Christopher Ward scoops top business accolade

Christopher Ward has been featured in a prestigious listing that recognises the top small- and medium-sized business exporters in the UK - and it's the only British watch brand to enter the inaugural Sunday Times BT Business SME Export Track 100. The company, founded by British entrepreneurs Mike France, Chris Ward and Peter Ellis, is ranked number 77 in the chart, published in May, with international sales of over £2.1m in 2014, representing a three-fold upswing in just three years.

Left to right: Mike France, Chris Ward, Johannes Jahnke, Jorg Bader and Peter Ellis, photographed on the Greenwich Meridian Line on July 2, 2014 to mark the launch of Christopher Ward's in-house movement

Christopher Ward celebrated a decade in business in 2014 – a year that coincided with the launch of its own in-house watch movement, known as Calibre SH21. That is a feat in itself. Back in 2004, the company has pioneered a radical new business model as the world’s first pure-play online luxury watch brand, quickly establishing a global reputation for Christopher Ward among watch enthusiasts and collectors. The US is the single-largest export market, and the business sells more mechanical watches than any other UK-based brand. 

So what’s the secret? Mike France, one of the three co-founders, explained the thinking behind the brand’s creation: "We launched this British company in 2004 as a deliberate innovation in the watch industry; a bold new approach focusing on the customer in a way that the industry norm simply could not match. Since then we have continually evolved the business, always with the customer at the heart of everything we do.”  

He continued: "In July 2014, in keeping with our pioneering spirit, we stunned the watch industry when we created a merger with our Swiss partner Synergies Horologères and the creation of our own in-house movement Calibre SH21 - a move that, we believe, is the most significant development in the history of British watchmaking in over 50 years.  But right from the start, we've attracted an international following and, today, our watches are shipped to over 100 countries around the world and it's interesting to note a global consistency in the appeal of trends such as towards mechanical watches, smaller case sizes and contemporary vintage. A key driver of our success is our unprecedented blend of high quality and value, backed by the most comprehensive customer satisfaction guarantees we can find in the industry. Across the globe, increasing numbers of customers have responded to that ethos and, by keeping that focus pinpointed on the customer, we are determined to continue to grow our business.”

Co-founder Peter Ellis commented: "The momentum of international sales growth has continued into the first quarter of 2015 with sales growing by 45% and Calibre SH21 opens opportunities for further growth of the brand as it effectively secures a robust supply chain in a market where the availability of components is largely controlled by a handful of the largest manufacturers in Swiss watchmaking."

All design work is centred at the brand’s UK headquarters, in Maidenhead, Berkshire, while production is carried out at the company’s own atelier in Biel, Switzerland under the direction of Jorg Bader and its own master watchmaker Johannes Jahnke.

In a further international expansion, the first overseas showroom for Christopher Ward was opened in the US city of Nashua in New Hampshire in November 2014, to address the needs of the brand’s largest export market.

The brand’s top 10 markets outside the UK and US are (in order): Australia, Canada, Singapore, France, Finland, Hong Kong, Russia, UAE, Germany, and the Netherlands/Ireland in equal 10^th place.

Congratulations to the team at Christopher Ward. Per ardua ad astra!

Visit www.christopherward.co.uk

Oettinger Davidoff toasts 140 years

Cigar specialist Oettinger Davidoff is celebrating a series of store openings, new launches and other exciting initiatives in its 140^th anniversary year. The Basel-based company is opening a Davidoff shop on the Grossbasel side of the Middle Rhine Bridge in Basel, just a few steps from Eisengasse, where Max Oettinger started selling tobacco products from his Havana House in 1875. The Bavarian-born entrepreneur laid the foundations for the success of today's Oettinger Davidoff, which now, 140 years later, is marking its anniversary year by opening a new store with a luxurious cigar lounge at almost the same location.

As a further homage to the company's founder, to its later "godfather" Dr Ernst Schneider, as well as to the man who gave the company its name, Zino Davidoff, the original Davidoff flagship store in Geneva has been renovated. The Davidoff family's core business, which Zino sold in 1970 together with the Davidoff brand to his business partner and friend Schneider, has a special significance for Oettinger Davidoff. The company wants to underline this by reopening the store in this anniversary year.

