Perfect Present

MATERIAL GOODS

Objects of desire for him, her and the home, as compiled by Ultratravel editors

SKY’S THE LIMIT

It was almost two decades ago when the Anglo-French Concorde ceased service and, with it, we regressed to an era of subsonic jet aviation. But now, with promises of speed, safety and sustainability, Boom Supersonic is attempting to redress this technological retreat and restore supersonic travel to the skies, pledging flight times of 3.5 hours from New York to London and eight hours for LA to Sydney. One challenge: its engine-making collaborator, Rolls-Royce, has just bowed out of the development programme, leaving Boom to find another propulsion partner. Watch this space. boomsupersonic.com

SPEAKING VOLUMES

It is a timepiece worthy of such a notable tome – a 296-page, oversized objet d’art in its own right that celebrates a horological hero: Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak. Authored by Bill Prince, an award-winning cultural journalist and former deputy editor of British GQ, Royal Oak: From Iconoclast to Iconretraces how the eponymous timepiece created a stir upon its release in 1972 and in the decades that followed. assouline.com

AN INSTRUMENT OF CHANGE

There is something inherently retro about fully manual turntables – and this, the latest iteration from Audio-Technica, is a gem: a belt-driven model finished in rosewood veneer that provides all the optimal high-fidelity audio reproduction from vinyl with the freedom to connect to the latest Bluetooth speakers or headphones. audio-technica.com

SAY CHEESE

Street photography (sometimes called reportage) has always been closely connected with the Leica camera brand. Now, in collaboration with A Bathing Ape and STASH, the shutterbug favourite is launching a special-edition of the D-Lux 7, featuring the signature ABC Camo and Ape Head insignia, further marked with the distinctive wildstyle tag of American graffiti artist STASH. leica-camera.com

CASE STUDY

Echoing the travel themes that underpin the Paris-based luxury fashion house, Casablanca’s debut luggage range – crafted in collaboration with Globe-Trotter – is an homage to the extravagance of travel in the jet-set era. Lifting from both the house’s autumn-winter 22 collection ‘Le Monde Diplomatique’, and the timelessness of Globe-Trotter’s aesthetic, which has remained unchanged since 1897, the collection includes a range of cases, perfect for any manner of sojourn. globe-trotter.com

TAKE A BOW

Normandy-based amphibious powerboat builder Iguana Yachts has debuted an electric and flying version of its amphibious powerboats, dubbed Iguana Foiler. Perfect for lakes and seas, the vessel benefits from a 50 per cent reduction in energy consumption and offers a very comfortable and dry experience above choppy waves. iguana-yachts.com

ONE TO WATCH

Limited to just 50 pieces, the latest techdefying timepiece from Richard Mille is one that will put a smile on your face, quite literally. Inspired by the cheerful emanations of the Smiley world and its values, it took three years to develop and features a new in-house CRMT7 automatic tourbillon calibre, complete with blossoming flower, the warm rays of the sun, a delicious pineapple, a blooming cactus, a pink flamingo and a brightly coloured rainbow. richardmille.com

SKIN SCIENCE

Swiss cosmetic brand Cellcosmet has entered a new era of discovery. By pairing two technologies, cellular extracts and microbiome science, it has unlocked an optimised formula in its cellular facial skincare lines, and next-generation signature ingredients, CytoPepTM Cellular Extracts, which revitalise the skin, minimise the visible traces left by time and protect and preserve the skin’s microbiome. cellcosmet-cellmen.com

LOOKING SHARP

Painstakingly hand-crafted from two types of Swedish high-carbon steel in South London, Blenheim Forge’s limitededition Carving Set is not only the perfect gift for the chef in your household but, with its handles made from centuriesold East Anglian bog oak, also the ideal accompaniment for the festive season to come. blenheimforge.co.uk

DENIM DELUXE

Italian menswear label Luca Faloni is making its first foray into denim jeans. Produced in the province of Padua in a mill that’s been producing high-quality textiles since 1887, its version of the wardrobe staple is crafted by experienced artisans in Lago d’Iseo with a four-pocket profile, mid-rise cut, and tapered leg to give them a distinct casual look. lucafaloni.com

IN THE BAG

Leading British leather accessories brand Ettinger has create an exciting new collection, fashioned from the finest smooth Italian calf leather and using some of the most beautifully crafted prints from the storied interiors company Morris & Co. ettinger.co.uk

