Lap #12.

11/01/2024

It is back to our regular schedule programming! I will be moving to sending on Thursdays, as it gives me more time to put all this together. Also, I've noticed, a lot of news comes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. So, it gives me more content! Well, cheers to a New Years, and lets dive in!

- Mark

Whisky

Buffalo Trace Distillery and Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley have joined forces with Grammy-winning artist Chris Stapleton to unveil Traveller Whiskey, a premium blended whiskey born from a unique collaboration…. What did I say again last week? Proudly crafted at the World’s Most Award-Winning Distillery under Wheatley’s expertise, Traveller is the result of meticulous testing, tasting, and dedication to craftsmanship, mirroring the creative process behind powerful songs and world-class whiskeys.

Images provided from press release.

Chris Stapleton expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating that partnering with Buffalo Trace Distillery and Harlen Wheatley is a bucket-list scenario. The whiskey, named Traveller, not only represents shared history but also a common artistic vision and uncompromising taste standards. Wheatley emphasized the artistic nature of both Chris’ music and Buffalo Trace's whiskey, highlighting the experimentation and dedication involved in creating a blend like Traveller.

Images provided from press release.

Bottled at 90 proof, Traveller Whiskey boasts notes of oak, sweet maple, tart currant, and leather. The unique blend, designated as Blend No. 40 after experimenting with over 50 options, offers a complex aroma of vanilla, aged fruit, buttery shortbread, caramel, and oak. The flavor profile includes sweetness, spice, toasted nut, and oak, leading to a robust finish. Traveller is a distinctive combination of hand-selected whiskeys from The Sazerac Company’s award-winning distilleries, offering a smooth sipping experience or versatility in cocktails. Widely available since January 1, 2024, at a suggested retail price of $39.99, Traveller Whiskey aims to appeal to both seasoned whiskey enthusiasts and those new to the category. I would be in to try this, and hopefully I will be able too. Lets wait and see! More info here.

Wristmas & The W's Review!

Let’s stay on the music track, but with a review! You probably have not heard of this, but this is one of my daily sippers when it comes to bourbon. I often find myself looking for something different then traditional straight bourbon. I prefer some type of finished bourbon, especially toasted. This week, lets pour a glass of Blue Note Crossroads. Since this is not a known distillery, I’ll talk a little about them in the written review.

Images provided from press release.

Company: B.R. Distilling Company
Distillery: Green River Distilling
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 100
Age: NAS
Mashbill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Malted Barley
Type: Straight Bourbon Finished in Toasted French Oak Casks
Color: Dark Gold
MSRP: $39.99 (NJ - 2023)

Nose: Cranberries and other red fruits. Oak. Lots of french oaked. Slightly earthy and industrial. (Usually get this in younger whisky)

Palate: Vanilla. Caramel, Raisins? Toasted french oak (yummm). Maybe like a marshmallow toasted on some french oak skewers. New merch idea?

Finish: tons of toasted french oak. Vanilla. Molasses. Some leather.

Rating: 4 W’s.

Overview

Blue Note Bourbon, based in Memphis, Tennessee, currently sources its whiskey from Green River Distilling. While their Blue Note Las Notas release experimented with French oak wine barrel finishing, the Blue Note Crossroads takes a different approach by toasting its French oak barrels for a pronounced wood-focused finish. The company, which reveals little about its process, sources finishing barrels from Tonnellerie Radoux, a reputable cooperage in central France established in 1932.

The distinctive aspect of Blue Note Crossroads lies in its combination of toasted French oak barrels, resulting in a bourbon that is both mellow and flavorful. The toasted finish imparts a smooth delivery of raisin, plum, prune, and marshmallow, followed by a manageable bite of French oak. Although the French oak finish tends to overshadow the base bourbon's flavors, the overall effect creates a harmonious blend. The addition of a toasted finish to Crossroads adds a welcomed extra dimension to the whiskey, making it worth its asking price. This unique approach could pave the way for more producers to explore toasted French oak-finished bourbons in the future. Blue Note calls themselves, the Spirit of the Blues, hence the music reference here.

Overall, if you’re looking for something different and under $50, this might be a buy for you. It’s a nice bottle to add in. More info here.

Watches

Well it’s only fitting I start the new year with one of the watches I started my newsletter with. Swatch X Blancpain. I was excited for the originals and they added a new watch to the lineup!

Images provided from press release.

Blancpain & Swatch's collaboration, the Scuba Fifty Fathoms, introduces a new edition named Ocean of Storms, inspired by the lunar mare Oceanus Procellarum. Crafted in black bioceramic, the 42.3mm case retains the iconic Fifty Fathoms design with a unidirectional rotating bezel and a water resistance of 91 meters. The dial, in stark black with a sunray-brushed finish, mirrors the Fifty Fathoms style, featuring luminous indices and hands for nighttime visibility, a colored-tipped central seconds hand, and a date window between 4 and 5 o'clock (not a huge fan of these date windows..).

Images provided from press release.

Powered by the mechanical Sistem51 movement, known for its reliability, the watch boasts a 90-hour power reserve and a full-sized rotor adorned with the Okenia Luna nudibranch. The case, imprinted with "Swatch" on the side, showcases retro touches like drilled lugs. The timepiece comes with a NATO-style strap made from recycled fishing nets, aligning with sustainability goals. Priced at EUR 390 / USD 400 / GBP 340, the Ocean of Storms edition is available exclusively at Swatch stores, limited to one per person per day.

