Free Rein Coffee enters espresso space with launch of ‘Get Up’ espresso roast

Look, I am a movie buff. Everything I ever learned about life I learned from or sparked an interest in a movie. So, when it comes to rum, my first impression of the drink came from watching Jack Sparrow drink it on a beach. Now, as I travel all over the Carribean, I have discovered that there is, in fact, an entire culture surrounding the consumption of this versatile liquor. Of course, I don’t just take movies at their word, and I dive deep into a subject to find out more about it once my interest is piqued. When it came to rum, I reached out to my friends over at Blue Chair Bay Rum and asked why I am seeing rum everywhere in the summer of 2026. So, why is rum the liquor of the summer?

Rum has an authentic connection to summer because it reflects the easygoing spirit of warm weather entertaining. Inspired by the relaxed spirit of the Caribbean, Blue Chair Bay Rum was co-founded by award-winning singer-songwriter Kenny Chesney, whose deep connection to the islands comes from years spent traveling, performing, and unwinding along their shores. He wanted to capture that feeling with a premium rum that is approachable and full of flavor while embodying effortless joy amongst friends. — Anthony Moniello, Chief Executive Officer of Next Century Spirits

American single malt whiskey has only recently become an officially recognized category, but Stranahan’s has been crafting it for two decades. Now, the iconic, award-winning brand has announced the oldest Colorado bottled-in-bond whiskey ever made. And yes, it’s single malt whiskey.

Stranahan’s American Single Malt Whiskey: Bottled-in-Bond

If I could travel back in time to see any concert, I would probably catch a show at the Fillmore East. An intimate venue with superb sound, the Church of Rock ’n’ Roll saw legendary performances from a pantheon of rock gods. Hendrix, Janis, Lennon, the Doors—the roster reads like a Who’s Who of classic rock. The Allman Brothers recorded their finest live album, At Fillmore East, at the East Village venue.

Alas, I am not Doc Brown from Back to the Future. I was born a generation too late for the golden age of rock, and the Fillmore East closed its doors in 1971. My rock ’n’ roll heroes may have shed their mortal coils, but I can toast their ghosts at Cathédrale, a restaurant just a few blocks from where the hallowed stage once stood.