Davidoff's remodelled store in Geneva

Reopening of mother store in Geneva

The anniversary year also brings further renovations and new openings. Chief among these was the reopening in March of the group’s mother store in Geneva. “We are proud to celebrate the reopening of our mother store here in Geneva in this particular year, which marks the 140th anniversary of Oettinger Davidoff AG," said Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, CEO and member of the Board of Oettinger Davidoff AG. "What makes the opening all the more special is that this shop, founded in 1911, is the true mother place of the Davidoff of Geneva Experience which significantly shaped our company.”

World’s first in-store holographic box

“The challenge in redesigning this unique cigar shop was to preserve its history but to continue our mission to delight and surprise our consumers worldwide by delivering unique brands and unrivalled retail experiences,” explained Thomas Mathys, manager of the Geneva flagship.

The Geneva location boasts around 100sq m, which includes a 30sq m walk-in humidor and a retail and accessories section covering some 70sq m. The humidor has been designed with a ceiling covered in real tobacco leaves, emulating a cigar production factory in the Dominican Republic. The store’s exclusive interior design combines lush woods and natural materials in earthy tones that are reminiscent of the colour of the cigars. The decor is accentuated with shades of copper and adorned with a Light Forest chandelier from Studio Ontwerpduo at the entrance that recalls the tropical flowers of the Dominican Republic.

The store’s limited editions include the Masterpiece Humidor Collection “Cave de Paille”, created by renowned French artist Lison de Caunes. According to the company, it is also the first Davidoff store in the world to display a holographic box, and the first film will feature the new Winston Churchill cigar campaign.

Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard (right) with Sir Winston Churchill's great-grandson Randolph Churchill

Winston Churchill brand relaunched

Oettinger Davidoff is also marking its anniversary by relaunching the Winston Churchill brand. In contrast to the original launch seven years ago, the brand is being integrated as a separate line within the Davidoff product range. The new range, named after the cigar-loving British prime minister, harmonises the tobaccos of Nicaragua, Mexico, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic.

“The great man’s persona, the trait of character, was the inspiration for the chosen formats,” CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard said of the cigar range, adding: “We feel sure that Sir Winston would have enjoyed sharing one of these exceptional cigars which surely do justice to one of the most celebrated cigar lovers in history: The Aristocrat, The Artist, The Commander, The Raconteur, The Statesman, The Traveler – these are cigars of character.”

New Hourglass Lounge concierge service

In addition, the company has launched the Hourglass Lounge, the world’s first concierge service for cigar aficionados, which offers its members exclusive access to the finest lounges and events, limited editions before anyone else and more.

Hoejsgaard’s aim is to ensure that Oettinger Davidoff continues to grow in terms of core CHF1.2bn turnover in its anniversary year. To achieve this planned growth, the company is investing significant funds in the launch of new brands and the relaunch of existing ones with high growth potential, as well as expanding the product portfolio. Oettinger Davidoff also aims to extend its global sales network.

Meanwhile, with the inauguration of the International Art Residency in February 2015, the company is also using the anniversary to confirm its commitment to philanthropy. The official opening of the International Art Residency in the Dominican Republic completes the Davidoff Art Initiative launched in 2012. The residency is the cornerstone of the initiative and is intended to provide opportunities for creative exchange between the Caribbean/Dominican Republic and the rest of the world.

Visit the new microsite at www.oettingerdavidoff.com 

MCM amps up the volume with Beats

To celebrate music, fashion and technology, MCM has launched a limited-edition collaboration with the headphone brand Beats by Dr Dre. “Inspired by progressivism and fashionology, the first-time collection blurs the lines between innovation in sound and originality in style,” the German luxury brand said. The exclusive collection includes a range of Beats Studio wireless headphones, a cute Pill character speaker and Tour earphones.

Beats' Pill character (left) wears an MCM backpack

MCM x Beats collection

On 12 May, MCM and Beats hosted a luxurious launch event at MCM’s New York SoHo flagship (see earlier blog post for details of the store opening). Attended by VIPs and trendsetters alike, the summer celebration kicked off with R&B sensation PartyNextDoor, who performed his latest tracks, followed by celebrity downtown New York DJ Vashtie, who took over the decks and played summer sounds.

DJ Vashtie spins the tunes

Other guests, including Korean singer, dancer and actor Rain, sipped cocktails and previewed the MCM x Beats by Dr Dre collections on display. In between high-octane electropop anthems and downbeat dancehall-tinged verves, guests celebrated the start of the summer in style.

Korean megastar Rain at the MCM x Beats launch event

Music has played a leading role in MCM’s heritage, as it was established during the 1970s when Munich was at the centre of the European disco scene. From groove to glamour, music has long been a core inspiration behind the brand. The limited-edition collection ships in June and will be available in MCM stores worldwide and on Apple.com. Stay tuned!

