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december 20 7 volume

, number

F E AT U R E S

SPECIAL SECTION BEGINS ON PAGE 169

STEV

JOST PHOTOGRAPHY

Robb Report’s annual holiday extravaganza highlights 36 extraordinary items and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, from a flying car and a custom Phantom VIII to a yacht-equipped beach villa and a heli-golfing adventure through Scotland.

ON HIM: Burberry (burberry .com) velvet blazer; Brunello Cucinelli (brunellocucinelli .com) wool bow tie; Brioni (brioni.com) cotton dress shirt.

ON HER: Narciso Rodriguez (narcisorodriguez.com) paillette and tulle embroidered dress; Martin Katz (martinkatz.com) diamond earrings, ring, and bracelet.

F E AT U R E S

111

126

142

150

232

242

Stars of Southern Africa

Night Moves

Shaun White’s Way

Spirited Smokes

Drive

Plan for a wildly luxurious safari at these stellar new lodges in Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

New formal looks from Brunello Cucinelli, Kiton, Ralph Lauren, and others are perfectly fitted to the festive season.

The legendary snowboarder—who is going for Olympic gold again this winter—has emerged as an arbiter of city style.

The Rocky Road to Perfection

Light up one of our 24 top cigars for the season— and pair it with the whiskey or port that complements it best.

Can a 2-day training session help us tame Lamborghini’s new Huracán Performante?

BY BRUCE WALLIN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN

BY BRUCE WALLIN;

MORRISON; STYLING BY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

ALEX BADIA

ROBB RICE; STYLING

BY LEILA BABOI

PHOTOGRAPH BY IAN MORRISON

Readers gathered in Red Rock Canyon outside of Las Vegas to drive seven of the planet’s most substantial vehicles at our inaugural SUV of the Year competition.

BY BASEM WASEF

BY RICHARD CARLETON HACKER; PHOTOGRAPHY

BY JOSHUA SCOTT; STYLING BY CHLOE DALEY R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

37

®ROBERTOCOIN

POIS MOI COLLECTION | robertocoin.com

DEPARTMENTS

g N Hermès bag; see page 256.

N Jean Dubuffet oil on canvas; see page 102.

E Richard Mille watch; see page 86.

S X-Plane; see page 70.

S Alchemy Bicycle Company; see page 72.

99 48 52 54 58

ON THE WEB EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK QUANTUM VIEW PERFECT 10 The debuts and to-dos our editors are obsessing about this month, from a new ski resort in the French Alps to a prickly pair of Cartier cacti.

66

B E TA Our peek into the future uncovers an Aston Martin submersible, a NASA-derived supersonic jet, and more.

COVER ILLUSTRATION: NICOLAS MÉNARD

72

G E N I U S AT W O R K Custom carbon-fiber bikes don’t come any better than those from Colorado’s Alchemy Bicycle Company.

BY SCOTT ARMSTRONG

76

G A L L E RY The latest in fashion, autos, travel, dining, and more, including McLaren’s lightning-fast lightweight and a new road-bike-inspired timepiece from Richard Mille.

CURIOS Einstein’s telescope, an assemblage of old-master paintings, and other hot auction lots and sales in the month ahead.

251

TIME WELL SPENT Miami has completed its transformation to a capital of high culture without losing its cool.

BY JACKIE CARADONIO

256 T I M E

PIECE

The cat’s out of the bag: Why style mavens around the globe covet the Hermès Kelly.

BY JILL NEWMAN

R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

41

Brett Anderson EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, EDITOR IN CHIEF Bruce Wallin EXECUTIVE EDITOR Robb Rice CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jay Penske CHAIRMAN & CEO

George Grobar CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Gerry Byrne VICE CHAIRMAN

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Lori Bryan MANAGING EDITOR Jill Newman EDITOR, STYLE

Todd Greene EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, BUSINESS AFFAIRS & GENERAL COUNSEL

Danielle Cutler EDITOR, AVIATION & MARINE

Nelson Anderson

Janice O’Leary EDITOR, HEALTH & WELLNESS

VICE PRESIDENT, CREATIVE

Jackie Caradonio EDITOR, TRAVEL Jeremy Repanich EDITOR, CULINARY

Ken DelAlcazar SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE

Gabriel Koen

Arianne Nardo EDITOR, HOME & DESIGN

VICE PRESIDENT, TECHNOLOGY

Angela M. H. Schuster EDITOR, ART & AUCTIONS

Tarik West

James D. Malcolmson EDITOR, HOROLOGY Dave Johnson MANAGING EDITOR, DIGITAL NEWS Jeff Anderson DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR & COPY CHIEF Justin Mastine-Frost SENIOR EDITOR, WATCHES John Lyon SENIOR EDITOR, ELECTRONICS & GEAR Viju Mathew SENIOR EDITOR, AUTOMOTIVE Laura Milton ART DIRECTOR

VICE PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES

Lauren Gullion VICE PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES & CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS

Michael Ye DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC PLANNING & ACQUISITIONS

Young Ko VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE

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Carolyn Meers ASSOCIATE EDITOR, JEWELRY

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MARKETING & SUBSCRIPTIONS

Phoebe Neuman ASSISTANT EDITOR, TRAVEL & STYLE

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Diane Mooshoolzadeh COPY EDITOR Bekah Berge EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Robert Ross AUTOMOTIVE CONSULTANT Lauren Schumacher MULTIMEDIA & PHOTO CONSULTANT Jack Smith SENIOR CORRESPONDENT Paul Dean EDITOR EMERITUS CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Richard Carleton Hacker CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Scott Armstrong, Larry Bean, Jane Broughton, Jeff Buchanan, Tanvi Chheda, Jonathan Foyle, Adam H. Graham, Larry Olmsted, Shaun Tolson, Michael Verdon, Basem Wasef CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul Dimalanta, Ian Morrison, Joshua Scott

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AUDIENCE MARKETING ELLEN DEALY | VICE PRESIDENT, AUDIENCE MARKETING & SPECIAL PROJECTS

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ON THE WEB R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

Holiday Sparklers Whether it’s Champagne from a classic house, a pÊtillant naturel from the New World, or an effervescent Italian beauty, a bottle of bubbly is still our favorite way to toast the season. robbreport.com/ holidaysparklers

STORY OF THE MONTH

Northern Time As these watchmakers from Scandinavia and the British Isles attest, Switzerland is not the only European country producing exceptional timepieces. robbreport.com/ notswisswatches

READER SURVEY RESULTS

Which of these whiskies would you want to sip by the fire this winter? Our readers told us which dram would raise their spirits:

16% The Macallan 18 Years Old

37% Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old

15% Johnnie Walker Blue Label

32% 48

DECEMBER 2017

WhistlePig Boss Hog: The Black Prince

Instagram @robbreport

Facebook Facebook.com/robbreport This custom aircraft interior was flying high with our followers.

SOCIAL STANDING Popular posts @RobbReport

Twitter @robbreport

Our fans were starstruck by Jim Belushi’s $38.5 million villa in Los Angeles.

WEB EXCLUSIVES

WARM WINTER GETAWAYS FROM PRIVATE ISLANDS TO HIGH-STYLE SAFARI LODGES, ROBBREPORT.COM ROUNDS UP THE HOTTEST WAYS TO ESCAPE THE COLD.

Who wouldn’t “like” a 272-foot cruiseship-like superyacht from Heesen?

The High Five ST YLES OF THE SEASON

5 Fresh Tuxedos for the Holidays robbreport.com/holidaytux Why the Evening Slipper Will Be Your Party Shoe of Choice this Season robbreport.com/eveningslippers

High-Design Safari Lodges That Are Taking Africa by Storm robbreport.com/highdesignsafarilodges

6 Stylish Statement Jewels for the Holidays robbreport.com/6holidayjewels

RIGHT ): DR TRAVEL PHOTO AND VIDEO/SHUT TERSTOCK

YUDICA; THE MACALLAN: PACKSHOT FACTORY; INDIA (LOWER

CHAMPAGE: ATELIER DEMOULIN; JOHNNIE WALKER: CARLOS

5 Wearable Ruby Designs for Any Occasion robbreport.com/5wearablerubies Private-Island Resorts to Escape the Winter Blues robbreport.com/privateislandwinterblues

10 Stunning Villas for the Perfect Winter Getaway robbreport.com/wintervillas

10 Gorgeous Jewelry Gifts We Love robbreport.com/10jewelrygifts After the Storm: A Post-Hurricane Update on Our Favorite Caribbean Resorts robbreport.com/poststormresorts

Follow the Path of Powerful Titans with this Private-Jet Journey through India robbreport.com/indiaprivatejet R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

49

M A X C R U I S E S P E E D : 422 K TA S

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EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

Brett Anderson Executive Vice President, Editor in Chief

Life’s Little Gifts despite having been born in Blenheim Palace, his grandfather’s sprawling country seat, Winston Churchill never benefited from the inherited wealth that might be expected to accompany an aristocratic lineage. His father, Randolph Churchill—the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough—received little from his immediate family, whose income was largely subsumed by the burdensome upkeep of one of England’s largest residences. By the time he came of age, Winston was forced to live largely by his wits—in his case, not an inconsiderable resource. His life was a far greater gift to his country than any monetary endowment; still, his intellectual legacy is carried on in the form of Churchill College at the University of Cambridge, for which his friends in the United States established a scholarship in 1959.

Although Churchill might have disagreed, the

mind requires a healthy body to perform at its peak, and the recipient of one item in this year’s Ultimate Gift Guide (page 169) will discover an unprecedented path to well-being. As Janice O’Leary relates in “Becoming Benjamin Button” (page 228), entrepreneur Dave Asprey—who established Bulletproof Labs in Santa Monica, Calif., a pioneering center for the promotion of cellular health—has agreed to install a version of his center in the home of one health-conscious reader.

Asprey, who once weighed 300 pounds, maintains an ardent faith in his regimen, which consists of brief but efective routines he calls “bio-hacks.” On her visit to the facility, Janice tried a few of these hacks herself. The results were as much cognitive as corporeal. “I left with the energy of a 25-yearold,” Janice says. “In fact, I went right home and wrote a few stories for this issue!”

“It is more agreeable to have the power to give than to receive.”

—W I N STO N C H U R C H I L L

editors viju mathew and Robert Ross also ventured into the wild for this month’s issue—in their case, to the desert outside Las Vegas, Nev., for our first-ever SUV of the Year competition (page 150). Although this automotive category has been regularly represented in our annual Car of the Year event, SUVs have always sufered when compared to a selection of the newest supercars. This month, we give these so-called rock stars a stage of their own. “In younger years, I was drawn to outdoor pursuits, such as rock climbing and snowboarding, and so my dream machine was more Pathfinder than Pagani,” says Viju, who nevertheless had reservations about the winner. “Taking the Bentley Bentayga up a gravel wash seemed like wearing a tux while speed dating: It overshadows the competition but is hard to take seriously.” Robert, on the other hand, embraced the victor. “A mind-numbing drive from L.A. to Vegas made me a believer in the Bentayga,” he says. “A quick stopover at Alien Fresh Jerky for a pouch of their Road Kill Original had me imagining how much sweeter it might taste had it been flattened under those rarefied wheels.”

We’ll let readers (or their palates) decide.

52

DECEMBER 2017

WINSTON CHURCHILL: AP/REX /SHUT TERSTOCK; CHEETAHS: BRUCE WALLIN; CAR: PAUL DIMALANTA

few gifts enhance life more than those bestowed by nature. In “Stars of Southern Africa” (page 111), Bruce Wallin takes us on a trek through the pristine landscapes of the continent’s southern half. If the terrain is unspoiled, however, the guests are not. Along with the flora and fauna surrounding the Duba Plains Reserve in Botswana and andBeyond’s Matetsi River Lodge in Zimbabwe, Bruce details those destinations’ abundant amenities. Yet the most memorable moment of his journey occurred at King Lewanika Lodge in Zambia. “One morning,” he recalls, “we were on our way to visit a school in the local village when something caught our guide’s eye. A mother cheetah was slinking through the grass with her two cubs in tow. We, too, followed her lead and witnessed her track down a small antelope and hand it over to her cubs so they could finish the kill.

Though hard to watch, it was a fascinating education on life lessons in the wild.”

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* Adapted from the 2016 Philanthropy 400, so the figures are for 2015.

54

DECEMBER 2017

Most common reasons for supporting a charity

If the holidays have you feeling generous, you’re not alone. According to Claire Costello, a national philanthropic-practice executive at U.S. Trust, this is the time of year when people are most likely to donate to a charity or other nonprofit. “Year in and year out, the trend is so strong that we call the fourth quarter ‘the giving season,’ ” she says.

Biennially, U.S. Trust works with researchers at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy to produce the U.S. Trust Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy, a report that looks at the giving patterns and attitudes of U.S. households with a net worth of $1 million or more (excluding the value of their primary home) or an annual household income of $200,000 or more.

The recent findings come from a survey taken from a nationally representative random sample of 1,435 wealthy people with average income and wealth levels just over $330,000 and $16.8 million, respectively. The average amount each gave to charities in 2015 (the most recent year of data) was $25,509.

Previous surveys have included questions about the time of year people made donations. “More than half the respondents said they gave more in the fourth quarter than they did the rest of the year,” says Costello. People give more at year’s end for a variety of reasons, she explains. Some are just filled with good cheer during the holiday season and want to spread it to others.

Others—including those with an eye toward their tax returns—loosen the purse strings as the year winds down and they realize they’ll have a surplus in their household or business budget.

Regardless of what time of year you do it and why, if you give to a charity (or charities), you’re probably happier for it. Nine out of 10 high-net-worth households donate to charities or nonprofits, and just about the same percentage of individuals say that their charitable giving is at least somewhat fulfilling; more than four of 10 say it’s very or completely fulfilling.

One reason people give is because they’re asked, says Costello. “At the end of the year, nonprofits are looking to close their budget gaps, so they step up the solicitation,” she says. But in doing so, a charity runs the risk of overstepping the limits of a benefactor’s goodwill. When donors stop giving to an organization, it’s often because that organization has asked too frequently or for too much. —LARRY BEAN

R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

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P R O M O T I O N

TC Grand Bharat, Gurugram, New Delhi Capital Region

THE LUXURY COLLECTION HOTELS & RESORTS theluxurycollection.com

in focus

The Luxury Collection is a selection of hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. Each hotel and resort is a distinct and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination’s indigenous charms and treasures.

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Images are left to right.

The holidays are simple at Terranea: a pristine patch of coastline that sparks your spirit.

Every detail is taken care of — from feasts, to décor, to celebrations. All so your family can enjoy what really matters.

PHOTOGRAPHY: BARTOSZ POTOCKI

Perfet 10 W H AT TH E E DITO RS ARE OBSESSING ABOUT T H I S MO NTH .

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DECEMBER 2017

HISTORY REVISITED VA C H E R O N C O N S TA N T I N H I S T O R I Q U E S T R I P L E C A L E N D R I E R 1 9 4 8

1

“Bolstering its vintage-inspired Historiques line, Vacheron Constantin is launching the new Triple Calendrier 1948 ($35,000) to retailers just ahead of the holidays. The timepiece—available with either navy or burgundy accents, both cased in pink gold—uses a variant of the brand’s manual-winding caliber 4400 with a triple-date and moon-phase complication.

Vacheron Constantin will offer 200 pieces of each style worldwide.” —JUSTIN MASTINE-FROST

:

T H E E D I T O R S ’ L AT E S T O B S E S S I O N S

2

CLASS OF THE CARIBBEAN A N T I G U A C H A R T E R YA C H T S H O W

:

“I’m kicking of the charter season at the Antigua Charter Yacht Show, where newly launched yachts are scheduled to include Tankoa Vertige (pictured) and the recently refitted Benetti Andiamo. The show is held December 4 through 10 at Nelson’s Dockyard Marina in English Harbour and other locations, with festivities to include a chef’s competition and a benefit for the hurricane-struck island of Barbuda ” —DANIELLE Barbuda.

DANIELLE CUTLER

3 SMARTER PHONE H U A W E I P O R S C H E D E S I G N M AT E 1 0

“Fresh from dethroning Apple to become the world’s second-largest smartphone manufacturer, the Chinese company Huawei is launching the $1,645 Porsche Design Mate 10 early this month. Designed to compete directly with the iPhone X, the Mate 10 is the first phone to feature dedicated artificialintelligence chips that facilitate advanced photo-object and scene recognition, off-line digital-assistant interaction, and even JOHN LYON real-time l ti ttranslation l ti off more th than 50 llanguages.”” —JOHN

:

4 PRICKLY PAIR CARTIER CACTI

—CAROLYN MEERS

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YACHT: BLUEI PRODUCTIONS

:

“It’s not often that a tabletop design makes me smile, but a glance at these vintage Cartier cacti immediately puts a grin on my face. The stylish succulents, which date to 1925, are carved from Siberian nephrite jade and set in pots of black onyx and gray agate filled with orange aventurine quartz. I love their delicate blossoms, which are made of turquoise, coral, and moonstone. The pieces are being ofered this month through Siegelson, a nearly 100-year-old firm in New York that specializes in vintage jewelry and collectibles.”

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T H E E D I T O R S ’ L AT E S T O B S E S S I O N S

7 GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING T H E 1 2 D AY S O F C H R I S T M A S AT M E A D O W O O D N A PA VA L L E Y

:

“After a 1-year hiatus, one of the country’s premier dining events is returning this month. For nearly 2 weeks, chef Christopher Kostow and his Michelin three-star brigade at the Restaurant at Meadowood will welcome a diferent acclaimed chef each night to create a tasting menu with produce sourced from the Napa Valley surroundings. This year’s series will feature Sean Brock, Fabian von Hauske, Jeremiah Stone, and others, with Kostow topping the bill by cooking the finale on night 12.” —JEREMY REPANICH

5

ALPS MADE EASY FOUR SEASONS HOTEL MEGÈVE “Four Seasons is coming to the French Alps this month with the opening of a 55-room resort on the slopes of Mont d’Arbois. Built in partnership with the de Rothschild family, the Four Seasons Hotel Megève should inspire American skiers to head overseas this winter, with its convenient location—just 44 miles from Geneva—and activities that range from heli-skiing to dogsledding.” —BRUCE WALLIN

:

CALLING ALL CARS 2 0 1 7 LO S A N G E L E S A U T O S H O W

:

“The City of Angels is heaven for automobile aficionados this month as approximately 1,000 new and cutting-edge cars come to the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center from December 1 through 10. More than 50 vehicles are making their public premieres at the event, including the one you’ll see me flipping my lid over: the BMW i8 Roadster.”

—VIJU MATHEW

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FOUR SEASONS: RICHARD WAITE; CHRISTOPHER KOSTOW: KELLY D PULEIO

6

T H E E D I T O R S ’ L AT E S T O B S E S S I O N S

8 SLICK IN SOHO THOM SWEENEY NEW YORK

:

“Luke Sweeney and Thom Whiddett, the partners behind the British menswear brand Thom Sweeney, are bringing their enviable style stateside with a new store in New York’s Soho neighborhood this month. Known for handsomely tailored jackets that blend a polished British image with a more relaxed, comfortable Italian fit, the brand will ofer a range of clothing and accessories in a living-room-style setting where gents can enjoy an aperitif while they shop.” —JILL NEWMAN

9 MAURITIUS MAKEOVER O N E & O N LY L E S A I N T G É R A N

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10 PURPLE REIGN B O N D C O C K TA I L TA B L E “Coffee tables and cocktail tables are usually appreciated for their quiet, dutiful presence. The Bond, by the Chicago designer Gary Lee, goes completely off-script by featuring the triple-take seduction of amethyst, a material that’s been coveted for centuries by nobles, mystics, and anyone with good taste in jewelry. Healing powers aside, it’s a gem rarely seen on furniture and is an alluring proposition here. Limited to two editions, the Bond was crafted by Chai Ming Studios, Lee’s private-label collection, and is now available to the trade through Atelier Gary Lee.” —ARIANNE NARDO

:

BOND COCKTAIL TABLE: JONATHAN ALLEN

:

“Mauritius has been overshadowed by the Maldives and Seychelles of late, but the tide is turning for the Indian Ocean island nation thanks to a string of impressive hotel debuts, the most anticipated of which is the One&Only Le Saint Géran. The 42-year-old resort is back in peak form this month following a 1-year renovation that brings a beachy-chic new look to its 142 accommodations (including the over-the-top Villa One), as well as its four restaurants, sprawling swimming pool, and glorious garden spa.” —JACKIE CARADONIO

T h e F i r s t S i n g l e M a lt S c otc h F i n i s h e d i n I n d i a Pa l e A l e C a s k s

To create our newest whisky we first had to brew our own craft beer just to season our American oak casks.

This is the first release in the Glenfiddich Experimental Series, designed to push boundaries and create the unexpected.

Skillfully crafted. Enjoy responsibly. Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 43% Alc./Vol. Š2016 Imported by William Grant & Sons, Inc. New York, NY.

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AN INSIDE TRACK ON THE POSSIBLE AND PROBABLE FUTURE

TRUE TO TYPE C O N C E P T:

B U G AT T I T Y P E 5 7 T

DESIGNER:

For his Bugatti Type 57 T concept, automotive artist Arthur B. Nustas took a page from the past to create what he believes could be a new chapter in the French marque’s story. “I was inspired by the Bugatti Type 57,” says Nustas, a digital designer at Nissan Motor Corporation in

A R T H U R B . N U S TA S

ODDS OF PRODUCTION:

Japan, “yet desired to modernize it.”

His tribute to Jean Bugatti’s memorable motorcar, which was produced from 1934 to 1940, blends aspects of that classic design with those of the marque’s modern-day supercars. “Bugatti’s latest trends were an influence, but I kept the early model’s main

B E T T E R A S K B U G AT T I

characteristics, such as the long hood, very low back, and rounded front headlights,” Nustas says. “The original car communicates a very unique aesthetic, and I wanted to keep that design language alive.” Here’s hoping Bugatti gives life to Nustas’s concept.

—VIJU MATHEW

R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

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BETA Personal submarines tend to favor function over form, with utilitarian designs that resemble miniature Jacques Cousteau research vessels or torpedoes with bubbled hoods. But with its new Project Neptune, Aston Martin is planning to transform the staid submersible into a deep-diving swan.

Partnering with Triton Submarines, which will provide a proven submersible platform, the British carmaker is ofering guidance on Neptune’s look and feel.

Marek Reichman, chief creative officer at Aston Martin, says the cockpit will be as richly detailed as a DB11’s, down to the stitching in the leather seats. His team will also advise on ergonomics. “We want to make it much simpler to use,” he says.

“Employing the right aesthetics inside the submarine will make one feel immediately at ease.”

Triton is also incorporating a few of its own changes to the submersible. “We have reconsidered every aspect of the vehicle’s exterior geometry and packaging, added new control systems, improved hydrodynamics, and increased the overall power,” says John Ramsay, the company’s principal design engineer. Triton and Aston Martin plan to launch the submersible at the Monaco Yacht Show in September 2018. —MICHAEL VERDON

007 DIVER C O N C E P T:

PROJECT NEPTUNE DESIGNERS:

ASTON MARTIN AND TRITON SUBMARINES ODDS OF PRODUCTION:

W AT C H F O R I T AT N E X T YEAR’S MONAC O YACHT SHOW

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Limited edition of 88 pieces Powered by raging mechanics

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BETA INTO THE WILD

bender. “When flying surfaces [wings] are exposed to the potential for damage by passersby or other vehicles,” Dhall explains, “it makes them suspect for the next flight.”

These guidelines produced the design for the WD-1 prototype that he is building. WD stands for “wild dream,” but this is not a fanciful venture for Dhall, who is also the founder and CEO of Emergent Systems, an industrialdesign firm in Michigan that designs and develops products for auto suppliers. He expects to complete the prototype over the next several months and begin flying the vehicle as soon as next year.

