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ROLLS ROYCE BRITISH LUXURY TOUR SUPERCARS - WHAT’S ON - BEST HOTELS - YACHTS TRAVEL - WATCHES - INTERVIEWS - TECHNOLOGY internationalexcellence.co.uk
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CONTENT
The place to go for all your shopping needs and desires, check out the latest and greatest gifts.
Rolls Royce at Pennyhill Park Lord and Lady roll gently in the Wraith to Pennyhill Park and Spa, for a short stay and a wonderful dinner at The Latymer.
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PUBLISHERS
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TALKING TECH
Steinway Pianos
This season’s pick of the latest, hottest gadgets and luxury technical innovations.
We take a tour of the Steinway Factory on the launch of their new player piano, The Spirio.
International eXcellence, is a celebration of all that is truly outstanding, online, mobile and in print, courtesy of The eXcellence Group. As the name suggests, we are all about sharing excellence from around the world, presenting the best brands, products, artists, designs, businesses and people who are passionate about their life and work. For all advertising enquiries please call: +44 203 289 9779 or 07957 246845. Copy enquiries to: editorial@internationalexcellence.co.uk
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RELAXING IN ANTIGUA 72
LAMBRETTA WatchES
MOROCCAN NATURAL
Modern fashion accessories with a retro twist, clearly inspired from the 60s and the glorious days of the Italian Lambretta Scooters.
A wonderful brand of natural, organic beauty products, sourced globally with no preservatives or chemicals.
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ITALIAN LAKES
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MASTERPIECE LONDON
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BRUICHLADDICH
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EDITORIAL
Welcome to our Summer issue of International eXcellence. The sun is shining, energy levels are at full, the possibilities are endless. Life is for living, and there is so much you can do and see and experience, don’t waste a single second. But before you leap up, take a minute and enjoy the moment, immerse yourself in eXcellence and enjoy our Summer issue of International eXcellence!
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WIMBLEDON
29 June - 12 July The world’s oldest tennis tournament is the third Grand Slam tournament of the year and the only one played on grass. Could Andy Murray repeat his performance of 2013? wimbledon.com/
HAMPTON COURT
CHELTENHAM
HENLEY ROYAL
FLOWER SHOW
MUSIC FESTIVAL
REGATTA
30 June - 5 July Celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year, look our for silver themed events. As ever the Festival of Roses marquee will continue to wow with a historical theme. rhs.org.uk/
30 June - 11 July Magnificent range of venues, top-notch performers and breadth of musical styles, the festival guarantees some very special musical experiences. cheltenhamfestivals.com
1 - 5 July Undoubtedly the best known regatta in the world, it attracts thousands of visitors who enjoy over 200 races of an international standard and a fantastic ambience. hrr.co.uk/
SUMMER What’s On in the UK... It’s all about being outdoors, so grab your sunhat (if you’re an optimist), your brolly (if you’re a realist, sorry I mean pessimist) and get out there! Whether it’s music, flowers, boats, cars, tennis or polo, get dressed up and enjoy.
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ROYAL NORFOLK SHOW 1- 2 July Held annually by the Royal Agricultural Association, this is the largest two day agricultural show in England, and has been held nearly every year since 1847. royal norfolkshow.rnaa.org.uk/
BRITISH GRAND PRIX
3 - 5 July Silverstone is one of the oldest races on the calendar. Originally an airfield, it became a race track following the war and held its first grand prix in 1948. silverstone.co.uk
PANERAI BRITISH
INTERNATIONAL
CLASSIC WEEK
POLO DAY
18 - 25 July The regatta looks to be an exciting one with an anticipated bigger entry this year with many classic yachts coming from around the globe to race in the Solent. britishclassicyachtclub.org
25 July Held at Guards Polo Club, the Coronation Cup, sponsored by Royal Salute, will be fought over between the England team and a talented quartet from S. America. guardspoloclub.com
COWES WEEK
GOODWOOD REVIVAL
8 - 15 August Since 1826 Cowes Week has played a key part in the British sporting summer calendar and is one of the UK’s longest running and most successful sporting events. It now stages up to 40 daily races for around 1,000 boats and is the largest sailing regatta of its kind in the world. The 8,500 competitors range from Olympic and world class professionals to weekend sailors. aamcowesweek.co.uk
11 - 13 September The sell-out Revival truly is a magical step back in time, celebrating the halcyon days of motor racing as it used to be, with all of the accompanying spectacle and glamour of the era. Competitors and spectators alike dress in period fashions, with the finest sights and entertainment of the pre-1966 era for all to enjoy. grrc.goodwood.com/section/goodwood-revival/
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PALIO DI SIENA
2 July The origins of the Palio date back to the 12th century. Ten hired jockeys (each representing a district) race bareback at breakneck speed around a dirt track. thepalio.com/
MONTREUX JAZZ
SAN FERMIN
FESTIVAL
FESTIVAL
3 - 18 July Founded in 1967 by Claude Nobs, the Montreux Jazz Festival has become one of the world’s most important cultural events, with 250,000 visitors annually. montreuxjazzfestival.com/
6 - 14 July The festival explodes into life with the launching of the Chupinazo. The most famous event is the Running of the Bulls. An amazing fireworks display ends the fiesta. sanfermin.pamplona.es/
SALZBURG FESTIVAL
18 July - 30 August The Salzburg Festival was inaugurated on August 22, 1920 and since that time has established itself as the most important festival for opera, drama and concerts. salzburgerfestspiele.at/
SUMMER
What’s On around the World... If there is not enough for you here in the UK, then jump on a plane or a boat and head off to a myriad of different destinations for some tennis, polo or golf. The Grand Prix season continues apace, and Pebble Beach holds its wonderful Concours, amongst other great events, in August. Music lovers have plenty to choose from between the Montreux Jazz and Lucern Festivals. Finally hop over to Venice for the Film Festival.
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97th PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS 10 - 16 August The fourth and final major in professional golf takes place at Whistling Straits this year. Whistling Straits is perched on two miles of uninterrupted shoreline on Lake Michigan. pga.com/home/
DEAUVILLE POLO
LUCERNE FESTIVAL
12 - 30 August 2015 celebrates 120 years of Polo in Deauville, and the 65th Gold Cup. The Lucien Barriere Cup will again attract the world’s best players in this prestigious tournament deauvillepoloclub.com
14 August - 13 September The Lucerne Summer Festival has been delighting audiences since 1938, and continues to attract the musical creme de la creme from every corner of the globe. lucernefestival.ch/en
PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS 16 August The most prized collector cars and motorcycles in the world roll onto what is often called the best finishing hole in golf — the famed eighteenth fairway . pebblebeach concours.net/
US OPEN TENNIS
VENICE FILM FESTIVAL
31 August - 13 September Chronologically the fourth and final tennis major of the Grand Slam tournaments. First won in 1968 by Arthur Ashe, last year saw Marin Cilic become the lowest-seeded men’s singles champion since No. 17 Pete Sampras in 2002. Serena Williams won the women’s singles in 2014, will she triumph this year to make it her fourth consecutive win? usopen.org/
2 - 12 September The 72nd festival will run on Venice Lido, directed by Alberto Barbera. The aim of the Festival is to raise awareness and promote international cinema in all its forms: as art, entertainment and as an industry, in a spirit of freedom and dialogue. The Festival also organizes retrospectives and tributes to major figures. labiennale.org/en/cinema/72nd-festival/
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ROLLS ROYCE WRAITH AT PENNYHILL PARK Lord and Lady drove the Rolls Royce Wraith on this British luxury tour to Pennyhill Park, a stunning 5 star hotel and spa and the home of England’s Rugby team. The Rolls Royce Wraith is a two door sports coupe that really stands out. In stark black and white, this monochromatic luxury dream tourer epitomises style and elegance. The Wraith is the most powerful RollsRoyce in history with a 6.6 litre, twin turbocharged 624 BHP and goes from 0-60 in 4.4 seconds which for a car that weighs 2.4 tons is pretty impressive. Its acceleration means you can weave your way through any traffic and speed down to the south of France in effortless comfort.
Lord and Lady Piloted to Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa in the Ravishing Rolls Royce Wraith.
on the eight speed transmission delivering power smoothly without any unnecessary gear changes. Oh and the umbrella is still in the door, but hidden more discreetly in the front door chassis, look carefully and you will find it. A little touch, but vital when in England and you want to move from car to home in dry unflappable style. The doors of course o p e n
The V12 engine that lies behind the stylish Pantheon grill has been engineered for serious power and control. Rolls Royce has focused on this strength throughout its brand history and no one does it better. The torque on the wheels has been tweaked endlessly to achieve the smooth Rolls glide that is their signature. This is a company that has always lived by the adage of their co-founder “Take the best that exists and make it better”. The Wraith packs some impressive automation that scans the future; satellite aided transmission uses GPS data and the navigation system to predict the road ahead, it then automatically chooses the right gear
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Rollys Royce Wraith Interior Roof, with starry sky.
“Rolls Royce Wraith outside Pennyhill Park Hotel
With a Rolls you know that you are in the finest product ever built, a rolling work of art designed and built by artisans with incredible technological and material resources. It’s one thing to stare at a painting, but a Rolls is the culmination of more than a century’s knowledge and craftsmanship which you can actually climb into. There is something beguiling, comforting and rewarding to be The styling is classical luxury and could do inside such luxury, enveloped by excellence with being a touch more contiguous, it is from all sides, above and below. beautiful and timeless, but I would like to see more thematic harmony. Each panel The Rolls Royce Wraith is a car for those that appears to be the work of a slightly different want the ultimate in luxury that portrays designer, but I must confess to disquiet in serious professionalism. It eschews any overt my complaint as the interior still conveys the modernity or flash flourishes. It is essentially pinnacle of luxury and clearly evolved from a an admittedly agile luxury house on wheels that can hold its own with any sports long and illustrious history. supercars in a drag race. The Rolls Royce Wraith is a splendid luxury car fit for a gentleman or lady who wants to tour Though there is one little personal touch in the utmost style but likes to take the wheel that demonstrates the pride and affection themselves. It is both modern in style and the engineers at Goodwood have for their design but with an eye to the classic luxury work. The roof of the interior is beset with heritage that make this brand the generic stars on a dark background that is patterned on the night sky at Goodwood the day the term for luxury. backwards, known as suicide doors, these are much easier to get in and out of the seats and are a nod to comfort and luxury styling over safety. Though if another car hits the open door it will simply fall off rather than smashing you against the car as a normal car do would, so it seems both more aesthetic and safer.
first Wraith rolled off the production line. This stellar layout has been verified by the famous astronomer Sir Patrick Moore. You can even vary the brightness to suit your mood. The people who work at Rolls Royce do bear a lot of love for the cars they produce and these little touches show this amply. After a very enjoyable drive around the hills of Surrey we glided the roller into Pennyhill Park around 5 pm wafting past the England rugby practise ground and into the turning circle entrance. The doorman greeted us warmly and despite seeing supercars on a regular basis was enamoured of the Wraith. Our bags were whisked away and the girls at reception ushered us in swiftly and with charm. The reception is perfect, immediately on the left opposite the lounge to the right with a blazing fire warming the already welcoming room. We were shown to our suite, which overlooked the back gardens, complete with four poster bed and lovely modern English luxury decor. The ultra modern bathroom had a flatscreen TV at the end of the bath and was a pleasure to luxuriate
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in. The hotel has been recently decorated with great taste and style. Absolutely spot on, so many English hotels still cling to the 80’s chintz or Laura Ashley throwbacks. The earliest reference to Pennyhill Park is in the Tithe Land Registry of 1609 when it was apparently used as a beacon to warn of the arrival of the Spanish Armada. A civil engineer James Hodges built the first house there in 1849. It was then taken over by Louis Schott who added the Orangery which is where the Spa is today. During the Second World War the house apparently served as a rest house for British officers; a welcome respite from war, no doubt. The estate then passed through various hands until it was made into a hotel in 1972 by Peter Garbut and his son Michael and then purchased by the present owner, Exclusive Hotels. After unpacking we wandered around the grounds which are quite beautiful with the largest modern spa in the UK. They have a large outdoor pool and two outdoor jacuzzis. Our favourite jacuzzi is both inside and out and you can swim from the spa through the wall to the outside jacuzzi. The jacuzzis are warm enough to soak in whatever the weather, but the pool was a little chillier in comparison. After the spa we returned to our room to change for dinner, our beautiful bed had been turned down and perched atop the handmade luxury mattresses, guaranteed by the hotel to give you a blissful slumber (it did!), was a Guardsman teddy bear, with amongst other things, a menu for the onsite bakery. We ordered our baguettes, which would be baked freshly in the morning and ready for us on checkout - a lovely and delicious idea. We headed to the Ascot Bar, a large and comfortable area with great bar and views onto the Spa, for cocktails, and could have happily whiled away the evening there, if it wasn’t for the fact that we were very much looking forward to dining at the Latymer. Head chef is Michael Wignall, who has
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two Michelin stars, and The Latymer has 5 AA Rosettes, one of only 8 in the UK. The Pennyhill Park website boasts that this makes it one of the best restaurants in the Surrey area. After partaking of the ten course tasting menu, we feel this is understating the case a little, it is no doubt one of the finest in the UK and the world. Pennyhill Park is the official Team Hotel of the England Rugby team and they have their training base in the grounds, a fitting reward for the bumps and bruises the sport entails. Evenings in the bar after a big win are a hoot apparently.
