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ANDALUCÍA - SPAIN
N º 265 - DECEMBER 2021
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MARBELLA
THE MAGNIFICENT
MALDIVES NEW HOTELS
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ROLLS-ROYCE
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WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM I TRAVEL I TRENDS I CULTURE I LIFESTYLE I PROPERTY I GOURMET
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contents 134
ESSENTIALS
18 Publisher’s Letter
GO TO SPOTLIGHT
26 The Maldives 44 New London Hotels 62 Chanel Nº5 72 MJM Gems 80 Christmas Shopping 86 Rolls-Royce 94 The Lamborghini Ultimae 102 Keanu Reeves
GO TO TRENDS 110 Hot New Films 114 Cool New Series 118 Books – New Releases 122 Music News 124 Smart Home Technology 128 What’s Cool
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GO TO LIFESTYLE 134 Christmas Décor Inspirations 146 Pacaso Arrives in Marbella 156 Eco Gift Wrapping 158 Zara Pet Collection 160 Moooi Extinct Animal Collection
GO TO SPA 164 Make Up Trends 166 Fenty Beauty
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170 The ELSS Range 172 Presbyopia
GO TO ENTERPRISE 178 Be Lagom 184 The Vibe 188 Business News 198 Ecomarb
GO TO GOURMET
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204 Los Bandidos 210 The Effects of Food on Mood
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216 Gourmet Bytes 218 Pazo de Señorans
DESIGNED FOR BETTER LIVING Each design-led home at Vista Lago will be quite unlike anything that has gone before. All 18 villas, as well as the furniture and fittings in them, are different from each other. The commonality they share are the breathtaking views across the Mediterranean Sea to Gibraltar and Africa beyond.
SEE MORE
BUILDING LICENSE APPROVED · CONSTRUCTION STARTED prices on application | (+34) 648 981 111 | info@by-bright.com | vistalago.es
The view from your sofa at Vista Lago Residences
BAHIA DE MARBELLA
VILLA SHIRO
Bed: 5 I Bath: 5+2 I Plot: 1.322 m2 I Built: 665 m2 I Terrace: 321 m2 I villashiro.es I € 7.500.000
NUEVA ANDALUCIA
CERQUILLA 5
MARBELLA’S LARGEST SELECTION OF TURN-KEY VILLAS IN PRIME AREAS solvilla.es NUEVA ANDALUCIA
VILLA ROSAS
Bed: 4 I Bath: 4+1 I Plot: 1.290 m2 I Built: 305 m2 I Terrace: 303 m2 I cerquilla5.es I € 3.695.000
NUEVA ANDALUCIA
ALMINAR 5
Bed: 5 I Bath: 5+3 I Plot: 1.218 m2 I Built: 447 m2 I Terrace: 172 m2 I villarosas.es I € 4.995.000
Bed: 5 I Bath: 5+3 I Plot: 2.060 m2 I Built: 692 m2 I Terrace: 474 m2 I alminar5.es I € 3.995.000
PUENTE ROMANO
PALMETTO
Bed: 3 I Bath: 3+1 I Built: 288.74 m2 I Terrace: 93.93 m2 I palmettoph.es I € 11.500.000
LA QUINTA
VILLA LEO 2
Bed: 6 I Bath: 8 I Plot: 2.471 m2 I Built: 948 m2 I Terrace: 258 m2 I villaleo2.es I € 9.750.000
NUEVA ANDALUCIA
ALOHA 138
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Issue 265 – December 2021
STAFF
PUBLISHER & DIRECTOR IAIN BLACKWELL director@essentialmagazine.com DIGITAL & CREATIVE DIRECTOR ANDREA BLACKWELL andrea@essentialmagazine.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR MARISA CUTILLAS marisa@essentialmagazine.com DESIGN & LAYOUT ANDREA BLACKWELL, INMA AURIOLES design@essentialmagazine.com
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Do you have assets and income in the UK? Will you find yourself paying more tax? The UK’s autumn budget may not have included any new tax reforms, but the spring budget had a sting in its tail – the tax-free thresholds for capital gains tax, inheritance tax and the pensions lifetime allowance were all frozen until 2026. This is expected to increase tax bills in the long run, earning the government £2 billion. Contact Blevins Franks to explore how you could benefit from moving your capital outside the UK. Restructuring your assets to take advantage of the Spanish tax regime could save you a significant amount of tax. Our strategic financial planning solutions cover taxation, investing, pensions and estate planning, all in one exercise.
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Cascada de Camoján: A spectacular new residence with fantastic sea views. Spa with indoor pool, gym, sauna, hammam, home cinema, wine cellar and games room. 5 beds, 8 baths, built 874 m², plot 2.904 m². E&V ID: W-02MLLF. Price: 13.000.000 €. Tel.: 952 868 406. Info >
La Alquería. Frontline golf.7 beds, 9 baths, built 950 m², plot 1.281 m². E&V ID: W-02MO38. Price: 3.650.000 €. Tel.: 952 074 242. Info >
Nueva Andalucía: 5 beds, 6 baths, built 738 m², plot 1.430 m². E&V ID: W-02N2UH. Price: 4.850.000 €. Tel.: 952 859 860. Info >
Los Flamingos: Apartment, 3 beds, 2 baths, living 150 m², terrace 140 m². E&V ID: W-02MDFC. Price: 700.000 €. Tel.: 952 074 242. Info >
Nueva Andalucía: Apartment, 2 beds, 2 baths, living 80 m2, terrace 65 m2. E&V ID: W-02NER5. Price: 595.000 €. Tel.: 952 859 860. Info >
www.marbella-ev.com · marbella@engelvoelkers.com
Nueva Andalucía: One of the most luxurious estates. Large Spa, gym, bar, games room and cinema, two large pools, tennis court, outdoor kitchen, bar and lounge. 8 beds, 11 baths, built 2.175 m², plot 7.375 m². E&V ID: W-02NB9I. Price 17.500.000 €. Tel.: 952 859 860. Info >
Marbesa: Beachside. 5 beds, 5 baths, built 915 m², plot 1.400 m². E&V ID: W-02N749. Price 4.500.000 €. Tel.: 952 835 580. Info >
NuevaAndalucía: Frontline golf. 5 beds, 5 baths, built 495 m², plot 1.504 m². E&V ID: W-02N7YN. Price 4.295.000 €. Tel.: 952 859 860. Info >
Old Town: Townhouse , 4 beds, 4 baths, living 192 m², terrace 23 m². E&V ID: W-02LWG4. Price: 1.485.000 €. Tel.: 952 868 406. Info >
Río Real: Beachfront partment, 3 beds, 3 baths, living 122 m², terrace 29 m². E&V ID: W-02MTT3. Price: 1.450.000 €. Tel.: 952 832 040. Info >
www.marbella-ev.com · marbella@engelvoelkers.com
For more information visit our website: costadelsol365.es +34 951 122 313 | info@costadelsol365.es
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D WORDS BY IAIN BLACKWELL PUBLISHER
CHRISTMAS CHEER
A
s we draw to the end of a year which has seen a real recovery in Spain’s tourism industry and a surge in property purchases at the higher end of the market locally, we can look forward to a festive season to enjoy to the max. To help you settle into a suitable frame off mind, see our spreads on Christmas Décor Inspiration, Xmas Shopping and MJM Gems. We also feature Chanel Nº5 in its centenary year and the funky Zara Pet Collection. Join us on a holiday of a lifetime in the magnificent Maldives and check into some of London’s top new hotels. Meanwhile, luxury car enthusiasts will be in motoring nirvana with our twin reports on Rolls-Royce and the Lamborghini Ultimae.
18 / OCTOBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
Christmas is a time of giving and they don’t come much more altruistic than Keanu Reeves, as you will discover from our exclusive with the respected star, coinciding with the muchawaited release of The Matrix Resurrections. With some free time looming, we bring you enticing new films to watch and some cool new series to immerse yourself in, as well as top reads and music news. Finally, for some cosseting that will warm your soul, line yourself up for some indulgence par excellence at Los Bandidos in the Port.
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“OF ALL THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR THERE IS NOT A MONTH ONE HALF SO WELCOME TO THE YOUNG, OR SO FULL OF HAPPY ASSOCIATIONS, AS THE LAST MONTH OF THE YEAR”
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spotlight
THIS MONTH, WE EXPERIENCE THE HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME IN THE MALDIVES AND SPEND SOME QUALITY TIME IN LONDON, VISITING ITS NEWEST HOTELS. ENJOY OUR FESTIVE FEATURES ON CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, CHANEL Nº5, AND ROLLS-ROYCE AND CHECK OUT THE STUNNING NEW LAMBORGHINI ULTIMAE. COINCIDING WITH THE RELEASE OF THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS, DON’T MISS OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KEANU REEVES.
GO TO PAGE 44 FOR NEW ONDON HOTELS
GO TO PAGE 94 FOR THE NEW LAMBO
GO TO PAGE 26 FOR THE MALDIVES
GO TO PAGE 62 FOR CHANEL
CULTURE TRAVEL HISTORY PEOPLE MOTORING 26 The Maldives 44 New London Hotels 62 Chanel Nº5 72 MJM Gems 80 Christmas Shopping 86 Rolls-Royce 94 The Lamborghini Ultimae 102 Keanu Reeves
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THE MANY FACES OF
THE MALDIVES If you hear the term Viajate el Mundo Conmigo (travel the world with me), you should let your imagination run wild, for these words are the trademark of María Villar, a travel designer who will take you on a holiday with a difference every time. Once a year I sign up for her trip of adventures to be shared with a handful of like-minded souls, and this time the Maldives were the destination. But typically, this wasn’t about the Maldives everyone knows. Swimming with sharks, travelling on a seaplane and burnt bums were compulsory! WORDS BY MADDIE QUINN
A tipical Maldivian private island resort
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S
etting off to visit the Maldives filled us all with anticipation knowing that María, as always, has as many irregular experiences packed into our trip as possible, and the details are only revealed on the go. We had envisaged seeing many facets of
the region for which the logistics had to be subjected to serious planning but as María is a master of this, the size of our suitcases was the only thing we occupied ourselves with. I must admit, I can never get this one task right! ›
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Centara Ras Fushi Resort
RESORT CHILLING The most popular and known way to visit the Maldives is flying to the capital Malé, then taking water transport over to one of its privately owned islands. You may know the resort as the Anantara, Marriot or the Sheraton but the Maldives ensures its properties remain in local hands, to then be leased to world-class operators that establish the luxury resorts visitors enjoy so eagerly. The picture is pretty uniform — independent villas set over the azure ocean in wavy designs with private terraces directly accessing the water. Typically there are various restaurants, bars, a gorgeous pool, a spa with massage and beauty treatments and maybe even a watersports centre. › 28 / DECEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
Although considered an aseismic region today, the Maldives were formed on top of volcanoes active millions of years ago that have since sunk to the depts of the Indian Ocean. Corals growing, building up on the circular ridges of the corroded submarine craters formed barrier reefs called Atolls, each enclosing a shallow lagoon area protecting hundreds of small islands in its heart. The Maldivian islands grow exclusively on coral material, coming to life as sandbanks, ascending and sometimes disappearing, then reappearing again when weather conditions and sea levels change. As it’s called by locals, The Island Kingdom (Dhivehi Raajje), includes 26 Atolls and 1200 small tropical islands, many of which are owned privately, some bustling with local life, and lots that are just quiet or outright uninhabitable.
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For your food and drinks, different all-inclusive packages are usually available. The level of luxury and the amenities the resort provides are in relation to the price tag, which can move between 1.000-50.000 USD per room per night. Be aware that this setting is not a party atmosphere, although alcoholic beverages are available, the evening scene is normally filled with couples in a sedate mood, with food service stopping at 10pm and bars closing at midnight at the latest. Considering the high price even at the lower end, up until recently a trip to
the Maldives has only been affordable for the wealthy or used for special occasions such as by honeymooners. However, although it’s a great opportunity to take out an expensive week to relax in paradise, this way you are not likely to experience the vast geographical and cultural dimensions the country has to offer.
COVID RESTRICTIONS The Maldives prosper mainly from the tourism industry, so to avoid any controversy they ask for a negative PCR test on entry and on departure as well. The private resorts
do everything in their power to keep the resort clean and disinfected as even one Covid case, by Maldivian law, would mean a full quarantine for the entire resort. Therefore, once you set foot on a local island like Maafushi, you would have to subsequently exit the country all together to be allowed back to a resort again. Some local islands or specific hotels may also ask for a PCR test when island hopping, but it is easy to obtain at the local medical centre, or organised by the hotel you are staying in. ›
Centara Ras Fushi Resort’s bar on the water
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A beautiful beach on Dhigurah typical of the Maldives
FLORA & FAUNA Due to its isolated nature, apart from tiny geckos and the likes not many animals are found on dry land, but the 28-30ºC turquoise waters are home to a breathtakingly rich marine life that includes many aquatic species specific to the area. A diverse array of coral with over 2000 species of fish ranging from tiny colourful reef fish to the larger tuna and sharks; moray eels, rays and dolphins can be found there and five out of seven sea turtles are also native to the Maldives. Some real eye candy to the diver or snorkeller are the 2 meters-span giant manta rays and the 7 meters long whale sharks that are fairly easily spotted. The Maldivians are very serious about their wildlife conservation and many of the species and all the corals are protected. Most islands are covered with tropical vegetation including a variety of trees like coconut palms, mango, plantain, papaya, banyan and types of ficus. There seemed to be an endless supply of fresh fruit, and the chopped-off coconut with a straw inserted is always a pleasure when the sun beats down with heat.
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Sunny and Hussain, arranged our activities from the Triton Hotel
UP FOR THE ADVENTURE!
Triton Hotel
After spending a couple of nights on such a pristine island, the Centara Ras Fushi Resort in North Malé Atoll, we were all de-stressed and ready for adventure. There is a complicated network of water infrastructure around the Maldives which includes slow ferries, speed boats and private boats. Centara was a 20 minutes ride from Malé where we were to catch the next one to our new destination. María chose the island of Maafushi on Kaafu Atoll for our programme which is one of the most popular local islands in the Maldives. It also houses Maldive’s only prison (as a separate island off-site) which gives plenty of well paid jobs for the 2700
locals who live in relative prosperity. Maafushi, which stretches only 1.2 km long and 300 meters wide, offers a completely different and culturally immersive perspective. Unlike at the resorts, here locals run their own businesses, the island has several hotels of many floors of a really nice standard (and price), guesthouses, salons and shops, and the oceanside is packed with shacks offering watersport experiences, snorkelling safaries, night fishing, scuba diving and excursions to sandbanks or other points of interest at nearby islands and Atolls. It exudes a cool surfer/diver ‘Tarifa-like’ vibe, it’s pretty well organised and it has a buzzing night life often with live music. ›
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It’s important to know that the Maldives being a Muslim country, alcohol is not sold or consumed anywhere where locals live, but the beach shacks offer amazingly fruity combinations of mocktails, and just about any kind of coffee creations you can think of. You can find international food as much as the freshest most beautiful seafood, but don’t think of dressing up for the occasion. In fact, don’t bother taking any shoes with you to roam around the Maldives, as a pair of flipflops will do perfectly! We stayed in the Arena Beach Hotel with lovely ocean views and hung out with a group of local free divers from the Triton who took us around on their speedboat every day for four days. Not being used to a group of ladies making
The island of Maafushi
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havoc, they were extremely polite and professional to start with, but in no time our relationship transformed to friendship based on trust as we all practically converted into fish in the water together. We pulled up our own reef fish in the dark from the bottom of the ocean to be BBQ-ed on the beach for dinner. Organised by Sunny, executed by Saadde, Hussain and our cool captain, we swam with beautiful turtles at the reefs, a crowd of stingrays in dragging currents and with about 30 nurse sharks in the open sea! And when we accomplished all this alive, we beached a random sandbank and packed out a picnic lunch to enjoy under the sun. I would have not missed this experience for any luxury resort boredom. ›
The Arena Hotel overlooking the Bikini Beach
Maddie swimming with nurse sharks in the open ocean
Swimming with stingrays
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BIKINI BEACH When you are exploring the Maldives on your own accord you have to educate yourself on a number of cultural restrictions which apply as soon as you mix with the local population. Being a fairly strict Muslim enclave, alcohol is forbidden and ladies cannot appear uncovered even on the beach, or swimming in the water. As a visitor, you will always have to cover yourself wearing at least shorts and T-shirt; in some more traditional areas you have to wrap your legs too with non transparent fabric. Each island has, however, a dedicated beach for tourists called the ‘Bikini Beach’ where wearing swimming costumes are allowed. Out on the sea, on private boats these restrictions don’t apply so Maafushi created a ‘Floating Bar’, a boat moored off its coast where tourists can be taken for a few hours of ‘relaxation’ with some beer and wine. Clever! ›
Setting up for a picnic lunch on a random sandbank
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The island of Dhigurah from the seaplane
A DIVING PARADISE After a few hectic days of hard speedboating and bravery blowing up our Instagram we moved onto our third Maldives experience. The beautiful narrow island of Dhigurah is situated 100km south of Malé on the Alif Dhaal Atoll, where the majestic whale sharks are resident all year around. María chose this island for its quiet but picturesque nature, with only 640 habitants and a great reputation as a diving spot. The Boutique Beach All Inclusive Diving Hotel is the coolest of the handful of hotels that Dhigurah contains and is set in natural surroundings of unspoiled jungle with a little village of locals nearby. The other end of this long-shaped charming island stretches out as an impressive sandbank where you can enjoy peaceful walks and
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Snorkelling with a giant whale shark
Open-air bathroom in the Boutique Beach Hotel
Dhigurah stretching out in a sandbank as a tail
Afzal and Mette on the roof of their boat
unforgettable sunsets. The story goes that a British lady on her diving holiday fell in love with the spot and its marine landscape, and created this hotel for herself. And indeed the rooms are very comfortable with beautiful open air bathrooms and rooftop dining, chef Shanti preparing near gourmet food with the freshest local ingredients. Their private boat goes out twice a day to the best snorkelling and diving spots and they offer all equipment and training necessary, included. The hotel is run by a super friendly Maldivian, Afzal, and a Danish diving instructor lady, Mette, who practically became family by the end of our visit. They made sure we left with the mesmerising experience of seeing the whale shark, gracefully gliding eagle rays, reef sharks and an array of other beautiful aquatic animals that are found in the area. For added fun they dropped us at the nearby LUX resort’s aviation platform where we took the famous seaplane back to Malé, to catch our international flight back home. ›
Junior whale sharks are all year residents
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I am only back a short while and still dreaming about swimming in the turquoise ocean with wonderful creatures. However, even at such a heavenly place, it was a sad experience seeing that the supposedly vibrant coral reefs were mostly bleached. They died as a result of the sudden heat wave in ocean temperature from a couple of years back. Divers report that deeper down they are recolouring, which is great news meaning they can recuperate in time unless we continue to destroy them. Also, we saw sugar-white, pristine sandbanks with plastic bags and bottles washed up all over them and they weren’t left there by tourists. The problems with our oceans are super real — you only need to take a holiday to see them for yourself. Giant manta rays are common around We should all work Dhigurah together to reverse the deterioration we cause to the planet if we are to prevent magical places like the Maldives from ultimately disappearing. e
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LONDON’S
TOP NEW HOTELS
Once again London is open to all and sundry and while we’ve all been locked down around the world, here in this prestigious city new ventures have been preparing to launch or relaunch with a vengeance and with some staggering results. Adam Jacot de Boinod gets to stay and take a look at the latest luxury hotels to open in the capital.
