The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Anyone
More specifically, anyone that is me. This is a list of what I think would make some great gifts this year, and I’d be happy to be on the receiving end of any of them. Some other people might be as well. None of these are necessities, well except maybe #7. The idea is, these are items someone wouldn’t generally buy for themselves.
#1 Dry Farm Wine Subscription Box
As the title implies, it’s a subscription box. You have the option of monthly or bimonthly (every 2 months) shipments. These aren’t just any wines. These are the best of the best. All of them are naturally made, and many are biodynamic. All the wines are lab tested, low in sugar and sulfites, contain wild native yeasts, are dry farmed, and are lower in alcohol (<12.5%). That checks all the boxes for me.
The subscriptions are six or 12 bottles, delivered every month or every other month. There are also one time gift options which are three, six or 12 bottles. There’s also an option for a temporary subscription that expires after three, six or 12 deliveries. Three bottles are $88, six bottles are $159 and 12 bottles are $299.
#2 Formula 1 Monaco VIP Yacht Experience
I attended my first Formula 1 race this past November in Austin. And it was fantastic. I bought an “experience” package which included not only great seats, but a host of other passes and activities. We went on a tour of the track, a tour of the pit, had a meet and greet with Carlos Sainz and F1 officials. Great time.
But now it’s time to one-up it. I like fast cars, and I like boats. So why not combine the two? For about $15,000, you and a friend can attend the Monaco Grand Prix, from a yacht. You sleep on the yacht, you spectate from the yacht, you eat on the yacht and you mingle on the yacht. I’ll take it! Who’s with me? Tickets do not include airfare. F1 Experiences, $15,000.
#3 The Impossible Collection of Cigars
This isn’t just a book. It’s a book with its own accessories. First off, it comes in a functioning humidor. Take it out of the humidor with the supplied white gloves, and place it on the included book stand. But don’t forget, the book itself is the most important part. With hundreds of pages, its packed full of information even the most knowledge aficionado might not know. Would also look great on my…. actually I don’t have the space for this. Aussoline, $2,150.
What better to accompany a cigar book, than a box of cigars? Because this is a gift guide, I’m including items that are above and beyond what most people would buy for themselves. While I’m sure any cigar pairs nicely with the Impossible Collection, I’m going to throw in a box of Cuban Behike 52s. I’ve never smoked one, but I hear they’re nice. Cohiba is one of the highest quality cigar producers from Cuba, and Behikes are their ultimate offering. There are a few boxes of 10 available on iHavanas right now for $797.
What’re you going to wash down that Behike with? How about some Jefferson’s Ocean Bourbon. I’d heard about this from my friend Matt Blackburn, but hadn’t tried it. Then a few weeks ago I was at a friends and tried regular Jefferson’s for the first time and thought it was great. So I did some research. Jefferson doesn’t distill their own bourbon, but they blend and age it themselves. So here’s the deal. Jefferson’s Ocean Bourbon is aged at sea.
Jefferson’s paired with OCEARCH, a non profit that tracks and studies marine wildlife. So they throw a couple barrels on OCEARCH’s 126’ research vessel for a minimum of three years. Each barrel crosses the Panama Canal at least six times. I’m dying to try it. I just enjoy the idea of bourbon aging at sea so much. Sloshing around, constantly surrounded by water. If you can find it, it runs about $80 a bottle. I’ve never had this, nor a Behike so my recommendation to pair the two was empty words.
In case you haven’t noticed, I’m sometimes a bracelet guy. I don’t load up my arm with all kinds of garbage, but I do have a couple bracelets that I put into rotation. Nothing too big, nothing flashy. And there’s one that I want that I don’t have yet. The Ecrou de Cartier Bracelet in white gold. I’m not big on gold or rose gold. I’ve never tried one on, but I think it looks great. It would compliment by gruff, rough and tumble style very well. $7,050 on the Cartier website.
Maybe you’ve heard of Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. This is kind of like, but if you get all the Crystal Range Rovers together, a forcefield forms and you never have to worry about your own Range Rover breaking down ever again. Don’t believe me? Fine, I just hope you keep up your AAA+ membership.
Anyway, the Classic Range Rover is the ultimate car. It really doesn’t get any better. Any car made after, is inferior. It was the first car to go on display in the Louvre. Now that we’ve established the brilliance of this piece, I think it would look great on a 19th Century Gothic English Oak and Leather Partner’s Desk stuck between a Tiffany and Co. Sterling Silver and Macassar Humidor and an Art Deco Paavo Tynell Desk Lamp. Not that I’ve thought about it too much. This particular piece can be purchased through Foundwell. But hurry, because I have a feeling there aren’t many. Foundwell, $1,150.
Every home needs a cocktail shaker. I can’t remember the last time I used one, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need one. What if I have a guest over and they want a shaken martini? It’s important to be prepared. So why no do it right the first time, and get this sweet cocktail shaker that looks like a race car. A drink poured out of this thing probably tastes better anyway. Asprey, $13,500.
Mom, Dad, I hope you’re reading this.