The projected capabilities of the WD-1 include an air cruising speed of 125 mph and a flying and driving range of 400 miles. It will hold two people and be equipped with a full-vehicle parachute. You’ll need a driver’s license to operate it on the road and a pilot’s license in the air. —LARRY BEAN

CONCEPT:

W D -1 DESIGNER:

D E T R O I T F LY I N G C A R S ODDS OF PRODUCTION:

FA A A N D D O T R E D TA P E ARE SURER BETS When he began developing the WD-1, Detroit Flying Cars founder Sanjay Dhall imposed some restrictions on the design: It had to fly like an airplane, not a supersized drone; it had to be small enough to drive like a midsize car on the street and fit in a home garage; and the wings could not be exposed when the vehicle was in car mode—to prevent them from being damaged in a fender

Flights faster than the speed of sound can be unsettling for those on the ground, as the resulting sonic booms can send shudders through anything within earshot. Seeking to soften the auditory signature of supersonic travel, NASA and the Lockheed Martin Corporation have devised a concept aircraft, the X-Plane, that could take flight as soon as 2021.

NASA and Lockheed Martin’s mission with the X-Plane is to develop a sound-barrier-breaking jet whose boom is more akin to a gentle thump, according to the developers. In June a preliminary design was approved, and they’ve already conducted successful wind-tunnel tests on a scale model. If plans for an eventual commercial application pan out, demand could be deafening. —VIJU MATHEW

SUPERSONIC SERENITY CONCEPT:

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X- P L A N E

DESIGNER:

N A S A A N D LO C K H E E D M A R T I N

ODDS OF PRODUCTION:

LO O K A N D L I S T E N F O R I T I N 2 0 2 1

La Grande Arche Š 2016 Johan Otto Von Spreckelsen, a signature building of Paris

30 st Mary Axe, a signature building of London

4 World Trade Center, a signature building of New York

*Included TV-to-AV Box cable is required for TV operation

State University of Music and Performing Arts, a signature building of Stuttgart

Genius at Work

Carbon Kings A glimpse into ALCHEMY’s bespoke bike-making process sheds light on the Colorado company’s lithe high-performance creations. By Scott Armstrong

ises not just a perfect fit but a range of enhancements that can improve climbing, descending, sprinting, and more. Carbon fiber can facilitate these upgrades—but the material is surprisingly uncommon in bicycles from the top custom builders. Denver’s Alchemy Bicycle Company is an outlier in that regard, carving its niche with house-made tubes and joints composed of the ultralight material. The firm’s bespoke aero frames can break the sub-800-gram weight barrier and have twice earned Best Carbon Bike honors at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. In addition to road models—which are also available in steel and titanium—Alchemy makes equally high-end mountain bikes.

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1

E

F

or serious cyclists, a custom-made bike prom-

Custom Fit Visitors to Alchemy’s Denver showroom are measured with the Retül system, using an adjustable bike and computer sensors to analyze body dimension, joint angle, and motions like “knee wobble.”

E

Road Map Measurements from the fitting process are entered into proprietary computer-aided design (CAD) software that lets the designer and client create full plans for a finished bike.

3

Taking Shape For tubes and rounded shapes, the stacked carbon-fiber layers go into molds and are pushed into the desired forms by inflatable bladders filled with nitrogen.

E

How You Slice It Every frame joint and shaped piece is made of stacked bidirectional layers of ultrathin carbon-fiber sheets cut by a computer-controlled plotter using the CAD plans.

5

E

2

E

4

Laying It On Thick During the layup process, precisely cut single-layer pieces of carbon fiber are hand stacked in opposing directions until the desired structural strength is obtained. A single joint might require more than 50 layers.

6 Curative Measures

E

Once fully assembled, carbon-fiber frames are cured in an autoclave to obtain the final material integrity.

E

Closer Look Before the final build, quality-control inspectors check that frame measurements and details such as water-bottle bosses and cable ports are correct.

Because this bike will have Shimano Di2 electronic shifting, cables are routed inside the frame.

9 Head On

The headset is pressed into the head tube in preparation for the final step in completing the frame, attaching the fork.

10 Frame Worthy

E

8

E

True Colors Clients can choose colors, patterns, finishes, and a one-of design, working with artists at Alchemy’s in-house Ethic Paint Works, who produce a rendering before painting the frame.

E

7

Ready for its components, this road-bike frame will be outfitted with Tour de France–level parts, including ultra-aero Enve carbon wheels.

The finished bike (opposite, top) is approximately $13,000.

R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

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P R O M O T I O N

DE BEERS DIAMOND JEWELLERS debeers.com

in focus

De Beers unveils the latest additions to the iconic Enchanted Lotus collection, now in the form of bracelets. Each style features delicate lines of micropavé that form petals around a brilliant solitaire either in open work or atop mother of pearl.

CHRISTOPHER DESIGNS christopherdesigns.com The L’Amour Crisscut® diamond is a design masterpiece to behold in its beauty and simplicity.

It is available in a range of sizes and customized styles with sizing 40-50 percent larger than a comparable emerald-cut diamond. L’Amour Crisscut® is “The New Shape of Love.™”

TODD REED toddreed.com Todd Reed is an artisanal luxury jewelry company renowned for creating works of art using recycled metals and sustainably-sourced raw and fancy cut diamonds. Todd Reed creations are all one-of-a-kind, hand forged, and finished by master jewelers in the Boulder, Colorado, studio.

HYSEK hysek.com In developing its own movements within its fully integrated manufacture in Switzerland, Hysek embodies the subtle alliance between the avant-garde and high-end watchmaking know-how.

Images are left to right.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Hysek has launched the Colossal, a major grand complication of unprecedented sophistication.

M C L A R E N ’ S N E W L I G H T N I N G - FA S T L I G H T W E I G H T

spider an open-air arrow, the new McLaren 570S Spider (cars.mclaren.com) is the latest addition to the British marque’s Sports Series quiver of high-performance production cars—a line that targets both track and touring enthusiasts. The rear-wheel-drive roadster bridles 562 horses— from a 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged V-8—with a 7-speed seamless-shift transmission to rocket from zero to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and reach 204 mph (196 mph without the roof ).

The mid-engine machine comprises a carbonfiber tub covered with aluminum body panels.

This construction contributes to a dry weight of 2,895 pounds—only 101 pounds heavier than its closed-top counterpart introduced in 2015.

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“From the waistline down, this is the coupe,” says Ben Gulliver, McLaren’s head of vehicle development. “We didn’t lose any stifness, and the aerodynamics are so good that with the roof up we also didn’t lose any top speed.”

The convertible’s minimal mass is complemented by aerodynamic accents that borrow from impressive predecessors. “The actual form of the car guides and manages the airflow,” explains Mark Roberts, McLaren’s head of design operations. “At the back, it has real echoes of the P1 and features an aggressive difuser and a whole new carbon deck that has shades of the 650 Spider as well.” The starting price for the 570S Spider pierces the pocket at $208,800. —VIJU MATHEW

R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

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GALLERY

R O S S I N AV I ’ S A U R O R A I S A S T U D Y I N C O N T R A S T S

one of the most aggressive-looking superyachts at the Monaco Yacht Show this year, Rossinavi’s Aurora (rossinavi.it) is all sharp angles and straight lines. The yacht’s Fulvio de Simoni–designed exterior has dramatic cutouts along the forward edges and a gunsight-shaped anchor chock at the bow. The 161-footer’s only exterior curves are a slight bend in the pilothouse and arches toward the stern. Aurora’s 28-year-old owner mandated that the yacht be wild and beautiful but also a social animal, and so it has an unusually large beach club and a foredeck with lounges and a large spa tub. The interior has not one but three saloons, and two VIP staterooms, along with the stunning master suite on the main deck. Two other guest cabins are on the deck below.

Aurora could have gone down in yachting history as the ultimate bachelor pad, but Achille Salvagni’s interior is a decidedly softer counterpoint. Salvagni used curves everywhere: circular sofas, soft-edged custom lamps, and even marble walls that bend gently around corners.

Combining the diferent visions inside and out turned out to be a masterstroke in yacht design. —MICHAEL VERDON

yin and yang

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©2017 Marriott International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Preferred Guest, SPG, The Luxury Collection and their logos are the trademarks of Marriott International, Inc., or its affiliates.

H O T E L S T H AT D E F I N E T H E D E S T I N AT I O N ™ Situated at the crossroads of culture and commerce, the historic Palace Hotel is a legendary California landmark. Experience a curated ensemble of the world’s most iconic destinations at The Luxury Collection hotels and resorts. Explore the collection at theluxurycollection.com

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GALLERY

A CAPE WINELANDS LEGEND GETS ITS SECOND GROWTH

vine intervention shock waves swept through South Africa’s serene Cape Winelands in 2015 when it was announced that Le Quartier Français (leeucollection.com)—the quaint Franschhoek inn that pioneered the region’s lauded culinary scene—had been sold. Dismaying locals further were reports that the property’s new owner, the Indian-born tycoon Analjit Singh, was—gasp!—an outsider. The fate of a legend was in limbo.

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Fears were put to rest in August, however, when Le Quartier Français held its grand reopening, revealing a fresh new look by South African designer Beverley Boswell and an even fresher new restaurant by chef Scot Kirton. The renovated property—now part of Singh’s ever-expanding Leeu Collection of luxury hotels—is a softer version of its former self, replacing eye-popping fuchsias and lime greens with pale pinks and turquoises

in the 21 guest rooms, which also feature locally sourced furnishings, chenille fabrics, and marble bathrooms. Assuaging concerns still further is the hotel’s La Petite Colombe, an ambitious ofshoot of Kirton’s Cape Town restaurant La Colombe that is spinning creative international fare from local ingredients. That the restaurant is packed most nights is proof that Le Quartier Français’s fate is indeed in good hands. —JANE BROUGHTON

CALIBER RM 037

RICHARD MILLE BOUTIQUES ASPEN • BAL HARBOUR • BEVERLY HILLS • BUENOS AIRES • LAS VEGAS • MIAMI • ST. BARTH • TORONTO

GALLERY

P E N F O L D S ’ S H E AV E N LY N E W C R E AT I O N T E M P T S C O L L E C T O R S A N D TA U N T S C R I T I C S

three steps

beyond some might consider Peter Gago , the chief winemaker at Penfolds (penfolds.com), an intractable contrarian.

About 5 years ago, Australia’s premier wine label decided to honor its country’s native artisans by enlisting four leading talents to produce an ampoule to house a rare wine. Gago, however, refused to put the brand’s flagship, Grange, into the receptacle: “ ‘You don’t mess with Grange,’ I told my colleagues.” Thus, when he proposed a limited edition consisting of three diferent vintages of that very wine, his associates were stunned. “It seemed to them contradictory,” says the winemaker. “ ‘You’re putting Grange in it?’ they asked. ‘Where’s the old Peter? He’s sold his soul!’ ” There is method, however, to Gago’s apparent madness. The inspiration for this project, which yielded a modest 1,200 numbered bottles, came not from a focus group but from the history of Penfolds itself. Dr. Christopher Penfold and his wife, Mary, established the company in 1844 to produce fortified wines from multiple vintages, so Gago found the prospect of combining several of the cellar’s spectacular reserves irresistibly compelling. Some of the 2012 vintage had been held back from bottling and kept in neutral oak barrels; his wine, along with a cache of the extraordinary 2008, was married to a portion of the yet-to-bereleased 2014 to yield g3, Penfolds’s most unusual creation yet.

“We knew what we had with these wines,” notes Gago, “but in blending, you find out what you don’t know. You can’t replicate this at home by putting the same percentages of ’08, ’12, and ’14 together, because once they mature as a blend, they’re a diferent wine.”

Indeed, the united trinity transcends the individual merits of its components.

Priced at about $2,300 per bottle, g3 shows the youth of the 2014 in its notes of ripe black fruit and burgeoning spice, while the seductive character of the 2012 is present in its voluptuous mouthfeel.

The formidable structure and depth of the 2008, however, serves to temper these hedonistic elements, making the experience of sipping this one-of-a-kind red a sensory-rich ascent into oenological paradise. —BRETT ANDERSON

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GALLERY

S AV I L E R O W ’ S R I C H A R D J A M E S S E T S U P S H O P S TAT E S I D E

tailor made a loyal customer of the Savile Row tailoring house Richard James (richard-james.com) for 16 years, New York billionaire Charles S. Cohen just made it easier to acquire his favorite suits. The real estate developer bought a majority stake in the company earlier this year and last month opened its first-ever U.S. shop, on the corner of Park Avenue and 57th Street—in one of his buildings.

“Men are quite loyal once they find something they like,” says managing director Sean Dixon, who together with designer Richard James started the business 25 years ago. “They will keep coming back.”

The company has many devoted U.S. clients like Cohen, Dixon says, who stop in while in London or meet with tailors during the brand’s regular visits to New York. Now devotees can be fitted for bespoke suits (from $5,000) or made-tomeasure ones (from $2,500) in the Park Avenue shop, where a wide selection of Richard James readyto-wear, outerwear, and accessories will also be showcased.

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With its many wardrobe options, the shop helps men navigate today’s more casual dress code. “The way men dress is definitely changing,” says Dixon. “We cater to that with softer tailoring and fabrics that appear a little more casual.” Now that men are integrating separates into their wardrobes, service is especially important; the store assists clients in combining jackets, trousers, and shirts. “They still want to look smart and look the part, but they don’t want to appear so formal all time.”

Nevertheless, every businessman still needs a fabulous navy or charcoal-gray suit “that accentuates the good parts of your body,” Dixon adds. To that end, Richard James’s seasoned cutter will visit the Manhattan store often, measuring clients for bespoke suits to be made in its Savile Row workshop. —JILL NEWMAN

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GALLERY

R I C H A R D M I L L E B U I L D S A WAT C H F O R B I C Y C L I S T S

road it comes as no surprise that the highperformance watchmaker Richard Mille (richardmille.com) would partner with four-time Formula 1 racing champion Alain Prost to create a watch. It is unexpected, however, that the theme of the recently released RM 70-01 Tourbillon Alain Prost is not auto racing, but rather Prost’s passion for road biking—a departure for a brand so closely associated with motorsports.

Mille tackled the project with his characteristic spare-noexpense approach, designing an $815,500 tourbillon watch equipped with a special totalizer complication that manually totals the number of kilometers the wearer has ridden in the year and is housed within a case proportioned to conform to the wrist while on the road.

“On the bike you are very often in a position when the crown can hurt,” says Mille.

“We give a lot of importance to ergonomics, so the watch is curved to fit the wrist and hand very well. It is also angled to be aerodynamic—very light

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and shock resistant.” With its asymmetric lines, the RM 70-01 is perhaps the most aesthetically unconventional watch the brand has produced. Its construction, however, is straight out of Richard Mille’s playbook, using titanium and large amounts of carbon TPT, a lightweight composite capable of withstanding copious amounts of abuse.

The totalizer complication, built together with Renaud & Papi (Audemars Piguet), was

adapted from the RM 69 erotic watch, which had a mechanism that could construct sometimes-lewd sentences at random. “We have adapted it to the selection of units: tens, hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands,” explains Mille.

Tracking daily exercise data with a mechanical log represents a vastly diferent appeal than the g-force readers, for instance, that other Richard Mille models have featured; but if this is an

admission that sports (or the mind-set of watch buyers) may be changing, it is not one Mille seems to mind making.

“Most of the watch industry stands on the 18th- and 19thcentury heritage, which to me is the pillow of laziness because it prevents you from creating,” says Mille. “I always considered the high-end watch business to be open to the world of diferent sports, just as it is to diferent lifestyles.” —JAMES D. MALCOLMSON

DIDIER GOURDON

warrior

P O M E L L AT O U N C O V E R S T H E H I D D E N B E A U T Y I N H A R D S T O N E S

rock of ages

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“every stone has a story to tell,” says Pomellato’s (pomellato.com) Vincenzo Castaldo (left). The creative director recently collaborated with the German gemstone merchant and cutter Constantin Wild on a series of rings—pieces that not only celebrate Pomellato’s 50th anniversary this year but also reveal the unique characteristics of stones not typically used in the brand’s fine jewelry. Known for bold, colorful designs that evoke a fashionable take on fine jewelry, the Milanese company wanted to express its sense of style using diferent materials that, Castaldo says, “represent a new preciousness.” So he searched for hard stones, such as chrysocolla and zoisite, and then turned to Wild, who comes from a centuries-long line of gemstone cutters, to transform the rocks into works of art using the ritratto (portrait) cut.

“It requires an expertise to cut hard stones,” Castaldo says. “You need to find the exact part of the stone where there is a density of color and where the veins and semitransparency converge to create a unique image.”

Castaldo spent over a year working alongside Wild, visiting the cutter’s workshop in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, many times to help uncover the most interesting angles before cleaving the rock. “We wanted to find the part of the stone that tells a story, shows a landscape, or suggests a dream,” says Castaldo.

The Pink Hawaiian Peony ring, for example, features a large rhodochrosite with pink crystals in patterns and shades that he says resemble a Hawaiian sunset, while the Summer Paradise ring has a large greenish-blue amazonite center stone with whitish bands of feldspar that give the impression of sea-foamcovered waves. Like a work of art, each large stone is framed in a gold setting with gemstone accents. “Mother Nature only needs a little help from us,” says Castaldo, “to express all her majesty and beauty.” —JILL NEWMAN

PORTRAIT: VALERIO MUSILLI

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Grab the first tram to powder paradise with the Four Seasons Jackson Hole’s (fourseasons.com) new Winter Bowls experience, which gives guests early access—and all-day line-skipping privileges—to the ski resort’s eight vaunted bowls with a local pro.

St. Moritz’s legendary Carlton Hotel (carlton-stmoritz.ch) has launched a new Outdoor Butler program, allowing early-bird skiers first access to some of the Upper Engadine’s finest ofthe-beaten-piste runs, including the steepest start slope in Switzerland.

Beaver Creek’s impeccably groomed corduroy is even better when you ski it first. The resort’s new White Gloves First Tracks program—available through the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch (ritzcarlton.com)—gives VIPs an hour of preopening guided skiing, followed by breakfast.

The only thing more impressive than the new Four Seasons Hotel Megève’s (fourseasons .com) Pierre-Yves Rochon interiors is its helicopter ski safari, which lifts guests to the slopes of nearby peaks for unrivaled early-morning first tracks among the best of the French Alps.

Nothing compares to the firsttracks heli-skiing program at Deplar Farm (elevenexperience .com). The sheep farm turned chalet on the isolated Troll Peninsula takes just four skiers per day on exclusive sea-to-summit runs among 1,500 square miles of primordial valleys and fjords.

DECEMBER 2017

ERIC SEYMOUR

GALLERY

THE ANGELUS BY Floc’h’s interpretation of L’Angélus by Jean-François

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GALLERY

T H E R U G C O M PA N Y ’ S S P E L L B I N D I N G A N N I V E R S A R Y C O L L E C T I O N when it has something to celebrate, the Rug Company (therugcompany .com) calls on visionary friends. To mark its 20th anniversary this year, the revered London-based brand has unveiled the TRC20 capsule collection of handmade rugs featuring creations from Alexander McQueen, Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood, and Kelly Wearstler—all coauthors of the company’s handcrafted past—as well as company cofounder Suzanne Sharp.

TRC20’s Chiaroscuro (shown), created in collaboration with Alexander McQueen creative director Sarah Burton, is limited to 40 editions (starting at $9,456 for a 6-foot-by-4foot rug). Its pattern is a gothic, moody free fall into sumptuous influences— Dutch floral paintings of the 17th century—and cut with the sly, evocative defiance that defined the late fashion designer’s oeuvre.

The pieces are handwoven (as are all TRC20 designs) from natural yarns, with every color blended by hand to impart an impressive contrast of light and dark, subtle and bodacious.

Years ago, the Rug Company worked with McQueen himself on a number of editions that, like the Chiaroscuro, resonate for their design and dimension. “When we started working with him,” says cofounder Christopher Sharp, “he was amazed by the craftsmanship involved in our rugs. We asked him to come up with the best rug designs he could, and not to worry about how we’d make them. The designs were incredible and challenged us to explore new weaving techniques, and they have since become iconic.”

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—ARIANNE NARDO

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time-out in tahoe There’s more to the Lodge at Edgewood Tahoe (edgewoodtahoe.com) than your next tee time. The 235-acre resort—which opened in June on Lake Tahoe’s southern shore, just above the George Fazio–designed Edgewood course—is set amid alpine lakes and soaring peaks, making it ideal for powder hounds, anglers, hikers, and of course golfers. The lodge itself is no less inspiring, with a swimming pool overlooking the lake’s azure waters, and, inside, spaces adorned with aspen columns and Native American–inspired patterns. —TANVI CHHEDA

the quintessential convertible

elegant elixir

Powered by four electric motors, the 750 hp Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet concept (mbusa.com) can whisk to 60 mph in under 4 seconds and drive over 200 miles before requiring a recharge. But more striking than its athleticism is the nearly 20-foot two-seater’s epic aesthetic. Minimalist lines, simple curves, and a rear boat-tail design define the exterior. Inside, the cabin glows an efusive blue, augmented by a rush of light through the center tunnel when the accelerator is pressed—all part of a design language that may recur in successive generations of Mercedes-Benz models. —BASEM WASEF

As if to quash any lingering doubt about premium tequila’s capacity to match the finest scotches in elegance and craft, Patrón has released a convincing special edition. The Patrón en Lalique: Serie 2 ($7,500, patronspirits.com) has an Art Deco–inspired crystal decanter, only 299 of which exist. Aged for more than 7 years (four more than are required for an extra añejo), the spirit itself spent time in sherry-cured casks—unusual for a tequila—which layered the agave flavors with notes of raisins, vanilla, and honey.

good scents “Scent has the power to transform people,” says Julian Bedel, whose Buenos Aires–born brand Fueguia 1833 (fueguia.com) delivers small-batch fragrances made with ingredients sourced mainly from remote regions like Patagonia. Bedel opened his first U.S. boutique in New York City last year, showcasing his full range of men’s and women’s fragrances, including Luz sin Freno ($329 per 100 mL), with notes of jasmine, lemon, and basil, and Luna Roja ($379 per 100 mL), a woody, fruity fragrance with notes of oakwood, rose, and plum. —J.N.

—JANICE O’LEARY

haute tea A new hero has emerged for aesthetically underserved tea drinkers: Bishop House (bishophouseglass.com). Founded in 2016 by entrepreneur Brian Sunderland, the Portland, Ore., company enlisted designer James Owen to create high-concept glassware that elevates the hot-beverage game. Thalia ($329 for two glasses) features a handblown glass bowl nestled in a cantilevered body plated in 24-karat gold (or silver). “I’m not after world domination,” says Owen, “but I would like to see a world where tea and cofee garner the same respect and presentation as a great glass of wine.” —A.N.

a better bagger For model year 2018, BMW Motorrad has entered the iconic bagger category of motorcycles— but strayed from convention with the BMW K 1600 B (bmwmotorcycles.com). Using the groundbreaking K 1600 GT as its base, the B model has a lowered subframe, backward-sloped bodywork, and a chopped windscreen. Emboldened with a 160 hp, 6-cylinder engine, the 741-pound bike has three ride modes—Rain, Road, and Dynamic—coupled with Dynamic Traction Control to ensure optimum performance and safety. And the BMW K 1600 B is available in any color you want—as long as it’s black. —JEFF BUCHANAN

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Q& A: JUSTIN YU Chef and Owner of Houston’s Theodore Rex

Until Chris Shepherd won the 2014 James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest, Houston had a 22-year losing streak. Now its chefs can’t stop winning.

