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MICHAEL MILKEN

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WATCHE S An in-depth

look at the world’s best and largest vintage Rolex collection

CIGARS Davidoff’s

new $15,000 humidor comes with the world’s ﬁnest smokes

TITAN Our proﬁle of famed ﬁnancier and philanthropist Michael Milken

MOTO Walt Siegl’s WSM

SBK is the ’90s Ducati superbike that never was

SPIRITS From $65,000 single malt to the best Negroni, staying home never looked so good

REAL ESTATE

Savvy investors are adding property to their portfolios and to join the “$50 Million Club”

SUPERCAR

Exclusive photos of the Essenza SCV12, the most powerful Lamborghini ever

AUTO The

G-Wagen-based Brabus 800 Adventure XLP is a supercar pickup

LEADING LADY

Colombian model / actress Daniela Botero scorches our ﬁngertips

PHOTOGRAPHY

Famed lensman Russell

RISING STAR Former

New England Patriots cheerleader Camille Kostek is one to watch

James discusses 30 years behind the camera

TRAVEL Take

off with our exclusive

PROFILE MercedesAMG Petronas Motorsport

portfolio of the world’s coolest luxury hotels

Formula One Team Principal Toto Wolff

ADVENTURE

Driving the incomparable Pagani Huayra Roadster from Napa to Newport

HELICOPTERS The

new ACH160 Exclusive from Airbus is a $15 million gamechanger

ON THE COV ER COVER Model

and inﬂuencer Lena Simonne is France’s latest lovely export

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Lena Simonne wears a faux fur coat by Apparis, and patent leather stilettos by Maison Ernest. Photographed by Gilles Bensimon Styling by Caroline Christiansson

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Crown Jewels

A look at the world’s largest collection of vintage Rolex watches Te x t b y JAR ED PAU L S T ER N

Stroll through London’s famed Burlington Arcade in the heart of Mayfair, an enclosed array of exclusive shops that has catered to well-dressed gentlemen for over 200 years, and one’s eye cannot help but be drawn to the extraordinary display of watches at the far end–hundreds and hundreds of rare Rolexes, each seemingly more valuable than the next. This is The Vintage Watch Company, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, a mecca for Rolex collectors, who include some of the most stylish men on the planet. Want an early “Big Crown” Submariner identical to the one worn by Sean Connery in 1962’s Dr. No? Or the 1970s Explorer II, which legend has it, was worn by Steve McQueen? Or the extremely coveted “Paul Newman” Daytona, made famous by the film and racing legend? The Vintage Watch Company will have several examples of each; and it’s an incredibly lucrative business these days, with the very rarest among the timepieces made by the iconic Swiss brand now reaching into seven figures. At any given time the collection, billed as the largest in the vintage Rolex world, and certainly the largest on public display, numbers around 2,000 pieces. The shop is dedicated to watches produced from c.1910 through 1980, which are the most valuable, though it has more modern sports models as well. One popular pastime among collectors is to ask to see all of the watches from one’s birth year. This month the world-renowned boutique is celebrating its anniversary with another item that’s bound to be highly coveted by Rolex enthusiasts: a gorgeously-produced coffee table book titled Vintage Rolex: The Largest Collection in the World, published by the famed house of Rizzoli’s Pavilion imprint. The author is David Silver, who co-founded the shop with his father John in 1995, when only a handful of collectors around the globe were truly focused on vintage Rolexes. The market has since rocketed ever skyward, and the credit is due at least in part to the Silvers’ presence and prescience. Asked to name his favorite Rolex decade, David Silver has a ready reply. “The 1950s bore witness to the birth of the Submariner made for diving, the GMT-Master made for Pan Am transatlantic pilots, and the Explorer, strapped to the wrist of Ranulph Fiennes when he conquered Everest,” he explains. “We had a goal to build and maintain the largest collection of vintage Rolexes on display in the world,” as John Silver says, “and that’s something we have definitely now achieved.” Twenty-five years on, a vintage Rolex has come to be seen as one of the “holy grails” every true man of style aspires to, along with a classic Porsche 911 and and a wardrobe full of Savile Row suits. And not only are they stylish

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accessories, but excellent investments. The Silvers were also among the first to truly appreciate the value of patina— what used to be considered mere wear and tear, which had a negative effect on pricing until relatively recently. Still, “We do get people in who just don’t get it,” as David Silver told Mr. Porter. “To them, they’re being asked to pay a premium for a watch that looks older.” Patina, he explains, gives a watch “rarity, value and individuality. And we find that now, for some people, when it comes to their sports watches, the more extreme the patina, the better.” The best and most highly-prized examples include “tropical” dials that have faded from black to brown over time; colors that have altered from their original to an entirely different hue; and “ghost” bezels that have all but faded to nothingness. David Silver himself wears a 1960s Submariner with a tropical brown dial, which is now so valuable most collectors would keep it safely locked in a vault. The book was made possible by another of the Silvers’ passions: that of photographing and cataloguing every single watch that has passed through their hands, creating an archive rivaled only by that of the iconic watchmaker itself. “It’s my passion,” John Silver says. ‘I am constantly searching for new pieces and speaking with international customers—royalty, heads of state, film stars and celebrities.” While the company doesn’t publicize clients’ names, the likes of Gordon Ramsay and David Beckham are both known to be devotees of the shop. Ramsay is said to have a preference for vintage Submariners, while Beckham has been spotted wearing a vintage “Root Beer” GMT, so named for its groovy 1960s coloring. We’ve also heard that Daniel Craig is a Vintage Watch Company customer. One day their personal Rolex watches might even be as valuable as that of Paul Newman, whose Daytona was auctioned by Phillips in New York in 2017 for a world-record $17.8 million. Even the best-looking vintage Rolex is relatively useless if it can’t keep time, however, so to support the collection the Silvers created a state-of-the-art workshop. They have a team of six full time Rolextrained watchmakers along with two jewelers to work on every piece that comes through the doors. Each watch is painstakingly brought back to its original condition before being put on display. “We completely strip down the movement, cleaning each part, and then fully re-assemble the piece to a timekeeping accuracy on a par with a modern day manufactured movement,” Silver writes. Rolex collectors both well established and just starting out would be wise to invest in Silver’s book to get a sense of the vast array and rarity of the pieces that it might be possible to acquire. However, Silver cautions, one shouldn’t buy a watch just because it is difficult to find. “Buy what you like,” he has counseled, “don’t buy what somebody tells you is rare. Just because it’s rare, it doesn’t mean you will like it. The real question you should ask yourself is, do you enjoy looking at it? And do you enjoy wearing it? I could tell you a million things about a watch, but it’s irrelevant if you don’t like it.”

T H E V I N TA G E WATC H C O M PA N Y/ C O U R T E S Y R I Z ZO L I

WATCHES

“WE HAD A GOAL TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF VINTAGE ROLEXES IN THE WORLD” MAXIM.COM

NOV/DEC 2020

CIGARS

JOY STICKS Davidoﬀ’s exclusive Masterpiece Series smokes deserve an equally impressive humidor aviation

ome might say Zino Davidoff invented the desktop humidor, so the brand he established in Geneva in 1911 knows a thing or two when it comes to storing tobacco in an optimal environment for the next generation. And every now and then they do something really special to cater to those cigar aficionados who want the same bragging rights in the cigar world as the owner of a Mercedes CLK SLR has in the car world. For as with many things, exclusivity is king. Especially when executed to perfection using over a century of expertise. Once in a blue moon something comes out of their facilities that is so special they only make 400 of them globally. At 50 cigars per humidor that means only eight people on planet Earth will have the keys to the Masterpiece Series I castle, and to get these smokes you have to buy the humidor. If you miss the Series I they are making a total of 20 of these works of art—eight in the Series I release, and 12 in the Series II. Each for a cool $15,000 a piece, complete with 50 Masterpiece Series cigars. Blended by Davidoff ’s Master Blender exclusively for delivery with the accompanying humidor, we’re told that these sweet and spicy special limited edition toros will light up your taste buds with notes of spice, leather and wood, all derived from the well-aged Dominican tobaccos used to fill the Ecuadorian wrappers holding them together. Are they pre-Castro Cubans? No. But are they something special for a truly special occasion? Absolutely. And will they be a talking piece? For sure. We all know that cigars should be stored in a proper humidor, and that is particularly the case with the good stuff. As with great wines, storage is a necessity if you are to enjoy your cigars at their best. This means a controlled environment where they can await consumption in humidity similar to that which they were created. To a certain extent it helps to think of them as delicate flowers—leave them out in an air-conditioned room and they soon dry out and wilt. Store then in an airtight box and they go moldy. So the trick is to store them in a cool, humidity-controlled place where they will retain their structure and taste. Some might also say that key to this is also to not store different

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cigars together—or risk the transference of flavors between them for a mélange disrespecting each, and reflecting none. In the case of the Masterpiece Series cigars this explains why Davidoff has gone to such great lengths to make sure the lucky recipients are assured of optimal storage. The interior of each Masterpiece Humidor delivered with your cigars is made of Gabon wood, known as okoumé, from central West Africa. Okoumé is odorless and tasteless, and so avoids flavor transferring to your cigars from the wood. Fitted with not one, not two, but three, proprietary Davidoff De Luxe regulators to maintain a stable 70-72% humidity inside (the outside is hand varnished to ensure the moisture does not escape), you can rest assured your blue moon smoke will be a good one each and every time.

“EXECUTED TO PERFECTION USING OVER A CENTURY OF EXPERTISE”

B OT TO M P H OTO S C O U R T E S Y O F D AV I D O F F TO P P H OTO BY A N D R E A S R E N T Z / G E T T Y I M A G E S

Te x t b y D U N C AN Q U I N N

AN AMERICAN CLASSIC SINCE 1934.

A FINANCIAL MASTERMIND The Great Philanthropist Te x t b y K EI T H G O R D O N

istory is full of great men who not only achieved massive success, but left behind a legacy of innovation and progress that outlive the men themselves. Becoming such an icon in a single field is enough to ensure one’s place in the annals of history… think Thomas Edison, Henry Ford or J.P. Morgan. Now imagine having the intellect, drive and foresight required to be considered a legend in not one but two distinct fields. This is the level of accomplishment, and impact, for which society can thank Michael Milken, the financier and philanthropist who hasn’t just thrived in his areas of focus, but has completely reformed them in ways that will continue to advance society long after he’s gone. Milken, now 74, remains one of the most influential financiers in modern history, second only to J.P. Morgan. His financial insights and wisdom played a pivotal role in the success stories of countless companies and businessmen in the last five decades. His Milken Institute Global Conference, often referred to as the “Davos of the West”, draws the global elite together to attempt to tackle some of the world’s most dire challenges through collaboration and coordination. Through his philanthropic causes, he has had an undeniable impact on areas such as public health, medical research, education and perhaps most significantly, cancer research and treatments. But these statements, if anything, understate the vast impact that Milken has had on both America and the rest of the world. Before Michael Milken was a powerhouse on Wall Street, he was a middle-class Jewish kid born in Encino, California in 1946. It was during his years as an undergraduate at University of California, Berkeley, and then while getting his MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, that his interest and curiosity in financial markets led him to deeply explore the credit and bond markets. What he uncovered would change both Wall Street and Main Street in ways that are still hard to fully comprehend. In layman’s terms, Milken realized that when properly structured, investors could make a greater return in riskier, higher-paying bonds than in the “safer,” lower-yielding variety that Wall Street mainly utilized

