The Dalmore is a staple of many great whisky cabinets, but for 2025 the scotch distillery is going after space in another important storage space for great booze: the wine cellar. The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Red Wine Cask Edition is a collection of three whiskies aged in barrels that once matured French red wines — a departure from their typical port and sherry finishes, for which the distillery is best known. The collection comprises three red wine casked whiskies: a 24-year, a 34-year, and a 43-year. 

The distillery’s official partner for this collection is Château Mont-Redon of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Southeast of France. The winery, which is the largest single property in the appellation, was founded in 1923 — a full 13 years before the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation was even created. Founder Henri Plantin recognized the potential of the land’s terroir early, and the result of that decision has been more than a century of complex wines (and now, whiskies). 

This is not the first time that red wine has been used to make a Dalmore malt. Bottles like The Dalmore Quintessence have previously used red wine, though in the case of Quintessence, the barrels hailed from wineries in California, and featured Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Pinot Noir. The Dalmore launched the Cask Curation line in 2023 with its sherry series, and followed last year with an exploration of port casks. This third collection is the first to touch unfortified wines, specifically wines made from Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Grenache Noir. Dalmore describes these wines as “rich and plummy,” with savory notes and a jammy character.

Red wine has been an increasingly popular theme across malt whiskies in recent years, and generally speaking it’s been a reliable way for distilleries that specialize in things like sherry and port to showcase the range of their spirit. Red wine maturation delivers similar flavors to port and sherry, but typically these flavors are more bright, fresh, ripe, and juicy than the nutty, dark, concentrated flavors of fortified wines.

The Dalmore’s collection seems to be keeping in line with that rule. Tasting notes provided by the distillery suggest that the youngest whisky in this collection (the 24-year-old) teases notes of red berries, citrus, roasted coffee, and creme brulee. The 34-year-old builds on these flavors with wood spice, overripe berries, and a “touch” of licorice. As for the 43-year release, it adds dark chocolate, tropical fruits, and a more defined backbone of wood spice running through the palate, with a hint of leather on the nose.

Cask Curation 2025’s price is, thankfully, for all three bottles  — a full $47,750 (Cask Curation is sold exclusively as a set). Speaking of the set, there are just 150 of them for the entire global market, available from the beginning of October. 

G. Clay Whittaker is a Maxim contributor covering lifestyle, whiskey, cannabis and travel. His work has also appeared in Bon Appetit, Men’s Journal, Cigar Aficionado, Playboy and Esquire. Subscribe to his newsletter Drinks & Stuff for whisky reviews and trends, perspectives on drinks, and stuff.

Godzilla just invaded your six-pack. To celebrate the King of Monsters’ 70th birthday, Pabst Blue Ribbon joined forces with Toho International to unleash a limited-edition run of more than 60 million Godzilla-branded cans and boxes this fall.

PBR has long used its art can program to push packaging into collectible territory, but this collab feels like a kaiju-sized flex. The brand tapped Attack Peter, a Cuban American artist revered in kaiju circles for his bold linoleum block prints, to create four original designs. Each one brings Godzilla’s destructive energy to life, joined by fellow legends Mothra, Mechagodzilla, and my personal favorite, King Ghidorah.

The standard 12 and 16-ounce cans feature Godzilla’s snarl in stark black and white. The 25-ounce tallboys go even bigger, rotating through the other three kaiju. A limited number of cans will even pack a party trick: a cold-activated “atomic breath” effect that glows blue when the beer hits frosty perfection.

“Bringing the legendary Godzilla character into PBR’s world is massive on its own, but teaming up with Attack Peter on the designs completely leveled this partnership up,” says Rachel Keeton, Senior Brand Director at PBR. “His style and process of hand-carving these illustrations continues to push the boundaries of what the PBR art series is all about.”

