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The Uncommon Life

Slainte! The Surprising Story of Irish Whiskey & St. Patrick’s Day

March 7, 2019

The Shamrock GlassCelebrating St. Patrick’s Day

You might not feel particularly lively the morning after a festive St. Patrick’s Day celebration, but that doesn’t stop many from partaking in the “water of life” in honor of Ireland. In other words, the rivers of Irish Whiskey will flow on March 17.

This golden-brown beverage has a rich history, so we thought we’d share a little more about Irish Whiskey.

Yours, Mine, & Ours Decanter Det

Yours, Mine, and Ours Engraved Decanter Set – $65 Buy Now »

 

Uisce on the rocks, please.

Where did whiskey come from?

Actually, whiskey as we know it came to be in Ireland. In the 6th century monks used distilled grains as the base for medicines. They called it “Uisce Beatha,” in Goidelic, or “water of life,” thanks to its healing properties. (While some may argue that whiskey doesn’t have any healing properties, keep in mind that it is antiseptic and a pain killer.) Over time, the spirit became known as “whiskey,” a mispronunciation of “Uisce.”

 

Irish Spirit

Whiskey love spread across Europe over time. For example, to Scotland, where it developed in to Scotch. It’s said that Queen Elizabeth I enjoyed imbibing in the distilled drink, and Peter the Great once proclaimed, “of all the wines, the Irish spirit is the best.”

Irish Whiskey Shamrock Glass
Sham-Rock Glass – $48- $50 Buy Now »

 

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Maker Stories

Video | Maker Stories: Why Cartoonists Are Like Oysters

February 15, 2019

    “You don’t choose to be a cartoonist, cartooning chooses you,” says Mort Gerberg. And it certainly made a good choice, considering that Mort’s been at it for more than 50 years.

    We’re excited to announce that we’re offering an exclusive collection of framed art prints–12 illustrations, each a limited edition of 10–signed by the legendary cartoonist. We had the honor of visiting him in his New York City home, where he’s created pieces for The New Yorker, Life magazine, and numerous other publications. Watch our video to find out why Mort says cartoonists are like oysters and to see inside his creative space. For a behind-the-scenes look into the artist’s inspiration and a peek at each limited edition print, check out some highlights from our chat with Mort below.

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Gift Guides

Gifts for Teens:
20 Cool Gifts for People Under 20

November 5, 2018

We don’t have to tell you that teenagers go through a crazy roller coaster of changes. They’ve bid farewell to the “little kid” years and they’re on a quest to find a voice (and, perhaps, the #perfecthashtag). This period of self-discovery is really awesome and we’re all about encouraging individuality. So we hand-selected 20 of our coolest items for the savvy, curious, and fun-loving teens in your life. These gifts aren’t just Instagram-worthy keepsakes, they’re also little stamps of uniqueness during this holiday season and beyond.

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Gift Guides

22 Awesome Gifts You Can Only Get at UncommonGoods

October 23, 2018

The holidays can be a stressful time of year. On top of juggling parties and trying to enjoy Christmas cookies responsibly, there’s an often-unspoken seasonal antagonist: gifting anxiety. The sinking fear that your recipient already has what you got them. Or worse, won’t want it ‘cus they’ve seen it everywhere and They’re. Just. Over. It. The good news is, there are plenty of “Where’d you find this?!” gifts still out there. In fact, they’re right here. Go ahead and consider us your secret weapon for battling gifting anxiety. (Whether or not you want to let your giftees in on the secret is totally up to you!)

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Gift Guides

Editors’ Picks: A Roundup of Our Favorite Products

August 17, 2018

UncommonGoods Editors' Picks: A Roundup of Our Favorite Products

With more than 4,000 uncommon goods to choose from, it’s not easy to pick favorites. It’s certainly fun trying, though. Our blog team took a look through our collection of product roundups to make this list of the items that got us the most excited.

1. Jars that make growing herbs indoors easy.

Mason jars aren’t just cute, they’re also perfect planters for your hydroponic herb garden.

Mason Jar Indoor Herb Garden – $20 Buy Now »

 

2. Animals that’ll keep your houseplants company.

Made from bendable brass-plated steel, these furry (and scaly!) friends adjust to hug the stems of your favorite indoor tree.

Plant Hanging Animals – $22.50 Buy Now »

 

3. Glasses that link two of our favorite things: wine and the stars.

Sure, you could take a look at the stars by walking outside at night, assuming you don’t live in a big city. But these glasses make for an even more fun way to track the location of each constellation.

Stargazing Wine Glass Set – $30 Buy Now »

 

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