• Drinks of Note — Christmas ’24

    Drinks of Note — Christmas ’24

    It is undoubtedly better to give than to receive, but if you gift a choice bottle to the right person—you can be both giver and recipient. Choose wisely…   King Alexander III by The Dalmore “A spectacular example of the Highland distillery’s of multi-cask maturation; a one-of-a-kind assemblage of six noble cask finishes.” ♱ TASTE NOTES…

  • NIJŪ — Japanese Soulfood

    NIJŪ — Japanese Soulfood

    There’s something about home cooking that hits the spot, but it’s even better when you don’t have to cook it at home—allow me to explain. The masterminds behind this brave direction are the triumvirate of Culinary Director and third-generation sushi master Chef Endo Kazutoshi, Executive Chef Chris Golding and Head Sushi Chef David Bury. Called…

  • Steinway & Sons + Mickey Mouse

    Steinway & Sons + Mickey Mouse

    There is a musicality in cartoons that blends the auditory and the visual better than almost any other medium. The clash of symbols to denote destruction; a crooning saxophone begetting a mischievous turn; the unbridled joy expressed in the whistle of a mouse freshly animated. That last scene is perhaps the most famous instance of…

  • Rémy Martin turns 300 — A Year of Celebration

    Rémy Martin turns 300 — A Year of Celebration

    The House of Rémy Martin has been making cognac for 300 years—let that sink in.   Its inception pre-dates the Industrial Revolution and the popularisation of the novel. Their first bottling did, however, coincide with the beginning of the Age of Enlightenment; a not insignificant piece of synchronicity. They are one of the oldest and…

  • Rolls-Royce Cullinan — Series II

    Rolls-Royce Cullinan — Series II

    More so than ever, it really is impossible to please everyone. The acceleration of information accumulation—and dissemination—has meant that most people know a very little about a lot, rather than a lot about relatively little. With this comes an illusion of expertise and a growth in niche interests, options, choices and tastes. While there are…

  • Havana Club —The Icónica Collection

    Havana Club —The Icónica Collection

    They see themselves not as mere makers of an alcoholic beverage, but as a protector of something far more difficult to bottle. Rum is an island spirit in both meanings of the word. It begets visions of paradise, of piracy. It is a symbol of Cuba’s staunch rebellion against all who have tried to break…

  • The House that Whisky built

    The House that Whisky built

    One could argue that the Gordon family’s very blood is malted. They have spent generations scouring the globe for rare and precious whiskies and their collection—the House of Hazelwood—is a thing of legend. It is, quite simply, the greatest inventory of aged Scotch whisky held anywhere in the world. Spanning seven decades, the diverse whiskies…

  • HOLLAND & HOLLAND — Explosive Colour

    HOLLAND & HOLLAND — Explosive Colour

    Holland & Holland, the preeminent British gun maker, is bringing a little colour to the hunt. Their new engraving technology allows for level of detail as yet unseen on a firearm. Available for models in the ‘Royal’ portfolio, this innovative development allows clients to select from an extensive palate, bringing colour and vibrancy to their…

  • Phantom Scintilla: A Muse Reborn

    Phantom Scintilla: A Muse Reborn

    Often we never really understand the true resonance and impact of the decisions we make until we have a great enough scope to review them in posterity. This could be said for sculptor Charles Sykes’ decision to employ Eleanor Thorton, Lord Montagu’s secretary, paramour and alleged muse for the now world-famous Spirit of Ecstasy. In…

  • Fragrance — Summer ’24

    Fragrance — Summer ’24

    It’s summer time, that time of year where clouds are your friend, offering you temporary respite when the sun is at peak potency. Here are a selection of scents to keep you—and your home—adequately fragranced, regardless of cloud cover. No.4 Bois de Balincourt by Maison Louis Marie “Inspired by co-founder Marie’s family home called Balincourt,…

  • TWIST/d — by Based Upon

    TWIST/d — by Based Upon

    Based Upon’s latest creation could happily occupy a room as a simple piece of art. It has no obligation to be a functional marvel of technology. It certainly doesn’t owe us such a bounty of musical possibilities. And yet, it delivers on the above to such astounding effect that one wonders what to label it.…

  • Flying High — A Glamorous Menu

    Flying High — A Glamorous Menu

    One thing I distinctly remember from childhood was having a very glamorous perception of air travel. It’s not that I hadn’t travelled much either, the combination of my father’s job and my parents’ determination to keep us—me and my siblings—connected to our Ghanaian roots ensuring that we were often air bound. No, this idea of…

  • The Naran Hyper–Coupé

    The Naran Hyper–Coupé

    Over the past few years, we’ve seen a host of new automotive brands birthed, each leveraging the democratisation of creation given by ready-made electric powertrains. This alternative path to automotive creation is no less noble than traditional methods, but focuses more on features and design aspects, the drive itself largely taken care of by the…

  • DarkPrism — The Reality of Combat

    DarkPrism — The Reality of Combat

    I’m crouch-walking along a claustrophobic corridor, gunfire all around. My plucky squadron of misfits follow up behind, close enough that I can hear their breath over the sounds of a war-torn apartment block. Some I know intimately—my two cousins and best friend. Others, I’ve just met, but war tends to form bonds quickly. There’s a…