This Christmas don’t forget the men in your life – brothers, fathers, best mates – that have seen you through thick and thin over the past year – with our he-tastic Xmas Gift Guide.
Buying Christmas presents for mates can be a tricky business. There’s a level of intimacy when exchanging gifts that might seem a little unsettling, which means many of us resort to tried-and-true presents like socks and books. This year try to break the cycle with something a little more thoughtful. Whether you’re celebrating with a mate and his family, or just want to show a special bloke in your life that you value him, there’s something for everyone in this year’s list.
Didn’t your mother ever tell you it’s rude to turn up at someone’s else as an invited guest without some kind of gift? How about one that ensures great cocktails and potential regrets? Jack Daniels has released Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, a blend of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey – charcoal mellowed and matured in new American oak barrels – and finely crafted apple liqueur (which apparently is a thing), in time for office parties and festive family gatherings. Try crafting a novel take on the Manhattan or Old Fashioned, or make it the base of a holiday punch.
Give the gift that will keep your mate silky smooth for the year ahead with the Ultimate Men’s Special Gift Pack from Kiehl’s. The kit includes all the essentials he needs, from a Facial Fuel Cleanser and Facial Fuel Energizing Tonic, formulated with caffeine, bamboo extract and vitamins C and E; to an Age Defending Power Serum, and Age Defender Eye Repair, because that’s where guys tend to see wear and tear first. All seven products come packed away in an ultimate man’s pouch.
Christmas is a time to visit friends and family, and what says celebration more than champagne? French Champagne House Perrier-Jouët’s exquisite Belle Epoque Rosé, a rare and precious 2012 vintage, will ensure a warm welcome wherever you’re headed. Combining the richness of Pinot Noir from Ay, Mailly, Verzy and Rilly with the floral elegance of Chardonnay from the finest terroirs of Cramant, Avize and Le Mesnil, this wine exhibits a pale peach bloom created by the addition of a small proportion of Pinot Noir red wines. Lively and fresh on the palate, with a long, lingering finish, this is the perfect pairing champagne for the season ahead.
Get your mate on his bike – the new Brompton Explore Edition to be precise. This folding bike is made for tiny apartments and avid riders. Lightweight and built with six-speed gearing and the ability to fold to less than a third of its size, the whole bicycle slips into a 28L roll-top bag for easy storage or transportation on that next whirlwind trip. Even better, many elements of this London-made bike, from handlebars to lighting to luggage, can be customized.
Who doesn’t like good music from time to time? The ultimate smart speaker for music lovers, the Sonos One features a compact design and fits into any space to deliver brilliant, room-filling sound. Available in black or white, it has built-in microphones and integrated voice assistants, for when you’re all tied up, and offers access to over 100 streaming services controlled with the Sonos App, Apple AirPlay2, music service apps and more.
Hong Kong’s new Amooma Spa & Sanctuary is just the place to send good mates who need a little stress reduction. The spa recently launched Sousou, a virtual reality experience that will immerse your wingman in far away, exotic worlds. Designed to be incorporated with conventional spa treatments, the 5, 15 or 30 minute guided meditation session is set to soothing background music, with spa-goers choosing from 13 of the world’s most serene locations, from Australia, and the Philippines, to the Caribbean. There, they will explore forests, waterfalls and coral reefs through a 360-degree VR experience that’s further customized with Breath Awareness or Deep Relaxation settings.
You’ll be a very welcomed guest anywhere you go if you’re sporting a bottle of Champagne Billecart-Salmon’s Cuvée Nicolas François, an exceptional champagne originally created in 1964, in honour of the House’s founder. With two remarkable vintages to choose from, the Brut Millésime 2002 and 2006, this unique cuvée is a stunning blend of Grands Crus from the Montagne de Reims (60% Pinot Noir) and the Côte des Blancs vineyards (40% Chardonnay). Expect a yellow gold colour, with preserved peaches, fine apple tart and lemon verbena tea on the nose, followed by fine honeyed notes associated with stone fruits on the palate.
