Housed in the same sleek, textured-glass flacon as the first 007 Fragrance, but with a blue colour-way and original twist cap - James Bond 007 Ocean Royale is set to be a success for the warmer months.

£32/ 75ml from Harrods.

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For the limited edition blend Lincoln used 95% rye and 5% malted barley and aged the whiskey for at least six years in in American new charred oak barrels. He then finished the whiskey in hand-selected Caribbean rum casks, which began as small French cognac barrels, for up to 18 months.

The combination of spicy and earthy rye notes paired with the sweetness imparted by the rum finishing, results in a uniquely smooth and palatable whiskey. Angel’s Envy will only release 2,500 9-liter cases, retailing at $69.99.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: crystal clear, slight reddish amber.
• Nose: citrus, caramel candy, maple sugar, vanilla oak, hazel nut, spice, sherry wood.
• Palate: sweet/dry, rum sherry wood, soft rum sweetness.
• Finish: sweet/dry, rum, soft oak, quick and easy.

The blend is housed in a super-stylish bottle, made from perfume-grade glass in Italy and is ceramic stamped with the brand’s iconic wings, is hand-filled, corked and crated in Louisville, Kentucky.

angelsenvy.com

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He convinces the men at Kodak that their latest project should be called ‘The Carousel’ and utters the immortal words: “Nostalgia. It’s delicate but Potent.” It’s a crowning moment in what has become a televisual goliath, but as you loosen your tie after a hard day at work, stretch out and pour yourself a whisky, it’s easy to see the comparisons. Of course AMC’s series has breathed new life into the tipple, but it’s what this drink stands for that has made it appealing for hundreds of years.

When you take a sip, you can be Clark Gable, star of the silver screen, Winston Churchill enjoying whisky and water in a highball glass, or even Frank Sinatra crooning your way through a bottle in Vegas. And of course, you can be Don Draper, the finest mind on Madison Avenue.

Made from a few simple ingredients, the complexity of how a premium whisky is created is astounding and only adds to the mystique that surrounds this one-of-a-kind spirit. The breadth of whisky making techniques and geographical locations means no one bottle is the same, however you might want to consider the following tips when beginning your tasting experience.

Drinking whisky with water is a common occurrence but first, try sipping it neat and notice how the taste and aroma changes. Mixers are no longer frowned upon either –an Old Fashioned can often be the ideal end to a long day.

Pour your first glass and, keep  your mouth open to fully take in the aromas. Remember that whisky isn’t only for enjoyment on its own, it can also be a great complement to foods such as chocolate, smoked fish, cold meats and cheese. As Don Draper demonstrates, whisky is best enjoyed in the company of friends and sharing a tasting session together can be a great way to learn more about the spirit. Despite its complexities, whisky is all about taste. Whether your ideal spirit is from an age-old dusty bottle or a newly-purchased premium blend, only you know your preferences.

Whiskies can be put into four categories; explore the below prior to your first tasting or before buying a bottle.

• Single malt – Distilled at one distillery from water and malted barley without the addition of any other ingredients. No product from any other distillery will go into a single malt.
• Single grain – Distilled at one distillery from water and malted or unmalted grains. Whilst often used for blending, excellent single grain whiskies are available on the market.
• Blended – A blend of one or more single malts, with one or more grain whiskies. These are some of the most popular high-end spirits in the world and a worthy addition to any drinks cabinet or home bar.
• Blended malts – A blend of single malt whiskies that have been distilled at more than one distillery.

Ape to Gentleman Recommended Whisky Store: A&J Whisky.

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Their primary focus is men’s accessories of note, often sourced from small-scale manufacturers all of whom share Mr Ayoub and Mr Beattie’s passion for quality, style and strict attention to the details.

I have spent plenty of time pouring over Opumo.com – asking myself not what do I want, but is there anything I don’t want. The answer is no. From British brands London Undercover and Hentsch Man to US based Kiel James Patrick, and Canadian WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie – the carefully edited selection is remarkable.

Opumo have been generous in offering one Ape to Gentleman reader the chance to win a £250 voucher redeemable against items at Opumo.com. To be in with a chance of winning this prize simply enter your details below and ‘Like’ Facebook.com/OpumoStore - where you will be able to keep update with new releases and more. The winner will be announced on 17/06/2013.

