St. Patrick's Day is coming up and it's not a lot of people's favorite time of year, to say the least. But here's the thing: when taken as time to kick back, drink some whiskey, eat some snacks, and maybe watch Leprechaun 3, it's a perfectly good holiday.
If you're celebrating on Saturday or on the day itself, here's some stuff to make avoiding humanity just a little bit more special.
The Irish Duo, $84.99. Get two Irish Whiskey knock-outs and celebrate St. Patty's in style. Jameson's released a limited-edition design of their iconic bottle, inspired by the sights, sounds and atmosphere of its Dublin hometown. You'll also get Knappogue Castle 1995, a 1995 single malt Vintage distilled at Bushmills in special bourbon casks.
St. Patrick's Bundle, $97.99. Sample 11 perfect Irish whiskies. This bundle even comes with legendary whiskies Greenore, Green Spot, and Connemara, that single malt that tastes distinctly Scottish. You'll know it when you try it.
Whisk(e)y Welcome Pack, $43.99. If you're into brown liquor but don't care where it comes from, take a tour of the world by its whiskey (or whisky, depending on where you are). You'll get to sample varieties from India, Japan and more.
Star Spangled Bourbon, $48.99. Or maybe you love whiskey, but you prefer it to be good old fashioned American bourbon. Bourbon's made primarily of corn (and only in Kentucky, buddy) so it's sweeter than other whiskies. Try five here.
Green Absinthe by Doc's All Natural Spirits, $46. It's not whiskey, but it is green, and it will mess you up. Maybe save this one for the weekend.
Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve 2007, $424.99. If you're ready for the very best. This is one of Ireland's most coveted whiskies, and for good reason. The sheer spectrum of flavor followed up by a strong finish will speak for itself. Hide this one in your sock drawer.
Set of 8 Old Fashioned & Highball Glasses, $55. You're too old to serve cocktails out of commemorate Disneyworld cups, so stock up. These are classic, beautiful, and cheap enough not to worry about.
Set of 5 Vintage Silver Ombre Glasses, $35. If you actually have a bar cart or a china cabinet, these'll do just fine as a focal point. Real deal glassware in this style is always by designer Dorothy Thorpe, but most sets you'll find are fakes (unless you're willing to pay for it). Doesn't matter—even reproductions are a beautifully easy touch of mid-century modern.
Set of 2 Wood and Ceramic Tumblers, $100. Japanese whiskey would be right at home in these striking, sleek, and sophisticated tumblers. Ceramic will keep your drink cool while wood brings a bit of earthy warmth to your table.
6-Piece Decanter Set, $50. It's not a real home bar without a decanter, and this set comes with enough old fashioned glasses for a small gathering.
Hammered Stainless Steel Bar Set, $59.99. Sort of a bar-in-a-box starter kit, this'll bring everything you need in one package. Its price belies its beauty, too.
Cocktail Shaker, $16.99. Just want the shaker? Can't go wrong with simple stainless steel.
Whiskey Wedge, $17.99. The slope of the ice here offers less surface area for messing with your drink, so you'll be better off than with faster-melting cubes.
Sphere Ice Molds, $10.99. If you prefer your ice in chunks rather than slopes, here's a set for you. Large spheres melt very slowly, plus they look great in a glass. Experiment with getting your ice super clear and it's even better.
Set of 9 Whiskey Stones, $20. And if you prefer your ice in stones, well, this one's for you, too. Whiskey stones have been around for a while at this point, but they're standing the test of time. Freeze 'em up and the soapstone stays cool for an impressively long time, but it's soft enough that it won't scratch your glasses.
The Perfect Black and Tan, $9.95. Who knows, maybe you're drinking Guinness this year? The black and tan isn't distinctly Irish, but it is absolutely delicious. You can use a spoon inverted over your pint, but this stainless steel tool will make your pour perfect every time.
GrowlTap, $50. If you really are more of a beer person, invest in this clever device to keep your purchases fresh for weeks instead of hours. Not that there's anything wrong with having to drink a whole growler before it goes flat, but sometimes you just need a minute to think about it.
Old Fashioned Whiskey Infusion Kit, $35. There are few things in this world more delicious than an old fashioned, but get a bunch of connoisseurs in one room and you're doomed to mixing the damn things all night, covered in orange juice while maraschino cherries stain your floor. Use this kit to pre-mix a whole bunch of them (and brag about "infusing your own" later), then get a pretty nice glass bottle out of the deal, too.
DIY Cocktail Bitters Kit, $30. Speaking of old fashioneds! You'll need some bitters to throw in there, too. You could buy it, but you wouldn't be a back-to-basics Brooklyn liquor enthusiast if you did, now would you?
Barrel-Aged Cocktail Kit, $35. Maybe you're a simple person with simple taste and straight whiskey with a bit of je ne sais quoi is all you ever asked for. This kit lets you barrel-age a drink of your choice (maybe make use of some cheap stuff hanging around) and sample the nuance that the oak staves bring to the mix.
Sodastream Fountain Jet, $79.99. The Sodastream is practically a modern classic at this point. Use it to make soda, carbonate your lemonade, or make some seltzer for topping off your whiskey.
Set of 4 NYC Map Coasters, $28. Marble with a corked back, these coasters are a great subtle way of showing off your love of city. Makes a good host gift too, and comes in other city patterns.
End Grain Cutting Board, $60. Prep and serve up all your snacks on this gorgeous butcher block cutting board. It's a Southwest motif, yeah, but that's fine; no one has the patience for year-round shamrocks.
Slate Cheese Board with Chalk, $29. The slate for these boards are sourced from a quarry upstate, and comes in red as well as the usual gray. The chalkboard surface lets you label your cheese and accoutrements so your snacking can be more educational than snacktime usually is.
Hot Stuff Taster, $60 - $160. You cook a meal, and no matter how beautifully seasoned you think it is, there's always one guy running to the cabinet for hot sauce. Beat them to the punch with a sampler full of strawberry chipotle jam, spicy Korean gochujang, hot honey, chile caramel sauce, and tons more. Set it out with a cheese board and you'll be a hero.
Bring Home the Bacon Taster, $40 - $70. What is there to say about bacon that hasn't already been said? From bacon lollipops to a rich bacon mayo to bacon caramel corn, these homages to everyone's favorite Sunday morning indulgence are perfect for snacking.
Chocolate-Covered Taster, $60. It doesn't all have to be savory. Bourbon in particular pairs great with chocolate, so try it out: animal crackers, corn flakes, cranberries, graham crackers, pretzels and even mini-peanut-butter cookies are all cloaked in chocolate in this delicious sampler.
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