Arch Nemesis

Lex Luther, Dr. Doom, Magneto, Joker – arch enemies are easy to identify in hero centric fiction. Why do they always seem to be the evil characters? I’m sure they have feelings, too! I’m particularly fond of Moriarty, if we’re picking favorites. While we’re on the subject, what exactly distinguishes an arch enemy from a nemesis (or arch nemesis, for that matter)? Most definitions suggests that a nemesis cannot be defeated (or can even do the defeating). It’s a fitting title for this sensational new creation - an extremely satisfying, challenging, surprising and fun puzzle box from a brand new maker.

Rio Chilson, a “San Diego native, with a mechanical engineering background,” has been working on his debut puzzle box for a while in his makeshift one car garage workshop. It’s impressive in more ways than one, not least of which is that he had never made anything with wood before attempting this incredibly complex conundrum. His mechanical engineering background is also on full display (although extremely well hidden). The layers of puzzles to solve in this box rival the best in the business. Rio recently shared his story with me.

“Thinking about it now, [my interest in mechanical puzzles] really stems from seeing the amazing designs/art by Yarger, Born, Snake, and HB [Hughbanks] and feeling like I missed out. Figured if I can’t own one, then might as well make one. I think anyone can tell that those guys are great woodworkers and have a knack for creating some unicorns. As cheesy as it sounds, it was really just an aha! moment if you know what I mean. I also have a mechanical engineering background so might as well use some of that college degree.”

courtesy of Rio Chilson

I can relate to Rio’s sentiment about these incredible puzzle box artists. I’m a huge fan of all their work as well, but Rio took things to a whole new level of admiration, by learning how to craft an homage of his own vision out of wood. “As most people notice right off the bat, I loved the look of HBs puzzles and felt like I could emulate something similar aesthetically/cosmetically. I started tinkering with ideas in 2021 and eventually landed on a rough CAD model in early 2022.

For the design, I spent a lot of time thinking about the mechanics (during long road trips for work was my favorite part) and drawing them out every chance I could. Looking back at the drawings now, it appears to be gibberish or some sort of alien language lol. Figuring out the little details of woodworking has been a real challenge as I never had any experience before starting this project. I’ve barely scratched the surface. At first I picked up a book about what tools I would need and so forth but didn’t really get anywhere, started watching YouTube for relatively easy things like how to make a square hole. Turns out it’s very difficult, for me at least. Getting the wood to the correct thickness has also been a challenge for me. Things like that and how to make chamfers on small parts still is a struggle for me.”

Like many new makers, Rio got some help from the community, and specifically the person who had inspired his design the most. “Shout out to Ryan HB for being such a nice person and helping me along the way. As an admirer (from afar) of Ryan’s puzzle boxes, it was pretty exciting when he sent me a comment on my box. I jumped at the opportunity to ask him a few questions and it turned into page long messages with advice and feedback to help improve my puzzle. Simple but detailed things like how and when to apply wax, how to reinforce assemblies, how to chisel out a square hole, etc and eventually I asked him to test my puzzle for me. I just appreciate him taking me under his wing for a bit because I know he’s a busy guy with family and work. He also made me realize that a cnc was easier to use than I thought, so I bought one. I think he had a few designers help him out too so I’m sure he was returning the favor with me.”

“For my first iteration (prototype) of the puzzle box I used a Japanese hand saw, sliding mitre saw, a cordless drill, a small Japanese hand planer, and a chisel set. Sanded all by hand too. Let’s just say my hands turned into leather after a while. Realizing that wasn’t realistic approach for production, I purchased a wood planer, belt sander, drill press, and the cnc all one at a time with saved up money over a long period of time. For any newbies to cnc, I highly recommend the onefinity woodworker cnc (not a paid endorsement).”

Rio echoes the sentiment of many designers regarding when to decide that a puzzle is “done”. “This is where the perfection being the downfall comes into play again. I had to leave out so many ideas for mechanisms because I just don’t have the amount time to make that many pieces as I had so many already. I wanted to fit as many mechanisms as I could but it just wasn’t realistic, time and cost wise. There comes a point where I just said I have to stop designing.”

 A clever and catchy name that embodies the aesthetic of the design well is hard to come by, and many designers find this last yet lasting detail challenging. “Really struggled with the name, I think I have a few pages of potential names. Perhaps it’s the engineer mind but we tend to strive for perfection and sometimes that can be a downfall. Eventually settled with a simpler approach and used identifying features on the puzzle, hence Arch. I’m actually really happy with it. My next puzzle box will likely be smaller and require less time to produce. I’d love to try something similar to Dedwood style (layered) compared to a “box”. Having this project as my first puzzle box really took its toll (and is quite overwhelming at times). Something simpler will hopefully keep me in the right headspace to continue designing.”

