Epicurean Cutting Boards For the Man’s Kitchen

How high in ABV can a mass-market tequila get? Herradura is looking to find out, with the return of Directo de Alambique, an unaged, still-strength expression bottled at 110 proof at Casa Herradura in Amatitán, Jalisco.

The tequila first appeared in 2012 as a small-batch experiment and developed a cult following among collectors before disappearing. The brand says the 2026 return comes after years of requests from drinkers hunting down old bottles.

An interviewer once famously asked Keith Richards how he had survived decades of rock ‘n’ roll debauchery—heights of hedonism that had sent so many of his cultural contemporaries to an early grave. His answer was surprisingly pragmatic: whatever the vice, he indulged thoughtfully rather than recklessly. And he insisted on only the finest, purest product money could buy. When it came to illicit vices, the King of Riffs exercised discernment as polished as his taste in guitars.

While my indulgences are, on the whole, tamer than Keith’s, I have taken his philosophy to heart when it comes to booze. Especially as hangovers grow more vicious with each passing year, I demand maximum enjoyment from every pour. Every drop of alcohol that touches my should be premium—and consumed thoughtfully.

Every Black Friday, Goose Island releases a new family of Bourbon County stouts, and the 2026 lineup runs six beers deep across seven barrel types.

It’s one of the most anticipated releases on the craft beer calendar. The Chicago brewery effectively invented the style back in 1992, and their annual lineup has been a benchmark for barrel-aged beer ever since.