Drew is so right about the Benu. I never wanted one because I found them too loud, but then they launched the Earl Grey. I think the beauty about Benu is that they create pens you can connect with, and at the same time they keep their design style that has made them so recognizable. I'm pretty sure most tea people like me feel the same way about the Benu Earl Grey, and sooner or later it will find a way into their collection.
@@jadeturtledesigns I understand what you mean, but also remember hand turned pens can be even more expensive. Pens with facets are hard to produce, and Benu uses custom resins they have to do research and development to create. I have a handful of Benu pens, and they all write great. I'm unsure if they tune nibs to ensure consistent writing quality, but they nevertheless write well.
I just want to say thank you Brian for being so into pens and being enthusiastic about it. I’ve watched your videos since 2014 on and off and you got me into pens and I love them! It’s one of my favorite hobbies I have. You have no idea what that means to me,so thank you
My first Benu was the Earl Grey. I’m a big tea drinker and knowing that they actually put tea in the resin was mind-blowing. That put such a beautiful pen over the top for me and I had to have it!
The Benu Earl Grey is now at the top of my wish list! I confess that I have a Benu already, but I drink Earl Grey tea every day, and that pen is so gorgeous that I must have it!
I used Kaweco Sports for about 9 months (my first venture into fountain pens) until y'all showed up in my suggested videos with the Benu Iced Caramel Latte. Being a coffee fan, I purchased one and I LOVE it! I have since purchased many more fountain pens from you and am so happy to have made new friends with you guys this year. Thank you for doing what you do and being so awesome at it! Happy 2024 Goulet Team!
I love love love my Esterbrook Esties. I have the Ferris Wheel Press Colab Nebulous Plume, the Maui, and the Raven. The Raven is absolutely my favorite pen I own. For the Kakimori stainless steel (barrel) dip nib, it took a hot minute to really get used to vs a traditional dip nib or glass, but talk about cool for illustration and artwork.
Great list! Just got my Benu Earl Grey. When I saw your intro, it convinced me it was time to get my first Benu, before that I though they were a little too loud. When I got it last week It was a joy. It's a beauty and a pleasure to look at. Right now I have it paired with Diamine Ancient Copper and it is a pleasure to write with. I ordered some other inks Winter Spice being one of them to see if the ink pairing could be even better, but Ancient Copper is pretty spot on. I also bought the Lamy All Star in Petrol and Lilac, and either is one of my daily carries. I have the Mythos and the Magna Carta on my wish list. I already have the Pilot E95s and a Vanishing point. I love both but tend to use the E95s more. PILOT makes some of the sweetest nibs out there. I want to try a Vanishing Point with a stub nib, but need to wait until more colors come back into stock with a stub. Also want a Pilot falcon or FA nib, just havent decided on what pen. This has been a wonderful fountan pen year and your pencasts have prompted many a new pen and ink on to my wishlists. Thanks for all your great videos!
You initially hooked me into the fountain pen world with your TWSBI complete pen collection. I now own two TWSBI Eco pens and just ordered a Lamy Joy with a 1.9 nib and the Organic Studio Nitrogen ink. I'm a retired graphic designer who used to spend his lunches at art stores, checking out what's new-and purchasing it! (in every color, when available...), so I am attracted to intricate design and colors. BTW, one of the TWSBI pens I own happens to be the indigo with the bronze trim. What makes that pen even more interesting is the color ink choice. The first ink I loaded in it was the Ferris Wheel Press Frivolous Lime which looked pretty cool. But I now have Noodler's Dragon's Fire ink loaded, and the dark amber ink looks alive in the barrel even before writing with it...
Brian is spot on about the Pilot Custom Urushi. I finally purchased one in 2023 after wanting one for a long time. It’s the largest pen in my collection (the Emperor is too large for me) and I believe it may be the very best nib I own. Flawless.
The Iced Caramel Latte was my first Benu and I loved it. I just recently received the Earl Gray and I love it too! I wish I'd gotten the Cookies and Cream. Hate I missed that one.
I bought a very beautiful and very pricey Sailor pen but...I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. So it sat in my pen case for months. Until very recently, I started wanting to write with a very Fine nib. Most of my pens are M, B, BB, Stub, Flex -- nice inky nibs with thick line weights! I remembered that I had a F nib pen. So I got out the Sailor, inked it up, and now I have the perfect F nib in a beautiful colorway, lightweight, just beautiful!
Thank you for sharing some fun stories of BENU's creative process! Knowing that they put actual tea leaves in and that they attempted sprinkles says a lot of about their passion :) I would love to try and own a pen someday!
I never connected to the refreshment collection until the Earl Grey came out. I live in the land of premium tea, Sri Lanka, and it is my favorite beverage. Now I need to save up to get one to me.
