Pockets Holiday 2009 issue

POCKETS Gift Guide

POCKETS HOLIDAY 2009

WHAT MEN WANT: MALDIVES ESCAPE

THE POCKETS GIFT GUIDE

Ermenegildo Zegna

Escape to the Maldives Electric Glide: Tesla’s Roadster

TESLA ROADSTER

The Joy of Made-to-Measure Buffalo Trace’s Sazerac Rye

Skiing B.C.

Skiing Large at Revelstoke

The

SAZERAC RYE

Look of

H O L I D AY 2 0 0 9

Luxury

POC.cover.indd 1

11/25/09 2:46:21 PM

888.880.3462

zegna spread.indd C2

|

zegna.com

11/25/09 9:20:07 AM

zegna spread.indd Sec1:3

11/25/09 9:20:26 AM

eiseman jewels spread.indd C2

11/25/09 10:30:55 AM

eiseman jewels spread.indd Sec1:3

11/25/09 10:31:07 AM

{ contents }

30

20

columns

57

The Sporting Life Revelstoke and Kicking Horse, two of the newer alpine resorts in British Columbia, represent North America’s frontier of liftserved skiing.

features

37

Gift Guide 2009 The best of the season, hand-selected by our team of experts ~-~ ~-~

Malt

The Pockets Interview: Made to Measure

A classic American spirit, straight rye is all the rage.

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac is a stellar new example.

Ermenegildo Zegna, CEO of the company that bears his name, explains the virtues of “MTM.” ~-~ ~-~

Grape

16

20

Electric Glide If your experience of electric vehicles is limited to golf carts, the acceleration of the Tesla Roadster just might blow your mind. ~-~ ~-~

40

Rich and inky, Clos Triguedina, Prince Probus and the New Black Wine are gorgeous Malbecs from Cahors.

44

22

Mixed Sets Smart combinations of patterns make for a confident, modern look. ~-~ ~-~

26

26

44

Escape to the Maldives Tropical glamour and barefoot elegance—these are the two visions of beachside paradise offered by Reethi Rah and Cocoa Island. ~-~ ~-~

30

departments Invitation to Style 35 years of style—and counting

6

The Pockets Guide The best of buttons … modern Mexican cuisine … the perfect shirt for you … and more!

The Pockets Profile A must-read book by a Dallas philanthropist

14

Finishing Touch Super sales associate Laura McElyea’s expert advice for Pockets customers

48

9

19

POC.contents.indd 6

11/25/09 2:47:22 PM

stoneleigh right.indd 145

11/24/09 6:30:33 PM

POCKETS

{ invitation to style }

48 HIGHLAND PARK VILLAGE, DALLAS, TX 75205 214.368.1167 www.pocketsmenswear.com

Store Hours MONDAY to SATURDAY: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Editorial Director D AV I D S M I T H

35

YEARS

OF

STYLE—AND

COUNTING

Editor & Publisher Creative Director Art Director

Contributing Editors

the entrepreneurial urge. I’d been

J U L I A C . I R E L A N D , T I M O T H Y K E L L E Y, I A N FRANCESCA MOISIN, EVERETT POTTER

Contributing Photographers

and had moved to Dallas to man-

F U LT O N D AV E N P O R T, D A N I E L S P R I N G S T O N

age one of the local stores.

Art Associate

LAURA CARAMAGNA

Art Assistant

PAT R I C E H O R VAT H

As luck would have it, I heard about a local barbershop whose

Corporate Editorial Director R I TA G U A R N A

next-door neighbor, a menswear

National Advertising Manager

store, had recently closed. I went

SHAE MARCUS

to check it out. The store, about 500 square feet, shared the same entryway as the barbershop. I made a

The way we wore: scenes from a 1978

S T E P H A N I E S TA I A N O

deal with the owners of the barbershop to sublease the place to my wife and a hammer-—installing everything ourselves except the carpet and mirrors.

I worked the store by myself for about a year and a half, selling patch-

Advertising Sales Assistant SABA KAHN

Production Manager

CHRISTINE HAMEL

Advertising Services Manager THOMAS RAGUSA

Senior Art Director, Agency Services

work jeans and nylon shirts. My wife was then pregnant with our second

KIJOO KIM

child. One day she called me to tell me she was in labor, and I had to close

Marketing Manager

the store and rush to the hospital. Those were interesting and fun days

Marketing Coordinator

and I am glad to be on the other side now.

Accounting

This year we celebrate the 35th anniversary of our store. The slick

see page 12

Advertising Account Executive

Pockets Menswear mailer

me. We cleared out the space—our only tools were a kitchen knife, a saw and

Dressed to thrill

JENNIFER CENICOLA,

KEOWN, MARIA LISSANDRELLO,

clothing chain for about five years

PEEKS

AMY A. DOWDEN

S T E P H E N M . V I TA R B O

In 1974, I felt the strong pull of working for the Clyde Campbell

Sneak

MARK DOWDEN

SEAN GALLAGHER ELIZABETH MEE

A G N E S A LV E S ,

MAGDALENA SZARGUT

1970s shirts are gone, but we carry a hand-selected collection of predomi-

Published by

nantly Italian clothing and international sportswear and we feel our final

Chairman

C A R R O L L V. D O W D E N

destination is here at Highland Park Village. We are grateful for the support

President

MARK DOWDEN

of so many wonderful friends, customers and vendors. Our fantastic staff

Executive Vice President

makes it all work and without them, there would be nothing to talk about.

Vice Presidents

From the beginning, our establishment has been a labor of love. We

JOEL EHRLICH

AMY A. DOWDEN,

N I G E L E D E L S H A I N , R I TA G U A R N A , SHANNON STEITZ, SUZANNE TRON

have always wanted our customers to dress better than they have to, and Regional Sales Director

we make every effort to carry that out with attention to each client’s inter-

DOUGLAS C. BARKER

ests and needs. We come to work with a daily passion to improve every

Circulation Director

LAUREN MENA

area of our buying, selling and marketing. And we genuinely enjoy working with you, our loyal customers.

We hope to please you, too, with this issue of POCKETS magazine, In the money

see page 16

featuring articles about the quietest, coolest new automobile, most exotic luxury destinations, and best gifts—all in the style to which we know you are accustomed.

At this holiday time, please accept our thanks for being part of the history of Pockets Menswear—and part of our future. You have our best wishes for a healthy and peaceful season with your loved ones. We look forward to seeing you in our store soon.

DAVID SMITH

6

/

P O C K E T S Magazine is published twice a year by Wainscot Media, 110 Summit Avenue, Montvale, NJ 07645, in association with Pockets. Copyright © 2009

by Wainscot Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

Editorial Contributions: Write to Editor, Pockets, 110 Summit Avenue, Montvale, NJ 07645; telephone 201.782.5730; email mark.dowden@wainscotmedia.com.

The magazine is not responsible for the return or loss of unsolicited submissions.

Subscription Services: To change an address or request a subscription, write to Subscriptions, POCKETS, Circulation Department, PO Box 1788, Land O Lakes, FL 34639; telephone 813.996.6579; email lauren.mena@wainscotmedia.com.

Advertising Inquiries: Contact Shae Marcus at 856.797.2227 or shae.marcus@wainscotmedia.com.

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.memo.indd 10

11/25/09 2:50:05 PM

hilt right.indd 145

11/25/09 9:21:55 AM

agave left.indd 2

11/24/09 6:36:25 PM

{ the

Achieving closure: the low-down on buttons A perfectly good suit or sportcoat can be spoiled by the use of plastic buttons. The garments we sell at Pockets have natural buttons made of horn or corozo.

