Help from some male people on DU.

[redstatebluegirl]

Ok, I am married to a scientist, he lives and breathes science, lives in the lab, doesn't have a ton of hobbies. He loves his Jazz and Blues music and expensive scotch . I always struggle at Christmas to find something to blow his socks off. I did it once with an old scientific balance in a wood case but since then not so much.

Any ideas would be truly appreciated!!!!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Maybe some *really* expensive Scotch?

[redstatebluegirl]

2. I thought about ordering some from Scotland.

It was WAY out of my price range.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. What kind of scientist is he?

You might find something interesting here: https://www.iflscience.com/ or here: https://www.thegrommet.com/gifts/tech-gifts

[redstatebluegirl]

9. A physical chemist.

[jayfish]

25. I gave a relative who went to Scotland $ to buy me some good Scotch.

She brought back Dewar's. ...White Label!

Get an educated opinion before you order.

[Major Nikon]

50. Personally I don't care much for expensive gifts related to my interests

Inevitably you wind up with something you'd probably never buy yourself, simply because it doesn't match your particular tastes and/or it's not a good value for what you prefer.

I think you are better off buying something that matches your interests, because you'll have a better idea of what separates the wheat from the chaff. It also tells someone you put more thought into it.

[The Polack MSgt]

54. There are really good Whiskies for 50-80 bucks.

If he isn't a big fan of heavily peated scotches - Monkey Shoulder is really good and available for about $43 which is a very reasonable price.

If it's that heavy peat, salty highland barley with the smoke he likes - Laphroaig runs from about $40 for the 10 Year (DELICIOUS) select to $700 for a bottle of the special barrel selection 18 year old single malt (I will never taste this)

But honestly you'd be hard pressed to beat the $70-90 Laphroaig Single Malt Cairdeas for any amount.

But, all whisky (Scotland and Japan) or whiskey (rest of the world) rankings are subjective - and while we can agree on what is bad, what is good only exists in the mind of each drinker.

Side notes: If he likes other kinds of whiskies, Michter's American Whiskey is my current obsession- it's around 50 bucks.

Knob Creek Rye is always amazing if hubby has a taste for the spicy.

If really good low smoke/mellow whisky with cool looking labels are the ticket - just about any Hibiki blend will work.

Budgetbottle.com is a good place to start the search - But I always buy local in a brick and mortar store - because Boomer.

[MicaelS]

6. Name a Star after him.

https://www.starregister.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA5dPuBRCrARIsAJL7oeiFLP23_4J36VNDl0H3aiQuHou1fx-kyy4Y0cZrrK1iuP3DTarQcv4aAk2gEALw_wcB

[Lochloosa]

3. Blues Cruise - and you can go with him.

https://bluescruise.com/

There are others that leave from different ports. Some friends of mine take the one out of San Diego, CA

Here's last years lineup:

Taj Mahal Quartet, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Fabulous Thunderbirds, LRBC w/ Tommy Castro, Tinsley Ellis, Vanessa Collier & John Nemeth, Tab Benoit, Ruthie Foster, Ana Popovic, Victor Wainwright & The Train, California Honeydrops, John Hammond, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience, Larry McCray, Sugaray Rayford, Albert Cummings, Thornetta Davis, Nick Moss Band w/ Dennis Gruenling & Kate Moss, Nick Schnebelen Band, Dexter Allen, Gumbo Grits & Gravy (Anne Harris, Guy Davis, Marcella Simien), Mississippi Heat w/ Lurrie Bell, Jontavious Willis & Andrew Alli, Mitch Woods, Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, Barry Cuda, Lola & more

[redstatebluegirl]

5. Wow he would love that! So would I!

He has a conference in San Diego next year, maybe we could take a little extra time and do this. THANK YOU!!!!

[Lochloosa]

10. You can skimp on the room a little. You won't be in it much of the time.

[redstatebluegirl]

12. This would be worth the money

I see expensive scotch as a waste once it goes past a certain price. .

Thanks so much!

