Infused with twelve botanicals like the twelve months of the year, the Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin is as well balanced as the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar. Distilled at the edge of a lake in a shed in a small Irish town called Drumshanbo —like the Vacheron Constantin manufacture founded at the edge of a lake—, the ordinary is made extraordinary.
Posts filed under Watchlife
Experience: Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora with an AP Royal Oak Offshore Forged Carbon Diver
For those of you craving an island hideaway, we invite you to experience this wonderful trip to the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora with us. Adventure, luxury, and the warmth of the Polynesian people await you. Getting to Tahiti requires an 8-hour flight from LAX via Air Tahiti Nui in an exceptionally clean and tidy aircraft with turquoise blue accents, reminiscent of the waters that you will soon encounter and that await you. With world-class service in both Business and Economy class, the journey across the Pacific is a peaceful and easy one.
Experience: Parisian Affair at The Louvre with Vacheron Constantin. The Most Epic Watch Experience Ever.
We’ve taken a lot of trips with watch brands and have experienced some incredible watch experiences that money can’t buy, but nothing will ever compare to the few days we spent in Paris with Vacheron Constantin for the release of the new Metiérs d’Art Tribute to Great Civilizations set of watches. As we embarked on the trip of a lifetime, we were not even sure what Vacheron Constantin had in store for us.
Experience: The House of Creed Viking. As Bold and Manly as an AP Royal Oak Offshore Diver on the Wrist.
One of our favorite fragrances from The House of Creed since the launch of Aventus in 2010 is the Viking. For those of you not familiar with Creed, The House of Creed is the oldest perfumer in the world, established in London in 1760 by James Henry Creed. A supplier to the English Court with custom tailored clothing, scented leather gloves and commissioned fragrances, The House of Creed was a favorite to the Royal Court of England.
Experience: Montecristo Línea 1935 Dumas. A Bold and Beautiful Cigar Like a Panerai Radiomir 1940 PAM 662.
The year 1935 marks a big milestone for Panerai as they landed their first contract to supply the Italian Navy with professional diving instruments, but it also does for the world of cigars, as the iconic Montecristo Cuban cigar brand was founded that year. The Montecristo Línea 1935 celebrates the founding of Montecristo and it was released last year as a ‘totally by hand long filler’ line of cigars. The Línea 1935 cigars are available in three different vitolas and packaged in a very distinct presentation box unlike other Habanos. The beautiful box is dark brown matte Carmelite lacquer finished and uniquely shaped with beveled edges and the traditional fleur-de-lis that has distinguished the Montecristo brand since its founding.
Experience: Three of the Top Habanos, Hennessy X.O and a Rolex GMT Master II Everose Gold ref. 126715CHNR 'Rootbeer' to Light Them Up
Cuban cigars come in all shapes and forms and today there are 27 different brands. While all Habanos are Cuban, by no means all Cuban cigars are Habanos. The title ‘Habano’ is the Protected Denomination of Origin —Denominación de Origen Protegida D.O.P—, reserved for a selection of the most outstanding brands whose cigars are manufactured to highest standards from tobaccos grown only in particular areas of Cuba.
Experience: Leopine Gentalovers Socks. Keeping the Gap Between Your Pants and Shoes in Style.
While here at WCL we’ve never been the biggest fans of socks with patterns or designs, we do have to give our friends at Leopine a round of applause for releasing yet another splendid watch-centric collection of socks. As we’ve talked about it before, Leopine is a relatively new brand that started selling swimwear and pocket squares a couple of years ago.
Experience: Diptyque Eau Rihla. Just like a Journey in Watch Collecting.
Olfactory memories are the longest lasting memories and smelling good is always a must. When you collect watches for the right reasons and not for bragging rights, you are the kind of man that also likes to indulge in life’s luxuries in a non-pretentious way. An exquisite fragrance very much like an understated iconic watch brings an air of distinction that is unrivaled and that is gently appreciated by those in the know.
Experience: Hendrick's Orbium Limited Edition. Its Bottle Matches the Dial on the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time.
Hendrick’s Gin is produced by the family-owned William Grant & Sons distillery in Scottland and their gin is distilled at the Girvan distillery that mainly focuses on distilling whiskey. What makes Hendrick’s so unique is their blend of nine botanicals that include Bulgarian roses and specially selected cucumbers. While the rest of their botanicals —orange peel, yarrow, juniper berries, angelica root, and orris root amongst others—…
Experience: WOLF Memento Mori Triple Watch Roll. Protecting People's Legacies.
We’ve been using watch rolls and cigar cases from WOLF for several years but we have not featured them here at WCL. However, after getting their newest Memento Mori triple watch roll we knew it was time to give credit where credit is due and tell you guys/gals more about them.
Experience: Creyente Mezcal Joven. Perfectly Paired with a Rolex Yacht-Master 40 ref. 126622.