They look right and they resist breakage.

Everyone knows where horn buttons come from, but what about corozo? It’s the white nut of a 20-foot palm tree, Phitelephas macrocarpas, that grows in the forests of northwest South America. Also known as “vegetable ivory” because of its resemblance to ivory, corozo was first used by Italian tailors to make buttons in the late 19th century. Corozo has the virtue of being heat-resistant as well as breakage-resistant, and it can be dyed any color.

For shirts, of course, the material of choice is mother of pearl. This, too, is an all-natural substance—the iridescent lining of the shells of pearl oysters, abalone and certain other mollusks. Most socalled mother-of-pearl buttons are made of plastic and therefore prone to breakage. The Truzzi shirt pictured here, on the other had, has real Australian mother-ofpearl buttons, cut extra-thick for durability and handsewn to the shirt in Italy.

The LURE of LEATHER

pockets guide }

Among Pockets Menswear’s most popular outerwear brands is the Italian maker known as Gimo’s. Renzo Girardin founded Gimo’s in 1968 as an atelier specializing in leather garments of the highest quality. Based north of Venice in San Martino di Lupari, Gimo’s has remained faithful to traditional Italian methods of producing leather goods. But from the very start, the label also has been propelled by fashion. Each season, Gimo’s designers produce dynamic new collections. A Gimo’s leather jacket is sophisticated, sexy and contemporary— like the man who wears it.

Pick a Pocket Square This small accessory is back in fashion. It also packs a lot of style, expressing your personal taste and changing the whole look of an outfit. A variety is available at Pockets in your choice of silk, cotton or linen, from $50 to $85.

9

H O L I D A Y 2 0H0O9L I D / AY 2 0 0 8

POC.guide.v1.LL.indd 9

11/25/09 2:23:22 PM

/

{ the

pockets guide } THE PERFECT SHIRT for you Little details are important to you—no use denying it—so you’ll be glad to know that Pockets Menswear offers custom shirts for men. A custom shirt is all about the details. Consider the matter of fit. Ready-made shirts are sized by collar (to the half inch) and sleeve length. Our custom shirts are sized by chest, waist, hips, yoke, tail length, waist length, right sleeve length, left sleeve length, right cuff size, left cuff size, exact collar size, back collar height and front collar height.

These individualized measurements are meticulously translated for us by Hamilton Custom Shirtmakers, a family-owned business since 1883. Each collar, cuff and shirt body is cut individually from a pattern made for the client; the pieces are then assembled

by Hamilton’s experienced single-needle sewing staff.

You’ll instantly appreciate the difference in appearance and comfort when you try on your first custom shirt. Has your shirt ever risen from your trouser waistband, coming untucked or ballooning around your waist? If you’re not wearing custom, then you don’t even need to respond, because we know the answer is yes!

And we can guarantee that will never happen again.

Besides a superior fit, you’ll enjoy shirts that are bespoke

LA COCINA like you’ve never seen Dallas denizens love their chimichangas and their queso. Chef Gabriel DeLeon knows this. But so convinced was he that area foodies would be receptive to a more authentic, sophisticated Mexican cuisine that created Mazaryrk Modern Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Lounge, recently opened in Addison Circle. “Modern Mexican cuisine is more global—we consider the whole world our pantry,” DeLeon says. “I use all kinds of ingredients, like lemongrass, pestos, chanterelle mushrooms and beurre blanc.” So far, so good: Mazaryk’s signature duck carnitas and sea bass tacos have gained quite a following, and the Tequila Lounge’s Mil Besos Margarita recently won a Best of Dallas Award. And no wonder: it’s made of fresh lime juice, agave nectar, Grand Marnier, and your choice of the lounge’s 45 100 percent blue agave tequilas (that’s the best kind, naturally). Visit www.modmexkitchen.com or call 972-701-8500.

in every way. You’ll choose color, pattern and fabric from literally hundreds of options. You’ll choose collar style, size and height; cuff style, size and button options; pocket style (one, two or no pockets) and shape; monogram style, color and placement. And your shirt will be made with utterly fastidious attention to quality, which means it will last, which makes it a good value.

Give Pockets custom a try and you’ll never look back.

Compliments to our customers’ good taste You know shopping at Pockets Menswear is a special experience. Isn’t it nice to know that national arbiters feel the same way? MR, a national publication covering the men’s retail industry, recently bestowed its Uptown/Downtown Award on Pockets, citing our creativity and retail excellence. And Esquire, the go-to magazine for well-dressed men for 75 years, placed Pockets on its 2009 Gold Standard list. The recognition honors stores that “continuously raise the bar of what it means to be the best in the business.” Actually, Pockets has been on this list—one of only three in stores in Texas so named—as long as the list has been around. Stop by soon for an awardwinning shopping experience!

10

/

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.guide.v1.LL.indd 10

11/25/09 4:14:03 PM

Zanella right.indd 1

11/25/09 9:22:14 AM

{ the

pockets guide }

German engineering for your trousers In an era of brand diversification, it’s refreshing that Hiltl, maker of some of the world’s best trousers since 1955, has steadfastly resisted the urge to make anything but trousers. “We never wanted to be the biggest, just the very best,” said founder Fritz Hiltl, and the company has stayed true to his vision.

Being the best means dedication to craftsmanship, using the best materials and achieving a perfect fit.

The goal is to ensure that every pair of Hiltls is of made-to-measure quality, and in pursuit of that goal, “we are quality freaks,” says managing director Franz Josef Wolf.

Here are a few of the ways his tailors pursue perfection: by using custom-made, nickel-free metal zippers that stand up to abusive dry-cleaning; by affixing only genuine horn buttons with heavy-duty stitching; by reinforcing pocket inlets with crescent-shaped welting; by using extra-long viscose frontal lining to ensure full coverage of the knees and prevent bulging; by creating extremely narrow-stitched seams that won’t “press through” during ironing—an advantage with today’s lightweight, high-performance fabrics.

In short, German engineering stands for something in the world of trousers, no less than in the world of automobiles. Pants made by Hiltl look right, feel right and last a long time, which is why Pockets is pleased to carry them.

carrot & gibbs Quite simply, this Colorado company makes the finest bowties you can buy. Crafted from specially selected and imported 100 percent silk fabrics, each tie is individually cut, sewn and pressed by hand. While other designers secure metal clasps on the backs of their pieces, Carrot & Gibbs’ feature only mother-of-pearl buttons that can be used for adjustment and attachment. Colors and patterns run the gamut from elegant paisleys to whimsical polka dots.

THE A-to-Z LIST Pockets Menswear features more than 40 designer brands under one roof. See if you don’t find your favorites among the list below. Then stop by the store for a shopping experience you’ll love.

AG Jeans

Incotex

Niformas

Arnold Zimberg

Inhabit

Pantherella

Jake Agave

Robert Talbott

John Varvatos

Saltaire

La Matta

Scrooples

Lorenzini

St. Croix

Luciano Barbera

7 For All Mankind

Ermenegildo Zegna

Martin Dingman

Tasca

Eyebobs

Masons

To Boot

Gimo’s

Massimo Bizzocchi

Transit

Gran Sasso

Michael Toschi

Trussini

Moore & Giles

W. Kleinberg

Mulholland

Zanella

Canali Carrot & Gibbs Clint Orms Engravers CP Company Dolcepunta

Gravati Hiltl

Nicky Zegna

Canali Scrooples

POC.guide.v1.LL.indd 12

11/25/09 3:32:13 PM

henry miller right.indd 145

11/24/09 6:32:37 PM

{ the

pockets profile }

More than a

By David Smith, owner, Pockets Menswear

COFFEE TABLE BOOK I recently visited with Dallas philanthropist Shannon Skokos regarding her new book, Ask God’s

South Africa’s Kruger National Park.

