Tag / the friday read

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: An Austin Exploration with Bearface Whisky

Bearface Whisky review

In my many freelance writing pursuits — as you’ll see if you keep up with my Instagram — I get to trek across North America and occasionally, the globe in pursuit of all sorts of stories. Think menswear, watches and whiskey — yes, whiskey and more whiskey, indeed. It’s been a big focus of mine as of late, especially this fall as I trekked to Wisconsin with The Macallan (I’ve also written recently about the best American microbrews to try this fall, though!).

And this week, in addition to writing about, say, the best gear to buy from Filson, I also had the chance to put some of those pieces into action as I hopped a flight south to Texas (ATX, more specifically) as a guest of Canada’s Bearface Whisky. Bearface, briefly, ages its whisky in the elements in northern Canada, out among forests and fields and not in traditional rickhouses.

This gives it plenty of character well-suited to the wilds of ranch life outside Austin, and Rambling Rose Ranch was where I found myself this week tasting a suitable number of Bearface expressions (that’s Rambling Rose pictured above here).

Austin, with its downhome character (in certain pockets) and its deep Western roots proved a fitting tie-in for Bearface, hailing from western Canada and making some curious whisky (including one elementally aged using wild Matsutake, which I tried at a tasting dinner in Brooklyn last winter).

Learn more now about Bearface Whisky

It was yet another journey I’m thankful to get to experience in this freelance writing life, and it also included stops at Bearface-approved spots like the Firehouse Lounge and Midnight Cowboy. Other ATX favorites of mine include Zilker Brewing (as seen below) and Easy Tiger for a plentiful selection of outstanding local and regional beer.

With that being said, there’s more on the way from my Austin experience — horseback riding on a ranch and a longhorn tour (as you might have seen on my Instagram) tend to go nicely with whisky inspired by the wilderness.

On this front here at The Style Guide, it’s back to menswear in Brooklyn this weekend, starting with tomorrow’s very fall-centric Style Pick of the Week. I think you’ll find you could wear it quite easily to enjoy some standout spirits — that’s the M.O. here at your favorite Brooklyn style blog, after all. Cheers and as always, thanks for reading!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: A Pennsylvania Cabin Weekend & New Fall Menswear From Huckberry

Flint and Tinder Fall 2024 menswear.

We’re back in action on a Friday in a big way here at your favorite Brooklyn style blog, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s a prime Northeast fall weekend after all, the kind that makes you want to break out as many fall style essentials as your wardrobe and your seasonal #OOTD can handle.

And it’s the kind of weekend well-suited for the rugged, utterly classic yet modern stylings of Flint and Tinder, everyone’s favorite in-house brand from the fine folks at Huckberry.

Learn more now at Huckberry

The Flint and Tinder Fall 2024 Collection just dropped, and it features a slew of seriously cool, durable icons, like the Flint and Tinder Waxed Trucker Jacket — and so much more beyond that, of course. We just talked on the blog, of course, about a standout new waxed jacket from Flint and Tinder, and that piece is just one of the many stars of this collection.

It’s packed with the sort of menswear I positively can’t get enough of, and I’ll be bringing my trusty Flint and Tinder Waxed Trucker Jacket on a fitting fall weekend excursion of my own, as luck would have it. I’m off into the wilderness of northeast Pennsylvania for a true log cabin getaway weekend with my love Mary, and I’m bringing plenty of rugged Huckberry menswear with me.

Shop fall weekend essentials at Huckberry

On the agenda? Bonfires, whiskey, day hikes and leisurely cabin mornings, just as the good folks at Huckberry (and a good few many of my other favorite brands) would have it. For this occasion, I’ll be off the grid, but you can expect some posts here and there on my Instagram. To say I can’t wait for some relaxation and a true chance to test out fall style favorites is an understatement.

And of course, a weekend duo of two fall menswear posts awaits you here at home. Thanks for following along, thanks for reading and here’s to the best season for men’s style!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Trekking to Wisconsin for The Macallan Experience

Welcome once again to another edition of the Friday Read, which once again sees me hitting the road in fine fashion as part of my many freelance writing pursuits. This weekend in particular is quite the special one, as it blends two of my favorite things: The fall beauty of the Midwest (in this case, lovely Kohler, Wisconsin, courtesy of Kohler, Wisconsin), plus some of the finest Scotch on the planet.

That list of my favorite things also includes some of the most rugged menswear on the market, which I’ll be bringing with me as I trek back to the Midwest (my Blundstone boots are a press trip staple, after all).

