The Video Round Up: October 17th 2015

By Austin Parker October 17, 2015

Video Round Up — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Video Round Up is a new series highlighting videos and multimedia content that caught our eyes. Getting stoked on travel, good food, and extreme sports is best when shared with friends, so we’ll be posting a bi-weekly series on our favorite videos we find from every corner of the web. Have a tip or some awesome footage? Shoot an email to support@themanual.com

The Story of Recycled Down – Episode 2: Collect

The Story of Recycled Down - Episode 2: Collect | Nau 2015

You may remember Nau’s series on recycled down from our very first video round up. They are back at it in this second installation, detailing how they source and inspect goose and duck down from many second hand clothing sources. After being inspectede for waste (it seems that some retailers pass off inferior chicken feathers as down), the sorted down is further separated by quality so that it can be treated for recycling. Stay tuned for the final episode soon.

My Dear, My Darling

Barton Perreira "My Dear, My Darling". 2015 Campaign

Barton Perriera’s fall collection is excellently showcased in this short. Whether you’re cruising ina convertible or jumping from a plane in pursuit of a pretty face, these sunglasses are seriously cool. Just be careful what pair you pick, as it might mean the difference between getting the girl and being left on the road side. Although that may not be such a bad fate, if you’ve got a fast bike and a pair of Barton’s on.

Dewar’s 360

Dewar’s: Scratched Cask 360° Virtual Reality Experience

This virtual reality dive into Dewar’s new Scratched Cask project is quite simply a work of art. Using advanced 360 degree cameras, Dewar’s takes us behind the scenes in their production process from the building, charring, and scratching of each cask, to the aging of the blended Scotch. There’s not much more we can say. Watch the video, and then go find a bottle of Scratched Cask.

Life Beyond Walls: Alaska

Life Beyond Walls - Alaska

Smith Optics celebrated their 50th anniversary this year. As part of the party, the “Life Beyond Walls’ video series explores all the professions and recreation that Smith influences from a behind the scenes perspective. In this epeisode filmed on location in Alaska, Xavier De La Rue and Ralph Backstrom ski some of the biggest lines in the world. Sit back and let your jaw drop.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Austin Parker is a former contributor at The Manual Parker is a powder skier and sport climber and is no stranger hauling…

Culture

The Night Agent season 2: Everything we know so far

We'll get you ready for The Night Agent season 2!

Luciane Buchanan and Gabriel Basso in The Night Agent.

The Night Agent may not be everyone's choice to be among the best shows on Netflix, but it's in the top ten for us! The Shield creator Shawn Ryan adapted Matthew Quirk's spy action thriller, The Night Agent, for Netflix in 2023, and it proved to be a hit out of the gate. By Netflix's internal metrics, it's the sixth-highest viewed series in the history of the platform.

Those kind of numbers mean that a second season was inevitable, and Netflix made it official just over a week after The Night Agent premiered. Since the series is back in production, the details about what's coming up on the show have started to trickle out. To help you stay on top of this series, here's everything we know about The Night Agent season 2.
What is The Night Agent about?

Culture

The 10 best Dominican cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024

Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

Every seasoned cigar lover has a preference for where their cigars come from. Cuban and Cuban cigars are the more obvious choices, but there is also Nicaraguan tobacco, Central African, Indonesian, Mexican, Ecuadorian, and Dominican. Some tobacco is even grown in the United States. Each region has a distinct flavor profile that adds a little something extra to the tobacco grown locally, as well as the cigars made there. The Dominican Republic is prized by many connoisseurs because of exactly this -- a rich, unique profile that enhances Dominican-grown cigars. That's in no small part due to the fertile soil and thriving climate of the region, which is ideal for tobacco growth and cultivation. If you've never tried a Dominican cigar, you're in for a real treat, there are some fantastic options out there.
The best Dominican cigars I've tried

Out of all the cigar guides I've put together so far, this one was one of the more interesting experiences for me. I had a great time trying out Dominican cigars, and I've definitely come away with an appreciation for blends made in the region. I'd also like to point out that Corey Suarez helped recommend some of these. If you haven't tried the JR Cigars or Cigars.com concierge service yet, you really should. Here's a little more about all of the best Dominican cigars I've tried:
Ashton Symmetry

Culture

The 12 best Connecticut cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024

Best Connecticut cigars up close and personal

Connecticut cigars are the clear winner for smoking on a hot summer day, in the morning with some coffee, or when you just don't want a swift kick in the teeth (of pepper). There's no shortage of options, either. Connecticut shade wrappers are one of the most prevalent in the world of cigars, and it's certainly the most common natural shade. Maduro is also popular, but the two wrapper types couldn't be any more different. Connecticut wrappers, and by proxy Connecticut cigars, are typically mild to medium in strength and brimming with creamy, smooth flavors. They're composed of tobacco leaves grown in the Connecticut River Valley in the United States -- which is where the name Connecticut comes from. Consistent and flavorful, some of the best beginner-friendly cigars are Connecticut-wrapped, but you should never sell them short. A Connecticut shade cigar can be just as refined, elegant, and premium as any other. If you know where to look, you may even find some of your favorite blends in the category across a wide range of brands and cigar makers.

I'm about to take you on a magical, doughy, and delicious trek through the broad range of Connecticut cigars. In short, here are the best Connecticut cigars tried and tested by a genuine enthusiast of the craft: yours truly.
The best Connecticut cigars I've tried and tested
While the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is considered a Connecticut shade, I did my best to steer clear of recommending them for this list. They're better classified as a Maduro shade or darker cigar. That doesn't mean you should avoid them, quite the contrary. But for this list, I wanted to stick to smooth, relaxing smokes that are strong on flavor but not quite so strong on pepper and spice. I also tried not to choose a lot of repeats. If you see your favorite cigar missing, that might be because it was recommended on another list or it just didn't make the cut. If you have any recommendations of your own, I'm always available through social media or email. Without further ado, let's get this thing started.
Aganorsa Leaf Connecticut