“I truly feel privileged to have been able to

Creatures: And They Will Teach You. More than

witness the strength and beauty of the wildlife

three years in the making, it was inspired by what

and the surrounding ecosystems,” she says. The

she calls “a life-changing excursion” through

book is beautifully bound, and the photos of animals—taken by Shannon herself—are amazing. But the soul of the book is found in Shannon’s insights into animals, mankind and the Bible. She pairs her photos with scriptural “lessons,” divided into three sections: Strength, Respect and Wisdom.

When I asked Shannon whether every animal she saw in South Africa inspired her in some way, she said, “There is something to be learned from every person you meet. The same is true for the animals. Job 12:7 teaches us to ‘Ask the animals and they will teach you; or the birds of the air, and they will tell you.’”

In addition to her work as author and photographer, Shannon, a former Miss Arkansas and motivational speaker, is an attorney. With her husband, she founded the Ted and Shannon Skokos Foundation, which awards grants to public charities that make a positive impact on society by, among other things, advancing education, the arts, science

Skokos, top, subtitled her book “A Photographic Depiction of Lessons Learned on a South African Safari.”

Above, a leopard reposes in a tree; right, hippos cool off.

14

/

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.skokos.indd 12

11/25/09 2:26:40 PM

and religion. She sits on the boards of the Baylor Health Care System Foundation, AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas Theater Center, Dallas Opera, Brinker International Forum, Texas Women for the Arts Cultural Trust, Dallas Symphony Orchestra and North Texas Super Bowl XLV SLANT 45.

Reading her book, you will be struck by Shannon’s strong belief that God created everything. Those of us who agree will enjoy sharing her perspective on God’s presence in His creation.

You can order this limited-edition book through www.askgodscreatures.com. All profits will go to charity.

Skokos photographed these natives of South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Clockwise from top: lilac-breasted roller, elephant, impala

POC.skokos.indd 13

11/25/09 2:27:00 PM

{ gift guide } Cuff him in one of our stylish pairs, available in a variety of materials and designs, from $155 to $450.

Gift guide

2009

The best of the season, hand-selected by a team of experts (that’s us!)

He’s in the money with these practical and goodlooking alligator-and-rhodium money clips, which can be engraved. See a range of styles from $135 to $325 at our store.

A gift is never “just a tie” when it’s an eye-catching, 100 percent silk design from Ermenegildo Zegna; $170.

16

/

He’ll be comfortable from the inside out in these Royal Highnies boxers of the finest pure white pima cotton; $75 a pair.

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.giftguide.LL.indd 16

11/25/09 2:32:34 PM

Dare to be different with reading glasses from Eyebobs; from $65.

Expandable chocolate Benedict weekend bag in nubuck bison is a comfortable carry-on for flights.

By Moore & Giles; $635

Solid-wood hangers from Kirby Allison’s The Hanger Project prevent collapsed shoulders and creases in fine suits; three for $75.

Well worn: antique-wash jeans from Agave; $195

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.giftguide.LL.indd 17

/

17

11/25/09 4:08:34 PM

{ gift guide }

STAFF FAVORITES Modern takes on classic items

Stylish looks from Shirt by Shirt, Mason’s and Arnold Zimberg. Priced from $125

A cashmere scarf: accessory—or necessity? We vote for the latter. From $195 to $565

Give credit where due—to these eye-catching Italian card case wallets from Lava; $195.

18

/

He’ll look snappy in these matte-finish alligator shoes, $1,195; belt, $595; and buckle, $395, from Martin Dingman.

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.giftguide.LL.indd 18

11/25/09 3:29:48 PM

Heart and sole He deserves beautifully crafted shoes that feel terrific, too

Brown calf loafer by Ermenegildo Zegna; $495

Hush Puppies brown suede boot; $145

Michael Toschi oiltanned weekend fashion shoe in black and tan; $495 To Boot driver in espresso brown; $315

To Boot double-buckle classic in burnished antique brown; $450

Gravati’s finest peccary dress shoe in brown and black; $750

Gravati hand-sewn comfort walker; $595

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.giftguide.LL.indd 19

/

19

11/25/09 2:33:16 PM

{ the pockets interview }

a lotus flower leaf, repelling all liquid. Stains accidentally caused by, for example, red wine, coffee or tomato sauce can easily be removed just using water. The Micronsphere has been created for the man who values his time and maintains his sophistication and impeccable style by wearing a suit so reliable that nothing in his travels will tarnish his look.

What is the secret to the consistency of fit in Zegna’s Made to Measure program?

We have over 30 years of experience in MTM, so we have had time to perfect the process. We also have a very strong training program in our MTM factories, where an extremely capable team delivers a perfect fit for our customers.

Ermenegildo Zegna fabrics for Made to Measure seem to have many blends, such as wool and silk. Is the use of these fibers a response to global warming?

MADE

Ermenegildo Zegna, CEO of the company that bears his name, explains the virtues of ‘MTM’

Blended fabrics and natural fibers have been always been an important component of our MTM offerings, and adding silk to our fabrications creates a lightness and beautiful hand. The world is becoming much more of a global marketplace. As avid travelers, our customers need a wardrobe that travels easily and adapts to multiple climates, ensuring that they are always looking their best.

TO MEASURE With the vast selection of Ermenegildo Zegna styles available, why are your customers responding so well to Made to Measure?

We do have a great selection of ready-to-wear products, but we have more and more customers who want to personalize their wardrobes. They love the fact that they can select from hundreds of fabrics and models to create the ideal wardrobe for their lifestyle.

What are the most successful fabrics in Made to Measure?

Our customers are usually drawn first to our most innovative fabrics. For example, Micronsphere is stain- and wrinkleresistant and Cool Effect offers protection against the heat produced from natural sunlight by reflecting 80 percent of the sun’s rays. Additionally, the Trofeo Silk fabric combines our hallmark 16-micron wool fiber with fine silk to create a fabric both timeless and seasonless. The weight, body, hand and

A better blue: The

performance make this fabric combination ideal.

material in this blazer from Zegna’s Cool Effect

20

/

Does Micronsphere really work—and how?

collection is engineered

Absolutely. The Micronsphere’s stain- and wrinkle-resistance comes

to reflect, not absorb,

from using nanotechnologies to enable the fabric to imitate the surface of

the sun’s heat.

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.zegna.indd 62

11/25/09 2:50:50 PM

Art isn’t alw n a fframe.

Sometim ’s in a Art isn’t always in a frame.

At Hotel Palomar, art comes in many shapes and sizes, including a complimentary goldfish to keep

Sometimes, it’s in a bowl.

you company overnight on your Dallas vacation.

And with a 32" flat screen TV and L’Occitane bath products in every room, you’ll see what else makes our boutique hotel so chic. Take a look for yourself at hotelpalomar-dallas.com.

PALOMAR D ALL A S

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants

hotel palomar right.indd 145

Modern Hotel. Modern Art.

