TONIGHT'S POUR

With Thanksgiving having passed, the holiday season has started. This list is not necessarily gifts i would buy for someone else. These are items i would not complain if someone bought them and covertly placed them under my tree. If the local mall Santa that smells like cheap bourbon or a maybe even a family member asks what you want this year, this list is a pretty good place to start.

I’ve never solved a good problem by staring at a screen. But I’ve untangled a dozen knots in my head while standing hip-deep in a cold river, the sun warming the back of my neck. And later, sitting by the fire, holding a glass that’s been aged in silence for ten long years, that same clarity returns. The bourbon isn't just a drink; it's a moment of deliberate slowing down. It’s a liquid reflection, a reward for a hard day or a quiet day well-spent.

Middle age can play tricks on a man. You start measuring yourself by what you haven’t done yet—houses you don’t own, goals left unfinished, youth that’s long gone. But a few hours on the water reminds you what truly counts: peace, purpose, and connection. Fishing teaches humility. You’re not in charge out there—the fish are . It reminds you that control is overrated and patience pays dividends far beyond the riverbank.