Ah, September in the South—the time of year when the humidity finally begins to drop, the evenings turn crisp, and the urge to find warmth in a glass of bourbon returns. No wonder, then, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution in 2007 deeming it National Bourbon Heritage Month, a time to honor “America’s native spirit.” And what better way to do so than to raise a toast? Here are ten ideas to upgrade your current bar setup, from cocktail napkins to handmade decanters.
Decanters
Collecting interesting and beautifully made decanters might just be a bit of sport in the South, and all three of these stunning pieces have a story. The glass artisans at Terrane Glass in North Carolina make the two at left, while the intricate cut-crystal piece at right is crafted by J. Hill Standard in the Waterford region of Ireland. $140–$550; ggfieldshop.com
Tags
Don’t be afraid to add a little old-school charm with silver liquor tags like these. $24; amazon.com
Glasses
The perfect match to the J. Hill Standard cut-crystal decanter above, also made by hand in Ireland’s Waterford region. $150 each; ggfieldshop.com
Trays
Sure, you could always go with something classic like a silver tray, but why not have a little more fun with these block tile stunners crafted from natural bone, black resin, and palm wood? $295–395; jaysonhome.com
Cocktail Napkins
Make a Southern statement without saying anything at all with a few well-placed stacks of these paper cocktail napkins by Fieldshop. $12; ggfieldshop.com
Ice Mold
An orb of sculpted ice resting in a gorgeous glass is a thing of beauty. And purpose—it melts more slowly than cubes or crushed ice. Now you know how all those bartenders do it. $14; amazon.com
Pellet Ice Maker
Look familiar? That’s because this pellet ice maker is the one Garden & Gun swears by for juleps or a quick-melting addition to a single pour. $410; amazon.com
Julep Cups and Straws
Speaking of juleps, these are perfect examples of the iconic cups, made by Maryland’s Salisbury Silver. We’re also fans of this ingenious straw and spoon combination for scooping the good stuff. $55 each for the julep cups; ggfieldshop.com and $4 each for the julep spoons; ggfieldshop.com
Flasks
For tailgating and days in the field, add another flask or two from Sertodo Copper in Texas to your collection. $110–115; food52.com