Since Shepherd’s win, both Justin Yu and Hugo Ortega have taken home the honor, signaling the rise of this Texas metropolis as one of the culinary capitals of the United States. Yu, chef and owner of Theodore Rex (trexhouston.com), explains his hometown’s emergence as a dining destination.

—JEREMY REPANICH

Is the rise of Houston just the rest of us taking notice or has it really changed?

The food scene has always been amazing, but the last 6 years, it has changed fast.

Why is that?

Higher-end restaurants had stuck to a more classic version of what you could get in other cities. But it was the restaurants we went to on our days of, like Himalaya—which is my favorite Pakistani restaurant—or the fact you can get some of the best Korean and Vietnamese food outside of their respective countries here. That was the most exciting part of Houston, the little restaurants. But that’s not always sexy to write about.

But those spots influenced a new generation?

A slew of new restaurants opened at the same time people from Houston started moving back, myself included. Then people showed up and saw how our restaurants had been afected by our cultural diversity. It was a perfect storm, and the quality has only gotten higher since.

THE LODGE AT EDGEWOOD: NOAH WEBB; JUSTIN YU: JENN DUNCAN; PATRÓN: MULLEN LOWE; BMW: DANIEL-KRAUS.COM

Designer Roberto Curtò’s Mauna Kea (robertocurtodesign.com) is a 331-foot concept yacht named after the nearly 14,000-foot-high volcano in Hawaii. Instead of a lava flow, the stern of this futuristic design features a multideck waterslide—flanked by stairs—that empties into a swimming pool. Curtò is working with SuperYachtsMonaco on this project, and Italian shipyard Fincantieri has expressed interest in building the yacht. —M.V.

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Curios /Autions & Fairs

BY ANGELA M. H. SCHUSTER

Age of Enlightenment $3.3 million–$4.6 million “Joseph Wright of Derby is widely regarded as one of Britain’s most interesting and versatile painters, and his greatest works have become icons of British art the world over,” says Julian Gascoigne, senior specialist in the department of British paintings at Sotheby’s. “An Academy by Lamplight [1769] is one such masterpiece and the greatest painting by the artist left in private hands.” The fresh-to-market work is one of some 50 old-master paintings going under the gavel at Sotheby’s London on December 6. sothebys.com

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Miami Heat $60,000 100

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The New York gallerist Claire Oliver will be presenting Matthew Sleeth’s steel-and-neon work It Was All A Dream (2016) at the 13th edition of Pulse Miami Beach, which runs December 7 through 10. One of six art fairs taking place in the Florida city during Miami Art Week, Pulse brings together some 70 emerging and established galleries, which will be exhibiting at Indian Beach Park. pulseartfair.com

“Start the conversation … I personally welcome your call.” — Martin

B E V E R L Y

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Parasol Ring with Round Brilliant Paraiba Tourmalines and Trapezoid shaped Diamonds Micro-Set with Blue Sapphires and Diamonds in Platinum, 6.24ctw. ©2017. Martin Katz, LTD.

Curios /Autions & Fairs

“Life etches itself onto our faces as we grow older, showing our violence, excesses, or kindnesses.”

— R E M B R A N DT VA N R I J N N

Portrait of Petronella Buys $2 million–$3.3 million Rembrandt van Rijn’s 1635 oil on panel leads the Old Masters paintings sale at Christie’s London on December 7. The sitter’s radiant countenance was painted during a period when the artist was experimenting with light falling on his subjects from the left. A companion work— a portrait of Buys’s husband, Philips Lucasz—hangs in London’s National Gallery. christies.com

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Clair de lune $133,000–$200,000 The Bulgarian bass Boris Christof—known for his velvet voice as well as his fiery temper—was an avid art collector who favored old-master paintings. Claude Vernet’s 1772 oil on canvas is among a quartet of pictures from the singer’s collection that hits the block at Bonhams in London on December 6. “This painting is likely to be the lost partner of The Shipwreck, a work in the National Gallery of Art in Washington,” says Lisa Greaves, director of old-master paintings at the auction house, who adds that the paintings were last seen as a pair in 1957. bonhams.com

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Günther Uecker’s 1965 nail work is one of 15 pieces hailing from the vaunted Sauter Collection of Zero and Concrete art on ofer at Ketterer Kunst in Munich on December 9.

Noted patron Ellen Sauter regularly entertained the artists whose works she collected, hosting such notables as Marcia Hafif, Lali Johne, Ben Hübsch, and Stefan Baumkötter.

CEO Robert Ketterer says, “This exquisite collection combines the apparent opposites of Zero and Concrete art with Art Deco objects.” kettererkunst.com

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Weißes Feld, Object $234,995–$351,000

Les riches fruits de l’erreur $4 million–$5.8 million On December 6, Sotheby’s Paris is holding a singleowner sale of 35 works from the collection of Alain and Candice Fraiberger. They include Jean Dubufet’s 1963 oil on canvas, pictured here, and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Head and Scapula (1983), which is tagged at $5.8 million to $8.1 million. sothebys.com

Figure of Bhudev $20,000–$30,000

W W

“Her graceful poise, u waist, and remarkab adornments are test to the retention of th sensuous Chola style the later Vijayanaga a Nayak kingdoms,” s ys Bonhams’s vice pres en and director of Asia ar Dessa Goddard, of t copper-alloy figure o the Hindu Earth goddes rom South India. The sta ue which dates to the 1 th 17th century, will be ered t in the December 18 s Bonhams in San Fra cisco. bonhams.com

tard, Paris $1 ,000– 25,000

ore relevant than peering into the cosmos through Albert Einstein’s telescope?

Manufactured by the Berlinbased Paul Dörfel company in the late 19th century, the 3.25-inch reflecting telescope is, according to Christie’s head of books and manuscripts Sven Becker, the only scientific instrument owned by the visionary to come to auction. The telescope, sa r hotograp st stud t t States T on

teles

$250,000–$350,000 en ca e o crea ng jewelry and body armor, the late fashion maverick Alexander McQueen enlisted the services of no other than London-based designer Shaun Leane, who for nearly two decade turned McQueen’s fantasi s into reality. On December , Sotheby’s New York is tendering more than 45 pieces from Leane’s perso al archive, including some 30 original designs produced

Hailed as BMW’s m s iconic car of the 21st century, the Z8 coun among its fans Appl founder Steve Jobs, ho took delivery of the October 6, 2000. Fin s in his signature tita iu color with a black le interior, the vehicle number 60085—has t 15,200 miles on it. T e 8 is one of 30 cars ma b some of the world’s os estimable marques hitting the block in the Icon at RM Sotheby’s in e rmsotheb s.c

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UECKER: MARC AUTENRIETH; DUBUFFET: WEST IMAGE; CARTIER-BRESSON: HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON; BMW: K ARISSA HOSEK /RM SOTHEBY ’S

Te esco 200 00– 000

hotograph collectors who favor the work of Henri Cartierresso l have their pick of prime material at Phillips December 12. The 120 works ofered in this Ne r ingle-own r sale—including this 1954 image—come from the c ct o Peter Fetterman, Cartier-Bresson’s last dealer. etterma th artis membe the Magnum P t Agenc rom 19 t 2004.

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Curios /Books & Manuscripts W

Voyages of Discovery $49,000 A handsome eight-volume collection of full first editions chronicling James Cook’s 18th-century voyages is one of the many treasures on ofer from New York–based Bauman Rare Books. They were published in London by W. Strahan and T. Cadell in 1773, 1777, and 1784, and have been leather bound as a set. baumanrarebooks.com

S

“After all, the best part of a holiday is perhaps not so much to be resting yourself, as to see all the other fellows busy working.”

A Voice of Reason $500,000–$700,000 A letter from Abraham Lincoln to Henry Asbury dated July 31, 1858, leads the Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts sale at Christie’s New York on December 5. In anticipation of a series of debates with Stephen Douglas, against whom he was running for the Illinois senate seat, Lincoln frames the celebrated Freeport Question on slavery in the territories.

“Although this letter marks an important moment in Lincoln’s rise to national prominence,” says Peter Klarnet, senior specialist at the house, “it possesses even stronger resonance today, as it evokes a time when politicians debated critical issues with thoughtful, eloquent, and often lengthy dialogue—a striking contrast to current political discourse, which has often been reduced to sound bites and 140-character Twitter posts.” christies.com

—KENNETH GRAHAME, T H E W I N D I N T H E W I L LO W S

A Royal Request $4,740–$7,100

S

In a note written in September 1775, a few months after the coronation of Louis XVI, a young Queen Marie-Antoinette ponders a proper present for the Spanish ambassador, suggesting he be gifted a tapestry. The letter will be ofered at Tajan in Paris on December 6. tajan.com S

Existential Thoughts $40,000–$60,000

S

A three-page letter written by noted 19th-century British naturalist Charles Darwin—signed “Ch. Darwin” and dated March 11, 1878—headlines the History of Science and Technology sale at Sotheby’s New York on December 12. “The letter is quite interesting in that, in it, Darwin expresses his doubts and difficulties with believing in the existence of God,” says Richard Austin, head of books and manuscripts in New York. sothebys.com

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More to the Story $33,200 “First editions of this iconic title are rare, and even more so in the dust jacket,” says Angus Robb of London-based Shapero Rare Books, which is ofering a first edition of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows, published by Methuen and Co. in 1908. The book, he explains, is far more complex than its juvenile target audience might suggest, as Grahame’s nostalgic stories of life along the Thames represent his own eforts to console his chronically ill son, who eventually commited suicide. shapero.com

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STA RS of

SOUTHERN AFRICA The wild meets the wonders of modern hospitality at three stellar new safari lodges. by Bruce Wallin such extravagances on safari should never come at the expense of a true wilderness experience. The finest African lodges manage to indulge their guests’ every whim while embracing the unpredictability of their surroundings. Three new lodges in southern Africa—from Botswana’s predator-rich Okavango Delta to Zambia’s remote Liuwa Plain—are striking that balance in myriad ways. Distinct in setting and style, they make for a delightfully diverse itinerary—and an eye-opening adventure in the wild. E

WILL BURRARD-LUCAS

n i g h t s o n s a f a r i a r e a s t o n i s h i n g ly s i l e n t— until they aren’t. When the still of the savanna is shattered by a shriek, a grumble, or a roar, it can startle even the most seasoned explorer from slumber. What a relief it is, then, to find yourself at such moments in an outsized bed draped with mosquito netting and tucked away in a suite with a formal dining room, a wine fridge, and two private pools to bufer you from whatever beasts might be lingering outside. ¶ Comforting as they may be,

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S T A R S of S O U T H E R N A F R I C A

THE CLASSIC

Duba Plains Elevated just above the floodplain in a 190,000-acre private reserve in Botswana’s Okavango Delta WHAT: Five lavishly appointed suites and the two-bedroom Duba Plains Suite, a private safari palace all its own WHY: Africa’s most luxurious new lodge in a prime safari destination, plus the pure fun of delta crossings in a custom Land Cruiser WILDLIFE: Elephants, lions, Cape buffalo, hippopotamuses, and a wide range of waterfowl greatplainsconservation.com WHERE:

The exclusive-use residence at Botswana’s Duba Plains Reserve is an epic amalgam of early-20thcentury-style furnishings, formal dining and sitting areas, intimate nooks, palatial bedrooms, and a 150-foot-long deck with plunge pools, exercise bikes, and a fire pit overlooking the floodplain.

The only thing missing from the suite is a wall—which is why you might find a curious lapwing or lark flitting about your living room. ¶ The suite’s design—with acres of canvas covers and flaps that open to the elements during the day—ensures an intimate connection to one of the continent’s most exciting ecosystems. Set in the heart of the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana, Duba Plains is a 190,000-acre private reserve managed by Dereck and Beverly Joubert’s Great Plains Conservation. In March the reserve entered the upper echelon of luxury-safari destinations with the debut of the Duba Plains Suite, the equally elegant five-room Duba Plains Camp, and a main lodge that includes a wine cellar, a library, and a media room for reviewing the day’s photographs. (Duba Plains lends guests high-powered Canon 5D cameras with 400 mm lenses

OPPOSITE: BRUCE WALLIN

to use on their safaris.)

Thanks largely to the photographs and films of the Jouberts—who shot their Relentless Enemies and other documentaries at the reserve— Duba Plains is known for its lionversus-bufalo battles. Safaris are appropriately adrenaline inducing, with walks, helicopter flights, boat trips, and drives exploring the watery expanse. In addition to being an ideal habitat for elephants, hippopotamuses, and other large species, the delta delivers amusement-park-like adventures, in which custom Land Cruisers helmed by expert guides navigate deep channel crossings to reach islands teeming with wildlife.

Duba Plains’ guides are equally deft at navigating the needs and boundaries of their guests. Whether pursuing a lion on the hunt or shooing away an avian invader in your suite, they gradually expand your comfort zone while immersing you in the wildness of the Okavango.

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DUBA PLAINS

S T A R S of S O U T H E R N A F R I C A

Thanks largely to the photographs and films of the Jouberts—who shot their Relentless Enemies and other documentaries at the reserve—Duba Plains is known for its lion-versus-buffalo battles.

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S T A R S of S O U T H E R N A F R I C A

THE WILD CARD

King Lewanika Lodge WHERE: The only lodge in the 905,000-acre Liuwa Plain National Park in western Zambia WHAT: Six tented suites, including a two-bedroom family unit, with high-class-camping interiors and chaise-lounge-equipped decks overlooking the plain WHY: Because no one you know has been there, and you might have the entire park to yourself WILDLIFE: Hyenas, zebras, cheetahs, lions, wildcats, wattled cranes, and, from November to May, the second-largest wildebeest migration timeandtideafrica.com

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says Will Jones, founder of the UK-based outfitter Journeys by Design ( journeysbydesign.com). The arrival of King Lewanika Lodge, which opened in April in the remote Liuwa Plain National Park, might not be the spark that sends the country’s popularity soaring. But for the seasoned African traveler or intrepid firsttimer, this intimate camp on Zambia’s western edge ofers a special safari experience in a rarely visited wilderness. ¶ Liuwa Plain itself has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years. Set along the border with Angola, the 905,000-acre park was decimated during that country’s decades-long civil war. After the war ended in 2002, the conservation organization African Parks took over management of the reserve. It has been working ever since with the Zambian government

and the local Lozi people (whose King Lewanika originally set aside the land for protection in the 1880s) to restore flora and fauna—and, for the most part, keep visitors out.

Travelers still need to make quite an efort to reach Liuwa Plain’s first and only lodge, which is managed by Zambia’s Time + Tide Norman Carr Safaris. After a small-craft flight to the village of Kalabo, a 3-hour game drive concludes at a camp composed of six suites flanking an open-air main lodge. Designed by Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens—the South African duo behind North Island in Seychelles and Time + Tide’s Chinzombo in South Luangwa National Park— the contemporary suites feature recycled composite-wood floors, basin sinks, and canvas flaps that roll up to reveal endless vistas of the yellow-green floodplain.

In exploring the plain, King Lewanika remains true to Norman Carr the man, who pioneered walking safaris in Zambia in the 1950s. Outings ofer many perspectives on the park, from walks with wildebeests— Africa’s second-largest migration passes right through camp—to canoe trips on the spillways in season. Game drives virtually guarantee up-close carnivore sightings—following a mother cheetah on the hunt, catching a clan of hyenas returning to their den-bound pups at dusk—that are rarely shared with other safari vehicles. “The obvious advantage here is that there are fewer visitors,” Jones says. “And with fewer visitors, one gets that greater sense of wilderness and space, which is an increasingly hard commodity to find.”

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WILL BURRARD-LUCAS

KING LEWANIKA LODGE

S T A R S of S O U T H E R N A F R I C A

Game drives virtually guarantee up-close carnivore sightings— following a mother cheetah on the hunt, catching a clan of hyenas returning to their den-bound pups at dusk—that are rarely shared with other safari vehicles.

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S T A R S of S O U T H E R N A F R I C A

THE FINISHING TOUCH

andBeyond Matetsi River Lodge On the Zambezi River in a 123,500-acre private reserve in Zimbabwe, about an hour from Victoria Falls WHAT: An unapologetically luxurious hotel in the bush, featuring 18 suites with private pools plus a four-bedroom family villa WHY: The perfect place to begin or end a safari, with a range of activities—Victoria Falls visits, shopping, river rafting—to complement game drives and cruises WILDLIFE: Massive elephants, giraffes, lions, and crocodiles andbeyond.com WHERE:

and bumpy, dusty drives can take a toll on travelers. Though not essential, it is highly recommended to set aside a few days at the end of your adventure to ease out of the routine. Matetsi River Lodge, an andBeyond resort located upstream from the mighty Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, is the ideal bridge between the remote bush and the real world, a deluxe decompression chamber that can be one of southern Africa’s most relaxing—or most exciting—destinations. ¶ Reopened last year after a $10 million rebuild, Matetsi features 18 suites and a four-bedroom family villa set along a soothing stretch of the Zambezi River. Two outdoor dining venues maximize the views, with tables staggered along the shore on lawns, decks, and covered patios. The suites—with their proper walls, marble

THIS SPREAD (EXCEPT WATERFALL): DOOK PHOTO

bathrooms, and private plunge pools—are more luxury hotel than rustic safari lodge, but the safari experience does not disappoint.

Matetsi is the only lodge in a 123,500-acre reserve that encompasses nine miles of riverfront, densely wooded hills, red-clay clifs, and open savanna. Many among the reserve’s species—elephants, girafes, troops of baboons, bushbucks, kudus—forage along the river just in front of the suites. Several other animals, from lions to rare river otters, can be seen on game drives and boat trips throughout the reserve.

Safari, however, is just one of the many things to do at Matetsi. About 24 miles downstream from the lodge, the Zambezi plunges 354 feet into a snaking gorge, creating one of the planet’s great spectacles. Day trips to the falls can incorporate activities both mild (shopping in the town of Victoria Falls, enjoying high tea at the Victoria Falls Lodge) and extreme (bungee jumping or zip-lining across the gorge). Of course, for those who want to completely decompress, Matetsi’s main lodge ofers a wine cellar, a 66-foot-long swimming pool, and a riverfront massage room.

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MATETSI RIVER LODGE

S T A R S of S O U T H E R N A F R I C A

The suites—with their proper walls, marble bathrooms, and private plunge pools—are more luxury hotel than rustic safari lodge, but the safari experience does not disappoint.

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ARIA SKY SUITES LAS VEGAS HOSTS ROBB REPORT’S SUV OF THE YEAR Robb Report VIPs experience the pinnacle of luxury during this extraordinary event.

Just as the new generation of luxury SUVs redefines the segment, with unparalleled amenities on par with those of superyachts and private jets, ARIA Resort & Casino’s award-winning hotel-within-a-hotel Sky Suites is the pinnacle of luxury hospitality on the Strip. Where better than this global hotel destination, then, to host Robb Report’s SUV of the Year competition this past September? In this superlative setting, Robb Report editors, readers and VIPs experienced extraordinary accommodations and amenities, exceptional food and wine and the best service in Vegas. ARIA also served as a launching point from which Robb Report judges tested the latest and

greatest luxury SUVs, with top-of-theline models from Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Porsche, Range Rover, and other leading manufacturers.

Guests attending the SUV of the Year event received private check-in via luxury transportation to Sky Suites and were greeted by a living wall welcoming them to the property. Upon arrival to their room, guests received chocolates custom-made in the shape of an SUV—an unexpected indulgence from the ARIA Pastry team. Such details are what distinguish Sky Suites as the premier AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five-Star luxury resort in Las Vegas. The

tastefully opulent Sky Suites are available in one- and two-bedroom configurations and each boasts a spa-like bathroom, sweeping sky-high views of the Strip and separate living and sleeping areas.

When not testing the contending SUVs (see “The Driving Route”), guests enjoyed ARIA’s world-class restaurants and other exclusive amenities like the private Sky Pool, renowned fine art collection, and more. Throughout the event, they wined and dined at the hotel’s culinary staples, including BARDOT Brasserie and Sage, both of which created custom menus specially for the event’s guests. At BARDOT Brasserie, celebrity chef

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Michael Mina creates classic French cuisine with a contemporary twist. In addition to dinner—with such highlights as steak frites, French onion soup with Périgord trule and duck wings à l’orange—BARDOT Brasserie offers a renowned weekend brunch. From an assortment of house-made pastries and French cheeses to a wide selection of fresh seafood and its signature oversized brioche French toast with vanilla mascarpone, it may be the best brunch in Vegas.

At Sage, James Beard Award–winning chef Shawn McClain serves up globally inspired creative American cuisine. The restaurant has received multiple accolades, and its menu of artisanal meats, sustainable seafood and farm-to-table produce is a refreshing indulgence in Sin City. After hours, Sage’s late-night lounge features live music and what many consider the best cocktail menu in Las Vegas. The venue was a welcome refuge for Robb Report’s guests after a long day of testing contenders for 2017’s SUV of the Year. ARIASKYSUITES.COM

Beginning at ARIA’s north entrance, guests drove the fleet of contenders—the Bentley Bentayga, BMW X5 M, Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, Mercedes AMG GLS63, Porsche Macan Turbo, Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic, and Volvo XC90 T8 Excellence—about 30 minutes ARIA from the Strip to the beautiful RESORT Red Rock Canyon National & CASINO Conservation Area. From there, the route followed the one-way scenic loop through Red Rock Canyon, where the Nevada mountains frame the gorgeous desert scenery.

This setting gave guests the chance to put the SUVs through their RED ROCK CANYON paces, testing NATIONAL everything CONSERVATION from power AREA and drivetrain to cabin comforts and infotainment systems.

The rugged beauty of the Nevada desert was an apt playground for the most elite group of full-size luxury vehicles on the road today.

In honor of awards season, we headed to the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel in formal attire designed for a fabulous evening.

NIGHT MOVES Photography by IAN MORRISON Styling by ALEX BADIA

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Brunello Cucinelli (brunellocucinelli.com) wool vest and pants, and cotton dress shirt; Bottega Veneta (bottegaveneta.com) bow tie; Chopard (chopard.com) watch and cuff links; Caputo & Co. (caputoandco .com) bracelets.

GUT TER CREDITS

Kiton (kiton.it) wool jacket; Ralph Lauren Purple Label (ralphlauren .com) cotton tuxedo shirt; Thomas Pink (thomaspink.com) bow tie; Turnbull & Asser (turnbullandasser .com) pocket square; Tiffany & Co. (tiffany .com) cuff links; Chopard (chopard .com) watch; Caputo & Co. (caputoandco.com) bracelets.

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Marni (marni.com) dress of polyester, nylon, and silk, and earrings; Lynn Ban (lynnban.com) silver-anddiamond rings.

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ON HIM: Ralph Lauren (ralphlauren.com) corduroy jacket and wool pants; Pal Zileri (palzileri.com) wool-silk turtleneck; Hermès (hermes.com) silk scarf; Gucci (gucci.com) shoes. ON HER: Vera Wang (verawang.com) wool top and trousers; Christian Louboutin (christianlouboutin.com) wedge shoes; Blumarine (blumarine.com) earrings.

ON HIM: Burberry (burberry.com) velvet blazer and wool pants; Brioni (brioni.com) cotton dress shirt; Brunello Cucinelli (brunellocucinelli .com) bow tie; Tom Ford (tomford.com) silk cummerbund; Chopard (chopard.com) watch. ON HER: Narciso Rodriguez (narcisorodriguez .com) paillette and tulle embroidered dress; Martin Katz (martinkatz.com) diamond earrings.

Favourbrook at Mr Porter (mrporter.com) wool tuxedo jacket; Dsquared2 (dsquared2.com) cotton dress shirt; Canali (canali .com) bow tie; Tom Ford at Mr Porter (mrporter.com) silk scarf; Tiffany & Co. (tiffany.com) watch.