Rolls Royce Wraith Engine & Details
Good food, good company, great service and fine decor, this is a great British luxury venue. Pennyhill Park is a mere half an hour from London so it should really be on everyone’s hitlist. In the immortal words of the Terminator “I’ll be back”. Rolls Royce Wraith www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com Pennyhill Park and The Latymer www.pennyhillpark.co.uk
Opposite Page Clockwise: Spa Inside Swimming Pool, Pennyhill Bakery and Wonderful Bread
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This Page - Pennyhill Park Exterior. Below - The Spa. Opposite - Two of the Luxury Bedrooms and one of the Unique Bathrooms
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THE LATYMER RESTAURANT Lord and Lady were staying at Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa and dining at The Latymer as part of the Rolls Royce Wraith British Luxury Tour. We were very much looking forward to dining at the Latymer as the chef is Michael Wignall, who has two Michelin stars, and The Latymer has 5 AA Rosettes, one of only 8 in the UK. The Pennyhill Park website boasts that this makes it one of the best restaurants in the Surrey area. After partaking of the ten course tasting menu, we feel this is understating the case a little, it is no doubt one of the finest in the UK and the world. After drinks in the bar we were ushered into the Latymer and immediately felt the atmosphere change, there was a hushed reverence, a complicit feeling amongst diners that we were the lucky few. The service is first class and together with the divine food makes for an extremely enjoyable evening. We both went for the ten course tasting menu and I also indulged in the wine pairing, an absolute must. The adventure commenced with the Yellowfin tuna, dashi jelly, pickled mushrooms, wakame, nori crisp, warm seaweed tea and soy emulsion. This is where we discovered exactly how Michael was going about this. The portion is perfectly chosen so that the ten courses are a pleasure and put no strain on the stomach or health. However the range of flavours in every dish seems to be infinite. Which ingredients should you combine in every forkful, as every combination appeared to be wonderful and new. You could dine on this menu every day and still find a new way of eating all the courses. I tried a little tuna with mushroom, then with wakame and nori
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crisp, then before I could vary this more it was finished. Alright I should have tried the nori with pickled mushrooms too. Darn, we’ll have to come back. Each mixture was fantastic and offered a completely different taste. Then came the Yorkshire hare best end and loin, puntarelle with cocoa nibs, turnip purée, Agen prune and puffed bulgar wheat. Again the agony of infinite choice. The hare was sublime perfection and cocoa nibs go well with everything! Next came the Carrot and Bresaola, Rosemary scented heritage carrots, homemade mutton bresaola, fresh cheese, smoked beetroot and white beetroot purée. Never has a woolly mammal been so beautifully fused with garden greens, each carrot was a miniature work of art and as with the proceeding courses presented in a modern artistic aesthetic that drew a gasp of appreciation from every diner. So onto the Halibut mingled with Scottish sea kale, potatoes in miso and wakame seaweed. It was like your mouth was diving into a stormy warm Celtic sea after a storm, hot brine washing over all of the five senses on the tongue. We started to try and pick a favourite but this was clearly far from over. The Cassoulet of Clams, palourde and razor clams, cockles, cuttlefish gnocchi and wafer with poached quail egg. That was it for me, my favourite, nothing could beat this surely, it took me straight back to summers spent in the Mediterranean, days in the sun and sea. This is the dish Poseidon would have supped of an evening’s carousing. From surf to turf, Lancashire suckling piglet,
Lord and Lady Review The Latymer At Pennyhill Park with Chef Michael Wignall.
honey and mustard, pak choi, Tomme de Savoie, salt baked swede and golden enoki. OK that was favourites out, we agreed that we could pick two top dishes, though we were beginning to realise the goalposts would certainly move again. The weave of sensations was magnificent, this culinary experience was fast becoming one of the best ever. Number 7 was a Saint Eadburgha organic cheese, honey from their hives, pickled pear, white beetroot and salted popcorn. Totally different from the others, despite the reuse of the beetroot which we decided to forgive, likening it to a painter reusing a colour for counterpoint. Play this game when you’re there, amalgamate the various ingredients and see how many tastes you can create. Finally we had made it to the deserts, despite the wines or perhaps because of the apt associations, my palate was in great form and ready for more. The parfait, chocolate caramel, soft milk skin, malt and candied walnuts was exquisite, a chocolate missile aimed straight at the tongue’s more vulnerable points. The Yorkshire rhubarb, caramelised white chocolate, nitro ginger and burnt butter crumble surprised us both with its wide range of savours, like a guitar chord that slides gently from the top fret to the bottom, singing every note along the way. The last dish arrived, a liquorice scented salsify, bulgur wheat puffed and creamed, liquorice meringue and polenta crumb. Fantastic, subtle essences vied for attention, a battle between grain, crunch and cream.
Interior of The Latymer. Above - Chef Michael Wignall
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This Page - Pennyhill Park at Night. Opposite Page - Chef ’s Table at The Latymer.
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An immaculate end to a splendid dining experience.
citrus overtones and a marvellous light texture.
The wines were also a discovery, many I would never have picked on their own but matched with the food they were divine and I was taught to be more experimental in my wine choices. A cornucopia of scents, a smattering of sweet and dry, multiple perfumes and a complete range of textures. The wines were like a blind nectar roller coaster, you never knew what to expect next but I was constantly surprised and delighted.
This was followed by the 2008 Ariyanas, Naturalmente Dulce, from Bodegas Bentomiz in Andalucia. Made from Muscat of Alexandria, a most ancient grape variety, this sweet honey wine flows over the palate with scents of melon and peach, perfect with desert. The last wine was a 2013 Suertes del Vidonia, combining lemon and nuts with a salty mineral tang that perked up the taste buds even after so many other wines.
My first wine was a 2013 Pouilly Fumé, Les Duchesses from the Loire Valley, a dry, smoky Sauvignon Blanc with hints of lime that is a perfect starter. Next came the 2012 Zarate Caino Tinto from Rias Baixas, Spain. This wine is floral, tart and lighter than you would expect. The third wine was a 2012 Riesling Edition ARN from Baron Knyphausen in Rheingau, worth drinking just for the wonderful name. This was a pleasant discovery with a wonderful mix of perfumes and flavours, Apple, Pear, Cinnamon with
The sommelier Ali Rasoul Nia is a charming fellow and the partnership between him and Michael Wignall is clearly producing fantastic results. It is a superb pairing of ambrosia and nectar. The food and drink of the gods. The wine list is available online and it is a very fine one indeed, they have some incredible bottles in their cellar for those with deeper pockets.
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This was one of the best dining experiences we have ever had worldwide and should be
on the list of must try places for any gourmet. We chatted with Michael the next day, he is charming and runs a chef’s table in the Latymer that we would highly recommend. He drives a Porsche, but don’t hold that against him as he clearly admired the Wraith and I think would like to trade up. His passion for his craft is evident and he is discernibly pushing the boundaries, creating new dishes that are uniquely his own. It’s worth watching his menu, as it changes and then booking a table to see what he has come up with next.
Rolls Royce Wraith www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com Pennyhill Park and The Latymer www.pennyhillpark.co.uk Wines www.laporte-Sancerre.com www.bodegas-zarate.com www.baron-Knyphausen.de www.bodegasbentomiz.com www.suertesdelmarques.com
Interior of the Latymer and a selection of the divine food on offer.
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The Captivating Caribbean Island of Antigua International eXcellence Magazine reviews Antigua in the Caribbean and comes back with a great tan, some fabulous memories and a new found love for this tropical island paradise. We flew Virgin Air first class to St Johns, I can recommend both First class and Club class as it really makes the journey part of the holiday rather than an Iron Man style endurance test. The service is wonderful. Though one does get the impression that the seats in economy on all airlines are deliberately designed to be so excruciatingly painful that anyone over the age of 24 has to upgrade if they wish to arrive at their destination with their vertebrae intact. It’s a 7 hour flight depending on winds so a pretty easy trip, meaning you arrive in good shape to commence the holiday with gusto. We were staying at The Verandah Resort which had been recommended by a friend in the travel business and she could not have chosen better. We boarded the bus at the airport for the bumpy ride to the hotel and upon arrival were greeted by a genuine Caribbean wooden pillared verandah with drinks and a small check in desk to the side. Now this is the first thing you see when you arrive at a hotel so it is vital to get it right. Some hotels plump for grandeur, some for efficiency and some for peaceful calm. This hit exactly the right note with authentic Caribbean style that focused on a relaxed informal serenity. Normally it can take around 3 days to lose the stress and strains of work and London life, but we were in the groove in minutes. I knew instantly that this was going to be a great trip.
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Check in was a relaxed and friendly affair and we were then escorted to our golf cart that hummed us gently to our cabin. The whole resort is made up of single floor double bungalows, no high rise, no blocks, just wood cabins dotted over the hillside, almost all overlooking the sea that snakes around the hotel. It is based on an isthmus that juts out with a myriad of coves so the sea is calm and very safe. The bungalows are separated by explosions of palm trees and flowers and little steps take to up to your own brightly coloured front door. Inside each there is a suite with a good sized bathroom, with large bath, living room and kitchen and a balcony suspended over the mangroves with sea and cloudless sky. After the usual unpacking we set off to explore the area and find the beaches. The paths in the hotel meander up and around the bungalows and the layout is superbly well executed. You are far enough away from everything to be private but close enough so you wander a couple of minutes and reach any amenity. The golf carts run all day and you can hop on any if you prefer to be whisked around in chauffeured style. The main pool and restaurant are on the top of the hill and the restaurant is so well hidden in the foliage that you only notice the entrance, another bravo for the designer whom we will get to later. Then just past the pool you come across the beach bar and restaurant with balcony overlooking the main beach, which is just delightful. The beach is the icing on the cake if you excuse the metaphor, it is perfectly laid out with loungers and because the hotel aims at a boutique feel without over overcrowding, you are never short of a perfect place to lie and relax.
International eXcellence Travel to Antigua for Vital R&R and Stunning Scenery.
