Make no mistake: Selecting the perfect holiday gift for everyone on your list is no easy task. But when you add Dewar’s Blended Scotch Whisky to the mix, you’re sure to knock it out of the park. College grads love it, grandparents love it, aspiring home chefs who need a little liquid courage to get in the mood love it. Below, our favorite Dewar’s gifts for the holiday season, along with nine more fun finds for those near and dear. Grab your favorite whisky glass and settle in to knocking your holiday shopping off with the below guide, a Pioneer’s Punch, and just a few clicks on a World Wide Web near you.
Courtesy Image
Dewar’s Blended Scotch Whisky, 12 Years and 15 Years
Nobody knows Scotch whisky better than Dewar’s, the world’s most awarded blended Scotch whisky, that’s been changing the course of whisky history since 1846. Both the 12-year aged ($30) and 15-year aged blended Scotch whisky ($40) make marvelous presents for the discerning tippler, and right now you can order a free, personalized label and then apply to a store-bought bottle. “Happy Holidays: More Whisky Please,” perhaps? Whether you’re buying a gift for colleagues, friends, or family, it’s a thoughtful present they’re sure to appreciate—and savor sipping. P.S. For something different, we also love Dewar’s Scotch Whisky Japanese Smooth, a unique Scotch Whisky finished in Mizunara Oak casks.
How did cavemen do it without a fine pair of slippers? We know not, but these stylish slippers—available in a variety of styles and colors—are the best we’ve tried to date. Our personal favorite is the nuvola bico wool slippers in charcoal, but go with your gut to suit your friend or family member’s taste preferences. Bonus: Comfy slippers pair well with at-home whisky sipping.
What electric skateboard? This nifty transportation device, which debuted in fall 2021, gives the user a surfing- or snowboarding-like sensation, all the while they navigate their local streets. It’s equally well suited for work commutes as it is for exploring rough roads on BLM land. The Onewheel is a compact and fun electric personal transporter that reaches a top speed of 18 MPH and has a 12-18-mile range. Throw in the Lumos Ultra ($120) LED light-up helmet to complete this gift for the thrill-seeker in your posse.
Like long, impassioned games of gin rummy, blind whisky taste tests, and building a campfire in your backyard just for the hell of it, life should be fun. Especially during the holidays. Countless Americans have embraced the paddleball sport of pickleball in times of late, and we can’t think of a better way to up their game than with this USAPA-approved (yes, that’s the USA Pickleball Association, and it is, in fact, a thing) midweight pickleball paddle that’s a first-rate racquet for players of all skill levels. The colorful paddle has a graphite paddle face, a special core material to enhance your power and ball control, and comes in two sizes, standard and XT Grip.
All that whiskey your crew has been sipping deserves to be paired with some equally wonderful sustenance. And what better to satiate growling bellies than some ‘za? This multi-fuel (wood, charcoal, or gas with a separate burner) pizza oven hits 950 °F degrees to create authentic Neapolitan-style pizza. Once the oven reaches that fiery temp, pizzas cook in about a minute. Bonus: Your pals can use this powerful appliance to make fish, veggies, and steak.
Sesame Collective, owners of the restaurants Mediterranean Exploration Company, Shalom Y’all, Lil’ Shalom, and Yalla, in Portland, Oregon, created this stellar spice set of house-blended Mejadara, Ras el hanout, and Shawarma spices, which arrive packed with recipe ideas for the gourmand in your inner circle. If you prefer, you can buy the spices individually for $9 here.
We’re digging the offering from this company that specializes in experiences all over the world—from shark cage diving in Oahu to spending a night in an oceanfront treehouse—for the adventurer on your list. This gift gives the recipient a choice of hundreds of activities and experiences with no expiration date. They can use it when the time is right. As a bonus, Tinggly is all about sustainability, so the gift boxes are made from recycled materials with eco-friendly inks (or you can have the gift delivered via email). And for every experience, Tinggly cleans up 11 pounds of polluting plastic and offsets 200% of C02 carbon emissions.
For the dear friend or better half who’s always entertaining, this smart robot vacuum cleaner and mop will actually have them looking forward to clean-up after their next Friendsgiving or whisky-tasting session with their college buddies. With an elegant design, the intelligent vacuum also boasts impressive navigation and obstacle avoidance skills, a large water tank, top-notch corner cleaning, an easy-to-use app, and smart pressure changing to maximize sweeping effectiveness on carpets.
This reed diffuser, candle, and room mist gift set includes a trio of beautifully crafted, sustainably sourced products. They’ll help your friend or family member unwind at the end of yet another long day. We also appreciate that these candles are 100% soy wax derived from American-grown soybeans for an eco-friendly burn with lead-free cotton wicks. The company is a female- and minority-owned business, and we’re equally big fans of the meditation candle gift set ($80) and Sunday Morning Scent Bundle ($90), if you’re looking for other great ideas.
There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
Courtesy image
1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
Marius Bugge
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Marius Bugge
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
Marius Bugge
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top. Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
