Nikka Whisky Distillery, Hokkaido
A serene hub for spirits production on Japan's northernmost island
David Graver
Dan Deacon: Opal Toad Segment
Off a forthcoming experimental music compilation, I Said No Doctors!, from NYC-based music label Dymaxion Groove, musician Dan Deacon’s “Opal Toad Segment” conveys a different sort of chaotic charm than we’ve come …
Tun 1509 Batch No 3 Single Malt Scotch
$600.00
It might not seem like 9000 bottles is a small batch, but when considering global distribution, this product quickly becomes scarce. Continuing their celebrated Tun 1509 series, No 3 features 31 single malts married in a tun hailing from 31 different casks, including 12 sherry butts distilled between 1989 and 1992; 11 American oak hogsheads distilled in 1989; and eight refill American oak butts distilled in 1992 and 1993. The resulting flavor profile is Balvenie through and through—with that Speyside vanilla sweetness upfront but layers of spice below.
This product is sold by The Balvenie
10-Year-Old Tawny Port
$26.00
You don’t need to know much about Port, a fortified wine, to enjoy what Croft has done with this 10-year-old tawny. Spice and oak flavors (vanilla and caramel) unite beneath the smooth red fruit-driven blended wine base. This is a delight to drink straight, but Port has also been factoring into cocktails recently—and for good reason.
This product is sold by Croft
Lustau Edition, Single-Pot Still Irish Whiskey
$75.00
As we’ve noted before, the phrase “single pot still” in Irish Whisky is akin to the respect warranted by single malt in scotch. Redbreast’s latest, the Lustau Edition, sees this well-crafted spirit aged in Bodegas Lustau ex-Sherry barrels. The traditional Irish whisky creaminess meets with spice that lingers well after each sip. At 92 proof, this spirit is rather potent but without any loss of nuance.
This product is sold by Redbreast
Premiere: Baby Alpaca’s “We Belong Together”
An atmospheric celebration of love, seen through the faces of many
Sharon Jones + The Dap Kings “It’s a Holiday Soul Party” LP
$10.00
While Sharon Jones sadly is no longer be with us, her vast repertoire of soulful tunes remains. A new limited edition pressing of her (along with the Dap Kings, of course) “It’s A Holiday Soul Party,” on green vinyl, offers the ideal opportunity to connect with her zest this holiday season. Supported by her acclaimed band, Jones joyously delivers 11 holiday songs, both original and traditional. It’s funky, powerful and lots of fun for all kinds of festivities.
This product is sold by Daptone Records
Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum
$32.00
In the year since its release, Plantation Rum’s Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum has become a bartending staple for those whipping up clever mixed drinks. Queen Victoria pineapples are hand-peeled and infused into a dark rum from Trinidad. Those rinds, after masceration, are also added to the rum and distilled. The result is a sweet but dynamic sipping rum that can hold its own against other spirits and just about any mixer.
This product is sold by Plantation
OM-D E-M1 Mark II
$2,000.00
Beyond the 18-frames-per-second sequential shooting capabilities, everything else in Olympus’ recently released professional camera—the OM-D E-M1 Mark II—stands for precision. Housed in a lightweight weatherproof magnesium alloy body, features likes 121 Cross-Type On-Chip Phase Detection AF points and up to 5.5 shutter speed guarantee clean captures. This is a powerhouse of a tool, with built in WiFi and 4K video capturing as further evidence. (Lens pictured not included.)
This product is sold by Olympus
NYC’s Best Holiday Cocktails Illustrated
Artist Paul Tuller captures the essence of seasonal mixed drinks from 10 different venues