New Gorgeous Collaboration From Macallan and Lalique. The Macallan Oscuro Gift Pack.

The Macallan Oscuro and Lalique: (In Asia Only)

Excellence, artistry and the pursuit of perfection come together here with The Macallan Oscuro and Lalique gift pack which is only available in limited quantities in Asia.

A beautiful sculpture with an equally beautiful single malt, it's priced at about $1,000 a set. If you’re traveling through Asia, make it a point to visit the duty free shop or other travel retail outlets and pick one up because they've only made 300.

The Macallan Oscuro and Lalique pack contains a bottle of single malt whisky, which is part of The Macallan 1824 Collection, and a Lalique crystal ‘Cheval Kazak Running Horse’ figurine. Note: some sites including Macallan's own U.S. tumblr site have reported, incorrectly, that the Lalique figurine is a decanter. It is not.).


above: The Crystal Lalique Cheval Kazak that is included in the gift set.

This limited edition - 300 having been made - of the Macallan Oscuro and Lalique gift pack was unveiled at the Hong Kong International Airport with an RSP of US $1,000.

“This is our first local partnership with Lalique (Macallan and Lalique have has several previous collaborations in other parts of the world such as the Cire Perdue) and we are very happy to have developed this exclusive gift pack together,” says Edrington’s Regional Marketing Manager Claren Wong. “The pack provides consumers with a unique and attractive choice for their gifting during festival season.”

“The Macallan Oscuro and Lalique gift pack is a perfect match; both names stand for excellence, artistry and a pursuit of perfection,” adds Lalique General Manager Montiza Tornow-Siu.



The Macallan Oscuro -the name derives from the Spanish word for ‘dark’ – is described as having a rich deep colour and intense flavour. Matured in sherry-seasoned oak casks, many of which were first fill, it is bottled at 46.5% ABV.

The Macallan is one of the most awarded and applauded single malts in the world and its peerless reputation is testament to the skill of the Masters of Spirit and Wood at The Macallan’s home in Scotland who have been responsible for its creation and maturation over the last two centuries.

info and images courtesy The Drinks Report and Macallan

Speaker Dock AeroSystem One by Lalique. $21000 Limited Edition Crystal Sound and Looks.

This limited edition 3.5 foot tall, 30+ pounds, $21,000 Lalique version of Jarre technologies AeroSystem One sound system accommodates all Apple iPod and iPhone models and features two directional speakers and a 60-watt subwoofer.



A marriage of innovation and craftsmanship, born from a meeting between Silvio Denz, CEO of the prestigious house of Lalique, and Jean Michel Jarre, the genius of electronic music. Two worlds, which on the surface seem to be completely opposite of each other, have come together in their quest for excellence. To further their pursuit for innovation, these two men have combined their values and talents. Together, they have created an object that combines their expertise.



Based on the 2010 Aerosystem One by Jarre Technologies, this special limited version (999 will be made) incorporates Lalique's Masque de Femme, an iconic motif of this prestigious crystal house into the column. The Art-Deco style mask reveals the face of a mysterious woman, with subtle features, surrounded by aquatic wildlife. Like a fingerprint, the face seems perfectly captured in the crystal. To create this piece of work, 13 master glass-blowers blow, cut and polish crystal with their expert hands into a design that is so emblematic of Lalique.





AeroSystem One is the result of four years research and development by Jean Michel Jarre and his team of sound engineers. Conceptualised in France, this powerful sound-system can accept all digital formats, from MP3, AAC, WMA, etc. AeroSystem One is compatible with all iPod and iPhone models and comes with an integrated USB 2.0 port, as well as a mini-jack port offering the possibility to connect the system to a laptop, a CD / DVD player, smartphones, hard-disk files, as well as a vinyl turn-table. AeroSystem One incorporates an electronic signal circuit, tailor-made to reproduce both the bass line and high notes with optimal precision.



The artisans from Lalique have managed to enhance and illuminate the speaker created by Jean Michel Jarre and to raise it to the rank of a true piece of contemporary art.

• Compatible with all iPod generations: iPod Touch®, iPod Nano®, iPod Classic®
• Compatible with all iPhone generations: iPhone®, iPhone 3G(S)®, iPhone 4®
• Multiple input sources with mini-jack 3.5 mm connector:
• MP3 players
• Computers
• CD/DVD players
• Vinyl turntable
• 1 USB host
• 240° Sound dispersion with built in 3D enhancement filters
• 2 x 30w full spectrum high definition tweeters
• 1 x 60w subwoofer
• Power input voltage 110 or 220 depending on your country of residence
• Dimensions: 26 x 26 x 108.5 cm
Apple® and iPod® are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Jarre

Chanel Wine With Karl Lagerfeld Label Goes Perfectly With His Orrefors Wine Glasses.

above: Wine label and Wine glasses designed by Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel.