Opumo.com

Opumo Competition Revisited

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• This Prize Draw is open to all entrants worldwide over 18 years of age, excluding employees of Ape to Gentleman and its affiliates or agents, the families of such employees and any other person connected with this promotion.
• The Promoter will not be liable for applications not received, incomplete, delayed or damaged. Proof of sending is not proof of delivery.  Last date for receipt of entries is 16/06/2013.
• All entries received by 16/06/2013 will be entered into a Free Prize Draw, and the first correct entry randomly selected by an independent person will win a £250 voucher redeemable against items on the site www.Opumo.com
• The prize must be claimed by 17/07/2013. There will be no runners up. The prize is as stated and cannot be transferred, sold or exchanged. There is no cash alternative.  No bulk or third party entries accepted. 
• The winner will be notified at the latest by 17/06/2013. In the event the claim for a prize is not received by the Promoter within 5 working days of such notification, the Promoter reserves the right to select an alternative winner.
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• By entering this Free Prize Draw, entrants agree to be bound by the rules and by any other requirements set out in the promotional material.

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However, as of today – my post-gym and sports life has changed for ever. The reason being, Molton Brown, one of my all-time favourite brands has released their Sport Collection for Men. One thing you’re guaranteed with Molton Brown is the firstly the quality of ingredients and secondly the smell – both are always sublime. Couple this was practical products to suit the sportsman’s lifestyle and you have a potent formula for success.

Molton Brown Sport Collection

• First up is the 4-in-1 Sportswash £16/ 200ml – designed for body, face, hair and shaving, it’s quite possibly the ultimate all-in-one performance product available today. Blended with cassia bark to deodorise the body, skin conditioners for the face, ultra-shine complex for hair and guar gum to soften stubble – it is from now on, a permanent fixture in my sports bag.
• Secondly, the Anti-perspirant Sportstick £16/ 75g which delivers 24-hour protection, andiroba seed oil to keep skin soothed, and anti-perspirant active ingredients to combat body odour. As expected, the product works – it doesn’t irritate and prevents sweat and odour expertly.
• Finally, the Body-warming Sportbalm £18/ 200ml which is blended with vanillyl butyl for heat, to warm muscles and macadamia nut oil to condition the skin. For the sportsmen amongst you, this is an upgraded version of tiger balm and deep heat, in a (much) better smelling cream which covers large parts of the body easily. The warming balm can be applied pre- or post-exercise and won’t stink out the changing room.

Inspired by Vietnam’s cassia fields, the fragrant and refreshing blend of cassia bark, nutmeg and lime runs across the range. Additionally Molton Brown, in my opinion, have made a fine choice in their Sport Collection ambassador – choosing England and Harlequins rugby player Ugo Monye. Having met the man recently, I can confirm he’s a true gentleman and will no doubt go on to prove to be a popular choice for Molton Brown.

“I’ve always been a big fan of Molton Brown and I can’t wait to be the face (and body) of the new collection.” Ugo Monye

Following on from Mr Monye’s quote above, I’m yet to meet someone who isn’t a big fan of Molton Brown and I expect to see gym bags across the world lined with these three, superb new products. My sports bag certainly will be!

Available now from Niven & Joshua.

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Stockholm more specifically is where Recipe for Men heralds from, a city where particularly in the winter men’s skin is subject to extremely cold and dry air. Combine this with general city pollution and you have an aggressive cocktail to protect skin against.

Recipe for Men promise the finest ingredients and oil-free formulas in simple, stylish and manly packaging. We tested the Facial Cleanser, Moisturiser and Under Eye Gel – all of which where good products. Rumour has it, the Under Eye Patches are pretty special – designed to transcend tired looking eyes. Take a look at their website (address below) to see some of the remarkable ingredients Recipe use.

Recipe for Men is a brand on the rise, visit RecipeForMen.com for more information and let us know what you think.

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It was 1919, when German immigrant and leather craftsmen Charles Doppelt unleashed his creation onto the world; a travel friendly toiletry case for men. It wasn’t instantly popular, but World War II changed Mr Doppelt’s fortunes, when U.S. GIs where administered with a Dopp Kit – a bag with travel-sized grooming products. Today, the basic contents of the kit remains much the same and the Dopp Kit has become a generic byword for grooming essentials of the travelling man. Additionally, they’re often gifted to young men turning 18, as a sign of their transition from boyhood to adolescence.

