Lap #9.

The past week in the Northeast has been noticeably chillier, firmly marking the arrival of fall. I can't complain too much, though as I sit here in SoCal, writing this week's newsletter. I sadly will be back home in the Northeast by the time you read it. This past weekend featured Intersect by Nodus and Jack Mason in Long Beach, and it was a blast catching up with friends and meeting new people. Honestly, I love these events—they allow me to see watches and engage with enthusiasts from all walks of life. Over the weekend, I also had the opportunity to witness incredible cars in and around Beverly Hills. 911 Turbo S cars were as common as BMWs, and the ones that excited me the most? I saw about a dozen AMG GTR Black Series. What a sight! On Sunday, I even enjoyed a nice dram with friends. I might have inadvertently turned one of them into a big whisky enthusiast—oops. I'm thrilled he loved the Springbank 10, though! This week, the whisky section will be a little lengthy, so the others might be a bit shorter. Anyways, let's dive into this week's lap: Lap 9.

                                                                            -Mark

Whisky

It's time to gear up for the holiday season as Thanksgiving is somehow just around the corner. I'm still unsure which time warp system I'm in, but I'm not a fan of it. This week's newsletter aims to assist you in selecting some fantastic whiskies to complement your Thanksgiving feast, whether it's turkey, tofurkey, stuffing, cranberries, or whatever you fancy. Let's explore some options that I believe will pair perfectly with your Thanksgiving day meals. All the bottles I'm recommending are permanent fixtures in my collection, priced under $65, and should be readily available. Moreover, they are ideal for sipping on a crisp fall night as they provide a warming experience. HUGS.

Firstly, let's talk bourbon. For a robust, full-bodied pour with strong traditional bourbon profiles, Wild Turkey's Rare Breed is an excellent choice. Priced around $50-$60 with a robust 116.8 proof, it's a substantial yet delightful drink. This bourbon offers a complex sensory experience, featuring aromas of caramel, toffee, bright orange zest, and light citrus, with seasoned oak adding depth. The flavor profile is a delightful mix of sweet and spicy, incorporating elements of rye spice, maple sugar, caramel, and leather. Sweet clementines and a hint of tobacco provide depth, with the finish showcasing sweet flavors balancing the spice, along with additional layers of leather, tobacco, orange zest, and toffee, creating a rewarding and lasting impression. I consistently keep this bottle in my collection and don't hesitate to grab it on sale, even if I still have a bottle or two left.

Now, if you're looking for a rye, I've got you covered. In my opinion, one of the best ryes is the Wilderness Trail Rye. Currently available only in bottle-in-bond, single barrels can still be found. Grab a single barrel if you come across one—it's a no-brainer. Keep in mind that the style may vary as they shift to bottle-in-bond (small batch vs. single barrels). Single barrels will have varying proofs, ranging from 105 to 118, while the bottle-in-bond will be at 100 proof. Priced around $50, it's an excellent value. The nose features hints of spearmint, tobacco with syrupy sweetness, and a touch of baking spices. The palate is rich and oily, with a decent amount of sweetness and prominent baking spices. The finish, while not overly long, leaves you wanting more sips. Some bottles may lean towards spiciness, while others may not. I wish they were all spicy, but I do enjoy the spice! Oh, how I wish the single barrel cask strengths were still around. I do snag them when I come across them, though.

And now, let's not forget about Scotch. I've got both an unpeated and peated option for you. Fear not! Enter Bruichladdich—an Isle, but not in the way you might think. This particular gem is unpeated, and it goes by the name Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie. Priced around $50-$60 with 100 proof, it's another whisky that won't break the bank. The Classic Laddie can be a bit challenging to review as its batches vary, but I've compiled a few different reviews to identify some base flavors. The nose is filled with honey, fresh orchard and tropical fruits, a hint of spice providing a nice contrast to the fruitiness. Caramel and vanilla from the ex-bourbon casks carry over to the palate, where spice kicks in, and oak makes an appearance. The finish intertwines lingering caramel, vanilla, and honey with spice, making for a pleasant experience that invites another sip. This was one of the first Scotches I tried, and it remains a regular choice for me.

Now, if you're in the mood for something peated, let's talk about the Peat Monster. Don't let the name intimidate you—it's an extremely well-balanced blended peated whisky from Compass Box. Today, I'll be discussing the regular, non-limited edition bottling. However, the cask strength version is one of my all-time favorite whiskies, though it may be a bit strong for everyone. Compass Box skillfully sources barrels from different distilleries and blends them together. The Peat Monster comprises 64.7% Caol Ila, 35% Laphroaig, and less than 1% Highland Malt Blend. Priced under $65 and boasting a 46% ABV, it's approachable for peat enthusiasts. The nose presents a fruity yet malty character with sweet smoke, featuring notes of bananas, vanilla cream, and a hint of caramel and wax. The palate offers a banana cream pie experience with lingering caramel and smoke. The mouthfeel is slightly waxy, and the finish is a delightful combination of sweet smoke and a touch of wax—long, sweet, and probably the best finish on this list. To me, this is more of an after-dinner dram.

