Pere Noel

Posted by Canadian Gift Guide on November 26, 2015 · 357 Comments

I highlighted gift ideas for mom a few weeks ago – but I certainly can’t forget dear ol’ dad. Today’s gift ideas are specifically geared toward a guy that has ‘seen it all’ – maybe he likes the classics, maybe he’s seeking out the next big thing. Whatever the case, dad will love these gift ideas hand picked just for him.

A Field Guide to Canadian Cocktails by Victoria Walsh and Scott McCallum – $24.95
Dads and good cocktails go together like whiskey and wood. This unique cocktail book is a must-have for any cocktail connoisseur (including the pros) as it uses truly Canadian inspiration and ingredients to craft 100 different high quality drinks. With insights from some of Canada’s top mixologists as well as plenty of original recipes from the authors, everything from a New Brunswick Fiddlehead Martini to the classic Prairie Caesar are represented here, as well as surprising entries from our Northern neighbours in the territories. With tips on equipment and syrup making and gorgeous photos throughout, dad will love crafting these creative cocktails all year round.

STANLEY Smart Measure Pro – $149 @ RONA
Make dad’s next fix-it job a snap with the STANLEY Smart Measure Pro – literally! This unique device pairs with dad’s smart phone and allows him to get accurate measurements with total ease. Simply take a photo and use the free app that goes with the device to identify what in that photo needs to be measured. The device provides accurate measurements, as well as estimations of how much material you’ll need to say, refinish your floors or paint a wall. It’s an ingenious way to skip that old ‘measure twice, cut once’ adage – no more tangled measuring tapes, no more frustrations when you’re off by a few inches. The STANLEY Smart Measure Pro does it all for dad!

OYO Minifigures + Playsets – $12.99 – $159.99
Most dads have at least one ‘team’ that they root for during the year – many have several. Whatever the case may be, OYO has you covered with cool collectible toys from every major sports league. Start out with a LEGO-esque minifigure of his favourite player and then add on from there. The NHL collections, for example, also feature team-branded zamboni machines and rinks (which also come in handy little bundles), while the Blue Jays can stand guard on your own virtual field or your fave NFL team can get set for a field goal. Incidentally if he’s a big CFL fan, you can also find CFL minifigures at the CFL shop that don’t appear to be anywhere on the OYO site. A cool gift for the diehard sports fan.

EastWest Bottlers Moonshine Cologne – $76 USD
Let’s be honest – dad doesn’t have time for the pretty boys gallivanting in a random cove in a typical cologne’s advertising. He wants something manly and authentic. Enter EastWest Bottlers, an independent Austin-based fragrance brand that prides themselves on creating small-batch scents and distinctive products that truly stand out next to a market overrun with celebrity-endorsed colognes and perfumes. Moonshine, their trademark ‘gentleman’s cologne’, is everything you’d hope for in seeking a masculine aroma: rooted in woodsy notes, it’s also accented with notes of black pepper, gin, leather, tobacco, and a dash of patchouli. You can also nab this gritty cologne from Canadian shops Soap & Water Everyday or Plain & Simple Home.

Bear Paw Meat Handler Forks – $34.75
Most dads are kings of the grill – so why not borrow inspiration from the king of the forest and make shredding made a cinch? These meat handling forks have stay cool handles and sharp, claw-like tongs that allow you to tear up turkey, pork, chicken and more with a few deft swipes. They can be used on the grill or in the kitchen, plus they’re dishwasher safe for easy clean-up. While I’ve highlighted a Canadian option to buy them here, they’re also available from the U.S. in a few different colours. Dad will be salivating for a pulled pork sandwich the second he lays eyes on these babies!

Siva Cycle The Atom – $129.99 USD
Kinetic energy is indeed the cleanest type of energy of them all – and if dad’s a cyclist, he may as well take advantage of all that power he’s burning by picking up The Atom from Siva Cycle. In a nutshell, you affix it to your bike. As you cycle, it collects that kinetic energy and stores it in a removable battery pack, which you can then use to keep your favourite devices – like your MP3 player or Smartphone – charged up. It’s a great pick for weekday warriors that commute to the office on two wheels and want to minimize how much electricity they use (although for the record, the battery pack can be charged via your laptop when needed). But it’s also an excellent choice if dad loves to go off-roading or on cycling trips. He won’t need to carry a bulky extra battery around, nor will he need to worry about going ‘dark’. What’s cool is Siva also sells full kits that combine their cool Atom device with a super sleek bike – so if dad’s in the market for new wheels, give ’em a look!