More pictures below:

Hip-hop and R&B singer Justine Skye wears her MCM x Beats headphones

R&B singer PartyNextDoor performs at the launch event

 DJ, model and entrepreneur Hannah Bronfman and DJ, model and actress Chelsea Leyland

Zilli to open in Miami Design District

Zilli, the purveyor of ultra-luxury leather jackets for men, is set to open a store in Miami’s fashionable Design District as part of its international retail expansion. The French family-owned menswear house, founded by Alain Schimel, has also begun trading in Istanbul, in the Nisantasi neighbourhood.

The Spring/Summer 2015 collection, which uses exotic skins such as calf suede and nubuck crocodile, is handcrafted at the company's workshop in Lyon. Enjoy the pictures below:

Zilli Vroom silk-lined jacket in calf suede

Zilli Vittorio bag in nubuck calf

Zilli Ludovic travel bag in grained nubuck calfskin and nubuck crocodile

Zilli Vodka cardigan in nubuck crocodile with glazed lambskin details

MCM toasts first Bangkok store

German luxury brand MCM has celebrated the grand opening of its first boutique in Bangkok, located at the prestigious EmQuartier, one of Thailand’s world-class destinations for shopping, dining and entertainment. The innovative shopping complex is designed with theatrical curvatures and an abundance of green space conceived to harmonise with the natural environment.

Above and top: MCM debuts its new store at EmQuartier, Bangkok

Gilded brass plate frontage

MCM’s boutique has a gilded brass plate frontage and murals of graphite-toned facades, juxtaposed with wooden panels that provide sweeping panoramas of the products on display. Featuring its Spring/Summer 2015 collection, the handbags and totes are emblazoned with MCM’s Diamondland! motif.

Asia’s glitterati attended the sumptuous grand opening, all carrying their favourite MCM bags, of course. Model and actor Boy Pakorn shared his favourite backpack from the environmentally-friendly EKOCYCLE collection, available at London department store Harrods. Top model Phitsinee Tanwiboon struck a pose with the Spring/Summer 15 Tina mini clutch, while former Miss International Queen Treechada Petcharat showed off her Tracey tote.

Artist and musician Jack Jarupong (aka Black Jack) checked out the footwear on display, and actress Sumontip Leuangthai flaunted a head-to-toe white Visetos-print style featuring the Stark backpack and document holder.

See more pictures of the boutique and the opening event below:

Craigellachie makes Asia debut in Taipei airport

Bacardi has partnered with Taiwanese travel retailer Ever Rich at Taipei Taoyuan airport to launch Craigellachie Speyside single malt Scotch whisky on a market-exclusive basis in the Asia region until June 30, when it will roll out into domestic market locations. The launch programme features Craigellachie 13yo and the travel retail exclusive Craigellachie 19yo.

Craigellachie's "worm-tub" installation at Taipei Taoyuan airport

Significant release

Irving Holmes Wong, regional director Asia Pacific and Middle East at Bacardi Global Travel Retail, said: “We are so excited to bring Craigellachie to Asia Pacific and to have Taoyuan, a key location in travel retail, as the initial launch-pad for this significant release. Building on the incredible success we had here in September 2014 for Aberfeldy Highland single malt Scotch whisky, Ever Rich felt like the obvious partner for us in Asia to bring to market the second in the series of our last great malts."

He continued: “Craigellachie is carving a unique position in the single malts category with its distinctive aged flavour profile and iconic heritage, both of which appeal massively to knowledgeable malts connoisseurs and collectors, especially those who are motivated by the authentic intrinsics of niche brands like Craigellachie. The experiential sampling activity that showcases the ‘worm-tubs’ is a definite interactive talking point – it’s a great way for us to bring to life the brand story in a powerfully memorable way to the growing number of Asian malt shoppers looking to discover something genuinely new and different to the mainstream.”

Craigellachie 13yo and 19yo whisky showcase

Interactive sampling 

The interactive counter-top sampling unit depicts a scale model of the famous copper piped “worm-tubs” from the Craigellachie distillery which help give the whisky its distinct, meaty character. Today Craigellachie is one of the very few whiskies still benefiting from this traditional technique first used in 1891 when this brand was created.

Brand ambassadors pour the Craigellachie dram in through the top of the copper piping while explaining how it replicates the condensation process at the distillery. The liquid journeys through the worm-tub before being poured through a brass tap into a sampling glass. Malted grain brought from the Craigellachie distillery is also a key feature of the experience, enabling shoppers to get a close-up sensory experience of the grain itself.

