Custom Bourbon Suitcase

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged about drink, but I just had to share this very badass custom bourbon case that I spotted over at the Laughing Squid. Tumblr member, Tyler Riewer, recently posted a few photos from a gift that he received for his birthday. This is possibly the manliest Birthday gift I’ve ever seen.

“It’s a suitcase – perfectly fitted for a bottle of bourbon and a set of brass knuckles. The outside says, “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. Sack up.” The inside offers, “The two roads to courage.”

Even more amazing is that the friends that gave it to him custom made the case themselves. Now that’s love that has to appreciated. This deserves a 10 on the awesome scale.

Want one? Sorry, it’s not available for sale. Of course, the DIYers of the world can probably make one for themselves. If you do, be sure to send me one as well!

Moleskine Wine Journal: Your Ideal Wine Cellar on Paper

I first discovered the Moleskin Wine Journal while perusing my local Barnes & Nobles, however, I didn’t buy it then because of two reasons. First, this was the week before Christmas and the lines were crazy long. Second, it was $20 and I was SURE that I could find a better deal on Amazon. It’s a good thing I waited. Not only did I skip the insane Christmas line but I also was able to score an amazing deal on this Moleskine Journal on Amazon ($13).

Don’t get me wrong, my knowledge of vino is no were near that of a sommelier or wine steward. I’m your occasional wine drinker. And that’s why I thought that this was perfect gift for me. I’ve always wanted to improve my knowledge of wine, develop a better nose and be able to know what types of wines should be paired with certain types of foods.

So I declare 2011 the year of the wine. If 2010 was about exploring different types of loose leaf tea and brewing methods then 2011 will be about exploring the world of wine. This should be a fun year and one that I plan to share with you (my notes that is).

Buy the Moleskine Passions Wine Journal from Amazon for $13.

Keep Your Whisky Cool With Whisky Stones

There’s nothing worse than watered down whisky, especially if you like a stiff, strong tasting drink. Of course, nothing waters down whiskey faster than a few cubes of ice – this is something that Don Draper knows all too well. The solution? Whisky Stones of course.

“A few great soapstone workers in Perkinsville, Vermont have created Whiskey Stones. These little ice-imitators are specially designed to put a slight chill in your Whiskey. All you do is put them in the freezer for a few hours and then pop a couple into a glass of single malt. Once you’re done, rinse, dry and do it all over again! And no need to worry about a watery drink, because these stones don’t dilute (that’s the best part).”

Buy a set of Whisky Stones from ThinkGeek for $34.95.

Happy 160th Birthday Jack!

One of the most successful spirits and most recognizable names is, of course, Jack Daniel’s. In celebration of his 160th birthday, the famous Tennessee distillery has released a special limited edition black bottle. One thing that has got me confused, is that, according to Jack Daniel’s (the man) Wikipedia page, he was born on September 5, 1846. Based on this, Jack would have just celebrated his 164th birthday. Now, the 160 could not possibly be in reference to the founding of the brand, since Jack Daniel’s (the brand) wasn’t founded until 1875.

So are all of the blogs (Cool Material, Notcot, Vodka & Co.) that are posting about the special 160th Birthday Bottle four years too late? Or, is the brand just using the 160 because it’s a nice round number?

On closer inspection, the Jack Daniels website posts that no one really knows exactly when Jack was born:

“No one really knows exactly when Jack Daniel was born. A town fire destroyed the courthouse records, and conflicting dates on Mr. Jack’s and his mother’s headstones have left his date of birth in question. It’s customary to celebrate Mr. Jack’s birthday in September – so he gets a whole month. But for a man as unique as Jack Daniel, one day just wouldn’t seem proper, anyway.”

So there you go, there should be an asterisk next to Jack’s birthday on Wikipedia.

As for the limited edition 750ml bottle, it’s sexy as hell. Jack would be proud.

Gilpin Family Whisky: From Urine to Whisky

Whisky is the ultimate man drink, but what would you say about drinking a shot of whisky made from the urine excreted by elderly diabetic patients? I don’t care how much of a man you are, if the thought of drinking fermented sugar extracted from human urine doesn’t make you squint and gag a little – you’re not human.

And if you think this is a joke, well, it’s not. James Gilpin is doing exactly this, not to make a quick buck, but instead to bring awareness to the growing diabetes epidemic.

