2024 Predictions

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and a healthy, happy New Year! Honestly, I can't believe it's already 2024. Where did time go? Does time speed up as we age? I'm not sure, but it's truly astounding.

For this week, I wanted to talk about what I expect to see in 2024 in all three industries. My trend of the year for 2024? Collaborations. I anticipate seeing more collaborations than ever this year. Whether it's Ralfy venturing into more independent bottlings, watch brands expanding beyond partnerships with just John Mayer, or even the possibility of Dua Lipa collaborating with Porsche? It sounds wild, right? Let's explore what might unfold. I'll circle back next year to see how these predictions fared!

                                                                   -Mark

Whisky

Collaborations have long been part of the whisky scene. Technically, a store pick represents a collaboration between the distillery and the store. Consider Lagavulin's Offerman series—absolutely delightful! (Born from actor Nick Offerman’s love for Lagavulin on the Office!) While I foresee an increase in these collaborations, I believe we'll witness a shift. Much like aged stouts that proudly declare "aged in Eagle Rare Barrels," why not explore whisky aged in diverse barrels? Picture a Bardstown Goose Island Bourbon County Bourbon Stout barrel-finished whisky or a Springbank aged in ex-Blanton's barrels. Additionally, collaborations with artists or celebrities might become more prevalent, given the allure they bring. People seek unique experiences, and collaborations might just be the answer. Furthermore, I predict more complex finishing techniques similar to what Barrell Craft Spirits has been pioneering. Let’s see!

Watches

Collaborations have been a significant trend in the watch industry lately. Despite being relatively low in numbers, they instantly broaden the traditional audience. Major brands like Tag Heuer, Hublot, and IWC have engaged in collaborations for years, and Audemar Piguet recently unveiled some astounding partnerships. Smaller brands are leveraging collaborations to reach wider audiences, and it's fascinating to see these partnerships materialize. While some collaborations might miss the mark, their overall success for brands is evident. I anticipate continued collaborations, with larger brands venturing into more extraordinary partnerships like the Travis Scott X Audemars Piguet collab. Smaller brands often engage in collaborations among friends, fostering a sense of community. Will we witness more of these collaborations this year? Absolutely! Two of my favorites below.

The long sold out Formex X Atlanta Watch Society collab.

The almost sold out Nodus  X Watchclicker. 

Wheels

Collaborations in the automotive industry can be a bit peculiar. While brands like Hermes and Bugatti, or Bugatti and Jacob & Co., have collaborated, car collabs remain somewhat unusual. However, Porsche did something, well, rather unusual recently. Dua Lipa shared a photo with a green 911, which seemed less of a collab for now. She mentioned her experience at the Porsche Experience LA, possibly aimed at engaging her fans with the experience center. When I think of car collabs, examples like Mercedes and Porsche with the 500E, or the recent Toyota Supra and BMW Z4 come to mind. My personal favorite? The Audi & Porsche collaboration for the RS2. Incredible! Considering the industry's shift towards EVs or hybrids, collaborations might become more frequent, possibly driven by resource sharing among car brands, many of which are under shared ownership. Let's see how this year unfolds.

On the automotive front... It's 2024! Do you know what that means? You can now legally import Nissan R34s. This was a childhood dream year for many, though I wish I had about $100k to spare. Nonetheless, I'm eagerly awaiting the influx of newly imported R34s this year. Maybe in the coming years, with your help sharing this newsletter ;)

That wraps up this week's predictions for 2024. Let's revisit these thoughts in December, shall we? I can't wait to see how this year unfolds. Wishing you and your family a joyful and prosperous 2024! Next week, we'll delve into more news and reviews.

                                           -Mark 

                                                      Chief Enthusiast