For Toho, owners of the beloved Godzilla license, the mashup ensures his cultural reign continues unabated—like a friendly stroll through downtown Tokyo. “Partnering with Pabst Blue Ribbon, a historic brand with a rich legacy and passionate following fit for the King of Monsters, allows us to engage fans in a fresh and dynamic way,” says Kristin Parcell, GM of Toho International.

The cans land in October, timed perfectly for Halloween parties, dive bar nights, and tailgates—possibly to pair with Pabst Light, which PBR just launched earlier this year. Beyond their utility, they double as instant collectibles, a marriage of cult beer and cult monster that actually makes sense. Seventy years after first leveling Japan, Godzilla still looms large. Now, thanks to PBR, you can crack him open cold and carry him into the night.

Follow Deputy Editor Nicolas Stecher on Instagram at @nickstecher and @boozeoftheday.

Mercedes is honoring its historic 12-pot lineage’s power, performance, and poshness with the the ultra exclusive Mercedes-Maybach V12 Edition. The massive powerplant has been a hallmark of the brand since the 1930s, when the first Maybach-produced 12-cylinder debuted in the Maybach Zeppelin. That legendary model, engineered by Karl Maybach, was lauded for its technically advanced features, performance, and ride comfort, described in a 1934 brochure as “the ultimate automobile of wish fulfilment, characterized by distinguished elegance and power.” The Maybach Zeppelin was one of few of its contemporaries that could crack 100 mph.

The Mercedes V12s that are so revered today were born in the 1990s with the M120, which not only powered its most opulent S-Class sedans but served as the basis for the legendary CLK GRT supercar and even the Pagani Zonda. The modern twin-turbo iteration of the German marque’s V12 primarily powers the Mercedes-Maybach S 680, in which it develops 612 horsepower that pushes the 5,000 pound-plus behemoth to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds.

That very vehicle serves as the basis for the V12 Edition seen here, which has been beautified by the Mercedes’ Manufaktur personalization division. The striking two-tone exterior features olive metallic on the upper body and obsidian black metallic on the lower, separated by a contrasting high-tech silver metallic pinstripe—a meticulous paint application that can take up to ten working days. The exterior’s olive metallic also appears on the five-hole forged wheels but the most striking single detail is arguably the C-pillar’s unique Maybach emblem, featuring chrome, gold and a prominent “12,” a direct tribute to the hood ornament of the historic Maybach Zeppelin.

Inside, the cabin brings a smorgasbord of bespoke luxury with Nappa leather in Manufaktur-exclusive saddle brown and complementing high-gloss brown burr walnut wood trim that extends to the handcrafted steering wheel. The vehicle’s rarity is plainly marked by a “1 of 50” badge in the center console and a golden inlay on the rear center console, which features the Maybach emblem framed by twelve golden circles. This intricate inlay alone requires up to seven working days of precise handcraftsmanship. Each of the 50 vehicles will also come with bespoke accessories, including Robbe & Berking silver-plated champagne flutes with edition-specific engraving and a handcrafted key gift box.

The Mercedes-Maybach V12 Edition is only available in select markets, with deliveries to customers set to begin in autumn 2025.

The Balvenie Fifty might be having its Empire Strikes Back moment in 2025. After releasing a rare 50-year-old single cask scotch in 2024, this year’s release adds complexity, depth, and a bit of flexing from Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie.

She started this trilogy with a single European oak refill butt laid down in 1973 — a testament to the whisky making talent of her forbearers. For the record release, McKechnie has taken a more hands on approach, marrying some of that original European oak liquid with whisky from an American oak hogshead filled the same year, making this a two-cask creation. 

”For The Second Edition,” explains McKechnie, “we selected an American oak hogshead filled in 1973 to build on the legacy of the inaugural release. The time spent maturing in American oak has nurtured a beautifully balanced character, with notes of sweet honey and warming oak. This profile was chosen to complement the European oak influence of The First Edition, creating a marriage of casks that brings both contrast and continuity to the flavor thread running through the trilogy.”

