Lifestyle
Holiday Themed Rum And Whisky Cocktails
For those of you who might be lucky enough to get some Crown Royal or Captain Morgan under the tree this Christmas I have three outstanding cocktails that you should try. All of them have holiday themes to them and could be a year round drink of choice. Just make sure you enjoy them responsibly.
CAPTAIN’S CANDY CANE
1 oz. CAPTAIN MORGAN® ORIGINAL SPICED RUM
0.5 oz. peppermint schnapps
5 oz. cola
Instructions: Coat rim of a Collins or rocks glass with crushed candy cane pieces. Fill the glass with ice. Add all of the ingredients and stir.
CAPTAIN KRINGLE
1 oz. CAPTAIN MORGAN® ORIGINAL SPICED RUM
0.25 oz. premium orange liqueur
0.25 oz. cinnamon schnapps
5 oz. cola
Instructions: Combine all of the ingredients in an ice-filled rocks glass and stir. Garnish with an orange twist.
CAPTAIN’S HOLIDAY COCKTAIL
1.25 oz. CAPTAIN MORGAN® ORIGINAL SPICED RUM
0.75 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
0.25 oz. Fernet Branca
0.5 oz. Simple Syrup
3 Pieces Blackberry
3 Dashes of bitters
2 oz. Cola
Instructions: In a shaker, combine all the ingredients but the cola. Shake and strain into a Collins glass with cola. Garnish with an orange peel, expressed and inserted.
Crownberry Apple
1.5 oz. Crown Royal Regal Apple Canadian Whisky
4 oz. Cranberry Juice
Instructions: Serve in a rocks glass over ice and garnish with apple wedge.
Dec 16th
Enjoy A Wicked Fruit Punch
The good folks as PIEHOLE Whiskey challenged me to make up a new cocktail. I would have to use one of their three flavored whiskeys and two of the following ingredients, cranberry sauce, cream cheese, marshmallows, pumpkin, whipped cream, walnuts, raisins, and apple cider. This was my first time getting to taste these whiskeys and they were all fantastic.
For those who don’t know the PIEHOLE’s three varieties of whiskey are cherry pie, apple pie, and pecan pie. For the challenge I went with the cherry pie flavor whiskey. When I looked over the list of the different ingredients I immediately knew that I was going to go for a fruity concoction. So with that in mind I was looking to use cranberry sauce and apple cider.
Along with the cherry pie whiskey, cranberry sauce, and apple cider I also used ginger ale, cranberry juice, and a lime. I call this drink “Wicked Fruit Punch.” Below is the ingredient list as well as the directions you can follow to my cocktail. Plus I added some other recipes that you should try as well. Just make sure you try mine first!
Cheers and enjoy responsibly.
Wicked Fruit Punch
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. of PIEHOLE Cherry Whiskey
1.0 oz. of cranberry juice
1.0 oz. of apple cider
1.0 oz. of ginger ale
¼ cup of cranberry sauce
1 lime wedge
Directions:
Take the ¼ cup of cranberry sauce and blend it really well. Once it is near liquid form place the sauce in the bottom of an old-fashioned glass. Next pour the PIEHOLE Cherry Whiskey, ginger ale, apple cider, and cranberry juice in another cup. Add some ice and shake up those ingredients. Pour that mixture into the old-fashioned glass with the cranberry sauce on the bottom. Add a lime wedge on the lip of the glass and circle it around the entire glass. Enjoy!
Check out other fine recipes from PIEHOLE Whiskey
Just Like Ma’s
1.25 oz. Piehole Apple Pie
.25 oz. Stirrings Ginger Flavored Liqueur
1 dash of angostura bitters
Splash of sour mix
Glassware: Shot glass
Directions: Add ingredients to an ice-filled shaker. Shake and strain into a shot glass.
Apple Pie Sour
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Piehole Apple Pie
1.25 oz. sour mix
Splash of orange juice
Lemon wedges
Glass: Collins Glass
Directions: Add ingredients to an ice-filled mixing tin. Squeeze a lemon wedge into the tin. Shake and strain into an ice-filled Collins glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Dec 13th
Enjoy The Holiday With Courvoisier Cocktails
Are you hosting any parties this holiday season? If so maybe you should try and add something special to your party with these Courvoisier holiday cocktails. Below are three tremendous cocktail recipes that your guest will love to try out. Enjoy!
SPARKLING COGNAC
Ingredients:
1 part Courvoisier VSOP cognac
1 Demerara sugar cube
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
Top up with Champagne
Directions:
Soak a sugar cube in bitters and drop into a Champagne flute. Cover with Courvoisier VS Cognac and slowly top with Champagne.
