What do you get for the man in your life that has everything this holiday season? This is the question I’ve been faced with for Mr. Locke, the man who has basically everything. But no longer, my friends. I sat down with him and asked what his favorite products have been for 2017. You know, the products he’d happily purchase again? Once he started thinking, it was easy to steamroll his loves and favorites. Here’s our 2017 Holiday Gift Guide for men and what they want – no socks or underwear to be found.
Fine Spirits
When I met Mr. Locke what seems like a million years ago, his drink of choice was Rolling Rock. Fast forward to present: his love of spirits (particularly bourbon) has overtaken his love of affordable beer. Here’s his choices:
Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon – $38
We had the pleasure of meeting the folks from Four Roses in NYC a while back and there’s a reason why the brand is so special. Not only are their bourbons affordable, they’re highly flavorful. Mr. Locke’s style of choice out of the brand’s 10 recipes? Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon. At 100 proof, you’ll get the kick you want with complex flavors like caramel, vanilla, and cocoa.
Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey – $60
According to Mr. Locke, Blanton’s Single Barrel is best served without a mixer compliments of the sweet, citrusy notes. At 93 Proof you’ll get a smooth flavor and its ability to be perfect on the rocks makes for a great nightcap.
Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – $40
Another bourbon that’s perfect on the rocks, Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is amazing as is. A little lower in proof than the other two (80 proof), there’s less of a sting but plenty of flavor. You’ll get a hint of peppermint with Basil Hayden’s – the same aroma that was there when Hayden himself began distilling it in the era of George Washington. True story.
Mark Twain Would Have Approved, We Think…
With a good bourbon may come a hankering for a good cigar. Here are the ones to know for 2017.
Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado – Under $10
We made a pit stop at JR Cigars in NC so Mr. Locke could shop for cigars. His choice? Olivia Serie V Melanio. Made from Nicaraguan Habano long filler tobaccos, the premium cigar was rated #1 in 2014 by Cigar Aficionado for it’s complex flavor and easy draw.
DW Home Warm Tobacco Pipe Candle – From $11
I’m not a fan of the scent of cigar smoke, but we’re both a fan of the DW Home Warm Tobacco Pipe Candle. It reminds me of the days when my father smoked a pipe and Mr. Locke burns this uniquely-warm scent in his “beat laboratory”, aka music room. The scent profile is warm tobacco combined with rich suede making a earthy, earthy scent perfect for man caves and bedrooms.
It’s All About that Tread
Goodyear® Assurance® WeatherReady™
As a family that is constantly on the road, a great set of tires is a must. This autumn, Goodyear® Assurance® WeatherReady™ has kept us safe on the road. They’re now available at Sam’s Club and my husband has always been a huge fan of the brand, so it was a no-brainer choice. While it’s not Goodyear Tire’s first all-weather tire, is is their best to date. His thoughts? The tires help with gas mileage and stick to the road even on damp roads. Sure, tires aren’t maybe the most conventional holiday gift, but they certainly are thoughtful.
Sweet Dreams
Nectar Mattresses – From $500
Christmas came a bit early for us this year with the addition of a new mattress in our master bedroom. Our old one? I’m too embarrassed to write how old it was. Delivery was so convenient, the comfort factor is there, and I love that we don’t need a separate box spring. Given the fact that we’ve been pricing mattress for months and trying to commit to one, the affordability of a Nectar Mattress is another reason we chose to test drive the brand. As for comfort, Mr. Locke suffers from lower back pain and we were blaming it on our old mattress. As of the date this review published, I haven’t heard one back complaint. As for me, I’m sleeping comfortably, too. Bonus: Nectar Mattresses offer a “Forever Warranty”. Now that’s an investment we’ll gladly take.
Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo Pillow – From $49.99
Think of your man’s favorite down pillow. Now think of how smushed and flat it can get. Enter Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo Pillows. Made with Eco-Friendly Biogreen® & Certipur-US Certified Foam, each pillow is proudly made in the USA. Her’s what else I know: Mr. Locke loves our Queen style so much that we’ve made an agreement to put the pillow smack dab in the middle of the bed and share.
Stocking Stuffers
There’s no reason to hit department stores to grab last-minute goodies for his stocking. From old-school candy to protein-packed snacks and hair care, here’s his fave affordable options.
Lofty Pursuits Handmade Candy – From $5.99
Did I ever mention that I like to go on YouTube channel benders? This fall, my bender of choice has been Lofty Pursuits in Tallahassee, FL. The old-fashioned candy company’s viral videos of hard candy creations put a nostalgic smile on my face. A recent gift from Mr. Locke of hard candy flavors has made both of us hard candy fans again. His picks? Acid Drops and the Image Variety Candy.
Amazon Fire Stick with Voice Remote – From $39.99
The next gen Fire TV Stick now offers an Alexa voice-controlled remote for streaming media. Have a Prime Membership? He’ll have access to thousands of tv shows and movies for free. What my husband loves about the Amazon Fire Stick? It can be plugged into any tele’s HDMI port – perfect for our road tripping, hotel-living lifestyle.
American Crew Fiber – From $10.51
I like to tease Mr. Locke and tell him that he’s giving David Beckham a run for his money but the truth is that the man has amazing hair. When I met my husband, he had long hair that any girl would be envious of (and the skater attitude to go with it!). These days, he’s all for classic hair styles and is very loyal to American Crew Fiber Pliable Moulding Cream. Head to a department store and it’s much more expensive. Head to Amazon and it’s affordable.
BIENA Chickpea Snacks – From $8.76
These were one of our go-to snacks this month when we hit the Central Florida theme parks. Jam-packed with good protein (and plenty of great flavors including sweet and spicy), they have us the fuel we needed to accomplish up to 10 miles of walking each day. Yeah, we’re that ambitious. BIENA Chickpea Snacks have really locked down the right way to roast chickpeas, too. His faves? Barbecue and Rockin’ Ranch.
Oh, use the promo code SandAndSnow and take 20% off your order. That’s a delicious deal.
Disclosure: Sand and Snow uses affiliate links. Yes, we get a small commission for our efforts. We’ve also received complimentary products to test drive for this holiday gift guide, too. If you like what you read, please feel free to click the links. Happy holidays!
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