Key product attributes required are travel and space friendly sizes – many of your favourite men’s grooming brands manufacture smaller, flight friendly versions of their best-sellers. Convenience is also key, so where possible try and combine products – a good example is a hair and body wash in one. Below you will find official personal care item travel rules and our Top 10 Dopp Kit/ Wash Bag Essentials.

Rules and Regulations

• TSA (Transport Security Administration) Carry-on Rules: liquids, aerosols and gels, in limited quantities, are safe to bring aboard an aircraft. Remember 3-1-1: 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume); 1 quart-sized, clear plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger.
• British Hand Luggage Restrictions: 1 transparent and sealable plastic bag per traveller (no more than 20x20cm and 1L in size), with containers capable of holding no more than 100ml.

Hair/ Bodywash

Something for the face, hair and body is the ideal solution here. Save space, weight and messing around in the shower with 3 different bottles. Go for quality here – cheaper products suitable for the body and hair will most likely be too aggressive for the face.

Jack Black All-Over Wash £9.50/ 85ml – Jack Black is relatively unknown in the UK but has some great products, with generous ingredients. The All-Over Wash is suitable for the face, hair and body – delivering a through clean but with a mild pH balanced botanical formula.

Antiperspirant Deodorant

Choose a stick or roll-on deodorant, they’re often smaller than spray-on antiperspirant deodorant so require less luggage space, and crucially they can be carried on a flight legally.

Molton Brown Re-charge Black Pepper Anti-perspirant Stick £16/ 75g – smells superb, reduces underarm sweat by blocking pores and reduces body odour by inhibiting the bacterial breakdown of sweat. The gentle formula doesn’t irritate nor does it leave stains on your favourite shirt!

Toothbrush

While electric toothbrushes are great, and suitable for long haul travel – a regular manual toothbrush will save space and do a great job for short haul trips.

Colgate 360 Original £1.99 – the Original version of the regular Colgate toothbrush is more than suitable; designed to clean teeth, tongue, cheeks and gums with ease. It’s easy to grip, and the medium strength bristles are firm but fair.

Toothpaste

Travel-sized toothpastes are common, and an easy space saving win. You’ll more than likely be able to find a travel friendly version of the toothpaste you use at home.

Marvis Travel Whitening Mint Toothpaste £3.75/ 25ml – Marvis Mint is my favourite toothpaste brand, not only does it deliver all the benefits of a regular fluoride toothpaste but it tastes like no other. There are other crazy flavours available such as Jasmine Mint or Liquorice but I prefer something with added whitening.

Razor

Electric shavers are convenient but also take up a lot of space, plus there’s always the danger of the battery running out. I prefer and always travel with a wet razor.

Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor £11.99 – Gillette have been making razors since 1903, and invented the things – so as you’d expect, they know a thing or two about how to shave. Their latest incarnation, the ProGlide looks the part and has thinner, finer blades than ever before – reducing tug and pull, and subsequently shaving irritation.

Shaving Product

Although my preference is for shaving cream, lathered with a brush – for travel purpose a gel is easier and less time consuming. Scrap the canned foam, the pressurised container will be tough to get past some customs and border control.

Elemis Travel Elemis Skin Soothe Shave Gel £8.70/ 30ml – the best shave gel I’ve tried, it includes micro-capsules which release skin-soothing marine extracts as well as aloe vera and witch hazel. It’s superb for sensitive skin.

Moisturiser/ After Shave Balm

 Geo F Trumper Fragrance Free Moisturising Lotion £15/ 100ml – this is a great dual purpose moisturiser and aftershave balm in one. It’s light and quickly absorbed, and designed to nourish, soothe and hydrate the skin.

Eye Care

A long flight or early morning gym session can leave eyes with dark circles, puffiness and a generally tired look. The solution is an eye roll-on, with a cooling metal roller-ball to instantly revive tired eyes.

Polaar Icy Magic £16/ 5ml – this super eye roll-on has an almost instant cooling effect, to reduce puffy eyes and dark circles. It includes a whole host of ingredients to help you look more human, including Siberian Ginseng.

Comb

Jumping out of the shower or worse, spending 8 hours propped up against an airplane window can leave you with untidy hair and courtesy of the latter, bed head. The simplest solution is a comb to tame your locks (and beard or eyebrows) back into shape.

Kent Brushes Slim Jim Pocket Comb £3 – Kent have been producing the finest combs and brushes wince 1777, and to this day they remain the best. Handmade and saw cut from tortoise shell – the Slim Jim is built to last. Small enough to fit in your suit jacket pocket – you can style your hair wherever and whenever.

