Happy Tax Day! By now, we hope you've finished your return. (If not, you have about 12 hours to get to the post office. And... go!)
If you're one of the lucky ones, that means a nice fat check is coming your way.
We wouldn't be Liquor.com if we didn't suggest spending your windfall on improvements for your bar. So we've assembled a few high-end drinking optimizations. From the world's most expensive gin to a special gold-plated set of whiskey chillers, your refund will be put to good use with any of these luxe items. (Did you owe the government? Check out our set of cost-saving liquor hacks.)
1
THE BRANDY
D’Usse XO Cognac ($230)
Cognac lovers rejoiced when this new brand released its first expression—a $50, four-year-old VSOP—18 months ago. But you’ll have to hold on to that refund a little longer to try this luxurious bottling: The sippable blend of eaux-de-vie aged at least 10 years rolls out next month. We got a sneak preview recently and tasted lots of orange and apricot.
More from Liquor.com: 8 "Corrected" Coffee Drinks
Cognac lovers rejoiced when this new brand released its first expression—a $50, four-year-old VSOP—18 months ago. But you’ll have to hold on to that refund a little longer to try this luxurious bottling: The sippable blend of eaux-de-vie aged at least 10 years rolls out next month. We got a sneak preview recently and tasted lots of orange and apricot.
More from Liquor.com: 8 "Corrected" Coffee Drinks
2
THE ICE REPLACER
Executive Balls of Steel ($499)
The cheekily named Balls of Steel are, well, balls of steel, with a special core that packs as much cooling power as six ice cubes. And this special set—only 25 will be sold—features 18-karat-gold-plated spheres in a hand-made alder box. Sounds frivolous, but there’s a good cause behind it: $400 from each set’s purchase price will go to the MD Anderson Cancer Center to help fight testicular cancer.
More from Liquor.com: Our Favorite Three-Ingredient Cocktails
The cheekily named Balls of Steel are, well, balls of steel, with a special core that packs as much cooling power as six ice cubes. And this special set—only 25 will be sold—features 18-karat-gold-plated spheres in a hand-made alder box. Sounds frivolous, but there’s a good cause behind it: $400 from each set’s purchase price will go to the MD Anderson Cancer Center to help fight testicular cancer.
More from Liquor.com: Our Favorite Three-Ingredient Cocktails
3
THE SCOTCH
M by The Macallan Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($5,000)
Every two years or so, The Macallan releases an extra-special, ultra-aged Scotch bottled in a custom Lalique crystal container. The most recent—a 62-year-old that went for $25,000—is long gone, but you can capture some of its magic with this luxe whisky. The deeply complex spirit is aged in Spanish sherry casks and packaged in a specially designed decanter, also by Lalique.
More from Liquor.com: Irresistable Designer Bottles
Every two years or so, The Macallan releases an extra-special, ultra-aged Scotch bottled in a custom Lalique crystal container. The most recent—a 62-year-old that went for $25,000—is long gone, but you can capture some of its magic with this luxe whisky. The deeply complex spirit is aged in Spanish sherry casks and packaged in a specially designed decanter, also by Lalique.
More from Liquor.com: Irresistable Designer Bottles
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4
THE GIN
Nolet’s Reserve Gin ($700)
Normally, gins, even high-end ones, don’t reach the astronomical prices of other spirits. But this precious Dutch spirit is the exception. On top of the standard botanicals, it’s flavored with subtle verbena and rare (and expensive) saffron. Each bottle is individually approved by Carolus Nolet, Sr., the 10th-generation distiller whose family has been making liquor since 1691.
More from Liquor.com: 12 Cocktails to Drink Before You Die
Normally, gins, even high-end ones, don’t reach the astronomical prices of other spirits. But this precious Dutch spirit is the exception. On top of the standard botanicals, it’s flavored with subtle verbena and rare (and expensive) saffron. Each bottle is individually approved by Carolus Nolet, Sr., the 10th-generation distiller whose family has been making liquor since 1691.
More from Liquor.com: 12 Cocktails to Drink Before You Die
5
THE PORT
Taylor Fladgate 1964 Single Harvest Tawny Port ($300)
If you are—or know somebody—turning 50 this year, we can’t think of a better present than this rich after-dinner sipper. It’s spent the last half-century resting in oak, resulting in a bewilderingly complex array of nutty, spicy and molasses notes and a lingering finish. The new bottling is the first in a series of 50-year-old wines the brand plans to introduce annually.
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If you are—or know somebody—turning 50 this year, we can’t think of a better present than this rich after-dinner sipper. It’s spent the last half-century resting in oak, resulting in a bewilderingly complex array of nutty, spicy and molasses notes and a lingering finish. The new bottling is the first in a series of 50-year-old wines the brand plans to introduce annually.
More from Liquor.com: 8 Celebrities Who Used to Be Bartenders
6
THE BAR TOOL
Titanium Cobbler Shaker ($138)
You’ve probably heard of gold- or silver-plated bar tools, but here’s a whole new chemical element, imported from Japan by the bartender-favorite shop Cocktail Kingdom. Titanium is much lighter than the usual stainless steel, making this vessel perfect for drinks that take lots of shaking, like the Ramos Gin Fizz. It’s also super-strong, so it’ll last basically forever. Plus, “titanium” just sounds cool.
More from Liquor.com: 10 Things Probably Missing from Your Home Bar
You’ve probably heard of gold- or silver-plated bar tools, but here’s a whole new chemical element, imported from Japan by the bartender-favorite shop Cocktail Kingdom. Titanium is much lighter than the usual stainless steel, making this vessel perfect for drinks that take lots of shaking, like the Ramos Gin Fizz. It’s also super-strong, so it’ll last basically forever. Plus, “titanium” just sounds cool.
More from Liquor.com: 10 Things Probably Missing from Your Home Bar
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