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AR D D N A T S E TH
The Standard is part of an American chain. This London hotel has a young, trendy, hip, creative and metropolitan crowd. It’s in a building that’s truly an explosive mix and contrast of textures and colours. The exterior is imposing and designed with a 70s ‘eggbox-style’ architecture. It is perfectly positioned for those exploring other parts of Europe as it’s bang opposite the cross-channel trains of Eurostar as well as the most idiosyncratic example of Victorian High Gothic grandeur that is the building to the terminus of St. Pancras. What a place of curiosity and intrigue with a library with modern shelf categories for books such as ‘order’ and ‘chaos’, ‘hope’ and ‘darkness’ next to a sealed room for the disc jockey and nearby the drag bingo evening that’s among the programme of fun events. ›
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Of the 266 rooms on ten floors, there’s a healthy selection ranging from Cosy Core (windowless) rooms to terraced suites with outdoor bathtubs at the top with floor-to-ceiling glass walls. It’s all about layers of differing creations. The décor is a wonderful medley of offerings both modern and retro. No space is left without some creative imput. The elements all come into play: air, fire, earth and water. Maximal not minimal. I ate at the Double Standard restaurant, spread
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across two large rooms and three areas of alfresco dining with greenery, pit fires and heaters. It felt full of surprises and totally engaged me. On the tenth and top floor is Decimo, a Spanish-Mexican restaurant offering a fine-dining tapas menu. What a stunning room and lots of ambient jazz music. There’s even a groovy outdoor lift to the roof terrace with its lovely views of the city. It’s fun and funky. › i www.standardhotels.com
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AN M S D R A U THE G The Guardsman is tucked away down a quiet street and is a treasured little hideaway. It has the unmistakably and quintessentially air of a British private members’ club, being boutique and suggesting exclusivity. Perfect for one-on-one experiences. It’s named after the soldiers who protect the Queen at Buckingham Palace, literally just up the street, with the additional local attractions of The Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey all within walking distance and minutes from the connecting train to Gatwick Airport. Along with its 53 rooms are six residences. Capitalising on the daylight, the rooms have herringbone parquet flooring, there are carefully selected books and modern features – such as the TV converting into a mirror – and very evident is the creative and artistic use of space. The reception extends into the drawing room and beyond is a ‘gentleman’s’ library. The décor features bespoke furniture with one sofa being an exact reproduction of the one used by Jackie Kennedy in the White House and with reworked Persian rugs. 48 / DECEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
Downstairs, the dining room has less than a dozen tables. This space is characterised by dark wenge wood and glass, with deep olive green and gold repeated in the plants. A state-of-the-art lit-up circular staircase offsets the linear bronze anodised decorative metal grille that uses randomly patterned bars and is the hotel’s signature icon. The bar is funky with green tiles and a great music selection. It’s smart, glamorous and, in a word,
KI O T A K A E THE PRINC characterful. Refreshingly, there’s no set times for service which is what we all actually want as guests. It’s rich, relaxing and luxurious and a nurturing and fun place to kickback after a day out sightseeing. i www.guardsmanhotel.com
A mere stone’s throw from London’s West End, this hotel is all you can want after perhaps an afternoon’s shopping on nearby Oxford Street. For it’s a sanctuary and ‘a place where East and West exist in perfect harmony’ as the hotel declares. Indeed, as I walked in I felt an immediate and huge sense of calm. A stillness that comes from the careful planning of light and space; those zen proportions within its minimal setting. The name Akatoki means sunrise and references the sense of awakening, of relaxation and of rejuvenation. All 82 rooms and suites have beds that are plush, and luxurious rain showers. Throughout are oversized wicker lanterns, ‘fusuma’ sliding doors with dark wenge wood and screened wardrobes. ›
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The Malt lounge and bar offers Japanese whiskies and homegrown sake where I felt an overall sense of sunset, of a cabin-like den in which night-time overrides the day. Next door the Tokii restaurant is a delightfully long room with a centrepiece of flowers. It has an open kitchen and sushi bar with slate-coloured seats and tiles. There’s deliberately no artwork in order to draw attention to the activity of eating from the irregular organic-shaped glaze-finished plates and dishes. The precision in presentation is exquisite and the service telepathic.
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And the food is fabulous. It has a fusion cuisine and I thoroughly enjoyed lotus root crisps, edamame, miso soup, shrimp tempura, kinoko mushrooms and a great variety of sashimi. The hot stone wagyu beef is totally fat-free and the yuzu and raspberry posset with pistachio shortbread was the perfect end to a perfect evening. For everything is exquisite down to the most minimal of details. › i www.theprinceakatokilondon.com
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GHT I E E L D D I M Less intimate than The Guardsman and contrastingly vast in its foyer and in a buzzing district is Middle Eight. Unimposing down the street but face on it has an impressive grandeur of its own that sets the tone for the treasure that’s inside. It’s bang in the middle of London’s West End, on the edge of Covent Garden, the heart of the city’s Theatreland and a perfect base from which to catch a show or two. As I entered the golden entrance of the lofty lobby I sensed a welcoming warmth for along
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a curvaceous wall, there was a wonderful line of lit-up fires like beckoning beacons. Here it’s all buttons, knobs and swipe cards. Indeed everything is literally at one’s fingertips. But of all the electronic state-of-the-art gadgets and gizmos it’s the lighting that’s the icing on the cake, the highlight if you like. A stunning lit-up staircase of glinting and gleaming golden rails and wooden steps took me down to QT, a speakeasy on the lower ground floor that from this autumn will be offering jazz, open-mike sessions and theatre. It has an uber-cool ambiance with an industrial chic mixture of terracotta and aqua set among concrete structures and marble tables.
Some of the rooms and suites have names that jump out at you like Radar and Downtown. All in keeping with the trendy vibe. My suite was slick and tasteful with a stand-alone bath and decked in wenge wood with live walls of plants vividly suggesting an indoors/outdoors feel. It was all thoroughly thought through. I enjoyed Sycamore, the open-planned Italian restaurant where I ate extremely well, sitting in my teal seat amid the spacious setting of marble tables. Middle Eight is both eclectic and funky. i www.middleeight.com
RE O M T L I B E TH Managed by Hilton and one of four of their luxury brand ‘LXR’, The Biltmore is located in London’s prestigious Grosvenor Square, which has strong connections with America, being home to her former embassy and the Square’s gardens host statues of both Franklin D Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. The area is called Mayfair and it’s the most expensive on the English version of the Monopoly game, consisting of lovely Georgian architecture and a short walk to the shops of Oxford Street, Regent Street and fashionable Bond Street next to which is Savile Row where the English gentlemen have their suits made. The hotel entrance has a floral display with an abundant amount of flowers as its centrepiece emphatically letting me know what I was in store for. ›
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Out of the 300+ rooms and suites, mine had floral panelling, a large Chinoiserie mirror, wenge wood and curvaceous furnishings topped by a gorgeous emeraldgreen velvet sofa. I luxuriated in the Italian marble bathroom with its freestanding, egg-shaped bath and Toto loo. I ate well from the confidently small menu of modern European cuisine at Café Biltmore Restaurant and Terrace. Sitting outside, beneath powerful heaters in this cool and glamorous restaurant, I watched cloches, crumbers and piping-hot bread be served with a decided theatricality. It’s opposite the ballroom. Where else in Mayfair can you be surrounded by plants and unaffected by defiling pigeons or noisy traffic? As Samuel Johnson, the famous lexicographer and man-about-town, was famed for declaring: “So, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life, for there is in London all that life can afford.” And I can vouch for that staying here in London, in Mayfair and at The Biltmore. › i www.lxrhotels3.hilton.com 54 / DECEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
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Aerial view of Place Massena square
DON N O L L E T O EH S U O H E E R T reflecting shadows over the industrial ceilings
and wooden bark pillars, while foliage drapes How many hotels can you name with the reception down and wicker lanterns illuminate, the bar. on the 15th floor? Treehouse is the latest brand The music is cool and ambient. The tone is one from SH Hotels, the group behind 1 Hotels in the of golden and copper autumn leaf colours set US, a brand with an eco message of sustainability against real and lushous foliage full of vitality. The with double-filtered water refill stations on every silver birch tree wallpaper is classy and effective floor and woodland themes with birds and trees on the accent wall. The Nest is a rooftop bar with to give it a treehouse feel. Bang opposite the its stunning panoramic views across the city. newly modernised BBC, it’s perfectly located for It’s uber-cool and funky with outdoors on either shopping (with Oxford, Regent and Bond Streets side and is deeply atmospheric and perfect for nearby being the heart of London’s top department sundowners. Treehouse is playful and fun with a stores which include Liberty and Selfridges). trendy and youthful vibe. › The 95 rooms across six floors have enormous i www.treehousehotels.com windows beneath bare concrete plastered ceilings. There are ornaments such as a piggy bank, cuckoo clock, Magic-8 ball, gas lamp and Paddington Bear. I recommend a south- or east-facing room for the best views of London. Just opening on the ground floor is the Pizzeria Mozza introduced by Los Angeles chef Nancy Silverton of Netflix Chef’s Table fame while upstairs you’re in for a treat at its Mexican restaurant called Madera. The food comes on wooden plates and metal slates; rocks being the signature dish served over hot lava stones. Here the stunning décor allows for golden sunsets and
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IC PAN PACIF Representing Pan Pacific’s first hotel in Europe, it just opened this September in the heart of London’s Financial District, bang opposite Liverpool Street station and near the trendy neighbourhood of Shoreditch and the major tourist attractions of St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London. The foyer is imposing and stylish with its organic-shaped staircase looping its way up to
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the restaurant on the second floor. It leads onto the Orchid Lounge which makes great use of its lights offset by banana leaves. In this ambiance, I felt far removed from the hurly-burly of London’s busy business life. The lounge led seamlessly onto the Ginger Lily Bar, an exclusive nook darkened both in daytime and at night and offset only by its outdoor terrace. My room was
decked out in beige colours with wooden veneer panelling and was equipped with all that’s necessary as well as luxurious, calmed by the harmonious and timeless tones of this light, airy spacious domain. Everything came, like presents, in smart wooden boxes: silk eye blinds, chocolates and even the TV remote control, and the bathroom sported excellent Diptique products.
Aerial view of Place Massena square
Dining at the Straits Kitchen restaurant is a restful experience. Here I picked from a charming and well-illustrated menu showcasing the melting pot of cuisines represented in multicultural Singapore. As for the breakfast, I was spoilt for choice from a buffet that rivals the finest of patisseries. I went for a swim in the wonderful long infinity pool overlooking the stunning Classical façade of the St. Botolph-
without-Bishopsgate church. For on this 4th floor, devoted entirely to wellness with its treatment rooms and relaxation pods, there’s everything a travelling business person needs to relax. And thanks too must go to the ever-attentive and obliging staff who offer their sincere Singaporean hospitality within this brand-new contemporary London design. i www.panpacific.com
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SCENTENNIAL OF AN
Chanel N°5 liberated women from Victorian olfactory values
ICON French cartoonist Sem’s 1921 take on the New Woman
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Reigning muse Marion Cotillard
Chanel posed for the first advertising campaign, 1937
Andy Warhol immortalised it in pop art; Marilyn Monroe wore nothing else in bed; and one classy glass bottle flies off a shelf somewhere in the world every 30 seconds. As Chanel N°5 gets gift-wrapped for its 100th Christmas, finds out why a fragrance your great grandmother wore remains the classic gift we keep on giving.
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SCENT OF A MODERN WOMAN It’s 100 years since Coco Chanel tweaked polite society’s nose with a perfume that allowed a woman to ‘smell like a woman, not like a flower’. In an age when single-note florals, dabbed discreetly behind the earlobe, were the essence of feminine purity and only brazen trollops wore musk, Mademoiselle Chanel hurled convention in the face of the male-dominated fragrance industry with her heady 80-ingredient medley, to be worn “wherever one would like to be kissed.” Fresh but seductive in an oh-so-French way, Chanel N°5 liberated scent from Victorian olfactory values and proved that women could be simultaneously virtuous and sexy. A fragrance for the flapper age, the first by a female fashion designer, it was a distillation of Coco’s own free spirit. Already a phenomenon in French fashion circles with boutiques in Paris, Deauville and Biarritz, she drove a blue Rolls Royce, held wild parties at her villa on the French Riviera and had a healthy disregard for social etiquette. It’s no secret that Picasso, Stravinsky and Edward Vll were
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three of her many lovers, or that she used their money to help fund her business ventures. Now she sought a perfume to match the multi-layered complexity of the modern woman wearing her clothes.
THE FIRST ABSTRACT PERFUME Chanel found her alchemist in Ernest Beaux, perfumer to the Imperial Court of Russia, who was experimenting with synthetic scent enhancers called aldehydes. These potent potions boosted the olfactory ‘whoosh’ of a fragrance but were so powerful, few perfume houses dared use them. Chanel had no such qualms: “I don’t want rose or lily of the valley, I am a seamstress,” she told her chemist. “I want an artificial fragrance, something crafted, like a dress.” Like a Jackson Pollock of the perfume world, Beaux threw everything into the mix – musk and civet, vanilla and patchouli, vetiver and sandalwood (previously only used Andy in men’s Warhol’s pop art tribute
colognes) and a forest of plant, bark and flower extracts – to produce a perfume that smelled incredibly ‘abstract’ with no single dominant note. He also OD’d on aldehydes which he called ‘the salt and pepper’ in his recipes although this perfume chef didn’t smell any of his ingredients. He jotted down formulae. ‘It is like writing music,” he said. “Each component has a definite tonal value so I can compose a waltz or a funeral march. The future of perfumery is in the hands of chemists.” He was right. Today perfumes are made no other way. Chanel N°5 was a game changer that made single flower fragrances old hat. Yet after all these years, the original parfum remains Chanel’s best-selling scent. ›
The 5 versions of Chanel N°5
ICON IN A BOTTLE
The fragrance is the star but the chunky masculine flask in its plain white and black box became the icon. Photographed by Helmut Newton, filmed by Ridley Scott and exhibited at the New York MoMA, Warhol immortalised it in his 1985 silk screen series, Ads, alongside James Dean, Donald Duck and Volkswagon. Bucking the trend for fancy fragrance bottles by Lalique and Baccarat, its clinical simplicity was a reflection of Mademoiselle’s no-frills convent upbringing as well as an insight into her rebel soul. “I want pure transparency, an invisible bottle, unashamedly machinemade and mass-produced,” said the woman who invented the elegant understatement. The stopper, cut like a diamond, was inspired by the geometry of Paris’s Place Vendôme, Chanel’s home when she lived at the Ritz. The flask, modelled on the Charvet toiletry bottles used by her lover Arthur ‘Boy’ Capel – or, some say, his whiskey decanter – has barely changed.
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LUCKY N°5 You can’t take the Convent out of the girl… Born a Leo, the fifth sign in the Zodiac, orphaned in childhood and raised by nuns, Chanel discovered that the paths she trod daily to the convent chapel for prayers were laid out in a figure of five pattern. The number became her talisman. She religiously launched her collections on the fifth of the month and when she was handed a list of formulas for her first perfume she picked out number five. She kept
the name, loving that it sounded like a laboratory sample when perfumes were meant to have exotic names like rival Guerlain’s Shalimar. Chanel’s lucky number still informs policy today. There are only five interpretations of the original formula produced under the Chanel N°5 label. And this centenary year is particularly auspicious, say Chanel’s marketing spin doctors, ‘because 2+0+2+1 equals 5’.
Noughties muse Nicole Kidman
Marilyn reveals her naked truth Brad Pitt’s face didn’t quite fit
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FACES OF N°5 The world’s most iconic perfume requires the world’s most iconic muse. That was Love Story star Ali MacGraw and model Jean Shrimpton in the Sixties, Belle de Jour beauty Catherine Deneuve in the Seventies and elegant Aussie Nicole Kidman in the Noughties. French actress Marion Cotillard is the current muse. Fittingly, Coco herself was the first face of Chanel N°5 in 1937, when she was photographed leaning languidly against her mantelpiece at home for the fragrance’s first advertisement in Harper’s Bazaar. Before that, Coco
would invite women ‘tastemakers’ to smart soirees and spritz them with her perfume and next day all their friends wanted some. One famous face that didn’t quite fit in 2012 was Brad Pitt, in a gendertwisting campaign that might even have shocked Coco. Gazing wistfully out from the moody blackand-white promo video, Pitt utters the immortal lines: “Wherever I go, there you are, my luck, my fate, my fortune. Chanel N°5, inevitable.” Chanel defended its choice: ‘N°5 is the most iconic fragrance of our time, Brad Pitt is the most iconic
actor’. Time magazine called it ‘nonsensical’. Marilyn Monroe is eternally associated with Chanel N°5 although she was never an official muse in her lifetime. It was all down to that famous 1952 interview for Life magazine when she was asked what she wore in bed; and she
answered, “Why, Chanel N°5 of course.” In 2013 she became the perfume’s posthumous poster girl in a campaign featuring archive footage and a recording of a later interview when she explained, “I said Chanel N°5 because I didn’t want to say nude but it’s the truth!” ›
Seventies muse Catherine Deneuve
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ASK FOR THE MOON You may have to this Christmas if you want to get your hands on the first Chanel N°5 advent calendar, a limited centenary edition retailing at an eye-watering €700. Shaped like an enormous bottle of N°5, inside there are 27 boxes to pull open, numbered five to 31 (the address of Chanel’s Paris apartment), containing beauty products from the N°5 Collection, including the scent.
Ask for the Moon and you might get this advent calendar
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Another 100th Christmas special you could splurge on is a monumental 2021-millilitre Baccarat crystal flask of N°5 Parfum Grand Extrait. That’s more than double the size of the fair-sized bottle French actress Marion Cotillard is schmoozing in the publicity shots. There are only 55 in the world and although price details are equally rare, a standard 225ml bottle retails at circa €2.000, so do the math, then add some. Ask for the Moon is the theme title of the 100th Chanel N°5 Christmas collection and, for once, it’s no elegant understatement! e
Chanel hopes we’ll Ask for the Moon this Christmas
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“These gems have life in them: their colours say what words fail to” George Eliot
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THE BEAUTY
OF GEMS
IS ETERNAL BUT THEIR SUPPLY IS WANING WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN
G
emstones have played a key role in many important events throughout human history – engagements, coronations, and battles. Their beauty – best viewed beneath a continuous spectrum – has enthralled celebrities, world leaders, investors, and those with an eye for colour, fire, and light. Marbellaborn company, MJM Gems, brings the finest quality gems from Tanzania, Kenya, Brazil, and other far-off lands to our shores. If the deep blue of Tanzanite or the playful green of Tsavorite speak to your heart, know that you have a limited time to make one your own. Some gemstones have a finite mining period left and once the supply is exhausted, their price will rise vertiginously. MJM supplies buyers with flawless stones of the highest official standards, tones, and saturations. Sold as loose pieces or within a customised setting, they make an excellent investment and can be set within stunning designs that
match the buyer’s sense of style.
