Since I seem to be the resident insulated drink ware authority on the Bourbon & Banter team, I was provided a sample of Orca’s new Oak Barrel drink tumbler to review.

This item is made from your typical industry standard 18/8 Stainless Steel with seamless inner wall. There are a few things that set this apart from the other standard offerings from the major brands in this category. The main one is the way it looks. It’s shaped like a bourbon barrel and my review sample had the oak barrel print applied to it (it is also available in a plain stainless finish as well). There are two rubber gasket rings that wrap around the glass that provide a bit of drop protection and also double as the “hoops” that keep a typical bourbon barrel held together. It’s a nice look.

I’ve been able to use this glass multiple times now and it’s a winner. It was able to keep my KY Mule cold for much longer than my drink lasted. It hasn’t been over 80 degrees here yet so I haven’t been able to test it on a scorching day in the sun, but it kept my ice well enough through the consumption of my first drink that I didn’t need to refresh my ice when I went back for a refill. By the time I went for my third refill, I only needed to add a cube or two as there was still plenty of ice left. I have no doubts this glass will keep your beverage cold enough for you to finish it in even the hottest of conditions.

Keep in mind, it only holds 12 ounces and if you’re drinking a mixed drink with ice, that’s not huge.

The lid screws down tightly and seals with a rubber gasket around the top. The lid also has a flip top with a rubber stopper that keeps it completely sealed. On top of all of these features, it is top rack dishwasher safe. That’s a huge bonus. I’ve listed the Pros and Cons of the features below but for me, at an MSRP of $25, this is going to me my summer go to glassware for Mules and Juleps. The only real negative that I can say about this tumbler is that it is NOT discrete. If you’re looking for something that you can drink out of on sneak, this item is NOT it. It looks great and most bourbon fans will enjoy it, but it does scream “Hey y’all, I’m drinking alcohol over here!” So just beware, if you’re at a kids birthday party or a neighborhood pool party that doesn’t allow alcohol, this may not be the best choice of drink ware for those occasions.

You can find this product on the Orca website.