The Balvenie Fifty is a planned collection of three releases. The first, launched in 2024, had an ABV of 52.3, while the second dips a bit lower to 49.8. According to tasting notes provided by the distillery, it seems to make up for the lower proof with darker flavors and aromas — violets, roses, currant and multiple layers of toffee, butter, and oak. 

What the third release will look like is anyone’s guess. McKechnie could continue her pattern and add a third cask to create the final liquid, or release the American hogshead as a standalone bottle. She could likewise do something completely new and different — or draw on whiskies of the past for inspiration. Balvenie is known for its more eccentric age stated releases and collections. The David Stewart Compendium collected incredible bottles from rare vintages, and the Balvenie Tun releases are among the distillery’s most coveted bottles. But this undertaking is substantially bigger and more ambitious.

Now for the bad news: only 97 bottles of this rare whisky were even filled, which a crushingly small portion of just 13 allocated for the US market. Suggested retail for batch two of Balvenie Fifty is $55,000, which isn’t a bad price by current standards for whiskies half a century old. Trilogies are always a challenge (just ask JJ Abrams), so it’s entirely possible that this could end up as the best bottle in the collection. But Balvenie has a long, rich history of incredible whiskies.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll be expecting McKechnie to stick the landing, and hoping that you’re able to try a flight next year when all three are out in the world.

G. Clay Whittaker is a Maxim contributor covering lifestyle, whiskey, cannabis and travel. His work has also appeared in Bon Appetit, Men’s Journal, Cigar Aficionado, Playboy and Esquire. Subscribe to his newsletter Drinks & Stuff for whisky reviews and trends, perspectives on drinks, and stuff.

In a groundbreaking collaboration that redefines the intersection of design and horology, luxury watchmaker Jacob & Co. and Costa Design Studio have unveiled a head-turning new collector’s item: The Godfather Sculpture Table. This limited-edition creation, a functional work of art, draws its inspiration from the revered Opera Godfather timepiece, transforming its intricate details into a monumental piece of furniture.

Conceptualized by visionary designer Pedro Costa, the table serves as an extraordinary expression of collaborative artistry. It is a true union of cinematic history, high-end watchmaking, and sculptural design, built with a meticulous attention to detail that mirrors the craftsmanship of its horological muse. The table is composed of over 350 individual parts, each hand-assembled into seven distinct substructures. These components are crafted from a high-end blend of stainless steel, glass, leather, and aluminum, resulting in a robust yet elegant creation weighing 170 kilograms and measuring 135 x 80 x 76 cm.

At the heart of the sculpture lies a Swiss and German mechanical movement, a tribute to the table’s watchmaking origins. This complex mechanism boasts a 7-day power reserve, providing both a functional and artistic core. Echoing the watch that inspired it, the table also features intricate music boxes that play the iconic “The Godfather” theme by Nino Rota, adding a multi-sensory dimension to the piece. The design further incorporates scaled-up elements from the timepiece, including detailed violin- and piano-shaped parts and a tri-axial tourbillon, showcasing the seamless fusion of engineering and artistic design.

The Godfather Sculpture Table is limited to just 20 pieces worldwide, solidifying its status as a collector’s item. This bold collaboration allows Jacob & Co.’s unparalleled storytelling to converge with Costa Design’s sculptural mastery, creating a uniquely functional piece of art that’s sure to be a conversation piece.

The table is available to buy at a very exclusive price point of $300,000. Just when Godfather-loving watch aficionados thought they were out, Jacob & Co. are apparently pulling them back in.

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Ulysse Nardin, the Swiss watchmaker known for its horological innovations, has introduced a new, U.S.-exclusive timepiece that pays homage to the dual nature of silicon in modern technology. The Blast [Free Wheel Marquetry Silicon Green] is a limited-edition watch that merges the brand’s mechanical prowess with artistic craftsmanship, celebrating silicon’s role in both advanced watchmaking and the semiconductor industry.