A TRIUMVIRATE WITH TALENT MJM (Miguel, John, and Martin) comprises a team with a combined experience of more than 100 years in the world of gems and jewellery. Miguel is a fully qualified gemologist and distinguished jewellery designer whose incredible creations include the stunning ‘Star of the Sea’ necklace featured in this article and on the back cover of this edition. The gem is a 44.75-carat Tanzanite. Its owner will be able to proudly display a truly unique and contemporary piece that is designed and hand-crafted in Marbella; one that will be impossible to make once this precious stone can no longer be mined. Martin, meanwhile, is an entrepreneur who runs various successful businesses in Spain and the UK.
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John is a modern-day Indiana Jones in search of treasures – to be precise, gemstones. His is a life of adventure and he regularly travels to Tanzania, Kenya, Brazil, Burma, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and more countries in search of the finest quality Diamonds and gemstones of all colours. He recounts dramatic experiences and life stories – including the death of his best friend Campbell Bridges – a renowned Scottish geologist and gemstone miner who officially discovered the verdant gemstone called Tsavorite. Bridges was assassinated by a group of around 20 people as a result of a mining dispute. His son, Bruce, is now heir to the
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largest collection of Tsavorites in the world – one of supreme quality and incalculable value. What makes Tsavorite so special is that, unlike its twin sister, the Emerald, it is free of inclusions and bears a rich green hue that is reminiscent of nature’s greatest treasures.
THE HISTORY OF TSAVORITE The history of Tsavorite is best recounted in the words of Campbell Bridges himself. The gemologist recalls that he discovered this deep greenhued stone in Zimbabwe in 1961, while he was working for the UK Atomic Energy Authority. One day, while exploring the countryside, “an old rogue buffalo charged out of the bush at me. I
jumped down into the gully. The buffalo followed me in a menacing manner along the edge of the ravine for a while, then gave up and went off into the bush. I continued upward, inspecting the rock exposures in the bottom and sides of the gully. Where it neared the top of the hill, I found an outcrop that contained small bright green crystals. This was my first encounter with green Garnet.” The stone was renamed ‘Tsavorite’ by Bridges and Henry B. Platt, President of Tiffany & Co. in 1973. Tsavo is an enormous wilderness area that has been divided into two national parks. It is one of the world’s largest wildlife preserves.
Bridges’ second discovery of Tsavorite was equally shrouded in danger. It occurred in a small valley in northern Tanzania (over 100 km southwest of the Kilimanjaro) that a large rhinoceros had made his home. Bridges and his team began digging a pit in search of Tsavorites and the following morning, they found the rhino’s tracks “firmly implanted in the soil on the edge of the pit.” The miners took great care to watch out for the rhino, whom they named ‘The Mining Inspector’. The rhino had plenty to be protective about. This deposit, said Bridges, “yielded some of the largest Tsavorites ever found, among which is one beauty just under 35 carats.” This enormous stone was found long after
Bridges had lost the mine due to nationalisation by the Tanzanian government. Bridges has many more beautiful recollections – including that of a leopard in Kenya that used to consume its prey on his treehouse bed and drink water from a “Tsavorite-studded birdbath at the bottom of the tree.”
TANTALISING TANZANITE Tanzanite, which ranges in colour between deep blue and violet, also has fascinating origins. Discovered by Maasai
herders in the Merelani Hills near Arusha, Tanzania, it was confused with Sapphire gems by its original miner (a prospector named Manuel d’Souza). Upon noticing that this stone was often practically indistinguishable from Sapphires, Tiffany & Co. became its main distributor, renaming it from ‘blue zoisite’ to ‘Tanzanite’. Around two million carats of Tanzanite were mined before the Tanzanian government nationalised the mines in 1971.
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Today, Tanzanite is considered one of the rarest gemstones in the world. Geology studies show that the supply will be entirely depleted within the next 15 - 20 years, making it an excellent investment. The President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has taken various measures to protect this national treasure, recently prohibiting the exportation of raw or semiprocessed Tanzanite. The stone must now be mined, cut, and polished in Tanzania itself. In September 2021, she advocated against the immediate offloading of Tanzanite, urging dealers to control the supply of the mineral so as to boost its demand and value in international markets. President Hassan is also
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shooting a travel documentary called Royal Tour, stating, “I am going to record the film showing the world where Tanzanite is mined and the refinery process. This will tell the world that Tanzania is the home of Tanzanite.”
FROM AFRICA TO MARBELLA MJM Gems sells a host of gemstones, including Tsavorite, Tanzanite, Morganite, and of course, Diamonds. Contact the company to view the extensive range of stones and ready-made jewellery or arrange to create a bespoke design just for you. A wide range of stone sizes is available, ranging from half a carat to over 100 carats. i www.mjmgems.com
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PRESENT AND
CORRECT? 80 / DECEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
It’s the time of peace on Earth and goodwill to all men, but how do you negotiate the festive minefield that is buying Christmas presents? Giles Brown takes a break from dinging his dong merrily on high, stops hovering hopefully beneath the mistletoe, and brings us his guide to seasonal gifting.
A
s the song goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”. But away from the festive frolicking and parties, buying gifts for your nearest and dearest, not to mention work colleagues, can easily turn into the Nightmare before Christmas. It wasn’t always so. Growing up in the 70s, a bottle of Brut 33 for the men and Tia Maria for the ladies normally did the trick. But we have moved on from then. With the advent of the Internet and millions of online shopping websites, Christmas gifts are now expected to have more of a ‘wow’ factor. Even the once simple pleasures of putting up Christmas decorations are now a challenging experience. Bunging up a few bits of tinsel the week before simply won’t do. Some Marbella villas go all in with the themed Christmas experience – complete with massive tree and designer baubles – perfect for the inevitable seasonal selfie. You have to carefully time the purchase of the aforementioned tree, decorations and gifts as well. Marbella may not have the population of Madrid, but I vividly remember the Christmas car park chaos at La Cañada one year. My then girlfriend insisted that we stuck with Italian tradition and buy a tree the weekend before Christmas. The whole experience resembled a disaster movie where desperate crowds fight to leave a building before the Zombie Apocalypse or flee a city
before the meteor hits. After two hours trying to get out of the car park, I was praying for a direct asteroid strike to put me out of my misery. You can, of course, pick out your presents online and have them delivered to your door. But that brings its own drawbacks as well. With small businesses trying to bounce back after what could optimistically be called an ‘interesting’ 2021, plus the recent backlash in some quarters against Jeff Bezos and other online delivery firms, shopping local may be a more acceptable option. Plus you won’t have to endure the nail-biting situation as the clocks tick down to December 25 and the present for your beloved still hasn’t arrived, meaning that every time the doorbell rings you do a passable impersonation of Pavlov’s dog. Choice of gifts can also backfire badly. I lost count of the life coaching/ self-improvement/quit drinking manuals that I received in the early noughties, which I promptly used to prop up my wonky drinks cabinet. A book on interior design may result in the recipient thinking that you regard her house as a mess, ‘Twelve habits of successful people’, her life is a mess, and anything to with weight loss is an absolute no no! Funny presents are also a tricky one, as you have to be absolutely sure that they share your sense of humour. Anything that features age jokes – such as a grumpy old man mug – may not go down well if they have just had a few nips and tucks. And not everyone thinks that Wicked Willy underwear is the ultimate in boudoir chic. ›
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Anything meant as a surprise – such as fake snakes leaping out of mustard jars and the like – can also go badly wrong. I speak from personal experience on this one. As a small boy on Christmas morning, I was overjoyed that Santa had brought me a pedal go kart. Go karts in the 70s were hefty metallic affairs and, as I was excitedly going through my pillowcase of smaller presents from Santa (Blue Peter annual, Action Man, that sort of thing), I eagerly stuck my little hand in the bottom to grab the last present. And pulled out a huge rubber spider. Terrified, I let out a blood curdling shriek and catapulted backwards at high speed, smacking my head hard into the metallic frame of the go kart. I was lucky not be rushed to A&E, although I was a little dazed for the rest of Christmas Day. (In fairness, I was to spend a few more Christmas Days in a dazed state, but that may have had something to do with the early morning Bucks Fizz).
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Talking of children, buying presents for the younger generation is also fraught with pitfalls. I might think that I am the cool, gun slinging slightly edgy ‘wicked uncle’ type, but nothing shows how out of touch I am than getting a T shirt with a cool logo on it, only to be disdainfully informed that it was ‘sooooo summer 2021’. Then there was the time I brought an Iron Man baseball cap, not knowing that he was from the wrong comic book universe. (Marvel versus DC apparently). And while gifting music might seem a safe bet, the average Ariana Grande or Kid LAROI track now contains enough casual profanity to make hardened rap outfit N.W.A. blush. So my advice for Christmas gifts this year? You can either duck out of the whole festive period entirely by turning off your mobile and having a two week social media detox, or go for the tried and tested favourites. As the saying goes, ‘For Christmas I was hoping for sex and cheques, but I ended up with socks and chocs’. Again! e
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ROLLS-ROYCE SPECTRE
The superlative in ultra-luxury motoring, presenting the combined pinnacle of pace at the apex of opulence, the esteemed history of RollsRoyce extends far beyond its modern aura of international business tycoons and superstars. And now, after more than a century in operation, this tailor-made marque is taking its biggest technological leap forward yet: Rolls-Royce is going electric. WORDS SAM HEXTER PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ROLLS-ROYCE
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PIONEERING PAST This now iconiclly lavish motorcar maker was actually founded on rather humble grounds. The core of the business was started in 1884 under the steer of Henry Royce, operating as a small electrical and mechanical enterprise. It was in 1904 that Royce and company debuted their first attempt at a motor vehicle, and that was also the year that fate intervened when Royce met a young Charles Rolls, a car salesman based in London. Rolls-Royce Limited was officially formed in May of 1906 and launched its first production
vehicle the same year. The sixcylinder Silver Ghost was an impressive feat of engineering for its era, and received critical acclaim upon its public release. This long-wheelbase, 2+2 opentop motorcar looks like a work of steampunk fiction by modern standards, but must have been a real sight to behold back in its day. Pundits dubbed the Silver Ghost “the best car in the world”, after it completed 27 consecutive trips from London to Glasgow, a journey that covered 14,371 miles, without fault, thus proving its selfdeclared reliability and comfort. The company took a more
nautical approach to the billing of this new luxury tourer, and that’s something that has stuck to the brand for over a century, with continued links between their road-going vehicles and more maritime marketing, which has always held strong ties to a significantly more exclusive and lavish way of living. Production of the Silver Ghost continued, with increasingly more units being purchased and shipped to a wealthy international audience. But Rolls-Royce Limited was soon to be involved in a worldchanging event of gargantuan proportion. ›
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BY LAND, SEA AND AIR 1914 saw an enormous geopolitical shift, and the world would soon be altered forever. The Great War would force the hands of millions of ordinary people and thousands of businesses to shift focus with immediate effect. Rolls-Royce Limited was no exception. Answering the call of the British Empire, Rolls-Royce quickly pivoted methods of manufacturing and began to build a variety of vehicles fit for the new mechanised warfare now at play. The 1920 Mk 1, as it later
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became known, borrowed the chassis and underpinnings from the Silver Ghost, but now featured heavy armour plating and a dexterous top-mounted turret housing a Vickers machine gun – which isn’t an image too synonymous with the brand now. A total of 72 of these nimble and readily rugged vehicles were adopted by the Royal Naval Air Service, and were deployed to every theatre and terrain imaginable during the global conflict with great success. But the support Rolls-Royce
gave to the allies wasn’t just on the ground; the company also developed the formidable ‘Eagle’ aero engine, which was used in over half of the aircraft deployed during the war. This pioneering piece of mechanical engineering was also used to make the first transatlantic flight, as well as the first flight spanning England to Australia. The end of The Great War didn’t mark the end of RollsRoyce’s prestigious military lineage; the company, in tandem with its luxury car production, went on to spearhead many
aeronautical innovations. During the late 1920s, the ‘R’ engine was developed, which went on to set the world air speed record in 1931, with a blistering velocity of over 400mph (or nearly 645km/h). This mighty motor would go on to provide the building blocks for the magnificent Merlin engine, of which various iterations have powered some of history’s most impressive aircraft. Most famously perhaps, the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire, that came to the nation’s aid during the Battle of Britain. Innovations didn’t stop there, as Rolls-Royce developed the now iconic Pegasus engines during the late 1950s, later utilised in the ever-impressive Harrier jets. This all-new Pegasus platform allowed for a much shorter take off and an inspiring vertical landing. The Harriers have been in active service since the late 1960s and still endure some use with military units today. The Harrier Jets’ finest hour came during the Falklands War, and these menacing machines were put to use off the coast of Argentina with undeniable effect. To this day, Rolls-Royce is responsible for the research and development of nextgeneration technologies – from the propulsion systems used in nuclear-capable submarines to testing the latest and greatest stealth fighter jets. ›
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BEYOND BATTLES
In the years following the Second World War, Rolls-Royce made its entrance into the civil aviation space, applying its expertise from developing leading military-grade hardware into more comparatively consumer applications in ventures with household names in aerospace, like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The aero-engineering side of the brand and the luxury automaker were sold separately and divided into two independent entities, but held their impressive, shared past. In 1998, the legendary British marque was purchased by the Volkswagen Group for a cool £40 million, where it remains in operation today under parent company, BMW. Over the last century, the Rolls-Royce brand has evolved into something
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truly extraordinary. Bearing a series of sophisticated silhouettes and grand grilles, the Spirit of Ecstasy emblem perched proudly on the hood, all encompass a hand-built quality that remains unrivalled. And all this luxury comes with a cost to match, attracting the uber-rich – members of the monarchy, oil tycoons, sheiks, tzars and beyond – a far cry from the company’s origins, but one perfectly suited to such deserving prestige.
Making inroads from their humble beginnings in Crewe, Manchester, since 2003 RollsRoyce Motor Cars has been situated in a state-of-the-art facility in Goodwood, West Sussex – a quintessentially British landscape that suspends a rich automotive history of its own. With such an expansive tapestry forming the brand’s DNA, it’s no wonder that innovation is at the forefront of everything Rolls-Royce seeks to achieve. Its future is fuelled by the lessons of the past, and that endeavour for superior engineering, design, style, comfort, and luxury, is upheld in every action – from the seemingly minute, to decisions that dictate the route forward and road ahead.
THE LEGACY EVOLVED In 2016, Rolls-Royce revealed its first endeavour into the electric vehicle sector with the exceptional VISION NEXT 100, codenamed 103EX. This fully functional new-age concept pushed not only the boundaries of contemporary aesthetics, but made use of some truly impressive tech. The 103EX previewed some incredible autonomous driving abilities through advanced artificial intelligence, as well as an all-electric powertrain, paving the way for what comes next. In conforming to the zeitgeist of this automotive generation, Rolls-Royce have set a target to have its showrooms filled with an all-EV line-up by 2030. And the first car in this electrifying venture, is the newly teased Spectre – which certainly continues the brand’s lineage of using imposing, phantasmal names.
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With first deliveries slated for late 2023, the luxury marque is imminently embracing a new dawn. The Spectre will be an ultra-luxurious two-door coupé, and despite an all-new electric powertrain, will share many underpinnings from the latest iterations of the Phantom, Ghost and Cullinan cars. While little has been released to the public regarding the Spectre’s battery and electric motor setup, it’s likely to give the sublime EQS from Mercedes-Benz a run for its money in terms of range, and probably price too. While it could borrow some existing dualmotor electric tech from parent company, BMW, that option may upset prospective and existing clients who have become accustomed to hulking, bespoke V12s. You can’t
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disagree that if your brand-new Rolls-Royce shared a powertrain with a BMW i4, you’d lose some serious bragging rights at the golf course. With the marque’s continuous striving for incubated silence in motion, huge amounts of power and torque delivered with smooth, effortless waves, and a focus on weighted, significant, sculpted quality above all else, perhaps Rolls-Royce making the move to a modular, all-electric platform is the next logical step to secure its timeless motorcars into the coming decades. Or arguably with all things considered, this electric move could have come several years sooner, and
the luxury brand could have been at the forefront of the EV evolution, applying almost 115 years of innovation in motion. Either way, it’s certainly an exciting proposition, and if it keeps these mighty automotive icons on the roads, who could oppose it? Certainly in theory, all-electric powertrains appear to hold the key to achieve ultimate pace and tranquillity – the company’s mission from the very beginning. e
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LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR ULTIMAE Lamborghini’s Aventador model has been around since 2011 and 2022 will be its last year of production. To celebrate the event, the Sant’Agata Bolognese sports car manufacturer is bringing us a special Aventador edition, appropriately named Ultimae, Latin for ‘final’ by some definitions. WORDS TONY WHITNEY PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LAMBORGHINI SPONSORED BY C. DE SALAMANCA
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he Aventador Ultimae will be built in limited numbers and might well be something of a swansong for hypercars with internal combustion engines. The Ultimae unashamedly uses a big V-12 and it doesn’t even need turbochargers to attain 780-horsepower and the ability to top 100 km/h in just 2.8-seconds. The next generation of hypercars will almost certainly use electric motors, either on their own or to boost smaller IC engines. Lamborghini has a long
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history of producing seriously dramatic-looking sports cars and the Aventador has carried on this tradition in fine style. The Ultimae does not set out to differentiate too radically from the basic Aventador and exterior styling tweaks are minimal. Lamborghini design has long involved angular cues rather that curves and Aventador styling can be described as more origami than organic. Italy has unique talents when it comes to designing almost anything and although Lamborghini has
been part of Audi AG for many years, the German carmaker has thankfully never appeared to try and influence the company’s stylists. That said, there is certainly Audi DNA when it comes to engineering and few buyers will complain about that. Audi’s expertise in all-wheel drive systems has been especially beneficial to Lamborghini. › Technically, the Ultimae does not break any new ground for this class of car. The big V-12 is mid-mounted and all four wheels are driven, an
important feature with power like this on tap. There’s not much use having 780 horses available if you can’t get the power to the road effectively. As with other Lamborghinis, this aspect is very effectively taken care of and quite possibly, Audi’s Quattro expertise came in handy here. Sad to say, V-12 engines are quietly disappearing from the spec sheets of the world’s fine cars so it’s good to see Lambo perpetuating the use of a
twelve-banger, at least for now. Other highlights of the Ultimae spec sheet include all the goodies you’d expect in a car in this lofty class. Included are carbon-ceramic brakes, rear-wheel steering managed by the drive select mode, electronic stability control, again managed by driving mode choice, and Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres for optimal grip. Underpinning the wild bodywork is a carbon fibre monocoque with aluminium
front and rear frames. The bodywork itself combines carbon fibre with aluminium to create a rigid and lightweight structure. A rear spoiler is electronically operated and uses three set positions. To round off the Ultimae’s highly effective aerodynamics is an underbody that is completely panelled. There’s a lot of carbon fibre used in the interior and this certainly adds to what might be called ‘hypercar ambiance.’ ›
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Once the driver is threaded into the cockpit via the scissor doors, it’s a comfortable and practical place to spend even a lengthy road trip. Instrumentation is alldigital and the panel changes according to which drive mode is selected – Strada, Sport or Corsa. A roadster variant has a removable roof panel to create something close to a convertible experience, though this is a little challenging. Luggage space is understandably limited so owners will need to pack lightly for a weekend away. With exotic sports car manufacturers working flat
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out on electrification, the highly desirable Aventador Ultimae is certainly one of a dying breed but it’s great to see Lamborghini exit the world of ultra-powerful V-12s with a flourish. There’ll be a successor of course and there’s little doubt that it will be at least a hybrid, but until that arrives, the Ultimae fills the gap in superlative style.
g This article is sponsored by C. De Salamanca, official dealers for Bentley, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Jaguar & Land Rover. Tel: (+34) 952 785 250. www.cdesalamanca.com
Z ENGINE: 780-horsepower V-12. Z TRANSMISSION: Electronic allwheel drive 7-speed auto. Z ACCELERATION: Zero to 100 km/h in 2.8-seconds. Z TOP SPEED: 355 km/h. Z I LIKED: Other-worldly performance from mighty V-12 engine. Dramatic styling that will remain fresh and contemporary for many years. Limited production hypercars have proved to be sound investments. Z I DIDN’T LIKE: Poor oddments stowage in the cockpit. Minimal luggage capacity. Roadster roof could be easier to remove and deploy. Z MARKET ALTERNATIVES: McLaren 765 LT, Ferrari SF90 Stradale, Porsche 911 GT3, MercedesAMG GT Black Series. Z WHO DRIVES ONE? Well-funded enthusiasts who want to experience what might be the last of the V-12 hypercars. Savvy collectors aiming to enjoy their Lamborghini while it quietly rises in value on the collector market. Z PRICE AND AVAILABILITY: Available now at approximately €430.000.
