Lap #14.
Hey Guys! Hope everyone is well! Let's dive into another week of Wristmas & The W's: Whisky, Watches & Wheels.
-Mark
Whisk(e)y
Bulleit American Single Malt
American Single Malt is poised to take off in the coming years as more players enter the space, although their prices can be a little steep. Enter Bulleit, renowned for producing bourbon and rye, favored by bartenders and enthusiasts alike, ideal for cocktails, and boasting impressive single barrels. While the brand has experimented with limited editions like Blenders’ Select and Barrel Strength, its focus has primarily revolved around its core whiskey offerings. However, the distillery is now venturing into uncharted territory with the creation of an American single malt.
Crafted entirely from barley, mainly sourced from the Pacific Northwest, this innovative Bulleit single malt diverges from traditional American single malt practices by aging exclusively in new American oak barrels. Jesse Damashek, senior vice president of whiskies and liqueurs at Diageo, emphasizes the brand's commitment to its identity by utilizing the same casks used for aging Bulleit bourbon and rye. While other American single malts such as Stranahan's and Clermont Steep also employ new charred oak, Bulleit's interpretation stands out with its distinctive flavor profile.
Images provided from Press Release.
Phil Gelineau, Diageo’s senior liquid innovation manager (can I get this job?), highlights the whiskey's unique fruit-forward character, attributed to the use of fruity yeast strains. This imparts noticeable notes of light red fruit and pear, complemented by subtle hints of caramel, cocoa powder, and vanilla cupcake. Bottled at 45% alcohol by volume, it promises a refined sipping experience. In addition to its unique flavor, Bulleit showcases its commitment to sustainability by employing recycled glass for packaging, aligning with Diageo's environmentally conscious practices. While Bulleit single malt will be widely available at $60, it's not yet a permanent fixture in the brand's portfolio, hinting at potential future releases and a long-term dedication to American single malt.
High N’ Wicked X Foursquare
High n’ Wicked, renowned for its unique (although pricey) whiskeys, has unveiled a new limited edition in collaboration with Foursquare Rum Distillery: a meticulously crafted Single Grain Irish Whiskey. This whiskey, initially distilled in County Cork, Ireland, is aged in ex-bourbon barrels and then finished for six months in casks previously used to mature Foursquare's acclaimed “Mark X 2007” Barbados Rum. Crafted by the combined expertise of Richard Seale from Foursquare and Noel Sweeney, former Master Distiller/Master Blender of Cooley, this expression represents a unique fusion from two spirits producers.
Bottled at 100 proof, this exclusive release offers an enticing array of aromas, including coconut, treacle, lemon peel, almond, and vanilla. These fragrances give way to subtle tropical notes of clove and cinnamon, followed by a soft, lingering finish with hints of caramel and custard. Priced at $79.99 per 750ml bottle, this limited edition is now available for purchase in select U.S. markets and online, promising whiskey enthusiasts an extraordinary tasting experience.
Images provided from Press Release.
High n’ Wicked, known for its specialty bottlings, regularly introduces limited editions that showcase its expertise in American and Irish whiskey production. With a diverse portfolio encompassing American Bourbon, Single Malt Irish whiskey, and now the Single Grain Irish Whiskey collaboration with Foursquare, High n’ Wicked continues to captivate whiskey enthusiasts with its innovative offerings, ensuring that each bottle delivers a memorable and exceptional drinking experience. While most people may not have a chance to try High N’ Wicked, this might be a great entry point as it’s not as high as some of its other bottlings. I’ve had a decent amount of different High N’ Wicked (thanks Tim!) and have enjoyed them for the most part. Some of their pricing is a bit much for me though.
Watches
Sinn Spring Novelties
Sinn. Probably one of my favorite brands. I sadly do not own one, but regularly look at them. Sinn 356, yes please. I’ll get one one day. Well Sinn just announced a their new lineup last week, and honestly, they’re amazing. Introducing Sinns Spring Novelties, Including a Manually Wound 103 Chronograph and New HYDRO U50 Divers. The manual wind 103, yes please, is by far my favorite. I like the hydro, but it is not exactly my favorite. The engineering and advancement behind them sure are cool though. Lets take a look.
Last week, Sinn unveiled two highly anticipated watch releases, showcasing their commitment to both vintage-inspired designs and cutting-edge technology.
Images provided from Press Release.