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and issued on behalf of corporate clients in the second half of the 20th century. This upended many assumptions about risk in the bond market. The mainstream banks wouldn’t issue bonds on behalf of younger or riskier companies, brands or entrepreneurs, cutting off a source of financing necessary for such enterprises to survive, and eventually thrive. Despite this enormous apparent demand for capital, the banks stubbornly refused to consider most of these opportunities, perhaps due to antiquated assumptions or a simple lack of foresight. To Milken, this was a life-altering opportunity. Contrary to popular belief, Milken did not invent the high-yield bond. In fact, they had existed for some two centuries before he even arrived on the financial stage. But Milken was the man prophetic enough to see the utility of such investment vehicles in the modern economy. Additionally, he saw not just one opportunity to reform the capital markets, but two distinct areas where he could put his ideas into practice. The first area was encouraging higher-risk entities like startups and emerging organizations to issue high-yield bonds as a way to secure the investments their ventures required without relying on the traditional Wall Street capital markets that had ignored them. The second opportunity was due to the fact that despite being a centuries-old investment vehicle, high-yield bonds were rarely issued and the market for these bonds was quite small. If Milken wanted to capitalize on this shift towards high-yield bonds, he would also need to be a driving factor in growing these markets, often leading the issuance of bonds on behalf of these up-and-coming companies. Again, just as with the bonds themselves, Milken didn’t invent the high-yield marketplace, but he was largely responsible for the growth of the industry into the behemoth it has become today and the wide acceptance of these techniques as valid methods for capitalizing new industries and the economy as a whole. What was a controversial theory back in his academic days in the 1960s, is now widely taught at elite business schools. While still a student at Wharton, Milken found a home at the traditional investment bank, Drexel Harriman Ripley, later Drexel Lambert, where he was hired to help with the back office problems on Wall Street . After graduating, he was hired full-time as head of fixed-income research working on about a dozen asset classes. In 1977, Bear Stearns underwrote the first new high-yield bonds in decades and it wasn’t too long after that Milken and his firm began to issue them to fill the supply gap left by the stubbornly traditional Wall Street banks. Eventually the firm would become a go-to shop for companies wishing to issue their own high-yield bonds, and Milken became an incredible force within capital markets. Quoted in The Economist, investment guru Ken Moelis explained what made Milken both successful and revolutionary. “These days, with firms such as Google and Apple, everyone takes dynamism for granted,” he explained. “But Mike Milken started out in the 1970s when capitalism was struggling. In those days, there was very little innovation. Along comes Drexel, a firm with a visionary purpose, and suddenly you could get capital.” If the issuance of high-yield bonds doesn’t sound exciting or impactful, consider just a handful of the more than 3,000 companies, brands and individuals that utilized Milken’s financing to help start, grow or even save their businesses. It’s enough to make your head spin. It started with his research on aerospace companies, which helped Boeing’s market leadership through the rest of the century. “Milken’s real contribution was far greater than simply to sell portfolios of bonds,” asserts former Harvard Business Review editor-in-chief Joel Kurtzman in his 2002 book How the Markets Really Work. “His real contribution was to get investors to understand that the stock and bond markets were not really separate markets. Milken created a tremendous pool of liquidity and guided its use with surgical precision. He did it in a way that took an often bloated and ailing American economy and made it lean, mean and resilient. Much of the strength and re-

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silience of the economy today—including its ability to rebound in times of adversity—is due to the way people using Milken’s financing vehicles remade ailing companies or put their entrepreneurial zeal to work.” Sometimes he would stimulate an entire industry, such as in home-building, where he played a role in financing entities such as Toll Brothers, M.D.C. Holdings, Oriole Homes and KB Home. Or consider entertainment, where some of the most valuable and powerful brands, including MGM/UA Entertainment Company, Viacom International, AOL Time Warner, News Corp. and others accessed capital thanks to Milken. Milken provided capital to McCaw Cellular Communications (later AT&T Wireless) back in the early 1980s, helping spark the mobile phone revolution itself. He also invested in Safeway. Even the 14,400 employees of Occidental Petroleum can connect their jobs to the financial support provided by Milken to the energy giant. He invested widely in the cable television industry, enabling its eventual spread into the vast majority of American homes. He even stepped in to assist Chrysler when it needed funding to stay afloat. This barely scratches the surface of brands and companies for which Milken should be credited with helping. Hilton, 7-Eleven, Mattel, AMC Entertainment Holdings, Barnes & Noble, Cablevision, Calvin Klein, Chiquita Brands International, Duracell, Hasbro, Mellon Bank (now BNY Mellon), TCI and Telemundo represent only a tiny sliver of the entities financed by Milken and his firm. He was not only responsible for enabling the growth of billion-dollar companies, but billionaire entrepreneurs. Titans of business such as billionaires Carl Icahn, John Malone, and the late T. Boone Pickens became immensely prosperous with the backing of Milken, and private equity firms such as Texas Pacific Group (now TPG Capital) and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (now KKR & Co.) also can thank Milken for aiding in their success and development. Decades after it was first created by entrepreneur Ted Turner, CNN has established itself as a major source of news both domestically and globally. Yet, it was far from a guaranteed success story. Turner was able to create the cable news channel (and in doing so, the 24-hour news cycle) largely due to Milken and his ability to capitalize companies such as the one Turner had envisioned. This is just one example of the tremendous impact of Milken’s influence, and the inescapable role he had in helping companies and entrepreneurs that still impact our society on a daily basis. Even the people who worked with Milken during his time at Drexel, owe him some level of credit for their own transformations into the billionaires they are today. There’s founder Leon Black and co-founders Josh Harris and Marc Rowan of Apollo Global Management, and Tony Ressler, who then went on to start Ares Management Corporation. Ken Moelis, who founded Moelis & Company, and John Danhakl and Jonathan Sokoloff, managing partners of Leonard Green & Partners, all worked with Milken on their way to billionaire status. Perhaps nowhere is more indebted to Mike Milken than the state of Nevada and the city of Las Vegas. Milken financed the area’s homebuilders, newspapers and casinos, enabling the rapid growth and prosperity in the state. It’s estimated that he has helped create some 600,000 jobs with his financing of enormous employers like MGM Mirage (now MGM Resorts International), Mandalay Resort Group, and Harrah’s Entertainment. While he has played his role in forging billionaires and billion-dollar companies, it might be in the area of job creation where Milken has had the most enduring impact on the American economy as a whole. It’s perhaps no surprise then that Milken was named one of the 75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century by Esquire magazine. It’s hard to speak of Las Vegas’ growth without mentioning one of the titans of the city, Steve Wynn. Famous for his wealth, his casinos and even his world-renowned art collection, Wynn is the epitome of the

Vegas success story. But even a man as driven and successful as Wynn can directly connect his financial prosperity to the faith, and capital, that was placed in him by Michael Milken. Without Milken’s support, it’s far from assured that Wynn would be the multi-billionaire he is today. He still maintains ownership of Las Vegas legends such as Wynn Las Vegas and the Encore hotel and casino, brick-and-mortar proof of the impact and foresight that Milken can provide. So while it’s clear that Milken was indeed a pioneer, revolutionary and icon in capital markets and the economy, this remains only half the story. The other industry where he has made an almost incomprehensible contribution to society is in his philanthropic works. Starting in the 1970s, during the early stages of his professional career, Milken was an enthusiastic patron of charitable causes. But when both his father and mother-in-law were stricken with cancer during that decade, the purpose of his philanthropy became more focused, eventually becoming one of the most effective and potent philanthropic organizations in the fields of public health and medical research, especially with regards to cancer. He formalized his philanthropic efforts when the Milken Family Foundation was founded back in 1982 and endowed with hundreds of millions of dollars, and to this day the foundation continues to fund a vast array of projects and grants in the education and medical fields, assisting more than 1,000 organizations globally. Following in the steps of the Milken Family Foundation have been numerous other Milken-created nonprofits, including the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Within the Milken Institute, a public charity/ economic think tank, Milken founded FasterCures, which works to remove regulatory and bureaucratic obstacles in the fight against all life-threatening diseases. And under the auspices of the Milken Institute, Mike helped to establish the Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA). His main focus for the past six months has been COVID-19, and many of the treatments we and our loved ones rely on today for diseases like testicular cancer, leukemia, epilepsy, melanoma, prostate cancer and breast cancer can be traced back to support provided by Milken’s philanthropy. These aren’t minor contributions by any means. In fighting prostate cancer, “Milken revolutionized the field,” claims Charles Myers, M.D., president of the American Institute for Diseases of the Prostate. Legendary journalist Dominick Dunne once wrote in Vanity Fair that a doctor told him Milken’s support for cancer research “had advanced the study of the disease by 40 years.” And a former Director of the National Cancer Institute once said that “few people have done more to advance the fight against serious diseases than Mike Milken.” Beyond the medical field, his philanthropy supports both teachers and students globally. His Milken Scholars program, promotes and supports young people as they acquire the skills necessary to make the difficult transitions from high school to college and from college to graduate school or the world of work, through scholarships, counseling, and volunteer opportunities among other supports. His philanthropy also extends from world-renowned universities to cultural institutions such as the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem. Perhaps just as significantly, Milken has committed himself to The Giving Pledge, the campaign organized by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates, which encourages ultra-wealthy individuals to donate a majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes. While it’s obvious that he didn’t need a pledge to do amazing charitable work, it’s another example of his willingness, and eagerness, to use his vast wealth to help others. “Be the change you wish to see in the world” is a quote that has perhaps become cliché. Yet, in both the financial world and the medical research community, Michael Milken has been a foremost agent of change and the world is a much different, and better place, because of the role Milken has played in advancing both of these critical industries.

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NOV/DEC 2020

o-called “crotch rockets” are no longer the preferred flavor of motorcycle. A blind man with one ear and no sense of smell could tell you that. Today everything is about café racers. But it was not always so. And I am here to tell you that it will not always be so. And also that it doesn’t even need to be that way right now. Walt Siegl is a man of many talents whom some would argue makes the most beautiful and fantastic hand-built motorcycles available in the USA today. And perhaps even on planet Earth. I would be one of those people. I should also admit that I cut my teeth on crotch rocket superbikes in the 1990s. Ducati’s original 955SP track bikes. Suzuki GSXR750s and GSXR1000s. Triumph Daytonas. Hot on the heels of guys who raced WSB (Superbike World Championship) when not stringing sentences together for Fast Bikes magazine. So I am a man infected with a disease—the disease of speed. For nothing quite matches a superbike for visceral adrenaline-pumping excess. It is the freebase, mainline, speedball of the transport game. The thing that takes you to the edge of the void, and for those who don’t respect it, or get unlucky, into it…. Siegl gets this; perhaps because he grew up racing bikes in the south of France. But I have to believe there is more to it than this. As it takes more than just an appreciation of speed and its superlative highs to build machines which take the experiential needle to the redline; and then bury it against the limiter until it snaps. Fluid beautiful lines, simplified and purified ergonomics and materials science, aesthetically-pleasing color schemes are the hallmarks of Walt’s shop in New Hampshire. And hands-on performance that literally takes your breath away as your cardiovascular system momentarily wobbles and hits pause when more adrenaline cascades into your system than your heart can handle. As Walt said himself when designing the new WSM SBK [Walt Siegl Motorcycles Superbike], “My goal was to design a truly special machine that encapsulates traditional European motorcycle design and its racing heritage, and all the emotions that come with that. Riding the bike tops it all off: It behaves so differently than your showroom bike. It is so agile and easy to steer, without feeling flighty, and at the same time quite comfortable.” That “really caught me by surprise on my first test ride,” he notes. “All the painstaking considerations of ergonomics really paid off. And all the weight-saving efforts are really paying off, not only with the way the bike steers and feels under you, but also how well the brakes and suspension translate, and how effortless the acceleration is. The experience is truly visceral.” As Siegl says, “The design of this machine is my romance with classic race bikes blending, I hope seamlessly, with modern technology and design. I wanted to hold on to what is so dear to most Ducatistas, the trellis frames, the rattling dry clutches, the torquey thrust of the long stroke motors. It’s a visceral experience.” All the time and attention spent maximizing the handling and performance of this street-legal track weapon weighing in at an insane 340 lbs succeeded. From OSM carbon fiber parts designed from scratch by Walt to the wholesale redesign of systems to reduce the number of parts, literally no detail has been overlooked. This is how this bike ended up 24 lbs lighter than Ducati’s own 1098R superbike. As well as lighter than the works WSB superbikes the year it was built. In a world of restomod Porsche 911s and MonteCarlo Offshorer speedboats, the WSM SBK is a hand-built tour de force that belongs in every billionaire superhero’s garage.