Dave’s Coffee All Natural Coffee Syrup – $22.95 / Bottle @ Old Faithful Shop
A coffee-drinking dad knows what makes for a good cup of brew. This product however, offers up a little something different. Ground and cold brewed for 18 hours, this syrup is one part coffee and one part natural cane sugar. The result is a sweet syrup with bold coffee taste, and the applications are endless – add them to desserts, mix them into marinades, muddle them in cocktails, you name it. It’s a great way to get your coffee fix without actually consuming a cup. Available in three yummy flavours – original, mocha, and vanilla – these syrups can also be enjoyed mixed into a tall glass of ice cold milk, for a refreshing summertime treat.

Truefitt & Hill The Shaver Starter Pack – $240
Dad has been shaving his stubble away for decades people! Give him the shave of his life with Truefitt & Hill’s stunning collection of shaving products. I wrote a fabulous post earlier this year that spoke about the brand’s distinguished history and association with the royal family that I strongly encourage you to check out – but in the meantime I picked out this gift set as an excellent gift idea for the dad that shaves daily without knowing what he’s missing out on. First up, there’s the brand’s award-winning pre-shave oil, that ensures a smooth glide for your razor while protecting the skin. Next, lather up with the included hand-made super badger shaving brush and travel tube of shaving cream. Finally, moisturize the skin and minimize irritation by using the Classic Aftershave Balm. It’s a 1-2-3 combination that’s easy to perfect and will make a lifetime of difference to dad’s skin.

Joe Fresh Men’s Cashmere Sweaters – $99 each
Where can you get a snuggly, oh so soft sweater for under $100? Joe Fresh of course! Dad may be used to wearing lumberjack plaids on the weekends, but one touch of this luxurious cashmere sweater will make him a total convert. Available in seven classic shades from basic black to evergreen, this sumptuous sweater is just one of the cashmere options on offer from Joe Fresh this season. They’ve also got a cool heathered sweater for a slightly higher price that would make an excellent birthday follow-up gift after you see how much dad loves his crew neck sweater!

Homemade Gin Kit – $60 @ Indigo
If dad is fed up with having to replenish his liquor cabinet, then task him with crafting his own homemade gin. This ain’t your mama’s moonshine my friends; this handy kit comes with all the tools you need to turn a bottle of vodka into pure gin, flavoured just the way he wants. With juniper berries, spices, aromatics, and botanicals, each batch can be a working experiment to find the perfect blend of flavours that he prefers – there are also refill kits available once he’s done whipping up some homemade liquor. A wonderful choice for the artisanal dad that likes to do things the old fashioned way.

I’ve got a fabulous prize package for a lucky dad this holiday season – with $660 in items up for grabs, including:

A copy of A Field Guide to Canadian Cocktails
STANLEY Smart Measure Pro
EastWest Bottlers Moonshine Cologne
Siva Cycle T-Shirt, Cycling Socks and Patch Kit
Truefitt & Hill Shaver Starter Pack
Joe Fresh $100 Gift Card

Want to win it? Here’s how to enter!

1) First of all: you must be a subscriber to the Canadian Gift Guide to enter this giveaway. It’s as simple as finding ‘The Gift of Gab’ box in the righthand column and dropping in your email or clicking follow. Then leave me a comment below by December 6, 2015 telling me your favourite gift ideas for dad from this list!

2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around December 7, 2015 to select the winner, who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.

3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.

4) Bonus Entries: Do as many or as few of the following as you’d like. For every bonus entry you rack up, be sure to leave a separate comment with proof (i.e. a link) or your bonus entries won’t count! For example, leave one comment to start, as per step 1 above. Then, if you decide to like one of the brands on Facebook and leave a wall post, leave a link back to your wall post in a separate comment below. And so on! Google is a helpful resource for learning how to link back to social posts online.

Penguin Random House of Canada – Follow @RandomHouseCA on Twitter and send out a Tweet about the giveaway that links back to this post and tags them + me (@cdngiftguide).

STANLEY Tools – Follow @StanleyTools on Twitter and send out a Tweet about the giveaway that links back to this post and tags them + me (@cdngiftguide).

EastWest Bottlers – Follow @ewbottlers on Instagram and either Regram one of their photos or share a photo from their site onto your own feed (screenshots are handy). Be sure to tag them in your post!

Siva Cycle – Like the brand on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall regarding what you think of The Atom. You have no obligation to mention CGG.

Truefitt & Hill – Follow @truefitthillman on Instagram and either Regram one of their photos or share a photo from their site onto your own feed (screenshots are handy). Be sure to tag them in your post!

Joe Fresh – Follow @joefresh on Instagram and either Regram one of their photos or share a photo from their site onto your own feed (screenshots are handy). Be sure to tag them in your post!