Distiller's Select

For a long time, I was just a Scotch man during the winter months (gin, in the summer, of course).

Don't remember exactly when, but maybe 4 years back, I started to get into Bourbon. Good ole, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. First it was Makers. Then Knob Creek. And then last year, by chance, I picked up a bottle of Woodford Reserve.

The label says they've been making whiskey on the site of the Woodford Reserve since 1812. Versailles, KY. The stuff is so damn good. Medium smokey flavor, but with a lingering sweetness. Not harsh at all. I've let some non-Bourbon drinkers taste it and they've all asked for seconds.

Words do it no good.

1951

I'm guessing this pic is 1951, by the age of my mother.

Here she is with my grandfather, as he rocks those dope frames.

Long Live Lem'

Last year, I became a bit Moscot obsessed. As usual, I couldn't make up my mind between a few pairs, so I bought a brown and a black pair.

I bought the Lemtosh frames in black. I went back the next week looking to exchange them for the Tortoise, but alas, it was sold out.

I checked back during the year but these beauties were always sold out. I finally was able to get pair this week. I took the lenses outta my black frames and put them in these tortoise. (My black frames are for sale in case anyone is looking...)

Just last weekend I was checking out some pix of my grandfather from back in the 50s. He was rocking these exact frames. And damn they looked good on him.

These are the real deal. Get into a pair.

Mickey's 501s - Continued

Here's a quick shot of the new 501s

Mickey's 501s

I've been a lover of Levi's since I was 14. Been through all the phases of 501s, 505s, 514s, Capital E, silver tabs, antiqued, acid washed, LVCs, vintage flea market pairs, etc.

I'm always on the lookout for that perfect pair. NYC. NJ. Upstate. Montreal. Italy. Greece. London. I've scoured everywhere. It's like chasing the holy Grail, as any Levi's lover will attest.

During a non-chalant walk into my local J Crew last weekend I spied some new Levi's on the front table in Men's. Endorphin rush.

The details: A 13oz dark indigo blue, with little fading and distressting....They felt hefty on first touch. I was in the dressing room within 2 minutes. Non selvage, but that's cool. The Levi's back pocket tag reminded me of my 501s from the 80s.

There were 2 selvage pairs offered, but one was too artificially distressed for my liking, and one was more black than blue, which I didn't dig.

I wasn't in the Liquor Store or 484 Bway so it looks like many regular retail J Crew shops will be carrying these. Best of all, these Levi's actually come in 30 and 32 length, unlike many of the higher end Levi's that only seem to come in 34" inseams these days.

Did I really need another pair of jeans? Of course not. But couple 501s and J Crew (the inside of the pocket bag actually says made exclusively for J Crew) and I can't say no. I just can't.

Guess I'll have to rotate these with my APCs (now almost a month and a half old) and my Nudies (almost 3 weeks old now).

Selvedge Travels

Well, I got my Nudie Avg Joe Dry Heavy on Monday. Thanks Tobi! They pretty much look exactly like in the pic below. The blue is very deep and dark. What a great color. Wasn't sure how they would fit but the waist is TTS. With a little stretching, these will be perfect.

The denim is 14oz so its got some nice weight to it. From the feel of it these will break in nicely, as long as I can get some good wear time.

My APC's are starting to show some indigo loss in the wallet area and in some creases. I've been trying to wear these after work for a few hours every day just to show them some lovin.

I went over to Steven Alan in tribeca to try on the Simon Miller slim/straight Los Angeles cut denim. These have gotten a lot of good press lately. I ended up passing on them, mainly cuz the denim felt a bit thin and I didnt LOVE the fit. Pockets seemed weird in the back.

The LVC 1967 505s have caught my eye on the J Crew website.

There is no 34, but I've read that the cut is very slim, so maybe the 36 would work. I may give them a shot. I'd have to order them cuz the Liquor Store only had 1 pair, in a 31. Been meaning to get back into LVC ever since shrunk my 1947 LVC 501s waaaaaaaaaaay too much after mistakingly sending them thru a wash/dryer cycle.

And finally, the 3Sixteen Straight Leg Indigo babies seem like another pair of quality, real-deal blues. I know I'm late to the party on this one, but better late than never. Only problem is I can't find these suckers in my size! SelfEdge says not till March...

Watch Porn

She's beautiful. She's thin. She ain't complicated. She aint even that expensive. I must have her. Yes, I have 2 other Hamiltons. But this one...she really needs me.

Hello 2010

Oh yes, it's been a while. Christmas, New Years, gone. And so seem to be my bank accounts.

I did some heavy spending since my last post about my APC's. Shortly after wearing them (and loving them) for some time I got the itch to try a pair of Nudies. Damn, these were hard to find. FINALLY scored the Average Joe in heavy dry.

Should be here in a few days. Looking forward to breaking these in. Hope the sizing works.

The APC's, bought in a size 33, have already stretched out to a 34.5/35 I'm guessing. I love the fit of these. The name New Standard says volumes.

Now, onto the feet. I have terribly flat feet. They ache like crazy sometimes during the day and when I first get up in the morning. Of course, I use this to my advantage and buy new shoes as often as possible.

This time I decided it was finally time to step up the quality. The Alden long wings I really want are just too much (over 5 bills!) so I went for what seems to be a good alternative: the Florsheim Imperial Kenmoor long wing. Just over 2 bills. Damn solid shoe. Bought two colors: cognac and wine. Gonna take some breaking in but its gonna be worth it.



Other good news: J Crew will be rolling out their S/S 2010 in the coming weeks and I usually taper off my J Crew purchases right about now. I'm not a big spring/summer buyer. No interest in ugly shorts or short sleeve button downs. This is great timing, as my J Crew card needs some rest.

So that's what I've gained recently. Along with 3 lbs over the holidays.

What I lost: my favorite gloves, my sennheiser earphones, and something else that I was really pizzed off about, but now escapes me. Guess that means I'm losing my mind now too.

All the best to you in 2010.

JB