Great drinks are only part of the story—the rest is how you enjoy them. This is our home for the culture and craft of the home bar: glassware and gear, hosting and entertaining, and the rituals that turn a pour into an occasion. Whether you're building your first bar cart or refining a well-stocked one, this is where the how-to-enjoy-it knowledge lives.
What you'll find here
From choosing the right glass for a spirit to stocking a home bar and hosting a tasting, our lifestyle coverage is about elevating the experience around the bottle. It pairs naturally with our buying guides and pairing guides—the gear and know-how that make the good stuff even better.
Our take
We favour substance over status: the gear and habits that genuinely improve how a drink tastes and how a gathering feels, not expensive props for their own sake. Browse our latest home-bar and lifestyle articles below.
Lifestyle Guides & Articles
7 articles
High Camp Vintage Spirits Parkside Flask Review
A hands-on review of the High Camp Vintage Spirits Parkside Flask in The Shirley colorway — and why this 750ml insulated wine flask earns its $139 price tag on the counter, at the campsite, and everywhere in between.
The Summer Bar: What to Pour When It's 95°
A barrel-proof bourbon at 96° taught me the whole lesson of summer drinking: heat changes the rules. Here's what actually works when the air won't cooperate — the blanco tequilas, the long pours, the one whisky that survives the heat — and what to leave on the shelf until October.
Is Whiskey Keto-Friendly? What You Actually Need to Know
Yes, whiskey is keto-friendly — zero carbs, zero sugar. But alcohol temporarily pauses fat burning. Here's how to enjoy bourbon on keto without slowing progress.
Does Whiskey Make You Fat? What the Science Actually Says
Whiskey doesn't make you fat — but drinking whiskey while eating pizza at midnight can. Here's the science on alcohol metabolism, weight gain, and how to enjoy bourbon without gaining weight.
The Art of the Gentleman's Evening: Cigars, Spirits & Good Company
A proper evening is not a party. It's smaller, quieter, more deliberate — three to five people, good cigars, better whiskey, and conversation that actually goes somewhere. Here's how to host one worth remembering.
The $500 Home Bar That Looks Like $5,000
You don't need a trust fund or a basement renovation to build a home bar worth showing off. Five hundred dollars, some opinion, and the willingness to skip the vodka aisle will get you a setup that makes craft cocktails and impresses anyone who walks through your door.
Whiskey Trails: A Road Trip Through Kentucky's Bourbon Country
Kentucky's Bourbon Trail isn't a single road — it's a sprawling, 200-mile web of two-lane highways, limestone creek beds, and distilleries that have been turning corn into gold since before the Civil War. Here's how to do it right in four days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What glass should I use for whiskey?
For tasting, a tulip-shaped Glencairn concentrates the aromas and is the connoisseur's choice. For cocktails or casual sipping over ice, a rocks (Old Fashioned) glass is ideal. The glass genuinely affects how much you smell—and therefore taste.
What are the essentials for a home bar?
Start with a few versatile bottles (a bourbon, a Scotch or blend, a tequila, a versatile mixer), plus the basics: a Glencairn or two, rocks glasses, a shaker, a jigger, a bar spoon, and good ice. Build out from what you actually drink.
How do you host a spirits tasting at home?
Pick a theme (say, four bourbons at different price points), pour small measures in identical glasses, taste from lightest to boldest, and offer water and something neutral to snack on. Keep notes and let everyone compare—it's the most fun way to learn.
Does the glass really affect how a spirit tastes?
Yes. Because most of what we perceive as flavour is actually smell, a glass that funnels aromas toward your nose (like a Glencairn) reveals far more than a wide tumbler. The liquid is the same, but the experience isn't.