Lap #4.
Well fellow enthusiasts, it’s time to say goodbye. Goodbye to bourbon heritage month that is! And while we are bidding farewell, can we all take a moment of silence for Netflix’s DVD rentals? It officially ends September 30th… You’re probably asking, that’s still around!? Yeah… Memories. Anyways, you want to know something that’s in full swing? Wristmas & The W’s! So sit down or buckle up, pour a dram (as long as you didn’t just buckle up that is!) and let’s dive in. This is a long one, but I think it is all great.
-Mark
Whisky:
Honestly, I'm surprised it has taken me this long to mention the distillery who he shall not be named.. You know the one, right? We have a complicated relationship with them. We secretly covet something from their collection, whether we're willing to admit it outside our therapist's office or not. You're telling them that at home, lying in bed, a brown beast haunts your dreams, lurking outside your window at night, its breath fogging the glass, revealing only the tan horns amidst dark fur…. The bottle you desire should only cost $45, but stores have the audacity to slap a $450 price tag on it. Heck, you'd shell out $300; you just want that bottle for your collection.
To wrap up National Bourbon Heritage Month, Buffalo Trace is releasing something that'll be as elusive as your therapist saying your Buffalo Trace addiction is okay. You, I or your therapist (maybe with all your Buffalo Trace talks) will be able to find or afford it. I mean, with all that Buffalo Trace talk, your therapist should have some insider information, right? My apologies, I digress again. The Prohibition Collection is set to become an annual limited edition release, and the debut release includes five bottles from distilleries of the prohibition era, all under the umbrella of Buffalo Trace and then known as George T. Stagg Distillery. These bottles are Old Stagg, Golden Wedding, Three Feathers, Walnut Hill, and George T. Stagg Spiritus Frumenti.
Old Stagg will be an uncut, unfiltered 132.4 proofer, originally crafted in honor of former owner George T. Stagg, ultimately replacing O.F.C. Bourbon as the distillery's flagship brand. It continues to exist today as Stagg & George T. Stagg, both remarkable barrel-proof whiskies.
Golden Wedding, a 107 proof rye, originates from a defunct distillery with roots dating back to 1869, initially produced by Schenley Distilling at the Joseph S. Finch Distillery in Pennsylvania. During Prohibition, it was split between Schenley's Pennsylvania distillery and the George T. Stagg Distillery. By the late 1940s, the brand had migrated to Schenley's distillery in Canada and eventually became Canadian whiskey before vanishing in the late 20th century.
Three Feathers, a 100-proof bottled-in-bond whiskey, comes from the skilled hands of Buffalo Trace Master Blender Drew Mayville. Its history traces back to at least 1812 when it was first marketed as a luxurious rye before transitioning into a bonded and blended whiskey.
Walnut Hill, a 90-proof high-rye bourbon, was bottled during Prohibition at the George T. Stagg Distillery, overseen by none other than President Albert Blanton (a name to reckon with!).
Finally, there's George T. Stagg Distillery Spiritus Frumenti, a 110-proof wheated bourbon, paying tribute to the medicinal whiskey produced at the George T. Stagg Distillery during Prohibition. "Spiritus Frumenti," Latin for "Spirit of the Grain," served as a generic name for medicinal whiskey during that era.
Now, as much as I'm intrigued by the Golden Wedding and Spiritus Frumenti, the sad truth is, I'll probably never get my hands on them.
While on this Buffalo Trace bandwagon (cue the hard eye roll): London's Covent Garden is about to get a taste of Buffalo Trace with its new whisky flippers headquarters. Sorry, again. It marks the distillery's first home outside the USA, and I must say, it's quite exciting. I have a soft spot for London, and I believe they need more exposure to American whisky. If you think Buffalo Trace products are hard to find here, imagine the struggle in the UK and the rest of the world!
Buffalo Trace Distillery London will extend an invitation to spirit enthusiasts to savor the finest American whiskey while immersing them in the rich history and authenticity of the world's third-oldest distillery and the oldest continually operating distillery in the United States. Guests will embark on a sensory journey, bringing a slice of Kentucky, Buffalo Trace Distillery's home, to London, culminating in an exclusive tasting experience at one of two inspiring bars.