Great list guys! I've got both the Iced Caramel Latte and Earl Gray and love them. Wished I could have gotten the Rainbow Slushie and Cookies and Cream. Sangria is next on my wishlist.
I’m one of those who thought, I’ll never buy a Benu! Then, Iced Caramel Latte! And I love the pen. And, oh, my-Earl Grey is at the top of my wish list. It looks so beautiful. Yum for refreshment!
I’m enjoying my TWSBI ECO-BRZ in a 1.1 stub. As a lefty-overwriter, the Jowo nib is smooth and adds character to the ink I lay down on the page. I agree, when used with Iroshizuku Tsuki-yo, the color match looks amazing sloshing around with that blue color and the golden-bronze highlights. Mmm, good!
Enjoyed the video, but I had to laugh when Drew talked about the $200 Visconti Mythos as an entry level pen. I will never be able to bring myself to spend that much on a pen. My wife would kill me if I ever did. So to me, the Mythos is not an entry level pen, regardless of how much the manufacturer's other pens cost. On the other hand, that TWSBI Eco with bronze trim keeps calling to me.
Busy time of the year, so I‘m way behind on watching! Thank you for all your work and the incredible effort you put into these videos. I will join in the massed chorus singing your praises! Goulet Pens is not just your everyday retailer; the company and the people are truly unique. Now all I have to do is figure out how to rig the drawing of the lotto numbers so that I finally have the resources to buy all the pens you have that I want. I think my collection would start to approach the size of Brian‘s. A very happy, prosperous, and healthy New Year to all of you!
11:57 The Lamy ALStar petrol is one of my favorite pens period! This is one of my favorite colors. I acquired both this pen and the TWSBI Diamond 580 in Prussian blue. It’s my other favorite. Both have fine nibs, my favorite nib even if I’m a low key nib chameleon.
I bought the Delta Duna Reflex Grey from you guys about 3 months ago. It's a nice pen. Looks great. Not my favourite in my collection but it's up there. I'm interested in the Mag 600, and hope to get in soon(ish).
Blue is my favorite color and that bronze trim is absolutely stunning. Still have it in my cart with a few other things and watching tons od your videos to see what else before I send in my order haha.
Drew you are so right about Benu! The first pens I saw were the Sceptors and not my thing, but I found the Armenian Pomegranate Wine and fell in love. Now it is one of my favorite becasue it not only looks fantastic, but writes like a dream. I'm always looking out for what they come with next so I can add another Benu to my collection and was excited when you showed your new exclusive. Just ordered Earl Grey and excited to ink it up. So if you have not found "your" Benu yet, just wait.. they will come up with something that tickles your fancy.
Being an Armenian baseball fan from Detroit, I just had to have the Benu Tiger Eye. it It did not disappoint. I have it inked up with Diamine Antique Copper and it's currently my go-to pen for just about everything. I look forward to your episodes. Thanks and Happy New Year.
I bought my first BENU (Confetti Milkshake) and Estie (Botanical Garden w a journaler nib) from you guys. Didn’t disappoint! And the Tootsie Pops were a plus! 🍭😋 Still eyeing the Iced Caramel Latte and the Nouveau Bleu w yet another journalier nib from your shop! ✨
2023 is the year I turned the corner from a lifelong fountain pen user to a collector as well. My Delta Celluloid is a fave purchase with a high end feel and writing experience. Benu was a surprising hit and I absolutely love writing with these. The writing experience is wonderful and they give me such joy when I look at them. I also learned that you cannot have too many TWSBI Eco pens. It’s been a fun year of writing.
Definitely purchased a couple of these in 2023 and 1 this year. Lamy AL-Star Petrol, Benu Euphoria Christmas edition, and just bought a Sailor Pro Gear Northern Lights. It would be nice if Sailor would sell extra nibs because I wasn't able to get the zoom nib. I do love both the Lamy and Benu so far.
I am a Benu fan and have purchased 4 this month, all from Goulet which is my go to online pen shop, when I’m in the US. To say I have a slight fountain pen and generally anything stationery addiction is probably an understatement and certainly my bank balance can vouch for that. I have recently purchased a selection of the Pilot Explorer, I know these are also a favourite of Drew. I have to say they are great. I am a fan of the Pencast and look forward to all of your really informative videos
I purchased a maroon Pilot E95S from you this year, and it quickly became my main everyday writer. I love the classic design, and it feels so great on paper! Thanks for the fun year-end roundup!!
Hey Guys!: 2023 was a GREAT year in the fountain pen universe! I want to give a shout out to a pen that didn't make the list, the TWSBI Kai! That is one superb pen! Looking forward to see what 2024 brings us!
absolutely with you on the Pilot custom 743: mine’s an EF nib which suits me as I’ve got small handwriting:); the Sailor hocoro F dip nib is just wonderful:)
Did they just show us a list of the Delta comeback WITHOUT including a picture of the orange DV? Literally the only pen I think of when I think Delta???
