Star Bar (Houjou) - Seiko Presage doesn’t get the love it deserves!
Why is it that the Presage line doesn’t get more attention here on WatchCrunch? I see a ton of posts on Seiko 5’s, Prospex'es, SARB’s, etc., etc. But, why no wrist shots of Presage's? The Cocktail Time line strikes me as absolutely gorgeous. The dials are fantastic. The colors are creative. And who doesn’t love alcohol? Especially cocktails! I EFF'ING LOVE cocktails!
[This drink is the Smoked Bourbon Bijou - the current favorite]
Star Bar! Love it or hate it, can you name another watch that looks like the Star Bar? it is by far and away the most “luxury” looking of all my watches. Quite an accomplishment at its price point of $495!
If I can’t convince you of the incredible value proposition of the Presage line and the cocktail time collection, at the very least, let me share all the cocktail recipes I’ve collected over the years - every time my wife and I go out and order a specialty cocktail that we both love, I immediately go home and try to reverse engineer it. Below is my list of reverse engineered cocktails. Enjoy, friends! As our brother, @Jamair23, says, “Stay thirsty, my friends."
Basil Martini
2.25 oz vodka
0.75 oz St. Germain
0.375 oz lemon
0.375 oz simple syrup
10 basil leaves, fully pulverized via mortar and pestle
Minty Blood Orange Gimlet
1.5 oz vodka
1 oz simple syrup
0.5 oz lime juice
1/2 blood orange juice
Mint
Berry Martini
3 raspberries & 3 blackberries
1.5 oz vodka
0.375 oz crème de cassis
0.75 oz lemon juice
0.75 oz simple syrup
The Red Queen
Splash of cranberry
1.5 oz gin
0.75 oz St. Germain
0.75 oz simple syrup
0.375 oz lemon
Big Trouble
1.5 oz bourbon
0.75 oz lemon
0.375 oz simple syrup
1 tsp ginger syrup
Dash of Angostura bitters
Lavender lemon drop
2 oz lavender-infused vodka
1 oz orange liqueur
1 oz simple syrup
1 oz lemon juice
The Lusty Lady
2 oz gin
0.5 oz lime juice
0.5 oz simple syrup
1 oz pomegranate juice
2-3 dashes lavender bitters
Cucumber Ginger Gimlet
3 slices of cucumber
0.5 oz simple syrup
2 oz gin
0.75 oz lime juice
1 tsp ginger syrup
Strawberry Ginger Mojito
6 mint leaves
2 ripe strawberries, quartered
1.5 oz light rum
1 tsp. ginger syrup
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
Grand Smash
1.5 oz Grand Marnier
4 chunks lemon
6 mint leaves
Minty Lemon Verbena Gimlet
6 mint leaves
6 lemon verbena leaves
2 oz gin
1 oz lime juice
0.75 oz simple syrup
French 75
1 oz gin
0.75 oz lemon juice
0.75 oz simple syrup
3 oz champagne
Cardamom Ginger Martini
2 oz cardamom-infused gin
Ginger syrup
1 oz green vermouth
1 oz lemon juice
2 dashes angostura bitters
0.5 oz simple syrup
Mango Bellini
4 oz mango nectar
4 oz champagne
1 tsp grenadine
Minty Watermelon
2 oz watermelon juice
1.5 oz vodka
1 oz lime juice
0.5 oz simple syrup
Mint
Summer Gypsy
4 oz rose
1 oz gin
1 oz rose syrup
1 oz lemon juice
Condominium of Charm
1.5 oz chili-infused tequila
0.75 oz lime juice
1/2 blood orange
1 oz simple syrup
Fig & Fennel
0.5 oz fig-infused vodka
1 oz anise seed infused vodka
0.75 oz vodka
1.5 oz St. Germain
2 dashes lavender bitters
2 oz seltzer water
1 oz simple syrup
1/2 small fresh lemon
Friendship Garden
1.5 oz bourbon
1.5 oz simple syrup
1/2 lemon
1 strawberry
Toasted sesame
Maple Port Old Fashioned
1.5 oz bourbon
0.75 oz Bin 27 Port
1 tsp maple syrup
1 dash Angostura bitters
Cinnamon
Anejo Old Fashioned
3 oz tequila anejo
Dash of Aperol
Cinnamon
Cardamom
Dash of orange bitters
0.5 oz simple syrup
Smoked Bourbon Bijou
3 oz bourbon
0.25 oz yellow chartreuse
0.25 oz Suze
0.25 oz Sweet Vermouth
0.75 oz simple syrup
Dash of orange bitters or orange twist
Smoke under cloche for 2 minutes
After Hours
0.25 oz Fernet Branca
0.75 oz green chartreuse
1 oz lime juice
0.75 oz simple syrup
The Artist formerly known as @HotWatchChick69 and formerly-formerly @Omeganut
More from Mr.Dee.Bater
I thought you were talking about this for a second mate. Here's a recipe for my favouritecocktail. Half a pint of Carling and half a pint of lemonade. Little bit of ice, served inside a Stella Artois glass. Et vóila!