Arch Nemesis is a fantastic sequential discovery puzzle box. It is sizable and a little cumbersome to explore but not overwhelming. It’s well constructed and eye catching, with interesting details around every surface. It is hard to believe Rio had never worked with wood before this project, as the fit and finish give no suggestion this is the work of a novice. The influence of Ryan Hughbanks on the aesthetic is clear, but the mechanisms are completely different and quite complex at times. Rio’s mechanical engineering background did not go to waste as he has managed to achieve a number of impressive mechanisms that will stump and surprise the most seasoned puzzler.

A few particular sequences near the endgame are so well thought out, complex and brilliant they are reminiscent of the well known artisans Brian Young and Juno. Many separate walls to conquer, with many associated AHA moments, give you the encouragement to keep going, over and over. It took me the better part of a full day to make my way through to the end, and the journey kept a smile on my face the whole time. Every step has an elegant and clever solution, which is not immediately obvious, and there is nothing blind or hidden. It exemplifies my favorite type of puzzle box and will easily rank among the best for this year. Rio Chilson is a force to be reckoned with and a great new talent.

The toast to this magnificent achievement required some delicate diplomatic détente as I stepped behind enemy lines.  I mean, I’m congratulating an Arch Nemesis, after all. The cocktail was created by Jillian Vose, a well-known figure in the spirits industry who has been a major presence in the New York City bar scene. Vose was the bar manager at Death & Company, before stepping into the role of beverage director at “World’s Best Bar” winning Dead Rabbit, where she got to flex her Irish roots. Most recently she has relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, where she will be launching her newest bar concept, Hazel & Apple, along with the release of her new Irish whiskey.

Back in 2010, when Jillian was just starting out at D&Co, as she recounted to me recently, it felt like she had to “fake it till you make it”, trying to make an impression as both a newbie and a woman in that male dominated industry. It helped that she was really good at bartending! Although she says that she didn’t know a lot about inventing new drinks at the time, she learned quickly, and helped compile the landmark D&Co book Modern Classic Cocktails, where this cocktail appears.

Enemy Lines is a drink she references a lot. One of the first real cocktails she embraced was the Sazerac, the New Orleans classic twist on a rye Old Fashioned with Peychaud’s bitters and an absinthe rinse. She recalls at the time she had been learning about aquavit, the Scandinavian spirit, and tequila as well, two spirits with rich but geographically different agricultural histories. It seemed odd to combine them, like crossing enemy lines, and had to be done carefully. The Norwegian aquavit Linie (pronounced LINN-yuh) was chosen for its distinctive characteristics. The potato based spirit is flavored with caraway, dill, aniseed, sweet fennel and coriander, and then matured in ship-bound Oloroso sherry casks, where it traverses the globe, crossing the equator line (‘linie”) twice before arriving back home in Oslo – a process meant to mimic the original ocean barrel ageing the spirit underwent in its origin days.

Linie provides a rye heavy character to the drink essential for this Sazerac variation (as opposed to more herbal aquavits), and reposado tequila is specifically needed for the wood aged notes and softer flavors imparted by the resting process. The rich cane sugar syrup imparts texture along with subtle sweetness. Heavy doses of red bitters add color and complexity of flavor. At Death & Company they make a “house Peychaud’s” bitter which splits traditional Peychaud’s with Bitter Truth’s Creole bitters, so the drink actually has three different types of bitters which all add to the flavor. Imagine a highly seasoned sauce which borrows heavily from the spice cabinet, and you’re halfway there. A few final flourishes are required to complete the drink, a lemon twist and the all-important for a true Sazerac absinthe mist (a detail that Vose noticed was left out of the D&Co book recipe). It’s a delicious cocktail, but enjoy it carefully, lest you get caught behind … enemy lines. Cheers!

Enemy Lines by Jillian Vose

1 ½ oz Linie aquavit

¾ oz reposado tequila (El Tesoro)

1 tsp cane sugar syrup (2:1)

4 dashes of “House Peychaud’s” bitters

1 dash Bitter Truth Aromatic bitters

Absinthe mist

Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a favorite glass over a large cube. Express lemon twist and mist the absinthe over the glass. Officially, no garnish.

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