The Hustler. The Color Of Money. Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason, Paul Newman and Tom Cruise. Smoky rooms, straight whiskey. The green felt, the low-hanging tiffany lamp, the clack of cue ball against solids and stripes . . . pool is a war of nerves, an obstacle course of geometery versus hand-eye coordination, and much more. Don’t you want all this in the comfort of your own home? Every great rec room, man bar, or basement bachelor pad needs a pool table. With so many vendors and choices out there, where do you start? Do you need a solid wood table with tournament slate? Or will a veneer-n-felt job do the trick? How much room do you need for a great table? Your burning questions will all be answered after the jump.

Yes, you could keep that bottle of 18-year-old Macallan scotch in the bottle, but when there is hand-blown, imported quality like this Ralph Lauren crystal decanter with its silverplated hardware, why would you? Especially if you have an even more Crave-worthy bottle in your collcetion that deserves to have its label proudly displayed. When you pour from this decanter, your guests won’t be able to tell whether its the upstairs scotch or the downstairs variety…unless they know enough to taste the difference. Save the good stuff for a truly special occasion and pour to impress at the same time.

Buy for $395.00

Pool tables have come a long way since the days of The Hustler (Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason) and The Color Of Money (Newman again, with Tom Cruise). These days green felt is more of a nod to yesteryear, while modern tables like this Apollo by Brunswick still feature a slate playing surface, all the other features have been given a major style upgrade. This is an eight-footer, and comes only in black though the playing surface is customizable in a variety of colors. You can choose traditional green if you’re in love with the old school look, but there are also red, grey, off-white, and the blue pictured above. The light setup isn’t part of the purchase, but the stainless steel lamps seen here are pretty sweet. (We’d get a set just like ‘em since they match the chromed legs.)

Buy for $2949

Plan on doing it yourself in 2008? Check out this great cordless set from Makita, which is getting rave reviews for use in tight spaces. You shouldn’t try to build a high-rise office block with this set, but for typical DIYer use, it’s perfect–lightweight, easy to transport, and quick to charge up. Makita’s Compact Cordless Combo is a three-piece lithium-ion powered kit including the LXT 1/2-inch driver-drill, an impact driver, and a rechargable flashlight. These are all cordless and rechargable with the included 15-minute rapid charger. It comes complete with a contractor bag, so the whole thing is self-contained.

Buy for $239.99.

What does this look like to you? Is it some kind of Dungeons and Dragons geekery? Science class periodic table sample? Would you guess this is barware? Yes! The Kikkerland Cube Jigger puts the six most common liquid measures used in mixed drinks all rolled (er, cubed) into the smallest dispenser they could make. What are those measurements? .5 oz, .75 oz, 1 oz, 1.5 oz, 2 oz, and 2 1/4 oz. The cube comes with a recipe book included which has directions for 14 favorite cocktails. Believe it or not, there is a precedent for box-shaped barware; the Japanese have square sake cups that require you to drink from the corners. Same rules apply here–pour from the corners and it’s all good.

Buy for $18.18

In an age where most liquor is industrialized, marketed with electronic music and mixed with Red Bull, there remains an art form that most men may be missing. To many, the word “scotch” only recalls images of Grandpa, Hemingway, and perhaps Ron Burgundy. There are others, however, that have developed quite the love affair with these aged malts and blends. Read along, fellow GearCravers, and learn how to properly savor one of life’s greater pleasures; a good single-malt scotch.

You’ll learn that “whisky” refers to scotch made in Scotland, while “whiskey” refers to stuff like Kentucky bourbon. You’ll also learn how each of the brands we mention mellows as it ages. For example, a 12 year Glenlivet won’t taste as smooth as an 18-year old, but some older scotches are actually less enjoyable than their younger counterparts. Without further adieu, let’s begin!

Glenfiddich (pronounced more or less “glen-fidd-ick”) is an excellent starter whisky. This Speyside malt is a bit salty, astringent and slightly harsh compared to other varieties, but makes for an excellent place to start. You’ll appreciate the other scotch in this list much better by starting with Glenfiddich. This scoth comes from one of the most popular whisky-making regions in Scotland. There are 46 distilleries in the Speyside area alone! This is a malt that holds up well on the rocks, or even with a bit of water to even the flavor out.

Continue reading GearCrave’s beginners guide to scotch after the jump!

Wall art from your own music collection! These nine-disc CD tiles are great for the home office, man room, or any other space you want to give a little music flair to without resorting to goofy concert posters or dorm-chic wall tapestries. Why hide your jewel cases in a bookshelf? Put your taste in tunes on display.

Buy for $40 (approx)

Close your eyes and imagine the perfect beer and exactly the right temperature, every time. That cold, satisfying feeling that only beer on tap right in your own man room, home bar, or kitchen can give? The Vinotemp beer tap has adjustable temperature, is C02-powered, and holds up to five liters. This is a green-friendly machine with it’s energy efficient thermo-electric cooling system, and comes with three C02 cartridges to get you started right. The beer is sadly not included. With the slick silver-n-black finish and whisper-quiet cooling, this is first class all the way.

Buy for $499

The man room is the place where guys retreat to contemplate life, the universe, and everything. No. Scratch that. It’s the place where guys run to smoke cigars, fire up the 360, and pour a decent drink in peace. A nag-free zone. A place where you let it all hang out, and never mind the no-smoking rule. Your man room will never be truly complete, but here’s a handy list of essentials to help you get started building one you’ll be proud of:

• Goal Flex Six Foot Air Hockey Table

This sweet, six foot Goal Flex Air Hockey table can double as your man room bar til you get a proper bar installed. Try the Gearcrave Air Hockey Drinking Game: Every time the other guy scores, take a drink. Any time the puck flies off the table because you’re too buzzed to hit it properly, take another drink. Buy for $289.99.

See Seven more must haves for your man room after the break– so click “Read More” now.