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ON HER: Dior (dior.com) tulle dress; Noudar (noudar.com) gold-anddiamond choker; Joelle (joellejewellery.com) goldand-diamond bracelet; Djula (djula.fr) gold-anddiamond ring. ON HIM: Gucci (gucci.com) wooland-polyester stretch twill tuxedo, bow tie, and cummerbund; Tom Ford (tomford.com) cotton dress shirt; Chopard (chopard .com) watch; Caputo & Co. (caputoandco .com) bracelets.

ON HER: Jil Sander (jilsander.com) silk crepe dress; Roger Vivier (rogervivier.com) sandals; Marni (marni.com) earrings. ON HIM: Tom Ford (tomford.com) silk jacket with satin lining, wool pants with satin detail, cotton dress shirt, and satin cummerbund; Thomas Pink (thomaspink .com) bow tie; Gucci (gucci.com) shoes.

Kiton (kiton.com) wool tuxedo; Ralph Lauren (ralphlauren.com) cotton tuxedo shirt; Thomas Pink (thomaspink.com) bow tie; Prada (prada .com) silk cummerbund; Tiffany & Co. (tiffany .com) watch; Caputo & Co. (caputoandco .com) bracelets.

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ON HIM: Richard James (richard-james.com) wool tuxedo pants; Brooks Brothers (brooksbrothers .com) suspenders; Thomas Pink (thomaspink.com) bow tie; Chopard (chopard .com) watch; Caputo & Co. (caputoandco.com) bracelets. ON HER: Bottega Veneta (bottegaveneta.com) silver-and-silk-lurex jacquard dress; Richard James (richard-james.com) wool tuxedo jacket; Turnbull & Asser (turnbullandasser .com) pocket square.

Men’s market editor: Luis Campuzano Women’s market editor: Emily Mercer Models: Josh Beech, Sydney Roper Photographer’s assistant: Rion Fisher Makeup: Melissa Murdick Hair: Nathaniel Dezan Photographed at the Hollywood Roosevelt

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Clase Azul Ultra Is the Ultimate Holiday Must-Have for Tequila Connoisseurs A true collector’s tequila, this extra aùejo is the gift that keeps on giving.

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For aicionados of ine spirits, no ordinary bottle will satiate their taste for quality, especially as a holiday git. On its own, a git of crat tequila is a unique and unexpected gesture, but a git of the world’s very inest tequila will set the standard for many holidays to come.

Clase Azul Ultra tequila is revered by collectors and connoisseurs, including by Robb Report as a Best of the Best spirit, and will elevate any holiday celebration with its quality and exclusivity.

Clase Azul Ultra is a super-premium extra-añejo tequila aged for ive years in Spanish oak casks that previously held sherry—similar barrels to those that mature some of the inest single-malt scotch whiskies from Scotland’s Speyside region. Prior to barrel maturation, Clase Azul Ultra derives its distillate from hand-selected, organic blue Weber agaves from Clase Azul’s pristine agave ields in Jalisco, Mexico. he agave plants mature for nine years before harvesting and then Clase Azul slow cooks the piñas for 72 hours in traditional stone ovens, ater which they are fermented with Clase Azul’s proprietary strain of yeast and distilled in traditional pot stills. One of the most attractive characteristics of Ultra is that its decanter includes three precious metals: the paint is platinum; the agave-shaped medallion is 0.925-sterling silver; and the label is 24-karat gold. he resulting liquid is locally bottled in hand-made and handpainted ceramic decanters, each of which takes Clase Azul artisans two weeks to complete. For Clase Azul Ultra, production is limited to numbered batches of 100, which dedicated collectors quickly secure upon release and display as works of art unto themselves— and for good reason. Clase Azul Ultra ofers a rich and complex bouquet of aromas, sooner associated with a ine cognac than with most tequilas. But on the palate, Clase Azul Ultra is an agave-lovers delight, with notes of honey and vanilla that subtlety complement lavors of toasted oak, cinnamon, and curry.

Clase Azul Ultra sets the standard for extra-añejo tequila and will surpass the expectations of even ardent agave aicionados. Whether for a git or celebration, Clase Azul Ultra is the ultimate must-have tequila for collectors and connoisseurs—to be enjoyed for many holidays to come. ClaseAzul.com

Please enjoy responsibly. © 2017 Tequila Clase Azul.

As he prepares for his fourth Olympic Games, the world’s most-medaled snowboarder is hitting his stride as an arbiter of city style.

By B R U C E WA L L I N Photography by R O B B R I C E Styling by L E I L A B A B O I

h o u g h fa m e d f o r h i s e x p l o i ts o n f r o z e n h a l f - p i p e s, Shaun White is more at home in the city than on the slopes. Raised in San Diego, the two-time Olympic gold-medal-winning snowboarder now splits his time between Los Angeles and New York. His urban upbringing has informed an inimitable sense of style, one that’s more rock-and-roller (he’s also a guitarist whose former band played at Lollapalooza) than baggy-pants boarder. The 31-year-old’s varied and often vibrant wardrobe choices earned him a spot on this year’s Sports Illustrated Fashionable 50, a list of the sporting world’s best-dressed denizens. He is also one of the more active entrepreneurs among athletes, with ventures that have included everything from clothing lines for Target and Macy’s to his acquisition of the international music-festival-meets-snowboarding-competition Air + Style. Robb Report spoke with the trendsetting snowboarder—during a break from training for the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea— about his ever-evolving sense of style.

Prada calf-leather-and-shearling jacket, $5,100, gauge wool sweater, $920, wool pants, $780, shell necklace, $850, and fur belt, $1,050 (prada.com); Garrett Leight California Optical Van Buren sunglasses, $365 (garrettleight.com); Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36 yellowgold watch, price upon request (rolex.com); XIV Karats Yellow Gold Miami link bracelet, price upon request (xivkarats.com).

“Everyone else is wearing beanies and hoodies, and I’m in a suit.

I looked different, and I remember enjoying that.”

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Shaun White’s Way

Sponsors dictated what you wore for most of your childhood. How did you end up becoming a fashion risk-taker?

I always rode for companies until about 16. I would just go into the warehouse and walk through these industrial hallways full of boxes, and I’d look at the picture of the shirt on the box and grab the size. If I could reach it, it was probably my size. I did that for years until I started doing the clothing line with Target. The wild part was that I was the designer for Target. Obviously, I was encouraged to wear the clothes I was making—and I wanted to because I was making them—but at that point, I realized, “Wow, I can wear whatever I want.”

That opened me up to shopping.

At 16, I had a bit of money, and I had the ability to travel. I was in Japan, I was in New York, I was in these crazy places, and I just started buying the things that I liked. For the first time ever, I was like, “Well, what would I wear?”

When did you start developing a taste for tailored clothing?

Even before the line for Target, my brother and I had started designing the White Collection for Burton. Jackets, pants, helmets, boards, boots—the whole deal. The first boot we did, my brother took a quilted puf print from a Chanel bag and put it on the panel of the snowboard boot. It blew up right away because nobody had really done that. So we were inspired by the high-end brands early on and started bringing some of those ideas to the snowboarding world.

The snowboarding world still isn’t exactly a haven of high fashion.

In my early days as a snowboarder, I would sometimes show up at events in a suit, and people were like, “What the fuck?” It’s a lineup, and everyone else is wearing beanies and hoodies, and I’m in a suit. I looked diferent, and I remember enjoying that and it encouraging me to embellish my look.

How would you describe your style now?

I kind of just go with whatever feels right. It’s a hard thing to describe, but I like to dress up on a lot of occasions because in the world that I come from—the sports world—you just don’t see it that often. People don’t realize that even though I’m in sports in the mountains, I’ve never once in my life lived in the mountains. I have a place in New York, a place in L.A., and that’s where I spend my time. I’m going to red-carpet events and things like that, so I really enjoy dressing it up.

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“People were asking me, ‘What happened?’

I was like, ‘Honestly, dude, I went shopping on my day off, and I’m super tired. I blew it.’”

Alexander McQueen black double-felt shearling-collar coat, $4,853, dark-gray mélange flannel single-breasted waistcoat with straps, $765, ivory silk shirt, price upon request, and black wool serge flared cropped trousers, price upon request (alexandermcqueen.com).

Shaun White’s Way Speaking of music, with your Air + Style festivals and everything else you have going on, how do you have time to train for another Olympics?

Any particular brands you prefer?

For a while, Saint Laurent was really speaking to me because it had a mix of high-end. You could get suits and things there, but they had a rock-and-roll edge to them.

Currently, Burberry is making great stuf—awesome suits and coats. When I’m in a rush, I get Japanese brands like N. Hoolywood because they fit me perfectly of the rack. To be honest, I do all my shopping overseas. If I’m not getting fitted by a brand, I do all my stuf overseas.

This will be my fourth. I won the first two but didn’t do well in Sochi, and it’s amazing how losing can motivate you.

There are a lot of things that I’m approaching diferently this time around. Has it gotten easier? A little bit, just because I’m taking the necessary steps—like I worked out this morning. I didn’t work out before.

Having an agent, working out, doing all that stuf was not cool at all for a snowboarder. But it’s accepted now, and technically I am an athlete.

Out of everyone in the gym, I really need to do these exercises so that I can compete.

What are some of your favorite cities for shopping?

Tokyo, Seoul. Last winter I was in Korea, and I had 2 days of practice, then a day of, and then the qualifying day of finals. So I did my 2 days of practice, then went shopping in Seoul, then came back and competed.

I got second at the event, and people were asking me, “What happened?”

I was like, “Honestly, dude, I went shopping on my day of, and I’m super tired. I blew it. I’ll take it more seriously next time.”

I also love shopping in New

York—or at least getting ideas in New York. And Sydney’s got a pretty good take on things right now. They have some really cool bands coming out of Australia like Tame Impala, and I always feel like the music influences the local style in those areas.

HIGH HOPES:

White—shown here at the Turin Olympics in 2006—is hoping to take home his third gold medal this winter in PyeongChang.

You’re also an accomplished competitor in skateboarding, which is becoming an Olympic sport in Tokyo in 2020.

After Korea, I think I’m going to drop everything and try to make the skateboarding team.

Stella McCartney tiger-print mohair Kristoff jumper, $1,540 (stellamccartney .com); Garrett Leight California Optical Van Buren sunglasses, $365 (garrettleight.com); XIV Karats Yellow Gold Rope chain necklace and Yellow Gold Diamond Pavé Miami link necklace, price upon request (xivkarats.com).

STYLE ASSISTANT:

TOP: JOE KLAMAR /AFP/GET T Y IMAGES

Coco Ogburn

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cd: ROBB AARON GORDON

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SUV of the YEAR

The first annual Robb Report SUV of the Year competition recognizes the automotive industry’s fastest-growing segment.

The Rocky Road to Perfection

hile not as absolute as the extinction of the dinosaurs, modern sedans are rapidly becoming withered branches on the automotive evolutionary chart.

Replacing them as the next class of vehicle to rule the earth is the SUV, a design more adaptable to a new set of challenges faced by today’s road warriors. Situations that find even the most commodious sedan coming up short are better met by more versatile vehicles; thus, the Age of the SUV is upon us. What crawled out of the mud a half-century ago as a truck has evolved into a high-performance conveyance of the most opulent kind.

This metamorphosis was inevitable. Even Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce will soon have SUVs fattening their bottom lines while satisfying customer demand for performance and luxury, whatever the terrain. Not that many of these vehicles will ever turn a wheel in ofroad anger: It’s enough for most owners simply to know they can.

To test the mettle of seven of the most interesting SUVs for 2018, our editorial team and a group of readers convened in Las Vegas this fall. Our home base was Aria Resort & Casino, ofering impeccable accommodations and ample space for staging of our motorized stars.

From there, led by our Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department motorcycle escorts, we cruised the boulevard, hopped onto the highway, and rolled into Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Just 20 minutes— yet geologic periods—away from Sin City, the vista of Red Rock encompasses nearly 200,000 acres in the Mojave Desert and features a 13-mile scenic drive on roads that snake through a Technicolor landscape of sheer clifs and plunging canyons. The road was clear, allowing us to better compare and contrast each SUV. While most driving was done on the asphalt, we occaWHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS… sionally detoured into Has a lot to do with food—a fact aptly the dirt, where the grit and gravel gave a taste of demonstrated by our hosts at Aria, who the more authentic uses feted us at chef Michael Mina’s Bardot Brasserie and Sage restaurants for two to which each of these memorable evenings. Mina, who was one of machines might be put. our 16 SUV of the Year judges, turns out to Our 16 guests from be a bit of a car enthusiast himself, as well RR1 (Robb Report’s as one of the most talented and agreeable membership club) chefs on the planet. —R.R. served as proverbial guinea pigs in this efort to evaluate the high end of this robust class of automobiles. We’ve included SUVs in our Car of the Year events, but in that context, even the most deserving SUV faces an uphill battle against exotic supercars and elaborately appointed sedans. With a level playing field, we decided, we could more honestly assess each machine. And so, we earnestly set about selecting the first Robb Report SUV of the Year. —Robert Ross

Photography by Paul Dimalanta

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SUV of the YEAR

Bentley Bentayga

No.1

y

aving garnered nine out of 16 possible votes for SUV of the Year, Bentley’s Bentayga was a runaway winner. The landslide could be easily dismissed as a by-product of our big blue beast’s not-insignificant price—between $50,000 and $140,000 more than any other high-end SUV yet on the market. But there’s more at play, starting with a lavish fit and finish and features that set any Bentley apart from most other luxury marques. Its powerful W-12 engine, punctuated by emphatic thrust, confers a grandeur unmatched by any V-8. “This car rocks my world,” confessed Gigi Barto, whose family garage harbors machines as exciting as a recent Ferrari and as ancient as a Bugatti Type 51 racer. “I definitely need this car.” Marla Lefton expressed an even more urgent desire, exclaiming, “I’d sell my husband for this SUV!” Having experienced the Bentayga (on other excursions) in sand dunes and on obstacle courses, this writer can vouch for the fact that the vehicle possesses bona fide of-road credentials. Never mind that few buyers will ever get a Bentayga of a paved road—or, for that matter, of their dealer’s lot for anything near its base MSRP. Once loaded with accoutrements befitting a British flagship—including the available $174,000 dash-mounted Breitling tourbillon—Bentley’s brute can easily pin the needle north of $350,000. Which is why the Bentley seemed particularly appropriate for our drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and back—an expression of “high rolling” in the literal sense. Reflecting on the prototypical Bentayga owner, chef Michael Mina asked, “What does this say about its owner? A true boss.” Whether one owns a desert gold mine with shafts or one with a sea of slot machines, the Bentley Bentayga clearly hits the jackpot as Robb Report’s SUV of the Year. —Robert Ross

ENGINE: 6-liter twin-turbo W-12 TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic POWER: 600 bhp TORQUE: 664 ft lbs ZERO TO 60 MPH: 4 seconds TOP SPEED: 187 mph CURB WEIGHT: 5,379 lbs BASE MSRP: $229,100

“Get the defibrillator! My heart has stopped. . . . I loved the car!”

—Susan Frazier

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Macan Turbo with Performance Package

SUV of the YEAR

Porsche No.2

o call the porsche Macan Turbo with Performance Package an SUV is certainly a stretch—and not because of its more compact comportment compared to the rest of our competitive field. Sure, in a class picture it would be the student sent to the front so as not to be dwarfed by the big kids, but this cutting-edge crossover stands head and shoulders above peers when it comes to performance. Once behind the wheel, where I found myself while traveling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, I discovered that the turbocharged Macan is really a Porsche 911 on growth hormone—a racer with room for toys.

“The Turbo’s performance is second to none,” says celebrated chef Michael Mina, one of our SUV of the Year judges. “It was the best drive of the day.” The smaller sibling to Porsche’s Cayenne, the all-wheel-drive Macan Turbo left the other SUVs in the dust when we took it of-road at Red Rock Canyon. No surprise, as its maneuverability and handling are enhanced by Porsche Traction Management and Porsche Active Suspension Management systems, as well as the optional $9,000 carbon-ceramic brake package worn by our example. Already a fan of the German marque, fellow driver Zane Edwards was duly impressed: “Porsche is doing everything right, and the Macan is no exception.” —Viju Mathew

ENGINE: 3.6-liter twin-turbo V-6 TRANSMISSION: 7-speed PDK automatic POWER: 440 hp TORQUE: 442 ft lbs ZERO TO 60 MPH: 4.2 seconds TOP SPEED: 169 mph CURB WEIGHT: 4,244 lbs BASE MSRP: $87,700

“Damn hot.” —Craig Barto

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he preferred suv of the horsey crowd, landed gentry, and elite shotgunners has been around in various incarnations for nearly half a century. Now, Land Rover’s flagship goes to the fitness club and comes out as the Dynamic, a more precision-focused version developed by Special Vehicle Operations, the performance division within Jaguar Land Rover lately responsible for some pretty neat machines. This big Rover wants for nothing, combining of-road capability with a tight chassis and a spine-tingling, supercharged V-8 engine. Car of the Year regular Michael Ingram called it “the best-handling of-road SUV that we drove.” Inside, the capacious, coddling cabin rivals the interior of any premium sedan for comfort, amenities, and artisanship. The 24-way adjustable seats upholstered in diamond-quilted leather and the suede-cloth headliner in ebony challenge one to imagine this SUV taking its owner anywhere but the bank—or the cleaners. “Tell me where I can get a discount coupon for this car!,” judge Marla Lefton entreated.

Owners like their Range Rovers for many reasons, not least of which is that until recently it was impossible to be seen with a more expensive SUV. But, as the saying goes, “Build it and they will come.” So we’re likely to see an even more opulent Range Rover as the competition moves the needle—and prices—ever higher.

—Robert Ross

ENGINE: 5-liter supercharged V-8 TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic POWER: 557 hp TORQUE: 516 ft lbs ZERO TO 60 MPH: 5.1 seconds TOP SPEED: 130 mph CURB WEIGHT: 5,505 lbs BASE MSRP: $177,200

“Get outta my way, I’m King of the Road.” —Lu Riseman

SUV of the YEAR

No.3

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his writer’s favorite pick was the BMW for the simple reason that it lives up to the sport in SUV while delivering suicient utility to be worthy of the name. Not too big and not too small, the X5 M balances all the characteristics that make it a practical conveyance while remaining an uncompromising performance machine in the spirit of every BMW with an M appended to the model name. My driving partner, Zane Edwards, called the M “a four-door sports car with room for the golf clubs. The Ultimate Driving SUV.” Part of this BMW’s goodness is its twinturbo V-8 engine, a staple in many of the marque’s bigger machines. BMWs are typically more about driving dynamics and sporting performance than pure luxury, and the X5 M is no exception. There’s ample comfort and plenty of leather, but these are presented in a way that seems to say, “Business before pleasure, and BMW’s business is all about driving.” Spooling up the turbos and flicking of paddle shifts reveal that this SUV was developed on the track—and on whatever simulated lunar terrain BMW engineers subject their designs to in sorting out of-road attributes. Although the X5 M acquitted itself capably on some truly awful unpaved surfaces, I found myself wanting to throttle the dickens out of this SUV whenever the opportunity presented itself. —Robert Ross

ENGINE: 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic POWER: 567 hp TORQUE: 553 ft lbs ZERO TO 60 MPH: 4 seconds TOP SPEED: 155 mph (limited) CURB WEIGHT: 5,260 lbs BASE MSRP: $100,700

“A perfect fusion of an SUV and a German sports car.” —Michael Ingram

SUV of the YEAR

No.4 158

DECEMBER 2017

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SUV of the YEAR

No.5

GLS 63

Mercedes-AMG or what seems like an eternity, the Mercedes-Benz S Class has represented the gold standard of full-size luxury sedans, outselling every other European marque.

But what if Mercedes-Benz drivers clamored for an S-Class disguised as an SUV? The GLS Series is just that—a high-riding, Bahn-storming German juggernaut that can barrel down the Vegas Strip with the urgency of a gangster’s getaway car thanks to its handbuilt AMG engine that doubles as a work of fine art when not underway. Parked next to others of its ilk, the GLS 63 is a big SUV and, in AMG guise, has the look of a bodybuilder in a well-tailored suit.

Unlike other luxury SUVs, the GLS 63 has three rows of seats and can accommodate seven adult passengers. Zane Edwards called it “the almost-perfect seven-passenger vehicle.” Meanwhile, Cary Lefton mused, “Makes me want to have a young family again.” (Better not share that with Mrs. Lefton.) Despite its size, and the fact that no one will mistake the road manners of the GLS 63 for those of a Mercedes-Benz SL, it is possible to toss Mercedes’s biggest SUV into curves, working the paddle shifters to advantage and exploiting the rear-biased, all-wheel-drive system that favors handling dynamics when a driver gets into a sporting mood. The GLS 63 dispels any notion that hauling the brood and enjoying the ride are mutually exclusive concepts. —Robert Ross

ENGINE: 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8 TRANSMISSION: 7-speed automatic POWER: 577 hp TORQUE: 561 ft lbs ZERO TO 60 MPH: 4.5 seconds TOP SPEED: 168 mph CURB WEIGHT: 5,754 lbs BASE MSRP: $124,100

“Found my Zen moment, at peace with the road.” —Marla Lefton 160

DECEMBER 2017

f we compared the SUV of the Year candidates based solely on brute force, the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk would be not merely the lone gun in a knife fight but a cruise missile. Such muscle is to be expected from a beast with the same heart found in the Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcats—a 707 hp, supercharged V-8 developed by the Street and Racing Technology (SRT) engineering team at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. “It’s a Jeep with a monster lurking under the hood,” says Zane Edwards. “The engine and exhaust notes are truly addictive.” The power train’s soundtrack also resonated with judge Gigi Barto, who referred to it as “nice and throaty.” For Barto, the Trackhawk was also part time machine: “I feel like a teenager driving it!,” she exclaimed.

Admittedly, the majority of SUVs we gathered together have a greater chance of getting dirty from forays to the farmers market, toppled macchiatos, or rambunctious toddlers than rugged terrain.

Not the Trackhawk. With five dynamic driving modes—including one to tow and another for snow—rough play is in its DNA. Those looking for more flash than dash, however, should turn elsewhere.

While the Trackhawk’s interior aesthetic and appointments are downright debonair compared to the rest of the Jeep gene pool, it still needs some refinements to acquire its country-club credentials.

But really, where’s the sport in that? —Viju Mathew

ENGINE: 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic POWER: 707 hp TORQUE: 645 ft lbs ZERO TO 60 MPH: 3.5 seconds TOP SPEED: 180 mph CURB WEIGHT: 5,363 lbs BASE MSRP: $86,995

“The muscle car of SUVs.” —Michael Mina

SUV of the YEAR

No.6

Jeep

Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

162

DECEMBER 2017

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SUV of the YEAR

No.7

XC90 T8 Excellence grew up bouncing around—sans seat belt—in the back of my family’s Volvo station wagon, circa 1970s, and so have memoryladen love for the Swedish marque. That’s why it was a pleasant surprise when one of its models made it into our exclusive SUV lineup. After all, Volvo is usually associated with reliable utility rather than luxury. That soon may change, thanks to the XC90 T8 Excellence—an entry that, for the most part, lives up to its name.

Perhaps more than any other SUV in the contest, the XC90 T8 Excellence—the only hybrid in our automotive mix—had to be judged when seated at the back, as that experience is the vehicle’s raison d’être. To refine the ride, the front-seat configuration is mirrored at the rear, which limits carrying capacity to only four passengers and ensures extra room for a host of creature comforts.

“Between the Champagne cooler, rocking sound system, and massaging leather seats, the Excellence makes you feel like you are in a private club,” says judge Michael Ingram. His wife, Allison Ingram, was equally enamored: “The Volvo was the big surprise of the day for me! You can have a party on the way to the party in this bad boy.”