11/25/09 9:22:48 AM

Electric Glide What do you get when you take the body of a LOTUS ELISE and give it a green heart? The TESLA ROADSTER— a PLUG-IN THRILL RIDE that says the future really can BE ELECTRIC!

IT’S NOT JUST GASOLINE and nasty exhaust emissions the

new Tesla Roadster spares the world. As the first highperformance EV (electric vehicle), it also cuts down on noise pollution. That’s because the roar characteristic of sports cars with an internal combustion engine has been tamed to a barely audible purr by the Silicon Valley upstart. For some enthusiasts, the quiet can be disconcerting—a turnoff even—but for the eco-conscious lover of exotic cars, thinking of this debut model from Tesla Motors as the silent, stealthy type can be an automotive aphrodisiac.

22

/

CONTINUED ...

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.autorev.indd 22

11/24/09 6:15:10 PM

|

BY MARIA LISSANDRELLO

Unlike other high-performance cars, the electric Tesla Roadster is perfectly at ease cruising low and slow (and silently) down the boulevard. But press the accelerator, and you’re rewarded with an instant surge of power.

POC.autorev.indd 23

11/24/09 6:15:26 PM

If your experience of electric vehicles is limited to golf carts, the Tesla Roadster just might blow your mind.

The car will take you smoothly from 0 to 60 mph—or 60 to 120, for that matter—in less than 4 seconds.

Modeled after the Lotus Elise, the carbon-fiber car weighs

road like Velcro, the Tesla Roadster is a blast to drive.

in at 2,700 pounds, 36 percent of it claimed by the battery, or rather

On the flip side, when you take your foot off the accelerator,

batteries—6,831 of them to be precise. That may be 781 pounds

the regenerative braking system (which recycles the energy usually

more than the Elise, but don’t worry—the extra weight doesn’t slow

lost through braking) kicks in at once, causing the car to slow before

it down. Quite the contrary. Electric vehicles produce maximum

you’ve even tapped the Brembo brakes. It’s a function that takes

torque at 0 rpm, so a press of the Tesla Roadster’s accelerator

some getting used to and may have you stopping short of stop signs

launches you like a torpedo, pinning your back to the seat. No surprise

and red lights.

the small, sleek car does 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds. And the relentless

Of course, before you can put the pedal to the metal, you have

torque means a single-speed transmission is all that’s needed to

to get into the car—a feat for any driver who’s not lean and lithe.

get you where you’re going at a rate that outpaces the Lotus. For

Like the Lotus, the Tesla sits ultra-low to the ground. Once you man-

sure, with its slot-car handling and Yokohama tires that grip the

age to sling your legs over the door sill and lower yourself into the narrow bucket seat, you’ll notice it’s none too roomy. The Spartan

24

/

M A R I A L I S S A N D R E L L O writes frequently about automobiles and food.

cockpit (which is, of course, what the automotive purist wants in a

She is also the librettist for opera composer Christof Bergman.

sports car) pretty much rules out the revolutionary electric vehicle

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.autorev.indd 24

11/24/09 6:15:38 PM

Test-driving the Tesla WHEN THE GOOD FOLKS AT VULCAN MOTOR CLUB let me play with their

Tesla Roadster for a day, I learned that the most fun thing about this vehicle, hands down, is the stunning acceleration. Turn the key in the “ignition,” or whatever you call it in an electric car, and a “beep” tells you the motor is on. There’s no engine sound, no vibration. Tap the accelerator ever so gently, and the car eases into motion like a golf cart. You could glide quietly down a parade route at 1 mph. But press down on the pedal, and now you’re Han Solo making the jump to hyperspace. What’s more, the smooth, silent, instantaneous surge of power is available at any speed. Going from 60 to 120 is the same as going from 0 to 60—a thrill that lasts a little less than 4 seconds. Whether on back roads or the highway, I found myself looking for any opportunity to unleash a sudden, massive burst of speed.

My Tesla ride was not entirely silent. Besides the hum of the tires and the whistling wind, I heard a creaking spring that begged for adjustment. But I could forgive imperfections in fit and finish. This was, after all, the first generation of a brand new automotive marque.

Thanks to its Lotus body, the Tesla Roadster scored big points for looks. Some guy passed me on the highway, honking, smiling and giving a thumbs up. I waved back and then smoked him, unable to resist the pleasure of punching it one more time.

—Mark Dowden

To find a Tesla store, visit www.TeslaMotors.com/TeslaStore.

as an option for those seeking long-haul comfort.

Then again, the longest distance the Tesla Roadster will take you on a single charge is 244 miles. What then? It’ll take about three-

THE TESLA ROADSTER AT A GLANCE BASE PRICE: $109,000 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS:

and-a-half hours to charge up—at a cost of just $4 to $7, depending

| MICROPROCESSOR-CONTROLLED LITHIUM-ION BATTERY PACK WITH OVER

on your local electricity rates. And never having to spend a drop on

100,000-MILE LIFECYCLE | 248 HP @ 7,800 RPM

gas or oil isn’t the only savings: The car is virtually maintenance-free.

| 200 LB/FT @ 0–6000 RPM | SINGLE-SPEED GEARBOX

Just think—no oil changes, no mufflers, no timing belts. About the

| 4-WHEEL BREMBO VENTILATED DISC BRAKES WITH ABS

only thing that can wear out over time is the battery, which means no worries about mechanical breakdowns.

And here’s another perk: You’ll enjoy a $7,500 Federal tax credit, not to mention incredible savings on gas. All told, choosing the Tesla could bring savings of $25,000 over an equivalent gas

| HAND-CRAFTED CARBON FIBER BODY PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS:

| 0–60 MPH IN 3.9 SECONDS | 244 MILES EPA COMBINED CITY/HIGHWAY | TOP SPEED: 125 MPH | CHARGING: AS LITTLE AS 3.5 HOURS FOR A COMPLETE CYCLE STANDARD INTERIOR FEATURES:

| HEATED SPORT SEATS WITH INFLATABLE LUMBAR SUPPORT

guzzler—and get you noticed as a sports car enthusiast with a soft

| TOUCH-SCREEN VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY

spot for planet Earth.

| ELECTRIC AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATER H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.autorev.indd 25

/

25

11/24/09 6:15:51 PM

MIXED SETS Smart combinations of patterns make for a confident, modern look

Outside the lines: A checked tie and brilliant pocket square accent this navy railroad-track striped two-button suit and pleated pant.

26

/

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.fashion.indd 26

11/25/09 2:51:55 PM

Vive variety: A Canali multi-check cashmere sportcoat is dressed up with a striped shirt and paisley tie.

POC.fashion.indd 27

11/25/09 2:52:50 PM

Pulled together: Windowpane sportcoat, olive flannel trouser, orange paisley tie and paisley pocket square.

POC.fashion.indd 28

11/25/09 2:53:24 PM

Check mates: Ermenegildo Zegna blue/tan windowpane twobutton sportcoat, multi-stripe cotton sport shirt, brown twill flat-front pants. Pocket square and slacks also from Zegna.

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.fashion.indd 29

/

29

11/25/09 2:55:44 PM

ESCAPE TO THE

REETHI RAH and COCOA ISLAND offer

two visions of BEACHSIDE PARADISE

MALDIVES THINK DESERT-ISLAND PARADISE, and a variety of tropical images inevitably come to

mind: sandy beaches that are ultra-white and silky under foot, a crystal sea studded with colorful coral reefs, azure skies, perfect palm trees and, of course, quiet seclusion.