Firstly, they introduced the 103 St Ty Hd, a remarkable manually wound chronograph that pays homage to vintage aesthetics. With its classic steel case, old-fashioned acrylic crystal, and a panda-style dial featuring striking red accents, the 103 St Ty Hd exudes timeless charm. Notably, Sinn deviated from previous 103 models by updating the dial layout and incorporating the manually wound Sellita SW 510 M movement. Limited to just 1,000 units, this release is poised to captivate serious Sinn collectors with its blend of tradition and innovation, offered at a retail price of $2,870.
Images provided from Press Release.
In addition to the vintage-inspired 103, Sinn introduced a series of modern U50 divers, showcasing their expertise in crafting robust and reliable tool watches. Dubbed the U50 HYDRO series, these timepieces boast an impressive water resistance rating of 5,000 meters, setting a new standard in extreme dive watches. Powered by quartz movements and encased in German Submarine Steel, the HYDRO, HYDRO SDR, and HYDRO S models offer variations in finishing and aesthetic appeal. Prices start at $2,460, reflecting Sinn's dedication to providing exceptional value in high-performance diving instruments.
Images provided from Press Release.
Finally, Sinn embraced the current trend of fully luminous dials with the U50 S L, a limited edition masterpiece that combines advanced technology with striking design elements. Built on the same platform as the HYDRO series, the U50 S L features a mechanical Sellita SW-300 movement and a luminous dial that illuminates brilliantly in low-light conditions. Despite a slightly reduced water resistance of 500 meters without the oil-filled case, the U50 S L remains a formidable dive watch, offered at a retail price of $3,640.
That 103 will be something I dream about, and wish to add in eventually. The color way is probably one of my favorites in quite some time.
Nodus Sector GMT - Afterglow
Wes and Cullen at Nodus have returned with a new dial color for their Sector GMT. Is this my favorite dial to date? Yes. Dubbed the Afterglow, it features a purple sunburst dial intended to mirror the captivating Los Angeles sunsets (which are quite spectacular, by the way), just as the sun dips below the horizon. The hour, minute, and seconds hands are white, while the GMT hand is a light purple, all filled with Super-LumiNova® BGW9. The hour markers, 24hr marks, logo, and date are bright white, and they all come together quite harmoniously. The chapter ring, I believe, is light purple or white, but if it's white, it would reflect the purple dial, making it light purple anyway. The Sector is one of the few Nodus watches I have not worn outside events, so I cannot comment much on how it wears. However, considering all the other Nodus watches wear well, I would say it’s probably in line.
Images provided from Nodus Watches Instagram.
The sizing helps here, as it measures 38mm in width, 12.25mm in thickness, 47mm lug-to-lug, and has a 20mm lug width. The bracelet has a 20mm to 16mm taper, and Nodus’s NodeX clasp, which is a micro-adjusting clasp. It’s a great addition they’ve made to their bracelets. I wish all my Nodus watches had it, as it instantly enhances the wearing experience. Its screw-down crown adds to its 100m water resistance, so feel free to get a little wet with it as well.
Images provided from Nodus Watches website.
Under the hood is a reliable Seiko NH34 GMT movement, which boasts just over a 40-hour power reserve. If I were to pick up a Sector GMT, this would be it. On a leather strap, it comes in at $475, and on a bracelet, it's priced at $525. Keep it up, guys! More info here.
Images provided from Nodus Watches instagram.
Wheels
There isn't much to report in this section, so I'll just touch on a few smaller topics.
In the last newsletter, I discussed "The Grand Tour: Sand Job." Finally, I had the chance to watch it on Monday, as I was away last week. I must say, I love that trio. It was fascinating to see them navigate western Africa in "Dakar" style cars. While I admit the shows are becoming somewhat repetitive, their comedy and chemistry remain top-notch. You can understand why they're ending the series as they're getting older, but it's still as enjoyable as ever. Just a heads up—it's a tad over 2 hours long. If you have Amazon Prime, I highly recommend watching it this weekend!
Images provided from Press Release.
On the topic of shows and cars, "F1 Drive to Survive" Season 6 premieres on February 23rd. I haven't watched any episodes yet, as I'm not a big fan of reality TV, but I've heard fantastic things about it. If you're into Formula 1, or just curious about what happens behind the scenes, I've heard it's a must-watch.
Remember my musings on the new Toyota Land Cruiser? Well, they've finally dropped the price. They claimed it would be cheaper than the previous generation, and technically it is, but not by much. The new Land Cruiser is smaller and starts at $58,000. This is a bit disappointing considering it's priced at the higher end of similar-sized SUVs. Are they relying on nostalgia to open wallets? Despite this, I still love it.
Well, thats it for this Lap! The Nodus and Bulleit were the highlights for me. I cannot wait to check out the Nodus in person one day!
Cheers!
-Mark
Chief Enthusiast