 My sons and I enjoy a good bourbon. We’re not connoisseurs, but we know what we like, and Woodford Reserve has always been one of our favorites. A few days ago, I heard a recipe on the radio for an apple-vanilla-cinnamon bourbon infusion. It sounded interesting, but I decided to tweak it a little for taste and make it our own.
We’ve never tried an infusion like this, but with the holidays coming up, it felt like the right time for a family experiment. I’m already looking forward to pouring this into an Old Fashioned with my boys when it’s ready. Here’s exactly how I made it. Ingredients
The Steps:
Closing Thoughts Before the Holidays, I’ll pour this into an Old Fashioned and share a glass with my sons. That’s really what this experiment is about — taking something we already enjoy and making a memory out of it. If it turns out great, it might become a yearly tradition. If not… well, it’s still bourbon.
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 I was in the dental chair two weeks ago, when my hygienist stopped mid-cleaning and said the words no adult wants to hear: “There’s still food stuck between your teeth from last night’s dinner.” Apparently, my flossing game wasn’t as good as I thought. She’s one of those brutally honest hygienists — efficient, surgical, and completely unfiltered. So while she was scraping away what was left of my dignity, I asked, “Hey, are those expensive water flossers actually worth it?” She didn’t even look up. “They’re all basically the same,” she said. “Don’t spend a lot. Just use one.” That’s what I call sage advice — the kind that comes from someone who stares into mouths all day for a living. The Search That night, I did what every rational adult does after a dose of dental humility — I opened Amazon. I started scrolling through “Top 10 Water Flossers” lists, all promising “next-level oral care.” Some were pushing $100+. One even had Bluetooth connectivity. Because apparently, what my gums need is a firmware update. Then I found the one: the COSLUS Portable Water Flosser. It was $19.99 on sale (the black one only), cordless, rechargeable, and looked simple enough to survive my bathroom counter. So I ordered it. My $20 Hero Here’s the thing — this little device works. It’s got 10 adjustable pressure levels, a 300 mL tank, and it’s IPX7 waterproof, so I can use it in the shower like the multitasker I pretend to be. The dial control feels like turning up the volume on your favorite song — smooth and intuitive. The company claims “six years of research” and “dual-flow technology.” Whether that’s marketing fluff or dental science, I can confirm it does one thing extremely well: it blasts last night’s dinner out from between my teeth. One Week In: The Grossly Satisfying Truth I’ve used it every night before bed for a week now, and I can actually see tiny dinner particles come out. Steak. Rice. Maybe that rogue piece of broccoli that’s been haunting me. Who knew? It’s weirdly satisfying — like cleaning your keyboard and realizing how gross it really was. I also add a splash of mouthwash to the water tank for some extra minty power. The manual doesn’t say you should (or shouldn’t), but honestly, it’s a $20 gadget. If it melts, I’ll just buy another one. So far, it’s holding up great — and my mouth feels extra fresh afterward. Pro tip: close your lips slightly while you use it. Otherwise, you’ll Jackson Pollock your bathroom mirror in about two seconds flat. The Specs (In Plain English)
 Unless you’ve got braces, implants, or a small fortune to burn, this thing keeps up just fine.
The Bottom Line After a week of nightly use, my gums are cleaner, my breath is fresher, and I no longer carry yesterday’s dinner with me into today. You don’t need the Cadillac of water flossers. You just need a water flosser. Here’s the exact one I use — the black one’s on sale for $19.99. Simple. Cheap. Effective. It does exactly what it’s supposed to — no app, no nonsense, just clean teeth. And that’s why it’s one of My Favorite Things. |