Lap #8.

Well I am officially on a different services, so hopefully all issues will be solved! I hope everyones doing well! There was a new Brew that dropped last week (It looks awesome BTW!), and Sazerac announced the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) series. The BTAC series always sounds interesting, but honestly I can find a unicorn before I find these at close to retail. I attended a watch making class and got to sit down with some members of the marketing with Jaeger-LeCoultre, which was awesome. And some other news i’ll share at the end of the watch section… Sooooo here we are. Lets dive in! 

                                                                                 -Mark

Whisky:

I’m starting out with one of the best whisky blenders. Period. Fight me! Compass Box is seriously one of the best. Since 2000, John Glaser has been blending this delicious scotch whisky in london. Their core bottlings, such as Orchard House, The Glasgow Blend and the Artist Blend, have always been bottles I recommend to people exploring the world of scotch. While these bottles are some of the best scotches under $55, Compass Box shines at their higher end offerings in my opinion. I have a lot of them, and I cannot stop talking about them. Peat Monster Cask Strength, yes please! Well Compass Box has just unleashed Art & Decadence, a fancy limited-edition blended malt whisky. Inspired by the extravagant 19th Century movements, they sought to recreate whisky from back then that was the grand finale to a meal. They blended it up with some Balmenach whisky as the base, which they aged separately in Madeira, Sauternes, and Marsala wine casks for almost a year. Yum. These casks added juicy fruit and honey notes to the meaty Balmenach sweetness.

Image from Compass Box Website.

They also threw in malt whisky from Linkwood, aged in sherry-seasoned butts, and whisky from Glen Moray, finished in Oloroso sherry-seasoned butts. Plus, a dash of grain whisky from the closed Port Dundas Distillery for extra smoothness. I got to give this a wee sample last week. (Thanks to the Compass Box Rep who had a secret stash for those extra special nerds) The result of all this expert blending? A nose of apples, wood, and wine, with a creamy licorice vibe. The Palete? Dried fruits, vanilla, and a lingering dark chocolate and oak finish. Give me more please. And this was not in a glencairn! I cannot wait to try it in proper glass.

Image from Compass Box Website.

Art & Decadence comes in at 98 proof, which is a bit of a disappointment but it works. You can snag a bottle for around $180ish in the states. There are 9,496 bottles up for grabs worldwide. Cheers to fancy sipping! Seriously. Stop what you’re doing and get any compass box. You will not be disappointed. Theres a reason why I have about 18 compass boxes in my collection. (I did not actually count. I don’t want to know the true number, as then Melissa will since she reads this… Hmm, so maybe I only have three, wink wink.) 

Next up, while not a whisky, they’re one of the coolest liquor releases every year. Any guesses? I’ll give you a hint: It is a beer illegal in 15 states. Get it? Well… Samuel Adams is back with a brew so strong that it actually is outlawed in 15 states! Say hello to Samuel Adams Utopias 2023, the 13th installment in this extraordinary beer line, boasting a whopping 28% ABV. Yeah. It's so potent that it's flirting with Cognac (Can I buy you a drink? Or how about a book, Cognac.) territory and its dark ruby-black hue and absence of bubbles make it look like a vintage port. Jim Koch, the Founder and Brewer of Samuel Adams, is thrilled as always to introduce this exceptional brew. He emphasizes that Utopias is indeed beer, not a spirit, and it continues to astound beer enthusiasts.

This beer's roots trace back to the 1990s when light beers were all the rage. However, Samuel Adams took a different path, crafting richer, darker brews. Utopias made its debut in 2001, following the success of Double Bock and Triple Bock, which were pioneers in the Extreme Beer movement. Thank you Uncle Sam! Ha.

Utopias, now released biennially, is a blend of various batches of the brewery's earlier Extreme Beers, which are aged in various barrels. This year, the Sam Adams brewers have expanded their barrel selection, including American bourbon, Scotch, peated whisky, Ruby Port, Carcavelos from Portugal, and Cognac barrels from France. For the first time, they've added barrels from Pineau des Charentes, a fortified French aperitif wine. It’s French baby.

Images from press release.

The brewing process begins in Cincinnati, then it's aged in Pennsylvania, blended in Boston, and finally bottled in Delaware. Not only is the beer cultured from this travel, it comes in ceramic bottles that resemble copper brew kettles.

When it comes to serving Utopias 2023, a mere two-ounce pour at room temperature in a snifter (you can use a glencairn) is recommended. You can get your hands on this exceptional brew as it started to hit October 30, but be prepared to part with $240 for a 24.5-oz. bottle.

