It’s that time of the week again when the Man of Many team unveils the products that have captivated our hearts and transformed us into enthusiastic endorsers. Ranging from snazzy sneakers to delicious drinks, these are the must-haves that you absolutely need in your life. Check out the latest edition of Staff Favourites below.
Table of contents
Holm Oak The Protege Pinot Noir
Nick Hall – Editor-in-Chief
Growing up in the footholds of the Adelaide Hills, I feel like I have Pinot flowing through my veins. So many of my early memories are travelling from winery to winery as a kid and playing in the vineyards, so it’s no surprise I’ve carried a love of pinot noir through to my adult life. Naturally, I tend to favour the South Australian drops but after testing out The Protege Pinot Noir from Tassie winery Holm Oak, I might have to switch my allegiances.
The Protege is a classic Tasmania Pinot Noir, with all the rich, fruity flavours you’d expect from a light-bodied red. Balanced adequately to drink during the week and still light enough for a Sunday afternoon sipper, Holm Oak has served up a grand slam with this one, and I’m not surprised. The label’s 2023 collection, which includes The Protege, The Hot Shot and The Wizard, is all based on a rich tennis-orientated heritage.
The range celebrates the remarkable achievements of Australian tennis hero Jack Crawford and the connection between former custodians of the Holm Oak property, the Alexander Patent Racket Co. According to legend, the director of the enterprise originally planted trees on the estate for racket-making purposes. While that idea fell flat, the endeavour did create a beautiful property with rich, fertile soil perfect for a vineyard. Best of all, you can now enjoy the whole story in person.
Holm Oak has announced a new tasting event, entitled Top of the Game, which launches 1 July at Holm Oak’s cellar door in the Tamar Valley. If the rest of the lineup is as good as The Protege, you’ll be seeing me there!
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Percival Pullover Polo
Frank Arthur – Co-Founder
British label Percival, is one of my go-to apparel brands for staples. The brand’s aesthetic is smart, stylish and simple with a range of pieces that can be dressed up or dressed down, offering versatility and optionality. A recent purchase I made was Percival Pullover Polo. This 100% cotton knit, short sleeve polo, is a no-fuss top, that pairs well with jeans, chinos or dress trousers. On top, it holds its own as a solo garment, but also looks great layered with a blazer or any other type of jacket or coat. So if you choose the right colour the Percival Pullover Polo goes with just about anything.
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The Meat & Wine Co’s Winter Menu
Scott Purcell – Co-Founder
With the cold weather well and truly having kicked in around Sydney, you can get your mouths watering for the Meat & Wine Co’s fresh winter menu, packed with Australia’s finest seasonal produce. You’ll find unique entrées like Vermouth-poached scallops, Wagyu tartare or Mozambican peri-peri King prawns. Main course options range from the savoury Lambchetta – their spin on traditional porchetta, to a hearty roasted eggplant dish with Fable ragu and dill yoghurt. Of course, their is their Premium Steak Programme, showcasing top-quality beef from leading suppliers that can’t be missed. I mean it’s in the name. End your culinary winter journey with a decadent blueberry tart, crème anglaise and fior di latte gelato.
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New Balance Fresh Foam More Trail V3
Ben McKimm – Journalist
Introducing the comfiest shoes you’ll ever put on your feet. You already know I’ve been banging on about New Balance for the last 2 years, however, I’d never tried any of their performance sneakers. When Grey Day came around this year, my eyes found themselves staring at this colourway of the New Balance Fresh Foam More Trail V3. I’ve always been a keen trail runner, but I’ve never thought about New Balance. My rotation includes multiple pairs of Salomon XT-4s and Nike React Pegasus Trails, but they’re all about to be replaced by this shoe. I could go on all day about the style of the shoe (yeah, it’s different) but I should really tell you about the stacked height, dual-hardness Fresh Foam X midsole that provides EXTREME comfort. If you thought adidas Ultra Boosts or Yeezys were like walking on clouds, think again. Easily the top performance sneaker of the year so far for me.