Available in one-litre bottles, Craigellachie 13yo retails at T$2,310 and the travel retail exclusive Craigellachie 19yo is T$5,181.

Davidoff celebrates artfully in New York

New York is now home to two Davidoff flagship stores following the Swiss cigar brand’s newly unveiled 6th Avenue location. The cigar maker celebrated the opening in April, hosting a private event at the new store with over 50 guests. In true Davidoff tradition, the guests enjoyed cigars while a jazz band entertained and cocktails were served.

Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard celebrates at the new Davidoff store in New York's 6th Avenue

New store set to open downtown

“The 6th Avenue Davidoff flagship store joins Davidoff’s original Madison Avenue location in New York and is the first of its kind in the United States,” said Oettinger Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard. “Our new retailing concept ‘Davidoff of Geneva – since 1911’ was introduced at Zurich airport in 2012. Since then this concept has been realised in many international metropolises around the world. Finally, now also in the heart of New York.”

The flagship joins the company’s De La Concha shop in the city, which has been remodelled to fit the brand’s new global store concept “Davidoff of Geneva – since 1911”. The company will soon have three stores in New York when a downtown location opens later this year in Brookfield Place.

Jim Young, president of Davidoff North America, said: “We are thrilled to add our second flagship store in the US here in New York, and particularly to launch the first store with the exciting new global concept. The reception to the store has been terrific already and we have high hopes that the experiences which our store, our products and our professional staff offer to our consumers and shoppers will continue to delight them in ways they have come to expect from Davidoff.”

Limited-edition cigar exclusive to 6th Avenue

The new 6th Avenue location covers nearly 1,500sq ft, including a 225sq ft walk-in humidor and a retail and accessories section covering 575sq ft. The store features a luxurious lounge with an uninterrupted view of 6th Avenue to enjoy a cigar.

The store’s interior design combines warm woods and luxurious materials in earthy tones that are reminiscent of the colour of the cigars. Accentuated with shades of copper and Tom Dixon lighting, the store has been transformed into a contemporary and inviting space. Artworks from Dominican artist Polibio Díaz, the second Dominican artist to join the Davidoff Art Initiative residency programme at the ISCP (International Studio & Curatorial Program) in New York in autumn 2014, are bringing contemporary art into the newly designed store.

The new flagship tells the story of Davidoff’s legacy and carries a number of limited editions, including the exclusive Davidoff 6th Avenue cigar featured at the event: a Robusto cigar measuring 5 ¼” x 54RG, featuring a custom-tailored blend for the 6th Ave customers using Dominican tobaccos. Available in boxes of 10, the new cigars retail at $25 per cigar or $250 per box (plus tax).

Rain arrives at Met Gala

MCM brand ambassador Rain made a striking arrival on May 4 at the Met Gala, New York’s most acclaimed fashion and celebrity event, in a bespoke MCM tuxedo. Showcasing the German brand’s custom-made sophistication, the MCM Tailor tuxedo was paired with handpicked shoes from the MCM Men Classic Footwear Collection, completing the Korean superstar singer's distinguished and gentlemanly look. 

Korean singer and MCM brand ambassador Rain at the Met Gala 

Impact of Chinese aesthetics on Western fashion

The theme for this year’s Met Ball was “China: Through the Looking Glass”, with an exhibition that explores the impact of Chinese aesthetics on Western fashion and how China has fuelled the fashionable imagination for centuries. In this collaboration between The Costume Institute and the Department of Asian Art, high fashion is juxtaposed with Chinese costumes, paintings, porcelains, and other art, including films, to reveal enchanting reflections of Chinese imagery.

This year’s star-studded 2015 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit was co-chaired by fashion’s cognoscenti including Editor-in-Chief of Vogue US, Anna Wintour, Jennifer Lawrence, Gong Li, Marissa Mayer and Wendy Deng.

Paris airports welcome John Dewar whisky emporium

Bacardi has partnered with French travel retailer Aelia at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports as the first locations to feature its new John Dewar & Sons Fine Whisky Emporium. The emporium showcases Bacardi’s extensive Scotch whisky collection across its award-winning blends and aged single malts.