MOTO

SUPER FLY

Custom king Walt Siegl builds the Ducati superbike that never was

P H OTO S C O U R T E S Y O F WA LT S I E G L

Te x t b y D U N C AN Q U I N N

PH OTO G R APH Y

b y G R EG O RY G EO RG E M O O R E

“THIS MACHINE IS MY ROMANCE WITH CLASSIC RACE BIKES MIXED WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN” MAXIM.COM

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HOLIDAYS

There’s never been a better time to up your hospitality and home bar game

“In this new age of virtual experiences and dining at home, when all of us are craving authentic human interaction, hospitality has never been more important.” So says spirits writer and sommelier Adrienne Stillman in her new book Spirited: Cocktails from Around the World, published by Phaidon—and this holiday season we’re taking her words to heart, stocking up our home bar, laying in plenty of firewood, and perfecting our mixology skills. While large gatherings are (for the moment) out in favor of immediate family and intimate friends, there is no constraint against having just as good a time, albeit on a smaller scale, and even better drinks. And as Stillman notes in her book, “In many ways, it has never been a better time to be a discerning cocktail drinker. Small and craft distilleries have opened up the variety of spirits available, resurrecting products that had disappeared for decades like Old Tom gin, crème de violette, and true dry curaçao, as well as creating new ones. Historic Italian amaro, which once struggled to find an export market, is selling all over the world. And high-quality mixers and syrups have entered what used to be the realm of highfructose corn syrup and artificial flavors.” That said, “it can [still] be intimidating to mix cocktails at home,” she notes. A fresh Daiquiri—which contains rum (we prefer ours with Mount Gay Eclipse), lime, and sugar, and takes about two minutes to make—“still seems daunting to some,” she notes. “But this need not be the case.” Especially with extra time at home to practice, and fewer people to make drinks for. In any case, most classic cocktail recipes “contain only three or four ingredients,” she points out, and do not require a lot of fancy accessories to concoct. Of equal importance when entertaining is hospitality, Stillman opines, a precept that holds true no matter how many guests you have. “This is perhaps the secret of all great bars: the warmth and camaraderie that you feel immediately upon entering [a space],” she writes. “Without it, a drink is just a beverage. With it, the beauty and timelessness of

a well-crafted cocktail elevate the experience to another level.” Just ask Claudia Taittinger, of the famed Taittinger Champagne family, a consummate entertainer who has played host to tastemakers from New York to Paris. In her own new book, Entertaining Chic!, published by Rizzoli, “When entertaining at home it is the ‘where’ and the ‘who’ that become the pillars upon which a host, or hostess, can build a truly memorable [occasion]. Each home’s location, and the guests that are expected, provide the inspiration for the host to create a oneof-a-kind performance, where both stagecraft and culinary”—and we’d add mixology—“adventures play a part. Whether hosting a larger gettogether or an intimate dinner over the flickering light of candles, it all comes down to a harmonious mood and the excitement of surprises, created by the chosen elements as devised by the host.” There is no better way to kick things off than with a perfectly-crafted cocktail. Just make sure you have carefully prepped your home bar. Even if you lack experience making drinks, it’s easy enough to impress more seasoned cocktail quaffers with a perfectlyexecuted classic such as an Old Fashioned. And while the type of whiskey you use is open to interpretation—some prefer bourbon, others rye— bitters are non-negotiable. In fact, as master mixologist Dale DeGroff points out in The New Craft of the Cocktail, published by Clarkson Potter, when the cocktail was first described in print in 1806, “the addition of bitters” to liquor was its defining characteristic. In 1824, when Dr. Johann Siegert first produced aromatic bitters as a medicinal tincture designed to alleviate stomach ailments, few could have foreseen that his Angostura brand would go on to have such a profound impact on the world of cocktails; and especially the Old Fashioned, which dates from the late 1800s. “While a few dashes of bitters may seem insignificant, the transformation imbued within this cocktail by Angostura is palpable and truly astounding,” points out Carol Hom-

Above: The extremely rare Balvenie Fifty: Marriage 0614 single malt is priced at about $40,000 per bottle; Opposite: A scene from Northern Hospitality, a book on entertaining with Scandinavian and New England ﬂair, by Andrew and Briana Volk 18

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T H I S PA G E P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F T H E B A LV E N I E O P P O S I T E PA G E P E T E R F R A N K E D WA R D S / C O U R T E S Y B R I A N A V O L K

Text by JARED PAUL STERN

er Caesar, the House of Angostura’s Master Blender. “It’s simply not an Old Fashioned without it.” What’s more, “the sweet and spiced profile signature of the Old Fashioned pairs perfectly with the holiday sentiments of nostalgia, tradition and age-old comfort,” she says. “With just four ingredients— spirit, sugar, ice, and Angostura bitters, garnished with a citrus peel— this simple but delicious classic is quick to perfect and easy to batch or prepare on the spot for holiday gatherings.” If you’re unfamiliar with batching, there’s no time like the present to brush up on the technique of preparing drinks in advance in a quantity sufficient for the number of guests you’re expecting. While not every cocktail lends itself to being batched, icons like the Old Fashioned and Negroni work perfectly. As Andrew and Briana Volk, owners of the James Beard-nominated bar Portland Hunt + Alpine Club in Maine write in their book Northern Hospitality, “We’ve hosted big, messy ragers where the night didn’t end until someone was lying on our dining table with a new friend pouring Chartreuse into their mouth. We’ve also hosted mellow, secret, invite-only cocktail hours in our former apartment, turning it into a sort of speakeasy. This experience, plus over a dozen years behind the bar, has taught us that we can’t do everything in the moment and still have fun. That’s where advance preparation comes in.” When done correctly, batching lets you get drinks in your guests’ hands and ensures you yourself will enjoy the gathering as well. “At

home, we make sure that drinks are easy to assemble, pour, or serve so we aren’t wasting time mixing drinks when we would rather be spending time with our friends,” the couple notes. While the Volks advocate using washed wine bottles for batching drinks, Mickaël Bellec, head

Above, top: A photo from Ariel Arce’s effervescent new book Champagne: Better With Bubbles, published by Universe; Bottom: A classic Old Fashioned cocktail is properly made using Angostura aromatic bitters 20

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T H I S PA G E B OT TO M P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F A N G O S T U R A TO P P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F U N I V E R S E O P P O S I T E PA G E P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F R I Z ZO L I

“THE BEAUTY AND TIMELESSNESS OF A WELL-CRAFTED COCKTAIL ELEVATE THE EXPERIENCE TO ANOTHER LEVEL”

This page: A table laid by consummate host Claudia Taittinger for her new book Entertaining Chic!, published by Rizzoli MAXIM.COM

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case complete with a genuine piston from an Aston Martin DB5. You might think it should be kept under lock and key instead of passed around the table, especially as each pour costs roughly $5,000. But that’s hardly in the holiday spirit. As for champagne, “It makes music sound better, clothes feel sexier, people look sexier, big ideas seem possible,” writes Ariel Arce in her effervescent new book Champagne: Better with Bubbles, published by Universe. “It’s a legal drug—one that lets you get a little loose, fly high on effervescence, dance a little too close, jump into pools naked. It’s a mischievous potion that can allow you to make some silly mistakes— and sometimes a mistake is not a mistake at all, but rather a moment that will change the course of your life.”

Top: A Bond-worthy $65,000 bottle of Black Bowmore DB5 1964, the ﬁrst collaboration from Bowmore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Aston Martin; Bottom: Nova whisky from Australia’s Starward is an award-winning single malt matured in Australian wine barrels 22

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barman at the famed Hotel Métropole Monte-Carlo suggests buying a small wooden barrel of the type sold at specialty shops. His holiday tipple of choice is the Negroni, typically made with gin, vermouth, and Campari, but open to interpretation. “Start barreling your Negroni around Thanksgiving and then enjoy the fruits of your labor during the holidays,” Bellec advises us. “This warming aperitif cocktail is ideal for the holidays and chilly winter months. It pairs best with foie gras and toast as well as Iberico ham and is best enjoyed with friends and family during the holiday season….The longer the preparation is aged in the barrel, the better the Negroni will be.” If even that sounds daunting, there are a couple of other foolproof ways to inject instant holiday bonhomie into any gathering, regardless of size: a great bottle of whiskey or champagne. “Lots of whiskies are produced every year as a limited release,” notes David Vitale, founder of Australian cult whiskey brand Starward. “Quite often they end up on the top shelf waiting for an occasion to open them. I’m going to let you in on a secret—there’ll be another amazing limited release next year, so when you buy the whisky, have an occasion in mind to share it. The holidays are a perfect opportunity to do just that and for me there’s no better way to start or end a meal than with a toast with a whisky.” Want to really let your friends know how highly you value their company? Open a bottle of The Balvenie Fifty: Marriage 0614, the third and final expression in the single malt distillery’s series of highly-rare liquids aged 50 years or more, selected by Malt Master David Stewart MBE from some of the brand’s most precious and mature stocks. It costs a little over $40,000 and is said to be worth every penny, which all but guarantees you’ll remember each sip forever. Even that isn’t quite as impressive as the new Bond-worthy Black Bowmore DB5 1964, the first collaboration from Bowmore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Aston Martin. Only 25 bottles are being produced at about $65,000 apiece, and each comes in a custom

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RISING STAR

FREE AGENT

Former New England Patriots cheerleader Camille Kostek is ready for her breakout role

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“THERE’S NOTHING BETTER IN LIFE THAN HELPING SOMEONE OUT. THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO DO” munications at Eastern Connecticut State University, she tried out for the Patriots cheer squad her freshman and sophomore years. She was unceremoniously cut in the first round both times. In 2013, when she was a junior, things changed. For two years she lived out her dream as a member of the squad. And when she met Gronk and things got even dreamier. She resigned from the squad after cheering her final game at Super Bowl LIV, and began hosting and modeling for brands like L’Oréal, Clarins, Victoria’s Secret and Reebok. In 2019, she landed the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, after being selected from an open casting call of 5,000. On it, she stands in profile, wearing a green string bikini that matches her eyes. “I was in shock because I didn’t know it would come in my rookie year,” she recalls the moment she learned she had been selected. “I had to put myself out there and create my own casting submission video. I was excited to run to the newsstand and rip open that magazine to find my rookie spread. But the fact that I didn’t even have to open it to find myself, double whammy, rookie meets cover year!” In case it isn’t clear, it was a crazy busy 2019. And luckily, Gronkowski was there to cheer her on, instead of the other way around for a change. “That was my NFL draft moment. So, it was cool to have him there and see what that was like for me,” she says, looking back on it. When Free Guy finished production and the press tours for the magazine ended, the pair finally got to travel together without having to rush home for a game or conditioning or some appearance or another. “We really enjoy taking walks in nature and meditating, sometimes practice yoga together out in the yard. We do things that are really relaxing. Sometimes he draws me a Dead Sea salt bath. We just do a lot of things that allow us to unwind, relax and just enjoy the present moment.” Which doesn’t mean remaining oblivious to the health and economic strife the country is facing. The two have been sourcing PPE for hospitals, schools and rehab facilities since March. In recent months they’ve shifted the focus to elementary schools. “We’ve been doing charity events via Zoom, so we’re still full on for the people,” she enthuses. In some ways they’ve come full circle to that Thanksgiving event where they first met. Gronk’s charitable attitude is what first attracted him to her. She smiles, sussing it out, and decides, “There’s nothing better in life than helping someone out. That’s what you’re supposed to do.”

P H OTO BY J N I / S TA R M A X / G C I M A G E S

ne of Camille Kostek’s earliest ambitions was to become a New England Patriots cheerleader, which she did while still a college student. Another was to fall in love, which she did with her partner of five years, Rob Gronkowski—“Gronk” to fans, five-time Pro Bowl tight end for the Patriots for nine years, including three Super Bowl wins; and land the cover of a major magazine. So, at 28, she’s pretty much done it all, except…. “You’ve been in the movie theater and you think, oh that would be so cool to be on the big screen like that,” Kostek tells us, revealing a new item she just checked off her wishlist. “My name is now ‘Bombshell,’” she says of her character in the upcoming Ryan Reynolds sci-fi action comedy, Free Guy. Originally, her character was called “Beauty,” but not anymore. “It was quite the name to live up to when you hear castmates saying, ‘Good morning, Beauty. Good morning, Bombshell.” In it, Reynolds plays Guy, a non-player character in a violent open-world video game. When, through a hidden mechanism, he becomes aware he’s in a game, he takes action to save the world from being shut down by developers. Kostek is cryptic about her role, revealing only, “I just love the bad guys in the movie. I’m very attracted to them.” Although she has plenty of experience in front of the camera as a model and host, and even had a cameo in the Amy Schumer movie I Feel Pretty, Free Guy is her biggest role to date. “I grew up watching so many movies with Ryan in them. You almost get nervous to meet these idols because you hope they’re everything you expect. And he was everything and more,” she says of her co-star and producer, along with director Shawn Levy. “Even though he’s starring in the movie, Ryan would give me notes. I’m still learning, so it was cool to be on set and have them be so patient with me. There’s an absolute art to acting.” Kostek confessed to being a big fan of Reynolds’ wife, actor Blake Lively. And Reynolds likewise confessed that he was a huge fan of her boyfriend Rob Gronkowski, who happened to be in Boston where they shot the film in the spring and summer of 2019. Gronk and Kostek have a house in the area, so she was able to commute to the set instead of living out of a hotel. The couple met at a Thanksgiving charity event in 2013. She got stuck waiting on the red carpet while Gronk gave an interview. “It was the first time I listened to him speak and saw him up close,” she recalls. “I’d seen him on the roster and heard his name, but never really paid attention to him. I just knew he was a player on the team. It was very attractive to see how much love he had for the New England community and being around the kids and helping out. I thought, wow, he’s a really nice guy. That was it, after that night.” Originally from Killingworth, Connecticut, Kostek studied dance for most of her life and was a cheerleader in high school as well as lacrosse varsity captain. While pursuing a degree in Com-

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PROFILE

Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Principal Toto Wolff has the winning formula Te x t b y N I CO L A S S T EC H ER

Where to begin with Toto Wolff? For even casual fans of Formula One, Wolff looms as a giant. In less than a decade the 48-year-old Austrian has elevated his name to equal the greatest managers in the sport’s history—paralleling legends like Enzo Ferrari, Colin Chapman and Sir Frank Williams. Since becoming a shareholder, Team Principal and CEO of Mercedes-AMG Petronas in 2013, Wolff has galvanized what had been a mediocre midfield team into an unassailable scimitar of domination, capturing 96 of 130 check-