Visitors to Buffalo Trace Distillery London can choose between two tasting experiences. The first, "Taste of the Trace," features a guided tasting of three outstanding expressions from Buffalo Trace Distillery's core product lineup: Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Sazerac Rye, Bourbon Cream, and the option of a Buffalo and Ginger Ale cocktail sample. The second, "Tradition & Change: Crafting the Most Awarded American Whiskey," offers a selection of Buffalo Trace Distillery's premium expressions, including White Dog Mash #1, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Eagle Rare 10-Year-Old, E.H. Taylor Small Batch, and a small pour of a Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned. Pricing for tastings varies depending on your selection, with options going up to £29.99.
Count me in for a visit during my next trip to the UK. Speaking of visits, I have to say that visiting the distillery in person was one of the coolest experiences ever.
Now, a word on Buffalo Trace collectors. I'll admit, I get it. You’re easy to make fun of, but I really do love their products. My heart belongs to Wellers, E.H. Taylors, and pretty much anything they create. But what I can't stand is the hype and the astronomical secondary pricing. But hey, that's just the way this hobby is these days. Actually, come to think of it, all the things I write about seem to be this way. I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment and not a fan of keeping my money.
For more info for both stories from Buffalo Trace: Press Release
All Buffalo Trace Images from Press Release
Watches:
Okay, if you're on Instagram and follow any other watch influencer or watch blog, you were bombarded with guerrilla marketing this past weekend. Hamilton launched a massive marketing campaign for their latest release, the Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition. It seemed like everyone, from your college roommate to the person you met at a bar 15 years ago, had one. This generated significant awareness, although some might find this marketing campaign annoying. Still, it's kind of cool to see your entire feed dominated by one watch. Besides, it all fades away within a day or two if you don't engage anyway.
For those unfamiliar with the Hamilton watch brand, you'll recognize their watches when you see them. They're one of the most prominent brands featured in movies. If you've watched a movie, you've probably spotted a Hamilton watch. Two of the most famous instances of Hamilton watches in movies are from "Interstellar" and "Men in Black." In "Interstellar," Murph and her team sport custom Hamilton Khaki watches rigged for Morse code. Matthew McConaughey also wears a Hamilton watch, the Hamilton Pilot Khaki Day Date. In "Men in Black," all agents are equipped with a Hamilton Ventura (fun fact: Elvis Presley also wore a Ventura! Was he... an agent!? I'm All Shook Up!). The best part is that all three of these watches mentioned here are regular releases from Hamilton, available for anyone to purchase. How cool is that?
Being the Elvis (King) of product placements, it's no surprise that Hamilton watches were everywhere you looked over the weekend. So, what's the deal with this new Field Expedition model? First off, it features a new compass bezel. When you're lost in the woods somewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, searching for that alien ship with Agent K, point the hour hand toward the sun, and position the South marker halfway between the 12 o'clock marker and the hour hand. That should roughly point you south. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, use North instead of South. Staying true to their brand, the new Field Expedition comes in two sizes and three dial colors. You can choose between a 37mm or a 41mm size and opt for a black, white, or blue dial. You also have the choice of a leather strap or a bracelet. Under the hood, you'll find their H-10 automatic movement, boasting an impressive 80 hours of power reserve!
Hamilton has always been a great brand for offering choices. They cater to the masses with their diverse sizing, color options, and reasonable pricing, and the Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition is no exception. The pricing is just about right, coming in at $995 for the leather strap version and $1045 for the bracelet. My advice: go for the bracelet and buy a strap from a third-party maker. It's the best watch buying tip you'll ever get. More info over on Hamiltons Website.
Photos from Hamiltons website.
Next up: Seiko is introducing three captivating additions to its Prospex 1965 Divers Modern Reinterpretation series, inspired by American cold-water diving sites. These new releases offer a fresh take on the icy-cool theme.
Michigan Blue Ice Inspired: The SPB419 boasts an enchanting icy-blue gradation dial, reminiscent of the unique Michigan blue ice. This natural phenomenon occurs when ice forms gradually and uniformly, forming large crystals that allow light to penetrate deeply, resulting in a vivid blue hue.
Alaskan Adventure: The SPB421 and SPB423 draw inspiration from Alaska, specifically the glacial water tunnels in the Alaskan landscape. The SPB421 features a dark blue hue with a subtle gradation, capturing the colors found at significant depths. Meanwhile, the SPB423 showcases light gray tones, mirroring the essence of glacial ice with its gradated dial.
Key Features: These divers offer a familiar and comfortable design, measuring 40.5mm in diameter and 13.2mm in thickness, with a lug-to-lug measurement of 47.6mm. They come in stainless steel cases with a super-hard coating and boast a curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface. With a water resistance of 200m, they're ready for aquatic adventures. Powering these watches is the Caliber 6R35 movement, providing an impressive 70 hours of power reserve.