CLICK TO VISIT
www.cdesalamanca.com
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Bentayga Hybrid. Serenity electrified.
Find your extraordinary at marbella.bentleymotors.com Bentayga Hybrid - WLTP drive cycle - Fuel Consumption in l/100km: Combined, weighted 3.4; Combined CO₂ weighted 82 g/km; Combined Driving range 693 km The name ‘Bentley’ and the ‘B’ in wings device are registered trademarks. © 2021 Bentley Motors Limited. Model shown: Bentayga Hybrid.
BENTLEY MARBELLA
D SPOTLIGHT people
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We live in a world where self-preservation and selfishness are acceptable norms and, in some circles, even admired; and perhaps the Hollywood elite could be said to be the very best (or ‘very worst’) at furnishing their own fortunes at the expense of others.
ANOTHER EXCELLENT ADVENTURE FOR
KEANU
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E
ven the extent to which so many were seen to be clambering on the bandwagon of apologising for past indiscretions – be that a movie role, a period of bad behaviour or even a 140-character tweet – in light of cancel culture, showed that most of these well-known figures weren’t genuinely offering contrition for past sins, more protecting future pay packets. Luckily, as far as Keanu Reeves goes, there aren’t too many sins to account for. In fact, if skirting back over past behaviour is a determination of popularity in the years to come, then the 57-year-old Beirut-born star has stored up enough credits to last well beyond retirement. From queuing in the rain outside his own party
because he didn’t want to make a fuss to bouncers, to redistributing his movie fees around support staff and special effects workers whose presence you would only usually acknowledge on the closing credits of the movie. Then there’s acts of random kindness to strangers, such as giving up his seat on the New York subway – the fact he’s even there in the first place is remarkable – to sitting on the pavement, chatting with homeless people. Add in charitable donations thought to exceed $100m, and the star clearly goes well beyond what is expected of him. “I don’t do things for any other reason than they feel right,” he says. “And that makes me no different to 99% of people out there – good people who give up their time
or their energy for something that doesn’t directly benefit them. “I don’t want praise for it any more than other people do – it’s just a case of doing things because we know it’s the right thing to do.” While his behaviour on-set is no less community spirited, it’s accurate to say the actor’s feelgood vibes haven’t directly translated into big hits in the past couple of years – his most recent movie being the semi-successful reprisal of Ted ‘Theodore’ Logan in the Bill & Ted franchise last year, and John Wick in 2019. Yet prepare for a triumphant return to form this month when Reeves reassumes the character of cybercriminalturned apparent superhero Neo in the fourth instalment of The Matrix series of films.
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The bullet-dodger takes Reeves back into the action genre where he, perhaps most famously, occupied the minds of fans with his portrayal of John Wick, on three occasions. Of course, the actor will additionally point to hits including Through The Devil’s Advocate, Speed, 47 Ronin and The Day the Earth Stood Still; voiceovers for animated characters in multivisited SpongeBob and Toy Story versions, and a career on stage that even saw the guitarist play at Glastonbury… That is, he would reference those, were it not for the fact his humility instructs him to do otherwise… You have a reputation for being one of the nicest guys in the business. What is it that keeps you grounded? In myself, I don’t subscribe to the fanfare and the glamour. You’ve seen the way I live – I like basic things, I love motorbikes; I’d rather be out on a gravelly road getting mud on my boots than sat in the back of a limo. That’s just then person I am and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I respect in others a desire to go after the bright lights, but I’d rather have a conscience that is more about people and worthwhile experiences, so I guess that leads me to do a lot of the things that I do. I’m not doing it for any other reason than I want to. Q: Do you know where that spirit comes from? I think a lot of it is as a result of
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the experiences I had growing up. We moved around a fair amount so I think as a kid I was always very conscious of the value of friendships and how important it was to be nice to people… because I had plenty of practice when it came to needing to make new buddies! I was born in Beirut in Lebanon in September 1964 and after a few months my mother and father, who were in their early twenties at the time, moved to Sydney, Australia, where my sister was born. They then went to New York and then from there, they split up! My mom married a guy called Paul Aaron who worked in the theatre on Broadway, but they were only married for a short time, but I did keep in touch with him and I started out in the movie business as a PA on one of his projects at the age of about 15 years old. I guess those experiences have shaped a need to stay versatile and be kind. You have to do that if you want to get on in life. Even when I was making music with my band Dogstar, you have to be respectful of everyone around you. So you’re a movie star? So what… tell that to a record label or a room of musicians – they don’t care; you have to earn everything on your own terms. There must be a temptation to get Dogstar back together?!
Ha. Dogstar. I played bass guitar. To be honest, we were just a bar band, but we wanted to live a little and have some life experience. We organised a tour of the United States and that went well, and we did another and another and a fourth. We got to be able to go and play in Japan, in Europe, where in 1999, we managed to get ourselves booked for Glastonbury, but that one didn’t go so well, because I got loads of fruit thrown at me [laughs]! But I seem to remember that we played, and they were throwing stuff just to try and get my attention. It didn’t work that well, because I was concentrating on trying not to mess up! It’s always been about trying to fit the gigs in around my filming and when I was able to, we ended up playing in some pretty cool places and touring alongside some huge and cool bands. There was a time when Bon Jovi gave us a proposal to play with them at some point on their tour and it was obviously dependent on where they were in the world once we called a wrap on The Matrix. It turned out that we would be supporting them in Australia, and
we did a couple of nights with them. The crowd didn’t come to see us, and we knew that – we were just happy to be able to perform our stuff to a lot of people, but the crowd were nice to us and we’re grateful for that. Q: While we’re talking about things away from work, you’re still keen on riding those bikes too? KEANU: Yeah, I have the need for speed [laughs]! It all started when I was young and growing up in Toronto and there were gangs on motorcycles who would come through the town where I lived, and I was instantly hooked. ›
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When I was filming in Germany in the mid-1980s, there was a young lady who was riding a motorbike there and I asked if she could show me how to ride one properly. She did and when I got back to LA, I bought my first one and I’ve never been the same since. One of my favourites is a Norton and I’ve a 1973 Mk2A Commando which I’ve had for about three decades - we have shared a huge number of hours and miles together. Such great memories and amazing times. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, in life you’ve got to have these distractions, these escapes – they are what truly make us the people we are. It’s not work that ever does that. Didn’t you have a huge wipe-out on your Commando? Yeah, that was bad. I suffered a ruptured spleen from that. Usually it’s just been slide-outs although I’ve broken my arm, broken a few teeth, and lost a lot of skin and got road rash on my knees. I’ve tried to slow down and become a little safer over the years, though. Whenever I would get angry or 106 / DECEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
upset about something I would just take the bike out and go as fast as I could but that’s not always the best mood to be in if you’re riding at 150km/h or faster. I don’t do that anymore. › Thankfully though, one thing you have held onto from the past is a desire to bring incredible characters back to life, right? Well, yes, and that’s a credit to the strength of the character, of course; but I’m looking forward to people seeing Neo in The Matrix Resurrections. It’s been a great ride so far and I am absolutely happy with where he is because, if I am honest, unless I was going to be totally ramped up with how he is for this fourth instalment and where the landscape is and everything else around it, I would not have agreed to do it. I couldn’t do that. When I read the script I was really stoked up to do it because it’s a very ambitious piece, and rightly so, as it’s such a huge part of a lot of people’s movie past. Those who watched the first movie were captivated with it and they’ve been hooked ever since. I mean, as was I when I first picked up the script for that first movie – I was pulled in immediately… but like everyone I was a little confused as to what exactly was going on. I had to speak to the Wachowskis about how I could play the role and what I could give away, because it’s such a heavily layered and cloaked movie. Because it’s always said that Neo is ‘The One’ we had to make sure it was perfect. Q: How did those conversations go then? I wanted to do the role justice and play it with conviction and I had to ask the Wachowskis if Neo knows that he has the capability inside him, that something which convinces him to go along with Morpheus and Trinity, played excellently by Larry Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss. Does he know he can be what they want and need him to be or is he simply a brilliant hacker who just happens to be in the right place at
the right time? That was something we absolutely had to get right to make sure the whole film worked. Obviously we wanted to make sure we get the film absolutely right. I’ve been geeked out for a while since I knew that this was coming and since I read the script. So, I am as excited as any fan will be about it! The way the previous three movies have been, the focus was on the visuals and the CGI and everything, from those watching. Do
you think that the dialogue doesn’t get talked about enough? Well, it was definitely what the writers wanted. They wanted the film to be an action classic, to have its own world… emotional content and mind-bending storylines and layers, instead of it just being a shoot ‘em up, sci-fi, run-of-the-mill thriller. They wanted it to stand out, to be talked about for years to come; and the fact we’re coming back with a fourth one surely validates that wish. e WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 107
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trends
CHRISTMAS IS COMING SO WE WILL FINALLY HAVE SOME FREE TIME TO OURSELVES – SEE OUR SUGGESTIONS ON NEW FILM AND SERIES RELEASES, BOOK LAUNCHES, WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE MUSIC SCENE, AND WHAT’S COOL IN SPAIN AND BEYOND.
GO TO PAGE 114 FOR COOL NEW SERIES
GO TO PAGE 110 FOR HOT NEW FILMS
GO TO PAGE 122 FOR MUSIC NEWS
CINEMA SERIES MUSIC NEWS 110 Hot New Films 114 Cool New Series 118 Books – New Releases 122 Music News 124 Smart Home Technology 128 What’s Cool
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FOR WHAT'S COOL
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HOT NEW
MOVIES
WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS
It’s so exciting to be back in the movies at a time when new film releases are continually enticing audiences. We bring you a few top picks that should excite, entertain, and fill you with emotion.
SILENT NIGHT
» Genre: Dark Comedy » Director: Camille Griffin » Cast: Keira Knightley, Lily-Rose Depp, Annabelle Wallis The world is about to end and the government has given everyone suicide pills to make their ‘passing’ less traumatic. A group of family and friends gathers for their final Christmas dinner and awaits their end, knowing that soon, deadly noxious gases will flood the environment that human beings have destroyed owing to greed and carelessness.
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THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS » Genre: Science Fiction » Director: Lana Wachowski » Cast: Keanu Reeves, Christina Ricci, Carrie-Anne Moss In the final film in the original Matrix trilogy, Neo (Keanu Reeves) sacrifices himself so that those being held within the Matrix can choose to remain within it or leave. In Matrix Resurrections, however, the Matrix is ‘stronger, more secure, and more dangerous than ever before’ and Neo will have to really struggle for the freedom he values so greatly.
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SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
» Genre: Superhero Film » Director: Jon Watts » Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jon Favreau Peter Parker can no longer hide behind his mask since everyone knows who he is. Feeling overwhelmed by the intrusions into his private life, he seeks help from Doctor Strange, who promises to restore his secret identity through magic. This choice has dangerous repercussions, however, and Peter will once again have to fight many battles to discover what being Spider-Man truly means.
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PENGUIN BLOOM
WEST SIDE STORY
» Genre: Musical » Director: Steven Spielberg » Actors: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Maddie Ziegler, Ariana DeBose If you loved the original West Side Story musical, then this remake will really set your heart on fire as the trailer indicates it will be both visually stunning and emotionally charged. This is the timeless tale of teenagers Tony and Maria, who have ties with rival street gangs but who fall desperately in love. It’s Romeo and Juliet all over again, albeit set in New York City of the 1950s.
» Genre: Biopic » Director: Glendyn Ivin » Cast: Naomi Watts, Jackie Weaver, Andrew Lincoln, Gia Carides This film is based on the true story of a mother of three (Sam Bloom) who, while vacationing in Thailand, falls off the roof of her hotel balcony. Sam, an avid surfer and adventurer, becomes depressed as she becomes paralysed from the chest down. Things change when a baby magpie named Penguin enters her life, renewing her sense of hope and joy of living. The book on which the film is based, Penguin Bloom, delves into the way that the connection with animals can deeply change the lives of human beings. e
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TOP NEW SERIES TO SAVOUR
Enjoy the following hot series, available this month on top streaming platforms.
YELLOWJACKETS Movistar+
» Genre: Mystery/ Thriller » Creators: Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson » Actors: Juliette Lewis, Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Christina Ricci, Ella Purnell Misty, Natalie, Taissa, and Shauna are four members of a youth soccer team who survive a plane crash and find themselves in the middle of nowhere. Only they know what happened during their struggle for survival and they pledge to share their secret with no-one. Some 25 years down the track, the survivors have made new lives for themselves but their interests soon clash. Some wish to avenge the wrongs they suffered while others will do anything it takes to keep their past hidden forever. 114 / DECEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
THE WITCHER S2 Netflix
» Genre: Fantasy » Creator: Lauren S. Hissrich » Cast: Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, Tom Canton, Lars Mikkelsen The enigmatic Henry Cavill returns as Geralt of Rivia, a monster-hunting witcher who lives through a series of exciting adventures that take place on the Continent. With the complex network of timelines in Season One now aligned, Geralt reunites with the orphaned princess, Ciri, taking her to Kaer Morhen (the citadel where he learned his Witcher skills). There, he hopes to train her in the ways of the Witcher. Meanwhile, Yennefer is found by Fringilla, the Nilfgaardian mage who played a key role in the downfall of Cintra. During the season, we will find out more about Fringilla’s past and how she arrived at Nilfgaard.
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LOST IN SPACE S3 Netflix
» Genre: Space Adventure » Creator: Irwin Allen » Actors: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins, Taylor Russell, Mina Sundwall This is the third and final season of Lost In Space, the hit series which invites us to join in on the adventures of the Robinson family in outer space. After a year of being trapped on a mysterious planet, Judy, Penny, Will, and the Robot must lead 97 colonists in a necessary evacuation. Meanwhile, John and Maureen battle a dangerous alien faction while searching for a way to reunite with their children.
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KAMIKAZE HBO
HAWKEYE Netflix
» Genre: Superhero/ Action » Creator: Jonathan Igla » Actors: Jeremy Renner, Hailee Steinfeld, Vera Farmiga, Eleanor Bishop, Fra Fee The festive season has arrived and all Clint ‘Hawkeye’ Barton wishes to do is be with his family after the dramatic events of Avengers: Endgame. However, peace and quiet are fleeting and the bow-andarrow-toting superhero is called upon to work with young archer, Kate Bishop to confront enemies from his past. Hawkeye must get a difficult job done and make it home in time to join his family for Christmas. He ironically notes that every time he puts on his Hawkeye suit, he starts “making a whole lot of enemies.”
» Genre: Drama » Creator: The series is based on the novel Muleum by Erlend Loe and is directed by Annette K. Olesen » Actors: Marie Reuther, Charlotte Munck, Johan Rheborg, Mads Reuther Danish series, Kamikaze, is the story of Julie – an 18-year-old woman who is trying to find meaning in life after losing her parents and brother in a plane crash. Following the demise of her loved ones, she finds herself alone in a big mansion with expensive cars in the garage and money in the bank. In theory, she has everything a young adult could dream of – youth, beauty, and wealth. Something is missing, though, and she decides to look for a reason to keep living. She embarks on a wild, turbulent journey that takes her from Denmark to some of the farthest corners of the globe. e WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 117
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SOME EXCITING NEW RELEASES TO ADD TO YOUR CHRISTMAS WISHLIST… WORDS ALICIA DUGGAN OF THE BOOKSHOP IN SAN PEDRO DE ALCÁNTARA , CC LA COLONIA LOCAL 21, SAN PEDRO DE ALCÁNTARA. TEL: 951 779 785. WWW.THEBOOKSHOP.ES
WISH YOU WERE HERE BY JODI PICOULT Diane O’Toole is on the brink of achieving all her life goals, both personally and professionally. As an art specialist at Sotheby’s, she is close to being offered her dream promotion, and she believes her surgical resident boyfriend is going to pop the question on their planned holiday to the Galapagos to celebrate her thirtieth birthday. However, when a deadly pandemic breaks out in New York her boyfriend can’t leave but insists she takes the trip anyway. As the pandemic worsens across the globe, Diane finds herself quarantined on the Galapagos with her luggage lost and virtually no WIFI. Finding herself stuck and surrounded by strangers, she begins examining and revaluating her life, her goals and herself. A profound tale of loneliness, resilience, and hope.
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MERCY BY DAVID BALDACCI Following on from Long Road to Mercy, A Minute to Midnight and Daylight, FBI Agent Atlee Pine is close to finding out what happened to her twin sister, Mercy, who was abducted when they were only six years old. The incident has destroyed her family and left Atlee physically and mentally scarred. She has spent years searching for her parents and sister and now she is close to finding answers. Helped by her assistant, Carol Blum, Agent Atlee uncovers a trail of secrets, lies, greed and revenge which leads her to face one final challenge. But she soon learns that it is much more dangerous and deadly than she could ever have anticipated.
GO TELL THE BEES THAT I AM GONE BY DIANA GABALDON Go Tell the Bees that I Am Gone is ninth book, from a planned ten, in the phenomenally popular Outlander series. It’s 1779 and Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall are finally reunited with their daughter, Brianna, and her family after the Jacobite War tore them all apart twenty years previously. For Fraser, having his whole family together is a dream he had believed impossible. However, the American Revolution is dividing communities and they know it won’t be long before war arrives to their part of North Carolina. Meanwhile the danger that forced them to chose life in the 1700s over the twentieth century is threatening to catch up with them. As war creeps ever closer, the family must battle for survival against enemies on all sides. WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 119
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AUTOPSY BY PATRICIA CORNWEL
FEAR NO EVIL BY JAMES PATTERSON
Set in post-pandemic America amid political and civil unrest. Forensic Pathologist Kay Scarpetta has been appointed chief medical examiner in Virginia, tasked with cleaning up the mess following years of mismanagement and neglect left by her predecessor, who is now the new health commissioner of Virginia. A few weeks in, Scarpetta is called to examine the body of a woman who has been brutally murdered, her throat cut almost to the point of decapitation. At the same time, a catastrophic accident at a top-secret laboratory in outer space leaves two scientists dead. Scarpetta must work remotely to discover what happened, while closer to home the apparent serial killer strikes again. Her investigation leads her into a world of corruption and danger.