My next watch will be a Presage likely this one:
I'd assume this is because
a. the tool watch crew doesn't care about dress watches
b. the dress watch crew cares about fancy horology or heritage mumbo jumbo
c. It's in that price range where only real GADA watches get much notice anyway, aka Jan Brady mid-range syndrome for the brand
d. Cock huhuhuh tail huhuhuh
Yes! I too ❤️ me some Presage cocktail line. My ”HouJou” arrived Saturday and definitely gives my collection a beautiful color!! I’m also looking for the “matcha” one as well so if you guys see one please point me to that direction 😁
I thought you were talking about this for a second mate. Here's a recipe for my favouritecocktail. Half a pint of Carling and half a pint of lemonade. Little bit of ice, served inside a Stella Artois glass. Et vóila!
Dude, you drink alcohol??? What's the legal drinking age in the UK?
The laws are absolutely ridiculous here in the US. Actually, now that I think about it, laws everywhere all over the world are absolutely ridiculous. When I was a kid, our parents would give my cousins and me a teaspoon of the following every now and then.
And, back then, it had alcohol in it! My cousins and I didn't know it at the time - all we knew was that it was delicious!
Definitely agree! I am not sure why we don't see more about Presage, but I love my Cocktail Time SRPD37.
I am thinking of adding a SARY193
I love the vintage look of this one!
My next watch will be a Presage likely this one:
Dude, once you get it, share the recipe for that drink!
Dude, once you get it, share the recipe for that drink!
LOL. Does it come with a recipe? I'm not a drinker (health/religious reasons), but will share it if it does.
100% agree. Great line of watches. Great dials
I know "open-heart" isn't for everyone but I like it... which is why I bought it funnily enough
I share your feeling of "Injustice" about the Presage line.
The posts related to the Presage line are usually related to subjects like "I want to gift my nephew an affordable watch for his graduation, any suggestion?" and then the Presage line comes up to the conversation.
They are rarely portrayed as a deliberate decision to acquire one piece to the collection. I own 4 Presage models and I couldn't be happier about them:
https://www.watchcrunch.com/thiago/reviews/seiko-sarw013-review-796
https://www.watchcrunch.com/thiago/reviews/seiko-sarx055-review-7213
Dude, you drink alcohol??? What's the legal drinking age in the UK?
The laws are absolutely ridiculous here in the US. Actually, now that I think about it, laws everywhere all over the world are absolutely ridiculous. When I was a kid, our parents would give my cousins and me a teaspoon of the following every now and then.
And, back then, it had alcohol in it! My cousins and I didn't know it at the time - all we knew was that it was delicious!
There are a hell of a lot of loopholes. For example, at 16 I can have a cool and refreshing beverage in a pub or restaurant, providing I am accompanied by an adult and they are the ones handing over the money. I am not allowed to drink spirits as I am under 18. It is illegal for me to buy alcohol, and it is illegal for me to drink it in a public space, unless it is the above. I am not allowed to ask my parent to go into a shop and buy me booze, but it is perfectly legal for them to go into a shop, buy a 4 pack for them and then allow me to have one. I am allowed to drink in a private space (eg home). Its madness
Oh good - you provided a drinks menu. I’ll get started on that whilst you all talk Seiko.
Who is my ride home?
@Omeganut in the UK it is 18, but you can drink supervised in a pub with a meal from younger than that. However, because we live in the UK, we all start drinking much earlier just to cope with the weather, and everything else that entails with living here, including being British.
Great watches for sure. I think over the past few years they have really ramped up the line to provide many watches for different tastes. Personally, I believe the cocktail times are still some of the best of the whole model line.
I remember getting into watches and many people had the blueish cocktail time. The Starbar is probably my favorite of the bunch (from what I have seen up to now) that dial is stunning.
EDIT: Also very kind of you to share your drink mixes with us!
