GQ Quarterly Subscription Box Review #GQQ02
The GQ Quarterly subscription is a seasonal subscription box for men from the editors of GQ. The first box was all about scents, and this box is about holiday entertaining!
This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: GQ for Quarterly
The Cost: $100 a box (ships 4 times a year)
The Products: Style, Lifestyle and grooming products selected by GQ Editors
Ships to: Free to the US. (Canada +$30; rest of world +$40)
Check out all of my Quarterly reviews and the Men’s Subscription Box Directory!
Each Quarterly box comes with a letter from the curator detailing the items included and why they were selected.
Brooklyn Slate Cheese Board – Value $29
Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds – Value $11
These are both duplicate items for me, but they both will make excellent hostess gifts. The ice molds are great for anyone who takes drinking something “on the rocks” seriously – the sphere shape makes them melt down slowly so it doesn’t interfere with the flavor of your scotch, whiskey, etc.
LA OrganicSuave Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Value $25
Knork Stainless Steel Kitchen Knife – Value $30?
Olive oil is one item I am always happy to see in subscription boxes. I can’t wait to use this. (And it being organic is a nice bonus!) Let me know if you like getting olive oil in subscription boxes (just a little Quarterly curator research!)
I received a Knork pairing knife from the EAT01 Quarterly box, and it’s a high-quality piece, so I’m happy to have another one!
Red Bee Honey Chunk Honey – Value $16
Hella Bitter – Value $9
This honey actually has a piece of the honey comb included! They recommend drizzling it over greek yogurt or crusty bread. I’m guessing it would work well with making cocktails too!
Areaware Table Tiles – Value $15
Coasters aren’t usually an exciting item for me, but I love that these are both functional and fun to play with!
Verdict: This box cost $100 and has a value of approximately $135. I think the curation of this box is great – all quality items I would feel wonderful about gifting or keeping. However, I was expecting the value to be a little higher given the price point.
At the same time, I may not be in their target demographic. I’m guessing most subscribers of this box are most interested in items selected by GQ editors, with total value being the second priority?
I’m also happy to see another quality lifestyle subscription box for men (in addition to Bespoke Post of course). What do you think of GQQ02?
Written by Liz Cadman
I like the items reviewed in the box. I am curious to why they selected food items. I’m a big fan of olive oil and enjoy when it shows up in a sub.
Unless it was a food sub box, I wouldn’t want to receive olive oil. Especially if I was a sub box that was classified as a beauty subscription. Olive oil is something I can get anywhere..I’d prefer something a little more unique.
Love olive oil, we are Italian and go through quite a bit. Would have to be very well packaged since a spill would be ruinous……
This is such a great box! I would be happy with olive oil in a box!
Yes to olive oil!
Yes, to Olive oil! I am on Team cutting board as well. Especially, if they are sturdy/pretty ans safe enough to serve food on for a cocktail party. I subscribed to your box at Quarterly because I feel you cn do no wrong. I hope your fans aren’t putting too much pressure on you. Good luck and happy curating!
Ps love the throw spoiler!
Oh no!! Why would you say what the MSA spoiler is on this post?? We have been staying away from that post because we want to be fully surprised. Please keep that in mind when commenting in other posts. Not everyone wants spoilers!
Agreed – I was trying really hard to avoid the spoiler. I only view spoilers for boxes I am not subscribed to yet. I like the feeling of total surprise.
Also, was that knife just chillen in the box unwrapped??
No – it was properly wrapped. I should have mentioned I unwrapped it for the photo. Sorry!
As someone who is very much into the culinary arts plus a minimalist, I have to say I friggen adore this box.
This was meant for men though?? Woulda never guessed. Kinda looks like it was curated from a Homegoods store with discounted gourmet items.
Would love to see a quality olive oil in a box! Great item IMO.
I love olive oil and would love to see that in a future box! I love cooking and all kitchen items though. So I am pretty easy to please if it is a kitchen type item.
I think this was a great box! I would love to see a food item such as olive oil in a future MSA box. An occasional kitchen item like that knife would be neat too!
I would love, love, love olive oil in a box. I can never get enough olive oil, use it for tons of recipes! Thanks Liz for keeping on the lookout for future boxes!!!
I always love receiving olive oil, especially a really good US made one. I think it would be a great addition to a future MSA box.
Not a huge fan of food in sub boxes in general, and especially so if the box is mostly a “beauty” type subscription. But ultimately if it’s a high quality oil and doesn’t take up too much of the overall total “value” of the box then it’s not a big deal.
I definitely don’t want to get food in a beauty/lifestyle sub. That’s why I sub to food boxes. The fact they had so many food items in this box, to me is a ripoff for $100. It’s not like they sent caviar or truffles. It’s honey and bitters. I thought the GQ box was supposed to be a men’s style type box. Guess not since pretty much everything was food or kitchen related. Extra glad I didn’t get it for my husband.
Personally, I’d like certain food items in the MSA box, such as a good olive oil or a good salt (ex: Himalayan salt, red salt…). I like that olive oil is kind of healthy, and easy to use (I don’t need to be a chef to serve it with bread). I have Hello Fresh (love it), but I don’t get any other “food” boxes.
I noticed the Design Sponge box has a cutting board, and so does this GQ box. Although both are cute (the D*S one especially), I have plenty of cutting boards already (4 total). So, I’m hoping MSA doesn’t jump on the bandwagon and include a cutting board too.
I think this box had some interesting items. I would use the olive oil but not the coasters. Liz, having your own subscription box must be so stressful. In reading everyone’s comments we are all so different in likes and dislikes so to find something that is a happy medium must be difficult. Personally, the more useable the item the better and at least food items can be used or easily gifted.
Olive oil is fine. I’d use it, but not be super excited.
I love olive oil! I would be so happy if that was included in a future box because I use it all the time, and I love tasting different olive oils.
Truffle oil would be an indulgent item for use or to gift!
Wow!!!! I wish I could still buy this box for myself! I LOVE everything in it!
I like all the items in the box but they don’t go together nearly as nicely as the Bespoke Post box with the same slate since this box is half drink, half snack but not enough of each to be complete (all the bespoke box needs is a loaf of bread).
I like olive oils but I’d be more interested in flavored than plain – maybe one that pairs really nicely with a flavored vinegar.
That’s exactly what I was thinking. I would love to try a flavored oil, but would still be interested in any good quality cooking oil.
I would prefer not to get olive oil in a sub box personally. There are so many great options locally that this isn’t a treat. Thanks for asking!
I know I’m not the right demographic and maybe I’m being a little dense. But isn’t this like GQ magazine for men?? This stuff is nothing like what I’d expect from GQ magazine, it’s all food related things. If I gave something like this to my boyfriend or brother neither one would use a single thing in this box. They’re not cooks though. I’d expect more like razors or personal items, barware or something different than this.
I have three bottles of subscription box olive oils so that is a pass for me, but I don’t know, I do like gourmet food stuff. But I totally disagree, any home item like coasters is a win!
We go through a bottle of olive oil a week, always a win with us!
Wow, that’s a LOT of Olive oil! I cook with it daily and we’re a family of 6 and don’t go through nearly that much.
LOL,yes it is! It is myself,husband and 5 young kids. We use it daily and occasionally for non cooking reasons as well.