HOT WHEELS

Italian for ‘thoroughbred’, the new Purosangue is the only Ferrari you can currently buy that comes with the Italian firm’s signature naturally aspirated V12 engine. The stunning vehicle produces 725hp, has a top-speed of 193mph and races from 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds. Just don’t call it an SUV. ferrari.com

PAGE TURNER

A celebration of the places, traditions and mythologies surrounding the healing benefits of heat, Thermal whisks you to more than 50 faraway locations, all the while enlightening you about the restorative powers of heat, steam and water in daily life, including rejuvenating bath recipes, healing steam rituals, and herbal remedies that encourage wellbeing at home. abramsandchronicle.co.uk

RAISING THE BAR

Wondrous whiskies from

distilleries of distinction

Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection 1982

This 39-year-old “is vanishingly rare and captures an unrepeatable moment in Scotland’s rich liquid heritage” from the St Magdalene Distillery. gordonandmacphail.com

The Dalmore Luminary No 1

Created in partnership with the V&A Dundee in collaboration with luminaries from the world of architectural design, this is a 15-year-old keeper. thedalmore.com

Penderyn The Headliner

With hints of nutmeg, oak and red berries and a vanilla-cream edge, “The Headliner is one of our most daring creations of the past decade,” says CEO Stephen Davies. penderyn.wales

Mortlach Midnight Malt 30-Year-Old

Aged 30 years, this is the boldest, deepest and most intriguing expression of Mortlach malts. mortlach.com

Berry Bros & Rudd Nordic Casks

The second in the series of its Nordic Casks whisky range, this release from the hallowed London-based wine merchant Berry Bros & Rudd consists of five casks from pioneering Nordic distilleries, including the world’s first cross-Nordic blend, Vindӧga, showcasing the quality-led and innovative approach of the Nordic whisky region, which is growing its reputation in the industry. bbr.com

Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Bourbon

An artful fusion of bourbons that provides a smooth but complex finish by Master Blender John Rhea, a 40-year veteran. kentuckyowlbourbon.com

Shirakawa 1958 Single Malt

With only 1,500 bottles derived from a lost distillery, this could be one of the rarest rediscovered tipples.tomatindistillery.com

Hibiki Blossom Harmony

A limited-edition blend made with whiskies finished in sakura (cherry blossom) casks, from the House of Suntory. whisky.suntory.com

Bowmore Masters Selection

The second iteration of Bowmore’s inspired Masters’ Selection is a 22-year-old single malt, in partnership with Aston Martin.bowmore.com

SILK FINISH

An ambitious new tourism project burnishes the already stellar appeal of Samarkand, an important destination on the ancient Silk Road

trade route, says Duncan Forgan

ANCIENT YET MODERN Silk Road Samarkand has taken more than three years to build

REFLECTING POOL The indoor pool at the Samarkand Regency Amir Temur hotel The Silk Road through Central Asia evokes images of discovery, adventure and the kind of widescreen scope that travellers crave. And there’s no lack of size, scope or scale about Silk Road Samarkand: a newly convinced 260-hectare, purpose-built project that, after more than three years in the making, has just been unveiled in one of Uzbekistan’s most historic cities.

The new draw is billed as Central Asia’s largest multi-use complex, situated on the eastern flank of the Unesco World Heritage protected conurbation. It encompasses worldclass business and medical hotels, restaurants, recreational facilities, park grounds and green spaces, an ethnographic corner, and a large congress hall for international events. And it is poised to add fresh lustre to Samarkand’s longstanding appeal.

Among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia, it was among the most fabled Silk Road pitstops, attracting traders, merchants and adventurers from far and wide. While the new US$580 million project may lack the romantic sheen of the city’s ancient sites and medieval monuments, with galleries and workshops for about 100 artisans from across the country it aims to imbue the city with the destination’s unique historical charisma.

To wit, its centrepiece is the c17-hectare Eternal City, which was created and curated by acclaimed modern Uzbek artist Bobur Ismoilov as a modern stage for the work of the country’s talented artisans and artists. Other highlights of the new complex include cycle paths and a network of waterways incorporating a 2km rowing canal from the Soviet era – which has served as a training base for national rowing teams, proving that even the most historic of cities still have their eye on future triumphs too. srs-tc.com

With galleries and workshops for about 100 artisans from across the country, it aims to imbue the city with the destination’s unique historical charisma