Learn more now at Destination Kohler

It’s a fitting trip, one I’ve been looking forward to for some time. After all, I’m lucky enough to be able to write about The Macallan Scotch at sites like Maxim.com, and this weekend’s The Macallan Experience puts it all in perspective in a way that only a fine luxury Scotch maker can do.

The weekend includes accommodations at the luxurious American Club Resort, as well as the chance to indulge in some of the finer things in life.

Chief among them? An exclusive Scotch tasting, plus the chance to experience the great outdoors via a morning fly fishing experience. Sign me up and deal me in, as the heritage of fly fishing and Scotch runs deep (after all, The Macallan works to protect The River Spey on its hallowed estate).

Learn more about the latest from The Macallan

Across the past few years, I’ve been privileged enough to immerse myself in the world of luxury Scotch and travel, and this weekend’s latest adventure is a fitting “Venn diagram,” a meeting in the middle of two of my very favorite things. For now, follow along on my Instagram as I taste some of the best Macallan Scotch on the market, and stay tuned for updates on my travels. Cheers!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Visiting “Downton Abbey” with Highclere Castle Gin

Highclere Castle Gin.

My friends, welcome back to another edition of my weekday-ending recap, The Friday Read, where we touch on a little bit of everything — menswear very much included — in a way that’s a little bit different than the process here at The Style Guide the rest of the week.

You see, if you keep up with me on Instagram, you know that I wear a lot of hats among my many freelance writing pursuits, from covering the best sneakers for GQ to writing about the best new Scotch at Maxim and keeping up with all things fall style within the confines of this site (and others).

And as with my trip just last week to El Tesoro Tequila to try a stellar lineup of excellent new tequila, I once again hopped a flight — this time, a longer, trans-Atlantic flight to follow the story and the spirit.

Read my latest spirits writing here

The itinerary and the goal this time around? Trekking to historic Highclere Castle — a real-life castle and yes, the actual home of acclaimed TV and film series “Downton Abbey.” Not bad for a weekday work trip, right? Among other adventures, the trip took back the curtain on the excellent Highclere Castle Gin, a bottle that absolutely belongs in your bar cart (and one that’s often priced at below $30 in the United States).

Learn more about Highclere Castle here

There’s much to love about Highclere Castle Gin, which actually launched much more recently than one might expect — just before the pandemic hit, in fact. It was founded in part by entrepreneur Adam von Gootkin, who dreamed up the idea for the spirit and brought it to life with the help of the castle’s own Lord and Lady Carnarvon. Your average back-bar gin backed by a massive corporate conglomerate, this is not.

And yet, the gin tastes just as historic and acclaimed as its larger counterparts, with centuries of pedigree backed up by its namesake home. Along with two days spent tasting gin and wandering the grounds of Highclere Castle, a stop in London (at the Other House Kensington) and an excellent gin pairing dinner at The Stafford London was in order. In The Stafford’s historic wine cellar, fellow writers, influencers and supporters of Highclere Castle dined on some stunning dishes (again, follow me on Instagram for real-time action).

We tried a forthcoming new expression (more to come soon!) and chiefly, trekked the iconic and instantly recognizable grounds — shoutout to my traveling companion, drinking buddy and formidable writer Brian Freedman.

The Highclere Castle Barrel-Aged Gin was a particular highlight, with unexpected smoke and citrus notes thanks to aging in Armagnac barrels (among other processes). The best part is, you can get Highclere Castle Gin online and in nine countries, and all at a remarkably low price. How’s that for a visit that’s worth hopping on a plane across the ocean?

Filson

It’s trips like these, ones where I get to experience exceptional spirits in a wonderful atmosphere — all while wearing some of my favorite menswear and carrying my favorite luggage for travel — that drive home that I positively love what I do when it comes to my many freelance writing pursuits.

On that front, you can assuredly look for much more on my trip very soon at sites like CoolMaterial.com, where I’ve got a couple stories in the hopper just yet. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to a restful weekend back in Brooklyn, where “flannel shirt weather” continues to creep in slowly but surely.

As always, you can expect a series of weekend style posts incoming talking all about the best fall menswear. Stay stylish, stay thirsty and thanks for reading, my friends!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: An El Tesoro Tequila Trip & The Best Waxed Jackets from Huckberry

It’s hard to believe it’s Friday, and it’s even more difficult for me to believe that I’m back in the States after a whirlwind week that touched on a bit of everything as it relates to my many freelance writing pursuits. In covering everything from menswear to watches, I attended New York Fashion Week last week and saw new watches from Breitling and new (old) vintage menswear from L.L. Bean, as you might have seen on my Instagram.