Although I totally agree with your choice of Benu Euphoria at the top; Earl Grey isn’t really the one that does it for me. The painted bird series they have done is just amazing! The Swallow, the Hummingbird and the Flamingo are great. I have no idea it is a series btw; but I hope it will continue in 2024 as well😊… and on the higher end of the spectrum: although Pilot Custom Urushi has always been a winner in my collection - and I finally could get the vermillion one this year as well 🎉 -, I think this was a Taccia year for me. That is the one brand that I kept coming back too. Thanks for a great video yet again and happy new year!
That's a good list, I have one that's on it (and a couple of the honourable mentions)... but I wonder if you spilled some heavily spiked egg-nog on your sweaters and are affected by fumes? How the Pelikan Souverän M600 Art Collection - Glauco Cambon Special Edition didn't make the list at all is baffling. I thought it would be number 1. As far as I know, this was the only fountain pen to introduce a completely new method of crafting a decorated pen barrel with their new Aurora Process. Not only is the pen gorgeous, the process itself is something new that should be recognized for the innovation it is. This was the most impressive release by Pelikan in years, and that's saying a lot considering some of the beautiful pens they've put out in the past... but this one is a leap ahead. Maybe it will make next year's list? Thanks for the always interesting videos!
They've explained several times that they don't sell Montblanc because they aren't a brick and mortar store. I highly doubt they will be selling Montblanc anytime soon
I and a friend of mine both had to return our mag600 pens as they did not write properly at all. Very disappointing. I also received two defective caps on the Visconti mythos mirage! I love the pen but the quality control on the cap is terrible where the cap is not closing and just falls off the pen. I returned three but only kept two that were replaced with caps that actually closed on the pen.
My only gripe with Benu is the lack of gold hardware on pens where it makes sense. Earl grey is a prime example of a pen that should have had gold hardware.
That was my same feeling, the Earl Grey needed a gold clip and maybe a bicolor nib. That would go so much better with the golden brown in the body and the gold glitter.
My wishlist for 2023 was a benu euphoria that i fell in love with. Took nearly all year byt then when the earl grey launched I had to get it right away and I love it!! I am also one of the people who saw Drews visconti mythos video and picked up the aphrodite, and now the athena
Great top! That Visconti model looks really expensive, but it's not so much! Was thinking Conklin Misto would be more popular, it's a nice resin (not sure about the nib quality control, though). Thank you for this entertaining half an hour, Brian & Drew! Wish you a lovely 2024!
I definitely ran down this list with my purchase history this year. The Mirage Mythos is a great pen, and the Iced Caramel Latte had my number from the day it was released.
Where have you been getting the amazing Christmas sweaters? Especially the Jaws sweaters. I have nine Benu pens, and treasure each one; beauty and functionality in one.
I love my Benu pens! I have 2…they are attention getters and write so well. Kudos to Benu! I love the sparkle and bling. Looking forward to what they come up with next!
I love love love the BENU pen designs (I have 2😊) but I like the Japanese EF nibs for my day to day writing so I can’t really justify having too many. If I could get them with a Japanese EF nib on them my wallet would really be in trouble… I got my Pilot e95s used and it’s an EF but to me it feels more like an F. Is it just a wet pen or maybe it’s a side effect of being used? Did Drew just call a $200 pen an entry level pen? I’m ded😂
@@Gouletpens ah yes, I think i get it now. I saw something 'strange' but didn't remember what I usually see. Now I remember there is a specific pencast thingy. Cool.
"You thought you weren't gonna get a Benu and then that pen showed up and you had to get a Benu" Literally the Earl Grey for me. I was giving it puppy dog eyes for so long that my partner was like "Do I need to get you that for Christmas"
I was gutted that I missed out on the Edison. I had it in my cart and by the time I was ready to check out, it was sold out. Oh well, you snooze, you lose!
My discovery of 2023 is the Good Blue L130, especially with their Zoom nib. I know I don't get a vote, but I wish you would consider carrying them. I need another...
Brian! Is that a GAS-100B on your wrist! 🤙I heard your podcast where you said you only have one. Is this the one? Very nice man! As if pens weren't enough, I match my pens to my G's.. daily. 😅
Benu used to look like the expression of what constitutes a manic episode in the form of a pen. THEN....I saw the Boody Mary.....I even see the earl gray.....pity I missed the Bourbon: wanting 3 pens at once as a normal not in the business person? It's good to have nice people determined to make us all enjoy their wild and wonderful pens.