There was 80% occupancy whist we were there and you would have assumed far less. You were never waiting for a wind surf board, or paddle board, or catamaran, or equipment, all of which are included free. It was quite simply the most relaxing beach I have stayed on in a long while, including 5 star hotels whose prices would have added at least a zero or two to the stay. The beach is called Fanny’s Cove (all place names should be euphemisms) and is a stone’s throw from the famous landmark Devil’s Bridge. Just walk around the mangrove to the point and you can stand on a thin bridge of rock out over the sea, with waves pounding the rocks around you. I would dearly love to live there and be able to direct people by saying, “yes it’s Fanny’s Cove, just by Devil’s Bridge”, but I am fond of juvenile humour. Now a disclaimer, the water can get a little brown from the seaweed, but do not let this put you off, it is merely a little discolouration that lies close to the shore, swim out a little and it is clear as the most pucker diamond. Fish abound here as it is a protected cove and you can see Parrot fish, Barracuda, Clown fish, Snappers and too many more to list. There are also a plethora of Heron and Pelicans that swirl and dive below the water for your entertainment. It beats any nature documentary hands down, glorious 3D technicolour, enriched reality right before your eyes, mere feet away. Ahhh, so that’s what the world was like before we took over! The beach faces the sea and another isthmus that juts out to the left. So there is another deserted beach across the bay that is an easy mile swim. I highly recommend this as your early morning wake up before or after
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breakfast. The waves are small as they break on the reef at the entrance to the cove and the beach opposite is part of an abandoned hotel with decaying grand piano, boats and dinky wooden bridge. Private of course, but beautiful to admire and as a swim destination. It’s like your own private island. Richard Branson had the smarts to buy his early, but one can enjoy that feeling here for much less. The reef also means that it is very safe to take out a catamaran, canoe or paddle board over a large are without the usual danger of getting swept out as you are in a land swaddled cove. The wind surfing is fantastic here and I achieved the “lean all the way back to the surface and skim the water with your back� as the gusts are strong enough, but manageable. There are even round bright orange trampoline rings in the water for relaxing, as we can attest, having spent a large amount of time there, adorned with a crushed ice mango drink. There are three restaurants and you can pick
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and choose, but all are good, with some of the best food we have had in the Caribbean however it was in the service that this place really excelled. The staff were all friendly and went out of their way to make everyone comfortable and ensure they had a good time. We got to know the restaurant staff on our first evening and from then on they greeted us with huge smiles, chatting and joking, though that may have been partly down to one of our party, who is a bit of a charmer and they clearly took to him. They were attentive and helpful at all times and it really made our time there very enjoyable. The bar by the pool is also a delight. You can choose from a variety of drinks and they stock all the best brands, the wine list is very good and even the house wine was perfectly acceptable, which for the Caribbean is exceptional. They have discreet entertainment, such as a singer or dancing without being intrusive or tacky and the atmosphere in the evening was delightful. Not to mention the Prosecco on tap, which made the nights fly by with dancing and
lively conversations. There is another beach at the start of the inlet, called the Rasta Beach, very similar to the main one, but smaller and even more restful, for those that do not want any sound to disturb their professional relaxing. One night they held a wedding for an American couple and it looked like a film set. It was dazzling, the entire beach was decorated with orange lanterns strung between palm trees and gleaming white Marquees. The yacht by the wooden pier was decorated in lights and the sea glowed with reflected orange, green and yellow lights, framed by the shimmering Mangroves. It would be worth getting divorced for, just so you could get remarried there. Now this hotel is only a 4 star but excellence is more than just ticking all the boxes or a high price tag. This place may not be a super efficient 5 star hotel, but this is the Caribbean and there is a reason it has won so many awards based on customer reviews. It has real peace and tranquility, not to mention genuinely friendly, helpful staff and presents a more authentic
Opposite Page: Devil’s Bridge. Above: Rasta Cove Verandah Resort.
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Copper and Lumber Store at English Harbour Below: A typical Caribbean Scene Opposite: Morris Bay Sunset
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Caribbean experience. It harks back to the 70’s when things were perhaps a little more rough and ready, but all the more exciting and fun because of it. The chap who manages the hotel actually built it. When the company commissioned an architect to design the plans they were presented with high rise apartments that made efficient use of the space for maximum profit. This was thrown out and the manager designed the build as it went along. Normally a recipe for disaster, it meant that the entire resort was built as he would have wished a Caribbean holiday to be, bungalows, private space, Caribbean style, but with communal areas for socialising and dining. French American, he has lived in Antigua for 18 years and handpicks the staff from the families he knows well and still manages it now with a very friendly hands on approach. The hotel excels at creating a sublimely relaxed atmosphere, this is an art and it takes vision and care rather than money. At 85 percent occupancy you do not notice any other residents. This place exudes a calm and peace that you would normally only find in
very expensive boutique hotels, but without any of the formality. It wins our award for best value, relaxed resort in Antigua. We rented a 4x4 convertible jeep and toured the rest of the island, heading for the famous English Harbour first for lunch at The Copper and Lumber Store who do a fantastic lobster salad. English Harbour is the old port that used to serve as the main harbour for England’s fleets from the 1700’s onwards. It is a natural port with a strong strip of land that protects it from the rougher weather whilst the water is deep enough to accommodate quite large sailing vessels. This was the proverbial port in a storm that served for many years until the trade dried up and it became more of a memory of English colonial sailing power. It is the only surviving Georgian dockyard in the world and you really feel like you are walking through a period film set with the added bonus of restaurants and bars. The greatest view is without doubt from Shirley Heights where you can see the entire bay and harbour from the nearby peak. Named after Sir Thomas Shirley, the governor of the Leeward Islands in 1781, the military
complex is rich in history and the lookout is now the place to be on a Sunday afternoon for a local jump up. Antigua is a wonderfully verdant island and we enjoyed a wonderful drive through the lush rainforests on the south-west coast, passing the island’s zip line and rope challenge course, run by the Antigua Rainforest Company. A couple of beaches that really should be visited are Half Moon Bay and Morris Bay. Half Moon Bay is where they shot large chunks of The Pirates of The Caribbean with Johnny Depp and boasts a fabulous abandoned hotel that used to be one of the best on the Island. It was destroyed by a storm around 20 years ago and the owner and the government have been in dispute over the compensation claims since. Morris Bay should be visited around sunset as the light is fantastic as it turns from yellow to orange, pink and red, casting shadows over the giant palms lined along the promenade. www.verandahresortandspa.com/ www.jollyharbourantigua.com/ www.antiguarainforest.com/
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Love Shopping, Love Luxury, Love Quality, Love Jewellery
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EAST HAMBURG HOTEL The East Hamburg Hotel is without doubt the most achingly trendy modern hotel in Hamburg, which has no shortage of trend spots. The whole hotel is so hip and boutique it practically defines these generic terms. The hotel knows its audience well and caters directly for them. It is the perfect hotel to stay in if you are going out in Hamburg for a good time, see the clubs or like to have fun whilst doing business. It is centrally located close to the best restaurants and bars but keeps enough distance so you are not disturbed of an evening. It’s a gentle five minute stroll down to the Reeperbahn, which is now the busiest evening destination for going out.
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The outside of the hotel is flat and stark, but the entrance takes you through the uber modern trendy plush bar past the large two floored club and restaurant with giant chandeliers and grandiose sculptural features. It’s not necessarily aimed at a young or hip crowd, but it does not hurt to be either. This hotel even has its own social app where you can post selfies, images of interest and updates that other guests can follow. You can also use this to meet up with other guests and mingle or plan your evening forays into Hamburg. I’m amazed that every hotel has not instantly copied this already. It will happen very swiftly. It’s a brilliant way of socialising the guests and I’m sure its used as a local dating app too.
IX Magazine Parties at this Uber Trendy Hotel Nightspot.
My room was swinging 60’s Bauhaus, no frills but thoughtfully designed. Uncluttered with colourful touches, with open plan bedroom and kitchen. It felt a bit like living in a 60’s science fiction idea of today, so whilst modern it feels somewhat anachronistic. I guess you would call is playful designer boutique modern! The bar and club downstairs are packed in the evening and populated by business and pleasure seekers keen to absorb the stylish party atmosphere. This is something that Hamburg does extremely well and this hotel clearly excels in this area. The lounge conjures up deep reds, coloured lights, flowing stairs and gothic pillars in a vast high ceilinged room and cranks up the excitement with loud
music, pretty waitresses and a dazzling array bordellos in the world, take a wander down of cocktails. Herbert Strasse with its ladies, a street that is locked off from woman, only men allowed, This is essentially the best place to stay and protected at both ends by panels with only experience Hamburg in party style, with the a small passage way for access. They do not seem to mind non participating tourists emphasis on fun and plush surroundings. ambling through so it’s worth a look for Nearby you have the famous Reeperbahn educational purposes! with all its restaurants , bars and clubs, not to mention the boarded off street for men There are lots of great restaurants nearby too, only. If you wish to see the most famous East Hotel also runs the Clouds Restaurant
which has a great view of the city at night, they even nick name it heaven. The cuisine is simple and healthy meat dishes with a French influence and many of the dishes are cooked at the table. The venue is bustling and lively and a great place to start the evening off. www.east-hamburg.de/?lang=en www.clouds-hamburg.de/?lang=en
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A TALE OF TWO LAKES
Sitting on a small but perfectly positioned balcony at the Regina Palace Hotel, one of the best appointed residences in the small but not insignificant Italian town of Stresa, and you could be forgiven for thinking you’d stepped back in time a good half century or so. Which is by no means a criticism. The address itself nods to Grand Hotel Budapest-era lodgings; all crystal chandeliers, elaborate antique foyer sofas, and an air of aged indulgence betraying a history which saw the first three Miss Italia contests held here, from 1946-1949, with Gina Lollobrigida amongst the early winners. Meanwhile, the view out onto the promenade buffering our garden from the stunning Lake Maggiore showcases wrought iron cafe tables filled with tourists escaping the scorching midday sun beneath traditional parasols, and, beyond those, motor boats and water taxismore retro than modern - meandering from one tiny jetty to another. With the entire area experiencing an initial boom in tourism and hotel building just after the turn of the 20th Century (the Regina Palace being one of the first to emerge from that period), this idea of being in a very different era is impossible to escape when taking in the architecture. Everything indicates a time when the very act of travelling in itself was tantamount to membership of the world’s most exclusive
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club. There’s no denying that, by comparison, there are more luxurious and opulent places to be in 2015, yet the charm and sense of long-established prestige make Stresa difficult to countenance. Away from the water, and the streets take a turn for the smaller, narrower, and more hopelessly Romantic. Wandering these illogically planned diagonal thoroughfares and perhaps there could be more variety on offer than the odd tobacconist, a handful of wine bars, a few trattorias and pizzerias. Nevertheless, anyone looking for photogenic northern Italy will still be spoilt for choice when trying to decide which scene makes for the best picture. We decide on a butcher preparing for another day selling serrano hams and local speciality cheeses. There could have been plenty more, though. Of course these inner lanes aren’t the priority for visitors. Stresa has both helped to establish Maggiore as one of the vacation hotspots in this part of the country, whilst relying on that same breathtaking expanse of water to put itself on the map. As the second largest Italian lake, Maggiore straddles two of the nation’s most beautiful regions, Piedmont and Lombardy - both renowned for their exquisite wines - and even finds its northern fringes outside the domestic borders in Switzerland, with the first peaks of the Alps in sight.
Martin Guttridge Journeys to Magestic Maggiore and Chic Como.
For the most part, though, the emphasis is on three small islands floating off the shoreline; Isola Bella, Isola Madre (home to exquisite palaces of art and external botanical gardens), and easily the most infectious of these, Isola dei Pescatori. Translated as ‘the fisherman’s island’, a working community still inhabit the microscopic strip of rock surrounded by the swell of waves created by passing boats, and once you make landfall the buzz of activity is immediately tangible. Groups of kids, teenagers and twentysomethings sit, feet in the water, idly watching the world go by. An old woman, dressed in traditional orthodox clothing, gazes out across the bay, as if reliving an eternity of todie-for-vistas, the likes of which only people lucky enough to live in such settings are privy to. Boatmen pull up to drop off their cargobe that passengers, seafood, wine or beerand away from the water’s edge you’ll find a concentration of good restaurants to pick from. We’ve been told, on some authority, that the best of these is the Belvedere, and a few minutes into our first course that advice is ringing true. A pescatarian’s delight of whitebait, salmon, fresh water trout and more, having taken very few hours to make the move from net to plate it defines fresh. Meanwhile, the atmosphere in this historic eatery is impossible to deny, with centuryold photographs hanging on the walls,
Lake Maggiore
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along with newspaper cuttings detailing how Charles de Gaulle stopped by whilst on honeymoon in the 1920s. Clearly, the French leader knew where to grab a good bite. One hour or so’s drive away, at Italy’s most famous lake, Como, the sense of slowing down the pace of life, and relishing in your surrounds is even more profound. Here we pay a visit to the majestic 18th Century summerhouse, Villa Carlotta, and learn the tragic story of its young namesake, who died aged just 23. Her room is still preserved as it may have been back then, adding impact to the tale. Elsewhere, Romanesque statues occupy entire rooms, and, stretching back from the building itself, acres of green space, complete bamboo garden and a creek nestled in thick woods, confirm the status and wealth of the commissioning family. Ultimately, though, like a Maggiore on goldleaf opium, Como is all about indulgent relaxation, and with far fewer buildings
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breaking the shoreline, and the majority of those that do coming in a traditional Italian aesthetic or chic contemporary styling. It’s not hard to see why this has become a firm favorite with the super-rich.