Follow along on social media

And then from there, it was time to get down to the real business seen at the top of the page: A lightning-fast, 48-hour trip South of the Border earlier this week with none other than El Tesoro Tequila. It was part of a trip to sample expressions new and old at the famed La Alteña Distillery in the highlands outside of Guadalajara, and it was well worth the short turnaround time.

It was also well worth adding another arrow to my quiver, so to speak, in terms of covering spirits for sites like Maxim.com (in addition to the fine menswear you see on this site and at my other bylines).

The absolutely gorgeous agave fields proved a stunning highlight, as did a distillery tour that included sampling tequila right from the still (a high ABV mixed with a dangerously delicious taste and old-world craft). We also sampled some stellar El Tesoro flagship expressions and enjoyed an excellent, stone oven-fired traditional Mexican lunch. Most notably for yours truly: The chance to sample a top-secret, as-yet-to-be-announced release that uses, let’s say, some distinctive aging processes.

In fact, it builds on the El Tesoro legacy as the oldest traditionally made tequila in the world, and again, it was well worth the short yet highly informative, highly delicious visit. Look for much more on my trip to Mexico in the weeks ahead!

Best waxed trucker jacket for men.

Now, let’s shift gears here from some of the best tequila on the market to some of the best fall menswear, as I find the two go hand in hand quite nicely these days. That holds especially true if you’re shopping just about any new collection from the good folks at Huckberry, very much including the new Huckberry Waxed Jacket Outpost.

Huckberry waxed jackets review.

A full lineup of versatile, rugged and nearly too-good-to-be-true waxed jackets is dropping every week as we roll into fall, and if you haven’t yet experienced the joy of the wear-with-just-about-anything Flint and Tinder Waxed Trucker Jacket, there’s positively never been a better time.

In fact, I trust Huckberry menswear to help me crisscross the continent and the globe, as I wore my tough-as-nails Proof Rover Pants out into the agave fields (watch my Instagram soon for a recap post, of course). In my experience, the brand’s gear is as reliable as it gets, whether you opt for a classic Huckberry ballcap or something more sturdy and yet refined, like its Rhodes Footwear lineup of boots.

Shop men’s boots and more at Huckberry

Either way –with excellent El Tesoro Tequila or hard-working Huckberry menswear — you can’t go wrong any way you slice it this fine early (early) fall weekend. Check back tomorrow for the first of two regularly scheduled fall weekend style posts, and let’s raise a glass in fine fashion, my friends. Salud!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Breitling’s Newest Watches & New York Fashion Week 2024

My friends, welcome back to another edition of the week-closing, weekend-opening post we like to call the Friday Read around here. We tend to touch on a bit of everything in these posts, be it one of the best new bars in New York City, early fall menswear from Huckberry or both at the same time, and so it goes again today.

Flint and Tinder Waxed Trucker Jacket review.

It’s an especially momentous day in particular here, as we look toward a lovely weekend in the Big Apple — one packed with menswear galore, naturally. New York Fashion Week has revved up to full speed these past few days, and as part of my many freelance writing pursuits, I get the chance to indulge in runway shows and events aplenty, as with the debut last night of new watches from famed Swiss watchmaker Breitling at an event in the Meatpacking District.

In addition to debuting a handsome trio of 140th anniversary edition watches late last week, the watchmaker also just launched a series of Breitling NFL timepieces, a perfectly luxurious and stylish way to support your favorite team.

And with accommodations provided by the Gansevoort Hotel, I found the evening to be the ideal blend of refinement, taste, style and of course, American football. Elsewhere, I’ve stayed plenty busy on the writing front, especially with my daily pursuits for Maxim.com, where I covered Breitling’s 140th anniversary edition watches.

Read more about Breitling at Maxim.com

In the meantime as you prep for the weekend, I’d recommend you head over to the pages of this very blog to learn about how to win $12K — and rare Pappy Van Winkle whiskey! — from Huckberry itself. It’s a deal not to be missed, and it runs through September 26th – there’s never been a better time to shop the best fall menswear from Huckberry, quite literally.

Shop fall style now at Huckberry

You can also keep up with all the fall #menswear fun from NYFW and beyond if you follow me on Instagram, so give that a look as you wait for tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week. As always, stay stylish and thanks for reading!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: A Visit to NYC’s New Wonderland Bar & Labor Day Weekend Menswear Sales

Photo: Patrick Dolande/Courtesy of Wonderland NYC

My friends, welcome back to another edition of the Friday Read, where we (and by we, I mean me) cover a bit of everything under the sun these days, from menswear to spirits and occasionally, fine dining. Often, all three go together quite handily, as I’ve found out through my many freelance writing pursuits — and my coverage of spirits, food and drink over at Maxim.

