Experience-Based and Hobby-Oriented Gifts

My cousin’s obsessed with “perfect” gym socks. But he just wants people to notice he’s into learning new stuff, not socks. Why do people keep buying trendy junk instead of giving something you’ll actually use? Skill-based stuff, new hobbies, strategy games—those hang around in your brain way longer than another bottle of cologne. The weird details, the little quirks, that’s what sticks. Not the unboxing moment.

MasterClass Subscriptions

I keep seeing this pile of psychology and barbecue books on my coworker’s desk, but nobody ever thinks to get him a MasterClass subscription. Why? I mean, sure, Neil Gaiman’s there teaching writing, and Steve Martin’s explaining comedy timing—both wild—but the real surprise is how random guys suddenly get obsessed with woodworking or, like, building a “personal brand.” It’s under $200 a year, 180+ classes, and new ones drop all the time. Honestly, it’s a no-brainer for anyone who’s “impossible to shop for.”

And if the algorithm screws up and suggests Gordon Ramsay when you wanted Anna Wintour? Whatever, you’ll find something. All these experts keep saying “lifelong learning” is the secret to happiness or success or whatever—Harvard Business Review won’t stop talking about it. But then, every birthday, some dude opens a tie and pretends to be thrilled. Why? I’d rather see someone finally bake a decent sourdough loaf than fake a smile over cufflinks.

Game Night Essentials

Game nights are always chaos. Seltzer cans everywhere, dice missing, someone’s yelling about rules nobody remembers. But honestly, the right gear makes it way better. A felt-lined card table that folds up? Perfect. Or just bring a retro board game and suddenly everyone’s playing Ticket to Ride instead of scrolling their phones. And why do people think “gamer gifts” mean another novelty T-shirt? Get real. Noise-canceling headphones or a trivia app subscription—those are actually useful.

Whoever skips snacks for game night? Can’t trust them. Weighted chips, good card sleeves, a case for the games (because the instructions vanish instantly)—those are what people actually use. CNN’s gift list throws in ergonomic stuff and weird puzzles, but honestly, nothing beats a midnight dice tournament with friends.

Chess and Beyond

Still don’t get why every “stylish” guy never gets a decent chess set. It’s always some multitool or whatever. A hand-carved board or a heavy Staunton set is so much cooler. Chess isn’t just a game, it’s an excuse to hang out, to kill an afternoon, to get way too competitive online. And people forget about all the custom stuff—engraved boards, travel sets, smart clocks that track stats. Why not make it about the experience instead of just the thing?

And if chess isn’t your thing, what about go, backgammon, or Hive? Nobody wraps those up, not even for the guy who “has everything.” Experience Gifts always suggests hobby-centric stuff, but everyone skips the offbeat strategy games. Last Christmas, I watched someone unwrap their fourth wireless charger—his face said it all. Maybe next time I’ll just print out a tournament entry and call it a day.

Beverage Gifts That Go Beyond the Ordinary

Every year, it’s the same: six-pack, novelty mug, maybe a bottle of something that’ll gather dust. Does anyone remember who gave what? Doubt it. But get the right drink or tool and people actually remember. There’s “good,” and then there’s that bottle you hesitate to open because it’s, well, special.

A Good Bottle of Scotch

You ever notice how all those gift bottles at the office party look identical? Single malts, nothing over twelve years, barely any peat, and never—never—a GlenDronach 18. If you’re giving scotch, make it count. I met a distiller once who said most guys just want one old, weird bottle—cask strength, non-chill filtered, something you can’t just grab anywhere. Yeah, it might run over a hundred bucks, but honestly, it’s easier to find a Highland Park 18 than fake enthusiasm for Glenlivet 12.

People never guess what someone really wants. Try for a distillery exclusive or some weird limited edition. Most guides don’t mention what scotch nerds actually want, which just proves nobody’s paying attention. Go for high ABV, skip the sampler sets (unless you hate the guy), and ignore those “best of 2025” boxes—they’re just mediocre bottles with a bow. Check the Forbes best gifts for men if you want to see the usual suspects.

Bourbon for Connoisseurs

Why does everyone buy the same bourbon? Buffalo Trace, Knob Creek—nobody’s excited. If the guy’s into bourbon, he wants something rare, like a private barrel pick or a single barrel release. I bartended a bourbon launch once and, trust me, people want age statements, cask strength, or something they can’t get at the corner store.

Blanton’s, Weller, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon—those are the holy grails. People join waitlists for years for those. But every guide acts like any $40 bottle is fine. It isn’t. I’ve seen someone get a Hot Ones Hot Sauce Trio instead of a rare whiskey and, honestly, he was happier. Bourbon isn’t about fancy wrapping—spend your money on something rare, or at least grab a couple of Glencairn glasses if you can’t find a unicorn bottle.

Unique Bottle Openers

Every guy has a drawer full of junk openers or some clunky multi-tool. But nobody ever gets a really great bottle opener. Titanium, minimalist, maybe one of those flat ones with built-in wrenches (like the Geekey Multi-Tool), those get used constantly. But all the groomsmen gift sites just push tacky etched stuff—tried that, ends up in the glove box, forgotten.

The worst are those plastic “collectible” openers. They break instantly. I swear by a solid lever-action opener, or if you can find one, something with a lifetime warranty. Metal, not plastic. Something that slides onto a keychain. No need for Bluetooth or weird features. If your friend’s ever said, “I wish I had a decent opener,” that’s your cue. Just get something that works.

Culinary Surprises and Entertaining Upgrades

What drives me nuts? People forget that impressing a stylish guy in the kitchen isn’t about random gadgets or whatever’s cute at the checkout. It’s about stuff that actually gets used—sharp tools, bold flavors, that one coffee thing everyone obsesses over. The line between “need” and “luxury” gets blurry fast.

Espresso Machines for Coffee Lovers

If you think a bag of beans is a “coffee lover” gift, you’ve missed the point. My mornings depend on a real espresso machine, not some pod thing from TikTok. Real espresso means precise pressure and temperature—ask any barista. Breville Barista Express? That’ll pull a shot with actual crema, not the weird bubbly stuff you see online. Chocolate undertones, too, if you’re lucky.

Nobody talks about the upkeep—cleaning cycles, filtered water, all that. Supposedly, it makes the machine last way longer and the coffee taste better (La Marzocco reps say 30% better, but who’s checking?). These things cost more than rent, but if you do the math, you save a fortune compared to coffee shops. If you actually use it, that is.

Small Indulgences Like Hot Sauce

You know what’s not special? Another bottle of supermarket sriracha. Gifting hot sauce only works if it’s something rare, maybe single-origin, maybe fermented, maybe just weirdly good. I want heat and flavor, not just spice for the sake of it.

A $15–$20 bottle of artisan hot sauce? Worth it. Scoville numbers are less important than taste—smoky, citrusy, whatever. I’ll put it on popcorn or ramen and suddenly dinner feels like a thing. The packaging never fits in the fridge, which is annoying, but I’ll live.

Multi-Tools for the Kitchen and Beyond

Knife sets are fine, but a multitool with a bottle opener, micro-serrated blade, and even a screwdriver? That’s the real hero. Kitchen multitools get ignored in gift guides because they look boring. But ask any cook or host—they’ll tell you a good multitool saves the day when the wine cork snaps or a chair goes wobbly.

My Victorinox multitool has outlasted most of my friendships. The peeler gets used more than the chef’s knife, no joke. At my last event, caterers swore multitools made prep faster—didn’t time it, but nobody argued. Stainless is best. People forget to wash them until they’re crusty, but at least it’s not another gift card.