If one destination matches this mental checklist, it’s the Maldives, an island republic sprawled across 56,000 square miles of the Indian Ocean. The Maldives has the distinction of being the world’s lowest-lying country; its sandy hillocks rarely reach more than a few meters above sea level. That’s because the entire country is a constellation of coral reef atolls. Twenty-six atolls comprise 1,192 small islands, only 202 of which are inhabited. Of these, about 90 are resort islands, and of the 90, perhaps 18 are truly special, the location of some of the most rarefied resorts anywhere.

POC.travel.indd 30

11/24/09 6:12:10 PM

IMAGES COURTESY OF: ROLF GOTTWALD FOTODESIGN, CHRIS CALDICOTT, CERULEAN VILLA

|

BY E V E R E T T P O T T E R

The over-water villas at Reethi Rah offer thatched-roof elegance and endless views of the Indian Ocean.

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.travel.indd 31

/

31

11/24/09 6:12:23 PM

Perched over water, the villas at Cocoa Island emphasize barefoot luxury. The resort setting is more reef than island, as seen in the photo below; snorkeling and diving are prime activities here.

At Reethi Rah (opposite), high ceilings, natural materials and minimalist style distinguish the large villas. Beachside dining—al fresco, of course—is one of several mealtime options.

While the Maldives have had occasional visitors for millennia—they were a stop on ancient Persian and Chinese trade routes—it was only in the mid-1990’s that tourism took off, meaning virtually all of the resorts in the Maldives are quite new. The best of these resorts have a lot in common: Each has luxury villas of unique design. Each has extraordinary coral reefs lying just offshore, a world of rays, triggerfish, clownfish and hawksbill turtles.

Each has stellar service and a great spa—because the whole point of a Maldives vacation is to send you home relaxed, recharged and refreshed. It’s why Donna Karan, Sienna Miller, Beyoncé Knowles and Sir Paul McCartney are major fans.

But the approach to relaxation varies by resort. Here we present two resorts consistently rated among the best of the best, representing two ends of the relaxation spectrum: One&Only Reethi Rah makes you comfortable with electronic amenities and glamorous surroundings, while Cocoa Island epitomizes the concept of “barefoot luxury.”

REETHI RAH One&Only resorts are the top-tier properties of Butch Kerzner, who developed Atlantis in the Bahamas and Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. There are just six One&Only resorts worldwide (the best-known to Americans being Palmilla at the tip of the Baja Peninsula), and what they share are sophistication without stuffiness and service that approaches six stars.

Reethi Rah, located on North Malé atoll, is no different. The experience begins at the airport, where one of the hotel’s high-speed custom yachts (which doubles as a registration 32

/

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.travel.indd 32

11/24/09 6:12:38 PM

desk) whisks you to the property, one of the few islands in the Maldives that has been expanded, in this case to six times its original size. There are 130 large villas, some set on stilts over the water. The beach villas have outdoor king-sized sun beds set on private infinity pools next to the beach.

In a country renowned for its spas, Reethi Rah sets the bar high. An ESPA spa offers 10 treatment rooms and many ayurvedic therapies, not to mention signature treatments like the ESPA Energy Equalizer with Volcanic Hot Stones. There’s a yoga pavilion, women-only areas and multi-day Wellness Journeys, such as the seven-day Holistic Fitness journey.

The choice of restaurants at Reethi Rah is superb. Fanditha serves Lebanese cuisine on tables placed on the sand as well as in Arabian-style tents; Tapasake offers Japanese fusion; Reethi Restaurant has an international menu. And the remote location is no barrier to gastronomic excellence. Sushi-grade fish is flown in from Tokyo, free-range lamb from Australia, strawberries from Belgium. Reethi Rah ranks number 17 for food—in the world, mind you—on Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List 2009 of the Best Hotels in the World.

COCOA ISLAND Cocoa Island has a deceptive simplicity, not unlike that of its sister Como resort, Parrot Cay, half a world away in the Turks & Caicos. It’s as if the humble but well-located beach shack has

POC.travel.indd 33

11/24/09 6:12:49 PM

34

/

FA L L

•

WINTER 2008

POC.travel.indd 34

11/24/09 6:13:12 PM

Soaring spaces and opulent design mark the spa at Reethi Rah (left). The resort has no shortage of options for soaking, from swimming pools—seen above is just one of the 40—to spa treatments (right). Known for gourmet fare, both Cocoa Island and Reethi Rah fly in fresh food from the world over.

Below, seared tuna from Cocoa’s Asian-influenced menu.

been made over with cool urban chic.

Cocoa lies in South Malé atoll, a 35-minute speedboat transfer from the international airport. Hotelier Christina Ong’s philosophy prevails here, so the property remains a simple islet covered with palms, wild sea grapes and hibiscus, encircled by a reef with proverbial gin-clear waters.

The resort is small, just 33 rooms, and its architecture unusual. Serpentine wooden walkways lead out to each accommodation, which are set on stilts, with baby sharks and reef fish circling below. There are rooms, suites, loft suites and loft villas, the latter with kitchen and private butler. The Dhoni suites are built to resemble local fishing boats. Surrounded by water, they actually look like floating boats, but they are firmly secured on stilts. Each has a full-length glass wall, giving you a view a sweeping view of the Indian Ocean from your bed.

Inside they are airy indeed, with high cathedral ceilings. Bathrooms are huge, with separate shower and tub. But it’s the natural materials that are standouts.

There are lots of white fabrics, including Frette sheets. The furnishings are wood and understated, floors are teak, and the overall mood rather Zen-like.

Maybe the single biggest reason to choose Cocoa Island is the Shambhala Retreat, widely considered among the best spas in the Maldives. If you’re pining for an Abhyanga Ayurvedic massage or a two-hour Como Shambhala Ritual massage, go for it. After a morning of yoga on the beach, of course. This place has a massive reputation among devotees of yoga, and some of the world’s leading instructors hang out here.

Cuisine is a major part of your stay at any Como property, and at the Ufaa restaurant, which is thatched with alang alang grass, you sit on large sofas and cushions. You can expect Indian, Sri Lankan and Thai style cuisine, or you can elect low-fat, organic Como Shambhala cuisine.

At Cocoa Island, you can literally snorkel from your room to reef. And if you’ve ever contemplated leaning to dive, these calm waters would be the place to learn.

PLANNING YOUR TRIP

There’s even deep sea fishing and windsurfing available as well.

The best time to visit the Maldives is December through March, the driest months.

But to capture the true spirit of Cocoa Island, take a private boat to a deserted

Temperature remains steady year-round, averaging 88° F by day and 73° F at night.

beach, with champagne, picnic and partner in hand. After all, you don’t want to

ONE & ONLY MALDIVES AT REETHI RAH

overdo it in paradise.

Doubles from $860 including breakfast | www.oneandonlyresorts.com COCOA ISLAND

E V E R E T T P O T T E R writes frequently about travel to Asia.

Doubles from $680, including breakfast | www.cocoaisland.como.bz H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.travel.indd 35

/

35

11/24/09 6:13:40 PM

slowwear left.indd 2

11/25/09 9:23:58 AM

{ the sporting life }

BY E V E R E T T P O T T E R

SKIING 1 MILLION ACRES, B.C. Revelstoke and Kicking Horse are North America’s new frontier of lift-served skiing IF YOU’VE EVER BEEN STUCK in ski traffic on I-70 in Colorado and longed

for a more remote mountain experience, consider heading north to British Columbia—not to the coastal mega-resort of Whistler Blackcomb, where you risk being bummed out by rain at the base, but to the interior of B.C., where you’re guaranteed light powder, freedom from crowds, gorgeous vistas and improved bragging rights when you return home.

