exPENsivePhotography

The Apres Ski is the latest and greatest offering in Sailors Cocktail Series.  All the fountain pens in the series are made in the Sailor Pro Gear model, and utilise the cartridge converter filling system.  The Apres Ski has been made in a Limited Edition run of 800, all the other pens in the Cocktail Series were made in a run of only 300.  I had been after a previous edition- the Blue Lagoon (2016), for some time, but alas never came across it on the secondary market.  The luminous finial and end cap being the main draw.

So when I saw the new Apres Ski, which has a similarly translucent barrel, but in a soft fresh green this time instead of soft mint blue, I had to grab it.  Out of all the pens in the series, the Apres Ski and the Blue Lagoon are the most similar looking, and to me desirable.  I managed to source the fountain pen after a bit of on-line digging around, and it arrived a few weeks after placing the order.  I think I may have paid just slightly more than retail, but not by much.  Here is mine…

The Apres Ski and Cocktail Series in general are, I believe, Japan- exclusives.  However, I may be wrong as I’m sure I saw the Piccadilly (2014 release), at nibs.com and Aesthetic Bay a while back.  I know the Blue Lagoon and Black Velvet (2013) were very sought after and sold out almost immediately.  Other cocktails in the list includes The Old Fashioned (2015)- Don Drapers choice, though I’m not sure how he would feel about lime and yellow, and The Mojita (2012) which is clear with a racing green section, finial and end cap.  I gathered information on this series by various threads on Fountain Pen Network, so please don’t quote me but I’m guessing the information is probably correct.

I also saw on Instagram someone had a newly released KOP, or rather King Profit called The Asian Way.  I had not heard of this cocktail before but I just looked it up on Google and it seems to consist of Lychee liqueur, syrup, ginger and lime over crushed ice, and mint sprig for garnish.  Sounds lovely but it doesn’t really resemble the Sailor tribute, which is a very dark midnight blue colour cap, barrel and section, with clear torpedo shape ends.  I believe, as with all KOP’s, it only comes with a Medium nib.  Speaking of which, the Apres Ski comes with a 21ct gold two-tone nib.  Mine is a Fine-Medium.  I believe it is only offered in F-M and Medium.  Here it is…

I think the two-tone nib complements the gold cap bands and general aesthetic of the pen nicely.

Here it is capped.  That jade colour is something else, I like to use the pen paired with Caran Dache Delicate Green.  I wish I had a Sailor ink to match but alas nothing in my stash compares.  I think I have a sample of Nagasawa Kobe Gakuen Toki Fresh Green somewhere, might give that a try…

The translucency of the material gives it a dreamy look.

I tried to capture the semi-transparency here…not very successfully. I think I need to get a decent zoom camera like Sony RX100 M5-this prime lens just ‘aint cutting it…

Notice the unusual finial…

Verdict:

One for the Sailor LE collectors out there.  That isn’t really me, but I just loved the look of this particular Sailor, and it sated my Blue Lagoon craving.  When the pen is capped I love the way the two-tone nib glimpses through the semi-transparent material.  The Fine-Medium nib is nothing special but no complaints either.  It is nice and wet at least, and suitable for journalling in my Hobonichi.  The Pro Gear generally is a very usable size, shape and weight, and I don’t mind cartridge converters either.  I really like the clear ends, and unlike the Blue Lagoon, the Apres Ski, despite its 80’s name, has a rather classic look to it.  A nice change from the more garish LE and SE Sailors out there.  I think its really the jade green material sailor uses here that seals it for me.  I’m glad I managed to grab this cocktail before they were sold out.

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Some bonus shot of some of my Sailor Pro Gear Slims…