HOLIDAY SLEIGH RIDE
Ingredients:
1¼ parts Courvoisier VSOP
¾ part cranberry juice
1½ parts fresh lemon sour
1 part fresh orange juice
Directions:
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cinnamon/sugar-rimmed cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange spiral twist.
HOT TODDY
Ingredients:
1.5 parts Courvoisier VSOP
1 half-moon slice of orange
1 wedge of lemon
3 whole cloves
1 part agave nectar
Hot water
Directions:
In an Irish coffee mug muddle the cloves, orange, and lemon. Add nectar and Courvoisier VSOP and top with steaming hot water. Stir and serve with a cinnamon stick.
Dec 12th
Be ‘Selective’ On What Type Of Gifts You Give This Holiday
There are certain people you meet along the way that leave a positive impact in your life. For me I had the great fortune of meeting Steve Costello earlier this year. I was looking to interview him about his powerful and personal story he told in his book, “My Father Never Took Me to a Baseball Game.”
Since my interview with him, Steve has helped me out in so many ways. The more I got to know him I found out that he is the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back. For those who don’t know Steve is the Executive Vice 
President at Steiner Sports. He has a job that any die hard sports fan would love to have. He works with premiere athletes and pro sports teams. Steiner Sports is one of the leading producers of authentic hand-signed collectibles.
Steve has aided me in setting up interviews, securing some sweet prizes for my fantasy football league for my company, and giving me a tour of Steiner Sports. He even gave me some business advice and guidance that will look to help my business. Steve takes the time to help each person that comes into his life. As he has said, “It’s nice to be important but more important to be nice.” He is authentic. He is a good friend.
You might say that Steve is “Handmade the Hard Way.” That phrase is the cornerstone of the fine folks at the George Dickel Distillery. As we approach the holiday season George Dickel brings you their very finest whisky with their Barrel Select. This is for the truly discerning whisky drinker. Only 10 barrels are hand-selected by Master Distiller John Lunn for this small-batch handcrafted whisky. Aged between 10 and 12 years. Charcoal mellowing and their unique ageing process form a smooth, premium whisky that stands in a class all by itself. A perfectly balanced, rich and silky taste with hints of vanilla, spice and charcoal.
So when George Dickel asked me to find a friend that deserves a bottle of the George Barrel Select I immediately thought of Steve. This is my way to say thanks to Steve for everything he has helped me with this year. If you have someone like Steve in your life I would suggest giving them a whisky that is second to none.
Barrel Select has a caramel taste with accents of corn right behind the caramel flavor. You also have hits of fennel and mint. Its finish has caramel, vanilla and cinnamon which fade to corn and oak. It is 86 proof (43% ABV) and the mash is 
broken down as 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley. For more info go to George Dickel’s website.
Forget the gifts that you can get in the seasonal aisle at a store. You should “select” something that will leave an impression on someone who has impressed you this year! You can’t go wrong with George Dickel Barrel Select.
Dec 7th
Holiday Gift Giving Trends From Magazines
Next Issue Media, the first and only app to offer unlimited access to premium magazines, including their entire back catalogs, scoured over 2,000 products and 35 top lifestyle and fashion magazines featured in their app to pinpoint the top trends and what gift givers should really look for this holiday season. Some of these top magazines range from InStyle, Vogue and O, The Oprah Magazine, to GQ, Men’s Journal, Outside magazine and more.
What did they find?
Most Recommended Brand: Marc Jacobs
Most Expensive Gift: McLaren P1 $1,350,000
Most Interactive Gift Guide: Consumer Reports
Largest Gift Guide: InStyle with 253 products
Most Unusual Gifts: Everything Beards (oil, conditioner, organic balm), Beer Foamer, Unicorn Horn, Whiskey Wedge, Kayak in a Box, Water Bike, 8-in-1 Kitchen Tool, cider and beer making kits, and a bucket of sunglasses
In addition to these unusual items, classic trends and annual favorites hold strong this year with leading trends including unique spirits and craft beers, and actual hard copy books.
Leather & Cashmere – These lux fabrics boast over 70 gift suggestions between them with anything from slippers and travel set to manicure sets and luggage, making them a sure hit.
Cosmetics & Kitchenware – Fitting any budget, cosmetics take the stocking stuffer role all the way to the most recommended gift for women, YSL’s ‘Wildly Gold’ Palette. Kitchen and cocktail products provide equally popular gifting options.
• The Season for Subscriptions – The old school beer of the month club gets an update with ideas like Blue Apron, Blue Bottle Coffee, Farmbox Direct, Coolhaus and Next Issue subscription gifts.
In addition to these gifts and trends, holiday shoppers can explore the full Next Issue Best Gift Ideas at www.nextissue.com/best-gifts-2014
Dec 4th
Reebok Classics Has Sneakerheads Covered This Holiday Season
Whether you are shopping for a sneakerhead or yourself, Reebok Classics has some fantastic kicks for you this holiday season.
