Man of Many’s Staff Favourites – 29 October 2022
- BenRiach Malting Season
- The Macallan M Collection Tasting
- Japanese Ceramicist En Iwamura
- TRUFF Truffle Lovers Pack
- Broc Shot
- Philips Sneaker Cleaner
- HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 Laptop
- July Luggage – Dark Mode Collection
- Ere Perez Skincare
- BACARDÍ New RTD Cocktails
- Wallaroo Palm Beach Fedora
Happy almost Halloween, team. Whether you’ve got wall-to-wall parties planned or you’re keen on keeping the creeping indoors this weekend, we’ve got you covered. Over the past seven days, we’ve been slinging through the web chasing the coolest products, gear and series for you to sink your teeth into. Here is Man of Many’s Staff Favourites for this week.
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Benriach malting season
BenRiach Malting Season | Image: BenRiach
BenRiach Malting Season
Nick Hall – Editor-in-Chief
I’ve been trying to cut down the booze over the past few weeks, but when iconic Scotch distilleries BenRiach, The Glendronach and Glenglassaugh come knocking, you don’t say no. This week, Ben, Harry and I were lucky enough to head down to Frank Mac’s in The Rocks to test out some of the labels’ top drams and I was stunned by just how complex and diverse the portfolio is. I’ve long been a fan of The Glendronach, after first catching a glimpse of the Scotch whisky in Kingsman but I’ve never really dabbled much in the world of BenRiach. That will soon change. Of all the whiskies I was lucky enough to taste, the one that really caught my attention was the BenRaich Malting Season release.
Produced entirely using barley malted from the Speyside distillery’s floor maltings, the release captures a sweet robustness that really added to the depth of flavour. I tend to lean on the sweeter side when it comes to whisky, so this one certainly played into my wheelhouse. Malting Season is two-cask matured in bourbon and virgin oak barrels, whihc gives the final release a rich, creamy flavour and a beautiful barley gold colour. I found this one to be a really approachable Scotch that sat well on the palate, making it an ideal entry point for those not adept with hard spirits, but still strong enough to keep the aficionados satisfied. Highly recommend.
Favourite Article of the Week: Go Westward — How This Distillery is Leading America’s Single Malt Whiskey Movement
The macallan m collection credit photography by nick knight
The Macallan M Collection | Image: The Macallan M
The Macallan M Collection Tasting
Scott Purcell – Co-Founder
Last night was one of those rare pinch-yourself moments in any whisky drinker’s career. I attended the launch of The Macallan M Copper in Sydney at Campbell Stores this week but when I rounded the corner to enter the room where we’d be eating dinner, I was surprised to see not just one, but all three of The Macallan M Collection bottles. For those of you uninitiated, these are absolute bucket list whiskies valued at around AUD$15,000 each on the secondary market that celebrate the brand’s core six pillars and foundations of the brand that make it one of the most sought-after whiskies in the world. Each bottle or decanters are masterpieces in and of itself created in collaboration with renowned creative director, Fabien Baron and French crystal maker Lalique that has six angled sides to reflect, you guessed it, the six pillars.
So what are the six pillars of The Macallan? Natural Colour, Mastery, Curiously Small Spirit Stills, The Estate, Exceptional Oak Casks and Sherry Seasoning. We were lucky enough to try all three of the expressions (two of which even The Macallan ambassador hadn’t tasted before), 2022 editions of the previously released M and M Black and the brand-new M Copper, which pays tribute to the unique copper stills utilised by The Macallan since it was founded in 1824. By far my favourite was The Macallan M 2022 Release, I think largely due to the sherry casks which gave it a honey sweetness, followed by the M Black which has a slight peatiness to it, and lastly, the M Copper which is more of an American Oak style and vanilla notes. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on a bottle, or you see one somewhere, consider asking for a taste as those opportunities don’t come around often!
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Japanese Ceramicist En Iwamura
Frank Arthur – Co-Founder
Japan has a rich history when it comes to ceramic making and although this traditional craft is becoming a dying art, there are people dedicated to keeping the craft alive. En Iwamura is one of them. After a long stint overseas he returned to Japan to work from Shigaraki, which is renowned as one of the six ancient kiln sites of Japan. Iwamura creates ceramic art that blends contemporary style with traditional Japanese inspiration and techniques. The result is stunning works that are clean, bold and expressive, while projecting a strong connection to the tradition of Japanese ceramics.