But integrated beverage chiller (with crystal stemware), 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system, dual touchscreen infotainment displays, and Orrefors crystal gear shift aside, some participants remained a bit more apathetic, dismissing the conveyance as “conservative” and “safe.” In our opinion, however, such descriptors remain Volvo’s badge of distinction. —Viju Mathew

164

DECEMBER 2017

Volvo ENGINE: Twin-engine; plug-in hybrid electric with turbo and supercharged inline-4 gasoline TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic POWER: 400 hp TORQUE: 472 ft lbs ZERO TO 60 MPH: 5.3 seconds TOP SPEED: 132 mph (limited) CURB WEIGHT: 5,159 lbs BASE MSRP: $104,900

“Move over Rover, there’s a new kid on the block.”

— Allison Ingram

You can find a two-story home anywhere.

Here, you’ll find a lifetime of stories.

Enchanting family moments are part of everyday life at Golden Oak at Walt DisneyWorld Resort.

Right now, you can live in this luxurious private community with legendary Disney service featuring custom homes from $2 million.Welcome home to where the magic is endless.

Golden Oak Realty | 407.939.5713 | DisneyGoldenOak.com/Inspired Obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, RI WKLV SURSHUW\ 7KLV GRHV QRW FRQVWLWXWH DQ Rij HU WR VHOO RU D VROLFLWDWLRQ WR EX\ UHDO HVWDWH WR 5HVLGHQWV RI DQ\ VWDWH RU MXULVGLFWLRQ ZKHUH SURKLELWHG E\ ODZ RU ZKHUH SULRU UHJLVWUDWLRQ LV UHTXLUHG EXW KDV QRW \HW EHHQ IXOı OOHG )RU 1< 5HVLGHQWV 7+( &203/(7( 2))(5,1* 7(506 )25 7+( 6$/( 2) /276 $5( ,1 7+( &36 $33/,&$7,216 $9$,/$%/( )520 2))(525 *2/'(1 2$. '(9(/230(17 //& ),/( 126 &3 3KDVHV DQG DQG &3 3KDVH

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EVERY MAN HA S A STORY.

The Aztecs had gold in abundance, yet traveled into our American Southwest to find turquoise.

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ALL PRESENT TS, GREAT AND SMA ALL n ROBB REPORT editors think big our annual Ultimate Gift Guide, the results hings, sometimes paradoxically small. Great th packages. Though the eggs are tiny, the ccaviar after all, often co from Royal Belggian Caviar, for example, delivers profound flavors—an nd the recipientt off thiss delectable gift will receive an ample kilogram per m month.

Sculptor-turned--jeweler David Yurman has transformed some of his greeatest d gemstones from around the globe—into intricately rendered finds—rare, vivid rings for the ston ne lover on your list. And watchmaker Louis Moinet too ok the grand ideas thatt iinformed one of its table clocks from 1817 and downsized them into a one-of-a-k kind wristwatch. ¶ Still, for some, bigger is always betteer, and these individuals may want to explore the world from the deck of a cu ustom Mystique yach designed by Gill Schmid, or aboard one of the magnificcently appointed vessells in Ritz-Carlton’s new fleet. Others may wish to custom mize a new w Rolls-Roycee Phantom VIII or be the sole driver of a museum-owned d 1931 Bugatti for a day. y. ¶ So whether your friends and family dream on a largee scale or prefer more su ubtle stocking stufers, we ofer here the ultimate inspiraations and ideas to mak ke this season the brightest and most joyous ever.

R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

169

427 Daytona Coupe

427 Competition Cobra

arti ng at

1 3 million $1.

Full-Throttle Three Shelby race cars: 427 Competition Cobra, 427 Daytona Coupe, and GT350R IRS.

DECE

BER 20

The ultimate iteration of Carroll Shelby’s competition cars, each is a limited-series continuation, and the GT350R is built by members of the original Shelby Racing team.

All three VINs are authorized

by Carroll Shelby International, and each is the last VIN in the series.

In the mid-1960s, Carroll Shelby’s competition division, Shelby Racing, created three of the most significant Ford-powered race cars in history.

Few were made, and none saw their full potential realized as Shelby shifted focus to Ford’s red-hot GT40 racing program. Now, Carroll Shelby International has authorized three builders to continue production of the originals (ofered here as a package), with each bearing the final serial number among the original assigned VINs. The Shelby 427 Competition Cobra race car was developed in 1964 for FIA series racing, with 100

STEVE JOST PHOTOGRAPHY

to :

e Speed Demon

GT350R IRS

examples planned and about 68 made.

Thirty-two new examples, priced at $500,000, will be manufactured by DenBeste Motorsports and bear VINs from the remaining 32 assigned to the CSX 3000 series. The handrolled aluminum body will sit on original-style frame rails with an aluminum side-oiler 7-liter V-8 built by the Carroll Shelby Engine Company.

The Ferrari-conquering Shelby Daytona Coupe is legendary, with only six built from 1964 to 1965 and each powered by a 4.7-liter V-8 engine. Yet Shelby flirted with a secret weapon, fitting the CSX 2286 with a 7-liter big block before finally

refitting it with a 4.7. Shelby will build six examples of the 427 Daytona Coupe in bare aluminum (the buyer of this gift can also have it painted)— showing of the brilliance of the original design—powered by 600 hp, aluminum, 7-liter V-8 engines from the Carroll Shelby Engine Company.

Priced at $500,000, each will bear a CSX 2600-series VIN. Perhaps the most famous Shelby was the 1965 Shelby GT350.

About 562 were made, and of these, 36 “R” models were constructed for racing. During development, a 17-year-old shop mechanic named Jim Marietta fitted one example with

an experimental independent rear suspension (IRS) to evaluate handling improvements. Unfortunately, that IRS never made it onto subsequent models. In 2014, three members of the initial Shelby Racing team—Pete Brock, Ted Sutton, and Marietta— founded the Original Venice Crew to build 36 authorized continuation GT350R models, each with the “IRS that never was.” Beginning with an authentic 1965 Mustang body and powered by a 4.7-liter (or optional 5.4- or 5.9-liter) V-8 engine from the Carroll Shelby Engine Company, each car is fabricated by original team members and their assistants working

out of Carroll Shelby International’s headquarters in Los Angeles. Bearing VINs OVC/SFM 001 through 036, the last VIN is priced at $300,000 and is assigned to our unrepeatable Ultimate Gift ofering. —Robert Ross Shelby American Inc., info@shelbyamerican.com, 702.942.7325, shelbyamerican.com

TERMS AND CONDITIONS Last-in-series VINs are available only with the purchase of all three cars.

R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

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to :

The Insatiable Explorer sta rti ng at

Extreme Base Camp $110 million

Part of the allure a expedition s t abil ability to use it as a home se literal jumping-of point—for overwater and underwater exploration in the areas you drop anchor.

This spectacular gift for the Ultimate Gift Guide not only comes with a beautiful, well-thought-out adventure yacht, but for Robb Report readers only, the recipient of this gift will also receive complimentary custom tender designs. And this for a vessel that can house several tenders—a fleet of tenders, if you will.

The design of the superyacht, named Mystique, includes stowage space for an Icon aircraft, a Triton submersible, a sailing catamaran, an Interceptor tender, and personal watercraft such as Jet Skis, a dive boat, a limo tender, and an additional luxury tender—perhaps the one designed just for the gift's recipient. If on-the-water exploration and transportation are not enough, Mystique is also designed with a helipad and a fully enclosed helicopter garage, both of which can adapt to large helicopters. The helipad deck can even be converted into a half-size basketball court.

Onboard diversions and amenities include a double-height beach club, where guests can enjoy the water at sea level, and a guest gym and spa that overlook the large—and sinkable—swimming pool. The pool deck also comes complete with loungeers, umbrellas, and cabanas— think poolside p Miami or Saint Tropez. A couple of Jacuzzis will relax guests after a game of one-on-one or a mach hine workout, or perhaps just beforee their massage in the spa.

Myystique’s design anticipates flexibility, sustainability, and explorration—“traveling to the furthest corners c of the world in true luxuryy,” designer Veronika Schmid says. A steel hull and aluminum-alloy supersstructure will be built to Ice Class certification. c The yacht accommodattes 12 guests within an owner’s suite with w private outdoor deck and six gueest suites. Space for 25 crew members means that the guests’ every need w will be tended to.

“Th he layout allows for continuous transfo ormation of outdoor and indoor spacess,” Schmid explains. “The open decks can be used for tender and helicopterr storage or be transformed into

172

DECEMBER 2017

High-concept, one-of-a-kind, 251-foot explorer superyacht designed by New York–based Gill Schmid Design, to be built by Dörries Yachts of Germany.

Custom tender designs specific to the recipient.

large outdoor lounge or party spaces, featuring a sinkable pool and suicient open space for a large deejay and dance stage. This adaptability is part of what contributes to this vessel being so ideal for the charter market.”

Other flexible spaces include a beach club area that doubles as a tender garage, a pool area that doubles as the tender storage, and a helicopter landing area that serves as a dance floor or sports court.

Even culinary exploration is thoughtfully incorporated into the design with its sustainable “ocean farm.” The yacht’s solar panels help support hydroponic gardens, fish storage, and growing tanks. Additionally, Schmid says, “Food labs with adjacent test kitchens and chef tables ofer a completely new dining experience onboard.” Presumably, one or more of the 25 crew will be a chef and sous chef who will prepare gourmet cuisine to each guest’s desires and dietary needs.

Dining onboard can take place in any of several dining areas, including a 12-seat dining table aft on the deck above the swimming pool and adjacent to one of the hot tubs, with a full view of polar ice caps, tropical beaches, or whatever scenery the far reaches may deliver that day.

When asked who might be the perfect recipient of a gift such as this, Schmid replies, “The world traveler not limited by space or location.

Someone with an extreme and adventurous lifestyle who loves to entertain new ideas, new friends, and new destinations and—above all—new experiences.” —danielle cutler Gill Schmid Design, vschmid@ gillschmiddesign.com, 917.225.0562, gillschmiddesign.com gillschmiddesign com TERMS AND C ONDITIONS The build time for Mystique is about 3 years. y The ofer for complimentaryy Gill Schmid custom tender design sign plans is valid through the end of 2018.

201

R

7

to:

The Landlubber with Sea Legs starting at

$40 million

Turf and Surf

A 10,000-squarefoot private villa at Four Seasons Los Cabos at Costa Palmas.

A private yacht, 100foot dock, and yacht captain’s quarters.

An exclusive, invitation-only beach-and-yacht club membership.

The azure waters of the Sea of Cortez are just steps away from this glass-encased, 10,000-square-foot Four Seasons Private Beachfront Yacht Villa in Los Cabos.

Designed by Guerin Glass Architects to maximize the sun-drenched seaside location, the customizable home calls for a gourmet outdoor kitchen, swimming pools, and direct access to the sugary beachfront. The layout features six to seven en suite bedrooms with private outdoor decks, a sunken living room, and a formal dining room—plus, the architecture firm will work with the recipient to create a bespoke abode that matches his or her preferences. Floor-to-ceiling

walls of glass overlook the sea and Sierra de la Laguna mountain range, creating a natural transition between indoors and outdoors.

Though a one-of-a-kind beachfront villa is tempting on its own, what makes this gift truly stand out is the private yacht, 100-foot dock, and captain’s quarters in the backyard—all included in the home’s price and ideal for those who crave the open seas. The recipient will also enjoy an exclusive, invitation-only membership to the Costa Palmas Beach & Yacht Club.

The villa will be located within the 1,000-acre resort community of Costa Palmas, which includes a 2-mile

private beach, 250-slip marina, and Robert Trent Jones II–designed 18-hole golf course. Residents can move into the villa as early as the first quarter of 2019.

—Rebekah Bell Costa Palmas, info@costa palmas.com, 800.917.9115, costapalmas.com

TERMS AND CONDITIONS The purchase of the villa with yacht is subject to the project documents the recipient will be required to execute, including but not limited to sales contract, construction contract, and related addenda. The exact price will vary based on final specifications for both villa and yacht.

R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

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The Master of Craft starting at

$2,000

Crown Jewel

Surrounded by the lush greenery and bamboo forests of Bali’s central highlands, John Hardy’s sprawling jewelry workshop is a sort of utopia for its 700 artisans and employees, where much of the food that is served at the communal lunch table is grown on-site and where endless windows and open-air spaces immerse you in nature, even indoors. That Balinese spirit is imbued in the brand’s jewelry, which is instantly recognizable for its unique textures, surfaces, and flexible forms that feel smooth on the skin. The company maintains its distinct sensibility through traditional skills that include hammering metal surfaces (a technique known in Balinese as palu), hand-weaving gold chains, and hand-carving animals and shapes. The recipient of this gift will have an opportunity to learn these approaches firsthand in the first Ubud edition of John Hardy’s Artisan in Residence Workshop Masterclass, where he or she will work alongside the company’s craftspeople to create his or her own piece of jewelry. The intimate experience will include an exclusive behindthe-scenes workshop tour and lunch

with the design team and artists.

After gaining a deeper appreciation for the possibilities of the various pjewelry-making techniques, the recip ient will again meet with the design team to collaborate on a unique piecee.

From a simple woven bracelet to solid-gold bangles, a gem-encrusted necklace to a statement ring—the possibilities are limitless.

The experience is enhanced by a 2-night stay at the nearby Como Uma Ubud hotel, surrounded by rice paddies and rich cultural sites wheree visitors can tour centuries-old palacees and temples and shop local markets that celebrate the country’s rich heritage of artisanship.

—jill newman John Hardy, Trisna Dewi, trisna.dewi@johnhardy.com TERMS AND CONDITIONS Price will depend upon the gemstones and complexity of the jewelry design. Ofer valid through December 2018.

A visit to John Hardyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Balinese workshops to learn traditional artisan techniques.

Collaboration with the design team and craftspeople on a bespoke jewelry piece.

Two nights at the Como Uma Ubud hotel.

R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

177

e Perfect Gi

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to :

The World Traveler sta rti ng at

$2.3 million

While plenty of cruise lines bill their ships as floating hotels, few truly live up to such lofty claims. RitzCarlton, however, is charting luxurious new territory with its nascent Yacht Collection, a trio of lavish liners that will soon bring the hospitality brand’s signature whiteglove service and unrivaled amenities to the high seas.

For one Robb Report reader, the long-awaited union of five-star hotels and oceangoing adventure will come with the ultimate in exclusivity, as Ritz-Carlton ofers the rare opportunity to charter its first-ever yacht on a bespoke 5-night itinerary.

Aided by Ritz-Carlton’s yacht concierge, the recipient of this gift will be able to personalize virtually every aspect of his or her journey,

A customized 5-night charter of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s first-ever luxury vessel.

from determining the vessel’s route (choosing from ports throughout the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Latin America, Northern Europe, Canada, and New England) to selecting as many as 297 family and friends to join the voyage. Each port of call will come with a host of curated on-demand experiences, from cooking classes in Tuscany and diving excursions in Belize to exclusive access to events like the Palio di Siena and Cayman Cookout.

The experience aboard Ritz-Carlton’s 626-foot yacht will be equally one of a kind, with private dinners crafted by chef Sven Elverfeld of Germany’s Michelin threestar Aqua and signature cocktails mixed by Bob Peters of the Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte’s Punch Room. Passengers will also have their run of the Ritz-Carlton Spa, three swimming pools, a pleasure cruiser, and 149 suites, the most lavish of which will be the two 1,883-square-foot penthouse suites (with their own private plunge pools)— no doubt reserved for the lucky Robb Report reader who sails away with this spectacular gift.

—jackie caradonio

Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Douglas Prothero, douglas.prothero@ritz -carltonyachtcollection.com, ritzcarlton.com TERMS AND C ONDITIONS Travel dates subject to availability.

Must be booked by May 2018 for travel in 2020.

to:

The Clock Watcher price:

$293,000

“Louis Moinet was a very mysterious man,” says Jean-Marie Schaller, who 15 years ago started making watches under the name of the talented early-19thcentury watchmaker. “In our research over these 15 years we have found some great achievements including the chronograph and a number of clocks, including the one in the White House.”

In the last years of James Madison’s presidency, eforts were under way to refurbish the White House in Washington, D.C., which had been burned by the British in the War of 1812. A number of items were purchased in Paris, including an ornate table clock in gilt bronze made by Louis Moinet that was probably delivered and shipped to the United States in 1817. The clock is composed of a classical sculpture of a robed Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and magic, who is helmeted and seated behind a shield that frames the clock dial with a chap chapter ring in white en mel. For many ny yyears the ock was a fixture in the he Blue Room on the first floor t e White House. It now resi es in the entry hall. ouis Moinet will constru t a special one-of-a-kind timepiece that re-creates

1

A one-of-a-kind double-tourbillon Louis Moinet wristwatch based on an 1817 table clock that currently sits in the White House entry hall.

The opportunity to customize much of the timepiece’s intricate en i g in with consultati wi i Moinet O Jean-Marie Schaller.

elements of this clock for a Robb Report reader. The watch will be based on the brand’s twin-tourbillon Sideralis model, with a special alteration of its central, partially rotating dial. A micro-painting of the presidential heads on Mount Rushmore will occupy this space, backed by an aventurine sky. A moon will rotate through an aperture. The bezel, case flanks, and lugs will be decorated in engraved motifs taken directly from the White House clock.

“I believe rose gold is the most attractive material for the watch,” says Schaller, “but the client can choose another material as well as direct the engraving. Our engraver is extremely talented and can easily execute drawings based on the customer’s wishes.”

—James D. Malcolmson Louis Moinet, 561.212.6812, louismoinet.com TERMS AND CONDITIONS Delivery of the timepiece will occur 12 to 24 months after the initial Price i iti l consultation. lt ti P i may vary depending on materials, degree of dep cusstomization, and exchange rate.

to:

he Mannerly Motorist starting at

TOP: ANDREA GIOVANELLI/LAPRESSE /FERRARI

$85,000

Seat of Style

When Enzo Ferrari developed his first automobile, he commissioned the Connollys to create the upholstery because the British family was firmly established as the world’s best source for bespoke leather car upholstery. That tradition has been upheld by fourth generation Jonathan Connolly, who continues to work with Ferrari on bespoke commissions and this year is making the upholstery for the marque’s 70th-anniversary limited-series car. For this model, he says, Ferrari requested leather used in a 1950s automobile.

Connolly’s unique interiors have graced the seats of classic Jaguar, Rolls-Royce, and Aston Martin models and are often commissioned for new editions like the Jaguar E-Type. “Our clients prefer the feel and aroma of bespoke hand-tanned leather,” says Jonathan, who manages the company’s leather-finishing workshop outside London.

Established in 1878 for the making of leather carriage seats, Connolly grew with the automotive industry and is esteemed in the classic-car collector community. Its customers run the gamut, from one refurbishing a 1950s Aston Martin DB and seeking the original leather to a new

Rolls-Royce owner who desires a customized interior.

It has perhaps the world’s most extensive archives of original leather swatches to identify upholstery from the top marques’ models, dating back to the beginning of the motoring industry.

Today, Connolly is under the careful stewardship of Isabel Ettedgui, who has owned the brand for 20 years and last year opened a Connolly townhouse in London’ss Mayfair district that presen a growing selection of products, including ready-tor items, car coats, and homee accessories. “People are attached to this brand,” says. “Some have known it for generations, and they love the heritage.”

Ettedgui wants to share the Connolly world with the recipient of this gift, who will meet with Jonathan Connolly to collaborate on bespoke leather upholstery, selecting the specific type of leather and color for his or her new or vintage automobile. “If you have a classic car,” Connolly says, “we could re-create the original leather upholstery for that model or make a new version from a range of colors and grains, or develop your own custom color.” After the tête-à-tête, the recipient will visit the firm’s London townhouse to commission a three-piece set of luggage that can be made in the same leather as the car upholstery and designed to fit snugly in the automobile’s trunk. The

A chance to work with Jonathan Connolly to create bespoke leather upholstery for your classic or new automobile.

Three-piece set of bespoke Connolly luggage that can be designed to fit into the trunk of your automobile.

Driving accessories: leather gloves, an automotive tool kit designed

by Sebastian Conran, and a custom-made plaid driving blanket with your family crest, monogram, or car colors.

gift will be completed with customized driving accessories, and the recipient will be ready to hit the road in authentic style.

—Jill Newman Connolly, Isabel Ettedgui, ie@connollyengland.com, +44.20.7952.6708, connolly england.com D C ONDITIONS Offer is good through December 2018.

R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

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The Courtly Commuter starting at

$610,000

There are few material manifestations of success, prominence, and power more potent than a Rolls-Royce automobile. After all, it wasn’t long after 26-year-old car dealer Charles Rolls met 42-year-old engineer Henry Royce, in 1904, that their collaboration resulted in what would become the ride of royalty.

One car configuration, which debuted in 1925, has been the flagship of the British marque’s rarefied field and maintains the longest-running model name

1

in automotive history—the Phantom. In its 92-year existence, the Phantom has been revised only eight times, with the latest version revealed this past July.

To help commemorate the new Phantom VIII, RollsRoyce is ofering one reader the opportunity to gift true automotive art with the Robb Report Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy Experience. Along with ownership of a new, customized Phantom VIII, the package features firstclass, round-trip air travel for two to London and 2 nights’

A 2018 Bespoke Phantom VIII. Round-trip travel to Rolls-Royce’s headquarters in Goodwood, England, to customize your car and dine with the marque’s head of design and CEO. Two nights’ accommodation in a top London hotel.

accommodatio i o of ty m exclusi ot y wil b spe visitt Rolls-Royc ea quarte i Goodwoo fo consultati t compa ’s Be e tto ensure that the car is tailored to the recipient’s taste—including the option of commissioned art for its innovative dashboard gallery. Also on the menu is lunch with RollsRoyce’s head of design, Giles Taylor (below, right), and a private dinner with CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös (below,

left) f a y of e-of-a-kin wel that dessert —Vi Mathe ls-Royc Mo r on mark.rooney @rolls-roycemotorcarsna.com, 201.307.4370, rolls-roycemotor carsna.com TERMS AND CONDITIONS Ofer valid through March 31, 2018. Price does not include taxes and fees. Purchase of the package will be conducted through the recipient’s local RollsRoyce dealer.

to:

The Art Aficionado

Bespoke Bronze

price:

NICK MERRICK

$125,000

Few artists have taken such a ritualized approach to life as Michele Oka Doner, whose SoHo studio is filled with works inspired by nature and created in honor of it: homages to the layers of nacre that give pearls their luster, to trees felled by a storm, and to the tiny treasures encountered during a walk on the beach.

The artist has worked in myriad media—from glass and terra-cotta to bronze and precious metals—to create works ranging from delicate pieces of fine jewelry to fireplace tools in the form of twigs, serving trays resembling bark stripped from a tree, and even a collection of crystal bowls that rest on coral-form nests for Steuben.

Oka Doner is best known, however, for her monumental public projects, among them A Walk on the Beach, a walkway that graces the north terminal of the Miami International Airport. The work features some 9,000 unique cast-bronze elements—in the form of saltwater plants and marine organisms—and smatterings of mother-ofpearl, inset in a dark-gray terrazzo. A mile and a quarter in length, A Walk on the Beach is among the largest artworks in the world.

For one discerning Robb Report reader, Michele Oka Doner has ofered to create Interior Life II, a life-size gilded-bronze sculpture based on the physique of the gift recipient. This special one-of-a-kind commission also includes a private consultation and lunch with the artist at her New York City studio, as well as a signed copy of her newly released book Everything Is Alive.

“Within the pictured work, titled Interior Life, there is a wooden object, resembling a heart, that has been placed on the ridge where the torso and legs come together,” explains Oka Doner. The object can be viewed through the openings on either side of the figure, and removed and returned as one desires. Interior Life II will also contain a hidden element. “Until I meet the subject of the sculpture,” she says, “that aspect of the work will remain unknown.”

