While some of the boys are overseas at Watches and Wonders 2024 (sipping Champagne with million-dollar watches on their wrists) there are a few of us holding down the fort in the office in an effort to bring you another edition of Man of Many’s Staff Favourites. This week co-founder Scott Purcell headed down to Melbourne to check out Starward’s newly renovated distillery and came back with a bottle of his own blend! Let’s check out all that and more below.
RELATED: Man of Many Staff Favourites – 6 April 2024.
Starward’s New Melbourne Distillery and Bar
Scott Purcell – Co-Founder
I had the pleasure of attending lunch at Starward’s new Port Melbourne distillery, just 10 minutes from the CBD. If you’re not familiar with Starward (and something I was shocked to hear that 4 out of 5 whisky drinkers in Australia have not heard of it!), it’s the Australian whisky I recommend all my friends buy when asked.
It’s incredible value for money and perfect for someone who’s just getting into whisky. You can pick up a bottle for around $70 which is significantly less than ‘Tassie Tax’ whisky from some of our favourite distilleries that cost upwards of $200 for a 500ml bottle.
Chatting with David Vitale, Starward’s Founder, there’s something inherently special about the brand that’s reflective of Australia, and if there’s anything he wants to drill home, it’s that they use wet-fill Australian red wine casks of exceptional quality to age their whisky. This is very unlike any other whisky brands that often use second-fill American oak or simply “finish” their whiskies in other types of casks.
Such a pioneering attitude has led them to be crowned The Most Awarded Distillery of the Year at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. If you’re curious, you can read much more about the brand here.
But back to the distillery. In all honesty, I’ve yet to see a distillery quite like it, with a massive funky Melbourne bar in the front, world-class cocktails and insanely delicious food led by Head Chef Drew Traynor (ex Eau De Vie). The menu features small plates and snacks crafted from locally sourced ingredients, with all producers within a day’s drive of the distillery. The one thing not to pass up is the bread with house-baked bread with spent barley straight from the Mash with Pure Peninsula honey and whisky butter. I was also lucky enough to try their ‘Fill Your Own Bottle’ experience to choose from a cask-strength red-wine or white-wine cask and choose your own label.
If you want to catch more updates like this and see a behind-the-scenes look at what we get up to, head on over to our new WhatsApp Channel or Instagram Broadcast channel where we post regular videos and updates.
Cartier Santos-Dumont Rewind
Rob Edwards – Branded Content Editor
I’ve tried on a great number of very nice watches during my time at Watches and Wonders 2024, but something about this Santos-Dumont Rewind from Cartier has me spellbound. I never would have imagined myself drawn to such a timepiece, but here I am. Live and learn.
This is an immaculate (and fun) bit of watchmaking. All the classic Santos-Dumont elements are present—rounded square case, rivets on the bezel, cabochon crown, Roman numeral markers—but with the quirk of said markers running around the rich red dial in reverse order, meaning you need to read the time backwards. The manual-winding movement must also be wound in reverse. Cartier’s team didn’t disclose if this is done for a specific reason, but I suspect they’re just messing with us. As long as they keep making watches like this, they’re welcome to do so.
Boasting a platinum case measuring 31.5mm by 43.5mm, with a thickness of just 7.3mm, it’s a perfectly proportioned dress watch, paired with an alligator leather strap that’s allegedly brown, but looked more red to me in person. Sadly there are only 200 of these being made, so I’m unlikely to encounter it again, but if the day comes when I need to learn how to tell the time backwards, well, let’s just say that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.
Beats Flex Earbuds
Alex Martinez – Media Sales and Brand Partnerships
The best possible scenario for any product is that it does what it’s supposed to do. It does the job well and it does it every time. That can be said for Dr Dre’s Beats Flex Earbuds. Great audio, seamless Bluetooth connection, convenient auto-pause when you remove them from the ear, simple controls and a satisfying magnetic connection that keeps them secure when not in use.
I rely on these earbuds daily for my commute to work and while working at my computer in the office. The Bluetooth seamlessly switches between my phone and desktop, and from time to I even wear them around my neck from morning till evening if I don’t feel like putting them away.
Now controversially they are actually called ‘Beats Flex Wireless Earbuds’ but do have a cable. This might confuse some consumers searching for a true wireless option, but for me, it’s a selling point. Countless times I have lost true wireless earbuds in my social antics. The cable makes them harder to lose in general and easier to find around the house. Shout out to those who know that struggle.
These are not game-changers in any way. But they are a high standard ol’ reliable that will only set you back $99. Big yes in a cozzie livs crisis.
Kit: Skincare
Allie Woodard – Branded Content Intern
After coming back from a snorkelling trip to the Great Barrier Reef this past weekend, I found myself a little sore from the hours of swimming with clownfish, sharks, and turtles. While I usually waddle around from soreness the day after strenuous exercise, I’ve found a solution to soothe tightness and not bail out on a second-day workout.
This week I tried out kit:, an Australian skin and body care company, to help out with my post-adventure recovery and I can confidently say that I was feeling relaxed after and ready for a run the next day. I used the Body Nutrition Lotion and Gua Sha Body Tool, which was a perfect combo as the lotion is the ideal consistency to keep the gua sha gliding over muscles.
The lotion, along with the brand’s other products, is made of simple ingredients that ditch harmful chemicals and protect your skin’s health. The stainless steel gua sha has three sides with different edges and angles that align perfectly with the curvature of the body. Pro tip: run the gua sha under hot water to get that spa-like experience.
Hyatt Centric Melbourne
Richie Hall – Video Producer
I recently spent the weekend in Melbourne watching the Swannies beat Collingwood at the MCG. Sounds like a pretty good time but my stay at the Hyatt Centric made it even better. I wanted to be within walking distance of the MCG, Flinders St Station and all of Melbourne’s trendy laneways and the Hyatt Centric on Downie St in the city ticked all those boxes.
The 24-hour fitness centre is well equipped with a good combo of free weights and machines and let’s not forget the 25-metre indoor lap pool. The breakfast buffet is one of the better buffets I’ve indulged in recently and Langlands Restaurant and Bar on the top floor provides both amazing views and delicious, locally sourced Aussie cuisine.
Whether you’re stopping in for a business lunch or a moody evening, Langlands is a great spot. The staff at Hyatt Centric are very welcoming and friendly and the lobby itself is a great place to relax, do some work or grab a bite at Allie Lane – the onsite cafe. So next time you’re booking a Melbourne trip to watch your team play check out the Hyatt Centric.
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