The two up-and-coming B.C. resorts generating big buzz are Kicking Horse and Revelstoke, and they have a lot in common. Both are hard to get to: Prepare for a long flight and a lengthy (but traffic-free!) mountain drive. And both are big, demanding mountains, like Jackson Hole or Snowbird—family destinations, sure, but also places where hard-core skiers and boarders can really put testosterone levels to the test.

This is skiing’s new frontier, remote mountains that were colonized by heli-skiing operations and a handful of über-fit backcountry powder hounds. Now that they’ve opened as resorts, savvy skiers have discovered that the reward for a long road trip is a heli-skiing experience without the peril or expense of a helicopter, amidst jaw-dropping scenery.

Start with Kicking Horse, which opened in late 2000. You get there by flying to Calgary and then driving two-and-a-half hours along the TransCanada Highway to the mining and timber town of Golden, B.C. Kicking Horse had humble beginnings as a locals-only area called Whitetooth, accessed via a gravel road and a single-lane bridge, with a log cabin as a day lodge. The lone chairlift carried a few hundred skiers a day.

CONTINUED ...

Where is everyone? With endless mountain views, ample powder and freedom from crowds, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort offers that top-of-the-world feeling.

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.sporting.indd 37

/

37

11/24/09 6:04:54 PM

But then Vancouver architect Oberto Oberti and partner Ballast Nedam Canada Ltd. arrived and spent $150 million U.S., with another $100 million scheduled to be spent here by 2010.

What really kick-started Kicking Horse was the installation of the

Then there’s Revelstoke, which takes “extreme” to greater heights.

The new kid on the block, it opened in late 2007 with a sizeable boast: Revelstoke claimed that in a few years it would be bigger than Whistler

Dogtooth Range of the Purcells, the exclusive domain of heli-skiing opera-

Blackcomb, currently the largest resort in North America and the setting

tions, became accessible by mere mortals. The gondola gave the resort a

for the alpine events of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Take the gondola to the top of CPR Ridge, and you encounter a

Now, Revelstoke is a working rail town with a population of about 8,500 people, hardly a world-class resort. But what gave the brash

near-vertigo-inducing panorama of the jagged Canadian Rockies and

boast some heft were the surroundings. Revelstoke is smack dab in the

Selkirk Mountains. Kicking Horse’s four dozen marked runs are mere sug-

Monashee Mountains, one of the most legendary heli-skiing grounds. The

gestions. Basically, if you can see it, you can ski it. From CPR Ridge and

Monashees average 500 inches of powder a year—that’s more than 40

Redemption Ridge, you can drop in from any of 70 inbound chutes, some

feet of snow—and a heli-ski trip here has long been the stuff of dreams.

of which are breathtakingly close to vertical. The steep head walls drop

Suddenly, for the price of a lift ticket, anyone could access these

into broad bowls, which funnel down to gladed runs and mogul fields.

legendary powder fields with a trip up 8,029-foot Mt. Mackenzie. That’s

Exhaustion and exhilaration are partners here. And if you have novices in

the resort mountain, heavily treed below, with alpine bowls above. It

your family, note that there is a beginner’s way down from the summit.

amasses an impressive 480 annual inches of light, dry snow yearly, just

The town of Golden will never rival Aspen for amenities, but there are still some niceties for visitors. Foremost are the Eagle Eye Suites, a

/

private guide and first tracks in the morning, all for $950 a night.

Golden Eagle Express gondola. Overnight, a 12,000-foot peak in the

4,133-foot vertical drop, second in Canada only to Whistler Blackcomb.

38

come with butler service, breakfast and dinner for two, lift tickets, a

shy of the 500-inch mark.

At the beginning of its second season, 2008–09, Revelstoke surpassed

pair of luxury accommodations on the second floor of the summit lodge,

both Whistler and Vail for vertical, boasting 5,620 feet, with 32 trails, four

which houses the gondola terminal and Eagle Eye Restaurant. The suites

alpine bowls, four lifts, two gondolas and two quads, all high-speed. The

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.sporting.indd 38

11/24/09 6:05:08 PM

Heli-cious descent: For skiers who want entire peaks to themselves, Revelstoke provides helicopter access to a half-million acres in the Monashee Mountains (opposite top). And for those who prefer to find creature comforts at the summit, the lodge atop Revelstoke’s Mt. Mackenzie fills the bill. The gondola seen at lower left is one of two at the rapidly expanding resort. This page: High above a cloud bank, a skier raises a cloud of powder at Kicking Horse.

skiable acreage is now 3,031. In short, it’s enormous and getting more so.

What vaults Revelstoke into the potentially great resort category is that it offers lift-served skiing, snow-cat skiing and heli-skiing, all from the moun-

and Selkirk Mountains is pretty inspiring. Right now, the coolest place to sleep is the newly opened Nelsen Lodge, a luxury boutique hotel at the base.

The future? The owners claim the skiing could be developed to the

tain base. Just carry your skis, buy the appropriate pass, and go. No other

point where Revelstoke would have 6,000 vertical feet and 10,000 skiable

mountain in North America can deliver that. The numbers that go along with

acres, which would make it by far the biggest resort in North America.

it tell the tale: The snow cat gets you to an additional 5,000 acres, while the

The plan is for a four-season resort that in 15 years will have 130 trails,

heli-skiing option opens up an astonishing 500,000 acres of wilderness.

5,000 lodging units and an 18-hole golf course.

If Revelstoke has an issue at this point, it’s that it’s too tough for any

But for now, go and ski this uncrowded hill while it’s still in its infancy.

but solid intermediate skiers and above. You won’t be pleased if you’re

And if your friends give you a blank stare when you tell them where

a novice—not when more than half of the mountain is rated “advanced”

you’ve been, that will be a good thing. The secret isn’t out yet.

and there are only two green runs. Good skiers test their mettle on that nearly 5,700-foot vertical, and multi-mile runs like Snow Rodeo and Devil’s

KICKING HORSE MOUNTAIN RESORT, B.C.

Club can be an endurance challenge. It also helps to be comfortable in

GETTING THERE: Fly to Calgary, rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle, and then drive two-

powder, since Revelstoke gets plenty of it.

and-a-half hours to Golden, B.C.

The other challenge? Getting here. Revelstoke is located six hours from

www.kickinghorseresort.com/winter

both Vancouver and Calgary. As for the town, you won’t find the comforts of Jackson Hole. But the architecture, a mix of Victorian, Queen Anne and Dutch Revival, is authentically charming, and the backdrop of the Monashee

REVELSTOKE MOUNTAIN RESORT, B.C. GETTING THERE: Fly to Vancouver or Calgary, and then rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle for the six-hour drive. Alternatively, take a flight into regional Kelowna Airport, followed by a

E V E R E T T P O T T E R , a contributing editor to Ski magazine,

two-and-a-half-hour drive.

has skied on four continents.

www.revelstokemountainresort.com/revelstokemtn

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.sporting.indd 39

/

39

11/24/09 6:05:35 PM

{ malt }

|

BY M A R K D O W D E N

RYE REDUX THOMAS H. HANDY SAZERAC RYE, a special bottling from Buffalo Trace Distillery, is one of the LEADING LIGHTS of a WHISKEY RENAISSANCE PEOPLE THINK OF BOURBON as the classic American

of rye, they mean straight rye—true rye.

spirit, but for most of our country’s history, the

Eighteenth-century Americans drank spirits in great

more popular native whiskey was straight rye. To-

quantity, often beginning at breakfast. After the Revolu-

day rye is resurgent, with good reason: The best

tion, the preferred dram shifted from rum and fruit brandy

rye, spicy and dry, is more intricate and more inter-

to whiskey, especially in the Mid-Atlantic and the South.

esting than bourbon.