Houses of Parliament to shame), one of the most staggering aspects here is the fact many of the villas on show aren’t tourist attractions, but lived in residences. Even if that is only for a few months in the calendar.
An afternoon spent gorging on five coursesfrom beef fillet to baby octopus- at the Hotel Britannia, before allowing the food to settle at the address’ own lido, the only one floating on Como, confirm what the biggest selling points are - the ability to do nothing, and still be blown away by ambience and natural beauty.
Ultimately, then, it’s difficult not to fall in love whilst visiting either lake. And although it would help if you were here with someone to fall for, even the solitary traveller will feel an ache in their heart as they reminisce on time spent in and around these veritable jewels in Italy’s crown.
A boat ride around some of the harder to reach spots - many accessible only from the water - reveals myriad residences that can’t help but drop jaws. Whilst the palatial piles on Maggiore’s Isola Bella and Madre represent a point in history when money really could buy you anything (like a private island, and the kind of ornate detailing on a building that would put the
If there was ever a list of the most serene and breathtaking locations to float upon, then we have two contenders for the throne. Take that as a promotion, take it as a recommendation, either way take it as the truth; hence the reason we find ourselves returning, year-onyear, like so many foreign visitors, keen to get lost in a magnificent milieu, omnipresent in every direction.
Lake Como
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Love Shopping, Love Luxury, Love Vodka
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PANERAI BRITISH CLASSIC YACHT RACE July has come around again and the English summer has been terrific so far, one of the sunniest in a long time. It makes a change to see smiling sun kissed faces all over London rather than the usual pallid grey expressions we are used to. So with the sunshine in July comes one of my absolute favourite events on the British social calendar, the Panerai British Classic Week Yacht Race which takes place from the 18th – 25th July. It’s the most glamorous event in which to catch up with old friends and make lots of new ones. It is the passion of all those involved for the captivating sport of classic yacht racing that makes this such an unmissable experience. That and the seaside town of Cowes on the Isle of Wight which is the epitome of old England, straight out of Swallows and Amazons. Cowes has little winding cobbled lanes and dinky little boutique fashion shops purveying many sailor themed clothes and antiques. Panerai spare no expense to make this a truly luxurious regatta with plush lounge and bar. The whole arena and port are bedecked with hundreds of blue pennants for a lovely medieval, festive nautical atmosphere. The classic yachts of different classes, designs and age are resplendent bobbing gently in the harbour and it is a visual feast just wandering around taking them in as the sailors prepare their boats and plan their tactics. International eXcellence magazine has been attending for five years and now has quite a crew of disreputable but talented sailors and social butterflies to while away the time with
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between races. I confess to bias as usual as we tend to support the Cetewayo amongst the British boats then whoever the French are fielding for ancestral reasons. I joined the Gulvain last year and the crew were a great bunch to sail with and we made the most of the beautiful weather and good winds to enjoy this classic legendary race. Even if you don’t enjoy sailing it is wonderful to spend the day sipping Pimms and watch these fabulous yachts glide by, before retiring to the bar to plan the evenings festivities. The St George in Yarmouth is still my favourite place to stay as it requires a rollicking RIB ride to Cowes which is a vital part of the fun and has a late night bar that stays open till the last man standing, the restaurant also does great seafood. Yarmouth is a proper little English smugglers town full of history and atmosphere overlooked by the 16th century Yarmouth castle. Each year the race increases in excitement as more boats join and the seasoned crews develop rivalries based on who sailed best
IX Magazine Sumptuous Sailing on the Solent for the Panerai British Classic Week. and won and almost won last year. If this weather continues and it looks like it will Cowes will be the best place to be between the 18th - 25th July. See you there! Last years winners in 2014: Class 1 (Modern Classic Yachts), SOUFRIERE (Stephen O’Flaherty) Class 2 (Classic Yachts): FIREBRAND (Esben Poulsson & Ed Dubois) Class 3 (Classic Yachts) WHOOPER (Christine & Giovanni Belgrano) Class 4 (Classic Yachts): MIKADO (Michael Briggs) 8 Metre Class: SASKIA (Murdoch McKillop) Gaffers: THALIA (David Aisher) Metre Boats: SASKIA (Murdoch McKillop) For more information on the race, boats, classes and how to enter: www.britishclassicyachtclub.org/regatta/ Place to stay/dine: www.thegeorge.co.uk/
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Love Shopping, Love Luxury, Love Bags
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Interview With Luke McCormick CEO of Edge Retreats Luke McCormick is an Australian who has been living in London for many years and travelling all over the world as a luxury travel expert. IX Magazine caught up with him as he launches his new start up in the heart of London.
into the site and gradually readers began contacting me asking for details on how to book the properties I was reviewing. At that point I thought more seriously about how I could expand the collection and offer a really superior experience and so the idea for the company was born.
Where did you grow up? I grew up in northern NSW in Australia, close to some wonderful beach towns such as Yamba and Byron Bay, a few hours drive from the Gold Coast and Brisbane, where I went to university. How did you start in the luxury travel industry? I started out in the travel industry as a freelance writer, contributing to a few online publications such as Orange Travel and AOL Travel. After that I joined a well-established luxury tailor-made travel club, working as an online editor for the company’s website, where I was lucky enough to get involved with the promotion of some fantastic hotels and destinations. Another highlight was working for Secret Escapes, a flash-sales website specialising in luxury hotels and holidays. When and how did you start your company? My company actually started as a blog, where I was reviewing luxury and design hotels in my spare time. I really enjoy the process of finding exceptional properties and presenting them to an audience in a stylish way. Over time I started to incorporate villas
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How did you go about finding investment for your business and in what ways have they supported your growth? I think the investment found me actually! While I was going through the process of developing a business plan, I attended a lean start up workshop that was held at the British Library’s IP centre. From that, one of the organisers made an introduction to a VC firm, who then invited me in for a meeting. A few meetings later and they made an offer for investment. My investors have been instrumental in supporting the company’s growth. They have provided me with the office space (and time) to develop my idea, funds to hire staff, invest in marketing and development of a great website that customers will hopefully enjoy using (part of the investment involves access to a team of product, design, development, marketing and recruitment specialists) as well as their years of experience in working with growth stage companies. Who have been the most interesting clients and why? Discretion is a big part of the service we provide, but we have helped famous authors, successful business people and many others.
IX Magazine Explores Lush Luxury Travel Start Up, Edge Retreats.
We really get to know our clients (it’s very common for them to Whatsapp message me at all hours due to their international travel schedules), so it’s great to learn how we fit in with their lifestyles. Who is your dream company or brand to partner with that you really admire? I’m personally very interested in Swiss watches, so anything IWC, Audemars Piguet, Omega, Panerai would be great, but perhaps lifestyle brands, such as Globetrotter, Orlebar Brown, Soho House, Rapha or even Monocle Magazine, I really enjoy their edit on the latest trends in global affairs. What actions and qualities most contributed to your success? Action is probably the one that help the most in that I just got started and tried to create something that people would hopefully find value in. I’m ambitious and think big and creatively, so that’s helped create the vision. I try to be positive and have a sense of humour in everything I do and really focus on delivering quality work that I can be proud of, be it design, product, or service. I also try to motivate the people I work with to really stretch themselves and to do their best. What for you are the essential pillars of a true lasting luxury brand? An absolute focus on quality and exceptional experience. What are discerning clients really looking for
Song Saa Cambodia
Celadon Koh Samui Thailand
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La Longere d’Esterel France
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Cheval Blanc Maldives
“We aim to offer the ultimate luxury villa rental experience from start to finish.” in a luxury villa travel experience? Luxury is all about exclusivity and authenticity. The discerning traveller is looking for an exceptional location, blended with the local environment and offering enriching lifestyle experiences. They are looking for one-off experiences, an incredible level of service, access, and uniqueness. When you can combine privacy, luxury and relaxation you have the perfect recipe for a great holiday experience. What is your business USP? How did you get the inspiration to differentiate yourself from the competition in this space? Our product is a collection of the finest on and off market villas in the world that are curated by experts into a single platform, with live availability, seamless booking and unparalleled concierge service. We aim to offer the ultimate luxury villa rental experience from start to finish and offer a curated collection of exceptional properties that are vetted before we accept them. No company is taking a truly global view of the luxury villa market. I want clients – whether they are in Singapore or Sydney, Dubai or Dallas – to think of Edge Retreats as the best option available. What technological edge do you bring to this market? We have an experienced team of tech and product tech experts that are creating a best-
in-class web and mobile experience for our clients. That involves offering online booking and live availability and pricing for our villas to make it easier for clients to find and book and also for owners to work with us to offer their villas for rent. We have a host of other cutting-edge features in the pipeline that we will be releasing over the next 12 months. Who has been your most influential mentor/ company? Design Hotels has done a great job of carving out a niche in the design hotel space and were genuine leaders in defining that hotel category. I also respect the approach of Mr and Mrs Smith in the boutique hotel space. In the non-travel space I think Rapha has done a brilliant job of creating a fantastic brand that encompasses the whole cycling lifestyle – from clothing and kit, to the clubs, cafes and travel tours they organise. What changes have you seen that most affect the luxury travel tech space now and in the future? Booking trends are certainly changing and moving towards shorter lead times from booking to travel and customers now rightly expect to have good experiences, both online and on mobile. Transparency is key as is the need to provide a multi-channel approach to customer service.
Villefranche-sur-Mer on the Cote d’Azur and also the northern areas of the Costa Brava. I also always really enjoy spending time in Byron Bay as it’s close to home, has great restaurants and places to stay and is incredibly relaxed. What regions are you planning to expand into? We are in the process of expanding into the Caribbean and Middle East, while also increasing the number of properties we feature in the Asia-Pacific region. What are you working on now and what are your plans for the future? Right now we are working on launching a completely new version of the website and features that will help our clients throughout the entire holiday process, from initial research right through to booking and checkin and home again. We are also expanding the team and continuing the hunt for the best places to promote to our clients. To find out more about these stunning villas: www.edgeretreats.com
Your favourite city and why? I’m not sure I’ve found my favourite yet! Maybe that’s what keeps me searching for the best places to travel. Saying that I enjoy Anantara Royal Pavilion Villas Abu Dhabi
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TALKING TECHNOLOGY IX Magazine brings you the latest The proliferation of cheaper summer vehicles with a hint of engineering methods and virtual reality. reduced capital barriers to entry into the world of bespoke luxury The advances in electric motors, vehicles may create a new class batteries and engineering mean of independent vehicle makers, that we will start seeing a host new modern luxury craftsmen of new types of transport. The with access to the software rise of affordable 3D printing will and hardware required to build also mean that small companies unusual and unique land and can afford to get into this market water craft. and much like the car building boutiques that started in garages As 3D printing becomes cheaper, all over England in the 20’s we will more efficient and larger the see multiple small firms creating small manufacturer may be able and innovating in this sector. to enjoy the same economies of scale of the larger factory
producer without the overheads. Manufacturing may be coming back to the UK and Europe for limited edition luxury goods. Even now airplane companies are able to print replacements parts for a plane in the hangar, so no more delays in waiting for ordered replacements. The computing power now available in the home is far greater than NASA ever had in sending a man to the moon, so the next decade looks set to be fascinating for bespoke luxury craft.
QUADROFOIL Quadrofoil is a thrilling, yet quiet and eco-friendly watercraft. Its silent motor and zero emissions enable it to ride on lakes, rivers, seas & eco-zones where most motor boats and PWC’s are not allowed.
