Well, the new year is well and truly underway, and the calendar’s first opportunity for heartfelt gift-giving is upon us once again.
Whether you’re a seasoned romantic or simply erring on the side of caution (which is, let’s be honest, always sensible when it comes to matters of the heart), Valentine’s Day has long been a chance to demonstrate your affection via the medium of gifting.
Scour the internet at your leisure during the month of February, and it’s likely you’ll come across no shortage of V-Day gift guides. However, you’ll likely notice one pink-tinted trend above all: said gift guides tend to be aimed squarely at the fairer sex, typified by rose-hued items and the inescapable scent of processed cacao beans.
With The Review Magazine being the progressive, finger-on-the-pulse and zeitgeist-riding publication it is, we decided that this year we’d keep things as gender-neutral as possible. So, no matter whether you’re seeking the perfect token of esteem for the special man or woman in your life, we’re sure there’s something in this list to get the heart fluttering.
The Bowmore 25 YO Islay Single Malt
Let’s kick things off with a good dram, as should be the starting salvo of all great romantic encounters. Crafted with time-honoured expertise on the windswept Hebridean island of Islay, The Bowmore 25 Year Old Single Malt isn’t just heritage in a bottle: it’s an expression of a quarter-century of expertise, of history, and yes – of love.
Not only does it provide the kind of lasting, multi-layered intensity-meets-smoothness that The Bowmore whiskies are renowned for, it’s an opportunity to elevate one’s admiration for Scotland’s most expressive spirit style through notes of dark chocolate, ripe fruits and that unmistakable peaty finish. Sod the boxes of sweets… this is what affection tastes like.
Maison Gemier XXXY Collection
Maison Gemier burst onto the haute-joillerie scene just last year, but they’re rapidly making a name for themselves on the basis of their eye-catching, oh-so contemporary designs… many of which really lean into a refreshingly gender-neutral approach to modern jewellery design.
We’re especially taken by the XXXY Collection: these rings, crafted from platinum and other precious metals – and with optional diamond additions for additional wow factor – take their inspiration from architectural forms and contemporary art. Oversized, unmissable, and serious statement pieces for those who seek nothing less than the extraordinary.
Vocā Night Rituals
A good night’s sleep isn’t just the cure-all to end all cure-alls, it’s essential to keeping the flames of love a-glowing for men and women alike. The team at Vocā has crafted gift packages meticulously designed to ensure a restful night of sleep, perfect for recharging the batteries and ensuring lasting tranquility.
The Oriental Lullaby collection, which brings together Davana, Patchouli and Sandalwood, provides a diffuser elixir, a pillow spray and a rollerball to be applied topically, promising deep relaxation and a revitalising sleep. What you do with all that additional energy in the morning, of course, is entirely up to you.
A gift from GreatBeanBag
The couple that reclines together, stays together – at least, I think that’s how the old saying goes. Both pleasingly retro and imbued with a thoroughly contemporary luxuriousness, the GreatBeanBag brand is bringing the bean bag back in peerless style.
Endlessly versatile, deeply comfortable and perfect for relaxing in front of a movie, glass of whisky in hand, these faux fur or real leather recliners bring an element of playfulness to living spaces, home offices, bedrooms and more.
Meze 109 Pro Headphones
If music be the food of love, play on indeed. Whether your loved one is a diehard audiophile or otherwise, there’s no getting away from the transformative experience a beautifully-crafted pair of headphones can deliver.
Artfully built from walnut wood, manganese steel and vegan leather, these beautiful open-back headphones promise to take the listener on an intimate journey into sound, heightening emotional impact and providing a blissful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. If that doesn’t sound like real love, I don’t know what does.
Gingerlily London Windsor Silk Bedspread
And so, to bed. Anybody who claims the quality of your bedding has little or no impact on your love life most likely already has a partner who seriously disagrees, either silently or otherwise.
Gingerlily London is renowned throughout the land for the incredible quality of their bedding – each item is crafted from superior fabrics to provide a tactile, sensual experience, elevating relaxation to new heights and allowing you to seriously flex your attention to the finer details when it comes to decor. For us, the teal Windsor Silk Bedspread is the one that most effectively hits all the high notes, but there’s no escaping the fact the entire range has the power to transform your nights into something really rather spectacular.
A wise man once said, ‘A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit’, but, when it comes to taking time to enjoy your relationship, there should never be any time more pertinent than the present.
Two-Key-Michelin Spa Retreat The Gilpin remains the much-longed-for revisit intention of our Beauty and Wellness Editor. Set in the Lake District its surroundings give way to late-night star-gazing after sublime dining, and a superbly undemanding day enjoying everything the Spa Suites have to offer, with their in-room treatment menu at their en-suite spa.
Chalklands Classic Cuvée N.V. Extended Lees Ageing Magnum
As discussed with Pelegrims, the terroir of the United Kingdom produces some ambrosia-worthy libations and this three-champagne-grape blend from the North Downs of Kent is how we envisage entering the evening with our Valentine.
Toasted, almost biscuity honeyed notes rise on the nose, matching the rich tones in the glass. A light salinity balances notes of crisp apple and roasted nuts, creating a mouthwatering freshness with distinct and lingering umami. It’s an intriguing bottle to share through an intimate dinner – or any other moment enlivened by a sparkling tincture.
Evenings under the stars, snuggled close, tucked under a blanket watching the rich flames burst against the wintery darkness, feeling the heat of the flames licking at your feet. Maybe it’s a mid-summer night as you watch the smoke rise against the colours of the late sunset, enjoying the gentle whickering of the logs as you lounge beside it. Either way, the dance of the flames never ceases to invoke the spirit of romanticism.
His-and-hers pyjamas: kitsch, saccharine and reserved for forcible posing for seasonal Instagram posts that are of no interest to anyone but the poster, unless, those pyjamas are the inimitable designs of Desmond & Dempsey. A seasonal purchase, and the par for all loungewear for our B&W Ed., the closest we will ever get matchy-matchy Sunday mornings is in complimentary tones of their Jag Print, say the pocket pyjama in green, and the silk long pyjama set in cream. Instagram posts at your discretion; monogramming essential.
AJA Botanicals – Hello, I Love You
If you can’t employ a candle to offer romantic sentiment in this season, when can you? Hello, I Love You by AJA Botanicals speaks through the language of flowers, as Geranium offers good health and joy, and Jasmine symbolises love and purity, whilst they meet the brightness of Bergamot, and warmth of Frankincense and Cedarwood. An ambience of tenderness and connection could surely never be a misstep.
