Ryan Whitaker

Trimming high branches used to mean climbing a wobbly ladder with a handsaw. I learned that lesson the hard way when my grandfather slipped off a 6-foot step ladder trying to reach a dead oak limb. After that, I switched to electric pole saws and never looked back. An electric pole saw is a chainsaw … Read more

After spending the last 90 days testing 10 different cordless pole saws on three different properties, I can tell you one thing with confidence: the right cordless pole saw turns a sweaty, ladder-climbing Saturday into a clean, safe afternoon job. In this guide, I break down the best cordless pole saws for homeowners based on … Read more

After three months of testing swim spa swim tethers in my own 14-foot swim spa (and pestering every swim spa owner I know to try a few more), I can tell you which ones are worth your money and which ones belong in the trash. Tethered swimming feels weird at first – more like a … Read more

There is a moment when you lift a smoke lid off an Old Fashioned and the vapor rolls down the glass — that single moment is why cocktail smoker kits have taken over home bars in . But here is the honest truth from our testing: the gap between a great kit and a frustrating … Read more

Two months ago I pulled a Bourbon smoker kit out of a gift box, lit a small pile of apple wood chips under the smoke top, and watched the aroma swirl into a glass of Buffalo Trace. That single ritual changed how I drink bourbon at home, and it pushed our team to test every … Read more

Few gifts land as well as a cocktail smoker kit. The moment someone lights the wood chips, traps the smoke under an oak lid, and lifts it off a freshly made Old Fashioned, the whole room pays attention. I have watched a $40 box turn a regular Friday night into a cocktail bar experience, and … Read more

I pulled eight rechargeable cocktail smokers without butane off the shelf, charged them up, and spent three weeks running each one through every bourbon, rye, and mezcal I had in the cabinet. What I found surprised me: the gap between the cheapest and the most expensive model was not where I expected it to be. … Read more

There is a moment when you lift a smoke lid off a freshly made Old Fashioned and the campfire aroma hits the room before the glass even reaches your lips. That moment is why the cocktail smoker kit went from bartender novelty to must-have home bar gear in . But with prices ranging from budget-friendly … Read more

I have been testing home bar tools for our team for the last three years, and the cocktail smokers vs whiskey stones debate keeps coming up at every tasting session. Both products promise a better whiskey experience, but they attack the problem from opposite angles. A smoker adds aromatic complexity through wood smoke, while whiskey … Read more

A smoked Old Fashioned used to mean a trip to a high-end cocktail bar. After six weeks of testing 12 kits in my home bar, I can tell you that is no longer the case. The best cocktail smoker kits with glasses and molds now deliver bar-quality smoke infusion right at your kitchen counter, complete … Read more