Castle & Cairn

Founded in 2018 by  fitness influencer Katy Hearn and her husband Haydn Schneider, Alani Nu (part of parent company Congo Brands which also owns PRIME hydration) sought to disrupt an energy drink category historically dominated by masculine branding and marketed almost exclusively towards young men. Alani's marketing features bright and vibrant color palettes while prominently featuring women and more traditionally female activities. The vibes-based plan complete with abundant influencer marketing and wellness adjacent value-prop seems to have gained traction with the brand surpassing $1billion in global sales for fiscal 2025. Beyond energy drinks, Alani Nu also has pre-workout, shakes, snacks, and energy stick offerings.  Orange Kiss débuted in 2024 as a permanent addition to the standing Alani Lineup, seeking to provide a more acidic take on orange flavor while avoiding the syrup and sticky sweetness of full-sugar sodas.  🛒 Price: $16.59 for 12-cans, note this refle...

One of the more fun gimmicks in whiskey, Jim Beam Devil's Cut  consists of the standard Jim Beam juice you know and love blended with bourbon extracted from the staves of the barrel. While you may be aware of the "angel's share" of whiskey that evaporates during aging, there is also a "Devil's cut" of whiskey trapped within the wood of the barrel itself. Beam first released the offering in 2011 where it was the first addition to the namesake line since the flavored Red Stag launch a few years earlier. The premise is simple, craft a slightly higher proof bourbon with a heightened presence of barrel character and some edgy marketing to go alongside it. Master Distiller Fred Noe drew inspiration from the historical practice of "barrel sweating" by which producers introduced small amounts of water to a used barrel and rolled it to extract some of the held alcohol. Beam's proprietary extraction loop uses a combination of mechanical and thermal e...

Now a property of Midwest Grain Products (MGP), Penelope began as a well-regarded NDP named after one of the founder's firstborn. Known for finished bourbons like the Architect Series, Penelope has released a number of iterations in the Cooper Series, pairing their bourbon with various wood types and used casks from around the globe.  Rosé Cask Finish was the first offering to be introduced in the series and features French Rosé wine casks from the Southern Rhône region. This particular pour comes from Batch #10 which was bottled in March/April of 2025. Rosé Cask typically places in the 90s (100pt scale) for major competitions and won a gold at SFWS 2023 and platinum at ASCOT 2023.  🛒 Sourced: $49.99 for 750ml from Smyrna World of Beverage, April 2026. Penelope does typically have rebates available online.  🧪 Proof: 94 proof, 47% ABV - Finished bourbons usually have flavor above and beyond their proof. 🎨 Color: R4  - ruddy orange with some decent thicknes...

Your classic coffee representative in Dunkin' Donuts line of convenience-focused ready-to-drink cans, this tall-can Iced Espresso seeks to provide a balanced coffee centric flavor with the customary Dunkin' sweetness. First released March 10, 2026, the Dunkin' Double line consists of three flavors: Original, Cafe Mocha , and Salted Caramel, all featuring the equivalent of two shots of espresso (140mg of caffeine is in the typical 125-150 range for a doppio). I am still interested in the fact that it's an atypical 15oz can manufactured and distributed by the Coca-Cola company. The series features real milk and cane sugar. 🌍 Origin: Unknown 🔥 Roast Level: Espresso Roast (supposedly), definitely on the darker end. 🧪 Brew Method: Industrial Bean Extraction (pressurized tanks with forced hot water to produce coffee concentrate). 👅 Experience:   Very roasty and sweet. It reminds me of a slightly less sugary but more creamy version of their in-store dark roast iced cof...