Alex Cross is back in the 29th instalment of this bestselling series. On a family vacation to the rugged mountains of Montana, Alex Cross and Detective John Sampson find themselves in the crosshairs of two rival teams of assassins, with Alex eventually becoming the main target. It is a tense and exhausting battle to save himself and his family from a mastermind who has stalked them for years. Although this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone novel. A high octane and utterly gripping page turner. e
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VISIT THE BOOKSHOP
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With the festive season on its way there’s bound to be plenty going on so check local weekly publications for updates. All info on this page was correct at the time of writing. WORDS RIK FOXX
¿QUÉ PASA? nt o r f c i s u ...on the m
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álaga’s ROLLING STONES tribute band HONKY TONK CATS are scheduled to play the Teatro Las Lagunas, Mijas Costa, on December 18. Ticket info: www. ticketmaster.es There is a healthy Spanish scene going on along the coast, for concert info: www. conciertos.club/malaga The Weekend Beach Festival 2022 in Torre del Mar (east of Málaga) have announced their line-up with highenergy Swedish garage rockers THE HIVES, Spanish indie outfit IZAL, US reggae singer TARRUS RILEY and Puerto Rican rapper RESIDENTE headlining. Tickets purchased from the cancelled 2020 event are valid – for the line-up and ticket info: www. weekendbeach.es The SPICE GIRLS are disappointed they haven’t landed the ‘Sunday Legend’ spot at next year’s delayed Glastonbury 50th anniversary festival which if you didn’t already know has
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gone to DIANA ROSS. Miss Ross, as she insists on being addressed, allegedly has some eccentric on-tour demands like being woken by the sound of her own voice; when staying in hotels, she requests a daily bunch of roses, then the heads cut off the previous day’s still-fresh flowers so that no-one else can enjoy them after her, and someone has to flush the toilet after she’s finished – is that where mad MARIAH gets her ways from? Sticking with MARIAH CAREY – on the stroke of midnight after Halloween, the self-proclaimed ‘Queen of Christmas’ emerged from her deep freeze slumber going viral bashing up pumpkins with a candy cane baseball bat and declaring, “It’s time”. The festive fruit-loop then announced a new single, Fall in Love at Christmas, featuring US soulie KHALID, and a fresh $5m plus TV special, Mariah’s Christmas: The Magic Continues, which will go global on Apple TV+ (date TBA).
Vinyl lovers may find their Christmas stockings empty due to a global PVC shortage (the compound used to make records) and a lack of pressing plants to stamp the discs – with the recent releases of ABBA, ADELE and ED SHEERAN especially in demand. One trade insider reckons there’s a waiting list of up to eight-months for some vinyl albums. ADELE label bosses, Sony, upset many in the industry when trying to monopolise factories worldwide to just press their releases. Music label bosses are always cautious about releasing albums this time of the year, not wanting to get caught in the Christmas rush, so releases are a bit hit ‘n’ miss this month. There’s a comeback for JLS with 2.0 and PAUL WELLER & the BBC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA has An Orchestrated Songbook on the 3rd; veteran NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE returns with Barn, plus Keys by ALICIA KEYS on the 10th.
Coldplay© James Marcus Haney ©Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Barn
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN is the latest artist to put his back catalogue upfor-grabs. He has been negotiating with Sony Music wanting north of $350m for both the publishing and recorded masters though they are trying to knock the price down. LITTLE MIX lady LEIGH-ANN PINNOCK is branching out making her big screen debut in the festive comedy Boxing Day, which drops on December 3. Could this be a new career for her as the girls say they are all going in separate directions sometime next year? It was only a matter of time but the OZZY & SHARON OSBOURNE biopic is in motion with the writing team behind the ELTON JOHN flick, Rocketman on board. Son JACK and ‘ghost daughter’ AIMÉE will be on ‘production duties’ along with SHARON who says she doesn’t want the movie to be “squeaky, shiny clean like the Queen biopic. Our film will be a lot more real. We’re not making it for kids. It’s an adult movie for adults” – how long will that take to wrap up? Still with biopics, DURAN DURAN
are working on one charting their late 1970s formation and all the way through their 40 year plus career. They are also helping the UK’s BBC to re-launch its Radio 2 In Concert series on December 2, performing classic hits and tunes from their October released album, Future Past. Also, on the 7th, COLDPLAY will feature songs from their recent UK number-one album Music of the Spheres. Both one-hour shows will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2, BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer at 8pm (CET) with more concerts to be announced. Two-weeks after proclaiming “This is it”, ABBA were knocked back by the success of Voyage and “maybe, just maybe” more new music could materialise in the future. In a radio interview ANNI-FRID (the former brunette) said “never say never” regarding more new recordings – but AGNETHA is said to be very negative towards any future projects. In the meantime, the ABBAtar London hologram
concerts have now been extended into next December... and are still selling. Board games became popular during lockdown, especially over last year’s festive period with one of the most popular being Monopoly. A UK company (booghe.co.uk) are making special music limited editions of the classic game for the Christmas market with AC/DC, the BEATLES, BOWIE, ELVIS, METALLICA, MICHAEL JACKSON, QUEEN and the STONES versions. Players can collect albums, attend concerts and hire musicians – it will be interesting to see the reasons on the Go Straight To Jail cards. e
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WHAT DO CONSUMERS WANT FROM SMART HOMES? Consumers are embracing smart home devices for three main purposes: to reduce housework, save time and energy, and personalise their appliances’ functions. As one survey participant said, “A major benefit of the smart home is conservation, which helps me do my bit for the Planet.” The largest percentage of consumers (17.3 per cent) cited energy savings as the top reason for bringing this technology into their homes. Homeowners also enjoy the ability of smart home tech to increase safety, reduce effort, save money, and enable one to be more house-proud.
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WHY SMART HOMES ARE A WIN FOR EVERYONE LG’S THINQ 2021 SMART HOME REPORT
Technology for smart homes is bridging the divide for older consumers who are less tech-savvy, according to LG’s recently published ThinQ 2021 Smart Home Report. The research focuses on how modern lifestyles influence human beings’ choice of smart home appliances, the impact of home automation on their daily lives, and how smart tech is redefining their idea of intelligent living. Marisa Cutillas summarises the most important findings.
HOW CAN SMART TECH IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF APPLIANCES? According to those surveyed, the top benefits that smart technology brings to appliances include: Z TVs – Smart tech makes TVs easier and more convenient to use thanks to streaming services and automatic image/ sound optimisation. Z Washers – Performance is improved
thanks to AI tech, which identifies fabrics and recommends the best wash program. Smart washers can also order detergent and fabric softener products automatically when stocks are low. Z Air Conditioner – Energy optimisation. Z Refrigerator – Self-diagnosis of repair needs and the provision of notifications to users regarding food expiry dates.
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back to CONTENTS ability to enjoy clear images in daylight and at-home theatre experiences.
WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF SMART HOMES?
SMART HOMES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND LIFESTYLES In case you thought only younger generations were embracing smart tech, think again. Users aged 50 to 54 showed the highest satisfaction with their smart homes and people with little knowledge of tech such as AI are just as satisfied with their smart appliances as those who are tech-savvier. There is a difference in what attracts people of different ages to home automation, however. People in their 20s are intrigued by the idea of owning new or advanced tech, while those aged over 45 are seeking to improve performance. The top three lifestyle values of smart home tech owners included an appreciation for high social status, real-life practicality, and social responsibility. Users are most interested in topics like children/education, gardening, and household matters.
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When asked what they desired for the future, consumers indicated that they wished to receive unique suggestions based on their personal living patterns. In particular, they yearn for the following: Z AI optimisation that learns from the content viewer’s patterns. Z Fridges that create shopping lists HOW SMART EDUCATION IS based on users’ past purchases and IMPROVING USERS’ EVERYDAY LIVES preferences. Z Suggestions regarding the best time The LG report provided real-case to wash and dry clothing. studies to show how smart living has Z Enhanced voice control for higher improved productivity, entertainment, convenience (for instance, questions and efficiency. For instance, sports that clarify or narrow down the user’s enthusiasts hailed features such as original enquiry). reminders for games, receiving live Z Notifications and updates for all updates, and getting straight to one’s types of TV programs, including news chosen content. Outdoor gardeners, programmes. meanwhile, enjoyed features such In addition to recording the above as hands-free control, pre-cooling for hot days, and controlling appliances findings, LG’s researchers also from a smartphone. Fashion lovers concluded that new smart home appreciated features such as laundry technology is bridging the divide for assistance for novices, replacing older users, who may be less techdry cleaning services with at-home savvy than their younger counterparts. care, as well as the capacity to make Anyone and everyone can avail of smart technology, regardless of their clothes last longer. Home Chefs loved age, interests, and lifestyles. Smart receiving food expiration notices, efficient grocery shopping, and the way tech not only enables homeowners to save money and time, but also smart fridges could help them access fosters a sustainable lifestyle; one that fresh ingredients for meals. Content is personalised, more efficient, and consumers were into features such infinitely more entertaining than it once as AI-enhanced picture and sound (AI was. helps TVs analyse source content and i www.lg.com recognises ambient conditions) and the
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? l o o c s ’ t wha ACKWELL COMPILED BY IAIN BL
NEW LEXUS LC 2022
LLA FOUR SEASONS MARBE anted planning
has gr The Marbella Town Hall aited Four Seasons approval for the much-aw 2 e 325,000m beachfront Resort. Located in a prim on Monteros, the €750 Milli location at RioReal/Los tar deluxe hotel and a e-s fiv a ise pr m co ll wi ct proje ea with 40 villas and 200 low-density residential ar units being completed apartments, with the first ion on the Marbella Four in 2025. i For informat ces, contact Seasons Private Residen www.dmproperties.com
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dynamic The new LC2022 features orce the Lexus enhancements that reinf provements Driving Signature, with im handling to the vehicle’s dynamic ents. It is and suspension adjustm control in Sport characterised by greater rt in Normal mode and superior comfo new special mode. It also presents a Cabrio range. bespoke finish in the LC i www.lexus.com
ONLY FOODIES
comprising Only Foodies is a project global diverse dishes of popular out format. cuisine available in a take ll soon also Started in Barcelona, it wi ke away be launched in Madrid. Ta extensive or order delivery from an ex, Sushi, menu that features Tex M wls and Burger & Brunch, Poke Bo ur leisure. Italian food to enjoy at yo i www.onlyfoodies.es
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BERONIA TRIUMPH
PRINCE ROYAL PALACE LISBON
The Prince Royal Palace is the new concept of a luxury hotel with its own history behind its tourist, cultural and leisure offer. From its enviable location in the heart of Lisbon’s trendy Príncipe Real district, guests have the opportunity to explore many hidden delights outwith the regular tourist attractions, as well as to enjoy the Palace’s extensive gardens, yoga suites, and delicious cuisine. i www.palacioprincipereal.com
NEW CARTIER BOUTIQUE IN MADRID
La Maison Cartier recently inaugurated its new boutique within the Canalejas Gallery in Madrid, which forms part of the historic centre of the nation’s capital. The 170m2 premises feature an innovative concept and elegant décor combining the contemporary luxury of the brand with handcrafted details, embroidered upholstery and gold-accented wood panelling. i www.cartier.com 130 / DECEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
Top Spanish winemaker, Beronia in the D.O. Ca. Rioja has scooped the Industrial Architecture category at the recent World Design Awards. The architecture and engineering of the new Beronia winery are fully sustainable, which features a revolutionary system of geothermal energy to air-condition the facilities and reduce energy consumption. i www.gonzalezbyass.es
EARTHSHOT ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD
Coral Vita, a company based in the Bahamas, has won the prestigious Prince William Earthshot Environmental Award of One Million pounds sterling in the category of Reviving the Oceans for their tireless fight in the protection of corals. The distinguished Earthshot Award is an initiative from the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. i www.coralvita.co
ÁUREA HOTELS
Eurostars Hotel Company, is pleased to announce the launch of its new boutique brand of signature hotels that will operate under the name Áurea Hotels. Located in emblematic buildings in privileged locations, the group will initially be present with nine establishments in four countries, six of which are located in Spain. i www.eurostarshotels.com WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 131
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lifestyle
READ ABOUT PACASO’S NEW CONCEPT OF LUXURY PROPERTY SHARING, JUST LAUNCHED IN MARBELLA. BE INSPIRED BY OUR CHRISTMAS DÉCOR FEATURE. CONSIDER GIFT CONCEPTS FOR OUR FOUR LEGGED FURRY FRIENDS AND FROM MOOOI’S NEW EXTINCT ANIMAL COLLECTION.
GO TO PAGE 146 FOR PACASO
GO TO PAGE 158 FOR PET FASHION
GO TO PAGE 134 FOR CHRISTMAS DÉCOR INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE ART FASHION 134 Christmas Décor Inspirations
GO TO PAGE 160 FOR MOOOI
146 Pacaso Arrives in Marbella 156 Eco Gift Wrapping 158 Zara Pet Collection 160 Moooi Extinct Animal Collection
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LET THEM KNOW IT’S
CHRISTMAS TIME AGAIN Parts of the world with colder climates see a beautiful change in tones as the autumn sets in and then it turns to winter. The trees transition from burnt orange to golden shades which then fall away to give space to the fluffy snow. Cosyness becomes the key word in December and even the Costa del Sol will light up chimneys in preparation for the festivities. Christmas time calls for an excessive amount of decoration, so how can you make sure your interior remains sophisticated and stylish while immersed in this colourful tradition marked by red nosed reindeers? WORDS MADDIE QUINN PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COVET HOUSE
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hristmas is the time to put it all on display, our best dinner set, golden placemats, fairy lights, elegant accessories and plush fabrics to indulge and comfort the family as they sit by the fireplace sharing stories. Deep, warm hues of gold contrasted with black and silver will give an elegant and neutral base that you can build on with the colours you have chosen as your accent for the season. This can easily be interchanged annually and you can even plan on refreshing your furnishings around it. Don’t be afraid to move away from the green-red overkill as the pine tree, candle wax or the stockings will bring these colours in anyway, naturally. The spacious living room above is
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designed with comfort in mind, providing the perfect setting for a family Christmas get together. Its neutral beige tones assert calmness and the furniture pieces sit in perfect balance for both aesthetics and functionality. This contemporary and luxurious ambience is put together with items from various Covet House brands that work in conjunction with the red accent decorations for that classic Christmas pop. Essential Home have provided the Fitzgerald modular sofa with brass details that combines perfectly with the Essex armchairs from Brabbu. Caffe Latte added the Aroma console and the Emperor Marble Robusta centre table, and it’s all topped by the beautifully simple Coltrane suspension. ›
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Inserting some Christmas magic into kids bedrooms is the easiest of all, playing with pastels and gold, plush fabrics and stuffed toys.
Christmas is a magical time, full of wonders and light and from the design point of view it is also an exquisite delight: the richness of smells, tastes, colours and tactile impact that this holiday brings to the senses. It’s all packed into this modern space with a classical feel, a cozy dining room with its earthy tones that radiates
pure elegance. Delicate velvet chairs from Boca do Lobo are set over the soothing texture of the Metamorphosis rug by Rug’Society. Resembling the star on top of the tree, the Dorsey suspension by Delightfull floods the room with Christmas spirit, providing the perfect setting for a romantic candle-lit dinner. › WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 139
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For those who have a lavish taste, this modern classic living room is a great choice. Here, all you need to bring to the table is happiness, an open heart, and someone to share the uplifting moments with. Velvety textures add depth and warmth, balancing the austere colour palette so the green, colourfully decorated Christmas tree looks vivid and everlasting. Boca do Lobo’s Imperfectio Sofa shines with its golden laterals offsetting the luxurious scene. ›
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Gold is often used in small doses but in festive times you can go overboard with it. The simply ornamented Christmas tree above beautifully complements other golden touches in the space, such as the intricate legs of Luxxu’s Apotheosis dining table and the Hera
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suspension lights, both adding to the room’s timeless elegance. To complete the Christmas sensation, a deep moss green is introduced by the candle dinner set, sitting in harmony with the Stola dining chairs’ velvet wrap and modern lines. ›
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MADDIE’S SIDE NOTE Covet House’s festive ambiance settings are wonderfully inspiring this year! When you have finished decorating your luxurious space for Christmas, why not pick out someone in need and help them have a special time as well even if just in a small way. e i www.covethouse.eu
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as Merry Christm ! ew Year and Happy N y best! er v e th u o y g Wishin
HEIDIGUBBINS.COM Av. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso de Hohenlohe, 20 - Marbella - (+34) 653 561 867
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VILLA VIDA VIDA PURA & 21ST CENTURY LIFESTYLE LUXURY
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From its setting on Avenida del Generalife in Nueva Andalucía, this modern home overlooks the greenery of the Las Brisas golf course and on towards La Concha Mountain and the Mediterranean Sea. Such views are part of life at Villa Vida – they greet you as you wake up in the morning, when you sit down for breakfast on one of the terraces, and as you float in the spectacular infinity edge pool or party away on its large deck. This and many more details make Villa Vida the ultimate 21st century lifestyle home.
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magine turning off the road and arriving home, as the automatic gates glide open and you follow the driveway up to a modern garage. This is not just a villa, but the place where lifestyle experiences begin. It is a home designed for living, for enjoyment; part of a new concept where a house is so much more than bricks and mortar – so much more than the sum of its rooms. Villa Vida and its adjacent sister home Villa Pura are the physical embodiment of a way of life, the ultimate Marbella lifestyle. ›
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Follow the steps up to the terrace and front door, or take your luggage up through the stylish multi-car garage, and you enter a modern home where each and every one of the varied living spaces breathes style, comfort and lifestyle opportunities. With its gaze trained on its panoramic surroundings, this is a villa that absorbs natural light and creates an ambience out of it. The poolside terrace is one of its main eye-catchers, a place where you can relax on designer sunbeds, enjoy an outdoor meal, float in the stunning pool or throw an outrageous party.
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WHERE DESIGN MEETS FUN! Yes, fun is part of the alchemy of Villa Vida, and one of the elements around which it was designed and built. The others include comfort, style, convenience and leisure amenities. From the terrace, the world appears to be at your feet – in ever-changing hues that bathe the views in different shades of beautiful. The cosy lounge and dining area by the pool leads on to a sheltered firepit just made for those special moments with friends and family – but this is not where the lifestyle features of this villa end.
Step inside and you enter the best of 21st century style and comfort, in the form of a warm, intimate openplan living room beautifully styled by professional interior designers – as is the case with all Pacaso Homes. It’s the kind of environment you’ll just love to spend time in, relaxing, entertaining and making the most of life in an attractive luxurious setting. The modern gas fireplace and built-in television complement a décor whose soft natural tones provide the perfect pitch for summer and winter alike. ›
Projects: Penthouse H & Villa F
Interior Design & Property Development Showroom: Avenida Canovas del Castillo 25, Marbella blackshawinteriordesign.com +34 951 403 787 Essential Single Page Blackshaw_Nov_2021_3.indd 1
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bathtubs in the finest materials. Naturally, the master suite is the ultimate version of this, complete with a walk-in dressing area. The state-of-the-art kitchen and large dining table echo this ambience, blending modern and classical elements to create a timelessly stylish décor. The first floor – even more panoramic than the ground floor – is home to a series of tastefully decorated bedroom suites with sunny terraces and views to suit. Expect modern luxury in bathrooms with elegant stepin showers and freestanding
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LEISURE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Follow the steps down to the lower level and you’ll be excited to find an entertainment zone all of your own. The focal point here is a refined, comfortable lounge dressed in comfy, cosy soft natural colours. Head in the opposite direction, to the rooftop terrace, and spectacular golf, mountain and sea views will take your breath away.
