While some blog about their interests, and others even podcast, Australian cinematographer Rob Draper and Scottish whisky academic Charles Maclean have decided that nothing less than a Hi-Def internet TV channel will do justice to the prestige and sophistication of single malt scotch.
The trailer looks slick, the website professional and the concept ambitious. But here’s hoping it’s an unprecedented success.
It tells of the journey - from sitting at home dreaming of the cigar, to getting the cigar, battling the cigar and finally smoking the cigar.
Forgetting the context to the story, even the hour-long smoke sounds like a crusade – accidentally cracking the corner of the wrapper, a tight pre-light draw and a potential peeling problem. And with a happy ending:
After a little over an hour it was time to set this cigar down for good. Overall I think that I may have gotten a bad stick, but even so, it was the best bad stick I have ever had the pleasure of smoking.
If there’s one thing the world needs, dammit, it’s a heart-warming tale about smoking.
Still probably seen as the poor man’s American Lacoste, Le Tigre have experienced quite a resurgence in recent years, not unlike their idol. And while still unashamedly derivative, they’re creating some really cute stuff.
This argyle v-neck is a perfect example. The design available in stores is a more refined look than the slightly over-done scattered argyle beast modeled on their website, and in a much more classic palette.
For those of us outside the USA, Le Tigre still doesn’t really cut it against the timeless beauty of le crocodile, but their retro cool is starting to set them apart from the, at times, sleek modernism of the original.
To be filed under problems you shouldn’t have anyway – using the same bar of soap for washing your face and, well, the rest of you.
The British (hence the spelling) have developed black/white, Arse/Face soap. Basically, oh, do we really need to explain it to you? Once you get it, you get it.
A few points grab us immediately, however:
Surely no-one still washes their face with soap; and
The British all take baths instead of showers, so regardless of which side of the soap they use, they’ll be splishing about in the lather anyway.
It’s largely a gag purchase. For some vulgar friend this holiday season for whom you can’t think of a real gift.
Some cigars look good on paper. Many of us like to get wrapped up in talk of a leaf’s history, the prestige of a brand and the amazing story of one stogie’s production.
And one such tale was that of the Partagas 160 Signature Series. Firstly, the use of 29-year-old Cameroon wrapper (the same used in the Partagas 150) is enough to excite many. Secondly, Partagas are, well, Partagas. The Havana factory is world’s longest-running and its reputation is legendary. And finally, the 160 Signature’s story tells of one cigar master’s tribute to legacy of his mentor. A special cigar, no?
Well, no, not according to this review (the first piece we’ve read where someone has actually smoked the damn cigar)…
The overall impression was of poor quality ligero surrounded by cheap, earthy Mexican filler and wrapped in newsprint… I would have been better off crumpling up a 20 dollar bill and throwing it out the car window; at least I wouldn’t still have this nasty taste in my mouth.
The moral of the story is to read the review before you buy, not just the bio.
If, like us, you’ve plunged hundreds of dollars on Italian shirts while still wearing a Swatch, you’re doing it all wrong.
According to Ask Men, if no-one but you knows about your wardrobe extravagances, then it just ain’t worth it.
They go through a typical wardrobe, item-by-item, and tell you where to splurge and where to save. Some advice is quite helpful:
…if the rest of your jeans are inexpensive, occasionally wearing a more expensive pair with the label prominently displayed will give the impression that you spend more on all of your jeans than you actually do.
While other tips are possibly a little too conservative:
In lower-end department stores you can also buy underwear cheaply; just stick with standard patterns or solid colors and avoid no-name designer logos and weird pictures…
Helpful stuff, though. Maybe we will finally invest in a decent watch. Forcing ourselves to save on underwear and shirts, however, that could be a little painful…
The ’system’ (why have just a shaver, when you can have a system) is listed as having some amazing features, all of which are important enough to warrant Title Case. There’s the Precision Cutting System (blades, we assume), Individually Floating Heads (unlike those shavers where all the blades are stuck together?) and, most impressively, the Patented Reflex Action® (springs?).
What caught our eye most, however, was theJet Clean and Charge System, which we’ve pictured. Is it true that the Jet Clean Solution, in which the shaver is immersed, is a space-age electrolyte, charging the shaver with precious energy while simultaneously jet cleaning the blades?
We hope so, but doubt it.
Cool looking shaver though. And it beats getting shaver dust everywhere with one of those dinky little brushes…
Sometimes you see a tie that makes you wish you had to wear ties more often. Such is the case with House of Manfred (who claim residency in Sydney, Paris and Karachi).
Made in Italy of, wait for it, Italian silk, the patterns are something quite extraordinary, and the attitude which accompanies Manfred, something else again:
He’s independent of means, and independent of spirit. A gambler, and a womanizer, he’s the lovable rogue. Sure, he’s made mistakes, and had his share of tragedy.
It’s hard to imagine one could ever look very roguish in a tie (especially a pink, floral one) – regardless of how many sepia nudes adorn the lining. But it beats a pink, floral tie WITHOUT sepia nudes.
Still probably seen as the 
Some cigars look good on paper. Many of us like to get wrapped up in talk of a leaf’s history, the prestige of a brand and the amazing story of one stogie’s production.
If, like us, you’ve plunged hundreds of dollars on Italian shirts while still wearing a Swatch, you’re doing it all wrong.
Sometimes the word replica gets a bad wrap. When heard as an adjective in front of Rolex, Fender or Ray-Ban, it makes us want to take a shower.
Last week we brought you the 