Flying a Quadrofoil couldn’t be simpler. The steering wheel has an integrated touch screen display, which keeps you informed about battery power, range, speed and consumption. It also functions as a detachable key, without which the engine can’t be started. Quadrofoil is powered by industry standard batteries with an integrated battery management system, a long lifetime and a range of up to 100 km on a single charge. quadrofoil.com
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KORMORAN Austrian company Kormoran GmbH jas developed a new class of boat that looks fabulous in a modern retro way! It has different modes, monohull, trimaran, catamaran and flight mode and runs at 44mph. kormoran.com
THE VOID VIRTUAL REALITY The Void are promising to create the illusion of really being there with new immersive technology. Their Rapture HMD (Head Mounted Display) is designed to provide guests with the most believable virtual reality experience possible. thevoid.com
JOHAMMER BIKE Futuristic electric cruiser with innovative energy technology. First series motorcycle with a range of 200km, developed and manufactured in Austria. johammer.com
HOVER BIKE Developed in the UK, the Hover Bike is the result of years worth of R&D. Combining the simplicity of a motorbike with the freedom of a helicopter to create the world’s first flying motorcycle. hover-bike.com
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NEW LOTUS EVORA 400 The new Lotus Evora 400 made its UK debut at the London MotorExpo and UK registrations for Lotus cars have increased by 109% in the first five months of 2015. The arrival of the Evora 400 will boost the upwards trend in the UK sales demand for Lotus, led currently by both Elise and Exige models, notably as registrations of new Lotus cars in the UK. The new Lotus, which boasts supercar performance, was joined by the Exige S Club Racer, with a Lotus Exige S Roadster. Jean-Marc Gales, Chief Executive Officer, Group Lotus plc, commented: “Our excellent UK registration figures reflect the worldwide growth for the company, with 333 sportscars sold globally in just April and May, our best two-months performance for that period since 2010.” From figures provided by the SMMT, a total of 153 Lotus cars were registered in the UK for the first five months of 2015, an increase of 80 registered units over the equivalent period in 2014 and a measure of the company‘s performance arising from its development plan. The Lotus Evora 400 combines high performance with the legendary Lotus benchmark handling and is lighter, more efficient and dynamically better than ever, providing a purer driving experience, greater agility and a more involving drive. In recent tests, a standard road specification prototype Evora 400, running on road tyres and with standard road suspension lapped the Lotus test track at Hethel six seconds
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International eXcellence Loves the Lithe Lotus Evora 400.
faster than the previous Evora S in a time of 1 minute 32 seconds.
seconds 0-62mph (0-100km/h) acceleration time and a top speed of 274 km/h (170 mph).
UK prices will start from £72,000. For this price the car benefits from a high level of standard specification including 370 mm composite two piece brake discs from AP Racing, a Limited Slip Differential, automatic air-conditioning and infotainment system including satellite navigation. In addition to this, the options list includes automatic transmission at £2,000, Alcantara, or Leather, trim upgrades at £2,500 and metallic paint at £900.
Available only as a coupe model, the car possesses 42 kg of aerodynamic downforce at 100 mph (160 km/h), thanks to the front splitter, rear wing and flat underside, all contributing to its impressive performance and handling balance.
A ‘Black Pack’ option, available at £1,250, provides a distinctive look, with selected exterior panels including the roof, sills and centre section of the three-element rear wing in gloss black and a dark headlining in the interior. Lightweight forged alloy wheels can be fitted for £2,000 and cruise control and yellow, or black, brake callipers are priced at £300 each. Maximum speed is 186 mph (300 km/h) and acceleration 0-60 mph is just 4.1 seconds (0100 km/h in 4.2 seconds). Over two thirds of the Lotus Evora 400 is new, including its supercharged and charge-cooled, midmounted 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 400 horsepower and 410 Nm of torque. A new aluminium chassis incorporates a new interior and the lightweight composite body has changed significantly both front and rear. The Exige S has a lightweight aluminium chassis-tub and aerodynamically enhanced composite bodywork. Its 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine delivers exciting performance, benchmark handling and a pure driving experience combined with a 4.0
At 1161 kg, it is lighter by 15 kg compared to the Exige S, because of its new lightweight battery, lightweight centre console in body colour, lighter doors and lightweight sports seats in leather or Alcantara with colour coded stitching. Traction slip thresholds (‘Drive‘, ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’ settings) allowing the driver enhanced vehicle control before intervention is required can be altered via a driver-selectable switch which is now fitted as standard. Both ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’ settings increase throttle responsiveness. The Exige S Club Racer is available in Metallic White, Exige Orange, Metallic Yellow and Matt Black. The front splitter, rear wing, front access panel, roof panel, wing mirrors and rear transom are in matt black. Club Racer decals inside on the dashboard and seats and outside above the side indicator identify this latest special addition to the Exige range. Lotus are finally upping their game to enter into the luxury market, whilst still firmly aimed at those who enjoy the pleasure of driving before anything else. Fuel Consumption (mpg* [l/100 km]): Urban - 19.5 (14.5); Extra Urban - 37.2 (7.6); Combined - 28.0 (10.1). CO2 emissions: 235 g/km
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KOENIGSEGG ONE:1 MEGACAR Koenigsegg has outperformed existing production car speed records during a practice session in the groundbreaking Koenigsegg One:1 Megacar, headlined by a 0-300-0 kmh time of just 17.95 seconds. Koenigsegg stunned the world in September 2011 when it set a Guinness World Record time of 21.19 seconds for the 0-300-0 kmh run in the Koenigsegg Agera R. The time achieved by the Koenigsegg One:1 cuts a full 3.24 seconds from what was already considered to be an unbeatable time. The record-beating run was one of a series of runs conducted in a practice session at the Koenigsegg test track in Ängelholm, Sweden. The session was conducted on Monday, June 8 2015, from 6pm to 10pm. The driver was Koenigsegg factory test driver, Robert Serwanski. This session follows recent track testing that revealed impressive performances and unofficial production car lap records at Suzuka Circuit and Spa-Francorchamps. Data was collected using the industry standard VBox data recorder. The stage data for the record beating run is as follows:
0-200-0 mph: 20.71 seconds It should be noted that this run was just one of many in the four hour session and that faster individual stages, e.g. 0-100 and 100-200, were recorded through the session. In fact, if we piece together all the fastest individual acceleration and deceleration stages from the day, the theoretical 0-300-0 kmh time would be a staggering 17.49 seconds.
9:53pm on June 8, 2015. Note, too, that the One:1 development car is actually around 50kg heavier than customer cars due to the roll cage and other weight savings that were made to customer cars in series production. The roll cage in the One:1 development car is there for safety reasons. The development car is pushed above and beyond what has been asked of any other production car in history and the driver has to be protected when he is asked to drive so far beyond what are perceived to be ‘normal’ limits. The roll cage is an option for the One:1 and Agera RS vehicles. Koenigsegg thinks that an even lower time is a distinct possibility with the One:1 and they will do their best to schedule another session in the near future. Conditions:
0-300 kmh: 11.922 seconds 300-0 kmh: 6.032 seconds 0-300-0 kmh: 17.95 seconds 0-200 mph: 14.328 seconds 200-0 mph: 6.384 seconds
International eXcellence Discovers Koenigsegg’s Sensational & Spectacular Speed Testing.
The Koenigsegg test track is a straight 1.5km runway surface with no gradient along the length of the track. The track was dry and the run shown in the video was conducted at
The One:1 was fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Cup tyres, which are the same tyres fitted to the car upon delivery to their customers. The air was very calm and virtually wind-free at the time of the run shown in the video. How 0-300-0 kmh works The 0-300-0 run is a test of the vehicle’s mechanical and technical capability. This test is purely designed to see how quickly the car can accelerate from 0 to 300 kmh and decelerate from 300kmh to 0. It is typically done using two discrete measurements – acceleration and deceleration – which may be from the same run, or they may be from different runs within the same session. For the time that has been published today, both the acceleration time and the deceleration time come from the same run. It is not unusual, however, to have them sourced from different runs within the same session, which would have resulted in an even lower number. As you watch the video, you will see that
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previously thought impossible when it comes to fully road legal and usable sportscars. On top of this, the One:1 is the first homologated production car in the world with one Megawatt of power, thereby making it the Robert accelerates past 300 kmh to 340 kmh world´s first series produced Megacar. and then applies the brakes. This is partly to exceed 200mph, the measurement of which These are the reasons for naming the car was a secondary goal in this session, and One:1. The One:1 truly raised the bar of also to ensure that full brake pressure (both performance. The One:1 featured new mechanical and aerodynamic) is in place by and unique solutions to enhance track the time the car has decelerated to 300 kmh. performance without compromising top speed or everyday usability, with a stunning The One:1 was introduced in 2014 and was visual appearance to go with it. built in 6 examples, plus one prototype Examples of features; unique track optimized during 2014 and 2015. aero winglets, extended venturi tunnels and This was one of the most exclusive production side splitters, Le-Mans inspired active wing car programs ever envisaged in the car configuration and optimized active under trim air management. Large air vents for industry. improved cooling, roof air scoop to support The hp to kg curb weight ratio is an the 1 Megawatt of power, 8250 RPM rev limit, astonishing 1:1. This is the “dream” equation, complemented with Custom made Michelin Robert does not simply go to 300kmh and then apply the brakes. That would be a test of the driver’s reaction times rather than a pure test of the vehicle.
Cup Tires, upgraded rear triplex suspension with carbon bevel springs and active shock absorbers and ride height, combined with upgraded revolutionary Koenigsegg Aircore carbon fiber wheels. Koenigsegg was the first extreme car manufacturer to take steps toward green technology with the release of the biofuel CCXR in 2007. The One:1, a sibling of the highly competitive Agera R, follows in the footsteps of the CCXR as it also runs on E85 biofuel, race fuel or normal gasoline. www.koenigsegg.com
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Summer is upon us - it’s time to spruce up our gardens, our wardrobes and ourselves! Love eXcellence is our beautiful luxury on-line shop. Wonderful gift ideas from the everyday to the extraordinary - marshmallows to space travel, heaven either way and both truly excellent! Fantastic furniture to enhance your home, radios, speakers, glassware, dining ware, barware, comfy cushions and a few kitchen essentials chocolate and champagne! Amazing fashion and accessories for
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you, fabulous frocks, divine denim, beautiful bags, gorgeous jewellery, sublime sunglasses and wonderful watches. Beauty products galore to tempt and tone you and marvellous make-up. There’s also plenty for the art, fishing, boating, cycling, motorbike enthusiast and fitness fanatic. As well as some unique experiences: helicopter rides, indoor skydiving, polo lessons and yacht charters. Something for everyone, whatever the budget and all truly eXcellent! Happy Shopping!
loveexcellence.co.uk Oxford Vaughan SpeedBird Mach 2 Sunglasses SB02 £1,750 The SpeedBird is an elegant evolution of the iconic aviator design – a true classic with ageless worldwide popularity. It is shaped distinctively with 21K white gold-plated aircraft grade titanium frames, black inlaid enamel temples, black zylonite tips and fitted with polarised platinum plated lenses.
Turquoise Snake Skin Handbag £125 Unusual two-tone turquoise snake handbag. Perfect with jeans. Sally Allen London
Lambretta Franco Mesh Rose Gold Watch £114 A modern fashionable unisex watch. The 44 mm sleek case has a sandblasted matt finish that complements the shimmering semi-metallic dial. The nuance of the dial is perfectly matched to the retro inspired mesh bracelet to create a distinguished personalized accessory.
Emilia Coral Pinucci Shoes £125 Moroccan Natural Organic Argan Body Oil - 100ml £24
Designed in Marylebone and crafted in Spain, these slip on mid heel pumps are both elegant and comfortable. With a super wearable 80mm heel, these Emilia pumps are versatile enough to be worn with smart tailoring or can be styled more casually with a basic top and skinny jeans.
Replenish and moisturise thirsty skin with this wonderful medley of Organic Argan Oil and Organic Sesame Oil. Rich in vitamin E this body oil is wonderful to replenish dry skin.
852London Lily Necklace £125 The cluster of cubic sage crystals, neutral pearls indicolite rounded beads and solid black teardrop rhinestones suspended from a pale gold tone brass chain, creates a look that is both fiery and glamorous. A strong statement piece.
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loveexcellence.co.uk Breton Raglan Children’s Jumper £66 A classic and stylish piece of hand made knitwear for children in beautifully knitted British farmed wool Merino and Alpaca yarn. Available in 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6 years.
Barefoot Slinks - Seductive Blues £34.99 Not in the mood for wearing sandals but still want your feet to sparkle? Our handmade foot jewellery, Barefoot Slinks, is designed to be worn comfortably around the beach or poolside, or anywhere you fancy! A delight of labradorite, faceted crystals, hand painted wooden beads, fresh water pearls and czech glass.
Blend Collective 3 Piece Variety Gift Pack £45.50 A new and exciting, truly natural bodycare range, using unique, pure essential oil blends. Enlivening Lip Balm 10ml Balancing Body Moisturiser 200ml Unwinding Soap Bar 200g
Rengo Grey Leather Biker Jacket £420 Hematite and Silver Cufflinks £65
Grey leather biker jacket from Muubaa, with double roller buckled sides, grid quilted shoulder detail and zipped cuffs, highlighted in antique silver.