Scots-Irish immigrants fueled the trend. They arrived with

Let’s define our terms: At some point in

a taste for whiskey and the know-how to make it from

the 20th century, “rye” became synony-

whatever grain was on hand, which more often than not

mous with blended Canadian whiskey,

was rye. George Washington operated a sizeable rye dis-

even though many Canadian whiskies

tillery at Mount Vernon. And when, as President, he rode

contain little or no rye grain. In the U.S.,

out with 13,000 troops to quell the Whiskey Rebellion in

by contrast, “straight rye whiskey” must

western Pennsylvania, the whiskey in question was rye.

be distilled from at least 51 percent rye,

For most of the 19th century, Maryland and Pennsyl-

just as “straight bourbon whiskey” must

vania produced a lot more rye per year than Kentucky did

contain at least 51 percent corn in the

bourbon. When the classic whiskey cocktails, the Sazerac

mash bill. When whiskey geeks speak

and the Manhattan, were popularized, they called not for

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac rye is just one great whiskey from Buffalo Trace.

Dating to 1787, the distillery sits by the Kentucky River in Frankfort, just over the hill in this 1871 map.

40

/

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.malt.indd 40

11/24/09 6:03:06 PM

Masaryk

5004 East Addison Circle | Addison, TX 75001 | 972.701.8500

www.modmexkitchen.com HOURS: Mon – Thurs: 11 am to 10 pm | Fri : 11 am to 11 pm | Sat :12 pm to 11 pm | Closed Sundays

masaryk right.indd 145

11/24/09 6:33:23 PM

Scenes from Buffalo Trace (clockwise): Whiskey ages in Warehouse C, which dates to 1885. Obie Kemper pulls a sample for tasting while Elmer T. Lee, master distiller emeritus, tries to be patient. When the whiskey is deemed ready for bottling, it gets “dumped” from the barrel over charcoal bits. Here, Sazerac rye, the sixyear-old known as “baby Saz,” goes into the bottle.

bourbon but for rye. To drink a Manhattan made with rye, by the way, can

(known to devotees as “baby Saz”), a stunning 18-year-old and a special

be a revelation. I’ve never cared for a bourbon Manhattan—too sweet—

bottling called Thomas H. Handy Sazerac rye. The Handy is named for

but the drink made with three parts rye, one part sweet vermouth and a

the New Orleans barkeep who updated the Sazerac cocktail in the late

dash of Angostura bitters, the original 1874 recipe, is terrific.

1800s by substituting rye for the cognac of the original recipe.

So what killed real rye? In a word, Prohibition. When the act was

Buffalo Trace issues a new, barrel-strength bottling of its Thomas H.

repealed in 1933, distillers had to crank up production from scratch.

Handy Sazerac rye each fall. Recently I tasted the third release, for which

They gravitated to bourbon, probably because corn was the cheaper

Buffalo Trace supplied some enticing statistics: Distilled in spring 2002 from

grain. While the new bourbon was aging, Canadian whiskey continued

Minnesota rye complemented by Kentucky corn and North Dakota malted

to flood the U.S. market, just as it had on a bootleg basis since 1919.

barley, the whiskey aged for six years, five months on the fifth floor of Ware-

Sweet and generic, this “rye” became the norm, while only a few die-

house M. Twenty-two barrels were hand-picked for bottling under the Thom-

hard distilleries in the U.S. resumed the production of straight rye.

as H. Handy Sazerac label. It’s interesting to note that 30 percent of the whis-

Now, after a 70-year hiatus, straight rye is enjoying a major comeback. Call this Phase III of the Great Whiskey Awakening. In Phase I,

key was lost to evaporation! That’s the effect of hot Kentucky summers.

Uncut and unfiltered, the rye was bottled at a mouth-searing 127.5 proof.

single malt Scotch became the subject of connoisseurship. In Phase II,

If the baby Saz is the perfect cocktail rye—spicy, grassy and a

enthusiasm turned to bourbon, leading distillers to feats of small-batch

little sour—the Handy is best enjoyed on the rocks (with a splash of

and single-barrel greatness. In Phase III, the focus is straight rye, and

branch water to cut the strength). Thick and lush, it mingles sweet

distillers are scrambling to keep up with demand.

bourbon tastes with a sourdough tang and lingering floral notes. Frank-

While bourbon peters out with too much aging, rye whiskey, like

ly, it tastes like a great bourbon, a fine Scotch and an elegant old rye all

Scotch, becomes more rounded and complex with additional years in

in one. This is a big, powerful, complex whiskey that seems to evolve

the barrel. Older ryes are in short supply, and prices have shot up. The

with each delicious sip—proof positive that American straight rye is a

brands to look for are Black Maple Hill, Hirsch Selection, Sazerac and

once and future king.

High West Rendezvous—the latter a highly successful blend of sixyear-old and 16-year-old ryes.

Most rye on the current market comes from bourbon distilleries in Kentucky. This includes Sazerac, a new brand with an old name from the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Ky., which is producing some of the best whiskies in America. The Sazerac ryes include a bold six-year-old

42

/

TASTING NOTES THOMAS H. HANDY SAZERAC RYE C O L O R | Bright, reddish brown N O S E | Caramel, molasses, new-mown grass, pepper, saddle leather.

PA L AT E | Christmas fruit cake, toffee, mint, cinnamon, clove.

M A R K D O W D E N , a native of Kentucky who was educated at the

F I N I S H | Sourdough bread, long floral notes, coconut, nutmeg.

University of St. Andrews, considers himself whiskey agnostic.

PRICE | $100

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.malt.indd 42

11/24/09 6:03:20 PM

Stunning interiors that combine form and function

I

t is my desire that my client’s homes inspire them and leave them feeling content; that their home represents the best of them. Then I have told the story well…

NEW CONSTRUCTION DRAPERIES

|

|

R E N O VAT I O N

|

COMMERCIAL

FULL DESIGN SERVICES

214-883-5473

TiffanyMcKinzie.com tiffany mckenzie right.indd 145

11/24/09 6:33:46 PM

{ grape }

C l o s Tr i g u e d i n a :

GORGEOUS MALBEC FROM CAHORS

|

BY C Y N T H I A H U R L E Y

IT’S FALL. You can feel it and smell it in the breeze. Ever since

In his book Wines of South-West France, Paul Strang tells us

I stepped outside, I’ve been thinking about my earthenware pot

that in the 14th century, most of the wine being shipped out of Bor-

of cassoulet doing a slow bubble on the stove. Is there any meal

deaux was from Quercy, the region of which Cahors is capital. Some

better for a day with a little nip in the air? And, being a wine

of these very profits allowed the Bordelais to clear their marshy

importer, I’m also thinking about what to uncork with it, but this

Medoc vineyards and develop their own winemaking business. The

is not a real head-scratcher. Cahors, that powerhouse red from

Bordelais often mixed in the superior Cahors grape juice to add sub-

the southwest of France, is far and away my first choice. Great

stance to their then rather amateurish, insipid wines.

