J. Fergus
Former Digital Trends Contributor
J. loves writing about the vices of life — decadent food, strong drinks, potent cannabis, and increasingly invasive incredible technology — as well as culture and relationships. You might have seen their name in Foodbeast, Tastemade, Chowhound, and The Spruce Eats. They use they and she pronouns, but they're always Mx. Fergus.
Your home bar needs these quick and easy simple syrup recipes
Whether you have a sweet tooth or need to balance out an earthy cocktail, simple syrup is a key part of any bar. Check out these simple syrup recipes.
The 7 Best Tonic Waters for Cocktails in 2022
Whether you’re on a budget or feeling fancy, we've gathered our favorite tonic waters for 2022.
Black Is the New Black: 5 Stunning Charcoal Cocktails
Charcoal has found its way into your bathroom, food, and even your favorite drinks, but these charcoal cocktails can be just as dangerous as they look.
What are the Meat Sweats and How Can You Avoid Them?
What's that familiar flush of heat and perspiration that plagues lovers of barbecue? Learn about the meat sweats and how to keep them at bay.
9 of the Best International Vermouths You Need to Know
Vermouth got its start in Turin, Italy before the French started to steal their thunder. Over time, the Italians perfected the sweet red (rosso) vermouth while the French excelled at creating dry, white vermouth.
Ashley Wells: The Somm Behind LA’s All Time
This profile dives into the career of LA sommelier Ashley Wells (formerly Ashley Ragovin) from Osteria Mozza to her wine club to co-founding one of the city's hottest restaurants.
7 Boozy Advent Calendars to Get You Into the Holiday Spirit
Count down to the big presents with these little ones! These six inebriating advent calendars bring out the holiday spirit all month long.
5 Best Apple Whiskeys to Sip by the Fire
Exchange the cool refreshment of hard apple ciders for a sweet, spicy apple whiskey. From dessert whiskeys to blends with a stronger burn, there's something for everyone.
Do You Want Your Home to Smell Like Scotch Country?
Newly minted glassmaker Norlan takes a whiskey-inspired approach to oil diffusers, complete with scents from the Scottish Highlands as well as the Isles of Islay and Skye.
Whiskey Stones vs. Ice: Which is Better for Your Drink?
How cold is too cold for your whiskey? Uncover the pros and cons of whiskey stones and ice.
Glenfiddich Grand Cru Makes a French Connection with 23-Year-Old Scotch
The esteemed single malt Scotch whisky maker Glenfiddich debuts Grand Cru, a new luxury expression for life's celebrations. The whisky was agerd for 23 years in European and American oak casks before being finished in French cuveé casks for an additional six months.
What to Do When Your Friend Comes Out to You
Being there emotionally for a newly out friend can be tough, especially in a world still struggling with the definition of masculinity. Whether it's about gender or sexuality, these are the most important things to keep in mind.
A Beginner’s Guide to Live Band Karaoke
Live band karaoke can leave you with the same exhilaration as skydiving or bungee jumping. Learn how to break out of your shell and what to expect with this crash course.
Copalli Rum Only Uses 3 Ingredients: Zero-Impact, Community Employment, and Education Grants
Copalli Rum is a Belizean, organic rum distillery brought to your home bar by the duo behind Belcampo Meat Co. The eco-conscious company is changing rum and the local job market in one fell sip.
How Essential Polyamory Tools Can Apply to Monogamous Life
Polyamorous tools and principles can easily be used to improve monogamous relationships and friendships. From compersion to scheduling prowess, learn how these tools can help.
Jack Daniel’s Kicks Off Summer with a Citrusy Cocktail in a Bottle
Jack Daniel's Country Cocktails line of pre-made drinks has a new flavor hitting shelves this summer: Southern Citrus.
Lowell Smokes are the Most Beautiful Pre-Rolls in California
California-based Lowell Smokes continues to bolster its line of pre-rolls, offering up to a quarter of an ounce of organically grown cannabis in each pack.
4 Boozy Popsicles to Get You in the Mood for Summer
We all scream for the best alcoholic push-pops and popsicles you can get your hands on this summer. From margaritas to mojitos, learn how you can buy these poptails.
Perfect Pour: A Comprehensive Guide to Cocktail Measuring Tools
Your alcoholic beverages deserve accurate execution, so let’s get precise with the right cocktail measuring tools, tricks, and terms.
Jack Daniel’s Brings Home the Gold in a Special-Edition Whiskey
After success in niche Asian markets, Jack Daniel’s No. 27 Gold Tennessee Whiskey is available as a new luxury offering for fans in the United States.
Navigating the Highs and Lows of New Relationship Energy
A contextual look at how New Relationship Energy (NRE) can shape or break a non-monogamous or polyamorous relationship.
Experimentation Marks the Spot with Los Angeles’ Lost Spirits Distillery
The creative and surprising history behind the theme park distillery tour that is taking L.A.'s Arts District by storm.
Thanks to Hidden Valley, Ranch Lovers May Lose Their Minds on National Ranch Day
For National Ranch Day on March 10, Hidden Valley has unveiled a Las Vegas celebration where guests can fill any container with ranch dressing, so long as you can carry it.
What Is Rauchbier? A Guide to Smoked Beer
Smoked beer, or rauchbier, is an interesting and flavorful brew that you should try at least once in your life (especially if you like your whiskey smoky).
