Posts filed under Watchlife

Experience: Edmundo Dantes 'Exclusivo Mexico'. As Rare as Finding a NOS 5711/1R.

Named after ‘Edmond Dantés’ the main character in the novel ‘Le Comte de Monte-Cristo’ —The Count of Montecristo— by Alexandre Dumas, the Edmundo Dantes El Conde Belicoso —the belligerent Count— cigar is the last regional edition exclusive to Mexico that was released by Habanos S.A. at the end of 2016.

Experience: Ardbeg 10 Years Old. Scottish Tweed, a JLC Reverso Tribute, and a Fabulous Single Malt.

Scotland gives the world some of the most beautiful landscapes and two things they excel at, their tweed and their scotch. Honoring the green luscious landscapes of Scotland and the deep green bottle of Ardbeg 10 Years, we decided to pair this Islay Single Malt with the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Small Seconds Green. Ardbeg Ten Years Old was launched in 2000 as an extraordinary balance of peaty notes and floral sweetness that makes it one of the best single malt whiskies in the world.

Experience: Tapis Rouge Cocktail. Inspired by the Red Tip on the Seconds Hand of the Piaget Polo Date.

Every once in a while we talk about legendary cocktails but this time, we have created one inspired by the red tip on the seconds hand on the Piaget Polo Date with a black dial. The perfect harmony of flavors in a glass with a tantalizing blend that will captivate your taste buds. This sophisticated libation begins with the bittersweet notes of Aperol, lending a refreshing citrusy character to the drink. The addition of Cynar, a delightful artichoke-based liqueur, adds a subtle herbal complexity, teasing the palate with its unique blend of botanicals.

From the Editor: Explaining Quiet Luxury and Why the Loro Piana Open Walk is Geneva's Watch Collectors' Grail Shoe.

In a world filled with ostentatious displays and clamorous extravagance, there exists a rare breed of luxury that whispers its elegance rather than boasting it aloud, and that we call ‘quiet luxury’. Walking through the streets of Geneva in Switzerland, one can attest to the finest examples of it. It is the realm of quiet luxury, where refinement and sophistication are found in the subtlest of details. Quiet luxury is marked by an understated charm, a sense of effortless grace that captivates without overwhelming. It is a sanctuary from the raucousness of trends and the constant need for attention.

Experience: Alebrijes, Tonas, and Nahuales. Oaxacan Magical Sculptures Alongside an MB&F LM 101 Wrist Sculpture.

Alebrijes, Tonas, and Nahuales are vibrant and captivating sculptures of Mexican folk art. The story begins with a visionary artist named Pedro Linares López. Born in Mexico City in 1906, Pedro grew up in the vibrant neighborhood of La Merced, known for its bustling markets and traditional art scene. From a young age, Pedro displayed a talent for sculptures and papier-mâché works of art, which he learned from his family, who were artisans themselves.

Experience: Licor Cuarenta y Tres 43 'Carajillo'. As Tasteful as a Girard-Perregaux Laureato Skeleton.

If you follow WCL’s journey on the gram or you are from Mexico or Spain, the Carajillo —pronounced kaa·ra·hee·yo— is no stranger to you. The Carajillo is one of the most popular after-dinner drinks in Mexico and has quickly gained popularity throughout the U.S. Licor 43 is a Spanish liqueur that originated in Cartagena, Spain in 1946 when Diego Zamora along with his brother Angel, his sister Josefina and brother-in-law Emilio Restoy created the famed liquor off of local ingredients —fruits and herbs— and by following a recipe dating back to the year 300 AC.

Experience: Hendrick's Flora Adora Edition and a Hublot Big Bang

Flora Adora is the latest release within the Cabinet of Curiosities line from Hendrick’s Gin. Hendrick’s Gin is produced by the family-owned William Grant & Sons distillery in Scotland and their gin is distilled at the Girvan distillery which mainly focuses on distilling whiskey. Here at WCL, we’ve talked about other limited editions from Hendrick’s Cabinet of Curiosities including Orbium, Lunar, and Midsummer Solstice.

Experience: The House of Creed Aventus Cologne. Shades of Grey to Break the Rules.

The latest and greatest from The House of Creed since the launch of Viking in 2017 is the Aventus Cologne. Despite this new fragrance could be considered by many purists as sacrilege, Creed went ahead and broke the rules just like Audemars Piguet did with the Royal Oak and launched this incredible scent after the huge success of Viking almost two years later. With its bottle dressed in grey, many would wonder why grey? Well, simply because the original Aventus for men is black and the Aventus for women is white.

Experience: KI NO BI Kyoto Dry Gin. Giving Gin a Twist Like the Overseas Chrono Gives a Panda a Twist.

The Kyoto Distillery was established in 2014 and KI NO BI Kyoto Dry Gin was born. This gin is the very first Dry Gin created in Japan and is fully inspired by Japanese culture while blended and bottled in Kyōto —the former capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years. Using water from Fushimi, where the Fushimi Inari shrine is located with its thousand orange torii gates in the south of Kyoto, the water from Fushimi is renowned for its purity, softness, and flavor, giving this gin a unique flavor.

Posted on February 20, 2023 and filed under Watchlife, Food Wine & Cigars, Gourmand.

Experience: Smythson Oxblood Camouflage Burlington Cardholder & Passport Holder. One of the Sexiest Camo Patterns on Leather.