Keep those mates nearest and dearest to you looking fresh with the Aesop Moroccan Neroli Shaving Duet. This elegant kit contains a serum for use during shaving, to maximise slip and minimise irritation, and a lotion to calm and hydrate the skin afterwards. The Moroccan Neroli Shaving Serum is a low-foaming serum that allows for a close shave without aggravating the skin. It is enhanced with anti-inflammatory extracts of Aloe Vera, Sandalwood and Neroli Blossom to soften and hydrate. The Moroccan Neroli Post-Shave Lotion is a light, quickly absorbed moisturiser to calm and nourish every skin type, including sensitive. The inclusion of Panthenol and Sandalwood ensures the skin will be left relaxed, smooth and calmed.
Give your friends something to celebrate a set of beautiful American Mountains whisky glasses. This handsome-as-hell set of four handblown tumblers are made from premium lead-free glass and feature topographic impressions of some of the US’s most majestic peaks – Half Dome, Denali, Mt Rainer, and Mt Whitney – set into the base.
Help your mate secure his finances with the Hide & Seek wallet from Bellroy. With its traditional, minimalist design, the wallet is all about keeping your cash out of sight, thanks to a unique flap that conceals bills from view. A flat pack storage section also ensures your credit cards stay out of the reach of the uninvited. The wallet, which comes in a series of colours, has enough room for up to 12 cards, and has hidden coin and note pouches as well as RFID protection.
More than an ordinary shaving solution, ESPA’s Dual-Action ShaveMud doubles as a deep cleansing mask that will leave your skin nourished and revitalised while saving you vital grooming time. Formulated to replace lost nutrients and prevent razor burn, this rich and cooling shaving cream comprises active ingredients including highly absorbent kaolin and bentonite clays, which draw out impurities (perhaps not tequila but everything else) and improve razor glide; shea butter and sweet almond oil that soften and de-sensitises skin; and cocoa extract to slow hair growth.
The new LSX ‘Soundwave’ speakers by Terence Conran make for the perfect he-gift for the audiophile in your life. A perfect balance of form and function, the LSX Soundwave combines the advanced design technology and the true wireless, high-resolution stereo experience of the original LSX with a design inspired by the visualisation of sound waves, which is subtly designed into an exclusive fabric that wraps the shell of the LSX. Compact, effortless to operate, wireless and stylish, the LSX Soundwave satisfies those looking for both a powerful speaker and a standout piece for their home.
Send your mate packing with The Bigger Carry On from luggage gurus Away. A conventional carry on case that’s been upsized, the case is designed to fit in the overhead bins of all but the tiniest pond hoppers and comes with an internal battery that can charge smartphones up to four times. And don’t worry, with its durable polycarbonate shell, 360-degree spinner wheels and ejectable battery, it’s TSA compliant and made to last.
Put the power of hot sauce back in the hands of your nearest and dearest with The Chili Lab Homemade Hot Sauce Kit. This savvy selection includes signature spices and the essential tools he will need to create his own artisanal sauces. The kit features two spice blends – Forager’s Blend, to make a vibrant sauce with deep notes of red berries and woodsmoke, and Grove Blend, for a bright, flavorful sauce with fresh hints of citrus and herbs, although we’re sure he can supplement the recipes with his own preferences. The kit also features a duo of reusable sauce bottles, a fine-mesh strainer and a stainless-steel funnel.
If your mate prefers technology over technique, the ARC5 5-Blade wet-dry electric shaver from Panasonic might be the bathroom essential he needs. The shaver’s 16-directional flexible head follows the contours of the face to perfection, ensuring the closest of shaves, while a pop-up trimmer is perfect for more delicate manscaping. The shaver even cleans itself during charging.
There’s nothing like a good massage, especially when your mate has been working himself hard. Book him in for a treatment at The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, one of the city’s leading houses of wellness. The Sports Recovery treatment is just what the doctor ordered – performed by experienced therapists, the massage is designed to directly address deep-seated tension – and who doesn’t have that? A bespoke massage, conducted on an innovative amethyst crystal Biomat that uses infrared heat and negative ions to focus on trouble areas, eases stiffness while encouraging circulation and recovery. He’ll feel a million dollars in no time.
