Lap #3.

Welcome to Wristmas & The W's: Lap #3!

As the air turns crisp and leaves begin to fall, we're back with another exciting edition of Wristmas & The W's. From the world of whisky and watches to the latest on wheels, we've got your passion points covered. So, grab your favorite drink, cozy up, and join us for a journey into the realms of fine spirits, timekeeping wonders, and automotive adventures. Let's dive in! 🍁🕰️🚗

Whisky:

Oh, the weather outside is frightful. But the fire is so delightful. And since we've no place to go, Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Ah, the crisp winter air and the warmth of a cozy fire – the perfect setting for A Midwinters Night Dram! Act 11 is dropping on 10/08/23, and it's a delightful winter dessert in a glass. Picture candied cherries, figs, raisins, French oak, and baking spices gracing your nose. It's like enjoying strawberry rhubarb pie with vanilla ice cream, drizzled with caramel and toffee syrup. A Midwinters Night Dram is a blend of rye whisky, featuring both MGP and High West's own juice, finished in French Oak Port barrels. A seasonal favorite that's getting harder to find each year, so if you're on the nice list, maybe Santa will leave one under your tree. While I'm not rushing out of fall, as it's the best season, I can't help but anticipate this release. Is it a must-buy? Perhaps not, but it's certainly a must-try. Seek out a dram at your local whisky bar to experience its changing profile – it's worth it. Why not a must-buy? Well, the price keeps creeping up, and with more of High West's rye making its way in, the flavor is evolving. Will I get it? Absolutely. It's one of those bottles I hunt for every year. Act 7 and 8 were personal favorites, while Act 10 didn't quite hit the same high notes, likely due to the increased High West rye content.

Now, let's switch gears back to fall. If you've explored the whisky aisle, chances are you've spotted Barrell Craft Spirits. Their striking shield-shaped labels towards the bottom of the bottle in vibrant colors stand out on the shelf. Toward the bottle's top half, a labelless window gives you a peek at the whisky inside. Last year, Barrell Craft Spirits introduced Vantage. Barrell Vantage is a blend of straight bourbons finished in three distinct expressions of virgin oak: Mizunara, French, and toasted American oak casks. These bourbons hail from Indiana (MGP), Tennessee (likely Cascade Fox Hollow, which is George Dickel), and Kentucky (a mystery). Is this one of Barrell's best bourbons? Let's find out!

Review #2 for Wristmas & The W's: Barrell Vantage

  • - Released: Fall 2022, not limited in availability.

  • - Proof: 114.44.

  • - Age: NAS (non-age statement).

  • - Color: Burnt Sienna.

  • - Mashbill: Unknown. Distilled in Indiana, Tennessee, & Kentucky.

  • - Price: $75-85.

  • - Mizunara, French, and toasted American oak cask finished.

On the nose: you'll discover a delightful array of aromas – caramel, creme brûlée, chocolate, toasted American oak, nutmeg, and French oak spices.

On the palate: Take a sip, and the sweetness unfolds with notes of maple syrup, balanced by tannin drying and rich spices.


On the finish: The finish carries a medley of dark fruits, warming spices, and a hint of pepper. It's a comforting and warming glass, perfect for a fall night by the fire or paired with a spooky film. This sipper gets a solid 5 W's from me. If you have $100 to spare for a bottle to savor on those crisp fall evenings, this is it. Now, it does have a spicy kick, which may not be for everyone, but for me, it's just right. As you can tell, I love spicy. I am a spicy dude. I blame my fiancée – she must have rubbed off on me; she's a redhead, after all!

Watches:

Fresh releases are here, and one timepiece has me genuinely excited. Oris has unveiled a Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph. The Sixty-Five line has always been a personal favorite, with its wide range of dial and bezel options and sizes. The new chronograph sports a comfortable 40mm x 15.4mm size. While 15.4mm might seem thick, automatic chronographs tend to have some heft. The older model was 43mm and 16mm thick, so this 40mm version should wear more elegantly.

The black and white color scheme is a breath of fresh air. Will we see more color editions? Time will tell, as Oris often explores various color combinations. This minimalist approach is a great start. Priced at $4,400 for the bracelet version and $4,200 on a strap, it's a win in my book. For more details, check out the Oris website.

Image courtesy of Oris press release.

Another release that caught my eye over the weekend is Bulova's new Oceanographer GMTs. Dubbed the "Devil Diver" due to its impressive 666ft water resistance, and marked on the dial, this model resurfaced a few years ago in a hefty package. I owned a few variations, and they measured 44mm and 15mm thick. Thanks to the cushion-style case, they wore surprisingly well. Bulova has now incorporated the same DNA, just smaller, into a new Devil Diver, complete with a GMT movement.

The Bulova Oceanographer GMT clocks in at 41mm and 14.6mm thick. It's available in three striking colorways – stainless steel with a blue dial and red/blue bezel (Pepsi style) on a stainless steel bracelet; PVD rose gold with a black dial and brown/black bezel (root beer style) on a matching PVD rose gold bracelet; and my personal favorite, a white luminous dial with a white/black bezel and a gray rubber strap.

What sets these Devil Divers apart is the polished and brushed accents, adding a touch of vintage flair with a modern twist. A hint of bling, just right in my book. I'd certainly consider another Devil Diver, I do miss my blue/orange one, but it was a tad large for my liking. Pricing for the Bulova Oceanographer GMT ranges from $1,295 to $1,395: ($1,350 for the Blue/Red, $1,395 for the Rose Gold PVD, and $1,295 for the Luminous dial). For more info, check out the Bulova website.

Images courtesy of Hodinkee and Bulova press release.

Wheels:

It's a Nissan Z enthusiast's dream – the new Nissan Z. As these beauties start gracing our roads, one model is conspicuously absent – the NISMO.

Now, what's both the best and worst thing about the internet? Leaks! Well, the price of the NISMO model recently leaked online, and it's not for the faint of heart. The new Z NISMO will set you back a hefty $66,085. That's significantly more than the mid-tier trim at $53,305 and a whopping $23,000 above the base model. While the NISMO boasts 420 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque (compared to the base model's 400 and 350, respectively) from its twin-turbo V-6 engine, the price tag is substantial. To make matters more interesting, it's only available with a 9-speed automatic transmission. A bit of a letdown, considering Nissan initially aimed for a manual sports car to rival the Supra. At this price point, unless you're a die-hard Nissan NISMO fan, it might not be worth it. That's a hard pill to swallow. Perhaps the manual Toyota Supra GR or a BMW M2 would be better options. If you absolutely must have a Nissan, consider a used R35 GTR – they're not much pricier than the NISMO Z. Maybe not the best advice, but do check the transmission! I love me some Nissan GTRs! But who doesn’t?


Images courtesy of Nissan.

🎉 Until Next Time...

With the season's change, we wrap up this edition of Wristmas & The W's. We hope you've enjoyed the latest updates on whisky, watches, and wheels. Remember, the world of spirits, horology, and automobiles is ever-evolving, and we'll be back soon to keep you in the loop. Stay tuned for more thrilling content, and as always, keep exploring and celebrating your passions. Cheers! 🥃⌚🚗

Mark

Chief Enthusiast, Wristmas & The W's