Bulletin Board 36

A sub $800 watch winner, style lessons from a rising artist, and building a speed rack/ booze well at home.

WRIST CHECK

Technically speaking, Dennison is not a new watch brand, having been founded in 1874 by a Mainer named Aaron Lufkin Dennison (yes, he had a beard). From there it went on to have a fairly illustrious history as a British-American watchmaker that produced cases for the likes of Jaeger-LeCoultre, Rolex and Omega, not to mention the British military in both World Wars and for Sir Edmund Hillary during his Everest climb.

Long dormant, Dennison’s trademark was renewed in London in 2010, and the firm is now finally producing its own timepieces again. The first offering of Dennison 2.0 is its A.L.D. range (so-named for the original founder’s initials), which was designed by Emmanuel Guiet, best-known as the man behind the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore. In his new role, Guiet’s created a line of clean, 1960s-inspired pieces with natural stone and sunray dials housed in thin stainless steel or gold PVD cases. And the best part? You can acquire them for under $700, which in our modern era of hyper-inflated watch prices and waitlists feels like a breath of fresh air. 

MY UNIFORM

Daniel Falcón is among the most interesting young American artists working today. His mysterious artworks often blend together elements of Western wear and black tie, with Belgian shoes a recurring motif. As such, it should come as little surprise that the Brooklyn-based artist is just as studious about style away from the easel. Below, Falcón responds to our survey and shares his thoughts on vintage finds, pearl snaps, and the case for a “belt with character.” 

What is your standard color palette, and does it change seasonally?
I have previously played around with different palettes and most likely will continue too. However, I generally gravitate towards rich earth tones year round. Not just the common beige and olive, but other colors like sage, lavender, pale yellow…which are truly drawn from some of the places I love to visit most. I like to think I can pick any piece from my wardrobe and make it work with another and these colors make it easy.

Wardrobe basics?

As much as I enjoy getting dressed up, I could live in a white t-shirt and denim. Starting from the top, there's a vintage navy Santa Fe Railway hat I've had for a few years now—it's my savior while running errands and on days I get a bit lazy to comb my hair back. My go-to white tee shirt with a structured collar and a good hand, which I found at Front General in Brooklyn, their own private label made in Japan. I’m a big fan of Levi’s Orange Tab, I have both straight and boot cut. The high rise is ideal since I am usually tucked in. A belt with character, whether it be an interesting buckle, exotic or a combination of both. Lastly, the Belgian shoe for dressing up or down and of course cowboy boots when needed!

Favorites in the following categories…

Trousers: My favorite trousers are a pair of double pleated wool field trousers from the ‘60s. I wear them as much as I can get away with, though they're really more of a three-season piece. If I'm not in those you'll still catch me in pleated chinos. I enjoy the mobility and the elegance of a pleated trouser.

Knitwear: I don’t usually wear many sweaters, as I get hot easily. I prefer wearing layers—usually starting with a henley, then an over-shirt, and I’ll go on from there if needed. Though I do have this one RRL cotton-linen mock neck that I love. It's got this perfect slouchy fit and breathes really well.

Footwear: I am usually running around in the Mr. Casual, however, last year I picked the Paraboot Clusaz—essentially the low top version of the Avoriaz. I already had trekking boots for backpacking, etc., so it felt silly getting another boot in a similar style. The Clusaz quickly became a staple which I pair with suit or denim alike.

Neckwear: I do find the variety of patterns and materials in neckwear quite fascinating and I will wear a novelty tie from time to time. However, I tend to gravitate towards my black Purple Label silk knit tie for most occasions. The black gives formality but the silhouette and texture make it apt for practically any ensemble.

Outerwear: While living in Boston, I stumbled upon this incredible place called Bobby from Boston; walking in there was like stepping into a time capsule. They had pieces going back to the ‘30s. Bobby Garnett, the owner, who sadly isn't with us anymore—was this legendary clothier. That's where I found my favorite piece of outerwear, an amber blanket-lined wax jacket. I wear it with everything from suits to just running errands. It’s already been re-waxed a few times and only gets better with age.