—Angela M. H. Schuster

teri L e II, a fe-siz gildedonze sculpture t rec pient. udi vis artist chel O a ne t ma ake bod cast. nc ith Don at N o studio dur n f consultati n.

Michele Oka Doner Studio, info@micheleokadoner.com, micheleokadoner.com TERMS AND CONDITIONS Interior Life II will take 3 to 4 months to complete once the measurements of the subject have been made.

R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

185

e u 0,000

186

DECEMBER 2017

Browne Trading Co. in Portland, Maine. The Verdoncks have employed cutting-edge technology to provide the fish with the most pampered existence possible, all of which pays of on the palate. “They’re pioneers in farm-raising caviar,” says Mitchell. “With wild caviar you get diferent qualities and tastes. Here they get all the same food and light, and these fish don’t have to worry about anything. The taste, texture, and color tone of the caviar is consistently great.”

That’s no faint praise. For years, Mitchell’s company has been a go-to supplier of fine caviar for some of the United

in the water for the fish to playfully swim around their legs. They’ll be there to help Royal Belgian’s experts harvest the eggs from the fish, clean and sort them, and learn to cure the caviar firsthand. The recipients will leave with tins of the caviar they have personally cured.

Mitchell will then curate and send 1 kilogram of black gold selected from Browne’s full premium assortment from around the world every month for a year, to keep the memory of the gastronomic adventure fresh long after the recipient has returned home.

—Jeremy Repanich Browne Trading Company, Rod Browne Mitchell, 800.944.7848, extension 107, brownetrading.com

Tour Royal T B Belgian Caviar—one C of of the world’s premier sturgeon p arms—with Rod fa Browne Mitchell, B ounder of fo Browne Trading B Company.

C Participate in P harvesting, h processing, and p curing g caviar to c take home.

Receive 1 R kilogram of k premium caviar p every month e or a year. fo

VESA S/SYNERGY

n n Belgium, one un unique farm has gone from down-market to highbrow.

Once a place where the cheap commodity fish tilapia was raised, the aquaculture facility is now used by Royal Belgian Caviar to nurture sturgeon and harvest some of the world’s finest caviar.

Here, sturgeon in tanks swim for years in conditions that marine biologist Willy Verdonck and his wife, Mia Verdonck, have carefully honed to allow them to thrive. “It’s all controlled: light, water quality, food, everything. They create a great environment,” says Rod Browne Mitchell, founder of

States’ best chefs, from Thomas Keller to Eric Ripert.

And after he got the opportunity to try the Verdoncks’ product, Mitchell became the exclusive U.S. importer of Royal Belgian’s Osetra, Platinum, Gold Label, and White Pearl caviar.

Mitchell is ofering a Robb Report reader more than just a tin of roe. He’ll give the gift’s recipient and one guest an exclusive tour of this groundbreaking home of delicious caviar, to experience how the finest varieties are made. “It looks simple, but it takes true expertise to know when the caviar is ripe and how to cure it properly,” says Mitchell.

While at the Royal Belgian farm, the recipients can join the mature, friendly sturgeon

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RESERVING A TABLE AND OWNING IT.

The perfect way to enjoy Patrรณn is responsibly. Handcrafted and imported exclusively from Mexico by The Patrรณn Spirits Company, Las Vegas, NV. 40% abv.

EXTRAORDINARY ART. EXCLUSIVE HOMES.

MONTAUK, NEW YORK

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND

CHESTER, NOVIA SCOTIA, CANADA

Malibu on the East Coast. 36-acre oasis of unparalleled privacy. Tea house–inspired residence with its own nature preserve. Secluded sand beach. World class surfing and abundant ocean fishing. $48M.

Ker Arvor - Exceptional estate in pristine, museum-quality condition that sits on 9.1 acres with privacy off Ocean Drive near Newport Country Club. $12M. Kate Leonard. Web ID: 1154381.

Offering sweeping views that encompass Chester’s Front Harbour, the golf course, Meisner’s Island and beyond. C$2.995. Kathryn Harris.

Kathleen Coumou • kcoumou@christies.com Christie’s International Real Estate +1 212 468 7140

kate.leonard@liladelman.com Lila Delman Real Estate +1 401 848 2101

+1 416 925 9191 Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, Brokerage

PARADISE VALLEY, ARIZONA

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA

BERNARDSVILLE, NEW JERSEY

Exquisite estate in Arizona’s most prestigious locale.

Shane Aimes-designed 15,000 sq. ft. Palm Beach transitional residence on 2.24 beautifully landscaped acres. $8M. Libby Cohen.

On private 6-acre island. Water views from each room.

Custom finishes throughout; smart-house technology, spa-like master suite, pool, cabana, dock, boat house, lift. $3.495M. Katie Zarpas.

Tastefully renovated home on 11± acres on the Bernardsville Mountain. This estate impresses with its views and parklike grounds including pool & tennis court. $2.225M. Gerry-Jo Cranmer.

+1 602 291 1446 Walt Danley Realty LLC

+1 757 685 4400 Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

+1 908 234 9100 x220 Turpin Real Estate Inc

CANDLER, NORTH CAROLINA

SAPPHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

1,451 acres, views of Pisgah’s peak, 25 min. to Downtown Asheville. Ideal home or retreat center. $25M. Reed Jackson.

90 acres w/ multiple home sites located atop Cow Rock Ridge and part of Lonesome Valley development. $6.495M. John Kent.

2.8-acre luxury estate in private gated community.

Gourmet kitchen, 2-story great room, nanny suite, 2-level master suite & 2 double garages. Resort-style pool, spa, & pool house. $1.99M. Betsy Stec Market.

+1 704 713 3623 BlackStream International Real Estate

+1 864 784 9918 BlackStream International Real Estate

+1 704 619 8603 or betsy@marketsells.com Ivester Jackson Distinctive Properties

London +44 20 3828 7001

Hong Kong +852 5808 7157

New York +1 877 734 1934

Los Angeles +1 877 727 1356

Palm Beach +1 877 728 8434

Moscow +7 495 937 6364

christiesrealestate.com

SCOTTSDALE, AZ JANUARY 13-21 CONTACT 480.281.8005 | CONSIGNMENTS@BARRETT-JACKSON.COM

CONSIGN NOW AND SELL YOUR CAR WHERE THE BUYERS ARE OVER 5,000 PRE-QUALIFIED BIDDERS WERE REGISTERED AT SCOTTSDALE 2017

2006 FORD GT From the final year of GT production; painted in Tungsten Grey. Equipped with all four available options: painted racing stripes, BBS forged alloy wheels, silver painted calipers and McIntosh stereo. 650 miles since new.

No Reserve

1987 BUICK GRAND NATIONAL GNX #003 This is Buick GNX #003, an advanced build car and the first GNX to be sold retail after Buick released this car for testing and promotion. Highly documented and in mint original condition. 3.8-liter engine with automatic transmission.

No Reserve Experience the Barrett-Jackson Auctions live exclusively on Discovery Channel, Velocity and around the world on Discovery Networks International.

1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE 1965 Fiberfab Centurion custom topless roadster with rare a dual-fairings body style.

283ci 8-cylinder engine with a 4-speed manual transmission.

No Reserve

ALL THE CARS, ALL THE TIME. Streamed live on Barrett-Jackson.com

BARRETT-JACKSON.COM

to:

The Eternal Kid starting at

$3,850

An unexpected combination of 1970s California youth culture and refined French equestrianism, Hermès’s take on the skateboard is as whimsical as it is luxurious.

Handcrafted in the house’s French Sur-Mesure atelier, the board’s maple deck features a mandala-esque pattern of Hermès’s signature bridles. Printed using a special sublimation technique, the bridles’ bright pigments will remain in place for years to come—even if the recipient is brave enough to take it out for a spin or two.

Available as both a shortboard and a longboard, the skateboard makes the ideal gift for the art-savvy adrenaline junkie in your life. And since it is made in the same workshop where all of Hermès’s special orders are completed, the design of the deck, wheels, and hardware can be customized to suit the particular tastes of the recipient.

Moreover, the vibrant, slightly psychedelic design dreamed up by Hermès artistic director Henri d’Origny is sure to make a stylish statement in just about any space.

—Phoebe Neuman

JOSHUA SCOT T

Hermès, hermes.com; can be ordered at Hermès boutiques throughout the United States

190

DECEMBER 2017

#M e s sika by GigiH a did

M ESSI K A .COM

MOVE ADDICTION COLLECTION

The Spike Aerospace S-512 Supersonic Jet will be more than fast: Its projected cruising speed is Mach 1.6, or 1,100 mph, which, accor ing to the company, is 450 mph faster than any other civilian aircraft.

The boom it produces when it breaks the sound barrier will be more like a whimr by the time it reaches the ground—quiet enough to allow for travel at supersonic speeds over land masses with sound restrictions. B perhaps more impressive than the aircraft’s speed or und will be the “view” from inside. High-definition reens will run the entire length of the windowless cabin walls, displaying vide feeds from exterior camera .

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DECEMBER 2017

to:

The Jet-Setter pric e:

$100 million

“You’ll have a panoramic view of whatever is outside, as if you were standing on a beach,” says Vik Kachoria, the president and CEO of Spike Aerospace, which is based outside of Boston. “From left to right, you’ll have a view of the full horizon.” The screens will be able to display movies or other presentations from a laptop. Kachoria notes that the windowless design will also make the cabin quieter.

The cabin will accommodate 18 passengers in a variety of configurations, including a bedroom if desired, although the flight times might be too short to need one. The S-512 will have a range of 7,135 miles; when flying at supersonic speeds, it will be capable of traveling from New York to London in

3.3 hours and Los Angeles to Tokyo in 5.17 hours.

Spike has begun testflying scaled-down, subsonic drone versions of the aircraft.

It expects the full-size, fullspeed S-512 to enter service in 2023, after the required certifications from the FAA and international aviation authorities. The early adopters, says Kachoria, “will be the first on their block—or in their country—to own the world’s fastest jet.”

—Larry Bean Spike Aerospace, 617.338.1400, spikeaerospace.com

TERMS AND C ONDITIONS The company is accepting refundable deposits of $500,000 to reserve a purchase position.

Roe Age to :

The Age Defier pr ic e:

aviar DNA. Only 300 jars ave been produced; this iftâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recipient will receive o. 30 personally engraved. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Jill Newman La Prairie, Sarah Vicklund, sarah.vicklund@laprairie.com, laprairie.com

VESA S/SYNERGY

$25,000

A new collection of extraordinary and lavish one-of-a-kind 18K yellow gold pendants set with sumptuous combinations of precious and semi-precious stones.

212-996-6217 SandiMillerBurrowsDesigns.com

to:

The Sharp Suiter price:

Coat Check SOU

$7,995

With a sharp peak lapel, strong shoulders, and a nipped-in waist, this jet-black topcoat is reminiscent of the silhouettes made iconic by Hollywood heavyweights Cary Grant and Gregory Peck.

While a coat can be a tricky gift, the Dumont ($7,995) from Ralph Lauren Purple Label, with its classic cut, is sure to warm the recipient’s heart for years to come.

Fresh of the brand’s latest runway show—which dressed down the double-breasted style with sporty, supercarinspired, yellow-striped tuxedo pants and sneakers—the 100 percent cashmere coat will provide an elegant finish to any evening ensemble.

Each coat is handcrafted in Italy, and individual pieces can be customized upon request through Ralph Lauren’s Made to Measure program—ensuring that every last detail is just right.

—Phoebe Neuman n R l Lauren Purple Label, Ralph available at Ralph Lauren’s 867 Madison Avenue boutique in New York City, ralphlauren.com

19 96

DECEMBER 2017

CONNECT TO A WORLD OF LUXURY

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AG AV E

E XPR ESS I O N IS M

PLEASE ENJOY MILAGRO RESPONSIBLY. Milagro Tequila, 40% Alc./Vol. (80 Proof) ©2017 William Grant & Sons, Inc. New York, NY.

M I L AG R O

M E A N S

M I RAC L E

pri ce:

$685,000 per pair

Tower of Power

Wilson Audio, wilsonaudio.coom

200

DECEMBER 2017

RACHAEL GIOLAS

to :

The Musical Maestro

Thirty-six years after the Wilson Audio Modular Monitor (WAMM) loudspeaker was introduced— the brand’s very first consumer product—the Utah audio manufacturer has revisited the adjustable modular-driver concept that underpinned the original model. The resulting speak ker is one of the most captivating audio releases of the year.

Standing more than 7 feet tall, the WAMM Masster Chronosonic is a looming monolith of audio innovation. Its sculpted, curvilineear cabinet accommodates seveen drivers housed within sepaarate enclosures: a silk-dome tweeter, two midrange drivvers, and two woofers, alongg with a rear-firing tweeter and a rear-firing midrange driver. The modular system m allows the positioning of each driver enclosure to be manually adjusted to calibrate the length of timee it takes the sound from eacch unit to reach the listener’s ear e down to 5 microseconds. This T process reduces audio degrradation due to timing errorss, making the speaker sound much more lifelike.

But the WAMM’s appeaal extends beyond its modular configuration. Other stando out features include an adjustaable port on the bass enclosure that can be switched between the front and rear of the speaker to accommodate diferent room types, as a well as the employment of advanced dampening materials in the constructio on of the enclosures.

The fortunate audiophile who receives this gift will be b in rare company, as producction of the WAMM Master Chronosonic is limited to ju ust 70 pairs. —John Lyon

to:

The Snow Rider starting at

$6,745

T s o es ar infinit s t m es fo yo nt F Snows ape t fo n e ranc A seas n w s r oac F anco a o t 5 y a o m n f H an. thi gift li nt il h Exper nce in hi F ill th n e o a i yo mn t as of t t ang a th throug 4 day o an ana ysi o t slope o Hole Mountai esort ro a R P ofi e wi o uest a a i s m t nt n T i fie “ i y ometri a env r etr c o i i a we t uest n a height eig a ys tnes Psychome ric w a mot vat e a lik t rid

as o s o an overa f elin a t snow,” ain Fina vir m tri r f terrain eat e av rit con itions preferre resor s Franc ard which can be made o ran e o whi ne o la map e it vibration-dampenin ateria i asa fi er a o s h n w stringer t fr t s opes n Ho Mountai esor t

exa site rom whic t ringers w s r a h th ar war t oce artwo o client a a T spoke snowboard takes wee ar lyn

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to :

The Happy Hunter Starti ng at

$65,000

204

DEC

the recipient of this package, which also includes help negotiating prices.

A few special extras—a cooking class at the Blue Elephant in Bangkok, a private tour of the Jim Thompson House, and an elephant safari—are also on ofer. —Arianne Nardo The Antiques Diva & Co., 347.674.6958, antiquesdiva.com TERMS AND CONDITIONS Airfare and hotel are not included.

TOP: MARISA MARCHITELLI

The chance to spend 5 days with an insider making pulse-quickening discoveries of antiques from black-book resources in Thailand doesn’t come along every day, so you will want to choose your travel companion wisely.

Antiques expert Toma Clark Haines— founder of the Antiques Diva & Co.— is ofering Robb Report readers a custom tour for two throughout Bangkok and Chiang Mai to visit a curated selection of appointment-only design shops, hidden antiques dealers, and high-end purveyors.

Aesthetes will find that objects, with their fascinating living histories, make for a beautiful cultural immersion. The gift recipient and guest will receive a tailored itinerary with Clark Haines as their guide (an exclusive opportunity for this gift). One highlight is a boat ride to a private château, an elegant colonial structure owned by an aristocratic lifelong collector in Thonburi, who will open her h a invv t t purchas h artifacts an urnishings din wil follow. ar Haine vette netwo f deal specialists translators, and ship g agent wil availab

Stay. The waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perfect.

SOUTH OCEAN BLVD MANALAPAN FL RESERVATIONS

EAUPALMBEACH COM

to:

The High-Minded Driver starting at

$140,000

2017

About a decade ago, aviation enthusiast Sam Bousfield, an architect turned inventor based in Oregon, asked himself, “What does aviation really need?” His answer, ultimately, was the Switchblade—the threewheeled, carbon-fiber flying car that his company, Samson Motors, is developing.

On the road, the

Switchblade will achieve 35 miles per gallon of regular unleaded automobile gasoline and will burn only nine gallons per hour when flying.

At 16 feet, 9 inches long, it is slightly longer than a Honda Accord. Plus, it’s only about 6 feet wide, so it will fit in your home’s garage. Samson is ofering the base-model Switchblade (including the

company’s builder-assist program) as an experimental aircraft, along with a bespoke Limited Edition model (starting at $500,000).

Each LE will have a custom interior and include unique exterior features.

The Switchblade’s name comes from its wings, which swing out from the belly of the vehicle like the blade of a pocketknife. When the vehicle is in driving mode, they disappear into the body so they are protected from fender benders. The transition from automobile to aircraft is automated and will take about 45 seconds.

The vehicle will be classified

by the U.S. De artmen Transportatio a cle, but Bousfi like it a flying spor s c because of its street-m c bilities: zero t 0 mph n 6.5 seconds an spe of more than mph the air, it will ea 1 mph and reac a s o 180 mph. —L rr Bea Samson Moto Switchblade, limitededition samsonsky.com, 855.772.6766, msonsky.c TERMS AN NDITIO The Switchbla expec make its first bli flight next spring, and th compa begin deliveri f

to :

The Puff Daddy pri ce:

$80,000

The simple act of lighting a cigar has not changed much since the first “strike anywhere” match was invented in 1826. But this year, the renowned Parisian firm S. T. Dupont has taken the portable creation of fire to a new, extraordinary level.

Inspired by the intricacies of a Swiss watch combined with the solid features of a bank vault, the S. T. Dupont Complication Lighter consists of 200 interlinking parts, most of which are visible through its skeletonized body. This yellow-gold and palladiumfinished, handcrafted masterpiece is embellished with nine rubies and has a combination lock on one side and a 1-carat diamond-centered wheel on the other. To unlock the lid of the D-type lighter, a two-digit “secret” combination code must be entered. (Spoiler: The code is 7-5, signifying the 75 years S. T. Dupont has been creating lighters.) Wheels spin as the lid opens and closes, and a slide shifts the model into turbo mode, transforming the flame from “soft” to an intensified jet. With only eight individually numbered editions , this is a nearly matchmachinery. pie n Hacker icha Car vidof f Genev 844.878.27 , vidofgeneva.com

OUR FAMILY SECRET IS THE NAME ON THE BOTTLE 5000 Champagne Producers

24 Champagne Houses that are considered Grand Marques

10 Grand Marques that have been producing Champagne for over 100 years

1 Grand Marque that is owned and run by the namesake Father, Son and Daughter Team

Š2017 Kobrand Corporation, Purchase, NY www.kobrandwineandspirits.com

Clovis, Vitalie and Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger

to:

The Cabernet Connoisseur price:

$50,000 What, you may wonder, should you do with a 3-liter bottle of Lokoya’s Mount Veeder or Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon?

Christopher Carpenter, the winemaker at Napa Valley’s Lokoya since 2000, suggests that h you wait for f

a party with a really good group of 10 to 20 people and serve it then. And, he notes, because of the size of the bottle and the composition of the wine, you can wait a really long time for that party to take place.

This a h gift f ffrom Lokoya, k

winery based in the Spring Mountain District that produces premium smalllot Cabernets from some of Napa Valley’s most celebrated mountain appellations, comprises two 3-liter bottles of five vintages (a total of 10 double magnums). Each vintage has received a 100-point rating from Robert Parker.

Specifically, the wines are the 2005, 2012, and 2013 Mount Veeder and the 2003 and 2013 Howell Mountain. Of the 2013 Mount Veeder, Parker writes, “This 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon wine is b

utterly profound, and while the scoring system ends at 100, if I had to pick a single wine that may have been my favorite of all the tastings I did in Napa, this could have been my pick. Full-bodied, rich, with incredible integration of its component parts of acidity, tannin, alcohol, and wood, the wine is lavishly built, has compelling purity, richness, and density.”

Carpenter explains that wine in a 3-liter bottle will develop more slowly than wine in a 750 mL bottle. “The smaller ll the h bottle, b l the h ffaster the wine will age,” he says.

“With a 3-liter bottle, you’ll probably get 30 percent more agingg time.” And while the

wine inside matures, the bottle can serve as a centerpiece for your cellar. “If you have a display cellar,” he says, “the 3-liter bottle can have a pretty impactful visual efect.”

Carpenter also notes that Napa’s mountain wines, including the Mount Veeder and Howell Mountain, will age longer than the wines sourced from the floor of Napa Valley because of a greater concentration of tannins, which give the wine its structure and also serve as a preservative. “The Mount Veeder d is probab b bly a 20- to 30-year wine,” he h says, “and the 3-liter bottlee extends that even more. This is a wine that you can pass down for generations.”

The gift also includes a dinner for as m many as 10 guests hosted byy Carpenter at Lokoya’s mountaaintop estate.

But don’t worry; there’s no need to bringg on ne of the bottles from the giftt. Lokoya will supplyy the wines—and they will be exclusivee vintages from the wineryy’s cellar.

—Larry Bean Lokoya, Bradley W Wasserman, bradley.wasserma an@lokoya .com, 707.948.1968 8, lokoya.com

Known for its dense wool, long guard hairs and rich color, northern New York State beaver fur is some of the inest in the world. Adirondack Beaver Blankets invites you to discover our truly unique line of luxurious blankets, ine apparel and home accents.

to:

The Ring Master starting at

$50,000

Rocks

to :

The Dialed-In Gentleman pr ic e:

$250,000

With annual production a bit below 150 pieces, Laurent Ferrier’s timepieces can already be a challenge to acquire, but the fine watchmaker has taken exclusivity up a notch, specifically for this year’s Ultimate Gift Guide, by ofering a one-of-a-kind creation for one discerning Robb Report reader.

Not only will the recipient determine the color palette of his own Galet Classic Square Tourbillon Double Hairspring, but Laurent Ferrier has also agreed to case the watch in polished titanium—a material the brand has used only once before, on a limited

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS The image shown here is just an example of what is possible. Delivery time for the watch will vary depending on design complexity (production time for the unique titanium case alone is 3 months).

The sale of the timepiece will be processed through Cellini in New York (cellinijewelers.com).

edition of its Galet Traveller timepiece. The design-consultation process will take place via phone, e-mail, or video chat. Once the watch is complete, the buyer will be flown to the Laurent Ferrier manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland, to receive the timepiece, meet with Mr. Ferrier himself, and take a full tour of the facility for a closer look at what went into creating this ultimate horological gift. —justin mastine-frost Laurent Ferrier, info@laurentferrier.ch, laurentferrier.ch

Ring in the New Year with a one-of-kind gem from David Yurman. The New York– based designer—a sculptor by trade before he launched his brand in 1980—scours stone fairs across the country to find the most vibrant examples for his contemporary jewelry. Some of Yurman’s most extraordinary finds are set into a handful of one-of-akind rings, shown here. This year, a few gem lovers can get a distinctly David Yurman statement ring topped with an electric-green Paraíba tourmaline, radiant yellow beryl, lavender spinel, or deep-blue tanzanite. Each design is set in platinum, white gold, rose gold, or yellow gold and starts at $50,000. —Carolyn Meers David Yurman, 212.752.4255, davidyurman.com

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Instead of giving the cofee connoisseur in your life a bag of beloved beans, go for something a bit more personal—and a lot more unique—by presenting them with a chance to create their very own custom blend in Costa Rica.

The plush Nayara Springs hotel will be the home base for this 5-night journey into the heart of cofee country.

The recipient and a guest will be whisked far away from their local café and into a breezy villa, complete with a private infinity pool, that can be accessed from the road or via a 250-foot pedestrian bridge suspended above the rainforest. After settling in with a volcanic mud wrap at the open-air spa (one treatment a day is included), the recipients will be escorted by one of the property’s expert baristas to a local cofee farm er they learn how th bea ar harvested, roaste a gro d nce

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they have tasted all of the diferent beans, they will create a custom blend—a fresh bag of which will be delivered to them every month for the next year.

