It’s been a big week at the Man of Many office. With Sydney Whisky Month officially kicking off today and the city buzzing with anticipation, it’s been hard to stay focused. Thankfully, party time has arrived. We’ve got our Glencairns at the ready and our appetites firmly whet, but before we get stuck in, there is still one job to tick off. Here’s Man of Many Staff Favourites for this week.
Godspeed ‘Genuine’ Heavyweight Organic T-Shirt
Nick Hall – Editor-in-Chief
I am not often in Melbourne, but when I am, I always make an effort to see the guys down at Urahara. The Collingwood clothing store is my go-to for all things selvedge denim, and it has an incredible range of Japanese and ethical-sourced cotton products. This week, I popped into the shop in between meetings and copped the new ‘Genuine’ heavyweight organic T-shirt from Urahara’s in-house label Godspeed. Ultra-thick and effortlessly comfortable, I’ve been practically living in it since then. If you are a fan of Japanese denim and high-quality basics, I can’t recommend Urahara enough.
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Mobile Games Galore
Scott Purcell – Co-Founder
Work has been absolutely hectic lately, so when I get home to work on the couch, I feel like I need something to take my mind off things. Previously, this has been a nice glass of whisky on the rocks with a big cube from my freezer (last night, I did do this with the Westward Single Malt Cask Strength, which is just delicious), but I’ve also been turning to some fun mobile games I wanted to share with you our dear readers. First, there should be no surprises about this, but Connetions, Wordle, and the Mini Crossword from the New York Times Games App are my daily go-tos.
We even have a WhatsApp group with a bunch of friends where we share our scores and results. Next up is Score Hero. It’s the closest thing you can get to a playable FIFA on your phone. Drop the Number and Brick it Out are some mindless games for the bathroom. Lastly, there’s My Little Universe, which Dayna shared with me this week, and I’ve been obsessed. It’s a super fun adventure mining game where you collect resources to upgrade your character and explore their mini-worlds.
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URBNSURF Sydney
Frank Arthur – Co-Founder
URBNSURF Sydney has officially opened, and I recently had the pleasure of experiencing this fantastic facility. Located in Sydney Olympic Park, this $75 million venue covers a vast area and produces an impressive 400 waves per hour. Guests can enjoy a one-hour session, typically catching around 12 waves. With nine different wave types ranging from gentle beginner waves to expert-level 2m barrels, there’s something for everyone. The park also has a Surf Academy, swimming pool, skate pad, Rip Curl retail store, wellness centre, and two dining options by Applejack – Sandy’s and RAFI.
As a self-confessed kook (surf slang for a clueless hack), I found my lack of skill didn’t detract from the fun. Surfing in such a controlled environment with consistent waves was a game-changer. The friendly staff and chilled atmosphere made the experience even more enjoyable. URBNSURF Sydney operates from early morning until late evening, offering night surfing under lights, making it a perfect venue for surfers of all levels to hone their skills. I’ll definitely be booking more sessions in the coming months to make the most of this unique surfing experience.
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Mac. Liqueur Cask Single Malt Whisky
Elliott Barsby – Commercial Director
I’ve been a big fan of Brookie’s Mac. for a long time. If you’re not familiar, Mac. is a decadent macadamia liqueur made in Byron Bay from locally sourced roasted macadamia nuts and toasted native Australian wattleseed. With flavours of butterscotch, cacao, and caramel, it’s the perfect sweet treat to end the day. My advice, get yourself a nice whisky glass, add a scoop or two of good vanilla ice cream, and pour on the Mac; it’s a treat that my wife and I both love.
For fans of Brookie’s Mac., this new release from Cape Byron Distillery is a dream come true. The Mac. Liqueur Cask is an Australian single malt whisky matured in Mac. to deliver the ultimate fusion of flavours. Creamy notes greet you with each sip, balanced delicately between smoothness and subtlety. Think rich and luxurious flavours of buttery macadamia, chocolate, and dried fruit, along with a warm oak spice finish.
As the days continue to get colder (and wetter for those of us in Sydney), the Mac. Liqueur Cask is here to keep you warm. But be quick, with only 550 bottles produced, this very special small batch series won’t last long.
Favourite Article of the Week: Announcing Sydney Whisky Month: 2024’s Biggest Whisky Celebration!