However, be aware that this high-octane brew is off-limits in 15 states due to their laws restricting maximum beer ABV. So, if you live in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, or West Virginia, you might need to sit this one out! Don’t worry, your liver will thank you. But also, who lives in these states anyways?! Okay, i’m kidding, don’t yell at me! But thank you for allowing the other states for getting more… lol

Watches:

Well, JETS fan rejoice. You havee something to look forward too! While you may not see Mr Savior (Aaron Rodgers…) on the field and since he has all this new time on his hands, you can now see him in new watch campaigns. Rodgers (I grew up a BEARS fan, so just typing his name feels unnatural!) is an ambassador for Zenith. This past week they released a new watch for Aaron Rodgers, in JETS/Packers colors.

This sleek sports watch powered by the El Primero 3600, packed into a 41mm by 13.8mm stainless-steel case. It's not your average timepiece – it features a 1/10th of a second chronograph with a central hand that completes a turn in just 10 seconds. There's a 60-minute counter at six o'clock and a 60-second counter at three o'clock.

Images from press release.

But what makes it truly special is the nod to Aaron Rodgers' illustrious career (Go BEARS though!), bridging his former team, the Packers, and his current team, the New York Jets, with a green ceramic bezel and dial, complete with a matching date window. The dial also boasts three grey counters. What really stands out, though, are the Arabic numerals, a first for a Chronomaster Sport, inspired by a famous football player's jersey.

Images from press release.

You can snag one of these limited edition beauties for $12,800, but act fast because there are only 250 pieces available. If you want to score a touchdown, you better sprint to your nearest Zenith boutique or check their online store. Don’t worry, Rodgers can’t run at the moment. Time is ticking!

Images from press release.

Also, speaking of watches, this weekend in LA is the Nodus Intersect event in Long Beach! Who is going? It’s going to be a great time! Let me know so we can catch up!

And speaking of watches and events, guess what? I'll be attending more watch events! Why, you ask? Well, here's the big announcement: I'm now a contributor with A Blog To Watch, one of the leading watch publications out there. So, I'll be covering reviews and events directly on their platform. But don't worry, the fun and witty humor you love will still be right here in this newsletter and on wristmas.com. I might occasionally do some dual coverage, but for the most part, things will stay separate. I'm stoked! Take a look at the blog here. Search my name in the search bar and you'll find my reviews. Only one is up at the moment.

Wheels:

Well Kyle, your RAM 1500 just got electrified, sorta. Prepare for battle, as people will not take this lightly. I’m also reporting on way more EV things then I wanted. But, that’s all the new news these days…

Electric trucks face a big challenge these days – their range suffers, especially when hauling heavy loads. Manufacturers can add more batteries, but that makes the trucks heavier and affects their towing and payload capabilities. The 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger aims to solve this dilemma with a unique approach - it's an electric pickup with an onboard gasoline generator.

This new Ramcharger, part of the overhauled 2025 Ram 1500 lineup, takes the best of both worlds. It features a purely electric powertrain, including a 335-hp front motor and a 380-hp rear motor, for a combined 663 hp and 615 lb-ft of torque. While its 92 kWh battery provides a modest range of 140 to 150 miles, the game-changer is a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 acting as a 130-kW generator. Fueled by gasoline and boasting a 27-gallon tank, it extends the range to a whopping 690 miles, offering excellent flexibility.

Charging-wise, it supports Level 1 and Level 2 AC charging, plus DC fast charges up to 145 kW, outperforming many plug-in hybrids and some electric-only vehicles. And no, the Pentastar doesn't mechanically drive the wheels, which reduces complexity and weight while maintaining multiple power sources. Technically, it's a plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle but with far more electric range than most hybrids.

Despite its advanced tech, the Ramcharger doesn't compromise on its truck capabilities. With four-wheel independent suspension, air springs, and robust specifications including a 2,625-pound max payload and 14,000-pound max towing capacity, it's a serious contender, even in heavy-duty territory.

Moreover, it packs a substantial 7.2 kWh onboard power output, great for powering tools, equipment, or even your home in an emergency. Vehicle-to-vehicle charging is also possible, making it an appealing choice for both truck enthusiasts and the future of electrified vehicles.

Whether you call it a PHEV or a range-extended EV, the Ramcharger is a powerful and versatile truck. It boasts an impressive EV-only range, making it practical for daily use, and its generator ensures you won't have to worry about recharging when heading on a long journey. It could be the smartest EV pickup on the market. Kyle will still be mad though. Just chug your monster, man.

And there you have it, folks! We've explored the world of fine whisky, marveled at an outlawed beer that pushes the limits of ABV, and admired a special timepiece that bridges the gap between football fandom and horology. On the automotive front, we've delved into the electrifying future of trucks, where innovation meets practicality.

As always, thank you for joining us on this delightful journey through the realms of taste, craftsmanship, and technology. Keep sipping, exploring, and discovering the finer things in life. We'll be back with more exciting news and stories in the next edition. Until then, cheers to a life well enjoyed! 🥃🍻⌚🚗💨

                                Cheers!

                                           -Mark Chief Enthusiast