[butterfly3321]

Given that the art of making cigars has existed for more than 500 years, one must marvel at the innovation exhibited in the Foundry (www.cigarworld.com, $7.95 to $9.45) cigars. Inspired by H. G. Wells and the modern steampunk movement, each Foundry cigar features a parchment-like band encircled by a ridged metal gear—a guaranteed conversation-starter. “The cigars are made from five different tobaccos that no one in the industry has ever used before,” says Michael Giannini, the creative director of General Cigar Company, one of the largest cigar makers in the world. “There is no Dominican, Nicaraguan, or Honduran tobacco in these cigars at all.”

[Renton777]

In fact, Foundry cigars contain five proprietary tobaccos—all aged three to six years—from four unnamed countries. The 8-year-old wrapper is known only as H-47 Pleno Sol—which might very well be the model number of the alien robot that, one imagines, rolls these mild, futuristic stogies. Of the four available shapes, our favorite is the diagonally cut 6½ × 60 Cayley, which is named for Sir George Cayley, the father of modern flying machines.

[phoebebright]

[vishwambar]

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[Tritonio]

"The MHA200 is a hell of a headphone amplifier." more

[Marlsfarp]

Robb Report Magazine has named the McIntosh McAire among 2013’s Best of the Best in its recently released June issue, the luxury authority’s 25th-annual Best of the Best edition.

[kavinaustin65]

"A contender for the best tube headphone amp manufactured to date." [links]

[marktaylor142]

"Compact music docks are rarely used for anything but background music, but the McIntosh McAire has the power and precision to take center stage."

[geebus]

Thanks to its coastal-hillside setting on Virgin Gorda, Oil Nut Bay (284.393.1000, www.oilnutbay.com) offers an ocean view with each of its 88 homesites ($2 million to $15 million). The 400-acre property launched in 2009 but came to fruition in the past year with the debut of its 8,700-square-foot beach club (with three swimming pools, a bar, and a restaurant), a wellness center, and three Cliff House villas where potential buyers can stay (Oil Nut Bay does not have a hotel) and get a taste of this exclusive Caribbean community. more

[edwinc112]

Twenty-three of the homesites at Oil Nut Bay have been purchased, and six homes are now being completed. The residences emphasize indoor/outdoor living and are limited to one story and 15,000 square feet of air-conditioned space. The community’s amenities include a forthcoming marina village that will supply enough permanent slips for every owner at Oil Nut Bay.

[wizeman]

[links]

[m0Ray]

[bitmice]

With every new release of DeLeón, Brent Hocking takes his interpretation of superpremium tequila to the next level of aging—except in the case of Leóna (www.thelastdrink.com, $825), which has been aged for 34 months, just two months shy of qualifying as an extra añejo. “We tasted this tequila every two months,” says Hocking, “and at 34 months, we felt it had reached perfection. Any longer in the barrels and the oak would have taken over.”

[Celine]

The tequila is aged in 2007 Château d’Yquem barrels, which imbue this limited-edition, bronze-hued añejo-plus with their characteristic hint of cinnamon. Deeper essences of rose petal, toasted orange peel, and cherry also emerge. Leóna’s smooth texture is reminiscent of Cognac, though the black python-skin flask that accompanies each handblown glass bottle suggests that this intriguing spirit is derived from more exotic ingredients than grapes. Hocking enhanced the tequila’s mystical allure by launching it on December 21, 2012: the apocalyptic date associated with the Mayan Long Count calendar. Fortunately, we are all still here to enjoy it. more

[franktollingu]

[rosszapin96]