I'm a big flavored and sports water drinker. Have been since I gave up soft drinks a few years ago. And watching the recent commercials where water companies argue over which one has the least added sugar made me take a look at the carb and sugar content of some of these drinks. And a few of them actually have more sugar than some candy bars. Not exactly good for the physique, considering I go through several bottles a day.

But even though nutritionists and doctors say plain water is the healthiest thing you can drink, it's boring. Sometimes you need a little flavor. Which is what Hint water gives you.

Hint is pure water, infused with a small amount of all-natural fruit essence. And nothing else. It comes in nine different flavors, including traditional ones like Lime and Tropical Punch, and a few not so traditional ones like Mango Grapefruit and Peppermint. (Which tastes better than it sounds.)

It has zero fat, zero calories, zero sodium and zero carbs. Just like plain water, but not as monotonous. And, because I'm always looking for healthier mixers, it's great in cocktails too. If you're looking to mix up a few drinks this weekend for you and your carb conscious girl ...More

When I'm mixing a drink I want as little messing with the taste, or watering it down, as possible. But when making a vodka drink that requires a little fizz, you have no choice but to add soda or tonic. Which can alter the taste, and dilute the flavor.

O2 Sparkling Vodka makes it possible to mix full-strength drinks with a carbonated buzz, without having to add anything to the mix. After two years of development, International English Distillers came up with a straight up, 80 proof, whole grain vodka that's filtered and distilled three times in 100 year-old copper pots before being infused with bubbles.

Pour an ounce or two in a glass, add some juice (or don't), and you'll have a drink with a light fizz that's got full-on flavor and nothing else in there interfering. A bunch of us did a tasting one night and mixed O2 with orange juice, blueberry juice, Red Bull, and anything else we found in the fridge to see how it would mix. And everything mixed well. Too well.

The big question is how long the bubbles last after the bottle is opened. The answer is I don't know. We burned through the whole bottle in one sitting.

Available in Premium (80 proof) and Super Premium (94 proof)
www.sparklingvodka.com

Good news for you whisky lovers: the Ardmore distillery in Scotland has just released their Ardmore Traditional Cask in the US. It's their first single malt Scotch whisky to be widely available here, and it's the only Highland single malt to be 100% peated, giving it a rich, sweet flavor laced with smoke and vanilla.

Only 3000 cases have been produced, making it a rare find, and a great bottle to give to dad, a grad, or that buddy of yours who is about to walk down the aisle. And he'll need its powerful 92-proof kick to get him there.

$45-50 per bottle
www.ardmorewhisky.com

It's part of the well-known legend of Samuel Adams beer that founder Jim Koch began brewing the Boston lager in his kitchen in 1984 from an old family recipe he found in his attic, become a pioneer in the US craft-brewing revival, and proved that the sometimes even a little guy can become an industry powerhouse.

Never forgetting his home-brew roots, Koch has been giving a shot to other craft-brewers with his Samuel Adams American Homebrew Contest since 1996. Every year, brewers of bathtub-sized batches of beer compete for a chance to have their unique recipes produced on a large scale, with nationwide distribution in the LongShot six-pack. The 2007 winning brews are available now, giving you a chance to enjoy two great beers you wouldn't otherwise have the ability to experience.

The first winning beer is a complex Weizenbock brewed by ...More