I loved this list and hope everyone gets to experience these pens first hand. Hey yall, one Benu is going to peak your interest and then you will understand why they are what they are. The dip pens are my next purchase and more ink samples to narrow down my ink prefrence. Have fun and be safe everybody
Sure can. The Vanishing Point was one I purchased before I encountered Goulet Pen. So learned about paper post Vanishing Point. So it's been used a lot on steno tablets and works just fine. But writing on better paper is a nicer experience. But if you want the fountain pen experience and the instant joy of a click and use it in class with school notebooks, GO FOR IT. It is a great pen and does work really well on school paper.
I wanted to give you guys a heads up. My wife wants a Benu Rainbow Slushy and she is gearing up for battle. 😂. Probably in your best interest to do another run of those before you wake up with a woman standing over you in rainbow glitter fatigues threatening you with a spear tipped with a number 10 nib! Best of luck to you guys. I can’t stop her at this point. Her mania has gone too far.
Rainbow Slushie is gone for good, but you should see if she likes BENU's True Unicorn over at Gourmet Pens: gourmetpensshop.com/products/benu-talisman-true-unicorn-fountain-pen-gourmet-pens-exclusive?_pos=1&_psq=unicorn&_ss=e&_v=1.0
I won’t get a Benu even if one grabs me because they don’t include a stub or cursive nib in their nib selection. That requirement saves me from purchasing several pen brands, but it does seem shortsighted on the brand’s end.
Benu uses Schmidt nib units that are really easy to swap out, so you could always do that. Or buy your Benus directly from somewhere like Pen Realm and have Kirk Speer do a custom grind on it for you.
Is that how Americans pronounce 'lilac' Lie-lack? I keep relistening, here in england we pronounce it more 'lieluc' ... sounds funny. Otherwise love a Lamy and really appreciate a keeper that isn't boring silver. will listen to your entire review now and not just the lie-lack bit 🤣
Drew is so right about the Benu. I never wanted one because I found them too loud, but then they launched the Earl Grey. I think the beauty about Benu is that they create pens you can connect with, and at the same time they keep their design style that has made them so recognizable. I'm pretty sure most tea people like me feel the same way about the Benu Earl Grey, and sooner or later it will find a way into their collection.
I bought it. While it is very pretty, the price doesn't justify it. It has a very plastic-y feeling. I was disappointed.
@@jadeturtledesigns I understand what you mean, but also remember hand turned pens can be even more expensive. Pens with facets are hard to produce, and Benu uses custom resins they have to do research and development to create. I have a handful of Benu pens, and they all write great. I'm unsure if they tune nibs to ensure consistent writing quality, but they nevertheless write well.
They wrote okay but I think there are other brands that combine great writing and classy style.
I agree. This Benu has me looking twice .I've never really been interested before.
I have the BENU cappuccino pen and I love it!
I just want to say thank you Brian for being so into pens and being enthusiastic about it. I’ve watched your videos since 2014 on and off and you got me into pens and I love them! It’s one of my favorite hobbies I have. You have no idea what that means to me,so thank you
me too, such commitment, great service, you guys found your groove for sure! Blessings and thanx for the birthday emails too, very sweet of you.
My first Benu was the Earl Grey. I’m a big tea drinker and knowing that they actually put tea in the resin was mind-blowing. That put such a beautiful pen over the top for me and I had to have it!
they do? 🤤i drink my earl grey every day in a pint sized mug .... will have to hunt one down!
The Benu Earl Grey is now at the top of my wish list! I confess that I have a Benu already, but I drink Earl Grey tea every day, and that pen is so gorgeous that I must have it!
Hello fellow tea drinker! I might need that one too!
There is no such thing as too many Benu pens!
I used Kaweco Sports for about 9 months (my first venture into fountain pens) until y'all showed up in my suggested videos with the Benu Iced Caramel Latte. Being a coffee fan, I purchased one and I LOVE it! I have since purchased many more fountain pens from you and am so happy to have made new friends with you guys this year. Thank you for doing what you do and being so awesome at it! Happy 2024 Goulet Team!
I love love love my Esterbrook Esties. I have the Ferris Wheel Press Colab Nebulous Plume, the Maui, and the Raven. The Raven is absolutely my favorite pen I own. For the Kakimori stainless steel (barrel) dip nib, it took a hot minute to really get used to vs a traditional dip nib or glass, but talk about cool for illustration and artwork.
Great list! Just got my Benu Earl Grey. When I saw your intro, it convinced me it was time to get my first Benu, before that I though they were a little too loud. When I got it last week It was a joy. It's a beauty and a pleasure to look at. Right now I have it paired with Diamine Ancient Copper and it is a pleasure to write with. I ordered some other inks Winter Spice being one of them to see if the ink pairing could be even better, but Ancient Copper is pretty spot on. I also bought the Lamy All Star in Petrol and Lilac, and either is one of my daily carries. I have the Mythos and the Magna Carta on my wish list.
