Samourai Soundtrack

A great song from trip-hop's glory days in the '90s. The sample is from John Barry's soundtrack to The Ipcress File.

The Classic Harrington Jacket

One of the many great things about the Daniel Craig-era James Bond films is the return of 007 as a style icon. Consider, for example, the resurgence of interest in the classic Harrington-style jacket in the wake of Craig's use of one in Quantum of Solace.

Of course, the Harrington jacket has been around for decades. The original G9 Harrington was and is made by the U.K. firm Baracuta. The G9 was a favorite of the ultracool Steve McQueen.

The G9 doesn't come cheap. It's retails for a bit over $250. That's a bargain compared to the jacket used by Craig. Designed by Tom Ford, it runs at least four times as much, a nice sum for a casual cotton jacket.




For the rest of us, the renewed interest in the Harrington has led to more affordable options, such as the one at left by Land's End Canvas, or the one below by Old Navy.

Neither have anything near the panache of the famous Baracuta, but they are a touch more attainable!

More PPK Coolness

George Clooney in The American.

The Walther PPK

What can be said about the venerable Walther PPK?

A fair amount of bad things, actually. It's an arguably obsolete design, with a questionable safety system. The slide can cut into a shooter's hand. And the 7.65mm caliber? Rather anemic, despite the claim of having a "delivery like a brick through a plate glass window."

And yet... I'd still love to own one. Yes, of course the Bond mystique has something to do with it. It would be a lie to say otherwise. While Connery was of course the first 007 actor to be armed with the PPK, I must say Daniel Craig's handling of this venerable pistol in Quantum of Solace has elevated my Walther-lust to new levels.

Of course, James Bond wasn't the only fictional hero who utilized the PPK. In the TV show "Magnum, P.I.," Thomas Magnum sometimes used a PPK as a backup to his .45acp 1911.

Interestingly, this same combo--1911 as primary weapon, with PPK as backup--was also the same combo used by Val Kilmer's character in the vastly underrated film Spartan.

The PPK is also just a gorgeous firearm, with smooth, classic lines. That's probably why it remains so popular both in fiction and with shooters 80 years after it was first introduced.

Literary Bond Returns!

Jeffrey Deaver's first crack at a James Bond novel, Carte Blanche, will be released in a few months. I'm looking forward to it, though with some hesitation.

With the strong exception of Kingley Amis's excellent Colonel Sun, none of the post-Fleming Bond novels have really impressed me. John Gardener's books had their moments, and Gardener was certainly a decent writer, but I have my doubts as to how much he really understood Bond. Raymond Benson seemed to get Bond, but just isn't a very good writer.

I've never read Deaver, but he is apparently a Bond fan, which is a good sign.
As to the title... rather bland. Sorry, but "Carte Blanche" just brings to mind a credit card no one uses anymore.

Samourai Travels: Ischia

Ischia is an island off the coast of Naples, and is sort of a poor-man's Capri. No matter; I spent a day there once and loved it. I fondly recall relaxing at the beach before having pizza at a seaside restaurant where a couple of Italian-speaking mynah birds lived. They said "buon giorno!" to anyone who passed by.

Samourai Soundtrack

The Ipcress File Opening

My favorite spy film is The Ipcress File. I love the music, the weird camera work, the off-kilter dialogue, and of course Michael Caine as Harry Palmer. As much as I love Bond, in some ways I relate more to Palmer as a character

Here is the movie's opening, which I find brilliant on its own. Great John Barry soundtrack.

Today's Femme Fatale

A lovely lady and a glass of bubbly... an unbeatable combination!

Samourai Soundtrack

Le Samourai's Watch

While I fully respect the beauty and craftsmanship of fine Swiss brands such as Rolex and Omega, I must admit to having a real love of Seikos, especially the automatic divers. They are well-made, with fantastic lumes that seem to glow forever.
My first Seiko was a 009 Pepsi.

A few years ago I purchased a Seiko Black Monster, which has barely left my wrist since.

While Seiko may not have the quite the panache of some of the Swiss makes, it's good enough for me, and for Rufus Excalibur ffolkes!

Samourai Travels: Positano

In the summer of 2001, I had the good fortune of spending an hour or two in Positano while exploring the amazing Amalfi Coast. Despite my very limited time there, I still remember what a glorious place it was.

Le Samourai's Gin

Gin aficionados these days are prone to look down their juniper-loving noses at brands other than Bombay Sapphire, Plymouth, Boodles, and so on. Not me. I retain a strong preference for good, old-fashioned Beefeater. There's just something about the balance of botanicals that appeals to me. And the traditionalist in me still likes the fact Beefeater is a true London gin, manufactured in Kensington.

I'm not the only one with a fondness for this fine, underrated gin. Famed spirits and beer guru Michael Jackson said it was his favorite for gin and tonics. Some friends of mine back when I lived in Washington, D.C. held a blind tasting party, and found that Beefeater consistently beat pricier brands such as Bombay and Tanqueray. And finally, the Beverage Testing Institute gave Beefeater a score of 93 out of 100, and had this to say:

Clear with a nickel cast. Complex, layered aromas of fresh lemon cream pie, subtle floral juniper, and honeyed herbs and spices follow super smooth and round entry leads to a fruity medium-full body with excellent depth and balance. Finishes with creamy vanilla bean, brown spice, and pink peppercorn fade. A delicious, vibrant and instantly appealing gin for all occasions.

I couldn't agree more.

Today's Femme Fatale

Samourai Soundtrack

A good show with a great theme.

The Ludlow Suit

The next suit I buy will most likely be made-to-measure, but I must admit to really liking the Ludlow suits at J. Crew, especially this one.

Today's Femme Fatale

Sleek Lady with a Sleek Pistol

I always thought the Sig P230/P232 would be a good spy gun. Evelyn Salt obviously agrees.

Today's Femme Fatale

Le Samourai's Martini

Despite being a fan of the Bond films, I rarely drink vodka martinis. I prefer the more traditional gin route. The martinis I make at home are inspired by a recipe from Mr. Martini's excellent "Behind the Bar Show." Specifically...

2 oz. gin (I like good old-fashioned Beefeater)

0.5 oz dry vermouth (Noilly Prat, the original dry vermouth)

a splash of orange bitters

Shaken over ice, served in a chilled cocktail glass with a twist of lemon

The orange bitters really takes the martini over the edge. It's not something I would have thought of, and I credit Mr. Martini with this valuable addition.