Cigar Aficionado’s 2024 Holiday Gift Guide
Season’s greetings! The fortuitous coincidence of so many festive holidays in early winter provides a year-end opportunity to thank those near and dear. What follows is an eclectic mix particularly suited as gifts for men…or perhaps inclusion on your own wish list.
PXG Black Ops Irons ($150 each)
PXG is known for making high-end clubs with a distinctive look. Its newest iteration, Black Ops, aims to push the boundaries of forgiveness. The Black Ops Irons ($150 apiece) are the company’s first game improvement irons, meant to help duffers turn mishits into good hits. It has a dual cavity engineered to remove mass from the middle and push it towards the perimeter. The ultrathin face of the club (1.27-mm thick) enhances distance.
Abercrombie & Kent Private Estates In Tuscany ($55,000 to $90,000 per week)
For a truly indulgent gift for the family, consider a trip in style to Italy. Abercrombie & Kent has created the new Chianti Collection of private estates in Tuscany. Five properties just ed the A&K portfolio this fall. They range in style, price and size, but each comes with a local host and concierge, welcome and farewell dinners prepared by a local chef, a wine tasting (done at your villa or in the winery on which it sits), a cooking class, photography session, daily housekeeping, a case of Tuscan wine and more. The estates sleeps from 10 to 19 people.
LeRoy Neiman: The Life Of America’s Most Beloved & Belittled Artist ($35)
LeRoy Neiman was one of the better-known artists of the 20th-century. His vibrant, expressionist painting style stretched to many corners of popular culture, from Playboy magazine to the Olympics. His colorful work captured the hearts of Americans and the ire of art critics. But this cigar-smoking artist is more than the opinions of his work—his life reflects a wild ride through 20th century American history. The newest biography from Travis Vogan offers a glimpse into this wholly American life. Take a step into the past while learning the story of this lover of the leaf.
Newair Countertop Whiskey Ice Ball Maker ($699.99)
If you’re a whiskey drinker, you’ve certainly crossed paths with the popular, thick spherical ice balls that so often accompany a glass of whiskey. In fact, most readers probably have their own small tray of these very ice balls in their freezer at the moment. But a common issue can arise with these beloved spheres: there’s a limit to how many you can make at a time. If you have a group of buddies over or a party, the supply can only last so long, even if you buy multiple trays. But what if you could take these ice cubes to scale and without much leg work? That’s where Newair’s Whiskey Ice Ball Maker comes in. The machine is capable of producing up to 32 ice spheres every 24 hours, and all you have to do is add water.
Cover Seal Weighted Car Cover ($305 to $395)
When Ferrari collector Ken Huening found rodents camping out in his cars, causing him thousands in damage, he was determined to find a better way to protect his collection. He created CoverSeal, a patented vehicle cover with a weighted apron that seals to the ground, keeping out not only vermin but securing the cover outdoors in even heavy winds. The covers come in a variety of shapes, to best fit your vehicle, and other models are available for patio furniture and BBQ grills.
The tools of your craft are important. A carpenter needs a quality hammer, just as a chef needs a precise knife. If you fancy yourself a cook, consider taking your knife skills up a notch with this gorgeous, 8-inch blade from CRKT. Designed by knifemaker Ken Onion, the Chef’s Knife is made of a Damasteel blade with titanium bolsters and a carbon fiber handle. The tool is remarkably lightweight, yet sturdy, and is built to withstand all temperature variations that might occur in a kitchen. It’s a hefty price tag, but a fine item, especially for the culinary-driven folks.
Calzoleria Toscana Dip-Dyed Buff Calf High-Top ($378)
Versatility is a wonderful thing in fashion. There’s something uniquely special about the clothing item that is both fit for a runway and a casual night out with friends. In Tuscany, Italy, Calzoleria Toscana handcrafts many shoe models built for such adaptability. Their Dip-Dyed Buff Calf High-Top is perhaps the best representation of this capability. The company’s patented dip-dyed process delivers a soft leather shoe that’s both sophisticated and casual. If you lean towards sneakers in particular, but need a shoe more fitting for your dressier outfits, consider this option from Calzoleria Toscana.
Jimmy Page 1964 SJ-200 Collector’s Edition Guitar ($19,999)
When it comes to the upper echelons of the rock pantheon, few deserve a spot more than Jimmy Page. Gibson has teamed up with Page for an ultra- guitar inspired by the 1964 Gibson SJ-200 model he used on Led Zeppelin’s self-titled debut album. Known as the King of the Flattops, the SJ-200 has been prized since 1937 for its playability and tone. Made in Bozeman, Montana, it features AAA flamed maple back, sides and neck with an aged AAA Sitka spruce top, all in a nitrocellulose Cherry Tea sunburst finish. Hardware includes gold Kluson tuners and solid rosewood Moustache plate mounted with a gold Tune-O-Matic bridge and nylon saddles. Included are a hard-shell case, strap, certificate of authenticity and a second Tune-O-Matic bridge with gold-plated brass saddles. Each guitar of the limited series (just 50) has been individually signed, inspected and played by Page himself.
Deluxe Edition Of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol By Easton Press ($300)
Did you know that before Charles Dickens penned the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, Christmas celebrations had fallen into disfavor? In fact, it was the book’s popularity together with other coeval holiday resurgence which propelled Christmas to the cultural tour-de-force it is today. Nearly two centuries later, A Christmas Carol remains not only a quintessential morality tale with a holiday twist, but a timeless literary classic. Easton Press has released a limited-edition version of the book bound in green leather featuring eye-catching, 22-karat gold detailing. Inside are a mix of color and black-and-white reproductions of the beautiful illustrations by Arthur Rackham found in the 1915 edition. Printed and bound in the United States, production is limited to just 1,200 hand-numbered copies. As befitting such a rare and beautiful volume, it comes in a protective clamshell slip-case.
