My beard is turning salt ’n’ pepper, and I’ve lost a step in the gym, but I’m looking forward to forty. Carl Jung called it the “high noon of life,” when the soul reaches its zenith. At forty, a man possesses a lethal blend of wisdom, purpose, and the last fumes of youthful pluck. It’s the age for grand undertakings—building businesses and families, earning respect and wealth, and generally kicking ass. Some of my buddies approaching the big 4-0 are aging like a Château Margaux—dashing, virile, still in their prime. For others, milk is the more honest metaphor. Either way, the milestone demands a proper gift. From fine garments to fine wine, from the practical to the indulgent, here are a few forty-worthy gifts.
Benrus 3061 BU
My everyday watch, a Cartier Panthère from my father, is too delicate—and sentimental—for travel. Whenever I’ve got a suitcase in hand, my Benrus 3061 BU graces my wrist.
Benrus built its reputation supplying field watches to American troops during World War II and the Vietnam War. The 3061 BU is a reissue of the model worn by Steve McQueen in Bullitt, and it carries the same cool, utilitarian swagger. Crisp white numerals float against a black dial, punctuated by a scarlet seconds hand. An archetypal field watch, it’s instantly legible—even in the dark, thanks to its Super-LumiNova lume. It looks just as good with a motorcycle jacket as it does with a well-cut suit.
Pharaoun Sea Urchin Cocktail Cufflinks
I’m too old-school WASP for chains, bracelets, or earrings, but I’m not above the delight of flaunting precious metals and stones. Cufflinks are my workaround. They’re de rigueur for black tie and lend an aristocratic flair to business casual attire.
I’m fond of buying cufflinks on my travels, and my rotation includes pairs with Baltic amber, Turkish turquoise, and engraved Montana silver. With a tuxedo, I wear my most eye-catching pair: Sea Urchin Cocktail Cufflinks from Pharaoun. Spiky orbs gleaming with gold and silver, they look like sea creatures from the fairy realm.
Chateau Montelena 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley is like Rolex—a name even the uninitiated recognize as synonymous with excellence. Château Montelena, a producer in Calistoga, holds a special place in American wine history. In 1976, its Chardonnay beat the most storied French producers in a blind tasting in Paris. The Judgment of Paris shocked and scandalized the Gauls, but from that moment forward, they acknowledged Napa as a peer to Burgundy and Bordeaux.
Château Montelena’s 2022 Estate Cabernet is an archetypal Napa beauty—silky, elegantly structured, and an olfactory orgy of cassis, blackberry, and cedar. It pairs beautifully with a ribeye, but I prefer to pour it into a decanter, sit by my fire pit, and admire how it evolves as the evening unfolds.
BHAKTA 2014 Bourbon
Rudyard Kipling once said, “A man cannot have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition.” To the poet’s counsel, I would only add fine whiskey.
BHAKTA Spirits blends American whiskey with some of the world’s oldest Armagnac, a storied brandy from Gascony. In BHAKTA 2014 Bourbon, classic notes of vanilla and caramel are well defined, while the Armagnac lends heady aromas of dried fig, rancio, and leather. Drink it neat in a Glencairn with a drop of water, or mix it with a touch of sugar and bitters for an “Ancient Old Fashioned.”
Mr. Moto Sushi Box
If you’re stumped on a memorable birthday gift, treat your buddy to gourmet sushi in the comfort of his own home. The Office of Mr. Moto, one of New York City’s most exclusive sushi counters, now offers delivery through The Parcels of Mr. Moto.
In the spirit of tsutsumi, the Japanese art of gift-wrapping, the bento box arrives artfully swaddled in gorgeous paper—almost too delicate to rip open. Jewel-like dainties inside include nigiri, maki, chirashi, and sashimi, along with artisanal soy sauce and fresh wasabi. Unless you can afford a private chef trained in Tokyo, it’s the finest Edomae sushi that your dining table will ever see. As a delightful lagniappe, each parcel includes a letter from Mr. Moto. Sprinkle water on the missive to reveal a special surprise.
Tesport Cloud Flex Carry-On
I’m a staunch advocate of dressing well for travel. Looking sharp at the airport sets the tone for the rest of the trip—and you never know who you might meet at the Amex lounge. Proper travel attire should include a sport coat, Ray-Bans, and handsome luggage to match.
For outstanding luggage under $500, I’m partial to the Tesport Flex Carry-On. The shell is lightweight yet sturdy and comes in a range of jaunty colors—a boon when scanning a sea of black suitcases at baggage claim. The suitcase can expand from 41L to 51L, solving the all-too-familiar problem of running out of space for souvenirs and gifts.
