Here at WCL, we are lovers of the finer things in life and we tend to be purists when it comes to high-end spirits and luxury watches. Beluga Noble Vodka is an exceptional premium spirit that hails from the Russian NOVABEV Group—currently produced and bottled in Montenegro so that it can be sold in certain countries—, known for its remarkable quality and remarkably smooth taste as well as its crystallinity—much like the clarity on the sapphire case of the CVSTOS Metropolitan Chronograph Sapphire Rhodium.
Posts tagged #Watchlife
Experience: Thomas Kosmala No. 4 Aprés l'Amour Parfum. Perfect for Verbier's Aprés Ski.
We recently discovered Thomas Kosmala and his captivating perfumes are without a doubt a true sensory journey. Thomas Kosmala is a renowned name in the world of perfumery, celebrated for his exceptional olfactory creations that captivate the senses and evoke emotions. Created and refined in his independent laboratory in the South of France, his perfume collection delivers contemporary scent profiles that are as unique as they are unisex.
Experience: Explaining The Art of Sabrage. The Finest Champagne Ritual.
Whether it’s a special afternoon ritual at one of the St. Regis hotels, Napoleon’s way to celebrate a victory on the battlefield, or simply the coolest way to open a bottle of champagne, that’s exactly what the art of sabrage is about. 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.
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.
Experience: Cartier Panthère de Cartier Backgammon. One of the Most Beautiful Sets Out There.
The Cartier Panthère de Cartier Backgammon set is our latest craving for the lavish lifestyle we enjoy as watch collectors. Living a lavish lifestyle involves indulging in luxury experiences and possessions like this top-of-the-line set that we consider essential. Enjoying the finest things that money can buy and the constant pursuit of the most extravagant pleasures is a huge part of the watch life.
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: 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: 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.
Experience: Carlen Parfums Aztec Noir. Like the Japanese Culture Rich in Sensorial Stimulation.
We recently discovered Brooklyn-based Carlen Parfums and fell in love with their Aztec Noir fragrance. The name of this perfumier comes from the name Carlen, a German woman’s name which is a variant of Carlene or Carolina and which translates to ‘free man.’ With reverence to this androgynous muse, Carlen Parfums seeks to dismantle bonds of gender, place, and time and develop unique fragrances that can be worn by anyone regardless of gender orientation.
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.
Experience: Rossignol 1907 Chamonix Alpine Boots. Bleu, Blanc, et Rouge Like a Platinum Offshore.
In preparation for winter, nothing beats a good pair of Rossignol 1907 Chamonix Alpine Boots to keep you warm and dry and looking like a million bucks as if you just came down from the slopes in Chamonix, Gstaad, or St. Moritz. Rossignol is a brand that was born in the French Alps in 1907 and is truly an icon of the past and a symbol of the present. If you know, you know, and if you know anything about skiing, Après-ski, and the proper gear for it, these boots are a must-have this season.
Experience: Blanton's Original Single Barrel Bourbon. The Interesting History Behind the Stoppers.
We discovered Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon more than 13 years ago at The Benjamin Steakhouse in New York City. Perfectly suited for those cooler nights during the fall, the warm notes of this bourbon paired with the warm tones of a Rolex Sky-Dweller Everose with slate dial ref. 326935 makes a more than a perfect combo. While the law does not require bourbon to be made in Kentucky, the Bluegrass state produces approximately 95% of the world’s supply.
Experience: Dubai with a Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual
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: Macán Rothschild Vega Sicilia. An Understated Wine Like a Platinum Offshore.
Much like watches, some amazing wines are not necessarily those that everyone knows and only those that really know will recognize certain names, just like they’ll point out watch references or the metal composition of certain particular timepieces. When it comes to the AP Royal Oak Offshore 44 in platinum, only if you really know, you’ll be able to call out its platinum nature and the same happens with the Macán wine by Vega Sicilia.
Experience: Cinco Jotas Iberico Ham & Alion. The Patek of Jamones and the Small Child from Vega Sicilia.
Just like Patek Philippe is at the pinnacle of watchmaking, the same goes for Iberico hams and Cinco Jotas —the five Js. With Joselito ham only a small notch above Cinco Jotas, when it comes to the pinnacle of Iberico hams from Spain, Cinco Jotas is the authority. Faithful to its origins, Cinco Jotas makes one of the finest acorn-fed hams in Spain and the company has maintained the purity of the 'Pata Negra' —black hoof— Iberian pigs they use, flawlessly.
Experience: Shanghai Tang Jade Dragon. Awakening Olfactory Travel Memories Alongside a Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time.
Wearing a Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time calls for exploration and world discoveries. We still remember like if it was yesterday the day we walked into the Shanghai Tang boutique in Kowloon during a hot and humid day in Hong Kong. If you’ve ever been to Hong Kong, the name Shanghai Tang is no stranger to you. Inspired by the Chinese cultural icons of the 1930s Bund, a glamorous time when Hong Kong was famous for its architecture, fashion, music and commercial activities, Shanghai Tang first opened in the iconic Pedder Building in Hong Kong as a unique concept store for customers looking for authentic Chinese products and bespoke tailoring.
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: Goyard Goyardine Ambassade Briefcase. The Color of Money is Green and so is a Rolex Submariner Hulk.
While there are many wonderful European maroquiniers or leather Maisons from France to choose from, Maison Goyard along with Fauré Le Page are those that typically stand out as Louis Vuitton is extremely more mainstream. Goyard originally started as the House of Martin in 1792 by Pierre-Fraçois Martin specialized in box-making, trunk-making, and packing. Originally the brand was known as a specialist in box-making, trunk-making, and packing. Pierre-Fraçois Martin was the guardian of a young woman named Pauline whom he arranged to marry his employee, Louis-Henry Morel. As her dowry for her wedding, Pierre-Fraçois Martin gave his business to Morel. In 1834, the House of Martin moved its store from 4, rue Neuve des Capucines to 347, rue Saint-Honoré.