Favourite Article of the Week: The Revived Patek Philippe Nautilus 5990/1A Looks…Oddly Familiar
Truff truffle lovers pack copy
TRUFF Truffle Lovers Pack | Image: TRUFF
TRUFF Truffle Lovers Pack
Denise Barnes – Head of Branded Content
This has to top my list as the ultimate ‘Treat Yo’self’ gift, and not just that – it will also be THE gift I give this festive season to any truffle lovers. Why is this pack so good? Well, if you love truffle as much as I do, the 3 included products basically allow you to add a taste of truffle to just about ANYTHING! The Black Truffle Hot Sauce is perfect added to cheese toasties (my personal favourite), steaks, scrambled eggs, and on top of pizza to name a few. The Black Truffle Pomodoro pasta sauce is, well, perhaps the best homemade pasta you’ll ever make, and the Black Truffle Oil is perfect to add a subtle taste of truffle to just about anything else, including drizzling a bit over popcorn with a tiny bit of salt. *chefs kiss*
Favourite Article of the Week: F1 Fans Left Seething as Brad Pitt Snubs Martin Brundle During Grid Walk
Broc shot
Broc Shot | Image: Broc Shot
Broc Shot
Richie Hall – Video Producer
I’ve been hearing quite a bit about sulforaphane, the magical enzymatic reaction between two compounds found in a broccoli sprout, and its myriad of health benefits. Now I’m not best suited to explain the science behind it all but I can vouch for my experience to date with Broc Shot. I tried the mixed pack which contains 10 ‘shots’ in three different flavours, original, pineapple + mint and ginger + lime. One shot a day does the trick. Its health benefits range from anti-aging properties to skin health, immune support and cognitive function. 10 days down and I’ll definitely be continuing. The claim is that you can see the results in days, not weeks and I certainly see what they’ve been talking about. I’ve found my mental focus is sharper and my overall energy levels are invigorated. It’s worth noting that the product is entirely vegan and the packaging is recyclable.
Favourite Article of the Week: F1 Fans Left Seething as Brad Pitt Snubs Martin Brundle During Grid Walk
Philips sneaker cleaner
Philips Sneaker Cleaner | Image: Philips
Philips Sneaker Cleaner
Sam Mangioni – Journalist – Entertainment & Culture
Much to my regret, I recently went to an outdoor music gig in brand-new white kicks. While the shoes provided the requisite style and support needed to compensate for my poor shape cutting, they had been completely covered in dirt by the end of the evening. Disgusted by this massive miscalculation, I quickly looked for ways to clean up the mess I had made. Enter Philips Sneaker Cleaner. The handheld device is simple yet effective, boasting three different brushes including sponge, soft and hard to clean various types of materials. To bring my shoes back to life, all I did was wet the brush with some water and soap and applied it to the smudged areas until it was clean. This product is a cheap essential for sneakerheads or those wanting to wash away the sin of a dirty dancefloor.
Favourite Article of the Week: ‘World’s Dirtiest Man’ Dies Aged 94 After Taking a Shower
Hp spectre 2
HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 Laptop | Image: Man of Many
HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 Laptop
Rob Edwards – Branded Content Writer
I recently had the opportunity to take remote working to its extreme by testing out HP’s new Spectre laptop at Uluru and King’s Canyon in Australia’s Northern Territory. While I’ll deep dive into exactly what that was like at a later date, I was struck by both the flexibility of the device – it can act as a laptop (but of course), a tablet, or something in between – as well as the range of the features it offers that left me looking sideways at my fruit-branded personal machine.
These features include the most effective AI-powered reduction of background noise for video calling I’ve ever heard – FYI your surroundings can get pretty damn loud in the Outback – as well as the handy file-sharing hack that is HP QuickDrop, a 4K OLED display with enough brightness to hold its own against the harsh sun of the Red Centre, and powerful Bang & Olufsen audio that’ll cut through any amount of incessant bird calling and thrashing of gum leaves.
Meeting the strict criteria required to qualify for Intel’s premium EVO platform – we’re talking slim build, performance, connectivity, battery, and so on – the new HP Spectre is the ideal machine for those who need flexibility in the way they work. And fortunately it’s just as at home in the city as it is beside Australia’s most famous sandstone monolith.