As we’ve discussed before, Mezcal is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from any type of agave and the word comes from the Nahuatl language mexcalli, which means ‘oven-cooked agave’. While all tequilas are considered mezcals, not all mezcals can be tequilas. Even though tequila and mezcal are both agave-based distilled spirits, tequila can only be made out of blue agave —agave tequilana— and that is one of the main differences between these two Mexican spirits, not to mention the prominent smoky flavor of mezcal on the palate.
Experience: Burj Al Arab Jumeirah in Dubai. The Most Luxurious Hotel in the World.
Not to be mistaken with the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is not only Dubai’s most iconic building but also the most luxurious hotel in the world. Located steps away from the Jumeriah Public Beach and the Souk Madinat, the iconic white sail-shaped building hides a level of luxury accommodations and decor splendor within its walls that has no parallel. The Burj Al Arab is the only hotel in the world with seven stars and the fifth tallest hotel in the world sitting on a man-made island and connected to the Jumeriah beach by a private curving bridge. Once you embark on your journey via Emirates Business or First Class, make sure you order a negroni on your way to Dubai. Yes, the only airline we’ve flown where an actual proper negroni is served.
Experience: Ardbeg Ten Years Old. Scottish Tweed, a JLC Reverso Tribute Small Seconds Green and one of the Best Single Malt Whiskies.
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 Ardberg Ten 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 whiskys in the world.
Experience: A Watch Collector that Loves Formula One Racing as Much as He Loves Watches
Every time we travel, we end up meeting new watch collectors that decide to open the doors of their homes to us and share their world and passion for watches and other indulgences. Some of them are OK with us documenting these visits and sharing them with our readers, and others are way too private to even allow us take any pictures of what they are sharing with us.
Experience: Rimowa Aluminum Watch Case. Great Looking but Quite Heavy and Cumbersome.
When the Rimowa limited edition watch case was released, we were all over it and we really liked it. Finally, we now get to bring you or impressions on one of the coolest looking three-watch cases out there that is now sold out. Rimowa was launched in Germany in 1898 with the production of wooden trunks at a manufacture in Cologne. In 1937, the very first aluminum trunk was created by the founder's son, Richard Morszeck —the abbreviation of his name gives Rimowa their name. In 1950 Inspired by the golden age of aviation, they added their iconic and distinctive grooves to their aluminum suitcases and in 2000 they released their line of polycarbonate luggage which was groundbreaking at the time.
Experience: BMW 850Ci 'The Shark'. With a Very Short Production Run, Just like that of the Platinum Offshore 44.
If you were born in the 1970s or the 80s, the BMW 850Ci is no stranger to you. Nicknamed ‘The Shark’ because of its nose resembling that of the marine animal, the BMW 850 was presented in 1989 at the Frankfurt Auto Show and became an instant hit when it hit the market in 1990. Back then even before car or watch pricing bubbles were a thing, bimmer enthusiasts were already paying above retail for this 90s iconic automobile.
Experience: Santiago de Cuba Extra Añejo 12 Years Rum. As Scarce as a Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5980R.
Just as scarce as a Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5980R is one of Cuba’s most legendary rums. Less popular outside Cuba than the well-known Havana Club —produced by the same state company Cubaron—, Ron Santiago de Cuba takes its name from its birthplace, Santiago de Cuba a.k.a the cradle of Cuban light rum. Established in 1862 and produced by Cubaron since 1960 when the revolutionary government nationalized the Bacardí and Matusalén factories.
Experience: Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt Whisky. Honoring the Father of Japanese Whiskymaking.
Tracing the footsteps of its founder, the father of Japanese whisky Masataka Taketsuru, the Japanese Nikka Whisky distillery brings the Taketsuru Pure Malt Whisky as a homage to this great visionary. In 1918, Taketsuru went by himself to Scotland to unveil the secret of whisky making, becoming the first Japanese ever to master this complex art. After enrolling at the University of Glasgow and taking chemistry courses, he apprenticed at three Scotch distilleries. Upon returning to Japan, Kotobukiya Limited —what is today Suntory Distilleries— hired him to build the Yamazaki distillery as he was the only Japanese who knew how to produce whisky at the time.
Experience: The Backgammon & Watches Society. By Invitation Only.
Despite the current global pandemic, is almost impossible to not get together with other like-minded individuals or hobbyists in a safe manner. While there are clubs for almost every hobby out there, there are only a handful of clubs where watch enthusiasts seem to be quite active. Clubs like Cars & Coffee and the PCA —Porsche Club of America— bring together car guys that happen to also be watch guys and when it comes to watch-centric clubs we can only think of the Red Bar Group or a small group of collectors that used to hang out in South Florida.
Experience: Deep Dive into Havana Club Profundo with a Rolex Submariner ref. 116610LN
Here at WCL, we’ve talked about high-end spirits since day one and it is no surprise to see us talking about Cuban rums, one of our favorite spirits and one that pays homage to the Cuban heritage of our founder and Editor-in-Chief. Since ‘Profundo’ means deep in Spanish, we couldn’t think of anything better than a Rolex Submariner ref. 116610LN to deep dive into one of the rarest rums we’ve been able to source from Cuban brand Havana Club —the authority of rums and the real deal.