Oh good - you provided a drinks menu. I’ll get started on that whilst you all talk Seiko.
Who is my ride home?
@Omeganut in the UK it is 18, but you can drink supervised in a pub with a meal from younger than that. However, because we live in the UK, we all start drinking much earlier just to cope with the weather, and everything else that entails with living here, including being British.
In Wales, where the sun only shines on TV (A-ha reference there) We get Brains SA (Welsh Beer) on tap at the breast.
100% agree. Great line of watches. Great dials
I know "open-heart" isn't for everyone but I like it... which is why I bought it funnily enough
Dude... you changed your profile pic? Is that you when you were young? With those flowing brown locks, you could have been a member of Bon Jovi!
I LOVE the Cocktail Time series and my wife and I have several of them. I spent a couple months tracking the Star Bar LE's down, and I had some drama buying from int'l sellers, but it was worth it in the end. The Houjou is definitely my favorite, but the Manhattan is close behind. And my wife loves her Kir Royal and snags my Blue Moon regularly.
I agree these are some fantastic watches and would recommend them to anyone looking for a dressy automatic with a little flair.
@Omeganut I may take you up on that offer next time I'm down in SD. I love me some bourbon, and would really like to try your "Bijou"... but I'm not a fan of drink recipes that make you put together a shopping list 😀 So if you'll mix, I'll bring the bourbon
Dude! Do it! We can get drunk together and geek out over watches, while our wives roll their eyes.
But, no need to bring bourbon. Because invariably you'd end up bringing a really nice bottle of bourbon, and we're just gonna mix that with a bunch of simply syrup and other stuff that would totally overwhelm the subtly of the nice bourbon anyway!
1.75L bottle of Costco Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey costs like $20! It'll be perfect for our purposes!
We'll do one of each of the following as a taste testing, and see which one is our favorite:
Big Trouble
1.5 oz bourbon
0.75 oz lemon
0.375 oz simple syrup
1 tsp ginger syrup
Dash of Angostura bitters
Friendship Garden
1.5 oz bourbon
1.5 oz simple syrup
1/2 lemon
1 strawberry
Toasted sesame
Maple Port Old Fashioned
1.5 oz bourbon
0.75 oz Bin 27 Port
1 tsp maple syrup
1 dash Angostura bitters
Cinnamon
Smoked Bourbon Bijou
3 oz bourbon
0.25 oz yellow chartreuse
0.25 oz Suze
0.25 oz Sweet Vermouth
0.5 oz simple syrup
Dash of orange bitters or orange twist
Smoke under cloche for 2 minutes
Paper Plane
1 oz bourbon
Dash of amaro
0.25 oz aperol
0.75 oz lemon juice
0.75 oz simple syrup
Dude! Do it! We can get drunk together and geek out over watches, while our wives roll their eyes.
But, no need to bring bourbon. Because invariably you'd end up bringing a really nice bottle of bourbon, and we're just gonna mix that with a bunch of simply syrup and other stuff that would totally overwhelm the subtly of the nice bourbon anyway!
1.75L bottle of Costco Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey costs like $20! It'll be perfect for our purposes!
We'll do one of each of the following as a taste testing, and see which one is our favorite:
Big Trouble
1.5 oz bourbon
0.75 oz lemon
0.375 oz simple syrup
1 tsp ginger syrup
Dash of Angostura bitters
Friendship Garden
1.5 oz bourbon
1.5 oz simple syrup
1/2 lemon
1 strawberry
Toasted sesame
Maple Port Old Fashioned
1.5 oz bourbon
0.75 oz Bin 27 Port
1 tsp maple syrup
1 dash Angostura bitters
Cinnamon
Smoked Bourbon Bijou
3 oz bourbon
0.25 oz yellow chartreuse
0.25 oz Suze
0.25 oz Sweet Vermouth
0.5 oz simple syrup
Dash of orange bitters or orange twist
Smoke under cloche for 2 minutes
Paper Plane
1 oz bourbon
Dash of amaro
0.25 oz aperol
0.75 oz lemon juice
0.75 oz simple syrup
Brah!!! Where's my invite?! 🤔😥 LOL 😂 I lived in La Jolla San Diego for almost 6 years. Man I miss playing at Torrey Pines 😢 And BTW ... The Seiko Cocktail is a Fantastic watch 🤙🏽
Brah!!! Where's my invite?! 🤔😥 LOL 😂 I lived in La Jolla San Diego for almost 6 years. Man I miss playing at Torrey Pines 😢 And BTW ... The Seiko Cocktail is a Fantastic watch 🤙🏽
Dude! Invite goes without saying! I had no idea that you were a San Diegan. You should come on back. It's cold out there in the icy north where you are!