Favourite Article of the Week: This $49,000 Kelpie Was Just Crowned Australia’s Most Expensive Working Dog
July dark mode
Jul y Dark Mode Collection | Image: July
July Luggage – Dark Mode Collection
John Guanzon – Head of Social
I’ve got a few big international trips coming up and before I even had the chance to Google anything, my internet ads already knew. Was my phone listening in on my conversations? Did the 5G waves somehow pass through my skull and read my mind? Probably, yes. Anyway, as expected, for the last two weeks, I was hit with a barrage of ads for luggage and travel accessories; but there was one particular ad campaign that stopped my scroll in its tracks and left me starry-eyed.
July, the Melbourne-based luggage brand, recently dropped their limited edition Dark Mode collection – their cult classic travel bags in all black but with a vibrant pop of colour. This honestly made my decision a whole lot easier and I ended up going with the Checked Plus in Dark Mode Blue. The Checked Plus being the brand’s largest sized bag and housing a whopping 110L of travel storage; essential for when travelling with a mini tribe of kids. The overall design is slick and the quality feels ultra-premium and sturdy, with the hard shell made from 100% aerospace-grade German polycarbonate. The black and blue combo on anything is my all-time personal fave, so this piece of luggage is sure to be making its rounds in my travels for a long time to come. Thank you, mind-reading Internet ads.
Favourite Article of the Week: Apple CEO Tim Cook Gets Roasted Online Over Unenthusiastic F1 Checkered Flag Wave
Ere perez
Ere Perez Skincare | Image: Ere Perez
Ere Perez Skincare
Clelia Niyikiza – Branded Content Assistant
This one is for the ladies; I know we have some here. For me, the combination of having sensitive skin and not being allowed to wear make-up until adulthood is challenging when trying to navigate what to use with so many products out there. I gave up until I just recently came across a brand called Ere Perez. The brand started in Bondi Beach, Sydney in 2002 and specialises in using natural and organic products. Based on science and the power of plants & botanicals, it is focused on using unique and superfood ingredients. Also being eco-friendly, It’s the first foundation I’ve used that I can get behind!
Favourite Article of the Week: 6 Travel Hacks Every Jet-Setter Needs to Know
Bacardi
BACARDÍ new summer cocktails | Image: BACARDÍ
BACARDÍ New RTD Cocktails
As the warmer weather approaches, it is hard not to imagine ourselves sitting by the pool with a cold beverage in hand accompanied by an expertly curated Spotify playlist. Luckily I got to experience this well before the season hit, courtesy of Bacardi’s Sounds of Summer event, which ushered in the label’s two new canned cocktails, Pina Colada and Raspberry Mojito, and saw me transported to a tropical island.
Whilst Pina Coladas may be a challenging drink of choice for the entire afternoon, the new canned cocktail is made with white rum, sparkling water and real coconut, meaning they are super light and refreshing. This will be the summer beverage of choice for me! With an additional benefit of a satisfying beverage, Bacardi has also teamed up with Mushroom Group to give all purveyors of rum the chance to go into the draw to win double pass concert tickets to some of the best gigs and music experiences nationwide with thousands of tickets on offer.
Favourite Article of the Week: Universo Ferrari is a World Exclusive Prancing Horse Festival Coming to Sydney
Wallaroo palm beach fedora
Wallaroo Palm Beach Fedora | Image: Wallaroo
Wallaroo Palm Beach Fedora
Jacob Osborn – Staff Writer
Rarely does the hat maketh the man like it does when you’re rolling with a classic fedora! This one comes from the good folks at Wallaroo Hat Company, where fashion and function collide. Forged from lightweight polyester with an adjustable inner elastic fit system, it offers UPF 50+ protection and looks downright stylish in the process. It also packs down with ease whilst retaining impeccable shape and structure.
The Palm Beach Fedora is one amongst a number of iconic hat styles offered by Wallaroo for both men and women. Each style comes available in various colourways and delivers a minimum of UPF 30+ protection, hence the brand’s seal of recommendation from the Skin Cancer Foundation. Get one for yourself or as a gift for your loved one as we approach the holiday season, and expect people to ask, “Where’d you get that hat?!”
Favourite Article of the Week: 22 Best Horror TV Shows of All Time