary, HAL launched De Lijn gin to be exclusively served and sold on board its fleet. The result is a premium gin made in America and inspired by the Netherlands.

Cariuma’s four low-top sneakers sporting classic Van Gogh paintings are masterpieces for your feet. Bright yellow sunflowers in white leather or off-white canvas, pink floral canvas, and wheat fields with crows shoes were created with Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum for its 50th anniversary. Buy a pair, plant two trees.

There’s more to Greek spirits than anise-forward ouzo. Metaxa 12 Stars is a classic Greek liqueur made of muscat wine, fine wine distillates, and Mediterranean botanicals. The sweet, amber elixir is the star of the My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 limited edition cocktail kit from Cocktail Courier, available until 9/28/23.

For a river rafting trip in Colorado, we packed our gear in an EDC canvas backpack. Oops. We discovered the hard way that most zippered packs aren’t water-resistant. Rolltop styles are more practical for water adventures and wet weather, especially with the nylon safety closure on Chums’ durable nylon Stormproof Rolltop Duffel Bag.

Some things defy description, like these awesome slippers based on an indescribable art installation of the surreal “Glitzy Snurtle” street sweeper at Meow Wolf’s indescribably cool Convergence Station in Denver. Let it suffice to say that Snurtle Slippers keep your feet cozy and dust your floors as you shuffle around your domestic multiverse.

Deckers X Lab makes a splash with the wet ’n’ wild versatility of X-Scape Baja land/water sneakers, purpose-built for rivers, roads, and recovery. Drainage holes and a breathable upper accelerate the drying process. The sugarcane midsole and molded footbed comfort and support. X-Scape Baja is our latest, greatest water sports buddy.

Cocktail Courier’s latest kit celebrate’s Aperol’s partnership with the U.S. Open. The Perfect Serve Kit has everything needed to mix and serve up to 16 perfect Aperol Spritz cocktails: a 750 ml bottle of Aperol, Cinzano Prosecco, Q Mixers club soda, and oranges plus a colorful Aperol Visor for match day.

Finally, durable, good-looking, active shorts that can keep up with your do-it-all lifestyle. LIVSN’s lightweight Reflex Shorts come in a stretchy recycled polyester for water-resistant, quick-drying performance, whether for yoga, biking, hiking, or just running around. Breathable and comfy with a gusseted crotch and a drawstring waistband.