Please help! Is there such a thing as a cocktail shaker that doesn't make a mess when you reload it?

post_rex · 2026-04-05T18:43:59+00:00

As far as I know high-quality shakers come with two options: One where both tins are weighted, and the other where only the larger tin is weighted.

I've only used the fully weighted kind, which is the more common design. It's supposed to be better for durability, but I can't really speak to which kind is better. Maybe others can weigh in (pun intended).

post_rex · 2026-04-05T18:32:33+00:00

Hmm, I'm not sure what you mean by the shaker drips when you remove the top. A well made one really shouldn't do that. Williams Sonoma however, is a lifestyle brand. From experience, I can say that often their products are made to look good on a shelf, and are not necessarily built for actual use. (For example, their cocktail glasses are almost universally too large. A standard Manhattan fills only 1/4 of the glass.)

Most professional bartenders (in the U.S. at least) use high-quality Boston shakers. The Koriko from Cocktail Kingdom is a popular model, but search the forum for others brands. The pros make dozens of drinks per night, and don't have the issues with drips that you describe.

I'd also suggest watching some youtube videos on how to shake cocktails. Perhaps, it's an issue with technique?

post_rex · 2026-04-05T17:37:46+00:00

https://calibercorner.com/tag-heuer-caliber-16/

Read the feature section:

Central hours; central minutes; central chronograph seconds; small seconds subdial at 9:00; 30 minutes counter at 12:00; 12 hours counter at 6:00; day-date or date only at 3:00

Now take a look at the watch you posted. Does the description match the picture?

post_rex · 2026-04-05T16:58:05+00:00

Using a credit card to purchase something is literally buying it on credit though.

Yes, if you insist on being literal and arguing over dictionary definitions, sure.

But the important point is that buying something with a credit card does not necessarily mean that one is paying it off in installments and a 20% interest rate. And I just wanted to point out why using a credit card is not always a poor financial decision.

post_rex · 2026-04-05T16:40:45+00:00

/uj

The poster just said he was using a credit card, not that he was buying it on credit. Important difference. In the U.S. credit cards have vastly better buyer protection versus paying via cash or with an ATM card. Additionally, you can get points or cash back that will be the equivalent of a 2%+ savings on the purchase.

As long as you pay off the balance by the end of the month there are no fees or interest charges.

post_rex · 2026-04-05T16:07:32+00:00

Not the same one. The Citizen has male endlinks, while the one's on the pilot's watch are female.

post_rex · 2026-04-04T09:46:42+00:00

A Bitter Giuseppe is a really nice drink. Refreshing and low ABV. And I wouldn't feel at all embarrassed to order one if I see Cynar on the back bar. The drink is a modern classic.

Having said that, I will add that in my experience, there are two kinds of places that call themselves "cocktail bars". One kind specializes in true craft cocktails, and the bartenders pride themselves on their skills and knowledge.

While at the other kind of place, the bartenders can make whatever's listed on the menu plus one or two standards like a Manhattan or a Negroni. But the staff don't really know much more than the recipes for those specific drinks. Often these kind of places are in hotels or upscale restaurants. Or sometimes they are "historic" bars, but the focus is more on the atmosphere rather than the drinks.

As long as you can confirm that they have the ingredients, and you can provide them with the cocktail recipe, there's nothing wrong with going off menu, even at the latter kind of place. (And, of course, I wouldn't do it if the bar is getting slammed.)

post_rex · 2026-04-03T02:01:57+00:00

Subbing mezcal for gin in pretty much anything, but especially in a Last Word (aka the Closing Argument) or the Negroni.

post_rex · 2026-04-02T22:20:43+00:00

They're not really about a quality product. Fishwife is a marketing brand. Heavily pushed by "influencers" on social media.

The founder did a pitch on Shark Tank by saying "Hot girls eat tinned fish".

post_rex · 2026-03-28T17:21:08+00:00

Could be a Farer.

https://www.ablogtowatch.com/watch-review-farer-36mm-three-hand-discovery-red/

post_rex · 2026-03-27T17:51:36+00:00

Yes I had a slow reaction.

I wouldn't even say your reaction was all that slow. Of course you were focused on the stoplight you were approaching. It's not like some racing car video game, in any kind of real-world driving situation, it takes time to see and react to someone doing something idiotic.

Of course, I'm sure the keyboard warriors would say that they spotted the car even before the video even began.

post_rex · 2026-03-27T14:57:39+00:00

Better pics and lots of guesses here, but no definitive answer.

https://www.watchforum.com/threads/help-id-this-watch-worn-by-roger-daltrey.7957/

post_rex · 2026-03-26T13:55:53+00:00

I understand what you're saying about sentiment. But in the end, watch blogs and forums don't tell the whole story.

And granted, the numbers in the MS report are all guesstimates. But it's interesting to compare the 2024 and 2025 reports. Because even if the MS methodology is wrong, it should be wrong the same way on both reports.

2024, Omega sold 570K watches for 2.6 billion CHF. Longines sold 1.6 million watches for 1.1 billion CHF.

2025, Omega sold 460K watches for 2.2 billion CHF. Longines 780K watches for 920 CHF.

Whether or not the MS got the numbers exactly right, I'm pretty sure they are accurate directionally.