Although you raced as a young man, you made your name in venture capital. But finance seems completely different from the operational aspect of running an F1 team. How did you make the transition? I think running a Formula One team, you need to have a knowledge about motor racing. Certainly my previous racing experience helped me, but then running a team is a lot like a normal company. It’s about finance. It’s about making the right investment decisions. It is about forming the right organization, understanding which insight is needed, identifying weaknesses and strengths. This is very much what I did in private equity, putting together the best possible team. And I think today we have a very strong group of people that has joined on this journey [in F1]. We have tripled the sponsorship. When I joined, it was on a level that was almost ridiculous. Today we probably generate the highest income in sponsorship in all of Formula One. We’ve really uplifted our broadcasting revenues; we are almost profitable. On top of that, we have €3.5 billion of advertising value that we generate for Mercedes-Benz and the partners. So it’s very much like a conventional company with the difference that we are being benchmarked 21 times a year, and we are only as good as our last race. This is an area where I basically learned on the job how to motivate our people, how to energize the organization, how to develop everybody, and how to implement culture and values that bring us performance. This is actually I would say my core competence in the exercise and something that I really enjoy doing. This is the apex in motorsport. It’s hyper stressful, yet you’re always cool and collected. Others are tearing their hair out, and you manage to be the calm in the center of the storm. How is this possible? I think first of all it’s important that you’re able to laugh about yourself and not take yourself too seriously. Then I have the great advantage of having a fantastic family, a wife and children who always talk straight to me. It is important to have a close environment where sport plays no role. Furthermore, what I said about the sport, obviously it’s a business. This is a company and I have the responsibility for my tribe, for the 2,000 people and their families that are part of it. I will do everything to protect them and the interest of our group. Equally I have the feeling that some of my peers are never able to look beyond that. They genuinely believe that the world turns around motor racing. You see that in many other sports. There are very successful people that think it all

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ALPHA WOLFF

ered flags and securing 103 pole positions. His team’s current hegemony is unmatched, winning an unequaled six consecutive double (Constructors and Drivers) world championships—the all-time record for F1. His pairing with Lewis Hamilton, whom many consider the greatest driver of all time, has now raised the duo to truly rarefied status.

revolves around their sport, be it golf, motor racing, tennis, football, soccer. It’s really like the lack of acknowledgement that we are tiny little individuals in a big world, and it must be believed that this is the most important thing in the world. It’s not politics. It’s not war. Nobody’s going to die because of it. None of the decisions we make will have a global impact. We are here to race. We are here to develop innovations and technologies. Fundamentally, we’re here to entertain. That’s it. No more and no less. That’s a very Buddhist perspective. Would you say that Lewis Hamilton shares your perspective, or is he more of a Tom Brady/ Kobe Bryant must-win-at-all-consequences athlete? I think the relationship that Lewis and I have formed over the years kind of gravitates around the most important value that two individuals can have: trust. But we found out that we are a little bit the same animals. We are very competitive. We are obsessed with perfection, about doing our job the best we can whilst not losing sight of the larger picture. We give it 100% of everything we have. But equally we are able to understand that there are other things that are important. The values of family, of friends, faith, and the real problems of the world that exist. That’s why I’m so very proud, and very much being supportive of his campaign against racism, and having the whole of Daimler and Mercedes-Benz with us. But equally, we found out that the joy of winning is actually something that is just a very short-lasting drug. Being obsessed with winning, you forget about your victories pretty quickly, because you think about the next race. The pain of losing is much more intense and lasts much longer than the joy of winning. Certainly the names that you mentioned, Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady, are superstars. I think we all are in a way different people driven by different values, different personalities. I think there is not one philosophy or one recipe for success. It’s very important to be nonjudgmental and not put somebody in a box and say, this is how you need to be in order to be successful.

That is just the attitude that we all have on the team. There will certainly be a moment when I relinquish my executive position and move to something else. Then I will look back, look at the stats, then judge for myself if it was successful or not. You know, you need to stay true to yourself. People looking at you, people judging you, people having an opinion, it doesn’t contribute in any way to my own happiness. My happiness happens within my family, and if I can live beyond that, if I can meet my own expectations, that’s all I need. If I fail, I know at least I’ve given it everything. When was the last time that you allowed yourself to feel true 100% contentment in what you had achieved? I have a very sad response to this. The last time I felt true contentment about the achievement was on a flight back from Japan in 2017 with my best friend Niki Lauda [F1 legend and former non-executive chairman of Mercedes-AMG Petronas]. How can I say best friend, it’s even too little. The two of us were on this joint journey, and I remember we were on an overnight flight, and having dinner. Then we went to sleep. That’s the last time that I felt this incredible contentment and happiness about our professional achievement. Certainly linked to my relationship to him, that we could do it together. [Then] Niki got very ill in 2018 and died in 2019. This story and my journey is never going to be the same after his passing…. Having said that, of course every victory and every championship is great and gives me a very good feeling to do this with my team, with this unbelievable group of competent and great personalities.

“WE FOUND OUT THAT THE JOY OF WINNING IS ACTUALLY JUST A VERY SHORT-LASTING DRUG”

The success you guys have enjoyed is unprecedented in F1. The only comparisons are in other sports—Belichick and Brady, Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan, Pep and Messi. Is it possible to look at it now and have some sort of recognition of what an astonishing accomplishment you and Lewis have created together? So I think none of these people you mentioned would say it’s all about me, I’m the superstar. If so, they’re going to fail in their second careers, in my opinion, because it’s not about you. You can’t change the world on your own. You need a group of people that are around you. In terms of the stats, I think whilst being on the journey I have no interest in looking at stats. Because you can only judge your success once you terminate the job. We have a good chance of winning several championships in a row, 14 titles, Constructors and Drivers, and that would probably put us in a league of pretty successful people. But that’s not the right attitude. I always forget about the last race. If you asked me how the last season went, I have no idea. I wouldn’t be able to tell you the specific races and how it went. I’m always looking forward. When you listen to our debriefs after we’ve won a race, you’d think you listened to a debrief of Williams that finished last.

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THE $50 MILLION CLUB From Malibu to Monaco, there has never been a better time to buy one of the world’s top properties Te x t b y JAR ED PAU L S T ER N

s usual, blaring headlines—“Prices soar in Aspen and Martha’s Vineyard as the Affluent Flee Megacities” read one recent entry in Fortune—have only told half the story. Any exodus from any city known for its expensive real estate is usually short-lived. So we went in search of the full picture, courtesy of experts like Natalie Todd, Malibu real estate specialist with top-drawer firm Douglas Elliman. “When Los Ange-

les’ shutdown eliminated showings, not to mention entertainment industry jobs that provide sizable incomes to tens of thousands of city residents, the luxury market entered the equivalent of a black hole,” Todd, who frequently deals with celebrity and high-net-worth clients, and multimillion-dollar listings, tells us. Hence the apocalyptic headlines. “During a lockdown, there’s no price discovery, which is why we saw a 43.5% drop in [second quarter] 2019 to [sec-

Above and far right: This incredible estate in Theoule Sur Mer on the Côte D’Azur in France includes four different residences measuring nearly 100,000 square feet in all, and is listed for sale with Sotheby’s International Realty at over $100 million 28

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REAL ESTATE

eryone’s priorities, it has also prompted the ultra-wealthy to make massive additions to their existing real estate portfolios in some of the most desirable and exclusive areas of California, especially Malibu…. Ultimate quality of life at every level on the home front has become the new obsession of the top 1%, now more than any other time in recent history.” As a result, “This has been the strongest Malibu market we have seen in quite some time, with an increasing demand for larger properties,” Todd says, including those priced at $50 million and above. This used to be an extremely difficult bracket to get into; and while one still needs at least a nine-figure net worth, the current availability of real estate in this price range means that this an unparalleled opportunity to join what we’ve coined The $50 Million Club. And it’s a club whose potential members now have their pick of proper-

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ond quarter] 2020 sales, according to the Douglas Elliman market report.” It turned out to be one of the shortest market dips in recent history however—which has gotten a lot less media attention. When Los Angeles reopened over the summer, “there was a release of pent-up demand, with surprising strength,” Todd reveals. “The city pivoted sharply into luxury, more than any other market. To its proponents, the strength of Los Angeles’ rebound indicates a market that just won’t quit. Over the past five years, Los Angeles and its surrounding areas have become more of an international destination because of the lifestyle it affords clients. Now more than ever, quality of life is important to people.” “Home” has become the focal point since the pandemic hit, Todd notes. “While being compelled to work from home has shifted ev-

Above: Listed for sale with Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty at about $75 million, this eye-popping property in Cannes is centered on a nine-bedroom villa complete with a cinema, wine cave, spa, and cutting-edge ﬁtness center 30

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B OT TO M P H OTO S C O U R T E S Y ’ S O F S OT H E BY S I N T E R N AT I O N A L R E A LT Y TO P P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F S OT H E BY ’ S I N T E R N AT I O N A L R E A LT Y– B E V E R LY I L L S B R O K E R A G E

ties from Malibu to Monaco. Just ask Alexander Kraft, Chairman & CEO of Sotheby’s International Realty France – Monaco, with 55 brokerages across the country. “The luxury real estate market in France is incredibly, surprisingly strong in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown,” Kraft tells us. “Despite two months of complete lockdown and strict restrictions still in place all over the country, our results for the first two quarters of 2020 are virtually identical to those of 2019, and this despite zero activity during the months of March and April!” The shift began in May when the lockdown ended in France, and “a true luxury real estate buying frenzy ensued; buyers were, and still are, eager to purchase a luxury home as a safe haven for their family, from both a practical and a financial point of view,” Kraft says. “Both classic secondary homes, be it villas on the ocean,

chalets in the mountains, or mansions or castles in the countryside, and high-end primary residences in the cities with balconies, terraces or gardens, are highly sought-after, to not only maximize the quality of life, but also secure a safe long-term investment in these troubled times.” Prospective members of The $50 Million Club have a portfolio of properties to choose from, including incredible estates in Cannes and the Côte d’Azur, the likes of which are seldom available in such proliferation. And “with several hundred million euros under contract right now, this unexpected boom is set to last at least for the immediate future,” Kraft says. “Obviously, all bets will be off in case of a second lockdown or a dramatic recession, but during prior crises, French luxury real estate has always proved to be less affected by downturns than other markets.”

“THE PANDEMIC HAS PROMPTED THE ULTRA-WEALTHY TO MAKE MASSIVE ADDITIONS TO THEIR REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIOS”

This page: Listed at $115 million with Sotheby’s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage, this is one of the most prestigious properties in Malibu, with a 12-bedroom mansion on 2.6 lush oceanfront acres MAXIM.COM

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SUPERCAR

TRACK STAR

The $3.5 million, 830 HP Essenza SCV12 is the most powerful Lamborghini ever built Te x t b y JAR ED PAU L S T ER N P h o t o g ra p h y b y WO L FAN G O S PACC AR EL L I

Forty extremely lucky buyers are about to join one of the most exclusive automotive clubs in the world, paying $3.5 million for the privilege of owning Lamborghini’s first-ever track-only production supercar— the Essenza SCV12, which is also the most powerful Lamborghini ever built. With a V12 engine capable of producing over 830 horsepower, it was developed by Lamborghini Squadra Corse, the company’s racing division, and designed from the ground up by Lamborghini’s Centro Stile in-house studio. While the Essenza SCV12 isn’t street legal, customers will have plenty to keep them occupied. The car comes with its own racing

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they were able to avoid making any compromises in order to guarantee the perfect balance of the car. Have Lamborghini clients been asking for a multimillion-dollar track-only hypercar? If you are Lamborghini, you cannot wait until the customer asks for something. Lamborghini must be a provocateur. I think it’s important to constantly have new ideas, new business plans and products. This project gave us the freedom to invent and to propose something truly unique. And based on this, you can then decide and define the price. It’s not important for it to be street legal; what’s fundamental is the kind of environment you offer together with the car, what kind of engagement the car can offer our customers, who then become part of a special club. gram att the most prestigious FIA racetracks around the world, and also includes storage service in a new hangar at Lamborghini’s legendary headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese dedicated to the Essenza SCV12 Club. Each car will have a personalized garage while the facility will also house the Lamborghini Squadra Corse Driver’s Lab, offering athletic training programs similar to those used by Lamborghini’s official racing drivers. The design of the car pays homage to iconic prototypes such as the Miura Jota and Diablo GTR, and though the result is unmistakably Lamborghini, it’s unlike anything the marque has produced so far. The Essenza SCV12 was photographed exclusively for Maxim at the Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan, a “valuable example of industrial archaeology, a place born to produce mechanical objects that is now an artistic space that hosts contemporary masterpieces” like Lamborghini’s latest hypercar. We spoke with Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini’s Chief Technical Officer about the eye-popping Essenza. What is the key to the success of the Essenza’s design? Our Centro Stile department worked together with engineering and integrated with the aerodynamics team in order to design a pure Lamborghini, but also one that takes into account the premises of aerodynamics that are fundamental when you need to steer this amount of horsepower…. The designers were able to perfectly incorporate aerodynamics and create an aesthetical feature in every single detail. [And]

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Will the Essenza SCV12 ever get the chance to compete against other track cars like the Ferrari FXX-K Evo and the McLaren Senna GTR? The target of the Essenza SCV12 is not to compete with other cars, but rather to live in a special place where the members of this exclusive Lamborghini club can converse and evaluate the various ways to use and treat the car. And this is exactly what we will offer to our SCV12 customers. If a customer wants to go and have fun racing with a friend, they are entitled to that freedom; however, Squadra Corse will not organize races against other brands. Is this the swan song for Lamborghini’s legendary V12 engine? The V12 will have a long life in the future. Our brand was born with a V12 engine. The success of the Aventador today was made with the V12, and its eventual replacement will incorporate a V12 engine. It’s clear we need to support the V12 in terms of electrification in the future, but the sound responsiveness and combination of torque and power of the V12 will remain a part of our DNA. This means you will continue to see the V12 in Lamborghini’s pinnacle cars…. For example, all of our one-off and limited-edition vehicles, like the Sían, Centenario, Veneno, and our entire heritage are based on the V12. It is the crown of our product lineup and remains our masterpiece in terms of engineering. Our most extreme cars will always be built around the V12.