I already have the Pilot E95s and a Vanishing point. I love both but tend to use the E95s more. PILOT makes some of the sweetest nibs out there. I want to try a Vanishing Point with a stub nib, but need to wait until more colors come back into stock with a stub. Also want a Pilot falcon or FA nib, just havent decided on what pen.
This has been a wonderful fountan pen year and your pencasts have prompted many a new pen and ink on to my wishlists. Thanks for all your great videos!
You initially hooked me into the fountain pen world with your TWSBI complete pen collection. I now own two TWSBI Eco pens and just ordered a Lamy Joy with a 1.9 nib and the Organic Studio Nitrogen ink. I'm a retired graphic designer who used to spend his lunches at art stores, checking out what's new-and purchasing it! (in every color, when available...), so I am attracted to intricate design and colors. BTW, one of the TWSBI pens I own happens to be the indigo with the bronze trim. What makes that pen even more interesting is the color ink choice. The first ink I loaded in it was the Ferris Wheel Press Frivolous Lime which looked pretty cool. But I now have Noodler's Dragon's Fire ink loaded, and the dark amber ink looks alive in the barrel even before writing with it...
Brian is spot on about the Pilot Custom Urushi. I finally purchased one in 2023 after wanting one for a long time. It’s the largest pen in my collection (the Emperor is too large for me) and I believe it may be the very best nib I own. Flawless.
The Iced Caramel Latte was my first Benu and I loved it. I just recently received the Earl Gray and I love it too! I wish I'd gotten the Cookies and Cream. Hate I missed that one.
If Goulet Pens brought it back for a limited run, I’d grab one!
I just got an Opus 88 In pink this year! It’s so sparkly! 🎉❤
I bought 2 Benus this year and I definitely love them (Lavender and Earl Grey).
I bought a very beautiful and very pricey Sailor pen but...I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. So it sat in my pen case for months. Until very recently, I started wanting to write with a very Fine nib. Most of my pens are M, B, BB, Stub, Flex -- nice inky nibs with thick line weights! I remembered that I had a F nib pen. So I got out the Sailor, inked it up, and now I have the perfect F nib in a beautiful colorway, lightweight, just beautiful!
Thank you for sharing some fun stories of BENU's creative process! Knowing that they put actual tea leaves in and that they attempted sprinkles says a lot of about their passion :) I would love to try and own a pen someday!
I got the E95 this year. I've gotten a couple other pens but I keep coming back to my E95. Love it
I never connected to the refreshment collection until the Earl Grey came out. I live in the land of premium tea, Sri Lanka, and it is my favorite beverage. Now I need to save up to get one to me.
Great list guys! I've got both the Iced Caramel Latte and Earl Gray and love them. Wished I could have gotten the Rainbow Slushie and Cookies and Cream. Sangria is next on my wishlist.
I’m one of those who thought, I’ll never buy a Benu! Then, Iced Caramel Latte! And I love the pen. And, oh, my-Earl Grey is at the top of my wish list. It looks so beautiful. Yum for refreshment!
I’m enjoying my TWSBI ECO-BRZ in a 1.1 stub. As a lefty-overwriter, the Jowo nib is smooth and adds character to the ink I lay down on the page. I agree, when used with Iroshizuku Tsuki-yo, the color match looks amazing sloshing around with that blue color and the golden-bronze highlights. Mmm, good!
Enjoyed the video, but I had to laugh when Drew talked about the $200 Visconti Mythos as an entry level pen. I will never be able to bring myself to spend that much on a pen. My wife would kill me if I ever did. So to me, the Mythos is not an entry level pen, regardless of how much the manufacturer's other pens cost. On the other hand, that TWSBI Eco with bronze trim keeps calling to me.
Yeah, I didn't mean "entry" in terms of entry to the hobby - I meant it more as an entry to Visconti's product lineup. - Drew
The void tuttminx in the back is really neat.
Hottest inks video when? It's my favorite video of the year!
Next week! - Drew
Busy time of the year, so I‘m way behind on watching!
Thank you for all your work and the incredible effort you put into these videos. I will join in the massed chorus singing your praises! Goulet Pens is not just your everyday retailer; the company and the people are truly unique.
Now all I have to do is figure out how to rig the drawing of the lotto numbers so that I finally have the resources to buy all the pens you have that I want. I think my collection would start to approach the size of Brian‘s.
A very happy, prosperous, and healthy New Year to all of you!
Looked forward to this one all year. Merry Christmas guys!
Two of my favorite pens are Goulet exclusive Benu pens Sangria and Earl Grey Tea. Hope you keep up this great collaboration in 2024.
11:57 The Lamy ALStar petrol is one of my favorite pens period! This is one of my favorite colors. I acquired both this pen and the TWSBI Diamond 580 in Prussian blue. It’s my other favorite. Both have fine nibs, my favorite nib even if I’m a low key nib chameleon.