Once recovered, you’ll spot the sunbathing, relaxing and outdoor dining areas, as well as a hot tub, a bar and BBQ facilities. Though fine examples of a modern Marbella home, Villa Vida and Villa Pura have a distinct touch of 21st century Beverly Hills style about them – with all the sexy lifestyle connotations this implies. These are homes just as suited to cosy family life and socialising as they are to daytime pool fun and night-time partying. Just like you’ve seen in the movies, only better. Mediterranean beaches
are a few minutes away, as are fine dining, spa luxuries, the fivestar social scene of Marbella and of course a superb choice of golf right on your doorstep. Designed by renowned local architect Carlos Lamas and interior designer JA Flores as a lifestyle concept rather than just a home, Villa Vida and Villa Pura are the conduit for a treasured way of life; days spent having fun and making memories in one of the most beautiful lifestyle spots in Europe. ›
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PACASO HOMES T
he essence of Pacaso Homes’ novel offering is a modernisation of the well-established co-owning of real estate assets. It does so by creating a marketplace that makes buying, owning and selling a luxury second home easy. From curating the best
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listings in top second-home markets to offering integrated financing and sales from as little as one-eighth up to halfownership, upscale interior design and professional property management, Pacaso provides owners with all the advantages of having a second home
without any of the hassle of it. After sale, Pacaso manages the property on an on-going basis and enables frictionless resale of the home when instructed to do so. For this, it works together with handpicked agents, in the case of Marbella Solvilla. The company that has
A MORE EFFICIENT WAY OF SECOND HOME OWNING
Pacaso Homes is a breakthrough company that has successfully introduced a new take on second home ownership to the market, and this summer the concept came to Marbella in collaboration with Solvilla. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN
Spain as part of his role in building the brand’s global presence.
broken through in a big way in the USA and other international markets was co-founded by former Zillow executives Austin Allison and Spencer Rascoff, and was the product of their personal experiences with second home ownership. Razor Suleman was since brought on board as President of Pacaso Global, and is now working on expanding the company’s presence and services in
sale to the subsequent outfitting, maintenance and management of the home. “Given that HOW IT WORKS there are 30 million “Buyers shop from a second homes in the curated set of second US and Europe that are home listings on the unoccupied for ten to Pacaso platform,” says eleven months of the Razor. Ownership is sold year, Pacaso makes in shares and financing owning a luxurious is available. Pacaso second home in a then creates a property top location more S.L. (Sociedad Limitada) affordable, but it also for each home, vets the spreads running costs co-owners and arranges and looks after the everything from the property effectively.” › WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 153
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Ignacio Alonso, Olivia Spahn-Vieira, Razor Suleman, María Bravo, Austin Allison
Villa Vida and Villa Pura are the first two luxury villas brought into the market in this way on the Costa del Sol, and they form part of an expansive growth drive across Spain and Europe. “Pacaso Homes are beautifully fitted and maintained, luxury properties in top locations that basically offer five-star deluxe for the price of a four star. We manage and run everything, optimising value as well as convenience for owners.” In the acquisition of its first two properties in Marbella, Pacaso Homes collaborated with Solvilla, and this relationship has now blossomed further.
A CONCEPT WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE “Using holiday homes in this far more efficient manner actually promotes sustainability by reducing wastage and it also greatly benefits the local economy,” says Torgeir
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Wemmestad-Haaland, founding partner and CEO of Solvilla. He sees it as the second home owning concept of the future, and has partnered up with what he refers to as a US ‘unicorn’. His company is now Pacaso’s designated partner in Spain, with a goal to acquire 100 more homes over the next 24 months. Their strict criteria is focused on turnkey properties with a wow factor in prime locations. “Naturally, we will be working with our network of 1500 collaborating agents,” says Torgeir. The financing and service options inherent in the Pacaso concept will certainly add to its appeal and growth, as buyers realise that they can achieve the same by owning and paying for the share they use rather than owning it fully and renting it out to offset the running costs. “This way, for the money needed to fully possess
one property, you can have the pleasure of part-owning several in different locations,” adds Solvilla Commercial Director, Stacy Welch, who believes this is the ideal formula for holiday home ownership. “Not only that, but you can actually buy the proportion of the property that fits your personal needs, and Pacaso manages everything, so you don’t have to worry about a thing. In your absence, the property will be managed and maintained by professional teams, who also provide the service infrastructure when you are here, to ensure you get the optimal enjoyment and use out of your second home with in reality none of the bother. It’s a winning combination!”
g Tel: (+34) 635 395 688. spain@pacaso.com www.pacaso.com/es www.solvilla.es
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WRAP IT
UP!
Luxury Furoshiki wraps supporting artists @ www.wrappr.com
WORDS BY MADDIE QUINN
With the festivities approaching, we look at some of the more sustainable solutions for gift wrapping, without losing the wow factor of the presentation, easing the strain on the planet at the same time.
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very holiday season we throw away an excessive amount of non recyclable wrapping materials and decorations, and most of the time their purpose is only served for a few days at the most. It has been estimated that if each family in the USA for example, used reusable materials for just three of their holiday gifts, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields (source: Printful). So this year we decided to give you some inspiration for alternative wrapping, some easy and affordable ways to make your gifts look good but also eco friendly.
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FUROSHIKI TEXTILE WRAPPING Furoshiki is a Japanese fabric wrap that has a 1200 year tradition. The art of Furoshiki was originally used to wrap just about everything in textile, from clothing and carry tools to any personal possessions and also gifts. The methods of the wrapping can be as easy or as
Furoshiki tutorials @ www.invaluable.com
Kraft Brown Gift Wrap Bundle @ www.etsy.com
complex as you like; there are plenty of sources on the internet that demonstrate the techniques for covering objects of different shapes and sizes. Whether you opt for a pretty square scarf or a minimalistic piece of natural fabric, what makes Furoshiki a perfectly eco-friendly alternative is that it's simple and reusable.
Reusable wrapping cloth @ www.sinplastico.com
KRAFT PAPER AND NATURAL MATERIALS
TOTE BAGS, GIFT BOXES AND JARS
If you opt for using paper, know that anything shiny, laminated, glossy and glittery can't be recycled, so move away from the glam look to be replaced with the eco-chic vibe. Kraft paper is a perfect biodegradable and recyclable option, that can be spiced up with some natural seasonal materials like pine twigs, dried flowers or dried orange slices. If you don't have any of these materials at home handy, there is a large selection of ecological wrapping paper, kraft card paper tags, natural brown jute twine and even homemade solutions to be found on shopping sites like www. etsy.com
Now is the time to dig-up all those fab totes you have been collecting but not using as an alternative for some of your gifts. Save boxes, sachets and gift sleeves throughout the year which can then be redecorated and used for gifting occasions. You can even use cute glass jars for some smaller presents jazzed up with a little colour and a bow wrapped around them. e
Grass paper cards and all sustainable wrapping material @ www.green-planet-paper.co.uk
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BRAND NEW THIS YEAR, ZARA IS OUT WITH THEIR SECOND PET COLLECTION! December is the month of giving so why not opt for something that will make owners and their furry friends alike happy? If you love shopping on Zara's web store, then you can now lose yourself in their new pet section, and pick out a fabulous present for someone – or you may just be tempted to keep it to yourself! Zara's new 21AW pet collection is packed with cute dog jackets, matching leashes and carrier bags in all shapes and styles. Sporting the Coco bag, a knitted beanie, coloured straps, harnesses and necklaces, bag packs, blankets and relaxing beds, this year Zara has gone that extra mile to make sure your pet's accessories are just as stylish as you are. DISCOVERED BY MADDIE QUINN PHOTOGRAPHY ZARA
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i www.zara.es
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GET YOUR OWN BEASTIE BUNCH THIS HOLIDAY SEASON FROM
MOOOI DISCOVERED BY MADDIE QUINN
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Great news for fans of Moooi’s Menagerie of Extinct Animals designs, as the lifestyle brand has launched a collection of festive ornaments inspired by their Extinct Animals for this holiday season. With the Dwarf Rhino, Dodo Pavone, Bearded Leopard, Blushing Sloth, Armoured Boar, and Indigo Macaque, now you can create your own Menagerie of Extinct Animals to grace your home.
I
f you love Moooi, the Extra O Collection can be your go-to place for the perfect gifts to spoil yourself and your loved-ones this year. You can take your holiday decorations and presents to the next level with some of the other ‘Beastie’ designs in this collection such as the Pet Lights, Rabbit Lamp, the Menagerie of Extinct Animals and Rendezvous Tokyo Blue scarves and pillows. If you prefer something more classical then go for a cosy (candle) light or the Delft Blue vases. Alternatively you can always create and savour this season’s memories with a beautiful journal or a new home fragrance. i Available at www.moooi.com
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spa
SEE WHY FENTY BEAUTY IS A WORLD LEADER, CHECK OUT THE LATEST MAKE-UP TRENDS AND THE ELSS RANGE OF DYNAMIC HEALTH SUPPLEMENTS. DR. ALI NOWROUZI, MD, OPHTHALMOLOGIST, ADDRESSES THE TOPIC OF PRESBYOPIA AND PRESENTS NEW TREATMENTS.
GO TO PAGE 172 TO READ ABOUT PRESBYOPIA
GO TO PAGE 164 FOR MAKEUP TRENDS
GO TO PAGE 166 FOR FENTY BEAUTY
PRODUCTS BEAUTY SPA HEALTH
164 MakeUp Trends 166 Fenty Beauty
GO TO PAGE 170 FOR ELSS
170 The ELSS Range 172 Presbyopia
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If you haven’t been going around partying all year due to the pandemic, you may wonder what the coolest practices are, before you prepare yourself for the Christmas season. Here are some useful tips and products that have been dominating 2021, to get you started and to make sure you rock those festive gatherings to come this month. CREATED/WORDS BY ANGIE BLACKWELL
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HOW SHOULD I
MAKE UP FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON?
Bella Hadid © A Katz / Shutterstock.com
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GRAPHIC EYE MAKEUP IS ONE OF THIS YEAR’S BIGGEST BEAUTY TRENDS If you are going for a colourful appearance then a graphic eyeliner coupled with a colourful palette is what you need. During quarantine and lockdown when people could experiment with makeup at home, graphic eyeliner using vibrant colours and intricate shapes became a trend, and was found on social media influencer and celebrity channels all over the internet. Different glitters and rhinestones commonly accompany the look for that extra eyecatching sparkle.
SOFT GLAM
BLUSH AND BLUSH EVERYWHERE Blush has made a comeback this year used commonly on the cheek bones, nose and elsewhere to create a warm and lively feel, using similar shades on the lips to tie the makeup look together. Liquid blush is also popular for its fresh, dewy finish which blends seamlessly into the skin. e
Madison Beer © DFree / Shutterstock.com
2021 also popularised soft glam and minimal makeup styles. In comparison to the 2016 matte, heavy makeup trends, recent looks focus on a more natural and glowy aesthetic. Elements of this include a lightweight base, brushed up feathery eyebrows, a blend of blush and contour, and nude or subtle tones. Soft glam makeup helps to bring out and accentuate natural features and can be worn on a variety of different occasions.
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REASONS WHY
FEИTY BEAUTY
IS SUCH A FABULOUS BRAND If you are a fan of our beauty section then you probably read last month’s feature on top-selling celebrity brands. The top-selling house, of course, is FEИTY BEAUTY, founded by none other than Ms Rihanna Fenty. Marisa Cutillas presents you with five reasons why you should consider taking home just one item from her vast collection.
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Z FEИTY BEAUTY SET NEW STANDARDS FOR DIVERSITY
Z FEИTY PRODUCTS ARE LONG-LASTING
Prior to FEИTY, the beauty world had an authentic issue with diversity, particularly when it came to creating products for darker skin. In 2018, I recall reading an Insider article about big-name brands that had products with very few hues for dark skin. Such was the problem that beauty influencers like NikkieTutorials actually took down their videos for their products for having “an absolute mess” of a shade range. FEИTY launched with a whopping 40 shades of its Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation – a line that now boasts 50 beautiful shades for all skin tones.
As much as beauty lovers primp and preen in the morning, by the time they get home in the evening, their foundation may have disappeared or taken on a ‘cracked’ appearance, their blush may be non-existent, and their mascara may look clumpy and in need of a refresh. FEИTY understands the needs of the working beauty lover, with select products that last literally all day – including FEИTY Beauty Match Stix (perfect for contouring and highlighting), the now-iconic Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, and the FEИTY BEAUTY Stunna Lip Paint, which has so much pigment that just one layer suffices and lasts nearly all day.
Z RIHANNA KNOWS HER STUFF At a time in which influencer marketing and brand building is everything, Rihanna has filled an important niche in beauty, with a collection that reflects her interest in fashion, design, beauty, and all things avante-garde. Rihanna has been in the entertainment business since she was 16 (she is now 33) and has appeared in countless concerts, and fashion events, impressing audiences with her makeup looks. It is only logical that over the years, she should have built up the expertise she needed to launch her own brand in 2017.
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Z INFLUENCERS LOVE HER PRODUCTS Influencers like NikkieTutorials, Jeffree Star, and Bretman Rock matter when it comes to consumers deigning to spend their hard-earned cash on a highend beauty product. Jeffree, for instance, has a 16.3M following on YouTube, while Nikkie boasts 13.8M. These influencers are known for two things – their amazing talent with makeup and their honesty when it comes to reviewing products (both high-end and affordable). It would be difficult to find a reviewer that had anything but praise for FEИTY. Jeffree Star alone has around seven videos reviewing an array of this brand’s products. Other influencers you should check out if you are curious about FEИTY include Patrick Starr, Nyma Tang, and KathleenLights.
Z THE PACKAGING ROCKS FEИTY is famed for its magnetic products such as FEИTY Beauty Rihanna Match Stix Shimer Skinstick, which connects with other magnetic products to create cute, sculptural shapes that are as decorative as they are useful. Most of the packaging strikes the perfect line between minimalism and futurism. As an example of great design, see the many hexagonalshaped products, which include travel mirrors, bronzers, and highlighters. When placed together, they look like a reinterpretation of a beehive.
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Just a few products to try out this season include Glossy Posse: Fantasy 4Sum Mini Gloss Bomb Collection (featuring mainly neutral shades with a touch of shimmer), Gloss Bomb Heat Universal Lip Luminizer + Plumper (perfect for those who want to add volume to their pout), and Bomb Posse Mega Mix + Match Eyeshadow Palette (a 12-shade palette featuring brown, gold, and pinkish hues as well as a dark chocolate shadow). For those starting with the brand, however, I would definitely recommend either a shimmer or her iconic foundation. e
SPECIALISTS IN SMILE MAKEOVERS
DR. ACE KORKCHI
www.acedntl.com
DR. EYAL MIROSHNIK
T. 951 567 547
v dr.acekorkchi v acedntlstudio
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ELSS:
BEAUTY, WELLBEING, AND VITALITY
“Authentic beauty comes from within,” goes the saying, and although it refers to the richness of one’s interior world, it is just as pertinent when it comes to physical beauty. Beauty gurus like Leslie Kenton (author of the best-selling book, Skin Revolution) have long touted the importance of nutrition and active ingredients when it comes to youthful-looking skin, abundant hair, and healthy nails. Healthy food, exercise, and supplements with active ingredients can help your body work from within to present a better outward appearance. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ELSS BEAUTY
ELSS is a brand that employs quality active ingredients in optimal concentrations so you obtain the best possible results. Made with no sugar, lactose, gluten, artificial colours, chemical additives, or genetically modified ingredients, its products only contain actives with a proven efficiency. ELSS target four specific areas: weight loss, skin tone, hair density, and libido.
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THE SUPER YOUNG A formula with a high concentration of PEPTAN hydrolysed marine collagen and elastin peptides. Featuring acai extract, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, Vitamin C, and Coenzyme Q10. It has anti-ageing and antioxidant effects. The solution also helps battle acne, pigmentation, superficial and deep wrinkles, sagging, loss of firmness, and lack of luminosity and it gives skin a hydration boost. Also recommended for joint and bone health.
THE CELLU-LESS A dietary, double-action fat burner that helps metabolise fatty tissue. Eliminates and reduces localised fatty deposits in areas like the abdomen, waist, and thighs. The
product has filtering ingredients that help drain the body naturally. It promises to aid in fat burning, reduce the appearance of cellulite, diminish body weight and reduce the size of the abdominal perimeter. It can also battle water retention and inflammation, improve glycemia, curb cravings, and smoothen skin.
THE SUPER HAIR This natural supplement promotes hair growth and health. It battles hair loss, boosts volume, and promotes more shine. It contains a high concentration of vitamins, Biotin, minerals, plant extracts, and antioxidants that
also strengthen nails. It is ideal for those wishing to grow long, strong, shiny hair.
THE SUPER SEX-ENERGY This fomula was made with natural extracts to boost libido in women. Its ingredients help to regulate the hormonal metabolism thanks to aphrodisiacs and phytoactive ingredients that put one ‘in the mood’. This supplement can also accelerate the natural functions of your metabolism and help control stress and anxiety. i www.elss.es
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40?
PRESBYOPIA:
GLASSES AFTER If you are (or have been) passing through your forties you almost certainly had problems with reading small print at low light. But what can we do about it? We talk about presbyopia with Dr. Ali Nowrouzi, eye-surgent and specialist at the department of ophthalmology in Hospital Quirónsalud Marbella.
As a specialist of the cornea and refractive surgery, how would you define presbyopia as a real challenge for the age of 40s and what would you say are common solutions for treating it ? Presbyopia is a very common vision problem related to age, characterised by a progressive inability of accommodative ocular muscles to focus on near objects. It usually starts in the forties with a lot of hesitations for patients. Without treatment or under-correction, presbyopia can significantly impact the quality of life, 172 / DECEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
such as having problems reading (inability to read the fine print, need for increased lighting, diplopia, epiphora, headache, fatigue or asthenopia). The other important dilemma of presbyopia is the esthetic discomfort deriving from wearing glasses, especially for those who have never used them before, and some patients are not interested in doing so even for special instances such as reading a menu at a restaurant. Optical appliances, including spectacles and contact lenses are the first and
most common approach as treatments of presbyopia. Spectacles are generally assumed to be the most accessible instrument for correcting the symptoms of presbyopia, however, no currently available spectacle lens can fully restore the dynamic range of accommodation in the ageing eye. Contact lens options for presbyopia include single vision distance correcting contact lenses complemented by reading glasses as the required near viewing addition, ranging from monovision (one eye) correction, or a bi-/multifocal correction.
Dr. Ali Nowrouzi MD, Ophthalmologist FEBO, FICO. Specialist & Fellowship-trained in refractive surgery, cornea, premium cataract and crystalline surgery. Board certified of European Board of Opthalmology (FEBO). Board certified of International Council of Ophthalmology (FICO). Member of American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Specialist at the Ophthalmology Department of Quirónsalud Hospital Marbella.