[Lochloosa]

18. It's a blast. Impromptu late night jams. Drinking with the bands.

Very intimate.

[beachbumbob]

51. There are several to choose from, but I would do

Joe Bonamassa's he has started lately.

[PufPuf23]

56. Blues Cruise was very first thing I thought of !!!

Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Samantha Fish, Walter Trout - Going Down - KTBA Cruise 2019

[Cartoonist]

8. My member can't type

I'm envious.

[rsdsharp]

11. Stand closer to the keyboard.

[Cartoonist]

14. I'll need some visual stimulation

At least

[sdfernando]

33. With the visual stimulation and

good gyrating moves with the hips you can bang out something epic!

[customerserviceguy]

16. Can only reach the space bar at my age.

[samnsara]

13. a subscription to sock club...name a star for him...a ride on a MIG jet...

...hubby adopted a giant Madagascar cockroach for me for my bday once..of course it has to stay at the zoo, but i get papers on it...ewww

[Cartoonist]

17. Star naming is a racket

Not official, and he would know that.

[LakeArenal]

34. Agreed.

[Arkansas Granny]

22. I adopted an orphaned elephant through the Sheldrick Trust for my daughter's birthday.

[customerserviceguy]

15. My lady and I

have taken to giving each other "experience" presents, where we do the experience together. We already have more than enough stuff, and we gave away vast amounts of stuff to charity this year as part of the final phase of our move to SC.

Are there things you have done together that he particularly liked?

[redstatebluegirl]

19. Anytime we go to intimate venues for Jazz night is a good time.

He relaxes and enjoys himself. The blues cruise that someone suggested may be just the thing this year. I'm not into cruises, but this one sounds great.

[customerserviceguy]

62. I'm not into cruises, either

but surely, there is a jazz club within a few hundred miles of where you live. Maybe getting tickets to it, and finding a nearby motel to spend the night is an enjoyable and affordable present that you both will remember fondly.

Or, go with the cruise if you think you can put up with it.

[braddy]

20. What are his hobbies? How old is he, does he have any prepper interests such as hurricanes, weather?

[redstatebluegirl]

21. He is 58, he doesn't really have any hobbies which is the issue in finding him a gift.

He does enjoy the weather. Living in Oklahoma, he is fascinated with storms and such.

[The Figment]

23. Don't they have "Storm Chaser Tours" in your neck of the woods?

If he is a weather geek imagine if he could spend a week chasing tornados!
As a science pro he would have a blast with all the technology and equipment that they use.

[redstatebluegirl]

24. You know he might really enjoy that.

It is still "science" but different. Thanks!

[braddy]

30. I guess he already has the tech that he desires related to weather? The fancy radio, the weather

station, the great advanced led flashlights or led lantern and so on?
Below are just examples, I haven't picked them as the best or anything.

Stuff like this.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002YVTTQ4/?coliid=I3OEUECYSI7F0R&colid=2EPW9ISNDNSOJ&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it


https://www.amazon.com/AYL-Starlight-700-Emergencies-Hurricanes/dp/B07345H8J7/ref=pd_cp_468_4/144-1586809-3996347?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07345H8J7&pd_rd_r=446e6969-8c89-49cf-9e24-c655dcf4a74d&pd_rd_w=S9HR0&pd_rd_wg=WQ4Hb&pf_rd_p=0e5324e1-c848-4872-bbd5-5be6baedf80e&pf_rd_r=J1GBQE2GKTY5EG6NB6PZ&psc=1&refRID=J1GBQE2GKTY5EG6NB6PZ

[redstatebluegirl]

31. Thank you he has some of the "toys" but some of these would be good to think about.

Thank you!

[LunaSea]

26. Affordable cool stuff

www.sciplus.com
Huge catalog of interesting things.

Like this-

ERLENMEYER FLASK COFFEE CUP

Free paper catalog that's pretty funny to read.

[redstatebluegirl]

32. I love this, great idea for a stocking stuffer!

[jayfish]

27. Does He Have A Turntable...

and LPs to go with it?