I bought the Delta Duna Reflex Grey from you guys about 3 months ago. It's a nice pen. Looks great. Not my favourite in my collection but it's up there. I'm interested in the Mag 600, and hope to get in soon(ish).
Glad to see Lamy bring back the Dark Lilac and Petrol in all-star form. Now if only they could bring the corresponding ink colors...
Blue is my favorite color and that bronze trim is absolutely stunning. Still have it in my cart with a few other things and watching tons od your videos to see what else before I send in my order haha.
Drew you are so right about Benu! The first pens I saw were the Sceptors and not my thing, but I found the Armenian Pomegranate Wine and fell in love. Now it is one of my favorite becasue it not only looks fantastic, but writes like a dream. I'm always looking out for what they come with next so I can add another Benu to my collection and was excited when you showed your new exclusive. Just ordered Earl Grey and excited to ink it up. So if you have not found "your" Benu yet, just wait.. they will come up with something that tickles your fancy.
Being an Armenian baseball fan from Detroit, I just had to have the Benu Tiger Eye. it It did not disappoint. I have it inked up with Diamine Antique Copper and it's currently my go-to pen for just about everything. I look forward to your episodes. Thanks and Happy New Year.
I bought my first BENU (Confetti Milkshake) and Estie (Botanical Garden w a journaler nib) from you guys. Didn’t disappoint! And the Tootsie Pops were a plus! 🍭😋 Still eyeing the Iced Caramel Latte and the Nouveau Bleu w yet another journalier nib from your shop! ✨
#2 (TWSBI Indigo) was one of the few pens I bought in 2023. At the moment it's my most often used pen.
2023 is the year I turned the corner from a lifelong fountain pen user to a collector as well.
My Delta Celluloid is a fave purchase with a high end feel and writing experience.
Benu was a surprising hit and I absolutely love writing with these. The writing experience is wonderful and they give me such joy when I look at them.
I also learned that you cannot have too many TWSBI Eco pens.
It’s been a fun year of writing.
Love sailor pens. So amazing.
Good video.
Happy new year.
Happy New Year! - Drew
Definitely purchased a couple of these in 2023 and 1 this year. Lamy AL-Star Petrol, Benu Euphoria Christmas edition, and just bought a Sailor Pro Gear Northern Lights. It would be nice if Sailor would sell extra nibs because I wasn't able to get the zoom nib. I do love both the Lamy and Benu so far.
what a great and varied list! thank you guys for a great year. ☺️ so excited for the benu earl grey to restock!
Really glad my new Lamy Al-Star Petrol made it on the list... can't wait to get it this Friday from my local store 😁
I am a Benu fan and have purchased 4 this month, all from Goulet which is my go to online pen shop, when I’m in the US. To say I have a slight fountain pen and generally anything stationery addiction is probably an understatement and certainly my bank balance can vouch for that. I have recently purchased a selection of the Pilot Explorer, I know these are also a favourite of Drew. I have to say they are great. I am a fan of the Pencast and look forward to all of your really informative videos
I love my BENUs. They write so well in addition to being fun🎉
Thank you for sharing. Some great choices. Everyone stay safe, warm, happy and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia
24:47 I didn’t like the look until Earl Grey. It’s currently on its way to me now & I can’t wait to use it!
There's a BENU for everyone, eventually! - Drew
man, that 743... im just drooling
Yay! Christmas sweaters!!!
Nice job - well done! Happy New Year...
I purchased a maroon Pilot E95S from you this year, and it quickly became my main everyday writer. I love the classic design, and it feels so great on paper! Thanks for the fun year-end roundup!!
It's probably in my top 5! - Drew
Hey Guys!: 2023 was a GREAT year in the fountain pen universe! I want to give a shout out to a pen that didn't make the list, the TWSBI Kai! That is one superb pen! Looking forward to see what 2024 brings us!
absolutely with you on the Pilot custom 743: mine’s an EF nib which suits me as I’ve got small handwriting:); the Sailor hocoro F dip nib is just wonderful:)
Loved this video. Spot on. And Happy New Year!
Esterbrook Esties have really had a great year. I want to add a mention for the Raven, their first ever piston filler!
You're absolutely right! - Drew
Lovely video, guys! Thanks for sharing!
Happy holidays!
Cheers from Brazil!
Thanks for joining us! - Drew
Did they just show us a list of the Delta comeback WITHOUT including a picture of the orange DV? Literally the only pen I think of when I think Delta???
A nice review that is easy and fun to watch. Thanks!