Sterling silver (925) cufflinks with oval hematite cabochon stone in a elevated rubover setting. The cufflinks measures 13mm x 18mm. Hallmarked Augustine Jewels. Handmade in England.
Silver Leaf Cuff £110 Beautiful recycled silver cuff with embossed leaves. April Doubleday only uses ethical and Fairtrade gold in her jewellery. 64
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The Velocious Conqueror Electric Bike £1,750 Fitted with a dual suspension system to tackle the most rugged terrains, the Conqueror is remarkably light for its class. The powerful motor and efficient Li-Ion battery will help you go further and faster, saving your energy and focus for when it counts.
The Katie £190
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Bodycon tri colour dip dye printed dress on textured lace. Soft white sculpting slip. Perfect for day to evening and occasion dressing. Body Frock dresses are engineered to enhance your finest features. With their special control lining, the dresses are designed to deliver confidence every time. Lord & Berry Skin Lip Gloss £10.50 A skin lip gloss that glides on for a beautifully sheer colour and luminous shine, delivering lip-quenching protection (from Vitamin E).
Red Elephant Cotton Beach Bag £23 Made from thick cotton this beach bag is fully lined with a grey / white dotty cotton, complementing the Red Elephant print on the outside. Perfect for a day at the beach, at the shops or for carrying swim / sports kit. The bag has handles made from cream cotton webbing.
Blossom Swimsuit £34 Beach Dragons swimsuit in pretty Blossom flower print with two tie-bows on the straps in front. Low cut back with wide frill and cross straps. UPF 50+ blocks out 98% of the sun’s UVA and UVB radiation. Available in 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8 years.
GDG Electronic Chrome Silver Lip Watch £130 This chrome-plated version with silver dial will complement all styles and works for both men and women. It is the retro classic side which will catch the attention of your friends.
Silver and Sapphire Ring £155 Sterling silver (925) ring with a single Cotswold flower. The sapphire is approximately 0.10ct. The flower weighs approximately 3.7g. Hallmarked Augustine Jewels. Made in England
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Anna Byers Geo Wings Trilliant Amethyst Stud Earrings £70 These chunky studs are a very comfortable, wearable pair of classic earrings for everyday, to give yourlook a bit of colour and sparkle.
Bourne Marino Pinucci Shoes £155 Heritage inspired and made of the softest Spanish leather, these Pinucci Monk shoes have a single buckle strap and a handmade Goodyear welted leather sole. Slip into our signature red, softly cushioned insoles which we have designed to give you amazingly soft underfoot flexibility.
Grapefruit, Lemon and Cedarwood Body Butter £15.99
The satchel has an outer pocket closed with buckles and a big main pocket. The main area is large enough to put in your iPad, tablet, books and lunch box. The leather on this satchel is not dyed through, when you open it there is a nice soft cream colour inside.
The SteakStones Sizzling Steak Set £74.95
Bunny Taggy Baby Comforter £15
The perfect way to enjoy the benefits of Hot Stone Cooking. The dry heat of the lava stone sears in the natural moisture and flavours of your chosen cut and with no oils or fats required. Fresh, fun and healthy!
Beautifully soft and crinkly taggy comforter for your baby, comes in blue, pink and white. Made from plush suedette fabric and cuddlesoft fur fabric, baby’s will love the loud crinkly noise this makes when held and scrunched.
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The Richmond circular rattan daybed in brown is ideal for relaxing in the sun or entertaining friends and family. The seating is in four separate parts which can be placed together for sun bathing or separated for plenty of seating and a coffee table when entertaining. The canopy acts as a sun shade and wind breaker.
Cherry Leather Satchel £155
A truly sumptuous organic body butter which moisturises and soothes. Zingy grapefruit, lemon and cedarwood is an invigorating fragrance, combining the toning properties of lemon essential oil with the underlying woody scent of cedarwood.
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Richmond Circular Rattan Day Bed £1,199
China Blue Lounge Pants £99
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Made from beautiful Liberty prints with interesting details, our mid-rise pyjama bottoms are practical and comfortable. Wear them in bed, around the house, down to the beach or even around town.
Children’s Art Double Frame £20 A great way to display children’s artwork. They hang portrait or landscape and will display 3D pictures too. The frames allow easy rotation of the art and, being less expensive than conventional framing is a great way to encourage creativity in the children. Double Raspberry Cloud Nine Marshmallows £6.95 A rich, fruity burst of flavour, made with all-natural raspberries. Edible jewels perfect for picnics, camping, gifts, dinner parties or as a luxurious treat for yourself. Sports DAB 5 Pocket Roberts Radio £48.95 Matilda Patent Plum Vegan Boots £180 BoBo’s edgy take on the much loved Chelsea boot with our beautiful lotus flower punch detail in superb patent plum. An effortless pull on design makes this pair perfect for round the clock wear. No animal products are used in our production and we use the finest quality Italian faux leathers and eco-friendly natural materials.
This perfectly sized portable gadget from Roberts Radio, provides access to all DAB/DAB+/ FM radio stations available in your area. It has FM RDS station name display in a large blue backlit screen and automatic time set all packed up in a sleek, lightweight, compact and easy to use radio.
FOM London Ultra Hydrating Set for Skin & Hair £70 This four piece Ultimate Holiday Beauty Pick Me Up is a luxury collection of hair, hand, body and face products. Beautifully presented in a green satin bag with a flower, this home pampering gift set will leave your hair shiny, your skin soft and glowing with radiance.
Green Herringbone Flat Cap for Kids £45 Inspired by royalty, this flat cap reflects the finer things in life… exactly what your little one deserves. Sporting a colourpalette that includes British racing green, and with London print lining, this stylish head warmer revs up the style and keeps your bundle of joy as snug as a rug. internationalexcellence.co.uk
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INTERVIEW WITH ALEXANDRA ROBSON International eXcellence interviews Alexandra Robson, the designer and managing director of Augustine Jewels. - Where did you study and what is your background? I studied fashion and jewellery design at Esmod School of Fashion in Paris before going to Cambridge University for undergraduate and Stanford University for graduate school. Later I studied diamond grading and gemology at the Gemological Institute of America - How did you get your business started? I started by designing bespoke pieces for friends. - How did you finance your business in the beginning?
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I was luckily able to self finance my business in the beginning.
Collection is inspired by the pink and red flowers of Mexico
- What were the biggest challenges?
- What made you choose your particular medium and why?
The biggest challenge is always making sure that the the quality of production is up to scratch. Everything that we produce is Handmade in England so that we can keep a close eye on making sure that every piece is made to the finest most exquisite quality. We have 3 men that produce for us - for all of them making jewellery is a passion that has been passed from generation to generation. If we produced abroad it would be harder to keep an eye on quality on individual pieces. - Who or what most influences your work? Each collection is inspired by a luxury destination - so the cufflinks for example were inspired by the Swiss Alps, our bridal collection is inspired by Venice, our Spring
I won a jewellery prize when I studied at Esmod and always loved the idea of starting a jewellery business. It was only in mid life that I felt that I had the business experience (having been a Partner at Accenture in Consumer Goods and Retail) as well as the design confidence to start the business. - Take us through the creation of one of your designs? We usually travel to a luxury destination to take us away from our normal stimuli. Being in a different location, the creative side is stimulated by new sights, colours and smells and you start to see things differently. We then design some ideas and draw those ideas
out by hand using pencil and gouache. When we get back to the studio, the team discuss what would be the most effective pieces to sell. For a bespoke piece, the design often starts with the actual gemstone. It is the stone that inspires the design. - What else outside the jewellery world influences you in your work? Movements in art, architecture, music and design all influence our work. I also love history and so sometimes when we are starting a new collection I will look at the history of that area. For example for the Mexican collections we looked at some of the geometric designs of the Mayan civilisation.
- What aspect of your work gives you the most enjoyment? Drawing a design and then seeing the beautiful finished product ! - What impact has technology had on your business? We sell on the internet and so we are very active on facebook, twitter, instagram and pintrest.
I love to walk in the countryside or by the river in London.. the more beautiful the views the better for the calming of the mind. - What are you working on now and what are your plans for the future? We are starting to work with an artist on a new mother and daughter collection for the Spring. - List some brands, people, works that you consider excellent?
- What one luxury can you not do without? Jewels ! - What actions do you take to keep a certain quality of life?
Coco Channel for designing in a way that changed the way that women lived. Karl Faberge for the attention to detail and craftsmanship that was exquisite.
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LAMBRETTA WATCHES
Lambretta Watches capture that feeling of freedom, fun and independence that riding a scooter makes you feel. When you wear Lambretta, you can be sure that you have a unique and stylish watch for every mood, occasion and time, communicating attitude and happiness! Birth of an Icon During World War II Ferdinando Innocenti ran a steel tubing factory in the Lambrate district of Milan in northern Italy, producing components for the Italian Air Force. After the war Innocenti needed to find a new product and was inspired by the scooters that the US army brought to Italy. Innocenti realised he could apply most of the parts that the factory was already producing to motor scooter production. He saw the scooters as a reliable and fun transportation for the masses, which was affordable for all and revolutionary in design. It was an idea of genius that improved the quality of life for many, both in Italy and throughout the world. To make the Lambretta even more appealing, he offered the scooter in six pastel colours, keeping him one step 70
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ahead of the other Italian motorcycles, and by the late 1940s the Lambretta was exported overseas. The scooter phenomenon was on its way to becoming a legend! Lambretta used famous actresses and models to market the scooters; Raffaella Carrà, Jayne Mansfield and Jean Shrimpton to name a few. The ads and calendars reflected the feeling of fun, glamor and fashion and gave the brand its Pin-up History, which lives on today with postcards and new calendrers being printed. The clamour for motor scooters went into decline with the advent of affordable cars, but a revival came in the ’swinging 60s’, when young people in London with a love for Italian fashion became enchanted with the scooter. Known as Mods they embraced the Lambretta as an icon for their way of life. One of the biggest bands of this era, The Who, had a huge influence on Mods culture. Their album Quadrophenia also became the name of a tribute Mods film in the late 70s, which featured the Lambretta heavily. Even today the name Lambretta is synonymous with the original Modmobile – the Scooter – and the distinctive Italian
influenced-style of that era. The scooter production in Italy continued until 1971 during this time Lambretta was also manufactured under license in France, Germany, Spain, India, Brazil, Colombia and Argentina, making it a worldwide brand. Lambretta Watches ensures the spirit of Lambretta lives on! Just as the Lambretta scooters revolutionized transport, Lambretta Watches aims to fashionize the world of watches
By drawing inspiration from the original scooter ideals and the era of that time, Lambretta Watches design contemporary and fashionable timepieces. Making design and quality affordable and accessible just like Mr Innocenti aimed for in 1947. Racing is a huge part of the Lambretta scooter heritage, the Italian Motor Valley runs from Milan to the coast of Rimini filled with racing tracks, historical manufacturing plants and museums. Highway Via Emilia and the
Valley is now a famous tourist destination. Lambretta Racing collections are inspired by the 1960’s sporty Lambretta Grand Prix models, used for leisure as well as racing. These collections feature retro racing watches with a perfect balance between rugged style, sporty nature and multifunction with an elegant trendy look! Modern fashion accessories with a retro twist, clearly inspired from the 60’s and the glorious days of the Italian Lambretta scooters.
Opposite: Iconic Scooters. Silver Cielo Mesh Watch. Lambretta Brunori Leather Target Watch. Clockwise - Cesare Watches, Cielo Watches, Lambretta Racing, Imola Watch.
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INTRODUCING MOROCCAN NATURAL BEAUTY Introducing Moroccan Natural, a wonderful brand of time tested, pure organic & natural beauty products, sourced globally with no preservatives or chemicals. We have focused on a few key (and some of the slightly more unusual) products in the range to give you a taste of what they offer (Starting with African specialities). Argan Oil is indigenous to Morocco, and known as the “Tree of Life” to the local Berber population; this fabulous oil has become more visible over the past five or so years as an add-on within the formulas of other beauty ranges.