Images provided from press release.

Who else is doing an awesome collaboration? Citizen X Godizalla. The ECOZILLA! Citizen celebrates Godzilla's resurgence with a new watch inspired by the iconic movie monster, coinciding with both Godzilla's 70th anniversary and Citizen's 100th anniversary of their first watch. The Godzilla-themed timepiece is based on the Citizen Eco-Drive Professional Diver 300, aptly nicknamed "Ecozilla" by collectors.

Images provided from press release.

The design features a camo pattern on the dial and bezel reminiscent of Godzilla's scales, with subtle renditions of the monster within the pattern. Available in classic black or attention-grabbing red, the oversized 48.2mm stainless steel case maintains a sleek profile with a matte gray coating. The watch is powered by the Cal.B873 Eco-Drive movement, offering accuracy to +/- 15 seconds per month and a 6-month runtime in the dark on a full charge. Limited to 2,500 pieces for the black version and 3,000 for the red, each variant is priced at $900. The watch subtly captures Godzilla's essence, catering to fans seeking a unique and stylish timepiece.

Images provided from press release.

Wheels

I think 2024 and 2025 will be very depressing years for cars. I think we will see a lot of cars killed off as we know it, along with the beloved manual transmission. While I am for EV’s and hybrids as a whole, I do think there is a time and place for petrol powered cars. Do I think they’ll stop producing internal combustion engines in my lifetime? No. But we will be damn close.

Images provided from press release.

With 2024 starting, lets take a look at a car departing. Dodge is releasing the Dodge Durango “Last Call”. Similar to the Charger and Challenger, cry, the Durango ‘Last Call’ Will be a SRT Hellcat edition and a SRT 392 alcHEMI edition. Honestly, I'm here for the name alone. alcHEMI!? Seriously!?

Dodge is set to reveal its 'Last Call' series for the Durango, spanning the 2024 and 2025 model years with variants for Durango SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat. As anticipation grows, Dodge is also preparing for a new-generation Durango expected in 2026. Although the exact count of 'Last Call' models is undisclosed, Dodge promises to unveil more details gradually throughout 2024.

The debut model in this series is the Durango SRT 392 AlcHEMI. Despite its name suggesting an ethanol-powered beast, this special edition is actually powered by the robust 475-hp 6.4-liter Hemi V-8, consistent with the SRT 392 lineup.

Images provided from press release.

Bringing a distinctive visual appeal, the AlcHEMI model showcases features like Satin Black forged SRT wheels, SRT Brembo brakes with eye-catching yellow calipers, black badges, and black exhaust tips. The exterior is further enhanced with black honeycomb-textured stripes outlined in yellow. Inside, the AlcHEMI edition offers an aesthetically pleasing interior with details like yellow and silver stitching, forged carbon-fiber accents, and notable "392" logos on the seatbacks and steering wheel. Limited to 1000 units, with 250 for each of the four exterior paint options—Diamond Black, Destroyer Gray, Vapor Gray, and White Knuckle.

Images provided from press release.

For prospective buyers eager to secure this exclusive model, Dodge introduces the "Horsepower Locator" for exploring dealership allocations starting in late February. Production of the Durango SRT 392 AlcHEMI is slated to commence in April, with these unique vehicles set to arrive at select dealerships in May. Priced at a $3595 premium over the Durango SRT 392 Premium model, the total cost reaches $91,390. Keep an eye out for Dodge's gradual release of more information throughout 2024.

Now for something that is causing the above…. VinFast. You may not have heard of this brand before, but mark my words, I think they will disrupt the US EV market. VinFast, the Vietnamese startup, is aggressively expanding its product lineup with the VF8 crossover already launched in the U.S. last summer and the VF9 SUV expected later this year. At CES 2024, VinFast surprised attendees with the VF Wild, a striking truck concept. Notably, the VF3, a cutesy subcompact SUV, made its global debut at CES and is set to be sold in the United States

Images provided from press release.

The VF3, reminiscent of the beloved Suzuki Jimny (YES!), is a compact and boxy SUV measuring 125.6 inches long, making it over 17 inches shorter than the Fiat 500e set to hit the U.S. market in 2024. Despite its small footprint at 66.1 inches wide and 63.8 inches tall, the VF3 stands out with chunky wheel arches, VinFast's signature V-shaped chrome trim, and a two-tone roof with a "floating" B-pillar. It rides on 16-inch wheels, indicating a decent amount of ground clearance, and VinFast aims for a 125-mile driving range without providing detailed specifications.

Images provided from press release.

While specifics about delivery timelines and pricing for different markets are yet to be disclosed by VinFast, a representative confirmed the VF3's availability in the United States. The company hinted at a competitive starting price, potentially below $20,000, recognizing the importance of an attractive price point to garner sales traction in the American market for such a compact vehicle.

Images provided from press release.

Well, I'm stoked to see what else comes from CES. I've already been seeing some videos surfacing. Only time will tell what other neat things come from it! Honestly crazy that CES now has all these cars. For those that do not know, CES is the Consumer Electronics Show.

Well Thats another roundup for this week. Have a great one! Cheers!

-Mark

Chief Enthusiast.