R. M. Williams ‘Surry’ Sneakers
Richie Hall – Video Producer
Are you after a pair of premium white leather sneakers? Iconic Aussie brand R.M. Williams has you covered. We’re all familiar with the label’s extensive range of hand-crafted boots but the white Surry sneaker is everything you need in a premium casual shoe. A modern take on R.M.’s original 1940 Sand Shoe design, this round-toe sneaker can be easily dressed up or down. Cut from pebble finish Nappa leather with a comfortable padded leather footbed and hard-wearing waxed cotton laces, it’s perfect for year-round wear, and I found the subtle R.M. detailing on the tongue and heel was a really nice touch. For $289 this is a very competitively priced premium white leather sneaker that you should definitely consider when shopping for your next pair!
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The Diddy (Longueville Sporting Club)
Alex Martinez – Media Sales and Brand Partnerships
My perspective of The Diddy has changed over the years. This place for me used to be the backdrop for several loose nights with my large group of rowdy goons. We would take over the tables down the back, order jugs of beer, and get concerned looks from the bar staff by requesting just one glass to go with each. Today, however, every time I enter the venue, it gives me a wonderful sense of relief and happiness. The venue has wide open, kid-friendly bowling greens, live music and plenty of seating, including tent-styled outdoor seating with heaters. It’s a great family pub, gets amazing sunsets and has a great range of food specials and drink options. You can happily spend many hours here with friends and family. Give it a go.
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The Laptop Bag Black Caviar from Maison de Sabre
Marcus Hurley – Sales and Partnerships Manager
The Laptop Bag Black Caviar from Maison de Sabre – if ever a product had a name that speaks of luxury and convenience, this is it. Upon first unwrapping it from its packaging, the phrase “I can’t be it’s not butter” sprang to mind – It is so buttery soft!
Taking it for a spin last week I headed out into the concrete jungle of Sydney and felt an immediate confidence boost. I know this sounds hyperbolic, but there is nothing worse than rocking up to an important meeting with a laptop bag that looks like it’s been beaten around the head with a stick. This laptop bag was an instant ice-breaker (it helps that I happened to be wearing a jacket that matched the bag’s inner lining – not planned, but convenient.)
Crafted from a premium full-grain cowhide known for its exceptional strength, hand feel, and durability, Maison de Sabre’s products are made from the highest quality of leather. Maison de Sabre isn’t just about style and confidence, to add a touch of personalisation, my initials have been elegantly monogrammed onto the bag, declaring both proud ownership and “get your hands off my bag” in two golden letters.
The Laptop Bag in Black Caviar is so much more than a bag; it’s a fashion statement, a confidence boost and a conversation starter. So quit lugging your laptop around in any old bag and treat yourself (or a loved one) to the Laptop Bag in Black Caviar from Maison de Sabre. Your laptop will thank you and in turn, you’ll thank me.
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Bonny Winter Doona
John Guanzon – Head of Social
As someone who takes their winter hibernation very seriously, a good doona is always on the top of my list as soon as the winter chill begins to make an appearance. We’re a few weeks away from winter officially arriving, but we’ve recently switched our doona to a Bonny Winter Down Doona. To say my bedfellow/wife (not pictured) and I are obsessed would be an understatement because the doona is the perfect combination of quality, warmth, and coziness, making it feel like we’re staying in a luxury hotel bed every night.
Not only is it packed with ultra fluffy, 800-fill power down, but it also boasts 100% 400 thread count cotton and is ethically sourced. What is fill power you ask? High fill power = a fluffy, light, and warm quilt. If you only look at one measurement, this is it! What makes the whole “doona experience” that extra mile, though, is in the details. The little attachment in the corners hooks onto your quilt cover, so you’ll never find the cover falling off. I also love the packaging and the nifty little canvas storage bag it comes with, too. I couldn’t recommend this quilt more! It also comes in a Summer and All-Rounder version, so you have that Bonny quality all year round.
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Ardbeg Spectacular
Jacob Osborn – Staff Writer
Happy Ardbeg Day, all you smoky sippers! The annual event arrives on the final Saturday of Islay’s Festival of Music and Malt (Fèis Ìle) as a celebration of all things Ardbeg. In honour of the occasion, the distillery has released one of their most experimental whiskies yet and their first to be matured in port casks. Dubbed Spectacular, it brings the peat smoke—predictably—along with notes of salty iodine, chocolate, nuts, grass, and subtle fruit.
While port cask maturation certainly lends Spectacular an edge of distinctive character, this one is a salty smoke bomb all the way. For fans of Islay single malts, it gives you one more excuse to rediscover the influence that peat smoke has on the production process. Grab yourself a bottle of this limited edition expression to celebrate Ardbeg Day, which arrives on 1 June. And if you can’t find it either online or locally, pick up another Ardbeg statement instead because they’re all…well…spectacular.
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