Today, we’ll step away from typical menswear coverage towards something sure to whet your whistle, so to speak (for a dash of men’s style coverage, click that link).

Read my work for Maxim.com

My passion for spirits fortunately (and rather incredibly) opens up a great deal many doors, like the chance to imbibe and sip at some of the finest restaurants in New York City. That’s never a bad way to unwind ahead of a busy Labor Day weekend, and it’s often made all the better by the companionship of my blonde-haired sweetheart Mary, a lover of fine food and drink herself.

And that led me earlier this week to the immersive, whimsical and impressive Wonderland Bar NYC, a just-opened East Village experience that’s a step up from the more typical dive bars of the surrounding area.

Plan your visit to Wonderland Bar

For one, it boasts a menu helmed by Michelin starred chef Peter He — if you’ve been watching “The Bear” or following along with the restaurant industry at large, that’s a major deal. This new spin on a Sichuan gastropub lives up to the hype, and then some.

Wonderland Bar NYC review.
Photo: Patrick Dolande/Courtesy of Wonderland NYC

Its cocktails are theatrical in nature from start to finish, presentation very much included, and its food menu (divided into hot and cold plates) also adds some serious flair to the dining experience.

Just witness the flaming orb presentation of the incredible Shiso Leaf, boasting gin, shiso leaf, peach, ginger, syrup and lime in, well, an orb surrounded by a flaming garnish (you can see more on my Instagram, or at the top of the page, of course).

The New Fashioned, delivered in a smoking decanter and boasting a blend of truffle-oil-washed bourbon, simple syrup and bitters, also shines, while my personal favorite happened to be the blend of gin, ginger, cardamom, peach, passion fruit and lemon found in the All My Lovin’.

Mary also loved this option, and we both couldn’t get enough of the New Fashioned. There’s a nice divide between refreshing and crisp as well as savory, and all just so happen to pair nicely with Wonderland’s diverse food offering.

Photo: Patrick Dolande/Courtesy of Wonderland NYC

A selection of pleasantly spicy, savory bites complement these cocktails in expert fashion including the Chicken Skewers (a personal favorite) and the Peppercorn Squid, the most popular dish on the menu (and the favorite at our table).

But a true highlight, in rather astounding fashion, was the Kumamoto Oyster Ensemble, an oyster topped with uni and caviar. Yes, you read that right. If you love oysters, buckle up — while the serving size accounts for just one oyster, it’s absolutely astonishing.

The space itself, with a purple neon sign looking out over a ceiling adorned with greenery, is also eye-catching in its own right (especially if you dine in a booth styled like a bird cage). It’s a touch disco, a touch whimsical and truly wondrous.

Suffice to say, Wonderland delivers every step of the way: Presentation, flair, flavor and a seriously memorable atmosphere. It won’t be the last time you hear from me on this excellent new locale, so keep your eyes peeled for my byline.

Huckberry Labor Day Sale 2024.

Now, before I let you go — and before I let you start planning your next trip to the Big Apple, or at least your next night out in Manhattan, allow me to offer one menswear recommendation fit for a dive bar or a restaurant with Michelin cred. That, my friends, would be the chance to check out the Huckberry Labor Day Sale, where you can get an extra 15% off already on-sale gear at the lauded Huckberry Sale section.

It’s part of an action-packed slate of the best Labor Day menswear sales, including prime selections from brands like Todd Snyder and Taylor Stitch. And since it’s the last gasp of summer, it’s high time you added a few early fall selections to your cart, is it not? Cheers to the weekend, cheers to excellent food and drink, and cheers to excellent menswear close at hand all the while. Thanks, as ever, for reading!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Smart Casual Summer Style from Huckberry

When some things work, you know it right away in terms of your wardrobe of menswear essentials. That’s the topic up for debate — or rather, no debate at all — in today’s Friday Read, and that’s thanks to my good friends at Huckberry.

The classics are the classics for a reason, in terms of both effortless style and versatility, and the famed retailer just gets that right in every way possible via the latest and greatest Huckberry Smart Casual offering.

Learn more now and shop at Huckberry

The Huckberry Smart Casual offering has a little something for everyone, especially headed into a packed Brooklyn weekend for yours truly (and beyond, of course). For days at the office and wedding weekends in particular, Huckberry just delivers, and that holds true from season to season and situation to situation.

As the brand says, the Huckberry Smart Casual rotation includes breezy polos, iconic T-shirts, rugged leather jackets and expertly faded denim, to name but a few favorites. These are the kind of pieces you can mix and match with effortless ease, particularly leading from summer into early fall.

