Let’s be honest, when it comes to bourbon, the most important thing is what’s in the bottle. But some well thought-out accessories can help you squeeze every ounce of enjoyment from your favorite pour, whether it’s your everyday sipper or a bottle you keep tucked away for special occasions. September is National Bourbon Heritage Month, and in celebration of America’s native spirit, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite accoutrements worthy of a spot on your home bar and even in your pantry. —The editors
The Art of Drinking
Elevate your drink-making with this stunning sterling silver wood duck jigger from renowned South Carolina sculptor Grainger McKoy. It’s as equally suited to mixing up an old-fashioned as it is to adding a touch of timeless style to your bar cart. $225; ggfieldshop.com
Make an Impression
A personalized ice stamp is an easy way to elevate your home mixology with a professional flourish. This one from Wintersmiths features a turned walnut handle and solid brass base, which can be customized with a design of your choice. Simply let a large cube of clear ice temper at room temperature for a few minutes to avoid cracking (a good tip regardless), then press the 1.5-inch diameter stamp down firmly for about 15 seconds. The design really pops when the ice mixes with a drink. $95; wintersmiths.com
Pappy for Your Pancakes
A soak in used Pappy van Winkle barrels adds flavors of oak, vanilla, and a hint of bourbon to this pure maple syrup from Louisville-based Pappy & Company, founded by three of van Winkle’s great-granddaughters. Drizzle it on pancakes and waffles, or use it to give cocktails a sweet kick. $38; ggfieldshop.com
Neat Glass
If you’re like us, your cabinets are already stuffed with all manner of glassware. But it’s worth making room for a set of Franklin snifters from North Carolina’s Terrane Glass Co. Each piece is hand-blown using silica sourced from the rich mineral deposits found near the company’s headquarters in Spruce Pine, with an elegant design that feels just right in the hand. $36 each; terraneglass.com
Bourbon to Go
This leather-wrapped stainless-steel bottle flask from the Alabama-based outdoors company Tom Beckbe is made for sharing a post-hunt nip or pre-game sip. It holds eight ounces and includes four toasting cups that snap securely onto the top, so you can pass around a flask without having to actually pass around the flask. $150; ggfieldshop.com
Perfect Pairing
A snifter of good bourbon with a fine cigar is one of life’s classic pleasures, so it only makes sense that Kentucky Gentleman Cigar Co. combines the two in its hand-rolled, bourbon-barrel aged cigars. Tobacco leaves, binders, and fillers sourced from cigar-making capitals around the world are aged in freshly dumped bourbon barrels from a variety of distilleries, then brought together in unique blends. This sampler, exclusive to G&G, includes seven cigars and a cutter in a handsome cedar box. $70; ggfieldshop.com