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Black Mirror Season 6
Dayna Aspite – Branded Content Associate
I’ve been so hyped for this season’s release and it seriously did not disappoint. Being a huge horror fan myself, I was super invested in the Loch Henry episode. It seriously mixed realities of fiction and true crime vibes that itched my brain in the best way possible.
My favourite thing about Black Mirror is how plausible the episodes actually are. The show really drives off real life fears most people face/could possibly face in the very near future and I can’t get enough of it! The extreme theorist in me is thriving on the ‘what if’s this show offers.
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Hush Puppies Kayak M Wild Boots
John Guanzon – Head of Social
While I can probably count the number of hikes I’ve been on with one hand, I do love a good hiking boot and wear them regularly, day-to-day. Am I am hiking-imposter? Sure, yes. Are my feet always comfortable? Also yes. I recently picked up a pair of Hush Puppies Kayak M boots in black which are ultimately made for durability, comfort and adventure. Speaking of robust durability, the shoes have actually been made in collaboration with Michelin, the second biggest tyre manufacturer in the world, with the outsoles made from recycled Michelin grip. The midsole is made with eco-friendly sugarcane and suede leather uppers are water-resistant and made with a breathable mesh combination. I love the feeling of having the added stability and traction from the solid outsoles, making them perfect for a wet weather day, a weekend getaway, or a casual walk to the fridge. Comfortable, stylish and an outsole as strong as a car tyre – watch out!
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Nike x Stüssy Vandal High – Fossil/Black
Parker Gray – Intern
Unsurprisingly, we’ve come to face another timeless silhouette from the house of Stüssy, and of course, Nike. I’m someone who comes from a place in which sneakers are one of the most/ if not the most important piece of an outfit. I am also someone who is currently relishing in the resurgence of Stüssy. Since purchasing these sneakers, they have almost immediately become a staple piece in my reluctantly evergrowing wardrobe.
But it’s more than okay in my eyes, because I’d much rather own these than not.
I was a massive fan of the low-cut Air Force 1 collaboration Stüssy and Nike produced in December of 2020. These shoes appear in a much similar silhouette, with their hemp-like woven upper that, in my opinion, holds more comfort value than Nike’s previous solutions for comfort stitching, ie; flyknit. With 3 separate colorways (Fossil, Cobalt, and Black), There’s a flavour for everybody.
The attention to detail here is immaculate, beside the woven upper, the embroidered swoosh features a wonderfully fresh approach to the crest of Nike themselves. Reminiscent of their previous 2020 collaboration I mentioned earlier.
These shoes were insanely easy to break in after only owning them for the past week, I’m more than excited to use them as a daily driver walking through the city of Sydney most days of the work-week.
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Versa Martini
Richie Hall – Video Producer
Using the finest real ingredients, Australian brand Versa has mixed Premium London Dry Gin with Dry Vermouth and bottled it for our convenience. It’s a true classic Martini without the hassle of mixing drinks. Simply pour, garnish and serve. It comes in a handy 100ml bottle and a 700ml which will serve 9 of your friends. With no added water or sweeteners all you’ve got to decide is whether to garnish with olives or a twist of lemon!
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Laphroaig 25-Year-Old 2022 Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
Jacob Osborn – Journalist
I’m a massive fan of Islay-based distillery Laphroaig and so it was with tremendous pleasure that I tried their new 25-Year-Old Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky. With a relatively high ABV of 53.4%, the spirit is surprisingly mellow though still chock full of classic flavour and signature smoke. It’s aged in both bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry butts and all the more nuanced as a result, with a palpable sherry element that I’m not used to finding in their standard 10-year expression (though it was certainly present in previous releases such as the Cairdeas Triple Cask).
At first whiff of the new 25-year comes pleasant aromas of flower, orchard fruit, and sherry, all riding over a predictable backbone of sweet smoke. The taste is impeccably smooth and balanced, layering peat smoke with notes of coffee, almond, fruit, and chocolate. The finish is pure Laphroaig in its smoky essence, offering hints of green apple and oak before rendering a final punch of coffee and chocolate. To say I’m a fan is to put it mildly, though to be fair, I was seduced as soon as I saw the name “Laphroaig.”
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