The Art of the Ritual: Fireside
Cozy Vibes and Fireside Chats. Elevate your Fireside Rituals
with Pappy Van Winkle Cocktails and Cigars
Perhaps because of the weather, or that is the lead-up to the holiday season, but Fall seems preternaturally full of rituals. Naturally, you have apple picking, pumpkin picking, and treks through the dramatically changing landscapes to experience fall foliage in all of its colorful beauty. Of course, there are Friday night football games and the corresponding, beloved ritual of tailgating, and seasonal entertaining that usually revolves around being outside (maybe even around a fire pit or hosting an oyster roast).
The general excitement returns each season as we embrace the cozy vibes of fall, pulling out our sweaters and boots to welcome the crisp mornings, chilly evenings, and the permeating aroma of fireplaces as they roar back to life with the best of the season. We can’t think of anything better than the unmistakable and welcoming crackle of a fireplace, and the fragrant hint of the coziness within as it carries itself on the wind, on a Sunday afternoon. Now toss in chili that has been simmering all day, a cocktail poured into a favorite glass, and a Pappy Van Winkle cigarawaiting its moment in a well-crafted cigar rest or ashtray from our Pappy & Company Woodshop, and you have a distinctly welcoming fireside ritual.
Maybe it's the subtle comfort of secondary relaxation, or the memory, both real and collectively shared, of our dad Julian Van Winkle III, his dad, Julian Van Winkle II, or his dad, Pappy Van Winkle, as they would sink into a well worn chair by the fire, slowly swirling a glass in their hand, while they delight in an afternoon cigar in front of the fire, that makes a fireplace ritual tantamount to sacred in our minds. Or, in the same way a campfire can conjure up the image and memory of cooking s'mores and chasing fireflies, the combined sensory experience of a fireplace or a fire pit with a cigar is nostalgic, relaxing, and the epitome of a cozy ritual.
For something to reach the status of a ritual, it simply needs to be a shared experience that follows the same practiced steps, often laid out over generations or centuries. Each step in the carefully choreographed routine carries significant meaning, and together, this beautiful dance produces a shared experience, a collective memory, and connects you to yourself and others in a transformative way.
A fireside ritual begins with actually laying the fire. Carrying in the wood, and assembling the fire, is an act of service, and one that has been roughly the same since the dawn of well, time and the discovery of fire itself. You collect your accompanying details: a favorite chair, glass, cocktail, and cigar. You pour yourself a cocktail, perhaps one you have waited all week to make, one that may even require specific ingredients or flair. You pull a cigarout of the humidor, use your custom Pappy Van Winkle cutter and lighter, and let it rest, the invitation of the wafting notes meeting that of the fire for a multi-layered sensory experience. You settle in, and just as the power of music can transport you to a place or memory in time, the act of walking through each step of this ritual brings instant calm, relaxation, and comfort.
It was the goal to enhance these beloved rituals, inviting you to share them, elevate them, and embrace their uniquely special place in celebrating the small moments of our everyday lives, which inspired us to create Pappy & Company in the first place.
It may seem like a ritual would require a complicated set of steps or accessories; however, that couldn't be further from the case. While they can be multi-layered and require intricate details and set-up, a ritual can be as simple as a morning cup of coffee. That simply requires a mug, your favorite coffee, and a moment of quiet.
There is something especially tranquil, and almost hypnotically transfixing, about a fireside ritual. It alters your state of mind, positively impacts your physical comfort, produces a nearly immediate stress release, and it is a visual and emotional sensory experience. It is also essentially synonymous with cozy. If you were to close your eyes and picture the epitome of a cozy moment, we’d imagine almost everyone envisages being around a fireplace. It can evoke strong feelings of comfort and belonging, and even community, inviting a significant and instant warmth, both internally and externally, and leaving you relaxed, happy, and peaceful.
So, just what do you need to create or enhance your own fireside ritual, curate your own environment for a personal fireside chat, engage in this delicious self-care ritual, and embrace those cozy fall vibes?
Unwind with Pappy: Relax, restore and share rituals
Pappy Van Winkle Inspired Fireside Rituals: The Essentials
A cocktailthat infuses your senses with warmth, familiarity, and comfort. Especially one with the inviting fall flavors of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged layers of charred oak, sweet buttery caramel, and hints of vanilla.
The Traditional One: Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Old Fashioned
The Sophisticated One: Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Espresso Martini
The Spicy One:Pappy Van Winkle Bloody Mary
The Sweet and Sour One:Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Kentucky Sour
The Smoky One:Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel Smoked Cocktail Kit
A glass, influenced by Pappy Van Winkle’s legendary hospitality, designed for comfort, elegance, and small moments of sophisticated savoring.
The Spinning One: Pappy & Company Spinning Glass Set with Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Stave Coasters
The Cigar One: Pappy & Company Cigar Glass for Bourbon
The Sipping One:Old Rip Van Winkle Tasting Glass
The Retro One:Signature Keys Nick & Nora Cocktail Glasses
The Old Fashioned One:Pappy & Company Old Fashioned Rocks Glasses
The Wrapped One: Olive Leather Wrapped Old Fashioned Glasses
A cigar, selected for its uniquely crafted blend, meticulously made to savor, share and enjoy.
The Barrel Fermented One: A Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel Fermented cigar, with Kentucky fire-cured tobacco that has been layered for months in a retired Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel, and then hand-rolled to perfection in Nicaragua.
The Tradition One:Or a Pappy Van Winkle Tradition Cigar, with its blend selectedby Julian Van Winkle, with a spicier blend that pairs perfectly with a sip of the good stuff.
The accessories. Once a cigar is chosen, held, caressed, and the initial aroma is embraced, it is carefully cut and lit. In the moment before it reaches your lips, you can sink into a feeling or a memory that connects and transports you. Our collection of custom Pappy Van Winkle cigar accessories, and cigar rests and ashtrays that are hand-crafted from retired Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrels in our Woodshop, are specifically designed for this very moment and this very ritual.
The Double Flame One:Custom Colibri Julius Lighter
The Classic One: Custom Antique Leather Table Lighter
The Versatile One:Custom Calibri SV-Cut Cigar Cutter
The Custom V Cut: Custom V-Cut Cigar Cutterin Walnut Wood
The Traveling One:Custom Havana Leather Cigar Travel Case in Antique Saddle
Moments of peaceful tranquility are hard to find. Most often, you have to create them. Perhaps it is your version of self-care. These rituals can connect us to ourselves and to a broader community. So you are invited to unwind with Pappy and slip into the comfort, serenity, and restful experience of a Pappy Van Winkle-inspired fireside ritual.
