As you know if you keep up with this blog on the regular or follow me on Instagram, I wear a lot of hats in this freelance life, including covering a range of topics that fall under the “men’s lifestyle” umbrella, from flannel shirts to sturdy pocket knives to the best leather boots and yes, luxury spirits.

This week covered off on nearly every single one of those bases in my many writing (and extracurricular) pursuits — take, for instance, the ultra-luxurious Andrés Brugal Edition 02 rum as shown above.

I was fortunate enough to get an exclusive first look at the rum for Maxim, and also fortunate enough to attend a launch event celebrating the very rare liquid itself. But spirits weren’t my only focus this week: A new luxury Audemars Piguet watch (just a bit out of my price range) debuted in a vivid shade of green, while my focus elsewhere shifted to some of the best new spring menswear of 2025.

As you know if you read this blog, a wardrobe refresh is in order with the changing of the seasons, from the best new Taylor Stitch sweater to buy now, right on through to a durable and dependable Buck Mason x Lee trucker jacket.

So, we’ve got fresh updates to classics — in the spirits, watch and menswear worlds, of course — and plenty to look forward to on an early spring weekend in Brooklyn for yours truly. Here are a few more choice reads and style selections to start your weekend right way, my friends.

• Speaking of fresh spring style finds to power a new season, how’s this for an introduction to some “freshness” in your wardrobe? For my friends at Cool Material — where I’ll be writing semi-regularly these days! — I covered the top menswear color trends of 2025 and how to wear ’em. I also spotlighted some key selections from top style brands, ones you know, love and have seen on this blog. To start a new season off right, give these picks a look at Cool Material, my friends.

• The theme of today’s Friday Read seems to be wearing many hats, or testing out plenty of categories in that elusive and ultimately fun “men’s lifestyle” space. And as you know if you follow me on Instagram, I’m serious about my music and about my audio equipment to guide the process. That’s why I jumped at the chance to test out the new H20 Audio RIPT LITE Headphones. They’re compact, they’re built for performance — mainly zipping around Brooklyn on foot, on my end — and they’re also ideal for athletes who value a secure pair of headphones for a variety of pursuits. They’re also a better deal than Apple AirPods, for instance, and I’ve found that they stay put and boast long battery life. If you’re in the market for some new headphones, you might want to snag a pair of the H20 Audio RIPT LITE Headphones.

• Let’s send you off into the weekend the right way — with one more stylish shopping selection, of course. That’d be my pick for a discounted men’s blazer, the Wills Garment-Dyed Blazer from my good friends at Huckberry. I covered it here on the blog earlier this week, and it’s up for grabs in a versatile Navy color for weeks on end of seasonal style enjoyment. Happy shopping, my friends.

That’ll wrap up this guide to new spring style trends and gear quite nicely, I’d say. What’s on your seasonal wish list? If you have plans to hit the road or the trail, might I suggest checking out a selection or two from the performance-driven gear rotation via Proof and Huckberry?

The Proof 72-Hour Merino T-Shirt, with moisture-wicking, anti-microbial properties and plenty of durability, is a personal favorite. And with that: Let’s gear up, get out there and make the most of this spring weekend! Cheers to style, spring sips and more, my friends.