“YOU CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THE CUSTOMER ASKS FOR SOMETHING. LAMBORGHINI MUST BE A PROVOCATEUR”

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AUTO

MONSTER SQUAD The Brabus 800 Adventure XLP lives up to its ancestry Te x t b y N I CO L A S S T EC H ER

TK GUTTER CREDITS

“THE CUSTOMIZED G-WAGEN IS A SUPERCAR WITH A PICKUP BED”

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articulation, and improved torque gearing. All ideal for off-road domination. Utilizing the Dynamic Select switch native in the current G-Wagen, the driver can easily control Brabus’ suspension from the warm and dry comfort of the cockpit, even raising and lowering ride height. Of course it wouldn’t be a Brabus without engine upgrades: two high-performance turbochargers replace stock blowers, while adding a larger compressor and new engine mapping. This 800 PowerXtra spec upgrades the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 to generate 800 horses and 737 lb-ft of torque, with peak torque available at only 3,600 rpms. This makes the 800 Adventure XLP one of the world’s most powerful pickups. While its 0-62 mph click of 4.8 seconds is certainly respectable for a true off-road vehicle, the supercar pickup’s top speed is limited to 130 mph because of its vertiginous center of gravity and beefy all-terrain Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires (wrapped around 22-inch Monoblock HD wheels). And just to make sure you don’t startle any bears in the forest, Brabus adds a high-performance exhaust with twin stainless-steel side tailpipes blowing out ahead of the rear wheels. Featuring a gurgling bypass blow-off valve, the Boost Xtra exhaust’s active flaps toggle from a quiet “Coming Home” mode to a barking whoof! that’ll alert fellow predators in a five-mile radius. As expected there’s tons of nice touches like naked carbon fiber bits (hood panel with twin power bulges, rub strips, widebody fender flares, and tailgate panel, among others), an optional roof rack with quad LED flood lights, and matte black roll bars behind the cabin. But the most opulent, and some might argue ridiculous, accessory may be the landing pad for the included Wingcopter drone. Sure Brabus says the 75-mile range/150-mph high-performance drone was designed to deliver “urgently needed relief supplies and special equipment” to remote, difficult-to-reach locales, but we all know it’s really to take some sick pics for the ‘Gram, bro.

P H OTO S C O U R T E S Y O F B R A B U S

ith the world seemingly getting crazier every day, some city folk are running to the hills—both figuratively and literally— boosting the market for truly robust, burly off-road vehicles. Arguably topping the leaderboard runs the Brabus 800 Adventure XLP GWagen—what the elite German aftermarket tuner is dubbing a “supercar with a pickup bed.” Brabus, famed for its tinkering with the iconic Tristar, starts with the already superb new-generation Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG and gets to work; first stretching out its steel-ladder frame’s wheelbase by 20 inches to fit a steel-and-carbon pickup bed inspired by the insane AMG G63 6x6 [see sidebar]. This elongated chassis allows Brabus to keep the original cabin totally intact, while ultimately making the truck more than two feet (27.1 inches) longer than a stock G 63. With supreme skill Brabus engineers were able to sacrifice zero cabin space or rear legroom while retaining total torsional rigidity. Then Brabus turned its attention to the suspension, tailoring their titanium-coated aluminum coil-over rig with portal axles specifically for the 800 Adventure XLP. A rare and complex off-road technology—where the axle tube is set higher, and power is transferred to every corner via gearboxes built into each wheel hub—these portal axles allow for better ground clearance (19.2-inch), maximum wheel

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6-LEGGED BEAST ferentials, three autonomously operating rigid axles, 37-inch wheels and dual fuel tanks, the 8,000-lb.-plus behemoth even boasts buttons in the cabin to automatically deflate and inflate (in 20 seconds no less) your tires for off-roading, adding credence to Merc’s claim that the 6x6 is “the most spectacular cross-country vehicle of all time.” Unfortunately for those seeking to get ahold of one, only around 150 units were ever built. And considering none were ever officially imported to America, this makes custom versions like Brabus’ 700 G63 AMG 6x6 extremely rare on domestic roads. Maybe that’s why they’re currently fetching over $2 million at auction.

P H OTO S C O U R T E S Y O F B R A B U S

When AMG unveiled the G 63 6x6 for its 2013 model year, the world gasped. Some in horror, some in bewilderment, and some in lust, but none lacked an opinion. Now less than a decade later, that mutated Geländewagen has evolved into one of the most coveted steel monsters of the secondary market and auction game. Originally developed for the Australian Army, the street version 6x6 was immediately seized and dissected by esteemed aftermarket tuners like Mansory and Brabus eager to apply their diamond-tipped tweaks. Towering 93-inches tall and featuring no less than five lockable dif-

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LEADING LADY

THE DANIELA DIARIES

Colombian bombshell Daniela Botero blends talent with sex appeal in the best way

P h o t o g ra p h e d b y AL E S SAN D R A FI O R I N I Te x t b y J O R DAN R I EFE

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“It was a great experience,” she recalls. “The more I work in my career, the more comfortable I feel, the more successful I am on camera. It’s because I feel comfortable working on the character, developing the character. I feel comfortable not being myself, not being pretty and sexy. I enjoy changing in my characters.” That confidence comes from studying full time in the conservatory program. “I learned comedy is harder than drama because it’s all about facial expression. But when I’m myself, I’m comical. I don’t need to do too much.” She didn’t need to do too much to get into modeling, either. There she was, a 17-year-old student abroad in Paris, attending classes by day and working as an au pair by night. One afternoon, while sitting in a cafe, a woman asked if she had any interest in modeling. She didn’t. “I was doing journalism and communications. It was never in my mind to become a model. I knew I was beautiful and I knew I could do it, but I was afraid to, ‘cause I’m not 5’ 11”, I’m 5’ 8”.” In the end, she was coaxed into an appointment with Women Management Paris. “I was making eight euros an hour as a babysitter. So, I tried it and two months later I was working constantly,” she says, still in disbelief. “So, I just decided to keep myself working cause I was making a lot of money.” But it wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows in the beginning. After her first test shoot, the photographer called the agency and said, “This girl needs to practice her modeling, cause I was the worst model ever,” she laughs, looking back on it. “I didn’t know how to pose. I was just so tight. With years of practice, I’ve learned that being a model is to not model. The more you forget about the camera, the more amazing the pictures are.” Amazing pictures lead to amazing offers. Her other current series, 100 días para enamorarnos, a romantic comedy, is on hiatus during the pandemic, but should air sometime next year. In the meantime, she hopes to put all that blue-chip theater training to good use kicking ass. “I see myself doing action films,” she says of the next phase of her career. “I’ve been training with great people. I think I’m going the way I want to go.” Of course, many aren’t going anywhere in the film business until production fully opens up again. So, for the past few months Botero has been sheltering in place in Miami, learning new dishes in the kitchen and taking English and acting courses, but also just resting. “I love acting but I love to have time for myself. After this pandemic, I think it’s important to have a non-stressful life. I love to exercise, I love the ocean, I love to listen to music and go to different restaurants,” she sighs, sitting back and reminiscing about the things she missed most. “I always say time is more expensive than diamonds, ‘cause you can never gain time again.”

“SOMETIMES I NEED TO BE LESS SEXY, ACTUALLY. IT’S A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE”

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M A K E U P A N D H A I R C R E D I T S F I O R E L A V I LO R I A

ou might know Daniela Botero from the cover of Playboy if you live in Colombia, or Madame Figaro if you live in France; her ad campaigns for the likes of L’Oréal, John Frieda, and Azzaro; or her editorials for just about every beauty and fashion magazine that matters in Europe and abroad. But the one she’s always had a soft spot for is Maxim. “I did a couple of covers for Maxim Mexico and Maxim Colombia,” she says with a warm smile. “And now I’m in Maxim U.S., and I’m very happy.” Welcome to the big leagues. Some are no doubt already Googling “Daniela Botero” and “nude,” but a spoiler alert is in order. You will find her scantily, but always tastefully clad—but that’s it. “I’m very comfortable with my body, but I think it’s nicer and more elegant when the model doesn’t show too much,” she tells us. “I think sexiness and sensuality is about attitude and how you move your body. And I’m Latin so I have a Latin body. It’s more curvy. I’m not a European-style, very skinny girl. So, for me to be sexy is very easy. Sometimes I need to be less sexy, actually. It’s a good problem to have.” With emerald eyes, cover girl beauty and curves to die for, Botero is not just a pretty face. It so happens the lady can act. Just take a look at her in the Fox America hit series, Run, Coyote, Run, a black comedy dealing with immigration issues in the border town of Naco, Arizona. In it she plays Catalina, a Colombian girl who gets by working in strip clubs before marrying the town’s corrupt mayor. “I dress in cheesy western style, with cowboy boots and a lot of makeup,” is how she describes her look on the show. “He treats me horrible, horrible, horrible,” is how she describes her much older husband on the show. “At the end of season three, he starts having an affair with his secretary, and she puts a bomb in the car and kills him,” is how she describes his demise. Run, Coyote, Run shoots in the Mexican desert south of Tucson, a place that required an all-day commute from Botero’s home in Miami. Even when working for Fox/Disney, productions in the Latin-American market are subcontracted to local entities with micro-budgets. “This town is in the middle of nowhere,” she laments. “One horrible hotel, nothing to do, it’s a ghost town. You can see the border wall the whole time.” At any rate, her shows make money. Run, Coyote, Run was number one in Brazil, the continent’s largest market, and so was Betty en NY, the Latinx version of Ugly Betty on Telemundo. In that, she plays the director of a modeling agency, a role she could play in her sleep. “The pretty girl, a little sexy, bad girl, so this was very easy.” It should be easy, since she studied at one of the finest acting schools in the world—Lee Strasberg Institute in New York, whose alumnae include Marilyn Monroe, Barbra Streisand and, more recently, Scarlett Johansson and Angelina Jolie.

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PHOTOGRAPHY

AN EYE FOR BEAUTY A candid interview with Russell James, one of the photography world’s leading lights Te x t b y JAR ED PAU L S T ER N

West Australia, showing “the beauty, the grandeur, and the vulnerability” of this natural habitat. Several of the images feature stunning Australian-born model Bella Geminder. “Belong is born from my inability to put into words the wonders of the Earth and our fragile connection to it,” James says. “Of all the places in the world where almost no modern-day man could ever come from, this is the place where I have always felt that I most belong.” How has fashion and celebrity photography evolved since you first began taking pictures professionally? I entered the world of fashion at the crescendo of the supermodel era when the industry was about to see celebrity and fashion begin to collide. Pre-social media there was a realization that there was an appetite for the “story” of the subjects, and celebrity satisfied that quite perfectly. Within a year the vast majority of magazine covers and ad campaigns had moved from supermodels to celebrities. Gisele Bundchen lead the rebellion and was the first supermodel to take back a cover of a fashion magazine. Today celebrities and models share the fashion market somewhat equally and models now have their own personalities exposed through social media. After more than 30 years in the business, how do you find fresh inspiration? A simple answer: inspiration is everywhere. For the entirety of my career nature has been a driving force behind my photography. Even

A L L P H OTO S C O U R T E S Y O F R U S S E L L J A M E S

n a career spanning nearly three decades, Australian-born photographer Russell James has photographed the world’s most beautiful women, its most prominent people, and its most arresting landscapes. His photographs have appeared in major publications around the world, and his collaborations with them and global brands including Victoria’s Secret have featured icons such as Gal Gadot, Barbra Streisand, Rihanna, Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Adriana Lima, Gisele Bundchen, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Candice Swanepoel, and many more. James traces his creative influence back to his roots deep in remote Western Australia. Seeing “the arts as a vital common denominator,” he founded Nomad Two Worlds, a nonprofit organization that “provides grants within the arts to people from marginalized communities who otherwise might not have the opportunity,” among other charitable endeavors. James’ awards include the Hasselblad Masters Award for “Fashion” in 2008, the West Australian of the Year Award for “Art and Culture” in 2013, Harper’s Bazaar China’s “Fashion Photographer of the Year” in 2018, and the Australian Fashion Laureate “International Impact Award” in 2018. There are six internationallypublished books of his work, including his first monograph, Russell James, in 2008 and his most recent Collector’s Edition, published in 2019. His latest project, Belong, is a traveling exhibition of more than 30 photographs that were taken in the remote Kimberley Ranges of