Audio-Technica LP-120XUSB

Best Jazz Albums: 50 Essentials You Need To Hear

[redstatebluegirl]

29. He has a turntable and some sansui speakers he won't part with :-).

He has a good collection of old vinyl. He prefers that to CDs.

[jayfish]

35. Well... Back to scotch then.

I find it difficult to find proper snifters in brick and mortar stores.

This one is pretty nice.

Norlan Whisky Glass

[redstatebluegirl]

36. Oh like this! Thanks!

Just ordered it!

[jayfish]

37. NICE! Glad I could be of service. -NT-

[OriginalGeek]

41. Scotch and vinyl

I'm liking your husband more and more. I can't give much Scotch advice other than I love Laphroaig single malt (18yo is some of the best I've had but I can only afford 10yo lol) and I like Buchanan's a lot for a blend but that's more for sentimental reasons as that's my clan.

I can't give much vinyl advice either as I mostly collect death metal vinyl but Coltrane's A Love Supreme is one of my favorite records in the world.

[redstatebluegirl]

44. He is a fun guy, smart guy, kind of geek, but really fun.

[OriginalGeek]

45. I try to be all that for my wife

but I'm more smartass than smart.

She hasn't kicked me out yet though (33+ years) so I figure I'm funny enough to keep around.

Cheers to y'all! I'm sure whatever you get he'll love.

[Dr Vegas]

28. I just treated myself

to a NEW CD

Big Band of Brothers "A Jazz Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band"
That would be a great gift for a person who loves Jazz and Blues and under $20.00.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

38. A Tasting Tour Of Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🥃

[redstatebluegirl]

39. When we win the lottery :-)!

[Floyd R. Turbo]

40. Cheers! 🥃

[woodsprite]

42. Have you checked out the catalog "Uncommon Goods"?

I'm getting my husband a standing desk balance board for his office. When I was poking around, I saw they had some other nice gifts.

[redstatebluegirl]

43. Wow I will check that out.

[yonder]

46. This retired land surveyor suggests:

An old, survey quality solar compass, transit or theodolite. Maybe an antique compass? It might be a bit out of his discipline but if he liked the balance, he might like something like that.

Maybe an old professional microscope? Something old, well-made and sciency?

[redstatebluegirl]

48. These are good ideas, I have been on the hunt for an old microscope.

[Wounded Bear]

47. Get him a slide rule...

It's old school science and engineering. A lot of the moon shot were actually done on these.

They have decorative ones, too. I remember a teacher once who had a slide rule tie clip. Pretty cool

[comradebillyboy]

49. If he likes good Scotch buy him a couple diffrent high quality Japanese whiskeys.

They can't call it Scotch but high end Japanese whiskeys are pretty wonderful. I like good Scotch and my wife gave me a couple of bottles of the good Japanese stuff and I was very pleased. I'd check with one of the better bottle shops in your area and they can help select some good choices.

[Dustlawyer]

52. a slide rule

[sarge43]

53. FWIW, Amazon has an interesting collection of classic jazz on vinyl

One I'd have is Miles Davis' Kinda Blue

[Brother Buzz]

55. A single pot still, Baby!

This is the secret dream of every chemist I've ever known. Making a single malt Scotch whisky is a long learning curve that involves an oak barrel, so you may have solved next years Christmas gift.

Just an idea.

[Boxerfan]

57. If he likes mechanical things-a vintage pocket watch?

The prices are way down on the collector market-due to gold prices in a round a bout way. I dabble in repairing them and have a few serviced ready to go if you are interested PM me.

[bucolic_frolic]

58. A mechanical solar system

but i think an old one would be pretty expensive.

[denbot]

59. Beer brewing kit?

Brewing beer is a gateway to distilling whiskey..

[redstatebluegirl]

60. Gosh lots of great ideas thank you all!

[Harker]

61. You might consider a special book...

A very nicely bound copy of a classic in his field, or a signed (not inscribed) copy of a work by one he admires.