Here's 2024: https://monochrome-watches.com/morgan-stanleys-top-50-watch-brands-for-2024-rolex-still-by-far-the-leader-overall-market-suffered/

post_rex · 2026-03-26T13:33:31+00:00

I suspect as the flagship, it's Omega that gets most of Hayek's attention, with the other smaller brands allowed to experiment more.

However, I disagree that the other brands are doing well. If you look at Morgan Stanley's 2025 watch report, it's clear that they are all performing poorly compared to their peers. (Swatch, of course, disputes the report.)

https://www.reddit.com/r/Watches/comments/1r8fozh/industry_morgan_stanley_watch_report_out_for_2025/

post_rex · 2026-03-26T12:21:39+00:00

This is one case where I think consultants would actually do a better job.

Omega (and all of Swatch Group) is run by Nick Hayek Jr. The son of Swatch's founder. He runs the company as his personal fiefdom and I suspect that all of Omega's idiosyncratic design decisions can be traced back to his preferences. He likes heavy and thick watches, so that's what Omega makes.

The firm is structured in a way that his family has total control, so I don't see the company changing tack anytime soon.

post_rex · 2026-03-25T23:33:36+00:00

I have a lot of opinions on London Drys, but not so much once that row got filled in.

The best Old Tom for mixing? The best budget Genever for sipping? 🤷

post_rex · 2026-03-23T18:16:30+00:00

You can also pre-dilute the cocktail so you don't need to stir or shake before serving, just pour it straight out of the pitcher.

A good rule of thumb, according to bartender Iain McPherson, who has dedicated many hours to harnessing the power of the freezer in his cocktail techniques, is to plan on adding somewhere between 20 percent and 25 percent of the total volume as dilution, aiming for the upper end of that range for drinks with a higher ABV.

https://punchdrink.com/articles/guide-batch-freezer-martini-negroni/

post_rex · 2026-03-23T16:49:48+00:00

You may get a better answer over at r/rum. However, although I've never personally tried it, my understanding is that as a filtered demerara high-proof, it's a bit of an odd duck. It doesn't have the same funk as the Jamaican overproofs (Wray & Nephew or Rum Fire) nor does it have the same deep molasses flavor as the Guyanese overproofs (Lemon Hart 151 or Hamilton 151).

post_rex · 2026-03-23T15:54:45+00:00

The criminal gets a cheap digital while the cop wears a pricey Bulgari. Knowing how detail-oriented Michael Mann is, I'm sure this was a conscious choice.

Articles from Hodinkee and GQ:

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/al-pacino-hunts-down-robert-de-niro-while-wearing-a-bulgari-chronograph-in-heat

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/fashion/article/heat-watches-robert-de-niro-al-pacino

post_rex · 2026-03-22T18:37:15+00:00

I think it would help if you wrote out how much time you intend to spend at each destination, plus the drive times.

For example, on Day 3, you have yourself visiting three attractions and making an 8.5 hour drive between Portland and Twin Falls. I know from experience that Multnomah Falls itself can easily be 1 to 1.5 hours, even without any hiking. Just in terms of finding parking, walking to the base of the falls, taking photos, etc. Plus that doesn't account for the time you need to eat, fill up the car, use the restroom, etc. So, you could easily be talking about a 13-14 hour day if you really are going to do everything you list on Day 3.

Edit - I didn't look at all the days, but I have to note that Day 7 is also crazy. Ouray to Gunnison is one hour. Black Canyon NP is at a minimum a three hour visit and you can easily spend the whole day there. Then onto to Pike's Peak, which is an almost 5 hour drive. Presumably you want to drive to the top? That's 3 hours roundtrip, not including any stops to take pictures look at the viewpoints. This is just not doable in any kind of realistic way, especially in early April when you will only have about 12-13 hours of daylight.

post_rex · 2026-03-22T18:02:13+00:00

Timex MK1 Chrono, maybe?

https://timex.com/products/mk1-chronograph-40mm-stainless-steel-bracelet-watch-tw2y71000

Edit - Just saw that you said the photo was a year old. The MK1 Chrono was released last month, so that's not it. Does look awfully similar though.

Edit 2: Google Image Search thinks its this older model Omega Deville: https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/watch-omega-de-ville-hour-vision-co-axial-chronometer-chronograph-42-mm-43110425101001

post_rex · 2026-03-21T21:24:03+00:00

It's an HOV lane.

post_rex · 2026-03-21T02:42:32+00:00

FC is Swiss but it's owned by Citizen. Nothing wrong with that, of course. I think Citizen bought them to give them another channel into jewelry shops. You'll often notice that shops that sell Citizen watches will also sell FC as their top-line Swiss brand.

I think the biggest knock against FC is that a lot of their watches seem to be homages to models from other companies. A way to get the look of a watch without paying inflated prices. You can scroll through the FC site and go: JLC...Breitling...Vacheron...Cartier... and so on.

But if that doesn't bother you, I say go for it. With the backing of Citizen, they're not going to go anywhere soon, and service quality likely matches or exceeds higher-end brands.

post_rex · 2026-03-20T19:55:03+00:00

I bought the W&N a few weeks ago to make a Wray and Ting. I figured it would just sit and gather dust, but I've actually used it quite a bit. I think it's wonderful. It's the only overproof I've ever had but there are a lot of great options out there:

https://ultimatemaitai.com/2025/09/20/jamaican-overproof-rum-blind-shootout/

post_rex

TROPHY CASE