It is really important to check the biomechanical parameters of the cornea and also other compromising problems such as dry eye and contact lens tolerance, as well as conducting a special simulation during the comprehensive ophthalmologic exploration, to correctly determine these optical appliances. The importance of this therapeutic approach is the main reason for which we provide sophisticated tests in our clinic. I have a number of specialised experts working with me in the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Department to study these biomechanics precisely, to be able to make the correct perscription for the contact lenses, customised for each of our patients.
As an active member of the European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons, you were involved in many clinical trials of Presbyopia Drops. Please explain the mechanism of this treatment and how it could be a game changer? Presbyopia Drops are a new, revolutionary treatment on the horizon. Several companies are trying to release miotic eye drops to increase the range of vision by a pinhole effect without affecting distance vision and with minimal adverse effects. VUITY (Allergan) is the first one with FDA approval for the treatment of presbyopia. I had the opportunity of working with some of these new treatments. It
Email : dr.alinoroozi2020@gmail. com Instagram: dr.ali_nowrouzi Linkdin: Ali Noroozi Twitter: Dr.Ali-Noroozi Dr. Nowrouzi has extensive experience in refractive & premium lenses surgeries and treatment of corneal pathologies, and is the author and coauthor of more than 50 international publications and book chapters in the subject.
is important to take into consideration that these drops are not suitable for all types of presbyopic patients, and it is mandatory to have a comprehensive ophthalmologic exploration to prescribe these drops for a special group of patients who suffer from the initial phase of presbyopia, without any relevant contraindications. › WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 173
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What is the concept of refractive lens exchange and what is its main benefit for presbyopia as a permanent and definitive treatment? Refractive lens exchange, in which the natural crystalline lens in the eye is replaced with an intra-ocular premium lens (IOL), can effectively reduce or mitigate the need for reading glasses by using various intraocular premium lens implants, including multifocal, extended depth of focus, or accommodating intraocular lens implants. Current premium lens designs predominantly provide very good visual outcomes. It is really important to conduct an extensive and accurate ophthalmological exploration to be able to create a customised selection of the premium lenses needed, based on patient demands, visual goals, lifestyle, working distance, and hobbies. In our clinic, we work with our patients to determine the best premium lens options to meet their needs, having dedicated a whole special department where we can conduct this personalised study. What is your opinion about laser surgery for presbyopia? In terms of laser surgery, monovision or multifocal laser, LASIK, and PRK can be used to reshape the cornea to reduce the need for reading glasses in presbyopic individuals. Patients have to be qualified by accurate
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and sophisticated preoperative studies for each of the different procedures which are based on personal corneal topography and preoperative simulation tolerance. To follow this hard science-based protocol is absolutely necessary to be able to choose the best customised surgical approach, with the aim of achieving optimal results for the patient’s lifestyle and visual goals after laser surgery. e
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www.cardiocaremarbella.com
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enterprise
BE LAGOM IS A UNIQUE DEVELOPMENT NEAR LA ALQUERIA IN BENAHAVÍS CENTRED ON SUSTAINABLE LIVING. CHECK OUT RECENT LOCAL EVENTS AND BUSINESS NEWS AND FIND OUT WHAT ECOMARB IS DOING TO ADVANCE MARBELLA'S ECO CREDENTIALS.
GO TO PAGE 184 FOR THE VIBE
GO TO PAGE 198 FOR ECOMARB GO TO PAGE 188 FOR BUSINESS NEWS
GO TO PAGE 178 FOR BE LAGOM
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROPERTY FINANCE LOCAL NEWS 178 Be Lagom 184 The Vibe 188 Business News 198 Ecomarb
z ENTERPRISE property
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BE LAGOM
A LIFE PHILOSOPHY A property development born from a distinct philosophy, Be Lagom is the physical embodiment of the desire to enjoy the best possible lifestyle. For Altur Homes, the creators of this gated community of 13 designer villas, the optimal ingredients to achieve this are Scandinavian-inspired design and natural living combined with a panoramic setting on the Costa del Sol. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ALTUR HOMES
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B
uilding on the Swedish and Norwegian words for ‘equilibrium’ and ‘balance’, Be Lagom is an offering of modern homes that comes first and foremost from a lifestyle concept in which quality of life takes central place. To begin this process, the company sought the
right kind of location and setting, finding it in a hillside location overlooking La Alquería and entire swathes of the coastline from beyond Marbella to Estepona. From this spectacular position, unimpeded views can be enjoyed of this entire region, taking in golf courses, residential
areas, natural mountain scenery, the shoreline and also inspiring sunsets that illuminate Gibraltar and North Africa in the evenings. Here, at a short distance from Marbella, Benahavís, Estepona and San Pedro de Alcántara and their many amenities, privacy and tranquillity reign within a residential zone that borders open nature. It is the perfect combination for a development conceived from the desire to create modern Marbella homes that offer their owners a sense of freedom, space, balance, natural surroundings and healthy living. These are core elements that went into the design of the Be Lagom villas, and it shows in an architectural style that, while being thoroughly modern, differs from many others through its use of noble materials such as stone and wood – both inside and out. ›
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QUALITY OF LIFE AS THE GUIDING DESIGN PRINCIPLE Most projects are not principally designed around a natural lifestyle concept, but Be Lagom is, and this is why it stands out for a homeliness and balance that perfectly matches the need for modern technology, amenities and comforts. The result is a timeless design that embraces natural living as it does luxury and refinement. The 13 four-
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bedroom villas, which measure 600m2 up to close to 800m2, each in a choice of four varied designs and layouts, cover four levels of living space, starting with the elegant openplan living room on the main floor. A lifestyle area par excellence, it flows onto a covered wooden terrace, sundeck and infinity edge swimming pool, with sunken seating area complete with
firepit and steps down to the private garden. The first floor is given over to stylish bedroom suites, with the panoramic top floor offering a private space in which to enjoy the luxuries of a large terrace and hot tub – reached either from the central stairwell or lift. It’s quite the perfect spot from which to sit back and take in the coastline or watch the setting sun bathe the world in dramatic strokes of orange, pink and gold. ›
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z ENTERPRISE property
The lower floor, which enjoys natural light and communicates directly with the garden, measures between 120m2 to 200m2 – where owners can create their own dream spaces, be they a private spa, home cinema, workspace or entertainment room. The design, layout, flow of light, views, air ventilation and materials used all match timeless style with a Scandinavian-inspired sense of comfortable, refined charisma centred upon quality of life – a factor that is enhanced by the individualistic architectural look and feel of each of the villas created by González & Jacobson.
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A PIONEERING SPIRIT The spirit that was born from a lifestyle-focused concept has also made this one of the most pioneering new real estate projects on the Costa del Sol, as evidenced by the fact that Be Lagom is the first organic and sustainable development in Spain and qualifies for the stringent BREEAM certification of sustainable development both in the construction and the energy-efficient design of its properties – which in turn leads to easy and affordable maintenance. The emphasis within this gated urbanisation is also very much on creating a sense of community as well
as a healthy, welcoming living environment in which natural beauty plays a central role. For this reason, a great deal of attention has gone into the landscaping that envelops the villas at Be Lagom, for they form the cosseting greenery that hugs the private homes and their gardens and provides the binding force of the community. It therefore features not only lawns, trees and flowering
plants, but also creepers, herbs, water features, relaxing seating areas and each villa has its very own private vegetable plot and Mediterranean garden. Tended by the community’s gardeners, they provide each resident with baskets of fresh seasonal produce. Inspired by 21st century health, relaxation and enjoymentfocused living, at Be Lagom ‘life’s what you make it’ starts at home!
g CASETA DE VENTAS Calle Torre Bermeja S/N, Benahavís. Tel: (+34) 951 49 25 86. info@ belagom.es www.belagom.es NVOGA Avda. Duque de Ahumada, Nº 2, Paseo Marítimo, Edif. Marbell Center, Marbella. Tel: (+34) 952 813 333 www.nvoga.com
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PACASO ARRIVES IN MARBELLA Luxury property sharing enterprise, Pacaso selected Marbella for the inauguration of the first of its many planned prestigious properties in Europe. A large turnout of people came to their celebration at the impressive Villa Vida on Avenida del Generalife in Nueva Andalucía to find out about the company’s dynamic ownership sharing program. i www.pacaso.com/es
“Sharing is having more” – R. Buckminster Fuller
PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN 184 / DECEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
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ENGEL & VÖLKERS OPEN HOUSE Leading local real estate brokerage, Engel & Völkers Marbella, invited associates, clients and friends to an open house viewing of their newest exclusive villa listing in Mirador del Paraiso. Guests enjoyed an evening of drinks, tapas and Spanish guitar while touring a traditional Andalusian property. i www.marbella-ev.com
“Where we love is home – home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts” – Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN 186 / DECEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
AALTO CELEBRATION PARTY Marbella Design Fair and Aalto Exclusive Design hosted a cocktail party in celebration of Aalto receiving the International Design and Architectural Award in the Beach House category, which was presented in London. The company’s CEO, Ness Yammine welcomed guests at the Aalto Exclusive Design prestigious showroom on the Golden Mile. i www.aaltoexclusivedesign.com
“The key to great design is capturing the spirit of the client and the essence of the space” – Tony Stavish
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business news WORDS BY MARISA CUTILLAS
MARBELLA GALLERY WEEKEND A BIG SUCCESS MUAC – The union of Contemporary Art Galleries of Marbella comprising Badr El Jundi, Es Arte Gallery, Isolina Arbulu, Reiners Contemporary Art, Sholeh Abghari, Wadström Tönnheim Gallery, and Yusto/Giner – celebrated the second edition of Marbella Gallery Weekend recently. The galleries exhibited different art forms by national and international artists. Thanks to the support of the La Caixa Foundation, MUAC donated 10 per cent of all sales made to the Horizonte Proyecto Hombre Association of Marbella. i www.galeriasdemarbella.com
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CHEFS FOR CHILDREN GALA AT THE HOTEL LOS MONTEROS The Chefs for Children Gala took place recently at Hotel Los Monteros Marbella. Some 29 chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants across Spain prepared a sumptuous tasting menu for over 200 guests. All proceeds went to Fundación Juegaterapia (which aims to make the lives of children undergoing chemotherapy a little more fun through games and activities). Participating Chefs included Elena Arzak, Ángel León, Quique Dacosta, Fina Puigdevall, Ramón Freixa, José Carlos García, and Marbella’s own Mauricio Giovanini. i www.chefsforchildren.es
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FASHION SHOW AT THE HOTEL DON PEPE, GRAN MELIÁ The Hotel Don Pepe, Gran Meliá will be the perfect backdrop for a fashion show on December 14 at 7:30pm. The show will feature designs by Isabel Zapardiez, a renowned haute couture and bridal wear designer from San Sebastian. TACHA Beauty, which has an aesthetic centre at the spa, will be in charge of all the hair and makeup. TACHA Beauty, founded in 1994 and also present in Madrid, Bilbao, and Barcelona, is famed for its luxurious, unique, and effective beauty treatments. i www.isabelzapardiez.com i www.tacha.es
UNITED NATIONALITIES OF MARBELLA SUMMIT: TACKLING ISSUES FACED BY MARBELLA’S YOUTH The Harbour Marbella hosted Nicole King’s United Nationalities of Marbella Summit on November 18th, once again bringing together communityminded individuals and businesses to help others. This event shone a spotlight on the problems that the younger generation of international 190 / DECEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
residents are facing. These include: a lack of career opportunities and work experience and the alarming increase in suicide attempts by 10-to24-year olds. Attendees brainstormed solutions and organiser Nicole King asked businesses and organisations for support in the form of donations, internships and career opportunities for the youth, as well as safe entertainment spaces. i www.u-n-m.org
TOP GESTIÓN RECEIVES RECOGNITION AT SIMED Real estate promoter, Top Gestión, was recently recognised for its excellent work by Malaga’s real estate sector at SIMED (the 17th edition of the Salón Inmobiliario del Mediterráneo). The award highlighted the company’s trajectory, expansion, and investments in the development of an array of promotions across the Costa del Sol. Top projects include Lomas del Higuerón, The List Río Real, and Montemar Collection. i www.topgestionmadrid.es
JOGIS ART PRESENTS ART ON A BOTTLE JoGis Art, a renowned international artist based in Marbella, recently presented the beer bottle he created in collaboration with Gottan Grill Restaurants. The design is inspired by the tropical climate of Marbella. The beer is called Black Tropic and it is a craft beer with a fruity aroma and flavour. The bottle, which is symbolic of the colourful work and good vibes the artist is known for, was presented at JoGis’ Pop Art gallery in San Pedro. i www.jogisart.com
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SOTOGRANDE STAY & PLAY GOLF AND ACCOMMODATION PACKAGE Sotogrande S.A. is offering those who love golf and relaxation a package called Stay & Play. This initiative permits guests to experience the world-class triumvirate of Real Club Valderrama, La Reserva Club and Real Club Sotogrande – while enjoying a luxurious four-night stay at the brand new, five-star SO/ Sotogrande hotel. The package will also feature private transfer shuttles, TrackMan practice sessions with PGA-qualified professionals, physiotherapy sessions, and more. i Further information, concierge@sotogrande.com
CUDECA – LAUNCHES JOAN HUNT, ONE IN A MILLION CAMPAIGN The Cudeca Foundation recently launched the campaign, ‘Joan Hunt, One in a Million’ at its Benalmádena Centre. The campaign pays tribute to the recently deceased pioneer of palliative care in Spain and founder of Cudeca. It aims to raise the funds required to transform the home where she lived into room number 10 of Cudeca's Hospitalisation Unit. Children, adolescents, ALS patients and very specific care situations will be able to benefit from this new service if the necessary funding is realised. i www.cudeca.org
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ROBOTIC SURGERY AT VITHAS HOSPITALS The Vithas group is pleased to announce that it now has four surgical robots, to be used for treating prostate cancer and urological conditions, as well as gynaecological, thoracic, and general surgery. This cutting-edge equipment permits medical teams to carry out safe and effective treatments that are minimally invasive. i www.vithas.es
HIGUERÓN RESORT HELPS BATTLE BREAST CANCER Higuerón Resort and the Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer recently held a fundraising paddle tennis tournament for breast cancer at the Fuengirola-based resort. Some 140 persons attended and €12.095 were raised. The Association thanked the Higuerón resort for the donations. The situation of women with breast cancer has worsened considerably since the start of the pandemic, with many women experiencing loneliness and fundraising events being at a historical low. i www.reservadelhigueronresort.com
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L'ÉCOLE FRANÇAISE INTERNATIONALE MARBELLA (EFIM) LAUNCH Marbella is now home to its first international French school. L'École Française Internationale Marbella (EFIM) is a primary school (kindergarten + elementary) that supports children in acquiring knowledge of the French school programme. EFIM stands on four pillars: a trilingual education (French, English, and Spanish), didactic hybridisation, happiness and wellbeing, and cultural, digital, and scientific knowledge. i www.efimarbella.com
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BEES BENEFITTING THE SIERRA BERMEJA Bees are playing an important role in restoring the Sierra Bermeja area, following the September wildfires that burned almost 10,000 hectares to the ground. Málaga-born company, Miel Sierra Bermeja, is contributing to the development and conservation of habitats that are favourable to bees, since these pollinators are vital to the restoration of damaged ecosystems. i www.mielsierrabermeja.com
PURAENVIDIA WINS PRESTIGIOUS PRIZES Marbella-based advertising agency, Puraenvidia, recently received three prizes at the fourth edition of Salud Festival (an international health and food advertising fest), held in Madrid. The awards were for Best Use of Spot Web, Best Use of Messaging on Spot Web, and Best Web Use. All were granted for the agency’s work on their Bach Care campaign. i www.puraenvidia.com
FUNDRAISING GOLF EVENT FOR DEBRA, CUDECA, AND THE RONAL MCDONALD FOUNDATION If you love golf and you have an altruistic spirit, why not take part in the upcoming DEBRA charity golf tournament, to be held on Saturday, December 11 at La Cala Golf Resort? You can either play, sponsor the event, or donate prizes. DEBRA is also calling for helpful Christmas elves to wrap presents at FNAC in La Cañada shopping centre. This is a vital opportunity to raise funding, which the charity is in great need of following the pandemic. i www.debra.es
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ARTIST EXPERIENCE INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR BEGINS IN MADRID Artist Experience is an international fair featuring contemporary art from artists of all nationalities. It will be taking place from December 1 to 5 at the Fundación Carlos Amberes on C/ Claudio Coello 99 and will feature paintings, sculptures, drawings, experimental art, original graphics, photography, digital art, and more, created by over 200 artists. More than 20,000 people have attended this event in past editions and it is well worth a short getaway to Madrid. The event will also have a virtual component. i Further information, www. artistsexperience.com
HOTEL SANTO CRISTO OPENS IN MARBELLA The La Ciudadela Group has just opened its second hotel, Santo Cristo – a gorgeous boutique hotel in the heart of Marbella’s Old Town. The Hotel aims to reposition the Casco Antiguo as a reference point in the city, as this area boasts a unique charm. It is located within a restored 19th-century building and boasts panoramic views over the historic centre. i www.laciudadelamarbella-sc. com/es
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CASINO MARBELLA HELPS BATTLE LONELINESS IN SENIORS Casino Marbella recently collaborated with the Harena Foundation to help battle loneliness among the elderly. The Casino is donating tickets that have not been charged by Slots players in the Jackpot Paradise area, to support Proyecto Soledad 0 – Vida 10. The latter provides care for people who live alone and are at risk of social exclusion or dependency, offering them company and promoting active activities. i www.casinomarbella.com
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ECOMARB BUSINESSES CAN HELP SAVE THE PLANET WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ECOMARB
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“
Sustainability is the new luxury” is the fitting motto of ECOMARB – a newly launched platform that is focused on research, environmental awareness and action with respect to recycling and reusing the residue generated by the city of Marbella. ECOMARB is the product of synergistic collaborations with individuals, private companies and public organisations which hopes to foster a circular economy and promote a sustainable lifestyle that respects human beings and the environment. Its founder, Esteban Ferrón Valdivieso, explains, “As a parent and entrepreneur, I couldn’t keep looking the other way. We have all got to work to face the challenges posed by climate change. This is the only way we can save our Planet and safe-keep our children’s future prosperity. To achieve our goals, everyone has to do their share – politicians,
(produce, use, and throw away) is now an obsolete model. The buzzword in a bevvy of industries THE CHALLENGES WE FACE is the creation of a circular ECOMARB wishes to make economy – one in which old or numerous changes – including discarded items are recycled, the reduction of energy and water reused, upcycled, or simply given wastage. Esteban says, “If you to those who need them if they walk along the Istán dam, you are still in good condition. Esteban will see that water reserves are elaborates, “In a touristic area at their minimum. Meanwhile, like Marbella, we should take companies continue to construct note of how resorts, hotels, and buildings, open macro hotels and other types of accommodation launch projects without regard for use old mattresses, towels, sustainability. We cannot continue robes, bedsheets, and the like. to permit the indiscriminate use of Where do hotels discard the water. I certainly don’t understand surplus food from buffets, parties, how avocado plantations are and catered events?” Each permitted. Did you know that in and every individual, business, order to produce one kilogram of and government body should avocados, you need 1,000 litres aim to meet the 17 objectives of water? We need to be aware of of sustainable development unsustainable systems so we can indicated by the United Nations. start to make a change.” These are: » No poverty » Zero hunger SAYING GOODBYE TO THE LINEAR » Good health and wellbeing PRODUCTIVE SYSTEM » Quality education » Gender The linear productive system equality » Clean water and private business, society, and people just like you.”