Although I totally agree with your choice of Benu Euphoria at the top; Earl Grey isn’t really the one that does it for me. The painted bird series they have done is just amazing! The Swallow, the Hummingbird and the Flamingo are great. I have no idea it is a series btw; but I hope it will continue in 2024 as well😊… and on the higher end of the spectrum: although Pilot Custom Urushi has always been a winner in my collection - and I finally could get the vermillion one this year as well 🎉 -, I think this was a Taccia year for me. That is the one brand that I kept coming back too. Thanks for a great video yet again and happy new year!
That's a good list, I have one that's on it (and a couple of the honourable mentions)... but I wonder if you spilled some heavily spiked egg-nog on your sweaters and are affected by fumes? How the Pelikan Souverän M600 Art Collection - Glauco Cambon Special Edition didn't make the list at all is baffling. I thought it would be number 1. As far as I know, this was the only fountain pen to introduce a completely new method of crafting a decorated pen barrel with their new Aurora Process. Not only is the pen gorgeous, the process itself is something new that should be recognized for the innovation it is. This was the most impressive release by Pelikan in years, and that's saying a lot considering some of the beautiful pens they've put out in the past... but this one is a leap ahead. Maybe it will make next year's list? Thanks for the always interesting videos!
I'm a great fan of pens, especially Montblanc pens. Let's see what they offer!
They've explained several times that they don't sell Montblanc because they aren't a brick and mortar store. I highly doubt they will be selling Montblanc anytime soon
Happy Christmas, gents!
Same to you! - Drew
I and a friend of mine both had to return our mag600 pens as they did not write properly at all. Very disappointing. I also received two defective caps on the Visconti mythos mirage! I love the pen but the quality control on the cap is terrible where the cap is not closing and just falls off the pen. I returned three but only kept two that were replaced with caps that actually closed on the pen.
My only gripe with Benu is the lack of gold hardware on pens where it makes sense. Earl grey is a prime example of a pen that should have had gold hardware.
That was my same feeling, the Earl Grey needed a gold clip and maybe a bicolor nib. That would go so much better with the golden brown in the body and the gold glitter.
Maybe we can do a sequel! - Drew
@@Gouletpensthat would be amazing
My wishlist for 2023 was a benu euphoria that i fell in love with. Took nearly all year byt then when the earl grey launched I had to get it right away and I love it!!
I am also one of the people who saw Drews visconti mythos video and picked up the aphrodite, and now the athena
Custom 743 verdigris, love colour, how do I get it?
Great top! That Visconti model looks really expensive, but it's not so much! Was thinking Conklin Misto would be more popular, it's a nice resin (not sure about the nib quality control, though). Thank you for this entertaining half an hour, Brian & Drew! Wish you a lovely 2024!
Happy New Year! Yeah, for Visconti, it's quite affordable! - Drew
I definitely ran down this list with my purchase history this year. The Mirage Mythos is a great pen, and the Iced Caramel Latte had my number from the day it was released.
I enjoyed seeing your picks! It seems there a a few MORE fountain pens I must buy! I second the request for what’s coming in 2024..
Where have you been getting the amazing Christmas sweaters? Especially the Jaws sweaters. I have nine Benu pens, and treasure each one; beauty and functionality in one.
I love my Benu pens! I have 2…they are attention getters and write so well. Kudos to Benu! I love the sparkle and bling. Looking forward to what they come up with next!
I love love love the BENU pen designs (I have 2😊) but I like the Japanese EF nibs for my day to day writing so I can’t really justify having too many. If I could get them with a Japanese EF nib on them my wallet would really be in trouble…
I got my Pilot e95s used and it’s an EF but to me it feels more like an F. Is it just a wet pen or maybe it’s a side effect of being used?
Did Drew just call a $200 pen an entry level pen? I’m ded😂
Delta manufactures their own nibs in-house?
Please can you do a dedicated video on this - which manufacturer makes their nibs in-house?
I actually bought a Delta Dunes this year. My first Delta and it means a lot to me, having bought it during a trip in Italy as well
We hope you're enjoying it! - Drew
1:29 do you have a new background company name panel? Or am I going crazy?
It's not new, but different! We try to remember to use it whenever we're not doing a Pencast. - Drew
@@Gouletpens ah yes, I think i get it now. I saw something 'strange' but didn't remember what I usually see. Now I remember there is a specific pencast thingy. Cool.
Great video guys! Please bring back Benu Earl Grey!!!!
Will the cookies and cream Benu pen ever come back? I still really want that one!
I think it's probably gone for good, sadly. - Drew
For 2023 the Edison Comet in cobalt magma was a pen I had to buy as soon as I saw it! 🙂
I don’t know if you intended to do this but…y’all perfectly mimicked the SNL public radio skit all the way down to the Christmas sweaters and I am 🤯.
