Automotive Details
The Porsche 911 is famous for its rear-engine layout, but this specific model, introduced in 1976, was the first to use a galvanized steel body to combat rust.
What is the Porsche 911 SC? (Or the 911 2.7/3.0 generation)
This is the technical term for the small, usually sapphire, bubble over the date window on a watch crystal, most famously seen on Rolex models like the Datejust and Submariner.
What is a Cyclops?
This synthetic fragrance ingredient, invented in the late 19th century, is responsible for the "clean laundry" or "fresh linen" smell and is one of the most widely used molecules in modern perfumery.
What are aldehydes?
This is the name of the second distillation in the production of Scotch whisky, which results in a higher alcohol content and a cleaner spirit, separating it from the first "low wines" run.
What is the spirit run?
This luxury fashion house, known for its interlocking "G" logo, was founded in Florence, Italy, in 1921, and initially sold leather goods and luggage.
What is Gucci?
This Swedish car manufacturer was the first to install the now-ubiquitous "Lambda Sond" (Oxygen) sensor in its cars in 1976, a key component for modern fuel injection.
What is Volvo? (Specifically, the Volvo 240/260 series)
A "tourbillon" is a complex watch mechanism that counteracts the effects of gravity. This is the French word for the specific type of rotating cage that houses the balance wheel and escapement.
What is a cage?
This iconic men's fragrance, launched in 1988 by Christian Dior, is known for its fresh, woody, and slightly aquatic scent, and its name translates to "savage" or "wild" in French.
What is Dior Sauvage?
This type of rum, named after the French word for "agricultural," is made from fresh sugarcane juice rather than molasses, giving it a distinct, grassy, and vegetal flavor.
What is Rhum Agricole?
The iconic "swoosh" logo for Nike was designed in 1971 by a graphic design student for a fee of only $35.
Who is Carolyn Davidson?
The "MagneRide" suspension system, famous for its use in Ferraris and Corvettes, uses a special fluid filled with these tiny particles to change its viscosity almost instantly.
What are magnetorheological or ferrofluid particles?
The famous "Pepsi" and "Coke" bezels on GMT watches are named for their color scheme. This is the name of the specific two-tone color combination that is red and blue.
What is "Pepsi"?
This classic Guerlain fragrance, first created in 1929, is famous for being one of the first "oriental" fragrances and is known for its complex blend of vanilla, amber, and citrus, with a name that means "crazy" in French.
What is Guerlain Shalimar?
This famous Kentucky bourbon brand is known for its high-rye mashbill and its distinctive "wheated" expression, which uses wheat as the secondary grain instead of rye.
What is Maker's Mark?
This Swiss watchmaker, known for its rugged and precise tool watches, uses a five-pointed star as its logo, which is meant to represent the five attributes of a perfect watch: precision, robustness, water-resistance, legibility, and elegance.
What is Zenith?
While many know of the Porsche 911's "whale tail," this was the nickname for the even more extreme, larger rear wing found on the 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0.
What is the "whale tail"?
This is the official, non-nickname term for the red and black color scheme found on the bezels of some GMT watches, like the Rolex "Coke."
What is a "Root Beer" bezel?
This is the specific name for the waxy, fatty substance secreted by sperm whales, historically used as a fixative in perfumes but now largely replaced by synthetics like Ambroxan, and is the key note in many classic fragrances.
What is ambergris?
In the production of tequila, this is the term for the heart of the agave plant, which is harvested, roasted, and then crushed to extract the sugary juices for fermentation.
What is the piña?
The famous Rolls-Royce hood ornament, known as the "Spirit of Ecstasy," was originally commissioned in 1911. This is the name of the sculptor who created it.
Who is Charles Sykes?
This defunct British sports car manufacturer, known for its lightweight, Lotus Seven-inspired designs, had a model named the "Rocket" that, in its ultimate form, was powered by a 2.3L Ford Duratec engine and could out-accelerate a Ferrari F40.
What is Light Car Company?
This is the name of the extremely rare and valuable Omega Speedmaster model that was flight-qualified by NASA for the Apollo missions, but never used, primarily because its bulky case was deemed a hazard.
What is the Omega Speedmaster "Alaska" Project?
This legendary French perfume house, founded in 1760, is known for its exclusive and expensive fragrances like "Jicky" and "Mitsouko," and was the first to use synthetic ingredients in its compositions.
What is Guerlain?
This is the specific, legal term for a spirit that has been aged in oak containers for a minimum of two years, but less than four, and is a common designation for brandy and some whiskeys.
What is V.S.O.P.?
The "Bottle" logo for this premium American whiskey brand is a nod to the brand's namesake, a 19th-century physician who created a proprietary formula for a "tonic" that was actually a bourbon-based patent medicine.
What is Old Forester?