John Dewar & Sons Whisky Emporium at Paris CDG airport

Strong consumer interest in age statements

Bacardi’s consumer research has revealed that the biggest incremental opportunity is with the emerging group of shoppers moving into the second stage of luxury. Age statements are a key purchase motivation for this group, along with quality cues and engaging brand stories. According to the company, they have a strong interest in Bacardi’s age statement single malts and in the heritage of Dewar’s, the world’s most awarded blended Scotch, which also has age statements across its core blends.

Richard Cuthbert, global marketing manager for whisky at Bacardi Global Travel Retail, explained the strategy behind the emporium concept: “Over the past two years we’ve activated our commitment to launching aged whiskies with our esoteric range of rare single malts – Glen Deveron, Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie and Royal Brackla – and with aged Dewar’s blends. Dewar’s has strong appeal as the world’s most awarded blended Scotch whisky for its superb taste profile because it double ages, and it is the holder of the longest royal warrant in whisky.

“Second-stage luxury shoppers are keen to discover brands like ours and are motivated by the intrinsics and heritage to enable them to ‘show they know’. The John Dewar & Sons Fine Whisky Emporium is a highly engaging customer experience which enables whisky shoppers to gain a deeper understanding of our range and to make informed choices on what’s most suited to their taste. “

Travellers sampled the spirits using a whisky flight

Memorable and authentic experience

The experience in Paris Charles de Gaulle Terminal AC and Orly South terminal focused on sampling the Dewar’s portfolio using an authentic whisky flight. Items such as the whisky dispenser and framed emporium picture brought to life John Dewar’s original small wine and spirits merchant shop, where the brand began in 1846, before growing to become one of the largest Scotch whisky brands in the world.

Aude Rocourt, regional director Europe at Bacardi Global Travel Retail, added: “Our aged whiskies and malts are our major strategic focus for Bacardi in European travel retail and what we want to do is create memorable and authentic experiences that help shoppers get to know our portfolio. The John Dewar & Sons Fine Whisky Emporium enables their personal discovery through the flight tastings led by trained brand ambassadors as part of Aelia’s exceptional commitment to service at point of sale.”

Sandrine Verrecchia-Godin, senior category manager of Aelia, added: “After the success of the Aberfeldy activation last year, it is great to welcome more of the Bacardi whisky portfolio to Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly at Buy Paris Duty Free, with the John Dewar & Sons Fine Whisky Emporium. This engaging sampling experience allowed visitors to the activation to understand more about whisky and select the perfect one for them. This ultimately gave our passengers a very memorable experience in our airport stores.”

The John Dewar & Sons Fine Whisky Emporium will roll out over the coming months to many of the world’s leading airport locations as both temporary and permanent features.

Lanson brings La Vie en Rose to Paris

Lanson has unveiled the fourth design in its Pink Champagne range. The new La Vie en Rose limited-edition bottle was created to be “more audacious, creative and original than all previous Pink editions”, the company said.

Lanson La Vie en Rose Champagne installation at Paris CDG S4

Limited-edition gift box

Highlighted at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport Terminal S4, each bottle is sold with a pen tied with an elegant gold lace around the neck, allowing customers to inscribe the name of the person to whom they are gifting the bottle. The bottle is decorated with the signature Lanson crosses and its slogan The Perfect Start. 

La Vie en Rose is also available in a limited-edition gift box, which includes the bottle with pen, two branded Champagne glasses and decorated postcards.

Available until the end of 2015 and with a recommended selling price of €40 per bottle and €60 for the gift box, La Vie en Rose is supported with merchandising units decorated with cherry blossom and visuals that encourage travellers to ‘take a picture with Lanson’.

Lanson's export director Olivier De La Giraudière said: “We are delighted to have released the fourth edition of our iconic Lanson Pink Label. We have seen so much success with the past three Pink limited editions that we knew we had to extend the range. At Lanson Champagne we are always looking for new and innovative ways to ensure that our products are unique and stand out from the crowd – and La Vie en Rose certainly achieves this. 2015 is a very exciting year for us, and the launch of La Vie en Rose is just the beginning.”

Visit www.lanson.com.

Star of Bombay (Sapphire) shines out

Bombay Sapphire has launched Star of Bombay, a new super-premium gin that adds two additional botanicals and a slow distillation method to the mix. The global travel retail launch kicked off with Gebr Heinemann in Sydney airport in April. Retailing at A$66 for a one-litre bottle, Star of Bombay is aimed at the gifting market and seeks to attract new consumers to gin.

Star of Bombay super-premium gin

“Travel retail is leading the launch of Star of Bombay, including a first launch with Heinemann across their iconic locations like the newly-won Sydney airport, Frankfurt and Copenhagen, before rolling out globally,’’ said Mike Birch, managing director of Bacardi Global Travel Retail.