Clicks Keyboard Attachment For iPhone 15 Pro ($139)
Do you have a family member, possibly older, who grumbles about how they miss pressing actual buttons in today’s touchpad world? Now there’s a way to bring back the tactile feel of buttons to your smartphone with the Clicks Keyboard for Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro. Just insert your phone and get typing. Not only does it give you back the personal touch to your phone, but it also increases the amount of display area on your screen by approximately 50 percent. Features include a backlit keyboard and -through charging. Available in four different finishes: Royal Ink, London Sky, Miami Beach and Bumblebee.
Personal Golf Launch Monitor ($5,999)
If you truly want to take your golf game to the next level, you need precise performance . The GC3 Personal Launch Monitor is designed to give you as much information as possible about your golf swing, from ball speed (Rory McIlroy’s exceeds 180 mph; the typical amateur’s might be around 130), ball spin and ball flight. Just put the surprisingly compact device down on the tee box (it’s not all that much larger than a tee marker) and the three-camera system will assess your swing. A touchscreen system allows you to make adjustments and monitor your data.
A Raceway Track Like No Other: Slot Mods ($85,000)
If your vision of a toy raceway is plastic tracks with Hot Wheels cars, prepare to take this type of gift to the concierge level with the custom setups from Slot Mods Raceways. The company makes exquisite race setups with uncanny attention to detail.
Its newest concept, a t venture with Tony Lauro’s Hot Shoe Studios, is a setup that pays homage to the legendary 1967 Ferrari 330 P4 Le Mans race car. The 1:43 scale wooden raceway has period-correct features such as signs, banners, aluminum Armco railing, trees and structures that capture the look and feel of the race. The entire track is encased in a model of the ’67 Ferrari, which opens like a clamshell. Each piece is meticulously handcrafted with composite body s, a hand-painted exterior shell and other details. You can choose either a clean or race-weathered version of the famed car.
Even if you’ve lost a few miles per hour on your serve, you can still dominate the tennis court with your style. The Rocket is a smartly designed tennis bag with smashing features that make it highly utilitarian, but it comes with a stealth factor. Roomy and wide, it looks like a piece of luggage not a tennis tote. (Office mates will think you’re traveling on business when you duck out at noon carrying six racquets). On the court, The Rocket will lie flat on the ground, stand on end or hook to the fence for easy access. Best of all? The gear organization. It’s full of dedicated compartments, each with handy icons to remind you where everything goes: balls, cell phone, wallet, shoes, etc. Many pockets are cleverly lined, like the antimicrobial wet pocket for sweaty togs. The beverage pocket is insulated to keep your water—who are we kidding—post-game beer nice and cold.
Deck The Halls With Vinyl: Booze & Vinyl Books ($26-$27)
In your haste to in on the retro-LP trend, you may have forgotten one important component to spinning old-school platters: what will you drink along with your nostalgia break? The Booze & Vinyl books from Running Press address this. Pick an album from the series of three books and an accompanying cocktail will be suggested with a recipe and “liner notes.” Playing “Thriller” you’ll, of course, want to drink a Zombie. For “Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison” the Suffering Bastard is a choice. The leading-edge jazz of John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme” demands an Eye-Opener. A Booze & Vinyl Christmas is the latest in the series. You can celebrate the holiday with such sections as Warm & Fuzzy (your Bing Crosbys and Perry Comos), Jazz & Classical (from the likes of Frank and Dino), and Rock the Halls (did you know Cheap Trick dropped a holiday album?)
Pro-Ject Audio Systems Signature 12.2 Flagship Turntable ($14,999)
A turntable that retails for $15K may not sound like a bargain at first, but when you consider that it delivers a $25K performance, you might retool your notion of value. Pro-Ject’s Signature 12.2 belt-driven turntable is built like a tank. Weighing more than 80 pounds, it’s made of 100 CNC-machined parts. The platter alone (which is damped with a thermoplastic elastomer on the underside and an integrated vinyl mat on top to reduce resonance and improve sound) is 23 pounds. Other features include a curved 12-inch tonearm with a removable headshell; a three-point pivot tonearm bearing for extra stability; and motors mounted in an aluminum motor block to isolate the electronics within. It all amounts to an immersive listening experience that will make you hear your old, familiar records in a new way.
Tour d’Argent Foie Gras Gift Set (130 euro or $137)
So you didn’t make it to Paris this year, which means that you didn’t eat at the storied Tour d’Argent on the Seine. Thanks to the restaurant’s online épicerie, you can order the signature foie gras from this dining institution without having to cross the Atlantic. Picnic Parisian style with this superb set that includes a jar of goose liver foie gras, a bottle of Blanc de Blancs Champagne and two jars of chutney: one fig and lemon and the other pear and gingerbread.
Cigar Aficionado At Half-Price ($14.95)
What’s better than a subscription to Cigar Aficionado? A subscription to Cigar Aficionado at half the price. For a limited time, you can get loved ones a subscription to their favorite magazine at the price of just $14.95 for the full year. With each issue you’ll hear from your favorite cigar-smoking celebrities and the biggest names in the cigar industries, plus get reviews of products that will help you live the good life, with unparalleled stories, loads of expert reviews of new cigars and so much more.