The Moroccan Natural version is 100% organic, non-perfumed and rich in vitamin E. For those of you who haven’t tried it it’s great for the whole body, both skin and hair. For split ends, nourishment, breaking and adding gloss, sheen and lustre to hair and as an antioxidant and moisturiser, reducing wrinkles, fine lines and free radical damage for skin. Argan has seen spectacular results with psoriasis, eczema, acne & scarring. There are blends within the range mixing Argan with other organic oils for more specific uses and needs: hair, face and body treatments . Argan is derived from the Argan tree nut, so those with nut allergies need to be careful although it is very rare and unusual to be allergic to Argan (www.foodallergy.org). Another product indigenous to Morocco, is Rhassoul Clay, mined organically from the only vein in the world in the Atlas Mountains. This wonderful clay has been used for centuries, prized as a soap, skin conditioner, shampoo, face mask and body wash and for traditional Hammam treatments. Rhassoul is a key ingredient in many exclusive spa treatments worldwide. Rich in minerals, it has stood the test of , improving skin texture and elasticity, reducing dryness and flakiness at the same time as removing impurities and drenching the skin in minerals leaving it
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International eXcellence Browses the Benefits of Moroccan Natural’s Argan Oil Beauty Range.
refreshed and silky. It also is a great pre-shave, exfoliating and softening. Staying on the African continent, here is a completely versatile wonder product originating in West Africa and sourced locally, supporting local business, where it has been used for centuries. African Black Liquid Soap is natural source of Vitamins A, E and Iron, it works as a soap, shampoo, conditioner and a shaving lather , leaving skin smooth and purified. Its natural, mild exfoliating properties help keep the body fresh all day. Pearl Powder has been recorded for over 3000 years in skin treatments prized by royalty in Egypt and China. Cleopatra, the last Queen of Egypt and Wu Zetian, the only woman in Chinese history to ever attain the title of Empress, were famed for their use of Pearl Powder to maintain and achieve their youthful, beautiful skin.
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Highly-revered during ancient times, modern science has confirmed what the ancient medics proved to be true – that pearl powder stimulates new skin cells, increases collagen levels that help to firm and smooth the skin and improve the skin’s radiance. Containing calcium, protein and vitamins and a high source of amino acid, Pearl Powder will help speed healing, enhance elasticity and help maintain a perfect luminosity. Its antimicrobial properties are also known to remove blotches, acne, acne scarring, dry patches and rosacea and address sun damage.
Directions for a Pearl Mask
for 10 minutes and rinse with warm water.
Anti-ageing: Add a portion (spatula provided for measuring purposes) to yogurt or mix with cow’s milk or goat’s milk depending on your preference, then leave on the skin till the mixture dries. Also reduces large skin pores.
Directions for your own Luxury Home Spa
Nourish & Moisturising: Mix a portion of Pearl Powder to a beaten egg white, two drops of lemon juice and a quarter of a teaspoon of raw honey. Apply on face for 20 minutes and rinse with water. Dry, Dull Skin Revitaliser: Form a paste with Pearl Powder and Organic Argan Oil. Apply
For an indulgent, pampering experience, Cleanse the whole body with African Liquid Black Soap using the bamboo wash cloth (see below). Mix a sachet of clay with warm water until you reach a yoghurt like texture, apply all over and leave for up to about 20 minutes then rinse off. Massage the Argan Oil into the skin, relax and enjoy ! Our special offer kit should be good for two or three treatments. Containing 2 x 50g sachets of Rhassoul Clay, 10ml of African Liquid Black Soap, 10ml of 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil at a discounted price of £16.99 (RRP £18.99) and we will add a free Sustainable Bamboo Wash Cloth (RRP £4.50). Bamboo is the fastest growing grass in the world, without the need for pesticides or fertilisers, yielding up to 60 tonnes of fibre per hectare compared to 1-2 for cotton. Luxurious, silky and very soft – in comparison to cotton, bamboo would be cashmere. 100% biodegradable, this natural fibre is cut and then grows back naturally, unlike many other crops which remove the entire plant and then need to be ploughed and replanted releasing CO2 into the atmosphere, which is good for soil stability. This makes bamboo a versatile, eco-friendly crop and resource, adaptable to diverse climates. Great for all skin types including sensitive and skin allergies. Bamboo is more absorbent than cotton and has antibacterial properties, which also help to keep the wash cloth fresh, in contrast to synthetic alternatives.
For more information on the Moroccan Natural Range or if you would like to buy any of the products shown here, please go to the beauty section at : loveexcellence.co.uk
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STEINWAY PIANOS LAUNCH THE SPIRIO Have you ever paused and glanced at a Steinway Piano and thought you would really like to know how they make such a beautiful and impressive instrument?
lovely basement pool at the Marriott before meeting up with my compadres for breakfast and setting off for the Steinway and Sons factory.
Well I did just that and decided it was time that IX Magazine visited the home of Steinway & Sons and investigated what skills and craftmanship went into the fabrication of such legendary musical oeuvres d’art. So it was off to Heathrow Terminal 4 to catch a Lufthansa/Eurowings flight to Germany. After two hours sitting in a plane seat clearly originally designed as a toasted sandwich maker I landed in the celebrated party and cultural destination that is Hamburg. First stop was the Marriott Hotel to meet up with some old friends who were joining me and get suitably attired for dinner at Au Quai (presumably a word pun) Restaurant in the old port.
The Steinway Pianos company was originally founded in a Manhattan loft at 85 Varrick Street in 1853 by Heinrich Steinweg who later anglicised his name to Henry Steinway. Originally from Seesen in Germany where he built 482 pianos, like most startups Heinrich built his first works in his kitchen, before emigrating to America. He named the first Steinway “483” as it may have been the first built in America but he had made a few before and knew his trade. This piano was sold at the time for $500 dollars and now resides at the museum in Seesen. You can bet it’s worth a little more today.
The Au Quai Restaurant is in the quiet side of the port, with a great view of the water, opposite a building shaped like a cruise liner, which looks lovely in the evening with the office lights blazing as the sun goes down. The food is excellent, a mixture of French and Italian with a twist of Japanese, which would pretty much sum up my personal desert island preference. The evening was spent catching up, exchanging musical jokes with our hosts and learning about the latest developments at Steinway which I will reveal shortly. We then repaired back to the hotel bar for a quick night cap and an early night. The next morning I took full advantage of the
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The Steinway story whilst not without its mishaps is essentially a story of craftsmanship, skill, innovation and dedication over the last century and a half. From 1853 on Henry and his sons developed the piano, patenting over 127 inventions and forming the basis of one of the most recognised luxury brands in the world. They were the first American company to win the “Grand Medaille D’Honneur En Or” for excellence at the Paris Exhibition in 1867 and used the latest scientific and musical research to develop a musical following amongst royalty and the leading pianists of their time. Steinway even opened their first hall in 1866 which housed the New York Philharmonic until Carnegie Hall opened in 1891 and they
IX Magazine Takes a Tour of the Steinway Piano Factory on the Launch of their New Player Piano.
also created their own village with foundries, amenities and parks in Queens, which was very much the forward thinking trend of the time. As mentioned not everything went smoothly for the family as both brothers Henry and Charles died of illnesses and so the family sent for the last brother, Theodore Steinway, in Germany asking him to come and look after the business in New York. Though it was Henry’s son William that built the Steinway village in Astoria, Queens and there is still a Steinway Street commemorating the history. It was in 1880 that William and Theodore Steinway created the Hamburg factory, partly to have a base back in the old country and to avoid the hefty European import taxes as they were now exporting all over the world and had garnered the reputation as the leading piano maker in the world supplying the finest musical artists and wealthy collectors. The ethos of Steinway Pianos originated then and is continued today, linking the finest construction of pianos with the leading artist musicians that play them; from The New York Philharmonic to concert musicians and pops stars from all over the world. The list of famous Steinway artists is the same as the list of world famous musicians we all recognise as leaders in their field. The list is enormous, so here a few of the “Immortals”, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Franns Lizt, Cole Porter, Nina Simone, Richard Wagner, Igor Stravinsky, Hector Berlioz and Segei Prokofiev etc. The tradition continues with Steinway
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partnering with all the leading pianists, take a look at their site for more information on the Steinway Artists. Interestingly enough Henry Z Steinway, the great grandson of the founder, was president of the company until 1977 and only passed away in 2008. This really is a traditional luxury family brand and by American standards it must be one of their oldest. There are only two factories, the one in Hamburg and the other in New York so it was very exciting to take a personal tour at the German base and get a behind the scenes look at the crafting of these extraordinary works of art. The tour started with a wander around the factory buildings to peruse the wood sheds where some of the different woods are dried for two years before being ready to use in the manufacture of the pianos. The wood has to reach a humidity of 6-8% to be suitable and only half will be good enough, the other half is simply burnt. The Steinway soundboard, for example, is made of the highest grade close-grained, quarter-sawn Sitka spruce. The Steinway grand piano rim is hard rock maple. Other woods employed in the making of these fine pianos are Yellow Birch, Yellow Poplar, Mahogany, Black Walnut and Sugar Pine. They all look wonderful, thick or thinly cut with the different grains, drying in racks and smell divine, a mixture of forests aromas from all over the world. Interestingly enough the grain is always used in a particular direction to transport the sound through the wood. Another inside snippet of knowledge for the connoisseur, the New York Steinway’s are matt black and the keyboard edge is squared off whilst the Hamburg Steinway’s are the famous gloss black shine and the keyboard edge is rounded off! Another fascinating step in the process is the creation of the famous S bend shape of the surround or rim of the grand piano. This involves three men taking the grained laminated wood and using a wonderfully antiquated hand turned machine to convince the wood into the desired curve. The machine looks like a giant grand piano in steel ringed with massive heavy metal spikes and clamps. The craftsman play the wood around and successively bolt and clamp the laminate using large ceiling suspended bolt fasteners, gently bending the wood to the required form. It is a fascinating process to watch and
the whole frenetic activity resembles the caging and grooming of a large snorting metallic rhino. There are so many steps in the build of a Steinway, it takes a year to make one: the formation of the exterior, the crafting of the soundboard and plate, the strings, keys, legs and finally the tuning process. Each step requiring enormous skill and training. My favourite part was the final tuning where I met Wiebke Wunstorf otherwise known as the voice of Steinway. The voice is the last stage in the manufacture of the Steinway where the piano is tested, tuned and the sound perfected. It must pass her final strict criteria before it is allowed to leave the factory floor. Wiebke has the most soulful eyes and appears as the soul of the Steinway sound incarnate. This may be because she has been with Steinway for over 35 years, starting as their first female apprentice in the factory, working her way up to her present position. She employs a variety of tools to get the right sound. Amongst them are a small spike that she taps on the soft hammers of the piano to toughen or soften them. Too much and the hammer will be too soft, too little and the sound will not be dulcet enough. She can also polish the hammers for a cleaner sound. Wiebke explains that she is looking for power, brilliance, clarity and schon. When she is satisfied the sound is perfect she signs the underside of the front right block. You would have to take the piano apart to see it, but it is reassuring to know its there. She came to Steinway because she loved playing the piano as a little girl. Now her signature adorns the most celebrated instruments played by the most famous musicians in the world. The visit finished with a private concert by two young piano virtuoso’s, a brother and sister, and it was an absolute delight to hear them play the Steinway pianos that we had learnt so much about throughout the day. It is always a pleasure to watch the creation of any highly skilled product, but Steinway really is synonymous with perfect craftmanship. It must rank as one of the top generic terms for luxury and quality and the innovation that marked the beginning of the brand still continues today. Steinway recently launched the Spirio Player Piano at The Serpentine Gallery in London and I was there to watch, listen and learn.
