Awesome Whiskey

After maturing eight years in Kentucky, Jefferson’s Ocean bourbon is aged another 5-10 months at sea on an Ocearch shark-tagging ship, crossing the equator four times, and visiting ports on five continents. Sounds gimmicky, but the salt air, temperature shifts, and the rocking of the ship is your passport to complex flavors.

Boxer and MMA fighter Conor McGregor stepped into the whiskey-making ring in 2018, near his hometown of Dublin. He and an ex-Bushmills manager crafted nearly 100 blends before debuting this KO formula. Proper No. Twelve is a proper Irish spirit made with the traditional triple-distillation method in copper pot stills.

Gold-medal winning Woodford Reserve straight bourbon whisky is full of flavor, with hints of sweet aromatics, spice, fruit, flowers, grains and wood. Just the ticket for refreshing bourbon cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Mint Julep, and the summery Porch Swing cocktail, characterized by its use of lemon, honey and peach tea.

Truckee, California’s Rescued Wine recycles wine bottles to house these great smelling candles, which combine the fragrances of whiskey and bourbon with notes like oak, cedar, tobacco, leather, and various herbs. Made from 100% natural soy wax, with an appx. 70 hour burn time.

If you like to sip your whiskey neat, or maybe with a single ice cube, you want it to be quality stuff. Meriwether’s simply embellished 11 oz. rocks glass serves as a reminder and a pronouncement that you only drink classy spirits, and would never reach for the bottom shelf.

Funny lady Mindy Kaling has put her wit to work writing holiday messages for top-shelf Johnnie Walker Blue Label.Choose from several engravings including “Damn, someone made the nice list.” Grab one at MindysBlueLabelHoliday or the Johnnie Walker Holiday Pop Up at Brookfield Place in NYC. Free shipping with the code MINDY.

What whisky lover doesn’t appreciate a little hair of the dog? Ardbeg has packaged its coveted single malt from the Scottish Isle of Islay in a limited-edition bone-shaped gift tin to raise a glass to their beloved canine mascot, Shortie. Inside is 750ml of the smoky, peaty, flagship whisky, Ardbeg Ten Years Old. That’s 70 in dog years.

In the spirit of the holidays, Jack Daniel’s Distillery built five huge whiskey barrel trees in Chicago, Dallas, Milwaukee, Nashville and Lynchburg. One auctioned barrel from each will benefit Operation Ride Home, bringing US military home for the holidays.

Washington state’s Bad Dog Distillery crafts this bright and flavorful 90-proof bourbon whiskey, which offers up a light and spicy body, toasty oak notes, and a fragrant aroma reminiscent of a good añejo tequila. Good for sipping or cocktails. Available from BigFish.

The Burnt Wood Barrel Co. offers these substantial wooden bar stools, handcrafted from whiskey barrel staves with bent metal back supports. They’re perfect no matter what you’re sipping while hanging out with friends at your kitchen counter.

Made in Washington state using locally-sourced corn, Nightside Distillery’s 90-proof bourbon is developed and smooth, despite no age statement. It’s got lots of desirable caramel and vanilla notes, and is an easy whiskey for casual sippers looking for something a little bolder than the big name brands. Available from BigFish.

Described as “glassless cocktails,” scotch whiskey maker The Glenlivet’s uniquely packaged booze is sure to raise some eyebrows. Each edible pod is filled with a 23ml whiskey cocktail, offering up a burst of flavor much like taking a shot. While they’re a cool idea, they’re not headed to the US at this point.

A great gift for whiskey lovers, Frolk’s substantive set comes with two 11oz crystal glasses and a matching 30oz decanter, both with a unique twisted base design. They come packed in a pinewood box, along with two XL spherical whiskey chillers, a freezer pouch, tongs, and two slate coasters.

Norlan’s unique whisky glass is made from mouthblown double-walled borosilicate glass, and designed for blind-nosing of spirits. Its mirrored interior walls not only look cool, they help aeration and reflect aromas. They also make a clear glass if you prefer to see your whisky.

Beautifully handmade 8 oz. whiskey glasses made from smoked glass that accentuates the amber colors of whiskeys and tequilas. A smooth and wide bottom makes them feel great in the hand. Sold individually, in sets, or with a matching handblown decanter.

What better way to display and store your whiskey bottles than in a whiskey barrel? Back Forty Barrels makes this wall-mountable shelf from a reclaimed barrel stave, and includes the bung – the opening where spirits entered and left the barrel. Also available without the hole.

Man Crates presents a fantastic gift for whiskey lovers. The highlight is a personalized whiskey decanter and matching pair of rocks glasses, along with two ice sphere molds, two slate coasters, and a 33 Drams whiskey drinking journal, all packed in a sturdy wooden crate.

Oak Lane Woodworks handmakes these beautiful and substantial pens using reclaimed wood from whiskey barrels. They can be had with a twist or bolt-action mechanism, crafted from Jack Daniels, Wild Turkey, or Makers Mark barrel wood.

We love the look of these substantial rocks glasses, made in the US from crystal-clear, lead-free glass. Their thick base contains a craggy ice formation which produces cool light and shadow effects, and provides a balanced grip.

To kick off the 2017 baseball season, Jim Beam is releasing a very special batch of whiskey for Cubs’ fans. The limited-edition bourbon barrel-matured the night the Cubbies won the World Series after a 108 year drought. Available starting June 1 in the Chicago area.

95% of all the world’s bourbon is produced in Kentucky, and 50% of that comes from Jim Beam. Take a tour of their Clermont Kentucky distillery and you’ll see Beam family history everywhere, proving that big doesn’t mean cold or impersonal.

A drink connoisseur from Whiskey.com evaluates Fireball cinnamon whiskey with the same critical eye he’d turn towards any fine spirit. His flavor impressions start at 4:01. We appreciate his humble approach, but we still think this stuff tastes like Lavoris.

An aromatic, slightly sweet spin on Crown’s spicy spirit, blending Madagascar bourbon vanilla with Canadian whiskey. It’s perfect with coffee and cream, in a mule, or in an Old Fashioned minus the sugar. Try a 50/50 mix of Crown Deluxe and Crown Vanilla for a treat.

If there’s one bourbon we must always have stocked in our bar, it’s this one. A wonderfully smooth, perfectly balanced, and daily drinkable whiskey from select barrels of 8-to-12 year aged spirits. Its new bottle better reflects how special the spirit inside truly is.

Goorin Bros. created the perfect hat to wear while sipping I.W. Harper’s smooth, honeyed bourbon. The limited-edition Harper is a rich felt fedora, with a whiskey colored band, and the “Bowing Man” logo inside. The hat is available now from Goorin Bros. shops and online.

Yet another wonderful reuse for old Jack Daniel’s whiskey barrels, Heritage Handcrafted’s 24″ high wood stools will look great at your kitchen counter. They’re come with round swivel or fixed square seats, and each one has its own unique character.