Editor’s Picks: Electric SnowBike, Personal Submarine and Fender Guitar
From an Aston Martin created in collaboration with a whisky brand to an electric-converted Range Rover Classic, this is what we want this week…
Words: Jonathan Wells
We’ve been feeling a little conflicted this week. With snow rolling in, winter has well, truly and frostily arrived. But we’ve been struck by a pang of nostalgia for a summer that never quite materialised. It’s a feeling we’re hanging onto with a heady Central American aftershave, a crisp gin from the Amalfi Coast and a personal submarine (yes, such a thing really does exist).
But we’re also realists. And, with the colder weather on our doorsteps, we can recognise the need for ice-ready SUVs from both Aston Martin and Range Rover. We can also see 2021 from here — and are planning ahead with a choice leather diary and two excellent watches to count down the remaining days of this awful year. To make the wintertime transition as smooth as possible, we’ve also even dug out an electric snowbike (because yes, such a thing also exists). Take a look below…
One-way ticket: Czech & Speake Perfecto Fino Eau De Parfum
There was a moment, earlier this year, when Czech & Speake saved summer. One spritz of the brand’s indomitable Perfecto Fino Eau de Parfum and we were whisked from our locked-down homes to the private islands and exotic beaches of Central America. It’s an aromatic escape worth taking again now winter has arrived. And that old cigar box branding? It’ll up the cool credentials of even the barest bathroom cabinet.
Making plans: Aspinal of London Amazon Leather Diary
When did you stop planning this year? We finally gave up sometime between the cancellation of our third city break and the most boring August bank holiday in history. But we must keep our chins collectively up — and that means starting 2021 on a fresh, optimistic footing. It also means investing in a top-notch, British-made, hand-bound diary and filling it to the very edge of those gilt-edged pages with plans that will happen.
Time will tell: Grand Seiko 140th Anniversary Limited Edition
Because who doesn’t want to match their watch to their diary? Like Aspinal of London’s gold-trimmed, brown croc leather offering above, this sleek, sophisticated timepiece from Grand Seiko is the epitome of elegance. Released in a limited run of 350 to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the brand, the watch features a dual-curved sapphire crystal, a 72 hour power reserve and a case depth of just 10.9mm.
Let it snow: Envo Electric SnowBike Kit
If you saddled up during the bicycle boom of summer 2020, don’t leave your two-wheeler out in the cold this winter. Instead, turn to Envo, whose innovative Electric SnowBike conversion kit will do away with your bike’s wheels and use your frame as the base of a slimmed-down snowmobile. If smooth-riding, pedal-assisted performance is all you want for Christmas this year, Envo has it all wrapped up.
Raise a glass: Portofino Gin
In summer, when we discovered the beautifully bottled, crisp taste of Portofino Gin, we mixed endless P&Ts — Portofino and Tonics. But, now it’s wintertime, we’re swirling this delicately aromatic spirit into a different drink. With notes of lemon, lavender, marjoram and Mediterranean rose, it makes for the ideal French 75; a sparkling citrus celebration of a cocktail — and ideal for the festive season.
Time after time: Hamilton Jazzmaster Thinline Gold Auto
Jazzmaster. It’s a fun word — and one that appears, amazingly, twice on this list. The first product to bear the idiosyncratic name is an elegant timepiece from Hamilton. Representing the American brand’s proud history of producing precision watches, this thinline timepiece features an 18 carat rose gold case, 50-hour power reserve and understated black leather strap. To commemorate the date the brand was founded, it’s limited to 1,892 pieces.
Top cat: Jaguar F-TYPE Heritage 60 Edition
Who hasn’t dreamt, at some point, of owning a Jaguar E-Type? In March 2021, the legendary, low-slung sports car will ring in its diamond anniversary — and the British carmaker are celebrating in style. 60 hand-finished F-TYPE cars will be created to commemorate the occasion; each with diamond-turned wheels, specially curated interiors and 575PS V8 supercharged engines.
Dram roll: Q by Aston Martin DBX Bowmore Edition
From one British automotive heavyweight to another. Aston Martin’s DBX caused an all-terrain stir when it hit roads (and forest tracks, mountainsides, desert dunes and ice caps) earlier this year. And now, the brand have partnered with legendary single malt whisky distillery Bowmore to create a special edition of the SUV. The car features strips of copper whiskey stills inlayed into its side strakes, Bowmore Tweed interior accents and wheels as subtly smoked as the Scotch itself.
Deep dive: Triton 3300/6 Submarine
Oh, you’ve never wanted a personal submarine? You will after taking Triton’s new model for a test dive. The highest-capacity 1,000 metre-rated submersible in the world, this six-person sub is the ideal vessel for exploring the exotic depths of oceans around the world. You’re not going to be commuting in the thing, but as an aquatic toy for the über-wealthy, it’s nautically nonpareil.
Strings attached: Fender Professional II Jazzmaster
Tune up — it’s time for the second Jazzmaster to make this week’s Editor’s Picks. Unlike Hamilton’s ritzy watch above, the Professional II guitar from instrument ingenieur Fender is drenched in rockstar cool. Drawing on more than 60 years of innovation, the single-coil pickups deliver sparkle and chime, the bridge pickup has a tap function for a powerful, throaty sound — and the pop-in tremolo arm allows for Strat-style dives deeper than Triton’s sub above.
Lead the charge: Lunaz Electric Classic Range Rover
We can’t get enough of Lunaz. The British brand is working its way through the back catalogue of our nation’s most celebrated, stylish cars — and electrifying them for the 21st Century. With offerings from Rolls-Royce, Jaguar and Bentley already in the garage, the latest car to get the zero-emission treatment is the Range Rover Classic. It was a timeless car already — but, thanks to Lunaz installing a battery under the bonnet, it’ll stand the tests of automotive time to come.
Want more of the best gear money can buy? Check out last week’s Editor’s Picks…
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Further reading
Editor’s Picks: Grand Seiko watch, Crockett & Jones shoes, Littlemill whisky and My Style Bags watch case
A bigger splash: The best RIB brands on the market
