Awesome Living

Barr Hill Gin is getting buzz for going beehive-to-bottle with its honey-enhanced spirit. The premium American gin uses 150,000 lb. of raw honey each year, sourced in close proximity to the solar-powered Vermont distillery. They’re planting 500,000 sq. ft. of bee habitat, yielding enough honey for 50,000 Bee’s Knees cocktails.

Up your kitchen skills with this series of online cooking courses. In all, there are 10 classes, ranging from healthy and wholesome salads and veggie dishes to the ins and outs of baking delicious bread and pastry treats. There’s even a class on cooking Thai food at home.

Whether served fresh from a handmade noodle shop, or cooked up quick from a package of the instant stuff, Ramen is one of the world’s favorite dishes. Mental Floss digs into the origins of the dish, as a specific kind of noodle made its way from China to Japan, and eventually led us to the delicious meal we enjoy today.

Fountain pen nibs have a specific shape for a reason. But the Drillog takes a unique approach, capturing ink in a series of spiraling channels which lead to to a precision straight tip which produces incredibly sharp lines. Price shown is for a set with the barrel and either a 0.5mm or 0.8mm nib. Pen rest sold separately.

The black bottle hints that this small-batch vodka from a “small ass facility” in Oregon is pretty badass. Confirming that are Blood x Sweat x Tears Vodka’s rescue pittie, Mr. Pickles, and heavily tatted owner/distiller, Ben Green, a self-taught renegade who sources Pacific Northwest wheat for BST’s slow-distilled, freeze-filtered vodka.

This unique keychain multitool features a design that looks like some kind of alien technology. The triangular, stainless steel tool packs a sharp utility tip, a scraper, Phillips and flat screwdrivers, and a bottle opener. You can also use its backside for emergency signaling with the included SOLAS reflective sticker.

Smart & Savior’s compact tool features a main module with a flashlight at one end and a sharp hobby knife at the other. It’s made from stainless steel with a titanium surface and holds closed firmly with magnets. Plus, it has a cutout on its cap so that you can hang it from a keychain or lanyard.

Go back to the 1990s and pucker up for Artisanal Brew Works‘ Warheads-inspired adult beverages. They come in extreme sour flavors like black cherry, watermelon, blue raspberry, and lemon. They’re available at Artisanal’s Saratoga Springs, NY taproom and from select retailers in NY, MA, NJ, southern CA, and eastern PA.

As part of its 2021 Art Event, IKEA is selling this playful flashlight which pays tribute to the humble Allen wrench, the tiny tool required to assemble much the company’s furniture. The flashlight measures 7-3/4″ long and comes in either shiny silver or blue finishes.

Keep your campsite running with this powerful and portable battery pack. With a capacity of 288Wh, it charges gadgets quickly, and its three AC outlets can power tools and household appliances. It has three USB-A ports, including one with fast charge, one USB-C 100W port, a 12VDC port, and built-in emergency light.

STKR’s Magnetic Light Mines pack a dozen rare-earth magnets that allow you to easily position and aim their 15-lumen wide-angle LED in tight spaces. They also double as a pickup tool for screws and nails. The 3-pack is the best deal, dropping the price to less than $7 a piece. They also make a 250-lumen Light Mine Pro.

Craving some new gear for your pocket? Everyday Carry presents their monthly recap of the 10 products their readers loved the most. This month’s list includes an assortment of great knives, multitools, a zipper wallet, a retro calculator watch, and a tiny heavy-duty flashlight.

Keep your pens, pencils, erasers, and other office supplies organized and out of sight inside this miniature of Volkswagen’s iconic Type 1 camper van. It’s also great for storing cookies and candies if you get a case of the munchies between Zoom calls – it makes a great gift for VW fans and hippies of all ages.

The Valley is a versatile backpack designed to keep you organized on the go. It has more than 20 pockets and compartments, plus a removable laptop sleeve with accessory organizers. You can also upgrade it with modules including an insulated cooler cube, a padded cameras cube, and a travel cube for clothing.

There are so many multi-functional pocket tools out there it’s hard to decide which one to buy. Fortunately, our pals at Everyday Carry have done the hard work and whittled that list down to the top 20 multitools. Whether you want something you can hang from your keychain or a full-featured folding tool, it’s on their list.

Artist Susan Kare is known for her design of the system icons used on the original Apple Macintosh. In addition, she created the Cairo “dingbats” typeface, which can now be enjoyed on one of Areaware’s woven 50″ x 70″ blankets, crafted from 100% organic cotton. Available in black/white, green/pink, or grey/yellow.

Keep yourself and your office organized with the modular MagEasy workstation. The kit combines an ID badge holder/wallet with a magnetic desktop organizer. The MagEasy Badge can magnetically attach to the MagBoard and MagStand, which can hold notepads, keyrings, pencils, a mirror, and more.

Be prepared for power outages with this 1000W battery backup unit. It has three 110V AC outlets, two USB-C ports with PD 18W, one USB-A port with 5V/2.4A, one USB-A w/Quick Charge 3.0, and one 12V/10A car outlet. It’s capable of running some devices for up to seven days. Save an extra 15% through 8.4.21 with code ANNUAL15.

The Ridge offers its slimline aluminum wallets with laser-engraved topographic maps of some of America’s greatest travel destinations. The RFID-blocking wallets use an elastic strap to hold up to 12 cards and comes with a detachable money clip. Designs include Zion’s The Narrows, Oahu’s North Shore, and Yosemite’s Half Dome.

This super-bright headlamp guides your way out of the darkness with up to 1080 lumens output. It offers up to 10 hours of battery life, three different brightness levels, and a strobe mode. Includes two rechargeable batteries, a carry case with a carabiner, and a USB charging cable.

Cooking food on a grill can improve its overall taste and make it more healthy by elevating it out of its grease. This lightweight accessory transforms any skillet into a cast iron griddle, producing beautiful sear marks on meat and veggies. You can also use it atop a campfire for outdoor cooking.

Streamlight’s work lights are perfect for automotive work. The durable aluminum lights include the Syclone with its 360º rotating body, the adjustable Flipmate which cranks out up to 500 lumens, and the long and skinny Strion and top-of-the-line Stinger, which can squeeze into tight places and aim light where you need it.

Like the more expensive Deskview, Monkey Business’ laptop desk hangs from windows. The wooden desktop measures 23.5″ wide by 11.5″ deep, and attaches to glass with suction cups and paracord guy lines. The design lets you place the desk at standing or seated heights, and lets you enjoy the view while you work.