For smart casual style, look no further than the Huckberry Smart Casual rotation this weekend — that’s my latest and greatest #menswear tip heading into the weekend, and you can look for more where that came from very soon indeed.

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: A Scranton Music Festival Weekend in Northeast Pennsylvania

Good Things Are Happening Music Festival.

Thanks, my friends, for joining us for another edition of The Friday Read, where we cover a bit of everything written by yours truly — from gear to spirits to menswear — to sort out your weekend in style. Today’s post is a bit more of the same, just with a slightly different spin.

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I get the chance to hit the road consistently via my many freelance writing pursuits, from spirits to style, music, watches and more. In fact, this CoolMaterial.com review of my favorite Hamilton timepiece hails from one of my more recent freelance trips. But onto business!

Read more at CoolMaterial.com

This weekend’s jaunt is more on the personal side, although it does touch on my love of music, all the while featuring several talented friends in the industry. Naturally, I also cover indie music over at Atwood Magazine, so you can expect some thoughts in short order on, well, what we’re about to get into below!

Yes indeed, tomorrow I’ll be venturing out to the home of my blonde-haired sweetheart Mary – Scranton, PA! – for the Good Things Are Happening music festival, a bastion of indie rock put on by my friend and talented indie musician James Barrett (himself a Scranton native!).

There’s James above, rocking out last year at the festival he himself tirelessly organizes! James has become a dear friend of mine through our shared love of indie rockers The National, whom we’ve seen twice together in concert — talk about banner nights all around!

You could say that worlds are colliding, what with James’ music, my own personal connection to the area (Hi, Mary!) and of course, a very solid dose of music festival style incoming. I trekked Northeast to Boston in April to see The Killers play at the stellar Boston Calling music festival, so you might say I’m no stranger to festival style as of late (like the rugged, durable stretch jeans found below).

And this time, I plan to take on a sunny (yet likely muddy!) Scranton day wearing a few of my favorite style essentials from Huckberry — including rugged boots and my trusty denim jacket, of course. What’s on your packing list when you hit the road to a music festival?

The forecast calls for sunny skies, so here’s hoping it holds out — and here’s to another standout weekend of craft beer, great tunes, friendship and, dare I say, love! What are you spinning as of late? Let me know in the comments below, and stay tuned for more menswear and music content incoming via my Instagram. Cheers, my friends!

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: A Summer Weekend in Nashville at The Joseph Hotel

Folks, welcome to another Friday on The Style Guide, and another dispatch from the road as part of my many freelance writing pursuits. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see that I cover much more than the best menswear, including fine luxury spirits, travel, watches and audio gear. And in the case of my latest freelance jaunt (past trips this year have included stints in Ireland and Germany!), worlds are colliding, so to speak.

I’m currently on the road in rollicking Nashville, which just so happens to be home to a heck of a lot more than just honky-tonks and rock venues (although it’s a mecca for those, too). I’m here on behalf of The Joseph Hotel, a luxe, contemporary art-filled space known for its immaculate Four Walls craft cocktail bar.

Learn more now via The Joseph

The luxurious bar is the site of the action this weekend, as it’s playing host to a momentous mixology pop-up. Four Walls is turning into a collaborative flagship for London’s famed Lyaness for a limited time, and the cocktails on offer should be very opulent indeed.

Four Walls Bar at The Joseph.

As if it wasn’t exciting enough to sample some of the world’s most carefully crafted libations, each cocktail draws on a distinctly Nashville source of inspiration: The Frist Art Museum’s current gallery exhibition, Lee Alexander McQueen & Ann Ray: Rendez-Vous.

Myself and my fellow travel and spirits journalists will taste our way through the Four Walls menu, experience the Frist Art Museum gallery in all its engaging creativity, and of course, take in other iconic Nashville destinations, like the Gibson Garage.

It’s the Music City meeting mixology meeting modern art, and I positively can’t wait for another round. I’ve traveled to the Music City in the past and also loved checking out menswear hot spots like denim and Americana atelier Imogene + Willie, always a personal favorite brand when it comes to the best men’s jeans and more.

Best chambray shirt for men.

There’s no shortage of exciting sights, sounds and sips in Nashville any way you slice it, especially at a seriously cool hotel like The Joseph. To keep up with all the action this weekend, head to my Instagram, and in the meantime, you can expect two stylish summer dispatches hitting the blog this weekend, including tomorrow’s Style Pick of the Week. As always, thanks for reading, thanks for following along and THANK YOU for supporting my work! Cheers!