New Autos: Nissan 370Z

by Jeremy on October 31st, 2008

The Z family has a new arrival. Nissan revealed pictures earlier this week of the latest edition to its iconic Zorro-influenced line of sexy coupes. With its aggressive lines and sleek curves, the 370Z appears to present a worthy successor to the 350Z, which it will replace in the second-highest spot on Nissan’s sports car food chain.

With the same 3.7 l V6 at the Infiniti G37, the new Z is expected to have somewhere near that car’s 330-hp, which in the coupe’s compact frame is more than enough horses to get us excited.

Look for new pictures of the Z in November, when it premieres at the Los Angeles auto show. Or, if you’re a fan of electronic street racing, in EA’s Need For Speed: Underground. See it for yourself in showrooms early next year.

Top Shelf: Laphroaig Quarter Cask

by Jeremy on October 24th, 2008

As October creeps towards its festive climax, the realization begins to set in that there’s now officially nothing but Halloween between us and the dreaded Holiday Gifting Season. Now before you start calling us a bunch of “Scrooges” (oh you’re such kidders!) consider this: Once November hits, there will be nothing on any retail store’s radio but Christmas music. Stores will be chockablock with pushy shoppers buying gloves and sweaters. Parking lots will be jammed. People will be stressed. Malls? Don’t even. And Jolly Old Saint  Nick will be watching over it all, with a nefarious twinkle in his eye. But there is a point to all this disparagement, and that is this: your holiday shopping just got a lot easier.

Yesterday we had the good fortune to taste Laphroaig’s new-to-Canada Quarter Cask single malt. Not only is it one of the best scotches we’ve tried, it makes the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Produced at a tiny 200 year-old distillery on the isle of Islay in Scotland (population: 3000, distilleries: 8 ) it is made from peat-smoked barley and aged in small American bourbon casks, to give the whisky more contact with wood, and a heartier, incredibly distinctive flavour.

The character of Laphroaig’s whisky reflects the character of its people, hardy, storm-weathered island folk, with little time for subtlety or nuance. The name of their home, Islay, means simply “island” in the local dialect, and that non-nonsense attitude is carried over into the whisky. The Laphroaig Quarter Cask is big, smoky, strong and unique. It’s just the thing for sipping by the fireside on a cold winter’s evening, satisfied that your holiday shopping could be completed in a few minutes down at your local liquor store.