First off let’s look at the Shaq Attaq IV. Shaq’s classic sneaker continues to push the envelope with a limited edition colorway inspired by the holiday season.
Reebok Classic incorporates the perfect amount of detail to make this a truly one of a kind shoe. The long narrow strips of metallic blue shine like tinsel and the Candy Cane striped laces are a sweet finishing touch.
These will go fast so, stop by Jimmy Jazz, Eblens, Shoe City or Eastbay on Friday, December 19th to grab your Reebok Classic Shaq Attaq IV Wrapping Paper for $140.
Also coming out later this month is Pump Question. To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Pump technology, Reebok Classic combined The Pump custom fit technology with some of the most iconic shoes in Reebok’s basketball history. The first launch of the four-shoe “Pump It Up” pack takes inspiration from the Pump Omni Lite that was made famous in 1991 by Dee Brown’s no look dunk and fuses it with basketball legend Allen Iverson’s signature shoe, the Question.
Both famous in their own regard; combining these iconic shoes to create the Pump Question is truly original and exclusive to Reebok.
On December 24th you will have the opportunity to pick up a pair of this limited edition Pump Question at Jimmy Jazz, Shiekh Shoes, DTLR or Reebok.com for $174.99.
Dec 3rd
Jordan Brand Looks To Fill Up Your Holiday Wish List
Jordan Brand will be releasing the Air Jordan 11 during the holiday season. It one of the most anticipated colorways. It is the “Legend Blue” colorway. This XI has a mostly all-white upper with some legend blue accents and a black inner lining while sitting atop an icy outsole. It will sell for $200 and will be available December 20th. The Air Jordan 11 “Legend Blue” is sure to top plenty of wish lists.
This Saturday the Air Jordan 1 comes out. The time-honored classic Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG gets a monochrome black leather upper. The Gum Light Brown outsole and Nike Air logo on the tongue tag tie the look together. Available on Nike.com on December 6 (8am EST/5am PST).
Dec 2nd
Budweiser Clydesdales Are Here to Stay
Don’t believe everything that trends. The Budweiser Clydesdales are not going anywhere.
“We are excited to see exactly how much the Clydesdales can still touch the hearts and minds of our passionate fan base,” said Brian Perkins, vice president, Budweiser. “There have never been any plans to remove our beloved Budweiser Clydesdales from our brand identity. In fact, we can confirm they will return to the Super Bowl in 2015. And they are stars of our new online holiday campaign that has been in production for months.”
The Budweiser Clydesdales can be found giving folks a safe ride home in a new video promoting responsible drinking during the holidays.
“Let me be clear,” added Perkins. “Straight from the horse’s mouth: The Budweiser Clydesdales are here to stay and will continue to play a central role in our campaigns, including holidays and Super Bowl. They represent the quality and heritage of the No.1 full-flavored lager in America.”
Nov 30th
Ab-Soul & Kid Ink Kick Off The Reebok Classic x The Fader’s “Coast to Coast” Music Series
Reebok Classic x The FADER’s two-part concert series, Coast to Coast, kicked off on Monday, November 24th at the Holding Co. in Los Angeles with performances from Ab-Soul and Kid Ink, hosted by LA’s Karen Civil. Photos from the event are attached.
This particular concert coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Reebok Pump sneaker on November 24th, the official birthday of the Pump. An iconic technology and style that has graced the feet of athletes, musicians and almost everyone else since the late 80s, the Pump still remains relevant today. To commemorate this anniversary, Ab-Soul wore the distinctive Reebok Classic x Keith Haring Court Victory Pump during his performance.
The Coast to Coast concert series was developed as a platform to integrate music with style. Reebok and The Fader will be hitting both coasts and presenting exclusive artist performances, in addition to pieces of content that document the artists in their home base, which will be live on TheFADER.com later this year.
Up next: one of the hottest rising stars in music, Kiesza, will headline the NYC show on December 3rd. Be sure to visit TheFADER.com for more details, or follow @ReebokClassics and @TheFADER for your chance to win a coveted spot to the next event!
Nov 25th
Stalley Rocks The Reebok Classic “Ventilators” On Stage
Yesterday, Sunday, November 23rd, Stalley took the stage at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh, NC, to promote his debut studio album “Ohio,” which just released in late October.
Stalley performed his set to a rowdy crowd of fans, while laced in the Reebok Classic “Ventilator” sneakers from the “Tonal Ballistic” pack. The Trophy Gold/Retro Yellow/Black/White colorway of the Ventilator added a pop of color to his monochrome outfit on stage.
Limited pairs of the Ventilator “Tonal Ballistic” pack are available now at Jimmy Jazz, Shoe City, Urban Outfitters, Sneaker Politics and Reebok.com for $85.
Nov 24th