You can't go wrong with any of these selections. Seriously, while there are other whiskies that would complement your Thanksgiving dinner, these are my top choices. Rare Breed pairs well with turkey or tofurkey, Wilderness Trail Rye complements cranberry sides, The Classic Laddie goes fantastic with stuffing, and the Peat Monster is the perfect finish with pies!

Watches

Man, time flies when you're having fun! This past Saturday was Intersect in Long Beach, California. I flew out to check out the brands, meet up with friends, and just to get away from the cold for a couple of days. I have to say, while Windup is an insane show, Intersect is much more manageable. Windup is actually overwhelming, as there are so many people and things to look at. While more and more larger companies have been attending Windup (I do not think they should... Think Casio, Fossil, Citizen), there still is a large number of micros. However, it's so chaotic it is starting to lose its "personal" feeling while trying on watches and talking to people behind the brand. Part of the charm of micros is honestly talking to the team. This is where Intersect shines. It’s manageable to attend and hang. The brands who were in attendance for this one (click the brands to learn more!) Nodus, Jack Mason, Astor+Banks, Bremoir, Horage, Raven, Finch (knives), Bespoke Watch Projects, Dryden, Formex, MKII, Tsao, Vaer, and Loci. Nodus started doing small meetups in/around LA area years ago, and this was just an extension of this. I remember grabbing brews with Wes and Cullen (founders of Nodus) at Dudes Brewing Co, with a briefcase full of Nodus. It was a blast. This event still felt just like that, just larger. I can see this event turning into a mini windup, with people wanting to attend from far away. Wes already sees this potential and is already planning ways to prevent Intersect from turning into everything wrong with Windup. This is great! Let’s dive into some of the highlights, shall we?

I also loved Dryden's new dials on the Pathfinder. The purple? Come on! That’s incredible Jerry! The pricing on these is also insanely great. The original ones came at $450, and I'm not sure of the price yet. But these are awesome. 41mm X 47mm X 11.8mm. Yes, please.

The Nodus Contrail GMT I'm stoked for. Probably will get one. It took me years to get my Contrail Laguana Sand (Thanks, Jason!) and I just love how they were. They’re also reviving the Duality. You’re welcome… The Duality is one of my most worn watches. Melissa loved the Sector Sport Glacial, so when that comes back… Looks like I’ll be getting one lol The Two-tone Sector Sport was also insane in person! Pictures do not do it justice. However, it is long gone and sold out. The stainless steel and bronze, man! It looks great. I won’t show you the Contrail GMT, but here are the Sector Sports.

The new dial on the Essence 39 from Formex for the Atlanta Watch Society… Dude. Mind blown. Formex might have the coolest LE dials. This was a highlight of the show for me. The dial is just insane.

Jack Mason has these Aviators which are awesome! They’re on the larger side; thank you, wrist gods, for blessing me with a 7.5” wrist… It's 42mm X 47.5mm X 12.3mm. While not huge, some people might find they were big. I wish they were no date; the sky blue and white date wheel clash a little too much for me. But I know people love it. My favorite part is the wired-looking lugs. You get the best of wired lugs with the convenience of a spring bar. Changing wired lugs is rough. You should see my Panerai screw… lol

One brand I need to pick up, as I’ve always loved them, is Astor+Banks. I love the Fortitude and Sea Ranger. Probably some of the most comfortable watches. The Fortitude in powder blue and the Sea Ranger with the green dial, sign me up!

While there were a bunch more watches I loved, these were my favorite. I can’t write about every watch; I mean, I could, but we will be here all day! What was your favorite from the brands that showed up? Let me know!

Wheels

Speaking of flying, I still cannot believe it's been almost a year since Ken Block tragically passed away. While many thought his last Electrikhana in Vegas might be the final video we saw of him, apparently, he had a secret film made: Electrikahna 2. And I’m beyond stoked for it. I would get so excited for the 10-15 minutes of gymkhana whenever it was released. I would cozy up on the couch, pour a beer, and just be in awe of the way Block would drive, or Pastrana when he took over. If you’ve never watched these videos, you seriously should. Audi and Hoonigan just released a teaser for Block's final chapter, Electrikhana, and I can't wait. Watch the trailer here and get ready. I think all my readers would love these videos anyway. This will be my car excitement for the year!

There is also a beautiful Porsche 964 RSR I will be diving into next week… Building the story now!

Well, that wraps up this week's edition of Wristmas & The W's! I hope you enjoyed the journey through the whiskey-filled holiday preparations, the exciting watches at Intersect, and the anticipation for Ken Block's Electrikhana 2. If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to reply to this email and let's keep the conversation going. Stay tuned for some exciting Holiday lists coming out the last Wednesday in November – I think you're going to love it! Until then, take care and enjoy the week ahead.

Cheers!

-Mark Chief Enthusiast