U.S.-Exclusive Releases: These watches, inspired by U.S. locales, are available exclusively in the United States. You can find them at select Seiko retailers for a price of $1,250.
Seiko's Prospex SPB143 has gained widespread acclaim in recent years, earning a special place among divers' timepieces. These new additions complement the collection, offering unique designs while maintaining affordability. The SPB419, SPB421, and SPB423 bring a refreshing twist to Seiko's diver lineup, making them stand out without breaking the bank. More info on Hodinkee.
Image from Hodinkee press release
Wheels:
Those that know me, know I have an obsession with Porsche. I think it’s a right of passage for most gearheads honestly. Hopefully I can pull the trigger on one soon, but time will tell. For now, I will live vicariously through my friends (Looking at you John!). So naturally, let’s take a look at Porsche's new 911 S/T.
The Porsche 911 S/T is a unique addition to the Porsche GT lineup, offering enthusiasts a distinct driving experience that sets it apart from its close relatives, the GT3 and GT3 Touring models. Designed as a road-focused sports car, the S/T takes inspiration from the legendary lightweight 911 R, a manual-only marvel from the previous generation (991.2) of the 911.
While it might have seemed logical to name this new model the "911 R," Porsche chose a different path and adorned it with the "S/T" badge, harking back to a limited-production race car variant of the 911 S from the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Underneath the S/T's skin, you'll find a familiar recipe borrowed from the GT3 and GT3 RS siblings. It comes equipped with a short-throw six-speed manual transmission paired with the GT3 RS's naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine, delivering 518 horsepower at 8500 rpm. The engine remains unaltered, but Porsche has trimmed weight by halving the clutch and flywheel's mass, shedding 23 pounds. However, this modification has resulted in a distinctive rattle from the clutch and engine at low RPMs, requiring drivers to keep the revs up for optimal performance.
To further enhance responsiveness, the S/T features shorter 4.30-to-1 final-drive gearing compared to the GT3's 3.96 ratio. This change translates to faster acceleration, with Porsche claiming a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, slightly quicker than the 502-horsepower manual GT3's official claim. In real-world testing, the S/T might shave off a tenth or two from the 3.3-second 0-60 mph time achieved by the GT3 manual.
Weight reduction is a key focus for the S/T, incorporating elements from the GT3 RS such as carbon-fiber doors and roof, along with unique carbon-fiber front fenders. The Touring's carbon-fiber hood caps the front trunk. Additional weight-saving measures include a thinner windshield, magnesium wheels, carbon-ceramic brakes, a lighter battery, trimmed-down carpets, and a carbon-fiber rear anti-roll bar from the GT3 RS's Weissach package. In total, Porsche claims the S/T is 84 pounds lighter than the lightest 911 GT3 Touring, putting its estimated weight around 3100 pounds.
Porsche engineers initially faced challenges when removing the rear-wheel-steering system, affecting the car's handling. However, they managed to fine-tune the S/T's steering with a slower rack, adjusted electric assist, and a more casually locking mechanical limited-slip differential. The result is an unadulterated steering feel, providing a direct connection to the road's changing grip levels. The S/T maintains high cornering limits, but its ability to normalize 1-g cornering with seamless coordination of chassis and steering actions sets it apart.
When driving the S/T and the GT3 Touring back-to-back, differences in chassis tuning become evident. The S/T offers slightly more compliant dampers, making it a more comfortable choice on rough surfaces. While both cars share the same springs and dampers, the subtle damper tuning differences distinguish the S/T's more forgiving ride quality from the Touring's stiffer setup.
Porsche's meticulous approach even extends to the S/T's retractable spoiler, which features a subtle Gurney flap. This modification allows the spoiler to rise at 74 mph instead of 56 mph, resulting in a less dramatic angle and a more elegant appearance.
As expected from a rare Porsche model, the S/T comes with a premium price tag, starting at $291,650, which is over $100,000 more than the GT3 Touring. While it's undoubtedly a significant investment, the enhancements and unique driving experience it offers make it an appealing choice for Porsche enthusiasts. However, to truly appreciate the S/T, one must experience its pure and unfiltered driving pleasure firsthand. More info can be found here.
Images from Car and Driver
Andddd that's a wrap for this week! I'm still on the “hunt” for my dream Porsche, but hey, we can dream, right?
Got any feedback? Shoot me an email; I'd love to hear from you. Catch you all next week!
Cheers! 🥃⌚🚗
Mark
Chief Enthusiast, Wristmas & The W's