After revving up on cafeine, they can enjoy of-property activities ranging from canyoneering to befriending a sloth at the resort’s own sloth sanctuary to soaking in the EcoTermales hot springs.

They will head home both fully cafeinated and utterly relaxed. —Phoebe Neuman Nayara Springs, nayarasprings.com

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A poster child for the Detroit renaissance, up-and-coming luxury sporting-equipment brand Williamson Goods & Supply burst onto the scene late last year—launching with a $35,000 pythonskin-wrapped bicycle and a crocodile-skin football.

But these initial oferings represent only a taste of the company’s capabilities, which is why this holiday season Williamson is ofering Robb Report readers a selection of custom equipment sets for four diferent sports— falconry, tennis, boxing, and equestrianism—all made from the finest leathers and featuring the unique aesthetic flair that distinguishes the brand.

The falconry set, for instance, includes a crocodile-and-python-leather hood topped with a gold-andcrocodile-leather ornament

to:

The Audacious Athlete starting at

$85,000

to:

The Bottle Slayer starting at

$10,000

and a selection of three python-leather gloves—each in a diferent color scheme— lined with mink fur. The tennis set includes a racket with a python-leather grip and matching accessories made from crocodile skin, while the boxing kit comprises a heavy bag and a speed bag made from alternating patches of crocodile and ostrich leather, along with a corresponding pair of gloves. The equestrian suite is embellished with gold and diamond accents and includes a bridle, a saddle, and a riding crop. The four sets can be purchased individually or as a complete collection for $635,000.

—john lyon Williamson Goods & Supply, williamsongoods.com

TERMS AND CONDITIONS Expect up to 6 months for delivery from the time of purchase.

“There are only two ways to live your life.

One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” —Albert Einstein

MIRANAPA.COM

The Ol Adventurer pric e:

$20,000 Author Marcel Proust famously explored the power of fragrance to whisk us across time and place in his writing. In a bid to preserve such fleeting sensations within a memorable keepsake, French perfume house Memo Paris has partnered with Waterford to create an enduring holiday gift. A crystal decanter handblown by the artisans at Waterford’s Irish workshop holds Memo’s signature Irish Leather Oil. Each 740 mL bottle (only 10 have been created) comes enclosed in a leather trunk—a nod to Memo founders Clara and John Molloy’s dedication to ca motions, exper ences

to:

The Nosy Collector price:

$83,000

ver vocative thing. impressions e, intriguing léon Bonaing power of mself with Eau Johann Maria and running up 6 months of

mirrored setting.

Two glinting columns and 14 swivel shelves host the collector’s rare and special flacons, and the revolving-disc design grants the freedom to alter the presentation without handling fragile vintage crystal bottles. While the glass vitrine is treated with a special UV coating, its most elegant chaperone is a gold-plated bee, the emblem of immortality, which forms the handle and protects a treasured wardrobe of scents.

Additionally, two golden keys engraved with the owner’s initials are presented in a lacquered box.

Based in Bordeaux, France, Vignault’s studio, OAK (an acronym for “one of a kind”), unveils decadently original, signed productions inspired by fables, stories of

Keep travel. Inside, the ornate bottle’s gilt horses reference John’s family of Irish Thoroughbred breeders and hint at the fragrance within. The unisex scent—a unique mix of fresh grass, spicy pink pepper, and clary sage tempered by a rich leather absolute— calls to mind a morning ride through misty fields, making it ideally suited for travelers, equestrians, and those who savor the journeys of the senses. —Phoebe Neuman Memo Paris, memoparis.com; available to order online and at odm

price:

$35,300

Morocco at the Casablanca Conference to devise a strategy to eventually end the war.

On that historic day, a whisky was distilled at the Glenlivet Distillery and put into Cask 121, a first-fill sherry hogshead specifically selected by John and George Urquhart—first- and second-generation owners of Gordon & MacPhail, the preeminent purveyors of Scotland’s finest spirits. The war had severely curtailed whisky production in Scotland, with rationing and rising prices causing many distilleries to close; Glenlivet temporarily shut down a few months after Cask 121 was filled. Consequently, wartime whiskies became extremely scarce.

In 2013, Stephan Rankin, a fourth-generation Urquhart, decided that it was time to bottle Cask 121. After seven decades of aging, there was

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only enough whisky left to fill 42 crystal decanters, just 40 of which are being ofered for sale. The Private Collection Glenlivet 1943 by Gordon & MacPhail—the last of Gordon & MacPhail’s 1943 whiskies—has a natural cask strength of 98.2 proof and a rich, burnished gold hue that reflects its sherry-barrel heritage, which is evidenced even more dramatically by the marzipan-and-toasted-wheat bouquet that hovers over the glass. A first sip reveals honeyed and candied nuances, with chocolate, brambles, and whifs of smoke in the lengthy finish. But this is a single malt that needs time to fully evolve in the glass. After all, it has waited 70 years for this moment.

—Richard Carleton Hacker The Glenlivet, theglenlivet.com

TOP AND LEFT: PAUL WAT T PHOTOGRAPHY

to:

The Spiritual Historian

The years of World War II were some of the most horrific and tumultuous in history, yet something truly beautiful was produced during that era: one of the rarest and most exclusive— not to mention oldest—single malts in the world today.

On January 14, 1943, as bombs rained down across Europe, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, French General Charles de Gaulle, and U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower met in

SIMPLY, THE WORLD’S FINEST FIRE PIT & GRILL PROUDLY MADE IN THE U.S.A. A Cowboy Cauldron lends timeless quality and rugged sophistication to any outdoor setting. Elemental beauty. Handcrafted elegance.

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to:

The Precise Peddler starting at

$8,300

Flying beneath the ocean’s surface might sound like something out of a fantasy novel, but DeepFlight’s submarines have been doing it for years.

The California firm is the only personal submarine maker to use the principles of flight for underwater travel. The fighter-jet appearance of the fuselage on its latest model, the Super Falcon 3S, has silent-running electric motors that create thrust, while the wings use downward lift to descend as far as 330 feet. Its competitors rely on ballast (or water intake) to rise and fall. The sleek, hydrodynamic shape lets the three-person 3S make agile maneuvers that include breaching the ocean’s surface like a whale. But the true beauty of flying silently underwater is being among the marine life, fish, and large sea mammals without disturbing them. The Super Falcon 3S can pass close to a school of dolphins with virtually no sound.

Plus, the bubble canopies allow for nearly 360-degree views.

The 3S was designed for a pilot and two passengers, with a potential dive time of 8 hours.

Want to test the water before jumping in? The sub maker is launching DeepFlight Adventures, which will be ofering its first submarine excursions from a beachfront resort in the Maldives next year.

—Michael Verdon DeepFlight, deepflight.com

Founded in Denver just under a decade ago, Alchemy Bicycle Company—which ofers premier bespoke and of-the-rack road, mountain, and cyclocross bikes all constructed by hand from carbon fiber, titanium, or steel—has quickly become recognized as the producer of some of the best frames in the world. The go-anywhere Helios is Alchemy’s carbon-fiber flagship, a road bike with slightly ovalshaped aero tubes inspired by triathlon models. The bespoke beauty’s hybrid design lets it climb, descend, and sprint in Tour de France fashion while ofering the plush comfort needed for a long charity ride or an idyllic ic wine-country tour.

Like a S Ro tailor, emy start t bespo

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build process (see “Genius at Work,” page 72) with a custom fitting that takes personal preferences into account. The company uses that information to create a computer-aided design and then build a scientifically advanced yet charmingly artisanal carbon frame from precisely machined, digitally plotted parts. Alchemy’s endless custom options include fade, mask, pearlescent, and tri-coat finishes, and buyers can cherry-pick the best components to complete their truly one-of-a-kind ride.

A complete bike comes fully equipped with top-shelf helf component a a droolw rt p job. co armstro hem Bicyc Compa alchemy.bike

BOT TOM: MALIA JOHNSON

to:

The Merman

Day at the Museum

to:

The Bugatti Buff price:

$1 million

immersion with a private tour of Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park Laboratory in Greenfield Village.

Then, a Henry Ford 1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale—one of only six examples, and one of the world’s most valuable automobiles—is yours to drive through the streets of Greenfield Village. The village (and museum) will be closed to the public, so you and your guests can leisurely visit each of its 83 historic structures,

including the Wright Brothers’ home and cycle shop and Henry Ford’s birthplace. For lunch, a rare farmhouse feast at the Firestone Farm will take place in the same 1880s dining room where tire magnate Harvey Firestone dined with Ford and Edison.

Your afternoon features a private tour of the Henry Ford with president and CEO Patricia Mooradian and executive vice president and chief historian Christian Overland.

You and your guests can roam the 12-acre museum and see national treasures like the Rosa Parks Bus and the chair in which Abraham Lincoln was sitting the night he was assassinated.

The gift also includes hotel accommodations at the Dearborn Inn, adjacent to the museum’s campus.

—Robert Ross

to:

The Wayfinder price:

$53,000

In an age when having a sense of one’s place in the world seems paramount, what could be a finer addition to your holdings than a

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You and five of your friends are the only visitors for a day at two of the United States’ leading cultural destinations: the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and historic Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Mich. Your day begins with a personal tour of a 26-million artifact archive collection with Marc Greuther, one of the nation’s foremost historians and the chief curator at the Henry Ford. After the tour, you’ll be swept away in an authentic to finish finish your curated

to:

The Bio-Hacker price:

$1.1 million

price:

The summer golf season in the British Isles is a magical time. At the season’s peak—from the start of June through early July—the sun rises before 5 am and does not set until after 10 pm. Seventeen hours of daylight means plenty of time for multiple rounds of golf, which forms the foundation of this 10-day ultimate golf getaway created

by Irish tour operator Carr Golf. “Especially in northern Scotland, you can literally play there until midnight in the summer,” says CEO Marty

Carr. “It’s very unique.”

Recipients of this gift will play 16 esteemed links and parkland courses throughout Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland, including six that have hosted British Opens and three that have witnessed intense Ryder Cup battles. All that daylight combined with private helicopter transfers makes for some epic days of golf. On the fifth day, for example, recipients will travel by helicopter to play Muirfield in the morning and then fly over to Royal Troon for an afternoon tee time before checking into Turnberry Resort. A good night’s rest will help them prepare for a round on the resort’s championship course the next morning, followed

by 18 additional holes on the Old Course at St. Andrews in the afternoon.

When the sun finally sets each night, recipients will adjourn to luxurious accommodations at Gleneagles resort, Culloden Estate & Spa, the K Club, and Skibo Castle.

The latter was once the summer home of Scottish-born U.S. industrialist Andrew Carnegie, who in his later years donned his knickerbockers frequently and with a passion to hone his game on the castle’s course. He said of golf, “No game gives so much of the open air, the elixir of life from morning till night.”

—Shaun Tolson

Bulletproof Labs, info@bulletprooflabs.com, bulletprooflabs.com

Carr Golf, 855.617.5701, carrgolf.com

GUT E

C

D T

$53,000 per person

trainer, a cold HIIT machine, a virtual float tank, a Breathe EZ hypoxic stationary bicycle, a neurofeedback brain charger, cryotherapy, and a Cheat Machine—a unique weight-training apparatus that maxes out muscles in just a few reps.

Certified Bulletproof Labs technicians will come to the recipient’s home, install the equipment, and provide him or her with proprietary protocols and 2 weeks of personal training sessions. The gift also includes a year’s supply of Bulletproof cofee and a copy of Asprey’s book Head Strong.

—Janice O’Leary

TOP: VESA S/SYNERGY

to:

The Fairway Fanatic

Bulletproof cult-coffee entrepreneur Dave Asprey has spent decades creating hacks to his own health— targeting weight loss, increased energy, improved mental and physical performance, and especially longevity. This past fall, he made it possible for others to try to age backward too with the launch of his first Bulletproof Labs. In these “bio-hacking” centers, members can use cutting-edge equipment in short increments to improve muscle tone, brain power, and cellular health.

As a special gift for Robb Report’s Ultimate Gift Guide, Asprey is ofering to curate the installation of a Bulletproof Lab in one reader’s home. The equipment includes an atmospheric cell

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Referred to as uisge beatha, Scottish Gaelic for “water of life,” whiskey is renowned for its ability to raise spirits.

Of the distillate’s derivatives, however, rye has recently undergone a resurrection of its own, thanks in part to Vermont-based WhistlePig. Founded in 2010 by entrepreneur and bon vivant Raj Peter Bhakta, WhistlePig has been the industry’s young outlier—a David among oldworld Goliaths. And its aim

TERMS AND CONDITIONS The visit to WhistlePig’s farm will take place at a mutually agreedupon date.

to:

The Selective Sipper pric e:

$30,000

to :

Case Closed

The Rock Star sta rti ng at

$18,550

has been true, as its latest release—the Boss Hog: The Black Prince—was named best in show for whiskey in a blind tasting at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

In the midst of this rye revolution, WhistlePig’s master distiller, Dave Pickerell, is creating oneof-a-kind cask finishes of its 12-year-old expression (95 percent rye) using wine barrels that potentially

stored Chardonnay, Chablis, Pineau des Charentes, Tokaji, oloroso, and Monbazillac.

As part of an unprecedented package, one Robb Report reader can be the first to own a single barrel from this boutique series.

The purchase—made through an authorized retailer—includes a 2-night stay at the WhistlePig farm via first-class round-trip flights (within the United States) for two. While there,

Although it is tempting to gift a new guitar to the music lover in your life, going one step further to give him or her a stylish way to protect a prized instrument is e e or tho o l o t s b stu

Venezia leather guitar case from Berluti is the ultimate way to upgrade a tired go-to case—and thanks to its classic design details, it is something they will be able to tote around for years to come. sg d tthe h iconic e ca e rc t ca e cr e reect c i e an n

the pair will have lunch with either Bhakta or Pickerell and be given a private tour and tasting to make their cask selection. The buyer can also arrange to have the barrel bottled. After that, all that remains is delightful depletion by the dram.

—Viju Mathew WhistlePig, Todd Bellucci, giftguide@whistlepigrye.com, 802.897.7700, whistlepig whiskey.com

rock-and-roll-inspired debut collection for the brand.

Showcasing the Parisian house’s knack for expertly designed and crafted leather goods, the classic case is elevated with subtle embossed branding and lush details such as alligator or pebbled galuchat skin on the strap.

In sleek black, the case lets the guitar housed inside take center stage, but if your recipient prefers to make a statement as bold as his or her music, the style can be ordered in a rainbow of custom-colored leathers.

—Phoebe Neuman Berluti, berluti.com; available to order at Berluti boutiques throughout the United States

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ULTRA HIGH-POWERED BINOCULARS

SPIRITED SMOKES Our list of 24 cigars for the season, matched with the whiskies and wine that complement them best.

BY RICHARD CARLETON HACKER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSHUA SCOTT STYLING BY CHLOE DALEY

1

O Yuletide inspires countless seasonal pairings, including two that are among the most tasteful of gifts to both give and receive. We refer, of course, to those traditional hearth-andhome companions: spirits and cigars. Thus, we have grouped the best of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest smokes under four of the most popular libation categories, reflecting a range of flavors from mild and sweet to robust and meaty. So sit back and light up with the perfect match.

BLENDED WHISKIES

FOR MILD TO MEDIUM FULL-BODIED CIGARS

2

1

Macanudo Inspirado White This is the third and mildest in the Inspirado series, completing the trilogy of Black, Orange, and now White. (It can best be described as a slightly milder version of the Orange.) It features an Ecuadoran-grown Connecticut shade wrapper, which produces a floral but slightly spicy flavor. ($6.49–$7.29)

2

H. Upmann The Banker Ingot Rosé This cigar is wrapped in rose gold, from the foil covering of its 6¾ × 48 Churchill shape to the replicated rosegold ingot that serves as a 12-cigar box (although the cigars are also sold individually). A limited edition, this Cameroon-wrapped smoke is the third in H. Upmann’s Banker series and, with touches of wet hay and wheat, its mildest smoke yet. ($12) Manuel Quesada 70 When Manuel Quesada—one of the Dominican Republic’s most revered master blenders—turned 70 on April 10 of this year, he did not bake a cake; he made a cigar. Two sizes, in fact. To celebrate his birthday, Quesada personally blended a 6 × 50 toro and a 6 × 52 belicoso to produce a mild, herbal smoke suitable for the smoothest of blended whiskies. ($12.95) Hamlet 25th Year Hamlet Paredes began as a cigar blender and roller in Cuba. He recently came to the States for a new life making cigars under his own name for Rocky Patel. However, most of his blends have been on the strong side. To show his versatility and celebrate his 25th anniversary as a cigar maker, Paredes— who rolls freehand, without molds—has introduced this medium-bodied blend, full of sage-like flavors and a custardy sweetness. ($8.75–$10) Davidoff The Master Selection Series 2013 Each year for his birthday, Davidof’s master blender, Eladio Diaz, creates a cigar to satisfy the most discerning cigar smoker he knows: himself. Now the company has decided that others should share in the celebration. The 2013 release is the latest, featuring a Habano Ecuadoran wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler that produce an extremely mild and buttery smoke. Only one size is made, a 6 × 52 toro. ($35)

R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

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HIGHLAND AND ISLAND S I N G L E - M A LT SCOTCHES FOR MEDIUM-MILD TO FULL-BODIED CIGARS

1

Plasencia Alma del Campo Following the success of the slightly stronger Alma Fuerte last year, the medium-plus Alma del Campo is the second release in what the Plasencia family has planned as a five-cigar series. The name of this newest allNicaraguan cigar roughly translates as “the soul of the soil,” and the cigar reflects what Nestor Andres Plasencia refers to as “the flavor of Nicaragua,” cofee and nuts, with hints of cedar and milk chocolate. ($14–$18)

2

La Aurora ADN Dominicano ADN is the Spanish equivalent of the English-language DNA, which in this case translates to andullo, a Dominican tobacco typically used for pipe blends.

But here, it is part of the filler blend for a very labor-intensive cigar. A few leaves of andullo—which is fermented by being tightly wrapped and squeezed dry multiple times in palm-frond husks— produce a sweet symphony of typically discordant flavors, including Dijon mustard, ginger, and cocoa. ($7.25–$9.25)

3

Ashton San Cristobal Quintessence When you have a winning cigar, it is wise not to change it. This philosophy has served Ashton well with its Nicaraguan San Cristobal Quintessence, which was introduced to wide acclaim last year. This year the Ecuadoran Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan filler and binder remain unchanged but a new shape has been added, a 5 × 46 corona gorda. ($8.25)

4

Avo Syncro Nicaraguan Toro Tubo In keeping with today’s trend toward tubed cigars (all the better to travel with), the ever-popular Avo Nicaraguan 6 × 54 toro—the first box-pressed cigar in the Avo line—is now available in an attractive tube. Its Ecuadoran wrapper, Dominican binder, and complex filler blend from Peru, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic make this a decidedly Highland smoke. ($11.90) Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Presidente The Padrón family has introduced two new shapes for its box-pressed 1964 Anniversary Series: a 5 × 52 soberano and a 6 × 50 presidente, which is our favorite. The cigars are available in both natural and maduro wrappers.

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1

2

And being box pressed, the metal tube also has a boxy presentation, making this cigar an impressive host gift for the holidays. ($14.50–$15.50) Imperia Aventador The Aventador nomenclature was inspired by Lamborghini, and this is indeed a cigar with a deep, throaty roar.

Featuring a triple-capped Ecuadoran Habano wrapper, a Criollo 98 binder, and Piloto Cubano plus two vintages of Criollo for fillers, punched up with a touch of Pennsylvania broadleaf, it has a robust flavor that hints of burnt cedar and caramel—perfect combinations for a Speyside dram. ($9.40–$15.30)

4

3

Montecristo Espada Estoque Vintage 2002 If this cigar were a movie, it would be an installment in a franchise. Coming of of the original Montecristo Espada and then the Espada Estoque—a Robb Report Best of the Best winner last year—we have basically the same Nicaraguan puro, but with a dark Jalapa wrapper from 2002. Full bodied but manageable, the Estoque Vintage 2002 has been meticulously rolled and aged in Nestor Plasencia’s Estelí factory.

Only one size of this limited edition is produced, a 6 × 50 torpedo. ($15) La Gloria Cubana Colección Reserva Twenty-five years ago Ernesto Perez-Carrillo launched La Gloria Cubana. He later sold the brand to General Cigar but continued making and promoting the cigar, contributing to its success. Then Perez-Carrillo launched his own successful EPC brand. Now he is also producing this medium-fullflavored cigar for General Cigar from his Tabacalera La Alianza factory, using tobaccos from both companies. ($7.59–$8.99) Rocky Patel 2006 Vintage San Andreas Sharp-eyed readers may notice the misspelling of San Andrés on this cigar’s band and box, which, instead of referencing the famous Mexican tobacco-growing region, is more like a nod to California’s San Andreas Fault (whether intentional or not). Since Rocky Patel’s vintage series began in 2002, this is the first of the aged cigars to be made in Nicaragua and with an 11-year-old San Andrés wrapper. ($9.55–$11.75)

“IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY RULE NEVER TO SMOKE WHEN ASLEEP AND NEVER TO REFRAIN WHEN AWAKE.” —MARK TWAIN

R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

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Partagás 1845 Extra Fuerte Another old Cuban classic (now being made in the Dominican Republic) is being brought up to date to appeal to a younger generation. Though the original look of the band has been retained, it has a more stylized design. All three Partagás variations—from the medium-bodied Clásico to the fuller Extra Fuerte and Extra Oscuro—have had their blends changed, and it’s the Extra Fuerte that is the most dramatic in flavor, with nuances of saddle leather and a touch of ginger. ($6.49–$7.69)

1

2 CAO Amazon Anaconda

This bandless 6 × 52 powerhouse smoke is hand rolled of Brazilian Bragança and Amazon Basin fuma em corda tobaccos. It is a one-time ofering, with only 3,000 boxes produced. ($10.49) 3 Alec Bradley Fine & Rare BR12-13

An annual release since 2011, the Fine & Rare includes the BR12-13 tobacco blend in this latest version, which is actually the second time the blend has been used for the limited edition.

Consisting of 10 tobaccos, the 2017 version is made in just one size: a 6 × 52 torpedo, whose band depicts information about the cigar’s production. Only 20,000 were produced. ($17.75)

2

4 Hoyo La Amistad Silver

General Cigar is bringing the old Hoyo de Monterrey brand into the 21st century with new blends and a new look. Last year it introduced La Amistad Gold; and this year we have La Amistad Silver, made in Nicaragua by the prolific cigar maker A. J. Fernández, who has used only Cuban-seed tobaccos in this meaty smoke. ($6.99–$7.99) 5 Macanudo Inspirado Black

Macanudo—the best-selling hand-rolled cigar in the United States—is reinventing itself with its Inspirado versions. First came Inspirado Orange, a mediumbodied smoke launched in Europe and introduced to the States this year as a tubed cigar. Now topping that in strength is Inspirado Black, with a Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper. The wrapper leaves were planted in wider rows for extra sunlight and harvested lower on the stalk to produce a sweet, nutrient-rich smoke. ($6.99–$7.99) 6 Aging Room Quattro F55 Maduro

Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of this box-pressed cigar; it is very complex.

