Robb Vices is “a membership program centered on a monthly delivery of storied treasures.” Each month, they send a collection of curated products and/or experiences.
Subscribers should expect boxes to include “vices” like “exceptional wines and spirits to enjoy, foods to taste, tools, toys, accessories, and gadgets.”
Items are packed securely in laser-cut foam.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: Robb Vices
The Cost: $74.95 + shipping (For reference, shipping to DC is $7.95.)
COUPON: Use code MSAVICELOVE to receive a bonus gift in your first box when you sign up for a 6- or 12-month subscription!
The Products: Each box contains a curated selection of products and experiences and provides subscribers with a taste of the good life!
Ships to: US
Check out all of our Robb Vices Reviews and find other specialty boxes in the Artisan Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
With each shipment, Robb Vices sends out a glossy booklet that outlines the products and curation story of each box.
This month’s shipment is all about exploring vices past, present, and future. This box includes “a touch of nostalgia, a nod to the future, and most importantly a few things to help you celebrate the present moment.”. Featured brands include Fiol, Doc Henderson’s Natural Spirits, Fatty Sundays, and Schatzii.
Fiol Prosecco DOC– $16.10
The first item in this month’s box is a bottle of prosecco, which is a perfect item for this time of year, I think! (I’d kind of hoped that we might see some bubbles in this month’s box with New Year’s Eve right around the corner!)
It’s an extra dry Prosecco made from Giera grapes in the Prosecco DOC territory of Italy.
It’s light and very fizzy, with flavors of green apple, pear, and citrus.
Doc Henderson’s Green Absinth – Listed Value $15
Doc Henderson’s Red Absinth – Listed Value $15
I couldn’t find these smaller absinthes available for sale online (only full-sized bottles), so I’ve used the value provided by Robb Vices.
The bottles have apothecary-style labels and waxed lids that give off an antique vibe that seems appropriate for a historied spirit like absinthe.
Green Absinthe gets a bad rap, but its reputation as being dangerous and hallucinogenic is overblown. I’ve tried it a few times before, mostly in cocktails, and I’m a fan of the citrusy, aniseed flavor. Doc Henderson’s is really nice— tasty and balanced. It’s made with aniseed, fennel, grand wormwood, and a mix of herbs. Sazeracs here I come!
Red absinthe is new to me, so I’m excited that Robb Vices decided to include it, too. It’s less famous than the green version, and it’s relatively young— it dates back to the early 1900’s. It’s known as Spanish-style absinthe (the green is considered French), and it’s made with aniseed, hibiscus, and 11 different botanicals. I tried it with ginger ale, as recommended by Robb Vices, and I quite enjoyed it. It’s a little sweeter than the green version.
Fatty Sundays Chocolate Covered Peppermint Pretzels (2.54 oz.) – Value $5.99
These pretzels are familiar! I first tried them about three years ago when they were included in the POPSUGAR Special Edition Holiday Box, and I really enjoyed them. I’m happy to see them in this box.
The sweet and salty combo is really yummy, and the peppermint flavor is perfect for the holidays.
Schatzii Bullet Bluetooth 4.1 Earpiece + Charging Capsule – Value $150
Next up is this month’s hero item, a Schatzii Bluetooth Earpiece!
This is the world’s smallest Bluetooth earbud, and it’s ultra lightweight. This little guy clocks in at only 3.5 grams!
Like most Bluetooth earbuds with call capabilities, the battery life isn’t great (it only gets about 1.5 hours of talk time); however, the earpiece comes with its own charging capsule that can recharge it up to 4 times.
I’ve never used a Bluetooth earbud before, and I wasn’t initially sold on the idea. Would I mind listening to music in only one ear? Would I actually like using it to make calls? Would the talk quality be okay?
To really get a feel for the Schatzii, I decided to use it exclusively over the last few days instead of my usual earbuds. First of all, I have to say that it’s surprisingly comfortable. The piece that fits into your ear is removable and comes in three sizes, and I found the medium to be a perfect fit for me. So far, I’ve worn it for hours at a time with no discomfort. Since it sits inside the ear, it has a muffling earplug-like effect for outside sound, but that’s not really problematic since it’s worn in only one ear. Check out the Schatzii site to give you a better idea of the size of the earbud.
The sound quality is good, but not great. I usually use Bose earbuds, and the quality of the Schatzii sound is a little tinnier and flatter. For that reason, I don’t think I’ll use the Schatzii earbud to listen to music. For calls, though, the sound quality wasn’t an issue. I tested the call feature with several different people, and everyone said they could hear me just fine. The only issue occurred when I was walking down a city street and an ambulance passed on my earbud side. I was talking to my husband at the time, and I think the direction of the microphone meant that he got blasted by the siren. Oops! Overall, though, I’m pretty impressed with this earbud. I didn’t own a Bluetooth earpiece before receiving this box, and I’m glad that I now have a comfortable, top-quality one to use when I need to make hands-free calls.
Sparklers
The last item in this month’s box is a special little bonus: a few sparklers! This is a small thing, but I think it’s a really thoughtful addition. I’m definitely going to light these up on New Year’s Eve!
Verdict: I really like this month’s Robb Vices box. The theme is festive and fun, and I like the wide variety of items picked to represent it. I don’t know yet how often I’ll use the Schatzii earbud, but I think it’s a nice, high-end item that many will surely enjoy. (I’m sure iPhone 7 users will be over the moon to receive a quality Bluetooth earpiece!) The total value of the items in this box comes to just over $202. That’s pretty great!
What do you think of this box from Robb Vices?