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By Howard K. Brodwin
The
cultural sights and sounds of Scotland have long been ingrained in the
minds of many - the colorful intricate patterns of the plaid kilt, the
contrasting bright pitch and low hum of the bagpipes, the amber glow of
crackling fire and a glass of 12 year-old whisky. Hollywood gave
everyone a lesson in Scottish history when Braveheart
introduced us to William Wallace and his fight to keep England out of
his homeland. Add to that the storied history of the Loch Ness Monster,
who's legend dates back to the 6th Century, and the overall picture of
Scotland starts to come to life as a place of adventure, historical
significance and cultural tradition. And Dalvey offers some of the
finest-crafted gifts and accessories in the world - keep them in mind
when considering which groomsmen gifts to buy.
Deep
in the Scottish Highlands - the northernmost part of country, bound by
the Atlantic on one side and frigid waters of the North Sea on the
other - a small family business emerged in the late 1800's,
specializing in the manufacture of bagpipes. Grants of Dalvey built a
successful and thriving business and soon realized they had developed
expert manufacturing skills and fine craftsmanship that could translate
into a wider array of products. While manufacturing bagpipes was a
noble and worthy business at the turn of the century, there were far
more opportunities to expand the company's offerings through items that
also represented the spirit and culture of Scotland.
One
hundred years later, Dalvey has become world renowned for their luxury
lifestyle gifts and accessories, featuring beautiful detailing, expert
workmanship and the true essence of Scotland. Still family owned and
operated, Dalvey has built its reputation on a wide assortment of
products for the traveler, sportsman and epicurean alike, utilizing the
finest materials such as Italian leather, polished brass, copper and
silver, and incorporating classic design and functionality.
For
instance, it's certainly a tradition for any outdoorsman to carry with
him a small flask of his favorite spirit to warm his bones on a chilly
fall afternoon. To this end, Dalvey's Pocket Flask was designed to fit
unobtrusively into a jacket pocket, so as not to interfere with
movement or add extra bulk. The smooth, rounded design offers an
elegant departure from the sharp-edged canteens that sportsmen have
carried for years. Precision engineered from top-grade stainless steel
the pocket flask holds 4.3 fluid ounces (125 ml) and is guaranteed
never to rust or taint the flavor of its contents. Their multitude of
uses make them perfect groomsmen gifts, too.
Now,
should you find yourself on a chilly autumn morning hiking across
Cairngorm plateau or fishing for Salmon off the Western Isles, and
you'd like to share what's in your flask, the craftsman at Dalvey have
created the perfect accompaniment: a unique Collapsible Travel Cup that
packs away as neatly, and as stylish, as a pocket watch. Its small
dimensions - 2 3/8 inches (60.5 mm) in diameter, 3/4 inch (18.6 mm)
thick, and weighing only 3.9 ounces (110 grams) - allow it to fit
easily in any pocket or even the smallest bag. At the press of a
button, a spring lid pops opens to reveal a stainless steel,
watertight, telescopic cup inside. If you're looking for unusual
groomsmen gifts, look no further.
And speaking of
pocket watches, Dalvey has crafted a classic pocket watch that's
reminiscent of the timepieces from the days when the company first
began. The Full Hunter Pocket Watch combines Dalvey practicality with
precision watch making, featuring quartz movement, an 8 1/2 inch (21.6
cm) long stainless steel watch chain and a stylish gold Dalvey badge on
the front of the case. Elegant without being ostentatious are trademark
design traits of the Dalvey name, and the classic pocket watch offers a
great opportunity to showcase their fine craftsmanship and design
sensibilities. For the groomsmen who want to be on time, with class,
this is the ideal gift.
Any trek across the scenic
Highlands would be incomplete without one of mankind's most trusted and
invaluable tools. A sturdy and compact pocket compass can aid even the
most experienced outdoorsman find his way to Ballindalloch Castle (if
you've misplaced your compass, it's located in the heart of Speyside,
near to the famed whisky distilleries of Glenfiddich, Glenfarclas and
Glenlivet). The Dalvey Pocket Compass incorporates a liquid-filled
military standard capsule and a push button spring lid to provide fast
and reliable readings. To assist with orienting a map, the interior of
the case has etched reference lines, making it easy to reach your
destination with plenty of time for enjoying the journey. A classic
gift for your groomsmen.
The perfect end to many a
glorious day in the Scottish Highlands, might be a hearty meal, a "wee
dram" of whisky, and a robust and flavorful cigar. For many cigar
aficionados, rather than clipping off the end with a flat double blade
cutter, which often leaves small pieces of loose tobacco, the cutter of
choice is a "punch," which creates a clean, round hole in the cap, for
a smooth and even draw. The Dalvey craftsmen are no strangers to
enjoying a well-punched cigar, as they've designed a beautiful Cigar
Punch, with a retractable cutting edge and a convenient key ring.
There's also a nice feature that allows you to eject the plug that's
been cut from the cigar, so you have a clean, ready-to-use again punch.
The
Scottish Highlands' environment of lochs, mountains and glens, is every
bit as vivid and breathtaking as the pictures and postcards suggest. No
visit to the Highlands would be complete without a stop at one of their
world famous whisky distilleries. As luck would have it, Dalvey is
located in the same part of the Highlands as the Dalmore Distillery,
home to the world's most expensive whisky. Since, 1839, Dalmore's Award
Winning Malts have been distilled on the picturesque shores of the
Cromarty Firth in the Northern Highlands.
There are
over 250,000 people living in the communities of the Highlands, and
many have family heritage that dates back over many centuries. Included
among them are the Grants of Dalvey who, for over one hundred years,
have crafted well-engineered products, built with functionality in mind
without sacrificing style or presentation.
"Turas math leibh!" - that's Gaelic for "have a good journey!"
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