“Sugar heavy urine excreted by diabetic patients is now being utilized for the fermentation of high-end single malt whisky for export. The Whisky market is growing faster then any other alcoholic beverage worldwide. With a prevalent genetic weakness being exposed in the northern hemisphere leading to a sharp rise in type two diabetes, economists have found a new exportable commodity to exploit and are keento capitalize on this resource quickly.”

“Large amounts of sugar are excreted on a daily basis by type-two diabetic patients especially amongst the upper end of our aging population. As a result of this diabetic patients toilets often have unusual scale build up in the basin due and rapid mould growths as the sugar put into the system acts as nutrients for mould and bacteria growth. Is it plausible to suggest that we start utilizing our water purification systems in order to harvest the biological resources that our elderly already process in abundance?”

Though Gilpin Family Whisky is not for sale, you can get a taste and view Gilpin’s exhibit at 100% Materials, a design and architecture event in London in September, and the Abandon Normal Devices festival this October in Manchester.

Via Wired UK.

USB Zinfandel: The Perfect Geek Wine

The USB Zinfandel from Peltier Station might be the perfect wine for your next geeky get together. This desert wine has hints of “chocolate balanced with ruby cherry and spice.” Sounds yummy to me!

So does this wine require a USB port? Nah! In fact, the back label of this interesting wine tackles this topic head on:

“The back label reads: “United States Bureau for trade signed an im____ant agreement with the European Union to protect ____ugal’s geographical indication of this type of wine. Our Unidentified Secret Brand is therefore no mystery wine …Be the Ultimate Savvy Buyer by including our USB ____ in your ____folio of wines. PS…Peltier Station Winery mission accomplished.”

Beer Savers: Silicone Bottle Caps

According to the official Beer Savers website, Beer Savers are good for 10 reasons:

1. Durable, stretchy molded bottle cap charms
2. Designed to help keep beer fresh and safe
3. Dishwasher safe and reusable
4. Made of food-safe silicone
5. Come in multi-colored sets of 6 – the perfect party pack.
6. Make a great housewarming or hostess gift for any beer lover.
7. Fits most standard beer bottles
8. Make for a great talking point at any dinner party or beer tasting party.
9. Help homebrewers keep their beer bottles clean and sterile before bottling.
10. Helps keep your beer safely identified when in clubs, bars and restaurants

I’m not sure about you, but I would feel a little weird carrying around little silicone bottle caps when going bar hopping. It should be law that if you open a bottle of beer then you should finish it!

With that said, Beer Savers, send me a few caps and I’d be more than happy to test out your product. I’ll start off in the comforts of my own home and then work my way out!

Buy a 6-Pack of Beer Savers from Beer Savers for the sale price of $7.99 (Retail: $12.99).

Merlot-Bot

I like geeky cool stuff and the Merlot-Bot falls right into that category. The bot itself kind of looks like an elongated Johnny 5 from Short Circuit (If you have no idea who I am referring to then I must be showing my age).

“Prepare yourself for a robot invasion of the cutest kind with this helpful household sculpture handmade by Utah artist Fred Conlon from recycled steel – factory discards and reclaimed parts from junk yards, construction sites and pawn shops.”

Buy the Merlot-Bot from Uncommon Goods for $90.

Baggy Winecoat

The Baggy Winecoat by designer Jakob Wagner is just what you need if you would like to put elegance and style into your Bag-in-Box wines. Simply take the bag our of your box wine and place it into the stylish Baggy Winecoat. Skip the six-pack of beer and redefine the tailgate party by bringing this elegant and handy accessory!

“Baggy Winecoat gives the popular Bag in Box wines a casual but stylish look! Simply take the wine bag out of the box, place it in the Baggy Wine Coat and close the flexible top. A rubber bottom makes sure the Baggy Winecoat do not tip over; neither on the dinner table, nor on the picnic. If you want to carry your wine with you, just grab the handle and go!”

By the Baggy Winecoat by Jakob Wagner from the Scandinavian Design Center for $58.19.

Aladdin Sake Bottles

These lovely bottles were spotted by the Notcot staff while shopping at Mitsuwa Marketplace. The bottles were so uniquely shaped and colored that I just had to share them here with you. They’ve indeed got sex appeal. Mitsuwa Marketplace, by the way, is a great place to shop for Japanese goods in the good ol’ United States. It probably is the next best thing to actually flying to Japan to do your grocery shopping. You can find a Mitsuwa Marketplace in California, Chicago and New Jersey. And if you decide to stop by at one of their location, maybe you can seek out one of these sake bottles and let me know what it tastes like!

Via Notcot.