The centerpiece of this new model is its striking dial, which features hand-crafted marquetry composed of 103 individually cut slivers of monocrystalline silicon. The segments, some matte and others polished for added depth, create a mosaic of emerald green and silver-gray. This color scheme is a deliberate nod to the intricate aesthetics of printed circuit boards, where anything-but-stylish silicon chips are the core components. Ulysse Nardin, a pioneer in using silicon in watch movements, has developed the rare technology to produce the material in vibrant colors, with green chosen specifically to evoke the hue of circuit boards.

“This watch is a testament to our ongoing mission to push the boundaries of traditional watchmaking,” said Ulysse Nardin in a statement announcing the watch. “We’ve taken a material celebrated for its practical properties—low friction, resistance to temperature and magnetism—and transformed it into an artistic medium, creating a watch that is both technically advanced and visually captivating.”

Beyond its unique dial, the Blast [Free Wheel Marquetry Silicon Green] is a marvel of high horology. It is powered by the in-house caliber UN-176, a manual-winding movement with a flying tourbillon at the six o’clock position. This movement features Ulysse Nardin’s Anchor escapement, which uses silicon blades to deliver constant force, ensuring consistent performance as the mainspring winds down. The UN-176 also boasts an impressive seven-day power reserve, a notable achievement for a manually wound movement.

Ulysse Nardin was one of the first watchmakers to integrate silicon components into its movements with the release of the Freak in 2001. Since then, the brand has been at the forefront of the industry’s embrace of the material, which offers superior performance and reduced need for lubrication compared to traditional metal parts. The watch is housed in a 45mm case made from 18K white gold, with a box-style sapphire crystal that provides a multi-angled view of the complex movement. With its contemporary architecture, the case is designed to showcase the caliber UN-176 and its intricate silicon marquetry dial.

Limited to just 10 pieces, the Ulysse Nardin Blast [Free Wheel Marquetry Silicon Green] is available for $105,700.

Suntory Whisky Toki has released its first limited-edition whisky, Toki Black, which blends traditional Japanese craftsmanship with a jazzy twist. The new expression, a departure from the original Toki’s light and smooth profile, introduces a subtle smokiness by incorporating peated and grain malts from the Hakushu distillery.

The name “Toki” translates to “time,” reflecting a core Japanese value that respects heritage while embracing new ideas, a fitting name for the bottle’s jazz-inspired rollout. Suntory partnered with Grammy-nominated American producer Terrace Martin and Japanese jazz artist Ryota Nozaki, known as Jazztronik. The collaboration includes a film and a bespoke vinyl record inspired by the Japanese Jazz Kissa culture and the philosophy of Ichigo Ichie, which highlights the uniqueness of every moment.

The whisky’s flavor profile begins with aromas of baked apple, oregano, and honeysuckle. On the palate, notes of butterscotch, clove, cinnamon, and toasted rosemary give way to a finish of white pepper, ginger, and a gentle smokiness. It can be enjoyed neat or in a cocktail like a Toki Ginger Sour.

“As our first release in a decade, Toki Black marks a significant milestone for both Toki and The House of Suntory,” said Masaki Morimoto, president of The House of Suntory. “This limited-edition launch reflects that philosophy, offering a contemporary expression that honors our heritage while engaging a new generation of whisky enthusiasts.”

An accompanying jazz record that celebrates the spirit features a raw, improvisational session on Side A, while Side B presents Martin’s modern reinterpretation of the session. “This project was more than just making music—it was about capturing a moment that can’t be repeated,” Martin said in a statement shared by the brand. “Ryota and I set out to blend spontaneity with intention, tradition with experimentation, and create a record that lives in the spirit of now—just like the whisky that inspired it.”

Toki Black is 86 proof and available for a limited time at select retailers with a suggested retail price of $39.99 per bottle while supplies last.

Hodinkee, the cult-favorite media platform covering all things watches, has once again joined forces with a historic brand to bring back a classic timepiece. Teaming up with the revived Swiss watchmaker Nivada Grenchen, they’re releasing their first limited-edition collaboration: the Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT Limited Edition for Hodinkee, and Maxim has the exclusive first look.