A couple of years ago camouflage patterns became a thing, and most of the high-end leather goods manufacturers decided to jump on the bandwagon, some sooner rather than later. While it took Smythson of Bond Street a little longer than most, the Oxblood Camouflage Burlington Cardholder and Passport Holder are must have if you like camo leather goods. Since we’ve talked about Smythson a few times here at WCL, we don’t need to tell you much about their history but instead, focus on the cardholder and passport holder we have here.

Experience: Happy New Year 2023. Our Best Wishes in Style with the Art of Sabrage.

Wishing all of you the best wishes for the year 2023 that is about to start. We couldn’t be more grateful for your readership and loyalty. Because of you, our readers, we strive to do better every day. How about a little feature on Sabrage to welcome the new year in style. The act of Sabrage refers to the act of opening a bottle of champagne by sliding a saber over its neck. Now, while many believe that the saber slices the neck of the bottle or pushes the cork out, what in reality happens is that the slight impact of the saber on the seam of the bottle creates a chain reaction that makes the bottle release its pressure by breaking its top cork included.

From the Editor: My 24 Favorite Watches for 24 Days of Christmas. Happy Holidays!

Since most people outside of the U.S. in Europe, Asia and Latin America celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve —and I happen to do the same—, today I have decided to put together a list with my 24 watches from this year to celebrate the 24 days of Christmas. These 24 favorite watches with a little bit of everything from Audemars Piguet to Vacheron Constantin and everything in between are my way of thanking you for your readership and wishing you and your loved ones the happiest of holidays.

Posted on December 23, 2022 and filed under Watchlife, From the Editor.

Experience: Three Exceptional Aladino Robustos by JRE Tobacco. Honduran Cigars with Cuban DNA.

JRE Tobacco is a family-owned company, founded by Julio R. Eiroa and his son Justo M. Eiroa. A fully integrated operation from crop to shop. The history of the Eiroa family goes back to the time when Julio Eiroa, a Cuban exile from Pinar del Rio, moved to Honduras to flourish the Cuban cigar-making tradition at the JRE Tobacco Farm specialized in handmade Cuban seed cigars and to become the premier ‘Corojo’ grower in Honduras.

Experience: Hibiki 17 Years Old Kacho Fugetsu Limited Edition Japanese Whisky. Unique, Harmonious and Ultra Rare.

Hibiki was introduced in 1989 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Suntory Distillery and since then, this whisky has been the paragon of the Art of Japanese Whisky. Not only it is one of Japan’s most highly awarded blended whiskies, but it is also among the most prestigious whiskies in the world. Hibiki 17 years old was first introduced in 2015 as a harmonious blend blessed with the riches of Japanese nature and craftsmanship.

Experience: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso 1931 Café New York. An Incredible Evening and a Decadent Morning in the City that Never Sleeps.

Last Tuesday, November 1, 2022, we were in New York City for the opening of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso 1931 Café. This experiential concept has just opened for a limited time in different locations around the world from New York to Paris, to Tokyo. The space located on Madison Avenue and the corner of 64th street brings its visitors into an exquisite Art Deco setting for a decadent journey through incredible coffees made to order and tailor-made pastries created by French chef Nina Métayer.

Experience: Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Sardinian Citrus. Perfectly Paired with a Bulgari Diagono for the Autumn.

We’ve talked about Drumshanbo before but this time we are bringing you the latest Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Infused with Sardinian citrus for the last days of summer. Infused with twelve botanicals like the twelve months of the year, the Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin is a well balanced gin unlike any other. Distilled at the edge of a lake in a shed in a small Irish town called Drumshanbo, the ordinary is made extraordinary.

From the Archives: Because Every Watch Has a Story. 'Dad's Missing Watch' by Matt Jackson.

Today, we start a new installment called 'Watch Stories', because every vintage watch, passed down family heirloom or preowned watch comes with a little bit of history. Unlike the rest of our content, these stories are shared and written by the actual watch collectors owning these watches. For these new section, our involvement will be limited to photographing the watches in their full glory and to editing, proofreading and style correcting the write-ups.

Experience: Burj Al Arab Jumeirah in Dubai. When a Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Joined the Trip.

In proper WCL style, a trip to Dubai is not complete unless you’ve stayed at what is referred to as the most luxurious hotel in the world. The Burj Al Arab Jumeirah —not to be mistaken with the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world— is not only one of Dubai’s most photographed buildings but also an iconic white sail-shaped building that hides a level of luxury accommodations and decor splendor within its walls, that has no parallel.

Experience: Fauré Le Page Back Up 32 Paris Blue Backpack. Perfect Match to a Patek Philippe 5524.

It is no secret that here at WCL we love all things Fauré Le Page. The latest addition to the collection is their new backpack called the Back Up 32 Paris Blue Ecailles Canvas. Available in three different sizes, the 32 is the largest one, this backpack is one of the nicest items we’ve gotten from Fauré Le Page. The backpack usually comes in steel grey —black—, empire green, red ivress, or Paris blue. Measuring 32 cm —12.6 inches— in width at the base by 34 cm —13.8 inches— in height and 11.3 cm —4.3 inches— in depth, the Fauré Le Page Back Up 32 Paris Blue is perfect for daily use or when you are traveling around the world in style.

Experience: AP Royal Oak Offshore Diver in the Cayman Islands. Nothing Beats a Watch in its Element.

A week in the Cayman Islands is always wonderful, specially when you stay at the Ritz-Carlton located in the heart of Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. During our stay we enjoyed lenty of water activities including interacting with stingrays, smoking a handful of Habanos —Montecristo #4— and simply enjoying the good life. Summers spent by the beach in the company of a good timepiece is always something we really appreciate to the fullest.