What We Loved in August: Sour Candy Dried Fruit, a Cult-Favorite Iced Tea, and More


BrüMate Togosa

BrüMate Togosa

When I pop open a perfectly chilled bottle of Riesling, I want it to stay cold while I sit on my roof and watch the sunset, which is not something an 80-degree New York evening will allow. My solution is the BrüMate Togosa. It’s an insulated chiller that swallows a full bottle of wine (or a fat bottle of champagne) and comes with a screw-top lid that seals your bottle inside, so you can sip at your leisure instead of shuttling it in and out of a fridge or getting it sopping wet in an ice bucket.

The real genius is the second lid, which turns the whole thing into a leakproof pitcher. I filled it with a batched dirty martini and a load of ice, hauled it to the park, and not a single cube had melted by the time I poured. It’s become my go-to trick for a martini that stays teeth-achingly cold and a summer hosting essential in my book. —O.T.

Final Boss Sour

Final Boss Sour Level 1 Strawberry Lemonade (4 Pack)

Final Boss Sour

Level 1 Strawberry Lemonade (4 Pack)

Considering my affinity for both dried fruit and sour gummies, it’s no surprise that I was hooked on Final Boss Sour the minute I tried it. The company blends real dried fruit with sugar, citric acid, and flavoring, and the result is a sticky-sweet, intensely sour treat that feels (just a little) more wholesome than actual candy. The flavors range from 1–4 in sour “level” so there’s something for everyone, whether you’re more the Sour Patch or Warheads type. My favorite is the Strawberry Lemonade, which packs a decent punch despite its Level 1 rating. For something more extreme, go for the Souranges, a.k.a. dried slices of mandarin orange that are dusted in enough citric acid to clock in at Level 4. —Alaina Chou, shopping writer

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