Like you, I have my favorite things. My Jeep Wrangler is one. Of course, whisky is another. I have a favorite spot on my living floor for napping. I have certain books I prefer above others.

Sometimes, my favorite things change. For me, it’s rare, but only because I keep things pretty much for forever. Clothing is no exception. I have t-shirts in my closet that are more than thirty years old. However, a new one was recently received into the hallowed assembly, and it took only one outing to show just how beloved it would be.

I purchased the shirt from Plath’s Smoked Meats, which is an outlying meat market and butcher shop in the relatively small, lakeside community of Rogers City, Michigan. It’s one of two Michigan stores. The other is in Petoskey.

I happened upon the market while visiting good friends who’d recently relocated to the quaint little town from Iowa. Out for a walk, we investigated the shop. Not necessarily in the mood for a pork loin, I happened upon a window shelf of swag. There it was—my new shirt.

The glorious adornment is navy blue. On its back, just below the neckline, is the store’s logo, which is a pig in a tuxedo wearing a top hat. The logo is by no means imposing. The front’s voice is, however, far different. It heralds the easy-to-read and attention-getting proclamation “I ♥ ANIMALS.” The words are white. The heart is a plump and colorful red. And yet, just below this pleasant and luring phrase is its finishing thought. Printed in a way that requires a reader’s closer examination,  its slightly smaller cursive font reads “cured and smoked.”

Now, fast forward one month.

I liked the shirt but had yet to wear it in public. Having taken it along on vacation in Florida, I decided to do so while out and around Disney Springs, which is an outdoor shopping and dining complex near Orlando. We go there every year if only to walk around, stop in a few shops, and maybe eat lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants. I donned my new shirt that day with no mind for its message. I simply picked a shirt and wore it. Had I known the responses it would generate, I’d have started wearing the shirt weeks ago.

For some, the shirt prompted a vocalized, “I love your shirt, man.” For others, it stirred an initial smile followed by near-immediate disgust. A few passersby were moved to whisper things like, “That’s terrible.” Still, what a joy it was to prompt and then behold humanity’s truest inner dimensions. Perhaps best of all, how interesting it was to see someone’s split-second shift from agreement to disagreement, his or her public self having very little time to bridle the genuine self.

I don’t like to shop. And yet, it made the day enjoyable. Even as the occasional commendations were pleasant, I absolutely loved experiencing the conversely bipolar circus for hours on repeat. I was enthralled, and I didn’t want to leave, praying all along the way that a pale-skinned and sickly vegetarian would attempt a fuller denunciation so I could evangelize the meat-eater’s gospel, telling them just how much I love eating animals.

As such, an obscure t-shirt from a relatively unsung but incredibly deserving meat market in Rogers City, Michigan, is now my favorite, and I wear it as often as possible. When it comes to other favorites, the Tamnavulin Double Cask edition induces similar affection.

Mostly unfamiliar and out of reach to guys like me (like Plath’s), Tamnavulin’s various elixirs have primarily been sourced to blenders. Only by traveling to Scotland and then meandering from the well-traveled roads would an enthusiast have access to its stand-alone uniqueness. That changed in 2016 when the distillery decided otherwise, eventually bottling and distributing their fantastic drams to the wider world. Looking for something different, I stumbled upon and purchased two of Tamnavulin’s unique releases—the Sherry Cask and Double Cask editions. The Sherry Cask was exceptional. In a way, it was the first alluring glance at the “I ♥ ANIMALS” phrase—attention-getting and pleasant. But would the Double Cask, my purchase’s finishing phrase, provoke a scowl?

It didn’t. Instead, like my new shirt, Tamnavulin has become a favorite, and the Double Cask clinched it.

With a malty nose of toasted almonds and what seemed a little bit like the faint sizzling of a grilled ribeye drenched in butter and marinated in sherry, the whisky washes into a gentler sip of charred molasses, salt, mild spice, and distant strawberries. The shift from one to the other is stark but thoroughly enjoyable. The medium finish collects these things, allowing each to linger. Although, it pushes the steak and spice to the forefront, most certainly coaxing a carnivore’s return for another pour.

I haven’t had this whisky for very long, and it’s already nearly empty. That’s because, as I said, it is a favorite and I visit it often. I need to purchase another one soon. I may need to do the same with my favorite shirt. I’ve been wearing it a lot. As a result, it’s aging much faster than all the others. It just so happens I’ll be in Rogers City visiting my friends next week. I think a few souvenirs will be in order. The Tamnavulin Double Cask is one (if the tiny town has it), and a fine t-shirt from an outstanding meat market is another.