This is the third release of the Aging Room Quattro and also the maduro version of the original Quattro F55, a Dominican filler-and-binder combination begun in 2012 by Rafael Nodal of Boutique Blends Cigars and cigar maker Jochi Blanco of Tabacalera La Palma in the Dominican Republic. For this version, a Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper was used, for the richest smoke yet. ($9.62)

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3

4

5

6

BOURBON & RY E

FOR MEDIUM-FULL TO STRONG CIGARS

1

V I N TA G E PORTS

FOR RICH AND FULL-BODIED CIGARS

2

1

Schrader MMXIII by Nat Sherman The Fred Schrader name may be familiar to oenophiles who are aware of the Napa Valley vintner’s 100-point wines. But cigar smokers searching for hidden treasures may also recognize his second, more recent ofering, dubbed Sparky Two (in honor of Schrader’s own nickname of Sparky). A 6 × 60 perfecto, this very limited-production cigar smokes as rich and velvety as some of Schrader’s award-wining Cabernets drink. It is distributed exclusively by Nat Sherman. ($14)

2

My Father La Opulencia With its elegant 19th-century-styled double band, this is one of the most attractively packaged cigars in the already spectacular My Father Cigars line. The flawless Rosado Oscuro oily leaf is paired with an all-Nicaraguan filler and binder to produce a rich and smooth medium-full smoke. ($7.10–$13)

3

Flor de Selva Colección Aniversario No. 20 In 2015, Maya Selva celebrated her Honduran brand’s 25th anniversary with a 7 × 38 lancero—a difficult shape to make—“just to show we know how to do it,” she said. It featured a special blend that proved so popular, she has now expanded the line to include four other shapes, all under the No. 20 banner and made with the highest grades of Honduran tobaccos. ($9–$14.50)

3

Balmoral Añejo XO The family-owned, Netherlands-based company Royal Agio Cigars, founded in 1904, is well known in Europe for its cigarillo brands. Now, though, the firm is spotlighting its presence in the United States with the elegant Dominican-made Balmoral Añejo XO, which is available in five sizes ranging from a 4¼ x 48 petit robusto flagtail to a 6¼ × 52 torpedo. With its dark Brazilian wrapper and hints of chocolate and cocoa, it’s a bit like smoking a Black Forest cake. ($8–$12)

“IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT FOLKS WHO HAVE NO VICES HAVE VERY FEW VIRTUES.” —ABRAHAM LINCOLN

R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

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DRIVE LAMBORGHINI HURACÁN PERFORMANTE

A 2-day training session unlocks the secrets to taming Lamborghini’s new raging bull.

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DECEMBER 2017

On October 5, 2016, a heavily disguised Lamborghini Huracán Performante broke the production-car record at Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife racetrack with a lap time of 6 minutes, 52.1 seconds. Boasting advances in engine output, suspension tuning, and aerodynamics, the Italian supercar surpassed the Porsche 918 Spyder’s previous record by 5 seconds. ¶ The sophisticated hardware behind Lamborghini’s high-performance spin-off was key to its record-setting run, but an equally critical component was the man behind the wheel. Marco Mapelli, a test driver for Lamborghini, coaxed the landmark performance out of the 640 hp two-seater thanks to his years of experience in formula and endurance racing.

CHARLIE MAGEE

BY BASEM WAS E F

Understanding the intricate relationship between a car’s strengths and weaknesses—and how to exploit those qualities with proper driving techniques—is key for any driver who wants to extract the most from a vehicle. Such prowess is especially important when piloting an ultrahigh-performance car like the Huracán Performante. In an attempt to better wrangle Lamborghini’s latest raging bull, Robb Report recently participated in the marque’s Accademia, a training session that allows owners and enthusiasts to delve into the brand’s portfolio.

The hands-on training sessions are conducted at tracks like Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps, Japan’s Suzuka Circuit, and Australia’s Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Our event was at the 3.2-mile-long Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello Circuit in Italy.

The track is nestled in the rolling hills of Tuscany and hosts Grand Prix motorcycle racing, World Superbike competitions, German Touring Car Championship races, and Formula 1 testing. Known for its dramatic elevation changes, challenging high-speed corners, and lengthy straightaway, the Mugello Circuit is a

less-than-ideal locale for novice drivers. For drivers comfortable with the extreme capabilities of a race-worthy street car, however, the track is an outstanding place to gain a deeper discernment of what an exotic can do.

Among the Lamborghini Accademia’s arsenal of automobiles is the Aventador S (starting at $417,650), a V-12 flagship with dramatic scissor doors and an undeniable presence. However, the star of the show during our session was the smaller and lighter Huracán Performante (starting at $274,390). This is a more functionally focused fire-breather whose lineage from the company’s GT3 and Super Trofeo racers makes it closer to a street-legal competition car than a high-powered boulevardier.

As I learned at a morning briefing, the Performante gains several advantages over the standard Huracán, including a sharper suspension and stability-control system, an increase of 30 hp and 29 ft lbs of torque, and the loss of about 88 pounds of weight. However, the Performante’s key innovation is the way in which it manages the wind. While sports cars have long

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utilized spoilers and flaps that actively lift and retract to alter their aerodynamic profiles, the Performante’s Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva system takes that concept a step further through the strategic management of airflow.

Forward flaps leverage downforce at the front end as Lamborghini’s “aero vectoring” at the rear diverts airflow to either side of the vehicle,

creating downforce on the inside wheels during a turn. This feature enables greater cornering speeds with less steering angle and reduces the overall slowing efect of downforce. Through the straights, the system reduces drag in order to boost top speed.

It wasn’t long before our small group emptied from the conference room and moved to the track, performing the first iteration of a ritual that would be repeated eight times on the first day and six on the second: Strap on a helmet, climb into a Performante, adjust the seat, mirror, and steering wheel, and make sure the communications radio is plugged into your lid.

Following a cue from the instructor in the lead car, I clicked the carbon-fiber paddle to shift the car into first gear. The naturally aspirated 10cylinder engine rumbled through the pits before I accelerated hard onto the track’s straightaway.

Keeping pace with the instructor was a challenge throughout the 2-day program. Equipped with Pirelli’s competition-spec P Zero Trofeo R tires—and piloted by a seasoned professional— the lead car played mechanical rabbit to the chase car’s greyhound, always ahead and just out of reach. Fueling the fire was the one-way communication to the chase car. By monitoring the rearview mirrors while negotiating the course at speed, the instructor was able to provide remarkably detailed real-time feedback on a student’s racing line, braking technique, and throttle use—multitasking at its finest.

Lamborghini’s instructors, who include pro drivers Riccardo Agostini and Sarah Bovy, augment the experience with onboard data

CHARLIE MAGEE

The Huracán Performante’s advanced aerodynamics system manages airflow to keep the car glued to the track around tight turns and to reduce drag through the straights.

LAMBORGHINI ACCADEMIA:

BY THE NUMBERS

14

Days of instruction Number of 20-minute driving sessions held over 2 days

640

Horsepower produced by the Huracán Performante’s V-10 engine

.5

Number of seconds it takes for Lamborghini’s ALA flaps to close

12

Number of exhaust routings Lamborghini engineers experimented with before settling on the final design

2.9

202

Seconds it takes for the Huracán Performante to reach 62 mph Top speed, in mph

The Huracán Performante’s Nürburgring record was facilitated in large part by Lamborghini’s racing efforts, technology from which has trickled down into street models. But in the early days of

recorders. Following hot laps on the track, driver and instructor analyze point-of-view camera footage, a graphic representation of the car’s instrumentation and gear selection, and visual indicators of throttle and brake positions on a flat-screen monitor to see in explicit detail where improvements can be made. Smoothness and finesse are emphasized over brute force, and the instructors help the students shave seconds from their times throughout the day.

After negotiating Mugello’s 15 corners during diferent sessions, I became acutely aware of several aspects of the Performante. For starters, its driving dynamics feel significantly more focused than those of the standard Huracán, with a sharper ability to turn in to a corner and considerably greater levels of mid-corner grip.

But the car’s flow throughout the process also felt diferent. Whereas the humbler Huracán builds speed with an organic linearity, the Performante’s trajectory becomes somewhat segmented by the active aerodynamics. Throw it into a corner and it claws down, grasping at the tarmac until its weight and momentum shift slightly and some of the tire slip transitions into greater grip.

Because the downforce ramps up in a notquite-linear fashion, reaching the Performante’s limits can require a leap of faith. Indeed, comprehending and controlling the Huracán Performante’s vast potential is not a task for the faint of heart—and all but impossible to safely do on public roads. But with Lamborghini’s Accademia, one quickly discovers why, when it comes to handling, the Huracán Performante may now have pole position in Lamborghini’s pantheon.

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Lamborghini, company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini famously shunned motorsports.

Challenging his aversion was Bob Wallace, a speed guru and self-described “troubleshooter” who joined Lamborghini in 1963 with rich experience in endurance and

Formula 1 racing.

Collaborating with Gian Paolo Dallara and Paolo Stanzani, Wallace helped shepherd to market the curvaceous Miura, a model hailed by many as the world’s first supercar. But beyond his efforts on the Miura street car, Wallace spent his off-hours developing

Controlling the Huracán Performante’s vast potential is not a task for the faint of heart—and all but impossible to safely do on public roads.

TOP: MAGIC CAR PICS/REX /SHUT TERSTOCK; MIDDLE AND BOT TOM: CHARLIE MAGEE

2

a fiercer spin-off that incorporated lightweight aerospaceinspired alloys, a spartan interior, and a hot-rodded drivetrain and suspension. His so-called Miura Jota (replica shown at left) was a sensational, race-ready beast that attracted the attention of the media and Lamborghini enthusiasts, many of whom requested similar upgrades to their cars. Though a small handful of customer cars enjoyed Jota-inspired modifications, Wallace’s one-off met a fiery end when it was totaled during high-speed testing. —B.W.

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MIAMI D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 7

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Time Well Spent

MIAMI Florida’s flashiest city once again proves it’s more than just a pretty face.

By Jackie Caradonio

3

5

4 6

If you haven’t been to Miami lately,

2

1

you might have the wrong impression. These days, it seems that for every raucous pool party or DJ set in South Beach there’s a museum opening or new celebrity-chef restaurant to counter it elsewhere in the Magic City. As the always-in-flux metropolis spreads out, claiming new territory on the mainland and reinventing old neighborhoods on Miami Beach, an evolving attitude—one that begs to be taken seriously—has clearly taken hold.

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“Niu Kitchen . . . never fails to reach that part of my soul that just makes me happy.”

MICHELLE BERNSTEIN

One could argue that Miami’s cultural ascent began 16 years ago, when the first Art Basel arrived on its sandy shores, bringing artists, gallerists, and collectors to a city whose own art scene had been percolating for decades. This month, as the fair once again descends on the Miami Beach Convention Center (newly expanded for this year’s show), it will do so amid an impressive collection of freshly minted cultural establishments, from the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami 1 2 (icamiami.org)— which opens its doors this month in the fashionable Miami Design District—to the Bass Museum of Art

(thebass.org), which reopened in October following a 2-year renovation.

Of course, this doesn’t mean Miami has lost its flair. Art Basel still promises to be a work-all-dayparty-all-night extravaganza, with a few added perks from new hot spots like Top Chef alum Jeremy Ford’s Stubborn Seed 3 (stubbornseed.com) and the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club’s (fourseasons.com) outpost of Italy’s iconic La Sponda. And South Beach isn’t going anywhere either. Its neon lights and sparkling white sands will no doubt always have a place in this ever-evolving city’s heart.

“There is one thing that separates Miami gastronomy from the rest of the world and that is stone crabs.”

BERNARDO FORT-BRESCIA

LOCAL FAVORITES

MICHELLE BERNSTEIN

STAY

EAT

My favorite place to sleep in Miami is Acqualina Resort. The rooms are huge, beautiful, and luxurious. It truly feels like you’re transported.

If I had to pick one restaurant, it would be Niu Kitchen. It’s beautifully executed and never fails to reach that part of my soul that just makes me happy.

acqualinaresort.com

niukitchen.com

DRINK

SHOP

DO

There isn’t a better cocktail bar in Miami than Sweet Liberty.

The cauliflower nachos aren’t too shabby either.

I love Marine Layer in Wynwood for comfy clothes; Genius Jones in the Miami Design District has great kids’ clothes. marinelayer.com;

mysweetliberty.com

geniusjones.com

My favorite grocery store, Laurenzo’s Italian Market, has the best prosciutto di Parma, fresh mozzarella, and raw seafood. There’s nothing better than taking it all home and cooking a big meal with my family. laurenzosmarket.com

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REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER AND ART COLLECTOR

ADRIANA LIMA SUPERMODEL

BERNARDO FORT-BRESCIA ARCHITECT

For the quintessential Miami Beach resort experience, the Fontainebleau is iconic.

For a throwback to the more bohemian days of early South Beach, the Standard is great. fontainebleau.com; standardhotels.com

I hosted my birthday at the Faena Hotel when it first opened.

A large group went to its cocktail lounge and theater and watched a really amazing show. We had the best time.

I love Michael’s Genuine for a casual lunch or dinner with friends, but I’m also getting a little bit addicted to Roberta’s Pizza as well as the banana quinoa muffins at OTL. michaelsgenuine.com; robertaspizza.com; otlmia.com

I love Makoto. You can sit by the water for a delicious dinner. makotorestaurant.me

Anything my friend Dave Grutman does—from Liv to Komodo to Story—is always guaranteed to have the best mix of people, the coolest DJs, and fantastic performances. He’s truly the king of nightlife in Miami. livnightclub.com; komodomiami.com; storymiami.com

The Miami Design District 4 has more than 60 flagships. I love the vibe at Rick Owens, the selection at Tom Ford is crazy, and for simple but clever pieces at a great price, you can’t beat COS. The 10,000-square-foot Hermès store is always inspiring.

I enjoy walking or riding a bike outside and generally being in nature as much as living with great art and design. Miami is an unusually beautiful and peaceful place.

miamidesigndistrict.net

Broken Shaker is one of my favorite places in Miami. It has such a casual and fun atmosphere.

I enjoy going to the Bal Harbour Shops. It has amazing stores where you can find almost anything.

freehandhotels.com

balharbourshops.com

You feel like you are above the whole city at Sugar 5 . I love looking out at the bay, surrounded by tropical gardens—but 40 floors up in the air.

I’m not really a shopper, but Brickell City Centre is great for the architecture and the sense of environmental stewardship, in addition to the great shops. And I love Wynwood 6 for the pop-art experience.

I love to just sit on the beach by the water.

It’s so therapeutic and reminds me of being at home in Brazil.

faena.com

East, Miami is in the middle of the action of urban Miami, with a great restaurant and meeting rooms and breathtaking views. east-miami.com

There is one thing that separates Miami gastronomy from the rest of the world and that is stone crabs.

There are many great places to have them, but my favorite is the simplest of all: Casablanca on the Miami River. The best way to arrive is by boat. casablancaseafood.com

sugar-miami.com

brickellcitycentre.com; wynwoodmiami.com

I love to go fishing of the coast. The Gulf Stream comes close to Miami so the waters are warm, crystal clear, and full of fish. Just 15 minutes of the coast and I feel like I am getting away from it all.

R O B B R E P O R T. C O M

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Time Well Spent MIAMI

Miami Design District

Branching Out N O T LO N G A G O , M I A M I meant, almost exclusively, Miami Beach. But mainland Magic City is no longer just a gateway to its glamorous resort-lined island neighbor. A new spate of urbanism—albeit with plenty of palm trees to go around—is making waves in formerly struggling neighborhoods like Wynwood and Buena Vista, the latter of which has been rebranded as the squeaky-clean Miami Design District (miamidesigndistrict.net).

Populated by luxury flagships and of-the-moment restaurants, the district will unveil a phase-two expansion this month with the opening of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (icamiami .org), along with more shopping and dining options. Downtown is also luring locals away from the beach with new projects like the billion-dollar Brickell City Centre (brickellcitycentre.com) and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science (frost science.org). And farther north, the MiMo Historic District, spread over more than two dozen blocks on Biscayne Boulevard, is filling up with its own stylish collection of shops, restaurants, and hotels.

Best in Show

L E AV E I T T O M I A M I T O T U R N an art fair from civilized Switzerland into a weeklong spectacle of A-list exploits. To be sure, Art Basel Miami Beach (artbasel.com), along with its annual bonanza of satellite fairs and programs, is so packed with poolside parties and performances that the art itself sometimes gets lost amid the glitz. This year is expected to be a scene as usual: Events include a DJ set by Björk and parties hosted by Rémy Martin and Audemars Piguet. Still, a few hot happenings are keeping the art firmly in focus. Head to Brickell City Centre to see the CasaCor Miami exhibition (running through December 18), a curated selection of works from renowned designers like Pininfarina and Suchi Reddy. On Miami Beach, Faena Art (faenaart.org) will present The Circle of Land and Sky, Phillip K. Smith III’s site-specific installation comprising 300 reflectors mirroring the surrounding sky and sea. Meanwhile, Gucci has partnered with online art platform Artsy at the members-only Bath Club (thebathclub.com) to showcase a selection of emerging artists like Eric Mack and Jillian Mayer.

Positano

by Way of Surfside MIAMI’S HOTEL SCENE

has long been a hotbed for culinary greatness. Foodies can find Jean-Georges Vongerichten at the Edition, Gastón Acurio at the Mandarin Oriental, and José Andrés at the SLS. But this year’s opening of the elegant Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf

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Club (fourseasons.com) took the gastronomic gambit to a whole new level: Opened in March, the 77-room hotel is home to Le Sirenuse Miami, an outpost of the Amalfi Coast’s Michelin-starred La Sponda, located in the famed Le Sirenuse hotel. Designed by the French architect Joseph Dirand, the restaurant and Champagne bar is a Miami-fied version of the original, with a slick onyx-green bar, oversize banana-leaf plants, and Art Deco chandeliers overlooking

the beach. The cuisine, however, is perfectly Positanese (chef de cuisine Antonio Mermolia spent 3 months at La Sponda to prepare), with dishes such as Mediterranean octopus and house-made linguine with clams making Le Sirenuse Miami the most coveted reservation in town.

That is, until the next celebrity chef sets up shop: Thomas Keller, Joël Robuchon, Daniel Boulud, and Nobu Matsuhisa are all working on projects for the coming year.

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STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (requires by 39 U.S.C. 3685) 1. Title of Publication: Robb Report. 2. Publication no.: 594-450 3. Date of Filing: September 30, 2016. 4. Frequency of issue: Monthly 5. No. of issues published annually:12. 6. Annual subscription price: $65.00. 7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: 11175 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Complete Mailing address of the headquarters of general business office of the publisher:11175 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025. 9. Full names and complete mailing address of the Managing Director, Vice President, Editor in Chief, and Managing Editor are: Managing Director, David Arnold, 475 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10017. Vice President, Editor in Chief, Brett Anderson, 11175 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Managing Editor, Lori Bryan, 11175 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025. 10. Owner: Robb Report Media, LLC, 11175 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025. 11. Known bondholders, mortgages, and other security holders owning for holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages: None. 12. For completion by nonprofit organizations authorized to mail at special rates: not applicable. 13. Publication Title: Robb Report. 14.

Issue Date for Circulation Data below: October 2017. 15. Extent and nature of circulation. A. Total number of Copies. Average number of copies each issue during the preceding 12 months: 131,650. Actual number of copies single issue nearest to filing date: 115,344. B. Paid Circulation: (1) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541. Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 46,764. Actual number of copies single issue nearest to filing date: 53,007. (2) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541. Average number of copies each issue during the preceding 12 months: none.

Actual number of copies single issue nearest filing date: none. (3) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails including Sales through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS: Average number of copies for each issue during preceding 12 months: 13,953. Actual number of copies of single issue closest to filing date: 9,193. (4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS: Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: none. Actual number of copies of single issue closest to filing date: none. C. Total Paid Distribution. Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 60,717. Actual number of copies of single issue closest to filing date: 61,200. D. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution. (1) Free or Nominal Rate OutsideCounty Copies included on PS Form 3541. Average number of copies each issue in preceding 12 months: 44,802. Actual number of copies of single issue closest to filing date: 44,159. (2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541. Average number of copies each issue in preceding 12 months: none.

Actual number of copies of single issue closest to filing date: none. (3) Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS. Average number of copies each issue in preceding 12 months: none. Actual number of copies of single issue closest to filing date: none. (4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail. Average number of copies each issue in preceding 12 months: 2,516. Actual number of copies of single issue closest to filing date: 1,386. E. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution. Average number of copies each issue in preceding 12 months: 47,318. Actual number of copies of single issue closest to filing date: 45,545. F. Total Distribution. Average number of copies each issue in preceding 12 months: 108,035. Actual number of copies of single issue closest to filing date: 106,745. G. Copies not distributed. Average number of copies each issue in preceding 12 months: 23,615. Actual number of copies of single issue closest to filing date: 8,599. H. Total. Average number of copies of each issue in preceding 12 months: 131,650. Actual number of copies of single issue closest to filing date: 115,344. I. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation. Average number of copies each issue in preceding 12 months: 56.20%. Actual number of copies of single issue closest to filing date: 57.33% 16. Publication of Statement of Ownership. Publication Required. Will be printed in the December 2017 issue of this publication.

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TIME PIECE

— C A I T L I N D O N OVA N , C H R I ST I E ’S N E W YO R K

THE TIMELINE CASH YOU CAN CARRY 1 1892 Hermès produces a saddle carrier bag that serves as the original inspiration for the Kelly handbag.

2 1930s Robert Dumas develops a smaller version of the saddle carrier that later becomes one of the company’s most popular women’s leather handbags.

3 1956

Long before social

media rendered the concept of the influencer commonplace, Grace Kelly’s presence and personal style made her the ultimate arbiter of taste. In 1956, after the then-pregnant Princess of Monaco appeared on the cover of Life magazine shielding her baby bump with an Hermès handbag, the accessory became an instant international status symbol. This image prompted the house to christen the top-handle model the Kelly bag, and 60 years later the design still attracts a cult following, according to Caitlin Donovan, Christie’s New York head of sales for handbags and accessories. Demand for Kelly bags in particular has spawned an entire industry comprising secondhand retailers, websites, and auctions houses, including Christie’s, which holds six international sales each year. “It’s a matter of supply and demand,” says Donovan.

At Hermès, the waiting list for the bag is notoriously long, and the retailer is known to keep records of the number of bags clients purchase to ensure that none of them buys simply to reap monetary gains from resale. These profits can be considerable, as auction prices airm. At a Christie’s

Hong Kong auction 2 years ago, a rare 2015 white Himalaya Niloticus-crocodile Kelly bag sold for $152,500. A new mini black-alligator iteration from this year’s collection will be sold in Christie’s online auction, which runs from November 22 to December 5, for an estimated $25,000 to $35,000; however, Donovan expects the actual amount to be higher.

If the rise in cost of this much-admired accessory is a relatively recent phenomenon, the bag itself is not, antedating its namesake’s magazine cover by decades. Designed in the 1930s by Hermès family member Robert Dumas, the Kelly was adapted from the company’s 1892 saddle carrier.

However, only when the Monegasque royal gave her personal imprimatur (and name) to the bag (she owned more than half a dozen variations) did it truly take of. This icon remains almost identical to the original version and is still handmade from start to finish by a single Hermès artisan using the same tools and techniques that were applied in the 1930s. “Our life,” Kelly herself once said, “dictates our wardrobe”; but for collectors, timeless style and timely returns make this portable investment de rigueur. —Jill Newman

Grace Kelly is featured on the cover of Life magazine using her crocodile Kelly bag to shield her baby bump from the paparazzi.

The bag is soon christened the Kelly.

4 1968 In a nod to changing tastes in a decade of change, the mini Kelly is created.

5 1980 Reversing course, Hermès supersizes the petite purse of the late 1960s, unveiling the 40-centimeter Kelly bag.

6 1994 The French fashion house relaxes the rigid lines of its most popular handbag by introducing a soft version.

7 2000 Hermès’s classic yet infinitely adaptable accessory gets bigger than ever as the world welcomes a 50-centimeter version.

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