What Is Polyamory and How Does It Work?
Here's a deep dive into the buzzword infiltrating your dating apps and friend circles, including a thorough dissection of ethical non-monogamy, open relationships, polyamory, and their internal structures.
The Art of Getting Things Done with a Kanban Board
Personal kanban takes a popular product management tool and simplifies it for individual use. This visual process curbs burnout while unlocking productivity.
Beer Before Liquor, Never Sicker: Wise Words or Mad Math?
“Beer before liquor, never sicker; liquor before beer, you’re in the clear.” The old phrase gets put to the test and the culprit isn’t what you’d expect.
Irish Distillery Brings Red Spot Whiskey Back to Life 50 Years After Its Discontinuation
Mitchell & Son has re-released Red Spot Whiskey for the first time in 50 years with the help of Irish Distillers.
Lodge Wants You to Cook It All In Cast Iron on Your Next Camping Trip
The Lodge Cook-It-All is the latest cast iron cookware made for your outdoor culinary pursuits. It boasts five different campfire-ready configurations.
No Longer a Prisoner, Dave Phinney Goes for Something Harder
Winemaker Dave Phinney tells The Manual about his Zinfandels, his time away from them, and his new distillery, Savage & Cooke.
Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Continues to Ryes from the Ashes
Kilbeggan Small Batch Rye is the first whiskey made in the recently restored, oldest distillery in Ireland. Perhaps even more astonishingly, this is the only modern Irish rye whiskey.
Cafe Agave Introduces Spiked Cold Brew Coffee, Your New Favorite Brunch Drink
Have your coffee and drink it too! Hard coffee has a new face in Cafe Agave Spiked Cold Brew Coffee. This dark roast cold brew is hitting shelves in four smooth flavors.
Always Be Clinking: The Glenrothes Scotch Whisky Soleo Collection Is for Closers
In a reversal, The Glenrothes goes back to making and labeling whisky by age instead of by vintage with five new expressions in the new Soleo Collection.
Dear Millennials, Beefeater Wants to Be Your Bestie with Beefeater Pink Gin
Beefeater Pink Gin is naturally tinted with strawberries, is available in the U.S., and is ready to make a splash in your next gin and tonic.
IHOP Has Created Its Own Beer, Fittingly Named IHOPS
IHOP swings for the fences again with a new beer: Their pumpkin pancake American stout, fittingly named IHOPS, is available for a limited time only this fall.
Rare Mount Gay Rum Gets the Peated Whisky Treatment
Mount Gay Rum's XO The Peat Expression travels to Scotland to add a smoky dimension in this limited-edition rum. Only 6,120 bottles exist and each will go for about $250. Seems like a good time to become a pirate.
The Stunning New Hendrick’s Gin Palace Distills the Future of the Spirit
Hendrick’s Gin has revealed an otherworldly expansion to its distillery: the Hendrick’s Gin Palace. The $17 million dollar mansion houses botanicals for further gin experimentation.
Aging Spirits: 7 Ways to Enhance Your Alcohol at Home
Take your liquor bottles from the bottom to the top shelf with one of these simple spirit-aging products. This DIY approach to flavor enhancement is a great way to learn more about the booze you're putting in your belly.
The BioLite FirePit is a Portable Fire Pit That Doubles As a Grill
BioLite's latest camp-friendly creation, the BioLite FirePit, is finally available after months of waiting. With the ability to charge up your electronics and keep wood burning near smoke-free for 24 hours, this little FirePit is the camping stove of your dreams.
Mahia: The Little-Known Moroccan Spirit You’re Going to Love
Though you might immediately think of North African spices, taste the sweeter side of Morocco with Mahia, a fig-based eau de vie.
Makgeolli: Fun to Pronounce and Even More Fun to Drink
Makgeolli is a traditional rice-based beverage dates back millennia, but millennials in South Korea are making it increasingly relevant and sought after.
Everything You Need to Know About Lakka Liqueur, Finland’s Sweetest Secret
Cloudberry is already cherished in Finnish hearts (and jams), but the alcoholic Lakka liqueur it produces is about to find its way into your cocktails.
What’s a Swizzle Stick and How Do You Use It?
Ditch that plastic garnish-holding swizzle stick and learn about the bartending tool used throughout the Caribbean for centuries.
Mixing Techniques: Four Ways to Shake, Rattle, and Roll Your Cocktails
You think you know how to mix a cocktail? Think again! Learn about the core mixing techniques every bartender should know.
Boozy Baths: Fountains of Youth You Can Drink
From bubbly to vodka, boozy baths and soaks are increasingly popular spa treatments that allow you to detox before you re-tox.
Splurge and Purge: Six Luxurious Hangover Cures
When you're hungover, you'll try just about anything to feel like yourself again, but are you willing to put your money where your headache is?
Back to the Future: Get the Office of Tomorrow, Today
Are you dreaming of a more futuristic office? These sleek upgrades can help you take your boring day job into the 22nd century.
How Steven Grasse Went from Mad Man to Distiller and Never Looked Back
Former ad-man Steven Grasse couldn’t wait to be his own boss. Learn how he found a home and turmeric cordials in rural New Hampshire.
A Drunk-Proof Guide to Outdoor Glassware
It's time to stop cleaning up broken glass this summer with this guide to unbreakable, dishwasher-safe, outdoor glassware.