This Page: Kendall. Opposite page: Kendall, Gantheaume point, 2012 44

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Has your creative process changed over the years? My process has remained similar over the years, however the discipline that comes with time has made it far more effective. I trust my gut much more conceptually-speaking, and I’m willing to make the call far earlier if I know something is or is not, will or will not work. The result for me has been my work growing stronger. It may seem

more deliberate than this, but it is really just a reduction of random elements that makes things run efficiently. How did you first become interested in social causes, and how did it change your life and work? I had a strong sense of social cause for as long as I can remember, however it has taken different shapes over the course of time. For example, I joined the police force at 19 years of age because I had an altruistic view that I’d be helping victims and be a kind of crusader. The reality is that a few short years in I was mired in the politics of career advancement and I often had to stop and reconsider ‘why’ I was doing it in the first place. After five years I eventually realized it was time to move on. My work there though exposed me to harsh topics like racism, excessive violence against women (and I also met some terrifyingly violent women as a police officer), and just the overall darkness that modern society has yet to shake. When I began to work with aboriginal and marginalized communities through my foundation Nomad Two Worlds, I found a way to merge my activist self and my creative self. I began to use my photography as a powerful communication tool and to use my fashion industry network to provide opportunities. Have landscapes and natural settings become more interesting to photograph than supermodels and celebrities? My greatest challenge in getting an agent in New York for many years was not being able to answer what type of photography I wanted to specialize in. I have always loved ‘photography’—whether a vast landscape or an intimate human portrait. Each influences my creative process in so many ways. At the moment, in this year of the pandemic, I have had a strong lean towards nature (as I suspect many people have). My recent portraits have been raw and natural. Celebrity has also taken on a different meaning at present. As I write this, I am two days into a week of shooting the leading specialized surgeons in the

Top and Bottom: Bella.Opposite: Behati, New York, 2015

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A L L P H OTO S C O U R T E S Y O F R U S S E L L J A M E S

when I am on a strict studio shoot, the shapes and concepts for me may be inspired by a closeup shot of a leaf or a giant waterfall. This is not something that translates—I don’t expect that the collector or magazine reader can see that reference. Social revolution has also opened the doors to a much broader canvas in terms of subjects and subject matter. It’s a responsibility of photographers, creative directors and designers to push boundaries, even at the risk of being too early for their messages to be completely received.

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world, shooting each as they leave the hospital after surgery so I can capture their truest identity. Contrary to popular belief I have always felt we are, to a large extent, the product of ‘what we do.’ Who are some of the favorite subjects you’ve photographed over the years?

I wondered if photography might lose its relevance as video took over social media, however the opposite is true. In the art world photographs are appreciated more than they have ever been, and the fine art world of photography is growing. In the social world, as attention spans have dropped even lower, the photograph has re-emerged as the quickest and most powerful way to say a lot. Photography is becoming the only true international language. Who would you most like to work with next? The person or team that is credited for developing an effective COVID-19 vaccine. Nothing in my lifetime has affected the world more.

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That is like asking who are the favorites of my children (…and we all have them). Aboriginal elders and heads of state have always brought a great fascination for me. I have enjoyed shooting Gisele, Kendall Jenner, Candice Swanepoel and so many of the amazing models that this last decade has produced. I love photographing Barbra Streisand because of the absolute integrity of her creative process. I could go on and on.

Where do you think the future of photography is headed in the next decade?

Top: Alessandra, Aspen, 2017. Bottom: Kendall, Kimberley Ranges, 2012. Opposite: Adriana ’New York, 2009 48

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COVER STORY

VIVE LA FRANCE

Lena Simonne is the latest and loveliest export from the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most stylish country P h o t o g ra p h e d b y G I L L E S B EN S I M O N

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S t y l i n g b y C ARO L I N E C H R I S T I AN S S O N

Te x t b y LO U I S E FAU V EL L E

Opposite page: Lace bra and panties, MAISON CLOSE. Necklace, MON PRÃ&#x2030;CIEUX GEM. This page: Silk top, ROSEANNA. Gold plated necklace, DEAR CHARLOTTE.

ena Simonne changes her position on the chair, letting her wrists rest over her folded knees and fixating her serious blue eyes on the camera. Behind it stands photographer Gilles Bensimon, wearing jeans and a cashmere sweater over a light blue shirt. The 24-year-old French model is styled in high boots and lingerie in black lace. The scene takes place in a spacious photo studio a stone’s throw away from the Canal Saint Martin in Paris’ trendy 10th arrondissement, and from the speakers you hear the tones of Verdi’s opera Traviata. “Gilles is great,” Simmone tells me following the cover shoot for Maxim. “I felt so inspired by him and he made me relax. I really like doing shoots for magazines. Then I can improvise more and be closer to myself; I get in a mood where I feel strong. When you do a commercial campaign, you often have to act in a special way—laugh and smile.” Her current hectic life as a model in the French capital stands in contrast to her upbringing in the village of Dégagnac with its nearly 700 inhabitants, just under two hours drive from the city of Toulouse in southwestern France, where her family lived in a house next to a farm. “I was quite shy and felt most at ease with the animals,” she laughs. “When I met people I did not know, I was often a little suspicious and did not say much. That’s what my parents have told me.” At a young age, she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. Later, she abandoned that idea and studied photography in high school. Her interest in taking pictures came from her father who is an amateur photographer and frequently used Lena as a model. “I felt quite lost in what I wanted to do in life,” she recalls. “But in high school, I did my internships with various photographers. They told me that I should try modeling and I thought that it might be cool to try.” After graduating in 2016, at the age of 19, she moved to Montpellier to continue her photography studies. But after only a few months, she dropped out. An old friend of Lena’s brother had just started working as a model scout, and after seeing Lena’s pictures on Facebook she contacted her. They went to Paris together to attend meetings with agencies. New Wave Management was interested immediately. Soon they had signed a contract and she moved to the French capital. By that time, she was already in a relationship with her current boyfriend, the Belgian rapper Roméo Elvis. They first met when Lena took a one-year visual arts course in Belgium. At the same time as Roméo released his first album, Lena’s modeling career took off in Paris. One of her first jobs was in legendary French luxury fashion house Balmain’s showroom, wearing runway creations for their best clients. “I loved working for Balmain. It’s a grand brand and it was the first time I wore such beautiful dresses,” she says. “Afterwards I did more showrooms for other brands but I soon felt that it wasn’t for me; throughout the days you would hear people judging you and having an opinion about your body.” Lena feels that it is in the last two years, since she switched agencies to Premium Models, that she has really had her breakthrough and thus also gained more control over which jobs to choose. In 2018 she did campaigns for L’Oréal and Off-White. Off-White designer Virgil Abloh, who is also the creative director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection, personally selected her for the campaign. “That job gave me confidence,” Simmone says. “We were a few girls and a bunch of guys in the countryside during one long day. It was great to work for such a reputable brand. I felt like: Okay, I can do this.” Since then she has done campaigns for, among others, Carven eyewear, Etam lingerie and the American clothing brand Nasty Gal. As Lena’s face has gotten more exposed and she has become a known

name thanks to her more than 300,000 followers on Instagram, she has also adorned the covers of fashion magazines like Lui, L’Officiel and Elle. But the flourishing career and celebrity that followed has also had a price. “It is a harsh profession in many ways,” she sighs. “At the beginning of the year, I traveled a lot—it could be eight different cities within a week. Sure, I get to visit beautiful locations in great places like SaintTropez, Milan, Marrakesh and Abu Dhabi. But most of the time it is long working days and then you have to head to the airport again. The job is far from as glamorous as many people think.” She also feels divided regarding the large amount of followers on Instagram. On the one hand, she is proud to have built a community and she realizes that it is thanks to this that she has been offered many of her assignments. On the other hand, her life becomes somewhat public goods, which makes her vulnerable. “I have come to realize that Instagram is not real life and that comments there can quickly break you,” she says. “Right now I feel like I want to cut down a little on how many pictures I post.” A couple of years ago, she started thinking about how she should use her influence “to do good”. She wanted to give back, but did not know how. Soon after, she was contacted by Entourage, a French network that helps homeless people. They decided to collaborate on a project together: a collection of hygiene products for women without a roof over their heads. “I wrote about the organization on Instagram and we encouraged people to donate products,” she says. “In the end, it was both individuals who went through their cabinets at home to see what they could do without, and companies that donated larger lots.” In total, she has participated in six or seven similar projects with various associations in Paris as well as one in Brussels. The latter she did together with Roméo and some friends in collaboration with a Belgian aid organization. That time it was especially he who could use his influence on Instagram where he has 1.5 million followers. “For me, these projects have served as a counterweight to the more superficial, fashion-related things that also exist on my Insta,” she notes. “I get to feel useful.” This spring’s lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she spent with Roméo in his apartment in Brussels. She walked around in her Birkenstocks, cut her hair short “because it was so worn from many years of coloring,” and took a long walk every day. She also watched movies and read books, while in the evenings, she and Roméo took turns cooking dinner for each other. “I did everything I felt I had not had time for before. The lockdown occurred just during a period when I wasn’t far from a burn out; my traveling had been pretty extreme for a while and I felt a great need for recovery.” After the summer holidays, the jobs began again. She has done campaigns for the makeup chain Sephora and the lingerie brand Chantal Thomass—and now the cover shoot for Maxim. Lena notices a big difference from when she started her path as a model five years ago; now that she has become a name on many people’s lips, the offers keep rolling in. But the road has been both tough and long. “I really like what I do but I don’t think I will continue modeling for another five years,” she declares. “It is a tough profession and by having a platform on social media, a lot of people meddle in your life and have an opinion about it. It has been mentally challenging for me. Right now I’m trying to figure out what I could do later. So far I have no idea. We’ll see.” For now she takes the days as they come and tries not to push herself too hard. Her dreams at the moment are about buying a house with a large garden somewhere outside Brussels. “There I want to live with Roméo, a couple of dogs and our little kitten,” she says dreamily. “That is my deepest desire. For the rest, I have everything I need and do not want anything else.” Pleated cape, INNANGELO. Lingerie, ETAM.

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“I REALLY LIKE DOING SHOOTS FOR MAGAZINES. I CAN IMPROVISE MORE AND BE CLOSER TO MYSELF”

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Mousseline dress, MAISON ALAIA. Gold plated ring and necklace, DEAR CHARLOTTE. 54

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Scorpio pendant, GOOSENS. Faux fur coat, PINKO. Lace bra, ETAM.

“I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT INSTAGRAM IS NOT REAL LIFE AND THAT COMMENTS THERE CAN QUICKLY BREAK YOU”

Tulle dress, ELISABETTA FRANCHI. Bracelet, GOOSSENS. 56

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Leather skirt, MAISON ALAIA. Lace bra, ETAM. Sunglasses, PAWAKA.

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Opposite Page: Faux fur coat, YVES SALOMON. Necklaces, GOOSSENS. Lace pantie, MAISON CLOSE. This Page: Leather Shirt and earring, ZADIG & VOLTAIRE. Lace bra and pantie, ETAM. Hat, MAISON MICHEL. Sunglasses, TOM FORD. Model: Lena Simonne at Premium Models Makeup: Lloyd Simmonds Hair: Sebastien le Corollere

TRAVEL

THE WORLD’S COOLEST HOTELS

In this portfolio of genre-defying luxury hotels and resorts from South Africa to St. Barths, we salute passion projects, many of which have quickly become icons, shining examples of what in hospitality it is possible to achieve. Be prepared to dissolve into desire for hours on end, each a dazzling destination within a destination. Flawlessly discreet staﬀ, exceptional service, breathtaking settings and equally astounding architecture are traits they have in common—though each is utterly unique; qualities that transcend current events.

P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F H OT E L M A R Q U É S D E R I S C A L , A L U X U RY C O L L E C T I O N H OT E L , E L C I E G O / M A R R I OT T

Te x t b y S I S I P EN ALOZ A

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Hotel Marqués de Riscal / Spain If a Pink Floyd song could shapeshift into a hotel, meet me at Marqués de Riscal. In the heart of Spain’s Rioja Alavesa, this titanium-wrapped Frank Gehry-designed fantasy channels the seismic scale of a giant pink, gold and silver mushroom. By night, a more seductive shape emerges—a flamenco dancer’s whirling skirt. Welcome to a vino haven where wine weaves through everything from vinotherapy to temptation by Tempranillo. Some rooms boast views of the medieval town of Elciego, and the hotel is the centerpiece of a 100,000-square-meter complex known as “The City of Wine,” conceived to bridge the gap between the 19th and 21st centuries. Wine and wellness pilgrims alike are drawn here to experience SPA Vinothérapie Caudalie Marqués de Riscal, an utterly hedonistic concept in an unparalleled setting.

