Go Big: Last Minute Gift Ideas That Will Destroy Your Bank Account

Justin Mastine-Frost December 22, 2022

Let’s face it, it’s the 11th hour. You haven’t found the perfect gift yet, whether on account of being bogged down in meetings, having a less-than-effective assistant, or simply because the target recipient is IMPOSSIBLE to shop for. When resources are boundless, the sky is the limit, but within that may well come a case of analysis paralysis; that’s where we come in. After yet another year of researching and writing about the world’s best makers, creators, designers, and the like, we’ve taken a crack at compiling the ultimate last-minute holiday gifting guide. No, this is not a “practical” guide — our more pragmatic guides are all here, split out by category. This guide will be aspirational for many, but also not unattainable. Consider this our best-of-the-best to close out the holiday season in 2022. Enjoy!

Porsche Ice Experience

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Perhaps an easy choice, considering that Porsche’s various winter driving experiences have been around a good while now, these multi-day driving experiences will teach you/your loved one how to best handle maintaining traction on icy surfaces, and have fun doing it. These experiences range from two to five days, and are held at the Mécaglisse motorsport complex, roughly an hour outside of Montreal. Drivers do not have to be Porsche owners to access these experiences, and a secondary non-driving guest can be added for a modest fee (from $200, depending on the booking in question). With accommodations at the Estérel Resort, you’ll be able to enjoy a peaceful spa day while your significant other hucks a Porsche 911 around in the snow — win win. (from $3,195)

100 Years of The Dalmore Limited Edition

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Know a Scotch lover whose collection is more extensive than anything you’ve seen in a public-facing bar? Enter this three bottle collection from Dalmore. It sets the bar high — really high, including 25-year, 35-year, and 40-year aged Scotches from the legacy house. A few years back, a flight of this set was on offer at the Baccarat hotel. Those three ounces would set you back $1,200 USD, so needless to say that this trio of bottles won’t come cheap. Nor should it. This set was created exclusively for BC Liquor, so those further east will have some logistics to sort. ($35,000)

A Proper Winter Retreat — The Land Before Time Cottage

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You’ve got your go bag, and even with international travel restrictions in place, one can still escape into the wilderness and avoid the dismal experience that is the urban winter. High level luxury rentals can be hard to source, but this “Land Before Time” cottage (spot the raptor in the living room) ticks all the right boxes, and is situated a little over 200 kilometres from downtown Toronto. Go. Get out. Unplug, if you can. It’s going to be a dark winter, so treating a loved one to a week (or three) of peaceful serenity is a fantastic gift idea. If this modern retreat isn’t to your liking, have a look at Compass House, that is also managed by the team at Jayne’s Cottages. ($10,000 per week)

Commission A Build By Origin8or Custom Motorcycles

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A gift of personalization, and the gift of experience is the kind of thing that creates more memories than any “production” object can, leading us down the path of a custom motorcycle build. The country is dotted with talent from coast to coast, but Rob Chappell’s work has been garnering ample international praise these days. It’s easy to see why, as his portfolio ranges from bobbers, to scramblers, to just about anything your mind can come up with. Through every build, one thing is readily apparent — Rob’s eye for style and attention to detail is impeccable. (price upon request)

Cartier Santos-Dumont Watch

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Simpler and more attainable than some of our other choices thus far, the Cartier Santos-Dumont — especially in this manually-wound form — is a timeless gifting option that we’d easily support. It’s a classic to beat all classics, and one of those watches that’s far more versatile than many give it credit. With the newfound buzz surrounding Cartier these days, it’s also one of few references you can still easily walk into a boutique and purchase, ensuring you can still sneak it under the Xmas tree this year. ($7,650)

Matter Made Philippe Malouin Arca 4-Tier Chandelier

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It’s a particular quandary, to attempt to give a design-focused gift for someone’s home. Perhaps easier if the recipient shares your domicile? Either way, should someone be on a quest for the perfect minimalist chandelier for a a grand entry or vaulted living room, the designers working with Matter Made continue to deliver elegant options that are all manufactured stateside. If not the substantial Arca, there are plenty of other lighting options on offer. ($33,100 USD)

Custom Suiting from Garrison Bespoke

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Back down the personalization path for a moment, while many men can dress sharply, not all will think to go the route of bespoke tailoring to expand their wardrobe. As Toronto’s beloved tailor, Garrison Bespoke’s footprint is global, having dressed the likes of Harry Styles, Drake, and many others. Whether the intended recipient is in need of high-level staples, or a more unconventional statement suit, this is the perfect solution. (price on request)

Hennessy Dame Jeanne

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Any higher tier Hennessy is worth its weight in gold, but with the recently unveiled Dame Jeanne operates on its own level. The brand’s master blender, Renaud Fillioux de Gironde, crafts these blends solely using archives in found in the Founder’s Cellar — as a point of reference, those cognac barrels date back 100 or more years, in many cases. From there the blends are placed into their respective 10-litre bottles, which are hand-woven into traditional bottle baskets much akin to what the brand used pre-WWI. There’s little surprise that these are available on special order only, rather than sitting on a shelf at your local liquor store. (price on request)

A Tranquil Winter Vacation Rental

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Did we mention we like the idea of getting away as a holiday gifting option? This particular property, known as Driftwood on Lake Joseph boasts over 7,500 square feet of living space, all surrounded by peaceful nothingness. Bring some friends, bring some family, or just use the space for an over-the-top couples retreat. There’s no wrong answer here. (price on request)