Hair Product

There are so many hair styling product available for men today, it’s tough to pick between them all. Something middle of the road is the best bet, nothing too wet looking or too dry. And nothing too fragranced.

 Bumble and bumble Bb. texture hair(un)dressing creme £9.50/ 50ml – Ideally used in damp hair, but you can use it in dry too, this creme is a hybrid; thicker than gel but not a paste – some where in between. A creme isn’t quite accurate – it’s thicker. None the less, it’s a great universal product for achieving any style.

Other

Plasters (Band Aids), Paracetemol (Tylenol), Tweezers, Mints, Sewing Kit and Lip Balm. Not forgetting your Wash Bag/ Dopp Kit to house all of the above. My current recommendation is the Dopp Kit from Izola (pictured below).

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Men’s hair was still very military looking. Clean cut, slicked back and held in place with hair creams. Styles also had to compliment and remain unaffected by hats which were a very popular accessory at the time. To get the Gatsby look we enlisted the help of head&shoulders and Shockwaves Style Director Michael Douglas to shares his tips on how to re-create this look at home:

Gatsby Hair

• Hair should be clean with a club cut. Short back and sides with about 7cm of length on top.
• Apply a lightweight gel to damp hair and blow dry using a comb to separate the parting of the hair on either the left or right side.
• Keep hair flat to the head (there is no body in this style) and then finish with a wax or strong styling gel to remain in place.

1920′s Facial Hair

Most men sported a clean shaven face in the 1920’s. Brent Pankhurst, Gillette Style Ambassador shares his top tips to get the ultimate shave at home.

1. Prep – My top tip would be to fully prep the skin before you shave. If you haven’t tried exfoliating before, then run to the nearest shop and get yourself an exfoliating moisturiser or face wash! Make sure to exfoliate twice a week to get rid of any dead skin cells and also to unleash any stubborn hairs hidden under the skin’s top layer.
2. The Shave – Make sure the skin is fully wet beforehand, a dry beard hair can have the strength of copper wire and is 1000 times stiffer than skin so could be extremely uncomfortable.
3. I always recommended using a brush to apply shaving cream. This will help your stubble stand on end and so make for a smoother shave. If this doesn’t work, try using a moisturiser instead of shaving cream – even a simple aqueous cream will do – to soothe your skin during the shave and prevent further irritation the skin.
4. Make sure to use a premium razor like the Gillette Fusion ProGlide SilverTouch which is designed to achieve a close shave and also reduce sensitive skin, a main concern for 60% of men. Replacing your blades regularly is also important. You’ll know it’s time to consider replacing your blade when the Lubrastrip fades to white or you feel razor drag on your face.
5. Post Shave – This is actually one of the most important parts of the shave, it can determine the texture and potential irritation to your skin. When you’re finished, rinse your face with cool water and pat it dry starting from the cheek bones and moving downwards towards the chin. This will close pores and soothe freshly shaven skin.

The Great Gatsby 2013 movie is released on 5/10/13 in the US and 16/5/13 in the UK.

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There are certain moments where two philosophys come together and the end result is nothing short of mesmeric. This is something that can certainly be applied to the utterly breath taking Hublot Masterpiece MP-05 LaFerrari watch pictured. This exceptional looking timepiece, which the Swiss watchmakers Hublot have crafted to celebrate a partnership with the Italian luxury carmaker Ferrari, has just been unveiled at this year’s BaselWorld Event and, it wouldn’t be an overstatement of the facts, to say that it wowed more or less everyone of the journalists in attendance at the prestigious watch event.

The Details

• 50 Day Power Reserve
• Swiss Made Automatic Movement with 637 Components
• Black Anodised Aluminium Cylinders
• SuperLuminova Markings
• Suspended Vertical Tourbillon

Video

Courtesy of The Watch Gallery.

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Housed in a 150ml aluminium spray bottle, the strong design and matt surface in deep and bright blue hues, looks superb. Light alcoholic formulas do not interfere with natural perspiration, respect the skin’s pH, and provide long-lasting freshness throughout the day.

• Arancia di Capri – relaxing.
• Mirto di Panarea – energising.
• Bergamotto di Calabria – exciting.
• Fico di of Amalfi – revitalising.
• Mandorlo di Sicilia – soothing.

For more information visit AcquaDiParma.com

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