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PEOPLE CAN MAKE A CHANGE
sanitation » Affordable, clean energy » Decent work and economic growth » Industry, innovation, and infrastructure » Reduced inequalities » Sustainable cities and communities » Responsible consumption and production » Climate action » Life below water » Life on land » Peace, justice, and strong institutions » Partnerships for these goals
ECOMARB PLANS TO ACHIEVE ITS GOALS IN THREE PHASES: Z Building awareness of the importance of crucial aspects such as climate change, recycling, solidarity, etc. Workshops will be offered for school-aged children on these topics. Z Action through the collaboration of people, businesses, and public
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institutions for waste recycling and the creation of a circular economy – one in which ‘waste’ is seen as a resource. Z The achievement of the UN’s 17 sustainability objectives so we can leave a better world for our children and for Marbella. ECOMARB aims to convert Marbella into a city known for its respect for sustainability, recycling, and actively fighting climate change. Esteban dreams of a decent (perhaps even a good) future for our children and grandchildren. In the long term, of course, embracing environmental responsibility is a key way for Marbella to remain competitive at a time in which sustainable travel is arguably the strongest trend in the global tourism industry. i www.ecomarb.com
There are threats to the environment that human action can revert, one of which is the behemoth that is microplastics pollution. Esteban elaborates, “Microplastics have been incorporated into food processes in major ways. Simply visit the beach or city centres and you will see vast amounts of waste – including plastic bags and packaging, glass, cans, and more. Over the past year and a half, thanks to the collaboration of the Cofradía de Pescadores (‘Brotherhood of Fishermen’) and Mares Circulares (‘Circular Seas’) project, over 2.5 tons of residues have been recovered from the sea bed.
ers! discover the off
AÑO NUEVO I NEW YEAR’S EVE
SALÓN ANDALUCÍA | Create memorable moments
Romano Beach Resort Ballroom, with exquisite
with your friends and family with our elegant and
canapés, followed by a five-course dinner including
sophisticated New Year’s Eve gala celebration. This
caviar, lobster, and beef tenderloin, all accompanied
is an evening of sparkle and wonder in the Puente
by fine wines and Bollinger Champagne. CHRISTMAS OFFICE PARTIES & EVENTS
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nan Chri e n a rr e it d e M A restaurantes@ puenter om ano.com |
+34 682 11 22 33 | pue nt e r o m a no . c o m / c hr is t m a s
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gourmet
IN IT’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR, OUR VISIT TO LOS BANDIDOS PROVES THAT ITS REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE IS RICHLY DESERVED. READ ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF FOOD ON MOOD, AND FIND OUT ABOUT THE PIONEERING FEMALE LEGACY BEHIND PAZO DE SEÑORANS.
GO TO PAGE 204 FOR LOS BANDIDOS
GO TO PAGE 216 FOR GOURMET NEWS
GO TO PAGE 218 FOR THE WINE COLUMN NEWS GASTRONOMY CHEFS WINE
204 Los Bandidos 210 The Effects of Food on Mood 216 Gourmet Bytes
GO TO PAGE 210 FOR A FESTIVE MOOD
218 Pazo de Señorans
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LOS BANDIDOS A PURSUIT OF PERFECTION There is only one gourmet restaurant that is perennially busy in Puerto Banús, in summer and in winter. To find out why that is, read on. WORDS JAMES SINCLAIR PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN
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L
ocated on the front line at the eastern end of the Port, Los Bandidos was launched 35 years ago in August 1986 by proprietor Jill Lindberg, who named her new venture after the Los Bandidos Golf Society of which her then husband Kurt was a member, along with Sean Connery, James Hunt, among a number of other celebrities who enjoyed hitting Marbella’s many fairways. From the very start, the restaurant met with an unprecedented success, and it is no surprise to learn that it is highly commended by concierges of the area’s top hotels when guests ask for a recommendation for dining out in Banús. The many regular diners, amounting to around 80
per cent at this time of year, return here for a number of reasons. The venue is cosy with a rustic charm conferred from its terracotta flooring, wooden furnishings and natural foliage everywhere overhead. A myriad of framed photos of personalities and celebrities surround you, conveying a distinct touch of class. Its dimensions ensure people sit closely at their respective tables and the convivial ambience results in engaging conversation. Above all else, however, it is the food and service that make any dinner here memorable.
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Jill is well travelled and, over the years, has managed to recreate all of her favourite international
dishes she has encountered, currently amounting to a grand total of 68 on the menu, so that diners are always spoiled for choice even if they are frequent visitors. Once a dish has been perfected, for Jill’s highly discerning palate, the kitchen staff are personally trained to be able to exactly reproduce it every time, under the watchful eye of Head Chef, Alfonso Barea Castellano. This applies to everything on the menu and is probably unique in Marbella. You can therefore choose with confidence, safe in the knowledge that a particular favourite you have been pining for will be precisely as you remember it, and people keep returning to do this again and again. ›
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For those who have yet to experience these delights, a tempting range of starters, salads, and soups and creams await to prepare your taste buds for the pleasures to come. We tried the Almadraba tuna tartar on a bed of avocado with toast, Asparagus au gratin and smoked salmon, and the Avocado with Norwegian prawns and cocktail sauce. We didn’t have to wait very long for these to arrive, remarkable in itself considering the premises were completely packed, and a notable silence descended on our table as we tucked into our chosen delicacies.
SPOILED FOR CHOICE To follow this welcome introduction to our evening experience, we could have selected from a number of pasta plates, a tempting
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assortment of fish and sea food options and an impressive lineup of meat and poultry dishes. There is also a section with recommendations on the menu, presenting a degree of difficulty in reaching a final decision – always a pleasant situation to find oneself in. After some amount of consideration, we settled on the Curry-flavoured lobster fricassee on a bed of fettuccine, Confit of duck leg with apple puree and red cabbage, and Solomillo Kurt in pepper sauce, served with green fettuccine, mushrooms and cream au gratin. These proved to be supreme in terms of presentation and taste sensation, mimicking the enticing looking main courses being received by diners at other tables – the market fresh produce, prime cuts of meat and fresh fish are self evident.
Tel: 952 818 392 www.thaigallerymarbella.com
CH
ALL OUR RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN ACCORDING TO REGULATIONS, WITH FULL SAFETY MEASURES!
Puente Romano Hotel, Plaza Village, Marbella.
IN ES E R ES TA U R A N T PO LY
NEW TAI PAN
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Marbella
ES IA N BA R
Tel: 952 777 893 / 952 775 500 www.taipanmarbella.com Puente Romano, Fase 2, Marbella. Open Daily for Dinner from 8:00
SUKHOTHAI Exquisite Royal Thai Cuisine Tel: 952 770 550 www.sukhothaimarbella.com Marbellamar, L-3A, Marbella. Open Daily for Dinner from 8:00
b THE GOURMET restaurants
It is only natural to accompany such excellent fare with a premium wine and here Los Bandidos excels with a wine list that has even the hardiest wine aficionado deliberating as to choice. It is at once clear that, over its trajectory, the restaurant has acquired a very impressive bodega of fine wines to suit every palate. You can of course also order by the glass, sample one of their chilled house cocktails, or liven up proceedings with some Champagne. To complete an exceptional meal we were sorely tempted by the Homemade
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deconstructed Banoffe Pie but settled on the house speciality, crispy Apple Tart and vanilla ice cream, with a lovely glass of Mountain moscatel from the Sierras de Málaga to finish. Los Bandidos fully deserves its distinguished reputation as a gourmet restaurant where
tradition, quality, consistency and excellent service come together perfectly.
g Open every evening from 19:00 to 01:00. Reservations imperative. Muelle Ribera 35, Puerto Banús, Marbella. Tel: 952 815 915. www.losbandidos.es
FESTIVE SEASON 2021 The most magical time of the year is here again. Families come together to celebrate, dreams become reality and the joy of the season’s special moments is forever portrayed in our hearts. Indulge in unique festive dining experiences and gastronomic delights. Have a taste of the finest culinary treats prepared by our Head Chef Manuel Navarro, tailored for every moment of celebration. Join us for sensational Christmas events, replenishing New Year dinners and brunch by the sea, accompanied by live music and many surprises. Subscription has its privilege
LIFE IS A JOURNEY. Visit anantara.com ANANTARA VILLA PADIERNA PALACE BENAHAVÍS MARBELLA RESORT URB. LOS FLAMINGOS GOLF. CTRA. DE CÁDIZ, KM 166. 29679, MARBELLA, MÁLAGA T +34 952 889 150 E CG. VILLAPADIERNA@ANANTARAHOTELS.COM
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There are wonderful keto recepies available for cake bases leaving all strarchy ingredients out and you won’t even notice the difference.
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WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS
FOODS
TO PUT YOU IN A
CHRISTMASSY MOOD T
he old adage that ‘you are what you eat’ may be true after all. In 2019, a groundbreaking study by scientist Jeroen Raes and his team showed that having a healthy gut microbiome was linked to a lower risk of depression. The findings are a reminder of the importance that food can have for one’s mental and physical health so if you want to enjoy a happy and healthy Christmas, rejigging your diet in a few important ways may help.
CURB THE CARBS In the lead-up to your big Christmas meal, following a Ketoor Paleo-style diet may be a good
idea to consider. Recent studies have demonstrated that there is a vital link between high-glycemic diets and increased symptoms of despondency. High sugar foods also trigger hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, glucagon, and growth hormone – all of which can cause changes in hunger, irritability, anxiety, and (in the case of people with recurrent hypoglycemia) mood disorders. If you want to lower your carb count during the festive period as well, opt for meat or fish and vegetables and avoid starchy foods such as mashed potatoes, sauces made with sugar or cornstarch, high-glycemic-index fruits, and starchy desserts.
GO MEDITERRANEAN Numerous studies have shown that the Mediterranean Diet is ideal for battling inflammation, heart disease, and obesity. › On the other hand, foods that are high in calories and saturated fats (think fast-food burgers and salads dripping in unhealthy dressing) can have inflammatory effects. This diet is easy to follow, especially if you live in Spain. Fuel up with lean proteins, seasonal fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes, and of course, ‘liquid gold’ (cold-pressed, extravirgin olive oil). Instead of refined desserts, opt for a nut tray and make sure that Omega-3-rich walnuts are served. ›
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CHOOSE MOOD-BOOSTING FOODS Some food flavours have mood-enhancing effects because they bear a surprising similarity to valproic acid – a commonly prescribed medication used to stabilise mood. The list of superfoods to enjoy this season include chocolate, strawberries, blueberries, tea and foods containing omega-3 fatty acids. When it comes to chocolate, make it raw. Chocolate that has not been excessively heated has a higher level of antioxidants, which can boost optimal heart health and keep you looking young.
FEED YOUR GUT Foods that enable a wide array of gut bacteria to grow and thrive are linked to better moods. To create a healthy gut microbiome, start off by consuming plenty of fibre. Gut bacteria feed on fibre and produce shortchain fatty acids, which are highly beneficial to health. Feast on probiotic foods such as yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchi, miso, kombucha, and pickles. These treats add a lovely, fresh kick to meals and your gut bacteria love them! ›
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Christmas time at
TIS THE SEASON AT BOHO CLUB!
Celebrate your company parties or meetings with friends in a special and unique atmosphere where music and gastronomy will play a key part. Essential_NOV 2021.indd 1
BOOK A TABLE +34 952 157 222 restaurante@bohoclub.com www.bohoclub.com 22/11/21 15:58
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EMBRACE THE ART OF MINDFUL EATING You should also eat mindfully, with full awareness of the way that job stress can lead you to make unhealthy food choices. A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology showed that good quality sleep can serve as a protective factor between job stress and unhealthy midnight snacking. Ensure your room is comfortable, silent, and dark enough to make you feel sleepy almost as soon as you step into it. There is an inexorable relationship between how you eat and how you feel. Keep your gut microbiome thriving and varied by consuming a fibrerich Meditteranean diet. Shun high-carb/high-sugar diets and embrace healthy foods that have a positive effect on mood. Finally, be mindful of the way in which stress can cause you to overeat, using sleep to break the link between the two. e
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WORDS BY MARISA CUTILLAS
RUAVIEJA CREMOSA:
ONE EDEN LAUNCHES FIRST-
EVER PIZZA EXPRESS IN SPAIN
Pizza Express held a well-attended inauguration party to celebrate its arrival in Alcaidesa, opening its doors to Juan Franco, the Mayor of La Línea de la Concepción among other distinguished guests. Founded in London in 1965, the Pizza Express brand is loved around the globe, with nearly 600 restaurants across the UK, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The restaurant serves a wide range of delicious pizza, pasta, side, salad, and dessert dishes. i www.pizzaexpressalcaidesa.es
ALHAMBRA RESERVA 1925 AND ALHAMBRA LAGER SINGULAR
RECOGNISED AT THE SUPERIOR TASTE AWARDS Two Spanish beers – Alhambra Reserva 1925 and Alhambra Lager Singular – recently received the top rating at the Superior Taste Awards. These golden ales impressed a jury that comprised prestigious names in the world of food
– including Michelin-starred chefs and award-winning sommeliers. Alhambra Reserva 1925 is an intense, full-bodied beer, while Alhambra Lager Singular is a unique beer made via slow fermentation. i www.cervezasalhambra.es
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A NEW LIQUEUR WITH 60 PER CENT LESS SUGAR
Popular liqueur brand, Ruavieja, has added a new bottle to its list: Cremosa, a ‘light’ beverage with 60 per cent less sugar than a traditional crema de orujo. The tipple is perfect for those who enjoy Galician liqueur but who wish to stay in shape during the festive season. Ruavieja Cremosa has an intense aroma with cacao and milk notes, accompanied by soft touches of caramel, coffee, orujo aguardiente, and more. i www.ruavieja.es
GONZÁLEZ BYASS’ WINESOLAR PROJECT WINS IBERDROLA
AWARD
Winesolar is a cutting-edge initiative by González Byass in collaboration with Techedge and PVH. It creates a symbiosis between photovoltaic production and vineyards and was selected as a winner of Iberdrola’s Start-up Challenge. The latter was launched in May through Iberdrola’s international startup programme, PERSEO. This challenge aims to identify low-cost solutions that sustainably combine photovoltaic energy and primary sector activities in rural areas. i www.gonzalezbyass.es
MARRIOTT BONVOY
REVEALS ITS GUIDE OF BEST GASTRONOMIC DESTINATIONS IN SPAIN Marriott Bonvoy, a travel programme by Marriott International that comprises over 30 brands, has compiled a list of what it deems the best restaurants in Spain. Its choice of ‘Best Michelinstarred restaurant with a tasting menu’ was The Ritz-Carlton Abama’s M.B. by Martín Berasategui and there are many more categories included in the list (including the most Instagrammable restaurant – the St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort). i www.marriott.com
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PAZO SEÑORANS A PIONEERING FEMALE LEGACY
One of modern Spain’s most admirable attributes is just how big a role women play in the grand scale of things – including the world of wine. The awesome Marisol Bueno is testimony to this fact. She founded the benchmark Albariño brand, Pazo Señorans, in 1979 and is the determined co-creator and first-ever President of the Rías Baixas D.O. WORDS JOHN CARLOS READ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PAZO SEÑORANS
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M
arisol, who also shone as a biologist and politician, is married to the eminent, self-effacing Orthopaedic Surgeon, Javier Mareque. A major wine buff, he insisted that the couple purchase an eight-hectare property – complete with 16th Century seigniorial house – in 1979, just after Marisol had given birth to their fourth child. He suggested that the property be her fifth ‘baby’ and he, its
éminence grise. For the first decade, Marisol simply grew and sold grapes (and kiwis) until, in 1989, the couple decided that they should become a proper estate winery bottling their own wines. Situated in Meis, some 15 minutes northeast of Cambados, in the Salnés Valley and heartland of Rías Baixas, their winery produces bottles that are pure Albariño, illustrating just how intriguing aged styles can be. Of course, most people are more than content to simply enjoy the region’s delicious young styles. Marisol, popularly known as ‘la ‘Reina or ‘Dama del Albariño’, passed the torch of the winery to the capable hands of her daughter Vicky Mareque (whose key cohorts are also female and who include winemaker, Ana Quintela). Currently, the family vineyard
holding amounts to some 22 hectares, with a further 30 – consisting of 300 small plots – farmed on the basis of historic agreements with 110 local families. The vineyards lie at sea level on shallow, acidic sandy soils or xabre (decomposed granite which imparts very particular flavours and provides excellent drainage) over deep granitic bedrock. They are trained on trellises, away from the damp and in the interests of ventilation. A multitude of sensors allows satellite tracking to monitor not only the state of the vines but keep an eagle eye on the weather. All the fruit is handpicked. Maceration is kept to a minimum, and full advantage is taken of such a myriad of individual plots. The estate is a highly soughtout wedding venue too. › Vicky, Marisol and Ana Quintela
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Z PAZO SEÑORANS ALBARIÑO 2020 (13.5%) » Steel fermented at 16°, left on its fine lees for five months, and then resting in the bottle for four months prior to release. » Pale lustrous green with a hint of gold; its citric lime/greengage and quince aromas carry through onto the palate to result in a very fine, exuberant tangy sensation. Not entirely dry either so perfect on its own. » Production approximately 300,000 bottles Z PAZO SEÑORANS TRAS LOS MUROS BERTA GARCÍA 2018 (13%) » Barrel fermented, subsequently oak aged for six months, a further six months in steel, then left to rest in the bottle for a further 15 months prior to release. Made from just four hectares by Vicky’s sister in law Berta.
220 / DECEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE
Z PAZO SEÑORANS SELECCIÓN DE AÑADA 2012 (13%) » Made from old vines (45 years on average), steel fermented at 16°, left on its fine lees for 36 months in small steel deposits, and finally bottled in April 2021. » An alluring green and yellow-tinged gold; this – on opening – has an intense fumy incense condensed lime, greengage, and quince compote character but, after 30 minutes, opens out into a seriously satisfyingly mellow offering of Z PAZO SEÑORANS VINO DE amazing depth and breadth replete GUARDA COLECCIÓN 2017 with savoury mineral and salty ((13.5%) elements. » Steel fermented at 16°, left on » This, if ever there was one, is its fine lees for five months, and a wine to chill out with and tell then left to rest in the bottle for 30 stories over – accompanied by a months prior to release. » Sheeny yellowy green-gold, aromas plate of seriously good juicy jamón de jabugo and/or a most delicate of candied quince and greengage with effusive tingly/sprightly fruit and creamy blue cheese. » Production – between 12,000 and a hint of custard apple; satisfyingly rounded on the palate, with a striking 18,000 bottles finish and great acidity. » Lovely on its own; lobster and » other crustaceans would be ideal i For more information visit www. accompaniments. pazodesenoranseventos.com » Production – limited; I tried No. 16,529. » Pale lustrous gold with an intriguing aroma of witch hazel imbued oak and apple peel; briny baked apple and quince on the palate, but with super tangy underpinning zip. Long, with notable acidity and majorly intertwined oak tang. Rich, but in a very subtle, sinewy way. » Partner with serious shellfish or perhaps steak tartare. » Production 2,790 bottles
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Star of the Sea Tanzanite
Weight: 44.75 Carats Truly unique Flawless
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