Five essential things every whisky gentleman should own when cultivating a person lifestyle change. I am not going to sit here and post about needing to own a Rolex or a ridiculously expensive pair of shoes from God knows which Italian designer, costing more money than you make in a few months combined. What I am going to share with you, are my personal opinion on some staples that every man should own, including the kind of flask he uses to pour which whisky into what kind of whisky glass.
- Dress Shoes: I personally feel a man is not a man if he doesn’t own at least one pair of nice shoes. Now I am not out here telling you to go out and spend thousands upon thousands of dollars of brand labeled shoes. What I am saying is that you should invest in at least one pair of good leather shoes. Stay away from suede for many reasons or anything boot like, because it’s not practical and becomes very seasonal.
A personal favorite of mine are dress shoes somewhere in the range between $300 and $400, not enough to break the bank and good enough to last a few years. Stay away from common brands like Aldo or Kenneth Cole, because even though they can fit in that price range, their quality and craftsmanship is pretty shabby, and will tear and wear within 6-8 months. Go for that Italian brand, or an American brand like Allen Edmonds.
A nice pair of shoes is a fashion statement, a very subtle but noticeable fashion statement. Too often you see men walking down the street in a beautiful suit only to pair it down with a really cheap looking pair of shoes. Throws out the entire outfit out of balance. Don’t be that guy. Also if you take care of your shoes and provide them with cheap maintenance, you’d be surprised how long they will last, even end up being cheaper in the long run.
- Flask: A flask is the perfect pocket companion, depending on any situation. Whether you are headed on a business meeting, or a night on the town, or maybe you’re going to celebrate something special and you just don’t want to drop hundreds of dollars on great whiskey at the bar, a flask should always be a handy companion of yours. A type of flask really depends on you and the kind of budget you have. Some things to steer clear off however, are plastic or silicone flasks because the alcohol might burn through them and infuse with the flavor, and well you just don’t need the extra plastic in your diet.
Something classy and fits into your pocket and is slim is always preferred choice for a flask. Make sure it has a nice tight seal and is easy enough to open to either pour a dram, or take a swig, whatever the times might call.
- Whisk(e)y: Look life is just too short to be drinking awful or barely tolerable whisky. Every man should have a descent home bar. Some rum (aged preferred), some tequila and vodka for those that don’t really appreciate alcohol, and some really amazing whiskey, scotch and rye. Yes gentleman there is a difference, and of course the finer things in life will cost more. But believe you me they will be so much more worth it. When people visit, you want to be a good gracious host, but you also want people to remember their visit. You almost want them to remember it so much, they will think of your place as the happening place to be. That starts off with a good collection.
Scotch and American Whiskey are two different animals, and you should really have both. From personal experience as well as building my own bar, my girlfriend and I have a wide variety of alcohol from bourbon, to rye to bourbon, to Japanese, to Irish. If you visit our household no matter who you are, or where you come from, we have a little bit of everything for everyone.
Whiskey does not have to be a major toll on the wallet either. There are so much information online that you can build a descent collection for under $500.
- Suit: If you’re going to own a pair of nice shoes, now you need a nice suit to pair with them. A nice suit also does not have to cost you thousands upon thousands of dollars. Anything on sale can be found in the price range off the rack around $350. Why a nice suit you might ask, why not go to those boutiques and spend $100 for 2, well my friend, as my Mother always used to say “When you buy sh*t, you pay for it twice” -Gene’s Mother
What that means is that it won’t fit as well off the rack, it will be big bulky pretty ugly and rip or just tear apart while you’re taking that nice stroll with your girlfriend on your anniversary. Don’t be that guy. Places like Charles Tyrwhitt or Calvin Klein offer great quality slim fit body tapered suits for under $400 easily!
Nothing makes a man stand out more than a great looking suit with a nice pair of shoes.
And Lastly, a nice pair of sunglasses.
5. Sunglasses: Now I am not talking about going out and picking up an ugly pair of shades from a designer label and dropping $500+ dollars. What I do mean, is pick out a style that suits your face quite well. Doesn’t make your face look too bulky or big, doesn’t hurt your nose because the metal is harsh and the frame sits awkwardly on your face. A nice pair of Oakley glasses cost me $250, and it’s a pair I’ve now owned accident free for 5 years.
That my friends is all a whisky gentleman really needs to make a good first impression. Because as you know, you’ll never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Take these tips as they are, just tips, but mostly based on personal and awkward experiences. Live off my mistakes and be a better whisky gentleman.
