Though the methodology for making fine wine might not have changed that much over the centuries, thanks to Cork Pops the same can’t be said for opening it.
Packaged with a CO2 cartridge (good for 60-80 bottles) and featuring a custom designed insertion guide, needle guard, and a patented cork release feature; this wine opener’s specs might sound better suited for surgery. One public opening though will provide enough wow factor to have friends and father in-laws alike clamoring for the next bottle.
However, if you can’t be sold on jealously alone, we also timed the gas powered upstart against the corkscrew standby in an good ole’ fashioned race. Between cutting the foil and uncorking the bottle, the Cork Pops got the job done in just under a quarter of the time it took the old screw to finally regurgitate its charge. Rest assured this had nothing to do with limp wrists.
What this means to you: Thanks to the Legacy, opening a bottle of wine is now almost as fun as drinking it (almost).
[click on image to enlarge]
Cost: $28 @ CorkPops
Also Shown: Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2007 - New Zealand ($10)
Categories : Home, Lifestyle, Drinks, Writers, Bar, Ben Bowers
If you’re gearing up for Fantasy Football draft day then Redhook’s got the sweepstakes for you. It all starts with a beer fridge that looks like a tool box as part of an ultimate fantasy football draft day party that includes:
- A Redhook Toolbox Fridge
- An Ultra Series Flip Video Camcorder
- A 54×46 Inch Draft Day Board
- A “Fantasy Football League Winner” Redhook t-shirt for the champ
- A “whiner” hat for the sorest loser (or baldest guy) in the league
- Eight Redhook branded pint glasses, t-shirts and coasters
The winners are selected based on their trash talking skills (skillz for some) and starting August 8th you’ll be able to use their virtual insult library to hurl professionally crafted insults and trash talk e-cards. Football + Beer = Good Times Trash Talk.
Redhook Fantasy Football Trash Bash
Categories : Lifestyle, Drinks
Tequila 5150 is the first domestic tequila to legally import blue agave into the U.S., but it’s uniqueness lies in the fact that it’s made using wine making techniques. In typical American fashion, a friend of the bottler was told by his sheriff compadre that trying to produce tequila using wine barrels was “5150″, California’s police code for the mentally disturbed. Genius. [via Josh Spear]
Cost: $36 - $43 @ BevMo
Categories : Lifestyle, Drinks, Writers, Brian Huang
Your joy for Johnnie Walker can only be surpassed by sharing it with others in a Johnnie Walker Private Tasting. It’s only available to Striding Man Society Members (free registration), but it’s an experience you will undoubtedly win much praise and adoration from your friends for hosting.
A Johnnie Walker Master of Scotch will bring all the necessary components to host a tasting event at your location of choice including Johnnie Walker Red Label, Black Label, Green Label, Gold Label and the much beloved Blue Label. The concierge will organize every detail of the event from the invitations right down to arrangement of transportation home for your guests after the event.
Cost: $2,500+ @ Johnnie Walker Private Tasting
Does three grand sound prohibitive? Well, host your own Johnnie Walker tasting event then.
Purchase a Johnnie Walker Limited Edition Tasting Kit, your JW Labels of choice, I suggest starting with Black Label, invite some friends over and enjoy the finer taste of life.
Cost: $50 @ Johnnie Walker
Categories : Home, Lifestyle, Drinks, Events, Writers, Eric E. Yang, Bar
I’m lucky. One of my greatest joys in life comes to me every single morning in the form of a cup of coffee. Some choose the bargain basement sludge known as Starbucks and some choose the economically viable, yet watered-down, coffee New York street carts serve. Either way, it pales (literally) in comparison to Stumptown Roasters Coffee. A little roastery in Portland, Oregon that produces coffee… and damn fine coffee at that.
Stumptown roasts small batches of coffee from fair trade farms (bona fide) to produce exquisite beans that redefine aromatic and body. Honestly, you haven’t had a cup of coffee until you’ve had a proper press-pot Holler Mountain Blend, a blend of Indonesian and Latin American coffees - a perfect blend of body and sweet aroma.
