Inked Magazine, Issue 3, 2025: Tattoos & Spirits, A Match Made in Culture Heaven

BY JOEY SKLADANY

It may be stereotypical to assume that a bartender in a dive bar will serve you a drink with an ink-adorned forearm, but the parallels between tattoos and alcohol have been drawn far generations, from drunken pirates to beer-slinging bikers. After all, the rebellious nature of knocking back libations and rocking permanent body art often go hand in hand. And for some spirit companies, tattoos are now a major component of the brand ethos.

In an oversaturated beverage industry where everything has been seemingly done before, there are a handful of businesses that have gone above and beyond, both past and present, to challenge marketing norms and redefine the connection they have with consumers, especially those who value the creativity and authenticity that transcend the liquor itself.

These are the three that continue to lead the pack, one sip and tattoo at a time.

Labels that Inspire

France-based L'Encantada Armagnac brandy took tattoo appreciation in a unique direction by commissioning artists to replicate their intricate sketches in label form.

Nicolas Palazzi, owner of PM Spirits and L'Encantada's U.S. importer, championed the idea and partnership after getting his first tattoo, which memorialized his daughter Jane's health struggles with epilepsy. This evolved into other symbolic designs and subsequent ink sessions, which then inspired the entrepreneur to extend this art form to the bottle through an annual tattoo series that features up-and-coming talent.

"Tattoos are very important to me. They are also, in my mind, a very 'American' thing. Here, it felt like we were bridging both cultures: making old-school French spirits cooler by bringing it some American flavor," Palazzi says, adding, "From a packaging standpoint, I associated the American flavor with tattoos."

This artistic endeavor has resulted in collaborations with the renowned Matt Adamson, who completed Palazzi's first tattoo, as well as Laura Leonello, who concocted a "Beacon of Hope" label in 2021 to capture life after the peak of COVlD-19.

Wine Enthusiast: The Most Memorable Bottles We Drank in 2023

Any seasoned imbiber knows that the quality of a drinking experience is far more than the sum of its parts. After all, a great wine is not merely great because it drinks finely. It’s great because of the atmosphere in which it’s enjoyed—in an exquisite locale, perhaps, or alongside cherished friends. Key, too, is the story behind the bottle: who made it and how, why and when. Knowing these things in no way chemically alters what’s in the glass, but it certainly has the power to alter one’s perception of it. The mind, after all, is a taster’s most important tool.

These were the things we asked Wine Enthusiast’s team of editors and contributors to consider when we asked them to name the bottles they found most notable in 2023. In this list are exquisite wines drunk in unlikely places (including, for example, alongside a highway in France) and made through unusual means (say, aged at the bottom of the sea). There are also limited-release spirits, including one that matured in the constantly-rocking hull of a schooner and an eau de vie whose maker’s attention to detail borders on obsessiveness.

Do these bottles have the power to inspire you? Perhaps, once reading these stories, they will.

Navazos Palazzi Vermut Rojo

“One of my favorite sips this year was Navazos Palazzi Vermut Rojo, a Spanish red vermouth. It’s a collab between Sherry negociant Equipo Navazos and Nicolas Palazzi of importer PM spirits. It’s made with a base of oloroso Sherry, so it’s deeper and richer than most red vermouths, but enlivened with touches of bitter orange and savory spice. I enjoyed it in Manhattans (it plays nicely with rye whiskey) as well as poured over ice. I see why Spain is a fan of ‘la hora del vermut’ (the vermouth hour).” —Kara Newman, Writer at Large

Capreolus Raspberry Eau de Vie 2019

“Barney Wilczak, the proprietor of the U.K.–based Capreolus Distillery, uses 30 kilograms of perfectly ripe and healthy raspberries to produce only one liter of the Raspberry Eau de Vie. His quest for the highest–quality product can be described as obsessive. However, it allows him to capture and preserve the essence of each fruit so precisely. The raspberry stands out, with its complexity, length and incredible purity.” —Aleks Zecevic, Writer at Large