This special release takes direct inspiration from a rare 1960s Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT, a vintage piece that was recently featured and sold in the Hodinkee Shop. It’s so rare, in fact, that the one in Hodinkee’s shop is one of the only known examples to have come to market. The new watch is a modern, go-anywhere update of that classic design, featuring a subtle gray motif, upgraded sapphire crystal, and increased water resistance.

The new watch carries a thoroughly modern, Hodinkee-tweaked design, building on the motifs from the “Grey Glow” exclusives. High-contrast design changes simplify the look and make for a more robust, go-anywhere watch. At a modest 36mm in diameter and 40mm lug-to-lug, the watch is a perfect fit for a variety of wrists. What stays the same as the original is the reliable, automatic, and self-winding SOPROD C125 movement, with 42 hours of power reserve and a frequency of 4Hz. That’s where the similarities end, as Hodinkee has made some critical upgrades. The crown at 2 o’clock adjusts the 24-hour rotating inner bezel, while the crown at 4 o’clock independently adjusts the GMT hand and date in the first position, and the 12-hour time in the second.

Guillaume Laidet, Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of the newly revived Nivada Grenchen, points to that vintage reference as the direct inspiration for the resurrection of the Antarctic GMT line. “For me, this limited edition represents a true milestone,” says Laidet. “The Hodinkee Shop was actually the very first retailer to carry Nivada. I am, therefore, especially proud of this limited edition and of this fruitful collaboration.”

Most importantly, the crystal has been upgraded to scratch-resistant sapphire, which doubles the water resistance from 50 to 100 meters, a feature exclusive to Hodinkee’s Limited Edition and more in line with the Antarctic’s hard-wearing history. On the dial, you’ll notice that the full Nivada Grenchen logo is on display at 12 o’clock, while a modest “AUTOMATIC GMT” completes the look on the bottom half. Forgoing the script “Antarctic” altogether, the resulting look is perfectly balanced. Nearly every part of the watch that is white, including the applied writing, the inner GMT bezel, and the handset, is finished in Super-LumiNova, which glows bright green in low light.

The case has been equally considered. The top portion is vertically brushed, as opposed to the polished finish of the mainline Antarctic GMT. This ties the Hodinkee version to the original brushed compressor case supplied by Ervin Piquerez S.A. (EPSA). The case thickness is a svelte 11.1mm, a nearly 2mm reduction from the original’s 12.75mm. The caseback offers a further nod to the vintage example, with a stainless steel penguin engraving on a steel medallion instead of gold. The watch is completed with two strap options: a hard-wearing gray NATO and an equally robust gray suede-leather strap.

This limited-edition collaboration is a true adventurer’s watch, built for extreme expeditions and equally at home on a remote glacier as it is on a weekend trail. Only 225 pieces of the Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT Limited Edition for Hodinkee are available for purchase starting at $1,700.

Tissot is revisiting one of its most innovative designs, reintroducing the RockWatch in a limited edition of 999 pieces. The new timepiece, crafted from granite sourced from Switzerland’s Jungfrau regiion, reaffirms the brand’s pioneering use of unconventional materials in watchmaking while serving up a unique, collectible timepiece.

Tissot has a history of pushing watchmaking boundaries, from introducing fiberglass in 1969 with the Sidéral to creating the first plastic mechanical watch, the Idea 2001, in 1971. These horological experiments paved the way for the RockWatch, originally launched in 1985. The new version pays homage to its predecessor, with each watch case uniquely carved from natural alpine stone.

The granite used for the cases comes from the Jungfrau Tunnel’s recent renovations. The process of transforming these raw blocks into a finished timepiece is a meticulous blend of modern technology and traditional craftsmanship. The initial milling and cutting are done to reduce internal stress in the stone. The raw pieces are then handed over to some of the same artisans who worked on the original 1985 collection, ensuring authenticity and a faithful recreation of the original design.