Cahors is one of the richest and inkiest wines you’ll ever put in

One of the most appealing estates you can visit in the Cahors

your mouth. And the history of Cahors is as rich as the taste. I’ll

region is Clos Triguedina. The name comes from the medieval lan-

give you just a sip of that.

guage Occitan. “Me trigo de dina” means “I’m longing to dine,”

Cahors is a very old wine town, planted by the Romans, to the east of Bordeaux. The people of Cahors were making wine

which is probably what travelers said as they passed through Cahors on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela.

CONTINUED ...

when the Bordelais were still drinking beer. Their wines would

44

float west along the Lot River to Bordeaux, where the Borde-

Custodian of a family tradition dating back to the time of Louis-Philippe,

lais would extract heavy taxes and sell the wines to markets in

vintner Jean-Luc Baldès (above, left) puts grapes in a prune oven. Grown in a

northern Europe.

sun-kissed Cahors vineyard (top right), grapes are harvested lovingly by hand.

/

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.grape.indd 44

11/24/09 6:01:48 PM

A Luxurious Necessity for the Well- Dressed Home

Custom Window Treatment Services Available

In-Stock Luxury Drapery | Fine Designer Textiles Historic European Designs | Hunter Douglas Alustra Dealer Custom Window Treatments & Design Services 17390 Preston Rd, Suite 280 / Dallas, TX 75252 / 972.267.2200

What Are Your Windows Wearing? curtain #1 right.indd 145

11/24/09 6:34:10 PM

(Clockwise from left): Malbec grapes grow in clusters on the vine, barrels fill a commodious cellar and vineyard rows promise tomorrow’s sipping indulgence under the supervision of Monsieur et Madame Baldès.

A Scotsman in Côtes du Rhône: McKinlay sold his information technology business to retire on a vineyard. But the extraordinary land on the slopes of Mont Ventoux drew him deeper into the new venture.

Clos Triguedina makes a wine called Prince Probus

bec; and The New Black Wine (also 100% Malbec), which

to commemorate the action by the Roman Emperor

is made in the style approximating the way Cahors used

Probus in 280, which put the winemakers of Cahors

to taste in the pre-phylloxera days. Phylloxera vastatrix is

officially back in business after a previous edict had

that very nasty sap-sucking insect that nearly wiped out

outlawed winemaking outside Italy. Apparently, grow-

all the vineyards of France in the latter 19th century.

ing wheat was not nearly as interesting as making wine

In the past, Black Wine was made by baking the grapes

and that part of their agricultural obligation was being

in the oven, pouring them into a saucepan and then boiling

neglected. The plucky folks from Cahors had largely

them to remove most of the water. Today’s Black Wine is

ignored the ban, but it was good to be out in the

made by putting the grapes in a wooden box with grills on

open again. The wine called Probus is powerful, racy,

the bottom and blowing in warm air to shrivel them. The

silky, harmonious, first-class, and you should probably

grapes are then pressed, fermented, and aged in new oak

drop whatever you are doing and go and buy a bottle or

barrels for 18 months. The wine is dark (although not really

three. Sorry. It’s easy to get carried away with the taste

black), smoky and delicious. Uncork some Cahors tonight;

of this wine. It is splendid.

it’s the finest expression of Malbec in the world.

Etienne Baldès planted Clos Triguedina in 1830. Today, Jean-Luc Baldès is the eighth generation to be in

CLOS TRIGUEDINA

charge of the winery. The domain makes three red wines I

TASTE | RICH, DARK, BERRY FLAVORS, SMOKY, SPICY, LONG-LIVED

particularly love: Clos Triguedina, which is a blend of 80%

BEST DRUNK WITH | CASSOULET, RICH STEWS

Malbec (known locally and historically as Auxerrois), 15%

BEST YEARS | 2005, 2006

Merlot and 5% Tannat; Prince Probus, which is 100% Mal-

PRICE | CLOS TRIGUEDINA: $25, PRINCE PROBUS: $50, THE NEW BLACK WINE: $60

46

/

C Y N T H I A H U R L E Y is an importer of French wines and

WHERE TO FIND IT | WINE VENTURES IN TENAFLY (201-568-4341);

a frequent writer on the subject.

CENTRAL LIQUORS IN FLEMINGTON (908-782-2518)

H O L I DAY

POC.grape.indd 46

2009

11/24/09 6:02:03 PM

Save $25 – $600 per window on Hunter Douglas window fashions!

DUETTE VERTIGLIDE® HONEYCOMB SHADES WITH DUOLITE TM

SILHOUETTE® WINDOW SHADINGS

$

600 REBATE*

$

75

REBATE

DUETTE VERTIGLIDE HONEYCOMB SHADES

PIROUETTE® WINDOW SHADINGS

$

300 REBATE*

$

50

REBATE

$

LUMINETTE® PRIVACY SHEERS

200 REBATE

VIGNETTE® MODERN ROMAN SHADES

$

30

REBATE

SKYLINETM GLIDING WINDOW PANELS

$

DUETTE® ARCHITELLA® HONEYCOMB SHADES

$

100 REBATE

25

REBATE*

Store Name

123 StreetLuxury Curtain Couture Anywhere, XY 12345 Window-Wear – F 9:00 amRd – 9:00 17390MPreston Stepm280 Sat – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Dallas TX Sun – Closed 555-123-4567 Monday - Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM 972-267-2200 www.storename.com Contractor’s License #00000000 curtaincouture.hdspd.com

curtain #2 right.indd 145

11/24/09 6:34:34 PM

{ finishing touch }

What are your favorite men’s clothing brands?

Zegna’s amazing fabrics and clean lines can make any man look effortlessly put together and refined. Luciano Barbera has beautiful soft jackets, and CP Company and Transit make great knitwear. I also love casual pants from Mason. They put a unique twist on the everyday cotton pant with their cool printed fabrics.

What kind of men’s shoes do you like?

I prefer a clean brown loafer or a classic lace shoe, and always shoes to fit the occasion. Gravati shoes provide it all with an extremely comfortable last, great rubber walking soles and the best selection of leather and skins available in men’s shoes.

What items should every man have in his wardrobe this winter?

Definitely a soft constructed sportcoat and a nice pair of dark blue jeans. This is my favorite look because it’s so comfortable, yet the tailored jacket keeps it refined. For colder weather, wear the sportcoat over a great cashmere sweater and Zegna sport shirt.

What’s your best grooming advice for men?

Pay attention to the details! Give your face some much-deserved care because this is the first thing everyone sees.

A little goes a long way with

YOUR STYLE,

SIMPLIFIED Super sales associate Laura McElyea’s expert advice for Pockets customers products from The Art of Shaving and Jack Black. Our customers regularly restock their favorite shave creams and face moisturizers.

They love the difference that quality grooming products make for their skin.

Complete this sentence: “All women notice a man’s …”

All women notice a man’s style—or lack thereof!

48

/

H O L I DAY 2 0 0 9

POC.endpage.indd 36

11/25/09 2:12:07 PM

gimo right.indd 145 GimosMAN_FPFall08Fin.indd 1

11/25/09 9:23:29 AM 8/18/08 10:24:46 AM

www.canali.it canali left.indd 2 0260709_GarmanyAW09.indd 1

11/24/09 6:37:09 PM 02/07/09 16:22