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Amangiri / USA some feature a private swimming pool. Enjoy your sky terrace’s daybed for spotting Andromeda by night. A statement pool lies at the heart of the property, built around a behemoth natural rock formation. Spa junkies get the ultimate fix at this 25,000-square-foot temple. Moonlight yoga here is a spine-tingling nocturnal pleasure. We can’t imagine a more otherworldly setting—the resort resides in 600 acres of the Colorado Plateau in southwest Utah.

Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi / Maldives Every villa at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi feels positively presidential; they don’t quite do starter rooms here. This luxurious all-villa resort spans three private islands in the heart of the South Malé Atoll. Each reef, beach and overwater villa opens onto a deck featuring a swinging daybed, dining gazebo, infinity pool, in-water lounge and an outdoor shower. By day three, your pulse slows with the flow of the tide; spying on schools of needlefish feels gloriously therapeutic. Dine on a private beach with a menu prepared by a

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chef who will curate a menu based on your preferences and any food allergies you may have. The lavish resort reveals its most alluring face at sunrise and sunset. Work those cross-breezes by sporting a sarong, or tailored shorts, for that “ just hopped out of a speedboat” look. And tell her to leave the status leather at home—a woven basket is très chic for this resort, especially if it’s Gucci. Be prepared, they pamper you senseless here; without a hint of cliché, this is a hedonist’s paradise.

T H I S PA G E B OT TO M P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F WA L D O R F A S TO R I A I T H A A F U S H I / H I LTO N W O R L D W I D E TO P P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F H OT E L A M A N G I R I U TA H /A M A N R E S O R T S O P P O S I T E PA G E P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F H OT E L D U C A P- E D E N - R O C A N T I B E S

Amangiri is by far the most spectacular resort to have been built on American soil in the 21st century. It took ten years and an Act of Congress to establish this majestic confluence of site-specific architecture and New Age minimalism in southwest Utah. With views of the rock face of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and sacred Navajo land in the distance, the setting is nothing short of spectacular. Each of the 34 suites invites the stark surroundings inside, and

Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc / France The iconic Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, a crown jewel of the prestige Oetker Collection, celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. For the world’s elite, reveling in the resort’s rare and ravishing pleasures has been a rite of passage every season since 1870. Elegantly poised on the southernmost tip of Cap d’A ntibes, this legendary lifestyle campus has hosted the crème de la crème–leading figures in the arts, cinema, literature, politics and industry. For this milestone season, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc invited three Michelin-

starred chef Eric Frechon from Le Bristol Paris to lead the hotel’s distinguished chefs on crafting new menus for the much-touted restaurants and bars. Lively interior redesigns by renowned architect Patricia Anastassiadis update cherished spaces with new vitality, inspired by their legendary past. At the heart of Riviera chic since the 1930s, the hotel’s storied private seaside cabanas may be booked for full days of sunbathing and private al fresco lunching, while savoring sweeping Mediterranean views.

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Laucala Private Island / Fiji most intriguing architecture in the South Pacific, along with 25 unique over-the-top villasâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;all glamorous versions of traditional Fijian dwellings. Think Valley of the Dolls meets Moana. The resort also boasts an organic farm, a village of friendly staff, and a James Bondworthy collection of posh marine vessels. It is one of a handful of resorts that simply defies categorization.

T H I S PA G E P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F L A U C A L A P R I VAT E I S L A N D O P P O S I T E PA G E P H OTO S C O U R T E S Y O F T H E S I L O H OT E L / T H E R OYA L P O R T F O L I O

Carved from a jungle that could dwarf King Kong, the sheer physical accomplishment of Laucala still blows my mind. In 1972, Malcolm Forbes bought the island as his private refuge; its current owner, Red Bull magnate Dietrich Mateschitz, spares no expense in maintaining it as one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top private tropical islands. Purchased and redeveloped for $30-40 million the island now boasts some of the

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Setting a new standard in architectural upcycling, a 1924 grain elevator on Cape Town’s waterfront now houses The Silo Hotel and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa. Opened in 2017, the hotel is perched dramatically above 42 cement silos on the V&A Waterfront. Inside the hotel, guests are greeted with whimsical colors and textures, accented by a stellar collection of contemporary African art. The 28 guest rooms feature bespoke headboards beneath Egyptian crystal chandeliers, while deep-soaking tubs anchor the bathroom layout. Floor-to-ceiling windows endow the “wow factor”,

overlooking views of the harbor, the city, Table Mountain and Lion’s Head right around to Robben Island. Need to impress on your next executive trip to Cape Town? Booking here may prove a solid investment. The rooftop lounge, complete with chic pool and sweeping panoramic views, draws a stylish mix of international guests for sunset cocktails. Mix business and pleasure with a frosty highball in hand, watching one of the world’s most exquisite cities light up. A testament to striking truly complementary chords, the hotel appeals to both the business elite and design geeks in equal measure.

The Silo Hotel / South Africa

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Talk about playing the long game; Hôtel de Crillon has embodied the epitome of Parisian style since 1758, and even more so since its reimagining by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts in 2017. A jewel of the capital’s Place de la Concorde, its listed façade of sculptures by Coustou defined curb appeal in its day. The palace became a hotel in 1909, playing host to luminaries from Charlie Chaplin to Leonard Bernstein. For the Rosewood revamp, Karl Lagerfeld designed Les Grands Appartements, the most lavish

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suites on property. Quite a coup, as one still senses the gravitas of history, while reveling in a spirited contemporary sensibility ventilating previously stuffy salons. The Marie-Antoinette Suite, reconceived by an all-female team of designers and artisans, features a terrace overlooking the Place de la Concorde, where many French aristocrats faced the guillotine during the Revolution. A rather resplendent backdrop for Paris Fashion Week parties, to say the least.

P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F H Ô T E L D E C R I L L O N / A R O S E W O O D H OT E L

Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel / France

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Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad / India was home to the sixth Nizam, who ruled over a kingdom the size of France. A stay here gives rare insight into the king who once used the Jacob Diamond as a paperweight. It’s a five-star deluxe palace hotel and is tipped to be the grandest in the country. Recreating the amorous relationship between monarchs and their appetite, Falaknuma offers gastronomic recipes culled from state-banquet menus.

Amanyara / Turks & Caicos A perennial favorite, Amanyara is a breath of fresh air in the sultry Caribbean heat. At the chromatic meeting point of the cerulean Caribbean and sapphire Atlantic, the resort’s talcum-soft beach and intense turquoise waters prove a most alluring asset. Guests here don’t check into anything as pedestrian as a suite, they’re ushered to private pavilions framed by wild mangroves. The reception area reveals a dramatic open-air structure and serene reflect-

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ing pool surrounded by a library, signature restaurant, and distinctive circular bar. On my first morning, I bumped into an old friend and renown chef at sunrise yoga. When locals heard Top Chef Masters’ Susur Lee would be in residence at Amanyara, you can bet nimble fingers dialed reservations faster than a sous chef searing scallops. When Aman builds venues this divine, it’s destiny to crown them with culinary royalty.

B OT TO M O F T H I S PA G E P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F H OT E L A M A N YA R A T U R K S & C A I C O S /A M A N R E S O R T S TO P O F T H I S PA G E P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F TAJ FALAKNUMA PALACE / INDIA

The theatrics of Falaknuma Palace begin at the gatehouse. Upon arrival you step into an open horse carriage complete with liveried coachmen and trot up a hill to a staircase lined with ceremonial guards. As you ascend, a surprise shower of pink and red rose petals softly rains down, carpeting the exterior steps. High up above Hyderabad, the restored Falaknuma Palace is a true beauty. Built in 1893, Falaknuma

Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle / Thailand

B OT TO M O F T H I S P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F I O N A D V E N T U R E H OT E L , N E S J AV E L L I R , A M E M B E R O F D E S I G N H OT E L S TO P O F T H I S PA G E P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F F O U R S E A S O N S T E N T E D C A M P G O L D E N T R I A N G L E / T H A I L A N D

True luxury lies in the quality of experience, not just the thread count of sheets or a fleet of Phantoms. Four Seasons made experience its main differentiator before it was trendy, and in the process, redefined luxury itself. The best travel anecdotes are rooted in continuity and emotional coherence. This was never more true than at Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, at Thailand’s northern border towards Burma and Laos. On meeting Yuki, one of the

resident rescue elephants, I was instantly besotted. Dressed in the mahout garments laid out in my tent, my pulse raced as I climbed onto Yuki for the first time. Mind you, this isn’t riding in a tourist basket; this is as bareback as it gets, and nothing unites you more with an elephant than learning to praise her. Later, from the sanctuary of a five-star tent, I kicked back in a hand-hammered copper tub with rather winning views of the grazing herd below.

ION Adventure Hotel / Iceland Poised against a backdrop of mountainous lava fields, the ION is a master class in concrete and glass; a Nordic-modern beacon less than an hour from Reykjavik. Whether you yearn to fly-fish for Arctic char, snorkel the Silfra fissure, or simply fly-and-flop into a soulful, stirring soak beneath aurora borealis, the ION team caters to your wish and whimsy. On arrival, revel in the best of local design, culture, and cuisine; the ethos here embraces a local approach from everything from

the artwork to bathing amenities. The hotel maintains sustainable practices by using recycled materials and geothermal heating. Playing right into the wheelhouse of design nerds, outdoor enthusiasts and romantic couples, you never know who you’ll chat up at the hotel’s Northern Lights bar. All 45 of the sleek rooms feature fair-trade organic linens and swoon worthy views of Lake Thingvellir or Mount Hengill. The land of fire and ice never looked more ready for prime time.

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Nestled in a natural amphitheater, Amanjiwo faces the world’s largest Buddhist monument, the ninth-century Borobudur. Amanjiwo, what many hoteliers consider the world’s most extraordinary resort, is a cultural crucible renowned for its architecture. A circular monolith, crafted from local limestone, rises to a domed centerpiece. The atmospheric entrance of the main structure frames the Borobudur UNESCO World Heritage Site in the distance, clocking encircling volcanoes. Visually arresting, to say the least. The resort’s footprint cascades along the Menoreh Hills, an

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ideal basecamp for exploring Central Java’s cultural highlights. From various vantage points of the hotel, you feel embraced by the valley, as if floating in a hot-air balloon, with Jurassic ferns and rampant flora riot in lipstick pinks below. Amanjiwo delivers intangible delights, inspiring a more refined reality, making you feel a little more loved. In the big-spend game, nothing feels more satisfying than staying with a company that genuinely takes care of you. And nothing strikes travel envy in frenemies like low-key references to a stay here.

T H I S PA G E P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F H OT E L A M A N J I W O I N D O N E S I A /A M A N R E S O R T S

Amanjiwo / Indonesia

Villa Rockstar, Eden Rock-St. Barths / Saint Barthélemy

B OT TO M O F T H I S P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F H OT E L L A M A M O U N I A TO P P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F H OT E L E D E N R O C S T. - B A R T H S

As the first hotel to open on Saint Barthélemy, Eden Rock St.-Barths has been a beacon of glamour for over 60 years. Welcome to the island’s most fashionable address, where even celebrities come to people-watch. At the 37-suite Eden Rock, big shots flock to the 16,000-square-foot, three-level Villa Rockstar, which features six master suites, a gourmet kitchen, gym, dining table for 14 guests, swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, a billiards table, and a full-time

chef and butler. I checked into the resort’s infamous Freddie Mercury suite, boasting the most vainglorious bathroom—hundreds of 24-carat white gold tiles encircling an oval stone Boffi bathtub big enough for two. You’ll get high marks for linen shirts, but minus points for mobile phones at dinner. Delivering an intoxicating blend of elegant and effortless ambiance in spades, you’ll simply unravel in the embrace of this villa.

La Mamounia / Morocco A hotel of beguiling extremes, La Mamounia takes you from luxuriously sublime to ludicrously simple pleasures. From the sybaritic splendor of the lobby to perfectly executed turndown, I marveled at the haute Moorish makeover of this 1923 Art Deco landmark, and the service pirouettes of the polished, trilingual staff. From the crisp concierge to coiffed cabana boys, hand-tailored and locally-embroidered for every hotel role, this is choreographed service worthy of an Esther

Williams extravaganza. Inside, soaring arches fit for a Pharaoh fan into the distance like a mirage. Imagine Kutubiyya mosque on steroids and you’re halfway there. La Mamounia’s 27,000-square-foot spa features arabesque screens, luminous mosaic tile; ruby, claret and aubergine hues cast a sedative spell. World leaders, business moguls and movie stars alike have put their faith in the manicured perfection of La Mamounia, where blunders are about as likely as a Caribbean blizzard.

