Based in Seattle, DRY Soda Co. makes a re-imagined version of traditional pop. Using only natural ingredients, and minimal cane sugar, DRY allows the fruit and floral flavors to shine. Founder Sharelle Klaus was inspired to create a beverage that tasted great and was healthful. Most importantly, she was inspired to create a non-alcoholic beverage that balanced well with the food… or in the case of Vanilla Bean functions as a superb dessert drink.

DRY Soda is available in seven distinctive flavors – Lavender, Lemongrass, Blood Orange, Rhubarb, Juniper Berry, Vanilla Bean and Cucumber.

More images after the jump.

A departure from the traditional flute, Nick Munro’s Crackle Champagne Glasses are mouth blown in the Czech Republic and then submerged in cold water to achieve the broken effect. Sold in a set of two, these are on sale this summer at MoMA… just in case you were in need of a something proper to house those weekend mimosas.

Munro designed the glasses in 1995.

Jon Chonko, a graphic designer, photographer, writer, and unashamed foodie, brings his popular blog scanwiches.com to print this November through powerHouse Books.  The product of a two year love affair with sandwiches, Chonko’s ode to the delicious versatility of all-things-between-bread runs the gamut from tea sandwiches to the mighty muffaleta. Hitting cafes, delis, and markets, Chonko’s journey delivers the sandwiches in full frontal actual size cross sections. Graphically appealing, and hunger inducing, Scanwiches provides brief histories of all included sandwiches – dare we say, that means a little food for thought?

Available from Amazon.

“Summer doesn’t begin until I’ve sipped a margarita on a deck.”

My friend and colleague Justina Barrett has adhered staunchly to this simple philosophy since she reached drinking age. While the official beginning of summer has passed, and most have indulged in their own season-marking tradition already, the time is still ripe for discussion of the main ingredient of a margarita – tequila.

With that in mind, we visited the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, specifically the Milagro distillery, to see how tequila is made.

Do you like meat? Of course you do, you are a man.

The Butcher’s Guide to Well-Raised Meat, written by Joshua and Jessica Applestone and Alexandra Zissu of Fleisher’s Grass-Fed & Organic Meats, delivers with mouthwatering detail tips for even the most novice butcher. Important skills like tying a roast and preparing basic cuts are imparted, and for those with more advanced skill sets  there is even a section on how to saw a full pig carcass. Awesome on each and every level.

Available from Amazon.

Traditionally been available only to McIlhenny family members, Tabasco Family Reserve has been made available for us – the hot sauce loving public – in small batch for 2011. Using the choicest peppers, the sauce boasts the best flavor Avery Island has to offer. Essentially, Family Reserve is pepper mash left to age in oak barrels for an extended period (up to 8 years), then blended with white wine vinegar and strained.

Available now for $24.95.

Alaska Brewing Company’s Summer beer is based off the traditional style of Cologne, Germany’s Kölsch beer. “Alaskan Summer Ale balances a softly malted palate with the clean freshness of hops. In the tradition of the style, neither overpowers the other. Both hops and malt come together to refresh and renew the palate. The straw-gold color and easy drinkability are an enjoyable way to celebrate summer.”

Need confirmation of quality? Alaskan Summer Ale won a gold medal at the 2008 World Beer Cup. The ale will require some exploring to get your hands on, but remember the best things in life ain’t easy.

Given that there is a holiday weekend on the horizon and you probably don’t want to end up drinking Coors Original, here’s our tip – buy some Wacko  from Vermont’s Magic Hat. “Wacko is the liquid song of Summer: Crisp like the morning, cool like the evening and quenching all day long. Pop the top and set your Summer loose. Wacko is a delicious Summer beer with a big malty aroma, a subdued hop bite and a clean, slightly sweet finish.”

It’s an English ale at 4.5abv (good for sessions and setting your Summer loose) and only available through the end of July.

Straight from Harrisburg, PA, Tröegs Sunshine Pils is a crisp Summer brew with the kicked up hops you’d expect from an American craft brewer. Available through August. Hits at 5.3% ABV.

Expressly for the Asian market, these limited edition Johnnie Walker bottles were produced by Manchester-based firm LOVE. Following the directive of Diageo Asia (distributor), LOVE not only created the blue and white porcelain inspired bottle, but also provided the spaces for Johnnie Walker’s presence in Shanghai. The 1910 Commemorative Bottle (limited to 1000 invite only sales) will be exclusive to the Johnnie Walker house – both thing combining to act as a central push in the Scottish brand’s thrust into the Chinese market. (via Creative Review).