Wear your sneakers. Drink your whiskey.
Life is short. You work too hard to let these things we love collect dust in the name of the "perfect moment".
I’ve been sitting on a $145 bottle of bourbon for 19 months.
The bottle, a Dread River Distillery Master Series release, is a Kentucky Bourbon blended by Master Blender Eboni Major. The 100-proof release is a combination of October 2017 and January 2019 liquid, and yields “approachable notes of cherry and apples combined with oak and hints of light vanilla. A delicate hint of spice and warmth to coat along the smooth finish.”
Of note, Major is a pioneer in the whiskey industry as the first Black female whiskey blender (Bulleit Bourbon) and is a 2015 graduate from Alabama A&M. She now runs Major Spirits, and is hyperfocused on bringing women of color along with her for the ride.
“[I remember] what it’s like to be in their shoes and to want to enter something but not know how,” Major said to SoulPhoodie in 2023. “Making sure that I bring those women along my journey to build Major Spirits is probably the most important part of this for me.”
I love everything about her story, and I’ve talked with a few folks who have tasted the final product. The juice is really good. The online community seems to agree.
Yet, I can’t talk myself into cracking the damn bottle.
Over the last five years, my purchasing of sneakers has risen exponentially.
It’s not that I wasn’t buying shoes in the past. I’d say that I’ve been able to afford to be a quasi-sneakerhead for the last 15 years. However, these days, I can say I’m able to be more selective, and I’m willing to pay a premium on occasion. Now I look at my shelves where my sneakers are, and they are full. Too full. Slightly overflowing.
This is funny because I’ve worked in a hybrid/fully remote role in my day job for the last four years. The only shoes I consistently wear to work are my Nike or Adidas slides as I make my way to my office on the other side of the house.
And yet, the times I do step outside, I’m forcing myself to put these damn sneakers on. New Air Jordans? Rocking ‘em. Crispy Adidas Ozweegos? Stunt mode. Nike Air Trainer 1s? You see me in ‘em.
Anyone who loves wearing shoes will admit that they get a slight emotional high when someone observes and compliments what’s on their feet. When my wife puts on some cute new heels, I’m letting her know. When one of the homies comes out for drinks and they have on some fresh New Balance 550s, a good compliment might yield him buying the first round. (That “might” is probably doing some heavy lifting)
I believe wearing fresh kicks can improve one’s mood. If you’re in a good mood, others will feel it and the vibes become more immaculate.
Here’s a revelation. Hopefully, you don’t think less of me for it.
When I’m at home, and I want to sip some brown, I usually go for my cheaper stuff. Wild Turkey 101. Four Roses Yellow Label. Michter’s US-1. Uncle Nearest 1884. I don’t regularly sip anything that costs more than $50, and even that price is probably up a bit in recent years. (I’m not as broke as I used to be.)
But, the increase in premium bottles on my bar is up as well. I look on my shelves now and I see plenty of bottles that cost me about as much as I spend on my sneakers. I used to be in Chuck Taylors and Air Force 1 bottle cost territory. Now, I venture into Jordan range when I’m ready to spoil myself.
Recently, I did crack a pretty pricey bottle, Dark Arts Amburana Oak Stave Finished Rye that I copped at Taste Select Repeat. After taxes and shipping, the total cost was $115. (Of note, please don’t take that a higher price = high quality spirit. But I can admit that a higher price might make me hesitate on cracking a new bottle.)
When I cracked the bottle, I was hanging out with a few friends to watch the opening weekend of college football. Cigars were smoked. Stories were shared. Juice was poured. I was excited to break Dark Arts out. I got to tell the story of the whiskey, where I got it from and wanting to hear the homies’ thoughts on it. The homies, knowing I keep a few good bottles on me, probably came by the house hoping I’d cracking something for their enjoyment.
At the end of the night, half of the bottle was down and a good time was had. I’d like to think cracking a cool bottle with good people had something to do with it.
Wear your sneakers. Drink your whiskey. Ask yourself, what am I actually saving these for? Ask yourself, should I stunt or nah?
Always stunt. Have a happy Friday and a great weekend.
This was such a great essay, friend. Thanks for sharing. Life is both too short and too long to not enjoy the fruits of our labor.
I learned about Open That Bottle night during the first phase of the panny and this is a reminder that I need to actually put it on my calendar. Salud.