What about a Sonos speaker? https://www.amazon.com/Sonos-PLAY-Compact-Wireless-Streaming/dp/B00EWCUK1Q
Or Amazon Echo - https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Echo-And-Alexa-Devices/b?ie=UTF8&node=9818047011
Actually, for a couple of guys I think a small wireless speaker (as suggested in post 60) might be a really good idea.
I love the electric knife sharpener my Mom gave me eons ago.
People actually use bar carts to store booze? I always thought they were decorative items, for uses like a plant stand. This non-liquor drinker learned something. 
I was going to suggest a nutribullet if he is into protein shakes or healthy smoothies. Send him a book with your recipe’s which are his favorites. You mentioned he lives quite a distance so maybe a plane ticket voucher.
A set of nice high-quality linen napkins. I have a few dozen from Williams Sonoma. I wash them after each use and they are practically indestructible - look like new for over 10 years. Come in beautiful patterns. Extremely useful for serving and eating meals, snacks or drinks. Make dining or cocktail table setting very pretty. Can be used as napkins, bread cover, place mats or even coasters. Feel and look so much better and fancier than paper napkins.
I found art for son’s apartment in college–he wasn’t picky as long as the walls weren’t bare and he didn’t have to shop for it (he was very happy for me to pick it out)… He still has them and they’re still hanging for the third apt.
I can’t even imagine getting son linen napkins!
Will have to say that the all clad essential pan looks great. I have a similar type pan (not all clad) that is my absolute favorite.
Our kids and we love our robotic vacuums—really makes life so easy—and clean!
Yankee Candle has these wax warmers with a timer. So no open flame.
I gave both my sons some cast iron pans when they moved off campus. For the one that drives a few states away to his university, I looked locally for some reconditioned cast iron pans. For the one kid back east, I sent him some from Amazon.
But my kids grew up making Dutch baby pancakes in my cast iron pans so I knew they’d use them.
As much as I love my Instant Pots (yeah, plural =)) ) I wouldn’t buy one for someone unless I knew they’d be into it. There’s a learning curve to them.
Okay - I went with a wine and cheese themed gift! Charcuterie board that has a slide out drawer that contains four stainless steel cheese knives, wine glasses, coasters, and wine charms with funny sayings.
^^That’s a great, hip, useful gift! (would be for my twenty-somethings anyway - and me!!)
I had asked ds if he would rather have art for his bedroom or something for entertaining. When he said the latter, I asked what they already had since I didn’t want to duplicate anything. He took a pic of the inside of their glass/cup cabinet and sent it to me. I did I specifically ask if they had wine glasses, which they did not. So, at least part of it was a surprise. I decided they were much more likely to put out cheese and crackers than they were to cook anything.
Sounds like a good choice to me!
Sounds like a great solution! Hope they enjoy it!
@Hoggirl I think you knocked it out of the park! Since you started this thread we visited a young male grad who we have known since he was an infant. He is just like family to us. Before we left the hotel I told my husband to grab the wine and crackers and we would stop at a cheesemonger on the way to his apartment. Husband asked me if I had worked this out ahead of time. Nope!!! When I unpacked the young man seemed sheepish and asked how I knew. Well I had known him forever and he was coming staight from work to meet us. Even if he was prepared he could share these items with future guests.
The Zoomba sounded like a great idea but when I looked left and right at his apartment it wouldn’t have much open floor space to zoom.