Back in October, fashion and wine blogs were sharing the news that Chanel Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld was illustrating a wine label, expanding his already enormous repertoire as a legendary fashion guru, film director, photographer, product designer and more. As a matter of fact, he recently designed a selection of glassware for Orrefors, which includes... you guessed it, wine glasses.


above image of Karl Lagerfeld courtesy of Celotto/Getty

Karl Lagerfeld for Château Rauzan-Ségla

The winery, Château Rauzan-Ségla, whose exterior was the subject of Karl's illustration for the label, was founded in 1661 by Pierre de Rauzan and was acquired by CHANEL in 1994.


above: Château Rauzan-Ségla, situated in the heart of the Margaux appellation

On its 350th Anniversary and to celebrate the exceptional quality of the 2009 vintage Château Rauzan-Ségla is proud to announce a very special – one time only – collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld. To honor these two milestones (the anniversary and exceptional vintage), Lagerfeld has brought his iconic drawing style to the label with a rendering of the Château Rauzan-Ségla.






Tasting Notes and Ratings for 2009 Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux:

• 94-96 points Wine Enthusiast: "Big tannins here, very dry, but the fruit seems rich enough to support it. It is finely structured, very dense, made for the long haul."

• 93-96 points Wine Spectator: "Shows a lovely concentration of currant and blackberry. Hints of vanilla follow through to a full body, with layers of ripe and pretty fruit to this. Very fruit-forward..."

• 92-95 points Robert Parker: "...This large estate appears to have produced their greatest wine since the 1986. The alcohols came in at 13.9%, and the wine reveals extraordinary density, power, and richness as well as explosive fruit, and terrific acidity, intensity, and power. Yet it tastes like a crisp, delicate Margaux. Yields were 40 hectoliters per hectare. This outstanding 2009 should age nicely for 35-40+ years."

• 90-93 points Tanzer's IWC: "Ruby red. Perfumed aromas of currant, spices and flowers show an intriguing candied quality. Light and lively on the palate, with suave, peppery dark berry and mineral flavors lifted by a spicy element on the back. Finishes long and pure, with noteworthy inner-mouth energy and fragrance. This wine's very polished tannins make it deceptively delicious to taste today, like so many 2009s.

• 94-96 points - Wine Cellar Insider: The 2009 Rauzan Segla is deep ruby. The perfume offers jammy blackberry, fudge, fennel, earth, spice, and floral notes. Full bodied with a rich texture, round tannins, and structure to age, this sublime wine ends with long, pure sensations of sweet berries.

This special edition Château Rauzan-Ségla Margaux 2009 wine is being distributed by Harvey Nichols for £160. Buy it here

Karl Lagerfeld for Orrefors.


Creator, photographer, designer and editor Karl Lagerfeld likes nothing more than expanding his modes of expression. And what better way to do that than to present his first line of crystal products with Orrefors. With an insatiable curiosity, always in search of new creative experiences, this multifaceted artist has had an uncommonly rich career, during which he has developed a perfectly chiseled graphic identity. And now the clean lines and streamlined design of that universe grace this inimitable collection of glasses, bowls and vases.



In transparent, black or milky white crystal, the series unites the strict lines and contemporary elegance of Karl Lagerfeld with the exacting quality and expertise that has characterized Orrefors for over a century.

See the full collection here

Hans van Bentem's Custom Chandeliers For Rock And Royal Get Even Hipper

A few years ago I did a post on the chandelier designs by Dutch sculptor Hans van Bentem for Rock and Royal, a Rotterdam based company that handcrafts giant beautiful ceiling-suspended custom crystal chandeliers for a select clientele and museums (15 of the chandeliers were commissioned for the Netherlands Escher Museum).

It's time for an update on these one-of-a-kind works. Hans van Bentem's hip chandeliers continue to defy the traditional ornate crystal monstrosities that we are used to seeing, now with even edgier designs.



Made from high quality Bohemian crystal, each is a hand crafted, custom-made work of art, tailored to the customer's personal taste and specifications.

The taste of their customers has grown trendier since my last post, given that their impressive works now include more weapons, a diamond, a dick and even a 'virus':

Gun:

M-16:


Bomb:

Diamond:

Dick:

Virus:


The creations also include a Human form, a Buddha, and a pipe that seems to be inspired by surrealist Magritte's famous "This Is Not A Pipe" painting:

Human:

Buddha:

Pipe:


Of course there's the requisite Skull and Crossbones:

and a Spider:

and a Shark:


In addition to these unusual, but really beautifully crafted pieces, they do have some kinder, gentler creations.

Bird:

Seahorse:

Lion:

Bottle:

Airplane:

and some very random ones like the Hammer and Sickle:

and a Wheelbarrow:

Some really incredible installations:







Rock and Royal also creates custom mosaics by artist Arno Coenen, you can see those here.

Rock and Royal
P.O. Box 21046
3001 AA Rotterdam
The Netherlands
tel. 0031 (0) 10 - 280 71 71
fax 0031 (0) 10 - 280 70 71

About Hans van Bentem:


Born in The Hague, he now lives and works in Rotterdam, the Czech Republic and China. A multi-talented artist, he works in ceramic as well as glass and creates many installations and sculptures beyond the chandeliers, like his wonderful glass aliens, a few of which are shown below:


see his own website here.

Shedding New Light On Chandeliers, Geometrix by Schonbek

Schonbek has revolutionized high-tech lighting with Geometrix®.

With this collection Schonbek put forth the unorthodox idea that spare and simple could also be bold and brilliant. They brought together the purity of halogen or xenon light, and the fire of crystal, to change the way light interacts with designed space.