Diageo unveils rare 40yo whisky for connoisseurs

Liquor giant Diageo has unveiled The Singleton Glendullan 40 Year Old whisky to offer connoisseurs a “truly exceptional whisky experience”.

This 40-year-old single malt from the Glendullan distillery is exclusive to travel retail in Asia, and is available now, retailing at US$2,300. It is the first release from the distillery’s Forgotten Drop Series, which promises to reveal some spectacular limited-edition whiskies drawn from reserves uncovered by The Singleton’s Master of Malts Maureen Robinson.

The Singleton Glendullan 40yo whisky campaign

Only 600 bottles available

This rare spirit, the oldest liquid ever released from the Speyside distillery since its founding in 1897, has been bottled at cask strength of 58.6%abv to experience it in its purest form. The special limited release of only 600 bottles is available exclusive to travel retail outlets at airports in Singapore (Changi) and Taiwan.

Maureen Robinson, Master of Malts for The Singleton portfolio, said: “The Singleton Forgotten Drop Series is an exciting collection to curate. We have been exploring the deepest corners of our warehouse to find hidden treasures that, due to the stocks, we could never release widely. The amount of time these liquids spent maturing in this type of cask makes it so precious. It’s whisky for whisky lovers and The Singleton Glendullan 40 Year Old is a stunning liquid to launch with.”

The distillery, with its large, unusually shaped stills and light distillation technique creates a fresh and delicate spirit. Ageing exclusively in refill American oak casks brings subtle, honeyed hints that complement the distillery’s signature sweet vanilla and orchard fruit flavours. The spirit has a sweet and spicy profile featuring hints of honey and a gingery sweetness, finishing with a spiced, lightly salted nutted oak.

Dayalan Nayager, Managing Director of Diageo Global Travel, said: “The Singleton Glendullan Forgotten Drop Series will offer a collection of limited releases for our whisky connoisseurs in travel retail. We’re delighted to introduce this series and work with our Master of Malts Maureen Robinson to unveil such a rare and perfectly crafted single malt.” 

All eyes on Rodenstock in Munich

Celebrities, editors and influencers - including MJ Rabbit - feted a recent runway show to showcase Rodenstock’s eyewear during the Opti international trade fair for optics and design, held in Munich in January.

Rodenstock organised the show at the historic exhibition building Haus der Kunst (House of Art). The choice of venue accurately reflected this cosmopolitan, art-loving Bavarian city, where Rodenstock is based.

Rodenstock CEO Oliver Kastalio welcomes celebrities to the eyewear show 

Trend for frameless sunglasses in diverse colours

The host, Oliver Kastalio, CEO of Rodenstock GmbH welcomed the guests, saying: “Glasses will be more and more a fashion accessory. Therefore, we arranged this eyewear show.”

The unisex catwalk show presented optical frames from Rodenstock’s Retro-Classic collection and the Masters Selection. The models also sported sunglasses from the Mix your Style and Supersonic collections.

Eyewear trends in 2018 will include frameless sunglasses in diverse colours and retro models for optical frames, predicted Kastalio.

Models at Rodenstock's eyewear show

Rodenstock is Germany's leading manufacturer of lenses and frames. Founded in 1877 with headquarters in Munich, the company employs approximately 4,500 people and is represented in more than 85 countries with sales subsidiaries and distribution partners. Rodenstock maintains production sites at 15 locations in 13 countries.

*This article first appeared in Americas Duty Free magazine.

MCM's arty collaboration takes off

German luxury accessories brand MCM unveiled its airport-inspired collaboration with art initiative Koenig Souvenir at an event during Art Basel Miami Beach in December.

The company partnered with Berlin-based Koenig Souvenir on a limited-edition range of travel goods and accessories designed to evoke the themes of contemporary artwork.

A backpack from the limited-edition MCM x Koenig Souvenir collection

Six signature MCM styles – spanning travel bags, handbags and phone cases – feature airport-themed design details, including luggage tags and baggage check tickets, and neon guitar-strap handles. The details appear on the brand’s signature Cognac-coloured Visetos material.

The collection was launched at an event held in December at Sun Path House, Miami Beach, hosted by Koenig Souvenir and MCM’s owner and Chief Visionary Officer, Sung-Joo Kim.

The collection will be available at selected MCM stores from January 2018.

Davidoff celebrates 50 years of cigar expertise

Davidoff Cigars is marking its 50th anniversary in 2018 with a series of events, as well as specially commissioned cigars and accessories.

The brand was established in 1968 with a flagship store in Geneva opened by the cigar pioneer Zino Davidoff. “His restless pursuit of new tobaccos and blends has been the inspiration for all the fine cigars that have since carried the iconic Davidoff ring over the last five decades,” the company said.

Five Davidoff cigars will carry a commemorative main ring [Picture credit: Oettinger Davidoff AG]

Looking forward to new horizons

The brand celebrated a major milestone in 1991, when it developed a centre for excellence in the Dominican Republic, where its Master Blenders create new products for cigar connoisseurs.

Commenting on the brand’s 50-year anniversary, Charles Awad, Senior Vice President – Chief Marketing Officer, Oettinger Davidoff AG, said: “This is a very special year for us. We look back with pride on 50 years of creating exceptional, original cigars and accessories, but more importantly, we look forward with a great sense of exhilaration to new, unknown horizons that will bring exciting, undiscovered experiences for those who love cigars.”

Davidoff will be celebrating its golden jubilee with a series of events, as well as specially commissioned cigars and accessories that seek to reflect its continued philosophy of enabling customers to taste the wider world.

“Cigar lovers that are eager to enlarge their repertoires with different types of aromas and experiences will particularly enjoy these celebrations,” said Awad.

For a limited time, five signature Davidoff cigars will carry a commemorative 50th anniversary white ring inspired by the original white ring that first graced the Ambassadrice, the No. 1 and No. 2 in 1968. The blends of these cigars will remain unchanged.

The five cigars (Davidoff Signature No. 2, Davidoff Signature 2000, Davidoff Aniversario Special R, Davidoff Aniversario No. 3 and Davidoff Aniversario Entreacto) will carry the commemorative Davidoff 50th anniversary main ring.

They will be available at Davidoff depositaries and Davidoff flagship stores in the first quarter of 2018. After Davidoff’s 50th anniversary year, the cigars will go back to their original white ring.

Davidoff’s 50th anniversary activities will be celebrated on davidoff.com and on social media: @Davidoff_Cigars | facebook.com/DavidoffCigars1911.