Cost: $14-$80 @ Stumptown Coffee
How to: Proper guide to use a French Press (aka Press Pot) - Read on CoffeeGeek.
Categories : Lifestyle, Drinks, Writers, Eric E. Yang
Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 15th. Arguably the most important man, nay person, in your life is worthy of some thought and consideration. Whether your father’s the grill maven or a speed demon we’ve got great gift ideas for dad this year.
Either way, we seriously doubt he’ll care for a gift more than he’ll care for some mano-e-mano with the most important person in his life, you.
Read on for the 2008 Gear Patrol Father’s Day Gift Guide.
Read the rest of this entry »
Categories : Cars, Grooming, Drinks, Gear Patrol Dossier, Gift Guide, Kitchen, Television
What better way to entertain than offering a bevy of beverages? Use the Electrolux Beverage Center to store your chilled drinks in an under-the-counter solution that’s perfect for your wet-bar, kitchen or game room.
The Beverage Center will keep an interior temperature within 1° of your setting ensuring no Wine, Soda or Beer go improperly chilled. Three shelves will smoothly glide in and out effort-free on ball bearings. An automatic interior light and blue LED display make for easy viewing of controls and your beverage collectio, and an alarm will sound if the door stays open longer than five minutes. We like to think of it more like a notification system telling you that your cronies’ sojourn for his fifth Negra Modelo is raising your electric bill.
Cost: $1300 @ Best Buy
Categories : Home, Lifestyle, Drinks, Writers, Eric E. Yang, Bar
“Once it hits your lips it’s so good…”
In my college days, I did a fair amount of keg stands and Frank the Tank impersonations, but since then I’ve out grown keg parties and Will Ferrell quotes (well kind of) and I’ve graduated to beers that taste less like water and more like beer. In my search for good beer, I stumbled upon Innis and Gunn Original. This beer is aged 77 days in oak barrels that were used to mature bourbon. 
This process imparts an incredibly complex flavor characteristic that’s comparable to fine scotch or wine. I mostly tasted butterscotch and caramel, but Innis and Gunn say it has notes of vanilla, rose, and coconut as well. In fact, the brewers have gone as far as to provide a spidergram of flavors. But beyond the fancy flavor diagrams, the beer just tastes good; damn good. On a side note, it tastes even better with a medium-rare steak. Trust me I had the pair for dinner last night.
What this means to you: It’s good beer. Need I say more?
Cost: $5 per bottle
Categories : Lifestyle, Drinks, Writers, Marc Ryan Arevalo
The Quiver will instantly catapult you into women’s “make my girlfriends jealous with the story about my date” category. Next time you’re heading out to the park, an early spring shore visit or just relaxing in the comfort of her patio use the Quiver to bring along a bottle of wine. Working just like a koozie the Quiver will keep you bottle chilled in it’s 5mm thick merion felt and vegetable tanned leather strap and details. The belts will tighten down to fit any size bottle (no boxed wine here) and will store completely flat. [via]
Cost: $130 @ Fitzsu
Also See: Waring Pro Wine Chiller
Categories : Lifestyle, Drinks, Writers, Eric E. Yang
Few things are nicer than winding down a stressful week with a nice cigar. If your lifestyle requires travel or you just prefer enjoying a nice stogie outside of the realms of a leather clad lounge chair then the Max Benjamin Mini Cigar Bar fits the bill. It’s a portable black leather case that allows you to travel with your preferred beverage and cigar. The bag is split into three compartments, one for your bottle, one for the cylindrical cedar humidor and one for the 4 stackable glasses & ice container. The bag also stores a jet style cigar lighter, though we suggest you scrap the lighter for a box of quality wood matches.[via]
What this means to you: We know you’re not going to be walking around with this bag. As a matter of fact we plead that you don’t. What you should do is have it tucked away for your next excursion with the guys. Break it out at just the right point in the evening and prepare for complete heriosm.
Cost: $270 @ Neptune Cigar
Categories : Lifestyle, Fashion & Style, Drinks, Accessories
Though the methodology for making fine wine might not have changed that much over the centuries, thanks to Cork Pops the same can’t be said for opening it.