The raw granite blocks are precisely shaped to a 38mm diameter and then undergo a careful grinding process to achieve a smooth, uniform surface. The most delicate step is hollowing out the stone to create a cavity for the watch’s movement. This intricate process requires sub-millimeter precision to ensure both the integrity of the stone and the performance of the watch.

To secure the movement, a steel container is fixed inside the stone case, providing stability. The Tissot logo is then pad-printed onto the stone using acrylic paint, a technique that ensures a crisp, lasting finish. The final assembly includes attaching the hands and the domed sapphire crystal. The hands, made from polished brass, are subtly curved to follow the contours of the granite, while the anti-reflective crystal shields the face and allows for a clear view of the unique stone patterns.

Each watch is finished with an engraved case back featuring “Jungfrau – Top of Europe” and a unique serial number. The limited edition watches are presented in a collector’s box designed to resemble a block of granite, mirroring the raw beauty of the source material. The new, limited-edition RockWatch is available now for $1,225.

The annual drop of Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Bourbon and the other Van Winkle whiskeys is upon us, but the infamous 23-year bottle isn’t actually the most impressive one coming to market. Sazerac is sweetening the 2025 collection with a single re-release of Old Rip Van Winkle 25 Year, up for auction starting today.

That bottle is the first in a new collection of auctions, as Sazerac is debuting a proprietary auction platform this month: Legacy de Forge. This platform is designed to “improve access to Sazerac’s most coveted spirits,” starting with a series of auctions in September. The lingering bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle 25 Year Old up for auction stands as the oldest Van Winkle ever released. Old Rip Van Winkle 25 first debuted in 2017 in hand-engraved Glencairn crystal decanters, but Buffalo Trace made a big deal that they weren’t releasing all of the supply. This bottle — No. 706 — has been collecting dust in a temperature-controlled vault since then, although I suspect Sazerac has at least one bourbon duster employed to maintain standards. 

Only 710 were produced, so it’s possible that we have an idea how many Sazerac has left — potentially three, after this one. As for the “core” whiskeys of the Van Winkle Collection, they’ll be comparably easier to get to taste, though you’ll still have to do some hunting. The Van Winkle whiskeys have maintained a somewhat polarizing presence in the bourbon world for the last decade — everyone who gets serious about bourbon feels the pressure to have the experience at least once. Some people fall in love, some people use the experience to define their contrarian tastes. Either way, you need the dram first. 

Prices for this year are as follows:

Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10 Year Old – $149.99

Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12 Year Old – $169.99

Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year Old – $229.99

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 15 Year Old – $239.99

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 20 Year Old- $359.99

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 23 Year Old – $499.99

As for the secondary market, those prices have begun to trend slightly downwards in recent months, with many experts saying that secondary prices in general should slide as the year progresses. Of course, Sazerac and the Van Winkles still advise against buying from authorized retailers. 

“Whiskey enthusiasts increase their risks of alcohol scams by purchasing from secondary markets and online sellers, including Craigslist, eBay, and social media groups,” Sazerac and the family said in a press release. “Additionally, many alcohol scams take place overseas. In some cases, consuming alcohol that is not purchased from a licensed retailer can lead to bodily harm and even casualties. Whiskey buyers who believe they have been scammed should not drink out of their bottle.” 

As a reminder, they added this: “The Van Winkle family reminds fans that neither they nor Buffalo Trace Distillery control the prices individual retailers charge for the expressions.” The Legacy de Forge auction lots will total eight this month, and will also include “O.F.C 2006, the newly-released Colonel E.H. Taylor Distiller’s Council, and a Stagg Single Barrel pick.” 

G. Clay Whittaker is a Maxim contributor covering lifestyle, whiskey, cannabis and travel. His work has also appeared in Bon Appetit, Men’s Journal, Cigar Aficionado, Playboy and Esquire. Subscribe to his newsletter Drinks & Stuff for bourbon reviews and trends, perspectives on drinks, and stuff.