Unintentional, but that's awesome! Haha! - Drew
"You thought you weren't gonna get a Benu and then that pen showed up and you had to get a Benu"
Literally the Earl Grey for me. I was giving it puppy dog eyes for so long that my partner was like "Do I need to get you that for Christmas"
The Edison Dragoness reminds me of those glittery fake worms for fishing lol
Haha! That's a first! - Drew
I love my edison collier persimmon swirl, so this new pen sounds great!
I wanted the dragonness so badly because of how beautiful it is but the pen wasn’t for me, so pretty
I was gutted that I missed out on the Edison. I had it in my cart and by the time I was ready to check out, it was sold out. Oh well, you snooze, you lose!
I love your videos. I would love to hear about a few more brands. I also don't know after the bs from TWSBI that I could recommend them to anyone.
Brian and Drew...good presentation as usual. However it would be more informative if you included the MSRP for each pen.
My discovery of 2023 is the Good Blue L130, especially with their Zoom nib. I know I don't get a vote, but I wish you would consider carrying them. I need another...
I wonder if Lamy will bring back the petrol ink?
Brian! Is that a GAS-100B on your wrist! 🤙I heard your podcast where you said you only have one. Is this the one? Very nice man! As if pens weren't enough, I match my pens to my G's.. daily. 😅
Benu used to look like the expression of what constitutes a manic episode in the form of a pen. THEN....I saw the Boody Mary.....I even see the earl gray.....pity I missed the Bourbon: wanting 3 pens at once as a normal not in the business person? It's good to have nice people determined to make us all enjoy their wild and wonderful pens.
Gotta ask Benu to bring back the Cookies N Cream!!!
I love LAMY 2000.
Meanwhile, Jinhao and Wing Sung are producing some really nice budget pens while Hongdian is transcending the Chinese homage market.
The Hongdian A6? Amazing.
I loved this list and hope everyone gets to experience these pens first hand. Hey yall, one Benu is going to peak your interest and then you will understand why they are what they are. The dip pens are my next purchase and more ink samples to narrow down my ink prefrence. Have fun and be safe everybody
Umm...pique, not peak. Or peek. Sorry, I hate being "that guy".
@@moongate31 Doh'! Thanks for looking out
I'm a little surprised that the TWSBI Swipe didn't make the list; when I saw the info about this, I was intrigued.
As much as I personally love the SWIPE, it's not one of their more popular models. - Drew
@@Gouletpens It was a novel thing, and I am still intrigued... also by this list, but I am holding back because I have enough to use at present.
Great vid as always guys. Your double act is secure! Buuut can u ask the video editor to step away from the transitions and stop playing bounce 😂😂
Predictions for 2024 New types of paper and fountain pens?
Can we use a vanishing point medium nib on school quality paper?
Sure can. The Vanishing Point was one I purchased before I encountered Goulet Pen. So learned about paper post Vanishing Point. So it's been used a lot on steno tablets and works just fine. But writing on better paper is a nicer experience. But if you want the fountain pen experience and the instant joy of a click and use it in class with school notebooks, GO FOR IT. It is a great pen and does work really well on school paper.
@@psa7211thanks a lot
Found a typo in the description. Pilot "743" was mislabelled as "723"
Thank you! - Drew
I wanted to give you guys a heads up. My wife wants a Benu Rainbow Slushy and she is gearing up for battle. 😂. Probably in your best interest to do another run of those before you wake up with a woman standing over you in rainbow glitter fatigues threatening you with a spear tipped with a number 10 nib! Best of luck to you guys. I can’t stop her at this point. Her mania has gone too far.
Rainbow Slushie is gone for good, but you should see if she likes BENU's True Unicorn over at Gourmet Pens: gourmetpensshop.com/products/benu-talisman-true-unicorn-fountain-pen-gourmet-pens-exclusive?_pos=1&_psq=unicorn&_ss=e&_v=1.0
@@Gouletpens she saw it but doesn’t like it as much. Well, you’ve been warned! Peek around corners and double lock your doors. 😁
So sad I missed the Dragoness.....
I won’t get a Benu even if one grabs me because they don’t include a stub or cursive nib in their nib selection.
That requirement saves me from purchasing several pen brands, but it does seem shortsighted on the brand’s end.
Benu uses Schmidt nib units that are really easy to swap out, so you could always do that. Or buy your Benus directly from somewhere like Pen Realm and have Kirk Speer do a custom grind on it for you.
Is that how Americans pronounce 'lilac' Lie-lack? I keep relistening, here in england we pronounce it more 'lieluc' ... sounds funny. Otherwise love a Lamy and really appreciate a keeper that isn't boring silver. will listen to your entire review now and not just the lie-lack bit 🤣
Best pilot is the custom heritage 912.
Modern look, tons of nib, affordable... From japan. Sorry
Cant wait for the hottest inks video/hope there is a hittest inks video!
Next week! - Drew