Agents of Shield

Puzzle boxes are having a moment. Secret opening boxes likely originated a few hundred years ago in the city of Hakone, Japan, where travelers would pass through on their way to and from Tokyo. The modern Karakuri Creation Group of artisans resurrected the artform where it began thanks to the vision of founder and master craftsman Akio Kamei. New artists from all around the globe are now finding an audience for this form of expression, including Tyler Williams from Dixon, Missouri, who has recently been hammering his way into recognition.

Tyler sells his creative puzzle boxes through his online store, the “Beard’s Woodshop Co.” The shop’s logo features a muscular proprieter with his arms crossed, sporting an impressive beard. You could be forgiven to assume this is Tyler, but in fact it is his father, who passed away a few years ago from cancer. Tyler’s shop and passion for wood working are an homage to his Dad, and evolved into something he and his mother can do together now. They began selling his creations after his father died, and he hit it big with a puzzle box designed after Thor’s hammer which was purchased by a prominent video personality who featured it on his channel. After that, Tyler couldn’t keep up with the demand.

He has since designed another “Avenger’s” themed puzzle box, the “El Capitan”. The box has a perfect replica of Captain America’s shield on its top. Tyler made an initial run of these and then produced a limited edition with colorful padauk, walnut, and maple woods and a curved dome for the shield which is produced on a lathe. Tyler’s daughter used to call her grandfather “El Capitan”, which is where the name comes from, another homage to the Beard. The box has a clever hidden mechanism and utilizes the design elements well. It reminds me of a Japanese Karakuri box in the way it functions, which is a big compliment. Steve Rogers would be proud.

To toast the El Capitan I’ve made an “Everyday Superhero” cocktail, from Alex&nder in Louisville Kentucky, the in house bar and restaurant at the Copper & Kings distillery. Copper & Kings American Brandy is handmade in Kentucky using small batches of pure, unprocessed grape wine with no additives in copper pot stills. They promote a “low and slow” philosophy meaning they distill at low temperatures, slowly, which maximizes contact with the copper still and enhances fruit flavors in the distillate. The word ‘brandy” is derived from the Dutch “brandewijn” which means “burnt wine” and refers to the boiling process during distillation. Copper pot stills are the modern equivalent of the ancient two-vessel still known as an alembic, used by Middle Eastern alchemists in the seventh century for distillation of perfumes and chemicals. Brandy is the distillate of fruit wine (fermented juice with no skin, seeds or stems), different than whiskey which is the distillate of beer (fermented grain).*

The cocktail is a delicious blackberry smash using brandy as the base spirit and red wine as the complimentary flavor rather than, for example, a vermouth. The wine, reminiscent of a sangria, compliments the brandy nicely and gives the cocktail a fresh and fruity character which is perfect for a warm summer day. But the acidity of the lime juice pulls the drink together to make it feel like a cocktail. Fresh berries are always a fun thing to smash into a summer drink so have fun with it and don’t feel obligated to stick strictly to the recipe. You are the hero of this drink. Cheers!

Everyday Superhero

2 oz brandy (Copper & Kings)

2 oz merlot (or other red wine)

¾ oz lime

¾ oz simple syrup

2 blackberries

Muddle the blackberries in a favorite glass. Shake the other ingredients with ice and strain into the glass. Garnish with a lemon and lime wheel shield. Cheers!

* https://www.copperandkings.com/our-craft/