Krug Vintage 2002 champagne

Krug Champagne: A Story Of Krugists Earning Five Cases Per Year Every Year For The Rest Of One’s Life And Wine Tasting Like “. . . Angels Have Descended From Heaven”

Anyone who expresses even so much as a fleeting interest in great wine will soon come across Krug, for many the greatest champagne of all. And there are champagne lovers and then there are devotees of Krug: Krugists. Ken Gargett doubts that any other champagne, any wine, has a word to designate their adoring fans. Here he explains why.

“crossbar/cutthroat razor” click on the Philippe Dufour Simplicity

The Schmidt List: Top 5 Funky Clicks – Reprise

The click spring is one of the smaller components of a mechanical watch, but it is of enormous importance. Ever wondered why the crown doesn’t retaliate furiously and unwind every time you crank it? Without the click spring, a wound mainspring would immediately – and explosively – uncoil like a raging viper in a hat box.

Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Twin Beat

Top 5 Wristshots From 2019 SIHH, Plus 5 More (Just Because), And Then . . .

Ian doesn’t usually have time to look at his photos on a screen until well after the SIHH. And as it’s after the fair now, here are his Top 5 wristshots from SIHH 2019. Plus five more that he felt well deserving. And then one more that he just couldn’t let go.

Partagás Lusitania cigars

Partagás Lusitania Cigars: Reliably Top Notch

When it comes to Partagás Lusitania cigars, Ken Gargett stresses that size matters. As does checking the box before buying. One caveat, however: he warns that if you are not prepared to devote two to two and a half hours to the cigar, read no further. This is a very fine cigar – a double corona – to enjoy over time.

Last Drop 1971 Blended Scotch Whisky

Last Drop 1971 Blended Scotch Whisky: Is This The World’s Most Exclusive Whisky?

The idea of Last Drop is to source rare and first-class spirits, usually with considerable age. Some of these products – and in the company’s decade of operations, there have only been 13 releases – are extremely limited and seriously expensive. But is it worth it? Ken Gargett reverently sips a dram and shares the results with us here.

Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2006

Top Five Champagne Stories From 5 Years Of Quill & Pad: Cheers And Happy New Year

For many watch enthusiasts, it is probably not a stretch to say that fine timepieces are often enjoyed with a fine glass of bubbly. And since Quill & Pad acquired an expert writer in this field in 2017 – Ken Gargett from Australia – we can happily recommend some of the best tipples in existence. Here are five very fine champagnes recommended just in time for the new year!

Two watches associated with Walter Lange: unique steel Homage watch (left) and yellow gold A. Lange & Söhne Pour le Mérite Tourbillon

Behind The Lens: GaryG’s Favorite Photographs From 2018

GaryG roughly estimates that he has included around 400 photos in his 2018 articles, in turn culled from thousands of initial shots. He found it both enjoyable and a little difficult to select his favorites for the year, but has managed to squeeze it down to his favorite 24 photos, all first shown on Quill & Pad during 2018.

Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2015

Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2015 Rates 97/100: But How Does It Compare With The 1985 Vintage, One Of The Greatest Wines Of The Last Century?

Tenuta San Guido’s 2015 Sassicaia was a warm vintage but an exceptional one, and that is reflected in the wine. It is considered to have similarities with the sensational vintage conditions of 1985, which Ken Gargett has tasted twice and has rated 100 points standing on its head both times. Sassicaia is one of the most famous of all wines of Italy, and often one of the country’s very best.

Richard Mille RMS05 fountain pen

Five Top Writing Instrument Stories From 5 Years Of Quill & Pad

For many watch enthusiasts, writing instruments form a significant secondary fascination to timepieces. In a lot of cases, these two worlds have intersected as this fun post highlighting many pen stories from Quill & Pad’s initial five years shows.

Porsche 911 992 in blue

Porsche 911 Carrera 4S (992): A Twin-Turbo-Powered Evolution

The Porsche 911 Carrera 4S (992) is the eighth (!) generation of the legendary 911 and it does not disappoint. According to Martin Green, it is more muscular, powerful, faster, and more connected than any Porsche ever dressed in the Carrera S trim before.