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N O V / D E C 2 0 2 0 71

ADVENTURE

Adrenaline

RUSH

On the road from Napa to Newport in the eye-popping Pagani Huayra `Roadster Te x t b y D U N C AN Q U I N N P h o t o g ra p h y b y T Y L ER L EE

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here’s a Pagani Huayra Roadster sitting out in the early morning sun awaiting me. Crouched like an enormous, midnight blue cicada, silent and still in the Napa Valley mist. Dew glimmering on herringbone-patterned carbon fiber coachwork. Elegant lines easy on the eye belying the power that obviously lies beneath. Ready to spring forward into the wind. Ready to fly. There’s no signature symphony from her wings and vents yet as she rests in a peaceful slumber. But when she fires up, every petrolhead for miles around will know and be beckoned by her siren call. A symphony crescendoing to philharmonic levels when she’s in full flight. A steampunk cacophony complete with timpani, tuba, horns, drums and whistling flutes, which reverberates your internal organs and resonates in your soul. An otherworldly creature; sounding like Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang tuned by Beelzebub with bespoke parts from Back to the Future’s timetraveling steam locomotive. And almost fast enough to cross the timespace continuum yourself and arrive before you left. Of course, she is a car. But a car like almost no other. A car that is part of a story that has defined the course of thrills both visual and visceral for a generation. Powerful enough to inspire young boys and girls to plaster their bedroom walls with high-octane fantasies. Powerful enough to have grown men part with enough money to sail around the world, get fired into space several times over, or pick up a country estate. If you have a cool $2.4 million to spend, perhaps you can ponder what your alternatives are. Hell, even if you don’t, you should, as it may well lead back here. Clearly this is the stuff of dreams. But it is really the stuff of the dreams of a young Argentine called Horacio Pagani, growing up in a small town in the Argentinian countryside in the 1950s. Watching his father bake bread, his mother make art, and dreaming of Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati in between as he crafted his own miniature car models. Scouring Reader’s Digest with a thirst for the knowledge that could get him to the Mecca of supercar production in Italy—Modena. An article he finds by chance leading him to Leonardo da Vinci. And to a viewpoint which some might say then shaped years of diligence and hard work and eventually led to his outrageous success. Outrageous because it is not normal for a poor baker’s son to will himself into becoming an icon of the supercar-manufacturing glitterati. And for outrageous results, a new vision was required. That vision was borrowed from the man who many see as the defining genius of the Renaissance. Painter, draftsman, sculptor, architect, and engineer, da Vinci proposed that, “Art and Science are two disciplines that must walk together hand in hand.” And Horacio Pagani listened. In the late 1980s he founded Modena Design, financed with a bank loan and a prayer. And became the proud owner of an industrial autoclave he could use to cure composite materials in a building not far

“PAGANI LIKES TO JOKE THAT HIS CLIENTS RARELY EVEN ASK HOW FAST HIS CARS ARE” from his former employer Lamborghini in Modena. By day projects for Renault, Ferrari, Aprilia and others filled the order books and kept the lights on. But it was by night that the magic happened. That was when Horacio went into Tony Stark mode. At the 1993 Geneva Motor Show he was introduced to the chief engineer of Mercedes-Benz, Dieter Zetsche, who agreed to to supply him with a V12 Mercedes-Benz M120 engine pumping out 450 German horses for his prototype, dubbed Fangio F-1 in honor of Pagani’s mentor, legendary F1 driver Juan Manuel Fangio. The result exploded onto the automotive scene in 1999 like a supernova. The renamed Fangio F-1, now known as the Pagani Zonda C-12, blew the competition into the weeds. More fighter jet than car, its iconic design remains jawdropping to this day. The Zonda would go on to trounce the lap record on the Nordschlief at the Nürburgring, and literally stand in a class of its own. A fully handmade, bespoke rocket ship which cast caution and commercial committee decisions to the wind. It is important to understand this history, as it is often lost in pretty pictures of these glorious machines. Decades of struggle, commitment and focus went into creating such superlative results. On my first meeting with Horacio Pagani in 2012 he had just wheeled his new model, the Huayra, out of the factory in Modena. We met, and exchanged cordial greetings, as I pondered the magnificence of the cars in the showroom. In the factory I witnessed the DNA of the foundation of Pagani’s success firsthand—his small team of highly-skilled artisans hand laying the carbon fiber for the monocoque of the cars. The engineers and mechanics building the cars, fitting the mighty AMG MercedesBenz V12 engines, the Brembo brakes, the Pirelli tires, and all of the other intricate elements which turned science into art. And I decided that by hook or by crook I would somehow get to pilot one of these masterpieces. And so, to my Pagani Huayra Roadster sitting out in the early morning sun awaiting me. Did she fly? You bet your ass she did—as fast as the mythical wind she was named after, and then some. Horacio likes to joke that his clients rarely even ask how fast his cars are. But with

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775 hp on tap from the 6 liters of her AMG twin turbocharged engine, zero to 60 mph goes by in an eye-watering sub-three seconds, and you’ll see the far side of 230 mph if you are looking to teleport yourself back to 1971 and chase Steve McQueen up the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans. Strapping in with the obligatory co-pilot it was difficult not to feel as if I had been shoehorned into something transported to Earth through a portal from another dimension. We escaped the traffic of San Francisco and headed south for one of the most glorious stretches of road in the world, Route 1. A stretch I know well enough to understand where I can engage hyperspace, and where a sandal-flapping granola-cruncher may wander out unannounced from the trees. After getting comfortable with the ergonomics of her controls, and a good feel for what was what, it was time to take a deep breath, close my eyes, punch it, and hold on for dear life. That moment of truth where the rubber truly hits the road; and where you sometimes run out of balls long before you run out of road. Except that wasn’t happening. Which was weird. We went around corners faster and faster until it became eminently clear I wasn’t going to run out of balls, and she wasn’t going to run out of grip. But what was going to happen was I was going to end up sore from pulling more G’s than John Glenn in a centrifuge. With my heart beating in unison with the growling bowels of Beelzebub, whistling and roaring a few inches behind my head, I planted my foot and ripped through the gears in a series of rapid controlled explosions up the tarmac. The massive torque from the V12 thumping me in the back as we accelerated to the redline limiter faster than the blink of an eye. Each new cog precisely selected by a light pull on the steering-mounted paddle and the lightweight single-plate clutch on our way to attacking the brakes; and reveling in the bite and grip as her body panels cracked open flipping up wings front and back to decelerate us in record time to turn into the apex. This thing couldn’t have been more glued to the road if Pirelli and Pagani had smeared my tires with Gorilla Glue before we left.

Driving the Pagani Huayra Roadster takes you to another place in space and time. It is light, fast, and phenomenally beautiful. But what also separates it from the crowded landscape it now inhabits is the custom nature of every element. Like the most skilled bespoke tailoring houses, Pagani manages to take the very powerful vision of one man, and translate it through the wants and desires of his very special clientele with an attention to detail almost impossible to understand without experiencing it. And, as is the case with a truly bespoke suit, once you have experienced what this means, you can never go back. By the time you have saved up the millions of dollars required to turn Paganiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream into your own, and to collaborate on a bespoke piece of art that melds science and beauty through materials science, technology, and enormous numbers of man hours of skilled craftsmanship, the Huayra may be no more. But I can almost guarantee you that whatever Pagani does create for you, it will be an otherworldly experience. And in life, we can rarely ask for more.

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P H OTO S C O U R T E S Y O F A I R B U S

HELICOPTERS

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BUSINESS CLASS The $14 million-plus Airbus ACH160 Exclusive is set to revolutionize corporate aviation Te x t b y JAR ED PAU L S T ER N

It’s long been the goal of rotary-wing aviation companies looking to get a lock on the most lucrative end of the market: design a helicopter that can equal the business jet experience, in all respects. With the new ACH160, and in particular its ACH Exclusive edition, Airbus, the premier global aerospace corporation, has hit the mark. Innovation is built into the DNA of the ACH160, which can transport from four to ten passengers in pure luxury, with a myriad of configuration and customization options. Airbus took out no fewer than 68 patents for this single helicopter, which was created in collaboration with award-winning UK superyacht design studio Harrison Eidsgaard. The starting price for the ACH160 in basic trim is about $14 million; but the sky is literally the limit for those who want truly one-of-a-kind whirlybirds. With U.S. deliveries due to begin later this year, it’s the most important aircraft to be launched under the Airbus Corporate Helicopters banner, which the company debuted last year. Its Blue Edge five-bladed main rotor and an additional canted Fenestron rotor, are paired with state-of-the-art Safran turboshaft engines delivering a cruising speed of 172.6 mph and a range of 512 miles, for an unparalleled flying experience along with fuel efficiency and low noise levels. “The ACH160 is our newest helicopter, and is set to be the reference for innovation, comfort and style in the skies,” Frederic Lemos, head of Airbus Corporate Helicopters, tells Maxim. “Designed for a remarkable flight experience, the ACH160 combines a sleek, agile and modern airframe with the highest levels of comfort, versatile interior configurations and attention to detail—making it the right fit for any adventure you’re ready to take it on…. A few billionaires are already designing their future superyachts with a certified helideck to accommodate an ACH160.” Lemos says that the key word in private and business aviation these days is “flexibility,” with “some clients looking for the ultimate in luxury with the finest interior finishings, elegant styling and a roomy, comfortable cabin; while some need a first-class utility partner where they can carry their family, pets, mountain bikes, skis, and equipment and land in a faraway spot for a weekend retreat. The beauty of the ACH160 is that it’s the perfect vehicle for both such missions – from the ultimate VIP experience to the most versatile holiday tool.” One could be forgiven for being distracted by the panoramic views the cabin offers by the sumptuous ACH160 Exclusive’s interiors, including hand-stitched leather upholstery, grain-matched veneers, and other woodwork with as many as eight coats of varnish. This level of bespoke craftsmanship may be common in the world of private jets, but it’s relatively new to the helicopter market. As Airbus says, the interior “offers everything but compromise.” As Ben Bridge, Executive Vice President Global Business at Airbus Helicopters, puts it, the ACH160 is not only going to win the hearts and budgets of executives and VIPs, but will in fact “revolutionize the way our private and business aviation customers travel.”

“IT WAS CREATED IN COLLABORATION WITH AWARD-WINNING SUPERYACHT DESIGN STUDIO HARRISON EIDSGAARD”

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The Pagani Huyara Roadster refueling in scenic California

CREDITS COVER: Faux fur coat, APPARIS. www.apparis.com. Patent leather stilettos, MAISON ERNEST, www.maisonernest.com. COVER STORY: P.50: Lace bra and panties, MAISON CLOSE, www.maison-close.com; necklace, MON PRÉCIEUX GEM, www.monprecieuxgem.com. P.51: Silk top and necklace, ROSEANNA, www.roseanna.fr; gold plated necklace, DEAR CHARLOTTE, www.dearcharlotteshop.com. P.53: Pleated cape, INNANGELO, www.innangelo.com. lingerie, ETAM, www. etam.com. P.54: Dress, ALAÏA, www.maison-alaia.com; gold plated ring and necklace, DEAR CHARLOTTE, www.dearcharlotteshop.com. P.55: Faux fur coat, PINKO, www.pinko.com; lace bra, ETAM, www. etam.com; necklace, GOOSSENS, www. goossens-paris.com. P.56: Tulle dress, ELISABETTA FRANCHI, www.elisabettafranchi.com; bracelet, GOOSSENS, www. goossens-paris.com. P.57: Leather skirt, ALAÏA, www.maison-alaia.com; lace bra, ETAM, www.etam.com; sunglasses, PAWAKA, www.pawaka. com. P.58: Fur coat, YVES SALOMON, www.yves-salomon.com; necklaces, GOOSSENS, www.goossensparis.com; lace panties, MAISON CLOSE, www.maison-close.com. P.59: Leather shirt and earrings, ZADIG & VOLTAIRE, www.us.zadig-et-voltaire.com; lace bra and panties, ETAM, www.etam.com; hat, MAISON MICHEL, www.michel-paris.com;

MAXIM (ISSN 1092-9789) Nov/Dec Issue, Volume 24 , Number 6 is published bimonthly in Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/June, July/Aug, Sep/Oct, and Nov/ Dec by Maxim Inc., 121 West 36th Street #327, New York, NY 10018. One-year subscription rates for U.S., $24.97; for Canada, $30.97; for all other countries, $36.97 in prepaid U.S. funds. Canadian GST Registration #867774580, Publications Agreement number 40031590. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Maxim, 121 West 36th Street #327, New York, NY 10018. We sometimes make our subscriber list available to companies that sell goods and services by mail that we believe would interest our readers. For subscriptions, address changes, adjustments, or back issue inquiries, or if you would rather not receive third-party mailings, please visit us at Maxim.com/ customerservice or write to Maxim, 121 West 36th Street #327, New York, NY 10018, or email customerservice@mastcircgroup.com. Copyright © 2020 Maxim Media Inc. Maxim ® is a registered trademark owned by Maxim Media Inc. All rights reserved.

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J. P. M O R G A N

MAXIM

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T BE ANTISOCIAL FOLLOW MAXIM EVERYWHERE