Vineyard Vines Cashmere Quarter Zip
Preppy attire is the sartorial equivalent of the U.S. dollar—universally accepted, trusted implicitly, and irresistible to the fairer sex. It looks as debonair in a Manhattan cocktail bar as it does at a Nantucket cookout.
Vineyard Vines are preppy purveyors par excellence. Their quarter-zips are wardrobe workhorses—dapper dressed up or down and suitable for three seasons. They come in several fabrics, but splurge on cashmere. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s warm, lasts forever, and feels like an angel’s caress against the skin.
Carnegie Deli Pastrami
Churning out cathedral-sized pastrami sandwiches since 1937, Carnegie Deli is a New York culinary landmark on par with Joe’s Pizza, Delmonico’s, and Keen’s Steakhouse. They now ship their world-famous pastrami nationwide. Each box comes with a loaf of rye, house-made mustard, and pickles. Build a proper sandwich at home—or, if you’re on a fitness kick, toss the smoked brisket into a salad or omelet.
Wildwood Chocolate
If you need a gift in a pinch, gourmet chocolate never misses. Wildwood Chocolate bars are part art, part confection, and pure dopamine. Made with high-quality cacao, they come in creative flavors like yuzu and brown rice, sea salt, and caramel with rosemary. I keep a bar in my laptop bag—it takes the edge off better than a cigarette.
WithLuv
Birthdays can be a hard pill to swallow as you get up there, but feeling loved is the surest antidote to the drag of aging. WithLuv is like a digital group hug and toast for your birthday buddy. Free to use, the app texts him a barrage of birthday wishes and photos on his big day. The messages then trickle in over the following days and weeks, letting him savor the glow.
It’s simple to use: enter your buddy’s phone number, write your message, and share the link with friends. You can also send gift cards or presents through the app. Anyone with the link can pass it along, so notes roll in from relatives, old teachers, colleagues—maybe even an old flame. Forget lame “hbd!” texts or generic cards. Instead, love-ambush your pal on his fortieth. He won’t care that you didn’t spend a dime.
The Statesman Chelsea Boot by Origin
If I could keep only three pairs of footwear, they’d be sneakers, brown loafers, and proper Chelsea boots. Chelseas are a sartorial factotum—pair them with khakis and a tweed coat for a cocktail party, or with denim and a T-shirt for the dive bar.
Proudly made in Maine, Origin’s Statesman Chelsea Boots are polished yet tough. With water-resistant latigo leather uppers, they’re sturdy enough for the trails and handsome enough for a first date. The leather shrugs off puddles and dirty streets, and they’ll quickly become your buddy’s favorite travel boots.
TimeSavvy Face Masks
You should take skincare seriously well before forty, but better late than never. Designed in Korea—a nation that knows skincare like the French know cooking—TimeSavvy face masks make you look like you’ve been sleeping eight hours, drinking water, and thinking nothing but wholesome thoughts.
Infused with collagen, adenosine, and other dermatological wizardry, they hydrate, tighten, and de-puff your mug in the time it takes to finish a dram of Scotch. Throw one on before a date or big meeting and watch your haggard visage bounce back like Rocky Balboa between rounds. I wear them on long flights to combat the desiccating cabin air. It’s the closest thing to a reset button that doesn’t involve a doctor’s office.
Sonic Editions
My Uncle Chip, a gentleman of impeccable taste, used to say, “By the time a man hits forty, he lives in the apartment he deserves.” By middle age, your habitation should reflect a life of intention and discernment. This is doubly true if you’re a bachelor. Buy houseplants, fix your lighting, and beautify your walls with art.
Sonic Editions is a U.K.-based photography house specializing in limited-edition prints of cultural icons—rock stars, supermodels, athletes, and the occasional rogue aristocrat of cool. Their images are printed on Fuji Crystal Archive paper, delivering a razor-sharp finish with rich tonal depth, even at larger sizes. Each piece arrives framed and ready to hang, protected by museum-grade plexiglass.
Above my whiskey cabinet hangs a black-and-white print of a young Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood on stage—all swagger, cigarettes, and mischief. It garners more compliments than any of the paintings I’ve hauled back from my travels.
Taima Titanium Pots
Cooking is a creative outlet, an excuse to sip wine with my girlfriend, and a cornerstone of my
Taima dimples the surface of their pots to create a natural nonstick effect, lifting food just above the metal so it won’t cling or scorch. Cleanup is nearly effortless. There’s no chemical coating to degrade over time—just clean, reliable performance and even heat. Buy them once, use them forever.
