We all have that friend who seems to have it figured out. When they fly, you’ll find them in the lounge. Their home has a signature scent, they own a collection of Dutch ovens, they’re on top of every skincare trend, and they have a proclivity for very nice things.
In short, they know what they want — and they don’t wait for anyone else to get it for them. While we respect their fantastic taste, this makes it seemingly impossible to buy them something they don’t already have.
The trick is to lean into elevated finds you know they’ll admire. If they cook, they may already own artisanal olive oil. But what about a year’s worth of complex and fruity black pepper sustainably sourced from Kerala, India? Or have they tried their favorite Jim Beam whiskey, but aged for seven years, making it smoother and more complex?
The below gift guide is for the people who have everything. Suddenly, they aren’t so hard to shop for.
A Year’s Worth of Black Pepper
Fancy salt has been around for a while. But why are we settling for stale black pepper? This Diaspora Co. Aranya black pepper, sourced from farms in Southern India, brings impactful flavor to whatever you grind it onto. With notes of fig and nutmeg, it makes pepper-focused dishes like cacio e pepe or steak au poivre feel fresh, new, and exciting. Order them a year’s worth (about $48) so they’ll never run out. Because once they try this pepper, it’s hard to go back to the bland stuff.
A Signed First Edition
Another trick — buy them something that hasn’t been released yet. Let us explain: This subscription, by novelist Ann Patchett’s Parnassus Books, sends subscribers a signed first-edition book every month. Past picks include bestsellers like Martyr! and James.
An Extra-Aged Classic
Jim Beam takes its classic bourbon recipe and ages it for 7 years to create Jim Beam Black. The brand calls it the sweet spot — when the whiskey takes on a rich gold color and notes of warm vanilla and rich caramel — bringing extra smoothness and complexity to any iconic cold-weather cocktails, from Manhattans to Old Fashioneds.
A Chic Hoodie
You can’t have too many good sweaters. This cashmere hoodie makes sweatpants-worthy days, like traveling or running errands, into a more luxe experience. And if your friend is the kind of person to get dressed up every time they leave the house, this hoodie gives them an excuse to dress down and bundle up in the cold weather.
A Covetable Scent
Although the days of flashy, tricked-out cars are over, subtle car personalization still very much makes a statement. And we’ll bet that while your friend’s car may have a hidden snack area, it doesn’t have a signature scent. That’s where DS&DURGA comes in. They’ve taken car scent trees — yep, those usually awful, piney ones — and turned them into an exciting fragrance set. The set comes with five different fragrances, from “‘85 Diesel,” which smells like saffron-tanned leather, to “Big Sur After Rain”, which smells like a eucalyptus grove.
A Whole New World of Flavor
If your friend can bake up a storm, chances are they already have a stand mixer. But they may still be using generic vanilla extract. If so, here’s the perfect opportunity to open up a whole new world of flavor for them. This Nielsen-Massey vanilla set comes with floral Tahitian, rich Mexican, and creamy Madagascar Bourbon vanillas. Your friend can spend the winter experimenting with different flavor combinations in everything from chocolate chip cookies to banana bread.
A New Favorite Pair of Socks
As you get older, you realize how much joy can be found in life’s simple pleasures — like an utterly fantastic pair of socks. Made with Australian merino wool, these Comme Si socks are breathable and odor-repellent, making them practical as well as comfortable.
Jim Beam Black® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45% Alc./Vol. ©2024 James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, KY
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