We’re launching into another action-packed Brooklyn summer weekend and getting back down to business after plenty of time on the road — join me, won’t you?
As you might have seen if you follow me on Instagram, and if you keep up with my many freelance writing pursuits, I spent the better part of last week in Louisville, Kentucky, the heart of American bourbon country and a place I’ve trekked to quite frequently this last handful of years as I cover spirits, gear and more for outlets like Maxim.
Of course, it goes without saying that this Brooklyn style blog keeps me plenty busy as well, as I scour the market for the best menswear essentials from tried-and-true brands — several of which I get to review and write about as I crisscross the country! More on that in the weeks ahead as my summer travel schedule ramps up.
The occasion for the trip was a rather special one – as tends to be the case when I head to the heartland of stellar bourbon, and one I’d had on my bucket list for some time now. I had the chance to visit Rabbit Hole Distillery alongside a group of fellow spirits pros and writers, not to mention distillery founder and bourbon innovator Kaveh Zamanian.
It’s among the finest whiskey I’ve had in some time (particularly the Boxergrain expression), although I’d also count Maker’s Mark Star Hill Farms — as seen below! — as another winning selection in my quest to taste the best bourbon on the planet.
He founded Rabbit Hole a little more than a decade ago after a career as a therapist, a fascinating pivot that lends itself nicely to experimentation and a sense of attention to detail. After humble beginnings building the distillery from the ground up, Rabbit Hole now makes some of the most innovative American whiskey out there, with an equally innovative distillery design to match (it’s situated in NuLu, a buzzed-about and up-and-coming neighborhood with plenty of character).
The distillery, now owned by Pernod Ricard, uses extremely distinct malting processes and mash bills to produce several whiskies exclusive to its distillery, situated not far from the excellent Hotel Genevieve — for now, let me say that if you find yourself in Bourbon Country, U.S.A, put Rabbit Hole Distillery at the top of your list to visit.
As luck would have it, these spirits-focused trips — and even the many events I attended this past week as part of annual spirits extravaganza Bar Convent Brooklyn — are the perfect opportunity to test out the best summer menswear from companies like Huckberry.
Luckily, durable denim, rugged leather boots and breezy summer shirting prove mighty helpful when going from a distillery tour to a dinner at one of The ‘Ville’s finest establishments (allow me to recommend Bob’s Steak and Chop House at the Omni Hotel, plus Southern-meets-Japanese fusion establishment Enso).
What sort of gear do you bring to hit the road? Hopefully, this style blog proves helpful in those many pursuits, but as ever, you can expect two weekend style posts in the days ahead. Beating the heat in style, whether in Kentucky or back in Brooklyn, is the name of the game, my friends. In fact, might I suggest this stylish Billy Reid linen shirt or else a travel-ready Huckberry blazer to cement your next summer #OOTD?
You can expect more where that came from in the days and weeks ahead — as ever, stay stylish, thanks for reading, thanks for following along and imbibing with me! Here’s to a Brooklyn summer weekend — cheers, my friends.
The Style Guide 