Watches and Whisky: The Last Drop 1967 + Heuer Autavia 2446
The 60’s: If you didn’t already know, The Last Drop, is one of the world’s most exclusive spirits company. The founders of TLD distillers have created some of the world’s most well-known and best loved spirits brands. However, seven years ago, rather than retiring, they decided to turn their attention to something a little different and created one last unique brand. Their goal was simple but of course not easy: to find, and bottle, the world’s finest, rarest and most exclusive spirits. The Last Drop distillers only offer such articles like this 1967, when they believe they are unique, extremely limited in quantity, and, of course, exceptionally delicious. Often many are tasted but only a few are chosen; creating what is likely to be a one in a lifetime experience.
Tasting Notes: on the nose: you’ll experience initial notes of peat, alongside notes of fresh red apples, vanilla and lemon zest. This is nicely followed by notes of pineapples, cinnamon, herbs and spices, as well as a welcomed nutty aroma. Rounding off the nose are notes of honey, toasted oats, white chocolate, madeira, lavender and an oily note. On the palate: are notes of oranges, peat, a lovely oily texture, honey and that lemon zest. This is followed by, cinnamon, cracked black-pepper, vanilla and those herbaceous notes. The red apples start to emerge, alongside almonds, aniseed, oak and an enticing meaty flavour. The finish: is long, sweet and waxy, with lingering peat and spices.
The verdict: An extraordinary dram that we’ve been lucky enough to experience. This 1967 Glen Garioch, dates back to the days when the distillery produced robust, peated whiskies and this character has been instilled in this particular drop. You can taste it’s been well matured and has a lovely array of sweetness, with subtle hints of smokiness, which is well-balanced.
Info: ABV 45.4% in a 70cl bottle (limited to only 118 worldwide)
60’s Racing Style: The 60s was a great period for motor racing and it was the same for timepieces, which were inspired by this period. This particular reference 2446 Autavia is considered to be the first execution, however features second execution dauphine hands. The previous iteration was identical to this example but featured what was known as “all lume” dauphine-shaped hands, while this variant features the later wide steel dauphine hands, with inlaid radium luminous and a vibrant white, central chronograph hand.
The dial features what is considered a reverse-panda dial and its stark contrast adds to its racing looks but look closely and you’ll notice just how much detail the dial has. Its balance is pure genius and has wonderful symmetry, but its oversized chronograph sub dials, referred to as “Big Subs”, are its true signature and distinguish this first execution from all others. The dial features applied radium luminous block hour markers and a singular Arabic numeral at 12 o’clock, and the intricacy of the outer minute track is a beautiful thing.
Being a triple register Autavia, it makes use of the infamous Valjoux 72 movement that is signed Ed Heuer & Co. on its bridge and operates, one would assume, just as smoothly as the day it was made. This movement is cased up in 39 millimetres of stainless steel, with bevelled lugs that boasts three separate surfaces – top, side and of course the chamfer in between these two angles. Being a triple register Autavia, it sports a two-step screw-back case and comes on a rather fetching black leather strap, which is in keeping of its 1960s racing style.
Many Thanks to Watches of Knightsbridge for the loan of the Heuer Autavia 2446, which will be on sale in their upcoming July 2nd Auction.