In Wales, where the sun only shines on TV (A-ha reference there) We get Brains SA (Welsh Beer) on tap at the breast.
I'd love to get Brains SA in Wales!! 😂
Too funny. Wife and I didn't start drinking until the ripe ol' age of 40 or so. Young kids at home will do that to you.
And we started out with only sweet cocktails. Meanwhile, we'd watch in horror as her dad would sit and drink glass after glass of bourbon. Yuck.
Nowadays... I can sit around drinking straight scotch and I love it!
I've really come to the conclusion that EVERYTHING bad is actually good for you. Alcohol, drugs, TV, Internet, steak and eggs... EVERYTHING I was told as a child that is bad for you is an unalloyed good!
Funny - I’ve had somewhat of an opposite response. Lol Have a young kid at home has… “encouraged“ my wife and I to enjoy an LA microbrew or two many nights. Smog City is a favorite, as is Brouerij West in San Pedro. we even taught our kiddo “cheers” So he‘ll excitedly walk over and clink our pint glass with his sippy cup. #parenting
I'd assume this is because
a. the tool watch crew doesn't care about dress watches
b. the dress watch crew cares about fancy horology or heritage mumbo jumbo
c. It's in that price range where only real GADA watches get much notice anyway, aka Jan Brady mid-range syndrome for the brand
d. Cock huhuhuh tail huhuhuh
That sounds exactly spot on. I wonder, do you think the Cock huhuhuh tail huhuhuh time line sells well in Japan? Maybe there, folks aren't so fixated on the whole "tool watch" thing? I don't have any experience with Japan!
Funny - I’ve had somewhat of an opposite response. Lol Have a young kid at home has… “encouraged“ my wife and I to enjoy an LA microbrew or two many nights. Smog City is a favorite, as is Brouerij West in San Pedro. we even taught our kiddo “cheers” So he‘ll excitedly walk over and clink our pint glass with his sippy cup. #parenting
Amazing! But, here's the possible explanation: I'm guessing you and your wife were smarter than us and started on the whole family thing at a younger age than we did. We didn't get going until 38. So, now, we have a 9 year-old and a 6 year-old, and we're both 47 and have ZERO energy for anything.
So, is my hypothesis correct?
Unbeatable watch at twice the price. Also, thanks for sharing the drink recipes. I look forward to the blackouts in my future.
Unbeatable watch at twice the price. Also, thanks for sharing the drink recipes. I look forward to the blackouts in my future.
Come on! If I'm not mistaken, from your profile pic, there is no way that you're a day over 25. You're fresh out of binge drinking in college, man! You should be able to hold your liquor better than any of us!
Amazing! But, here's the possible explanation: I'm guessing you and your wife were smarter than us and started on the whole family thing at a younger age than we did. We didn't get going until 38. So, now, we have a 9 year-old and a 6 year-old, and we're both 47 and have ZERO energy for anything.
So, is my hypothesis correct?
your hypothesis is, in fact, correct! we started about 6 years earlier than you. Still feel like we have no energy, though! I’ll be in trouble when I hit 38 with a 6 year old!
Always loved star bar and it’s fore-bearers (my old SARB RBG !)
Lately I’m on a waterproof kick … but I will likely crack soon and get a starbar however impractical for me it is.
cocktail night sounds like a hoot! You should totally have to drink whatever version of the watch you have. Irrespective of its awfulness.
And Yeah starting late is a bit tougher - 52 with a 9 year old here. 👴🏻🥱😴
Always loved star bar and it’s fore-bearers (my old SARB RBG !)
Lately I’m on a waterproof kick … but I will likely crack soon and get a starbar however impractical for me it is.
cocktail night sounds like a hoot! You should totally have to drink whatever version of the watch you have. Irrespective of its awfulness.
And Yeah starting late is a bit tougher - 52 with a 9 year old here. 👴🏻🥱😴
Dude! You are ancient! Do you even have the strength in your arms to life your child???
Is presage wearable on a 6.1” wrist?
Is presage wearable on a 6.1” wrist?
Only way to know for sure is if you try on it yourself and see if you like the fit! I would say "yes," but I also tend to like watches that are larger on my wrist!