What's your travel kit?: There are a few items that have become staples for me, as over the years they have proven to be practical on every trip. I definitely pack a vest of some kind—the extra pockets are a lifesaver when you're exploring. And a pearl snap shirt; it's like an elevated button-down that can go from casual to dinner-ready by just throwing a sports coat on top. Perfect for those trips where you need to be ready for anything. Lastly, I can't leave out a sketchbook of some kind which is great for on the go doodling and note taking.

HAPPY HOUR

Most every bar features a backbar, where covetable single malts stand back-to-back and the priciest tequilas wait for the right expense account to come along. But the real action occurs in the “speed rack,” the assortment of out-of-sight bottles the bartender reaches for to mix your Manhattan or Negroni (also called the well.) Depending on the bar in question, these could be bottom to mid-shelf spirits, but they’re never going to be the top-tier stuff best appreciated neat in a snifter glass. 

It’s not a bad idea to replicate the approach at home, so that you can entertain without dipping into your secret stash, and also just take a little of the guesswork out of making yourself a drink, too. Below are the spirits we’ve chosen for the “Wm Brown speed rack”, based on a simple principle: you wouldn’t hesitate to mix any into a cocktail, but you also wouldn’t be embarrassed to serve any neat (or funnel into in a flask).

Rittenhouse Rye: At 100 proof, Rittenhouse has the potency required of a workhorse whiskey for cocktails. Its woody spice won’t get lost in a Manhattan, old-fashioned or boulevardier, but it can still be appreciated on its own, too. And with a price that’s generally under $30, you won’t lose any sleep mixing it into down-and-browns.

Beefeater Gin: We’re all about discovering new botanicals and flavor profiles, but at the end of the day, gin has one job: it’s got to taste like gin. Beefeater has juniper in spades, which is necessary in a martini or a G&T, but it’s much less harsh than Gordon’s. Still around $30 in many markets.  

Stoli Vodka: Matt, admittedly, is not much of a vodka drinker. Largely because he wants spirits to taste like something, while the requirement made of many vodkas (particularly higher-end bottles) is that they taste like nothing. But there’s a detectable grain flavor for Stoli, which for about $15 will satisfy any vodka-soda or yes, even vodka martini orders that come to your door. And if you can find it, Matt’s ace in the hole is Moskovskaya, a Russian vodka he picks up at his local in Rome for 10 Euros and leaves in the freezer in the event that the sudden appearance of caviar requires some ice-cold vodka to be washed down with.

Espolòn Tequila Blanco: The Kendall Jenners and George Clooneys of the world have sent agave-based spirit prices into the stratosphere, but Espolòn reminds firmly on earth. The brand’s blanco can be picked up for $20 or less, making it an ideal base for Margaritas, yet something you wouldn’t hesitate to shoot back with a wedge of lime and salt, should the right moment arrive.    

Famous Grouse Blended Scotch: Famous Grouse was put on Matt’s radar by one of the WASP-iest guys he knows, whose own father disavowed single malts and drank nothing but this blended scotch you can find for around $25. It’s the ideal scotch for highballs, which as you might know, is how Winston Churchill preferred to ingest the spirit. And what drinker can argue with him?

Martini Rossi Vermouth: Matt’s on the record as a Punt e Mes guy for his Negronis, and is quite fond of Carpano Antica too. But you know what? Every bar he visits in Italy is reliably pouring out Martini Rossi, sweet or dry. (“If it’s good enough for the Italians, then it’s good enough for me,” as he likes to say). The key here is to keep the vermouth refrigerated: Martini Rossi sometimes gets a bad rap because so many bottles are opened once and then stored at room temperature for six months. I repeat once opened keep your vermouth in the fridge!!!