Dapper Scout – A lifestyle web magazine for men

It doesn’t really matter how you decide to use the Fia Carafe by Nina Job (available at Design House Stockholm for $69), whether as a wine decanter, water carafe or flower vase.  Its utility is underscored by clean, fluid lines, and a perfectly ground crystal sphere serves as the ideal stopper from a functional perspective (when on top) and as a design accent from an aesthetic viewpoint (when below).  And with four striking sphere colors (editor’s choice: amber), the Fia Carafe will add just the right measure of modern simplicity and iridescence to any bar area, kitchen or living space.

Bar, Eat & Drink, Loft, Wine

O Canada, you’ve given us so much: poutine, the development of the modern sport of ice hockey, and Evangeline Lilly (a hat-trick indeed).  The Chateau Laguiole Mammoth Ivory Corkscrew (available at Custom Curling for $490) also takes what the icy Canadian ground has given up (i.e. 10,000 year old mammoth ivory and provided it with new life (in the form of a corkscrew handle.  The brushed stainless steel body on this Chateau Laguiole corkscrew is well complemented by the smooth tan and brown of the mammoth ivory, which is then further accented by its black stainless steel components.  Whether an avid collector or just a highly selective oenophile, the Chateau Laguiole Mammoth Ivory Corkscrew is a unique addition to your barware set and ample reason to invest in a corkscrew if you don’t have one already.

Related Item:
Chateau Laguiole Galuchat Corkscrew

Accessories, Bar, Loft

Let your wine breathe or your cognac rest in the Wine Carafe by Sagaform Design Team (available at Amazon.com for $30).  With a 2 liter capacity and standing approximately 9 inches tall, the Wine Carafe has well-proportioned lines and a simple but striking oak stopper—a detail that sets this carafe/decanter apart from others.  And without having to break the bank, it’s the perfect gift for either yourself or the oenophile in your life.

Bar, Eat & Drink, Loft, Wine

Whether we’re appreciating an artfully-cooked meal at our favorite restaurant, or sitting at a bar, sipping on a spirit as it begins to work its magic in us, the editors at DS revel in the satisfaction of being satisfied.  So it’s no surprise that when we first tasted Casa Dragones Tequila (available at 1-877-SPIRITS.COM for $330), we took our time getting to know this lovely sipping tequila.  Casa Dragones Tequila is hand-made in small batches using pure spring water and the finest Blue Agaves that are hand picked for harvest by a Maestro Tequilero.  Casa Dragones is then multiple-distilled through a modern filtration system to remove natural impurities and hand finished by the Maestro Tequilero to balance the taste, by adding the perfect amount of extra añejo tequila that’s been rested in oak barrels for more than five years.  The result is a 100% Blue Agave Joven Tequila that exhibits a subtly floral nose and a smooth body, at once soft on the palate and yet alive with the complexity of vanilla, pear and spices that finishes with a clean and warming aftertaste.  And as each bottle is individually crafted using pure, lead-free crystal, as well as being signed and numbered by hand, Casa Dragones Tequila is the perfect gift for tequila enthusiasts and collectors everywhere.

Bar, Eat & Drink, Tequila

While waiting at the checkout counter of our local Bed Bath & Beyond, we’ve often found ourselves looking up at a wall of Umbra garbage cans (which would probably explain why we have two of them), and for some time we didn’t think of Umbra in any other context (a regrettable decision in hindsight).  But Umbra’s product design range extends well beyond just stylish trash receptacles, and these two Umbra Wine Racks exemplify the diversity and exceptional design of Umbra’s home accessories line: the first, perfect for those on a budget and the other, for those who can afford to spend a little more.  Regardless of which Umbra wine rack resonates with you, both will charmingly house every bottle of wine you bring home.

Item A.
Grapevine Wine Rack (available at Umbra for $21): designed by Ran Lerner, this acrylic wine rack holds up to six bottles, is incredibly affordable and makes for an ideal housewarming gift.

Item B.
Loopsey Wine Rack (available at Umbra for $215): designed by David Quan for Umbra’s exclusive U+ Studio Collection, this clear acrylic wine rack has a substantial design presence that allows it to practically stand on its own (even without the wine bottles).

Bar, DS Recommends, Loft, Wine

When something you’ve designed finds its way into the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, it’s relatively safe to say that you’ve produced a work of art.  The Birillo Bar Stool by Joe Colombo (available at Moss for $2,945) happens to enjoy that notable distinction and reaffirms that as one of Italy’s most renowned product and furniture designers, Joe Colombo was a visionary.  The Birillo Bar Stool was considered avant-garde in the 1960s, and even in 2009, it remains gorgeously and unfalteringly compelling.  Fabricated out of stainless steel, fiberglass and leather, the Birillo Bar Stool possesses the unique quality of being synchronously retro and modern—an exceptional combination that we can’t help but obsess over and one that conspicuously sets this bar stool apart from its peers.

Bar, Eat & Drink, Furniture, Loft, Stool

Though not having spent much time in ballrooms, when we heard about the Ballroom at The Jane Hotel, we had to check it out for ourselves.  The etiolated beauty of the Jane Ballroom perfectly channels the spirit of The Jane, which is over 100 years old and offers some of the most uniquely compact rooms of any hotel we’ve ever visited.  Though the ballroom’s ambience hearkens back to the days when the lavishness of hotel lobby bars was common, there’s something remarkably airy and light about this space even with the presence of expansive oriental rugs, a worn disco ball, mismatched vintage furniture, and an assortment of taxidermied critters.  And with three rooms available for your drinking pleasure, including a mezzanine level space and a separate bar tucked away to the side of the grand room, the Ballroom at The Jane Hotel is the perfect location for your next happy hour, birthday party or intimate encounter.

Bar, Eat & Drink, Happy Hour, Hotel, New York City

Whether you’re chilling water, white wine or perhaps one of our favorites, an Arnold Palmer, the Emsa FLOW Glass Chiller Carafe (available at Sur La Table for $60) is the perfect way to keep your beverage cool during the heat of a summer BBQ.  Simply freeze the brushed stainless steel base and the Emsa Flow Carafe will stay chilled for up to four hours.  In addition, the carafe has a stainless steel spout that automatically opens and closes when you pour, preventing unnecessary spills as well as keeping insects out.

Bar, BBQ, Eat & Drink, Kitchen, Loft

With names like the Vertical Rabbit and the Screwpull, corkscrews these days can often be mistaken in name and form for something other than a device that helps you open up your favorite bottle of wine.  The Chateau Laguiole Galuchat Corkscrew (available at Custom Curling for $879) is a stunning example of function and form at its best.  With a brushed stainless steel body and a handle wrapped in green stingray leather sourced from the Indian Ocean, the Galuchat corkscrew will perform under pressure and elicit the admiring and envious remarks of your fellow oenophiles as you deftly uncork your next bottle of wine.  You can bet the remarks you’d get from pulling the Vertical Rabbit out of your pocket wouldn’t be as well received.

Accessories, Bar, Loft