He added: “Gin is one of the hottest categories in travel retail. However, there is a large opportunity to further premiumise it. With Bombay Sapphire as category leader, we can unlock this potential with a super-premium gin like Star of Bombay.”

The Bombay Sapphire gin portfolio includes the original Bombay Sapphire, Bombay Sapphire East and Bombay Dry. The brand’s new star is the first addition to the range to be created at the newly restored Laverstoke Mill in the UK county of Hampshire, the new distillery for Bombay Sapphire, visitor experience and brand home, which opened in October 2014.

 

Master Distiller Nikolas Fordham wanted to open up a fresh chapter in the brand’s history and create a new expression of the Bombay signature style, yet with a distinctive character. He worked with Ivano Tonutti, Bombay Sapphire’s Master of Botanicals, to search the world for fresh botanicals that could play in harmony with the original 1761 recipe that inspired the famous gin in the beautiful blue bottle.

 

The recipe for Star of Bombay begins with the 10 botanicals that lie at the heart of Bombay Sapphire gin: juniper, coriander, lemon peel, orris, angelica, almonds, liquorice, cassia bark, cubeb berries and grains of paradise. It is then elevated, according to the brand, with the addition of two new botanicals: gently dried Bergamot orange peel, sourced from the mountains of Calabria in southern Italy, and aromatic ambrette seed, sourced from Ecuador in South America.

High-strength gin emphasises aromatics

“The idea with Star of Bombay was to create a gin with an increased perception of the Bombay top-note aromatics,” Tonutti explained. “It is possible to simply add new botanicals to a gin and bring a note of their character over the spirit, but this is not the style of Bombay. We vapour-infuse our botanicals. Painstaking flavour trials had to be made to achieve the precise quantities and qualities that could interact with all the other botanicals and integrate into the heart of the gin. It is this perfect balance that we aim for.”

In addition to the added botanicals, the liquid is produced through a slower rate of the vapour infusion distillation process. Through carefully controlled temperature and vapour flows, the extraction level of the botanicals is heightened to build a richer aroma and more intense flavour.

The new Star of Bombay is 47.5%abv. “The high strength is chosen to emphasise the elevated aromatics and helps to underpin the spirits overall balance and harmony,” the brand said.

 

The bottle celebrates the emblematic features of the brand, including the concentric facets, which seek to convey the depth and complexity of the spirit. The bottle is taller, slimmer and is slightly tapered.

The Star of Bombay signature serve is Star & Tonic, dubbed “a unique alternative to an evening cocktail, offering a more flavourful experience”. The Star & Tonic recipe is: one part Star of Bombay gin; one part Indian tonic water; finished with orange zest.

David Beckham’s May Day to remember

Today (May 1), during what David Beckham thought was a regular business meeting in his London office with Haig Club global whisky master Ewan Gunn, the international icon was surprised with a unique birthday gift. In celebration of his milestone 40th birthday, the Haig Club team created a one-of-a kind, handcrafted crystal decanter containing rare 40yo Haig Club single grain Scotch whisky. Here's the delighted birthday boy:

David Beckham with his surprise birthday gift: Haig Club 40yo Scotch whisky

Introducing… Davidoff cigar sorbet

You don’t have to love ice cream, but it helps. An ice cream artisan from Corsica is heating up the gastronomy scene with wonderful, new-concept ice creams and sorbets, including off-the-scale flavours such as Davidoff cigars, Veuve Clicquot Pink Champagne and Ardbeg Scotch whisky with dark chocolate.

Ice cream "scientist" Pierre Geronimi

Created in a hi-tech laboratory

Pierre Geronimi and his team (his head of production and general manager trained at the prestigious Paul Bocuse Institute in Lyons) perfected his art – or “science”, as he terms it – and began exporting his ice cream-making expertise overseas, serving Michelin-starred chefs. Describing himself as a “sculptor of tastes”, Geronimi has now brought his skills to Monaco, where a new store has opened its doors.

If you’re visiting the Principality, don’t miss the sorbet infused with Davidoff cigars and Diplomatico rum flavours, made by special order in the shop’s hi-tech “laboratory”. I wonder if my friend Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, Davidoff’s CEO, has tried it?

You can find other Pierre Geronimi shops in Sagone, Corsica and Grenoble, France.

A luxury experience awaits.

Visit www.geronimipierre.com