The Spirio piano is a brand new way to listen to great classics played by Steinway artists, many long dead themselves. It is a fascinating and ingenious player piano that will play a music list that Steinway provide on an iPad tablet that is identical to the live performance of the artist. The Spirio player physically moves the hammers and pedals, playing the music of the greats as if they were there tickling the ivories for you. It is like watching a magic trick,as the keys spring up and down, whilst the pedals below sway gently to and fro all exactly as the Steinway artist did when they played the piece. It is spooky and endlessly enthralling, as the invisible man plays the piano. I watched as George Gershwin played live for me on screen in grainy black and white film whilst the piano in front of me projected the exact sound of the keys, down to the pressure he exerted on them and the precise play of the pedals. The Serpentine Gallery reverberated to the tunes of George Gershwin that evening. The British pianist Simon Mulligan also treated us to two pieces which were then faithfully reproduced by the Spirio as he stood by and watched, feet tapping. The piano was built in partnership with Wayne Stahnke and is designed using a modular system so the piano itself can be easily updated. It is a full Steinway piano with this player ability, ideal for those of us who would love to own a Steinway but missed out on the 10,000 hours of practice required to properly play one. You could always sit at the piano and pretend to play if you really need to impress! I will leave you with some words of a Steinway artist who knows a lot more about these things than I do. “I have long admired Steinway pianos for their qualities of tone, clarity, pitch consistency, touch responsiveness, and superior craftsmanship.” Billy Joel To buy one of these amazing pianos or simply read up on the history and artists: www.steinway.com www.steinwayspirio.com
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MASTERPIECE LONDON 2015 ‘Masterpiece’ is a very apt title for arguably the most impressive exhibition from the 25th of June to the 1st July in the Royal Hospital Gardens. The event now has its place firmly established in the ‘English Summer Season’ as it has assumed the status of the former Grosvenor Fair. The exhibition is a real eye-opener for those who visit for the first time; the temporary ‘tent’ both outside and inside has an extraordinary permanence in appearance, no expense has been spared. It all fits when you see the quality of the stands with dealers including quite a number from mainland Europe and some from the USA. Last year, I lost count of the 100+ carat diamonds but the eight carat pink diamond was rarer and more expensive,
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whilst the sale on the opening day saw a Cartier necklace at US$20m. set a bench mark. This year the stands are largely devoted to three main but broad themes; jewellery, mostly spectacular pieces, overall there were enough gems to gravel a driveway, but there are always some important smaller items from the 1970s during the decade great advances in design were made, led by Grima, Donald, Devlin and Packard. The furniture is largely for the grandest of houses and palaces in style, there was everything from the flamboyant gilt Rococo style through to Deco and beyond. Complementing the furniture were paintings
Tim Stevens Lavishly Admires the Art at London’s Luxurious Masterpiece Fair.
of so many famous artists including our own L.S. Lowry – one caught my eye last year but at £2m. and this year Richard Green is exhibiting no less than 14 L. S. Lowrys. As to works of art; Wartski will have their usual diverse selection of small Faberge pieces and interior design pieces, delightfully diverse in style, all demanding attention. A change of emphasis; Ventura is exhibiting a classic Riva and Maserati are showing a Quattroporte. Too many beautiful works of art all around to pick out a selection but the Scoresby Condliff skeleton clock on Ben Wright’s stand has to be on anyone’s list of highlights.
People watching will notch up a wide circle of familiar faces, last year I noted that I was walking alongside Rod Stewart with his wife as we headed towards the large Champagne Ruinart stand where they had a solitary exhibit; a piece which at a distance looked like a blonde wig large enough for a Hippo, but in a style not unlike Rod Stewart’s hair. Penny Lancaster maybe had similar ideas and headed straight for it.
No museum I have visited has such a range and diversity of style as Masterpiece, certainly the quality could not be matched. The people tending the stands were approachable despite their appreciation that I was not in the market for their treasures. 25 June - 1 July 2015 Preview 24 june www.masterpiecefair.com/
Opposite - The Masterpiece Fair. This page, clockwise - Nazy Vassegh, CEO of the Fair. Retro Necklace by Mauboussin. Maserati. Helmet by Henry Moore.
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SOHANA CHARITY FUND International eXcellence Magazine was privileged to be invited to attend the Silver Butterfly Dinner at the Royal Institute of British Architects to raise money for the Sohana Research Fund. Sohana is a lovely 12 year old girl who was born with Epidermolysis Bullosa otherwise known as EB. This condition means that even the slightest touch on your skin leaves you with severe burns and blisters. It is painful, debilitating and life threatening. The blisters occur everywhere that friction occurs, so the throat and joints are all affected. Sharmila, Sohana’s mother, spends every morning bursting Sohana’s blisters with a needle to make them more bearable. Not a great way to wake up a child, every single day. There is good news, recent research has opened up a possible cure or alleviation of symptoms for this disease. Professor John McGrath (Guys and St Thomas’s Hospital,
London) and colleagues are performing genetic research that is showing some quite extra ordinary results. Along with Professor Katsuto Tamai in Osaka they are developing techniques to identify which cells in the bone marrow are important for repairing wounds in skin and the signalling mechanism that directs help to wounded areas. Clinical trials are being performed along with bone marrow transplants and these are showing hope for sufferers as well as improving our genetic knowledge further for other conditions. The evening was superbly well organised with many of the top banks, successful business owners, fashion and media in attendance. After we had all eaten Professor John McGrath gave a speech which was by turns funny and poignant as he took us through the procedure and hopes for this ground breaking genetic research. Sharmila also spoke beautifully of her support and love for her daughter and we all watched,
IX Magazine was Privileged to Attend the Silver Butterf ly Dinner at RIBA All photography by Debbi Clark
with some trepidation, a video where Sohana explains a little of what life is like with EB and her hopes and dreams for the future. Sohana is cheerful, eloquent, brave and clever, but there is no avoiding the fact that this is a very painful and debilitating condition that affects her and 8000 others in the UK. This was followed by a long period of silence whilst we all considered just what EB would be like to live with, for ourselves, our children and most of all Sohana. The trials are expensive but there is a very good chance of reaching a cure. What is needed is money to continue financing the research as very little funding is forthcoming from the government, whilst this is a very unpleasant ailment it affects only a few people and therefore attracts little of the government purse.
Sohana and Kate Moss
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There was a silent auction with prizes donated by many companies and then a Christie’s auctioneer stepped up to coax a little more cash from the diners. He did not need to ask, the crowd were there to give, the
Mike Epstein MC
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Hugh Edmeades: Christie’s International Auctioneer
bids were exceeding the value of the items listed by ten times. It was exciting to see the total race towards the first £100,000 in a matter of half an hour. As the money metre climbed and slowed short of the 100K a chap stepped up to the microphone and pledged to double the sum on the condition it reached the full £100,000 in the next 7 minutes. This electrified all the tables including ours which put heads together to raise the bid on anything to reach that magic figure. An old friend of mine raised his bid to 10k for one of the prizes kindly donated by Bentley Motors and the deed was done. The dinner was attended by just over 100 people and raised over £500,000, which is an impressive feat. Every table there was doing the same thing and the metre now stood at £200K and continued to rise. Bravo to all and particularly the man who committed to doubling the sum at 100K, there’s a chap who knows how to motivate people and pull money out for a
good cause. There is a video which explains the cause and how important it is far better than I do, in Sharmila and Sohana’s own voices. Please watch it and contribute any little you can, because there is a real chance that this charming, funny and courageous girl could see a life free from pain. The patrons of this fund are Damian Lewis and Sean Bean who also started up the Tongue Twister challenge which was used to raise awareness of EB and you can see more about this on the site. Benedict Cumberbatch and Sienna Miller are particularly sweet attempting this verbal challenge.
For more information and to donate to the Sohana Research Fund: www.sohanaresearchfund.org/ See the tongue twister challenge here: w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / u s e r / SohanaResearchFund/videos RIBA: www.architecture.com/ Bentley Motors: www.bentleymotors.com Edge Retreats: www.edgeretreats.com Pinucci Shoes: www.pinucci.com
International eXcellence Magazine would like to thank Bentley Motors, Pinucci Shoes and Edge Retreats luxury villas for their kind and generous donations to the Sohana Research Fund raiser.
Professor John McGrath & Sharmila
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BRUICHLADDICH Bruichladdich (pronounced Brooik Laddie) is one of the finest single malt scotch whisky distilleries in the world and its master distiller is a legend in the whisky world. So I was delighted to be invited to a whisky sipping party for him at Quaglinos, where he was hosting a Bruichladdich tasting for a very select few. The Bruichladdich distillery is based on the Scottish island of Islay on the upper west coast of Scotland and is famous for both the breathtaking scenery and its Scotch whisky. They are also well known for the Botanist Gin they produce for Remy Cointreau. We started with a few warm up glasses of bubbly in in the upstairs bar of Quaglinos overlooking the restaurant, then repaired to the balcony private room for the much anticipated selection of fine Bruichladdich whisky. Jim McEwan the Bruidladdich master distiller stepped up and introduced himself, just in case anyone did not know him, and it was immediately clear after a few sentences that not only was he a master distiller but a master speaker as well. Jim McEwan could easily have taken on the greats of stand up comedy that night, he is as funny as Micheal Macintyre and Billy Connolly, with complete control of the audience. He combines great story telling with a sharp acerbic wit and great honesty. I could have listened to him all night. Throw in his evident passion for the sublime whisky that he created all those years ago and you have all the best ingredients of an unmissable and unforgettable evening. He regaled us with stories of starting as a sweeper at a distillery and admiring the Coopers who made the barrels. The coopers were the men he looked up to, strong talented 90
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craftsman who worked the natural wood with their bare hands. He swiftly graduated to their ranks and then confessed to the continual theft of the best whiskies through the judicious application of mayonnaise bottles to the bunghole. Apparently the neck of these bottles fit perfectly with no leakage (you did not want to waste a single drop) which accounted for the fact that Heinz sold more Mayo bottles on the island than anywhere else. Though the thirstiest pilferers apparently preferred a hot water bottle concealed down the trousers as that would last for a weeks home drinking. Much of this went on with the tacit approval of management but this ceased in the sixties when it became clear that too much of the profits were being slurped away. The towns’ livers and the ladies probably breathed a sigh of relief too. The Bruichladdich distillery was originally built in the 1881 by the Harvey Brothers and was at the time a very modern design aimed at producing a clean pure spirit. It lasted until
International eXcellence joins Jim McEwan at Quaglinos for a Very Special Tasting & Titillation. 1994 when it was shut down. Jim McEwan was poached from Bowmore Distillery where he’d worked since he was 15 and hired as master distiller. The new distillery still uses the original Harvey Victorian stills and equipment without any computers, all is controlled and crafted by hand. This is a true luxury brand, with all the skills and traditions passed on by word of mouth and years of training. Jim dreamed of restoring Bruichladdich to its former glory and set about trying to create the perfect local whisky. He remembers vividly the months spent attempting to distil something palatable only to be met with repeated failures. Luckily for whisky connoisseurs the day finally dawned when upon tasting the latest batch they realised that Jim had really hit the sweet spot. The
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sweet spot in a whisky is when it is just right. On tasting the normally voluble crew were apparently all dumbstruck as the realisation sank in that they had created something truly outstanding. The master distiller recounts this as if it were yesterday rather than 52 years ago, but memory works like that, vital moments don’t fade but resonate and glow brighter with time. The audience are by now alternately laughing and very keen to sample the various golden bottles temptingly displayed before us. If it’s half as good as the man, it will be superb. We finally raise our glasses in the first toast and it is everything promised. It is like the finest cognac ever made with the tastes of the highlands evaporating on the tongue. Take my word for it, Bruichladdich is the finest Scotch whisky which makes it the finest whisky in the world.
and craft are palpable and we were privileged to share in them for an evening. Bruichladdich whisky is akin to exporting the air, earth, fire and wind of Islay in a bottle. The taste is so evocative of the Scottish landscapes and the sea, the crops grown there and the people. I think there is tear in my eye, it must be the sentimental Irish in me empathising with my fellow Celts just across that little strip of the North Atlantic. We wish you the very best in the future and will drink Bruichladdich thinking of the Scottish highlands and the deeply humorous and passionate people that made it. I’ll leave the final word to Jim McEwan: “I love my country, I love my island and I love my job”. www.bruichladdich.com
Under Jim McEwan’s expert tutelage we raucously discuss the savours, origin, scents and perfumes of the different malts. The single malts are separated into three categories. The Bruichladdich whisky is unpeated, the Port Charlotte is heavily peated and the Octomore is known as the most heavily peated whisky in the world. The whisky is also distilled from local barley grown on the island, they even put the names of the farms on the different bottles so you know and can choose your favourite tipple by location, distillation process and savour. I recommend the Islay Rockside Farm 2007, which is soft subtle and aromatic, the Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2008, smooth and stimulating, and the superb Black Art 4 1990 whose distillation and ingredients Jim has kept a secret. It is tremendous, but you really need to try them all to find your perfect character match, peat or no, super peaty, salty, soft, fruity, citrus and sea lashed. Jim McEwan then reveals that he is handing over the reigns to a new master distiller after 52 years at the brewery he restored to glory. This is the swan song of one of the greatest whisky distillers of a generation and there is perhaps a tear in those eyes as he bids the business a fond farewell. It is a bitter sweet goodbye. His love of his native Isle, people 92
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