When times get tough, people drink. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States reveal that sales for whiskey are up 4.3% by dollar value and 1.3% by volume in 2008. The last few years were all about top shelf vodka, tequila, and rum, but right now premium whiskey is the vital growth point among spirits. Top shelf whiskeys like Johnny Walker Blue Label and bourbons like Maker's Mark are in hot demand. Bourbon, which is an American whiskey, has been distilled since the 18th century and is the key ingredient in many simple cocktails. You know, Whiskey Coke, Blue label on the rocks, all of which require no bartending skills. And as more people drink at home now then ever before, cocktails need to be simple and drinkable. What cocktails can you make with whiskey?
Barack Obama 44, Limited Edition Unlimited Potential
For the 44th President,-elect a select bottle of Cognac. Hennessy got into the Barack Obama hoopla with a special edition bottle of cognac. The collector-bottle is cheap at $30 bucks. If you're not into Barack Obama or Cognac, know that a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Thurgood Marshell College Fund which gives scholarships to kids attending historically Black colleges. If you're still not into Hennessy's 44th limited edition Cognac then you're most likely not human. A grand total of 180,000 Obama inspired Cognac bottles will me made available to the American people. You can get your hands on one namely in Washington, D.C, New York City, Maryland, Illinois and apparently, Georgia. Put up shot glasses ya'll and drink to "unlimited potential" as Hennessy says. Potential or not getting drunk makes everything better!
A Companion for Your New Year’s Champagne
Gold Member
Moët & Chandon will be bringing in 2009 with a sparkly bottle of bubbly and an unexpected undertaking signed-off by talented French designer Camille Toupet. Midnight Gold is an Imperial Crude Moët & Chandon thats comes with a luxe limited edition gold jacket-case.The encasing is isothermal to preserve champagne at an ideal temperature. The functionality is appreciable but, then again, so is the actually aesthetic. The bottle case is made with the finest gold lambskin leather and decorated with hand-sewn swarovski crystals and gilded pearls. Last but not least, the “neck tieâ€, signature of Moët & Chandon bottles, can be pulled off the case to double as a Swarovski crystal and pearl cuff-bracelet. While the bracelet may be a bit tacky, it's not a bad marketing ploy.
Designer Camille Toupet illuminated Moet & Chandon's sense of celebration with Midnight Gold. Midnight Gold replicates the effervescence and preciosity of Moet & Chandon champagne, a tradition since 1743. Only 100 Midnight Gold by Camille Toupet bottles will be made. You can get yours at at Lavinia and Caves Augé in Paris or at Hédiard in Monaco. This bottle is the way to bring in a very happy and exclusive New Years Eve 2009.
We Buy Champagne Bottles, Bernard Arnault Buys Champagne Brands
People pop bottles of champagne for New Years, French billionaire, Bernard Arnault buys champagne companies. Arnault is the 14th richest person in the world with a net worth of $25.5 billion. He owns 47.5% of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton or LVMH, which is the world's biggest luxury goods group.
Recently, LVMH bought the Montaudon champagne house for an undisclosed amount. The Moet Hennessy wine and spirits subdivision of LVMH will now have eight top-shelf champagne labels to maintain. Of which include, Dom Perignon, Moet & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Ponsardin, Krug, Ruinart and Mercier.
The rundown on Montaudon, the champagne house was founded in 1891 by Auguste Louis Montaudon. The house has since remained a small family owned business. Employing only 29 people in Reims, the exclusive champagne spot. Montaudon champagnes are sold throughout more than 25 other countries. The champagne is of high quality and noted for its tea-like flavor and airy taste.
 The most recent statement from LVMH was by Moet Hennessy Chairman Christophe Navarre, who said, "The acquisition of Montaudon enables us to complete our portfolio of prestigious brands and to increase our champagne reserves. This corresponds with Moet Hennessy’s strategy to strengthen its worldwide leadership in the luxury wines and spirits sector." And there you go, LVMH already the world's largest luxury goods conglomerate adds one more to the mix. For the record, LVMH is the owner of about 60 sub-companies that each manage several prestigious brands. At what point does LVMH go for world domination? And Mr. Arnault, we would love to be you right now.
Krug Gives it to You On Your Own Terms
Time for Fine Wine
The luxury market has become a hunting ground for the bargain savvy. Thanks to really bad financial times which the whole world seems to finally be feeling, luxury prices are dropping. From the cost of prime real estate, to new Aston Martins and even fine wine, has gone way down. The Liv-Ex 100 lists the prices of the top 100 most coveted luxury wines and since last October there has been a 12.4% drop. Bad news for the wineries but if you're looking to fill your wine cellar with some luxe bottles of Dom. Romane Conti 1997, $1,540, Petrus Pomerol 1998, $1,459, or Chteau Le Pin Pomerol 1999, $908 now would be a good time. The wine market is a buyers market so let your collection begin.
In the Spirit of Art & Spirits: Art Basel 2008
Art and alcohol work in tandem on Miami Beach, particularly during Art Basel. If you are an art or liquor aficionado, or both, check out the Maison Ruinart Champagne lounge. In case you are ignorant, Ruinart is the historic Chanpagne house founded by Nicolas Ruinart in the Champagne region of Reims, France. Ruinart has been exclusively bottling champagne since 1729 making it the oldest champagne house in the world. Ruinart is now owned by parent company Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SAÂ or LVMH.
Now we can get back to the Art Basel, Miami Beach part. The Maison Ruinart Champagne lounge at Art Basel will feature Internationally renowned Dutch furniture designer and artist Maarten Baas. The lounge will be selling his latest work, an evanescent chandelier. The Salvador Dali-esque centerpiece was made from Murano glass, silver and bottles of Ruinart Chamoagne. The piece "Bouquet de Champagne de Dom Ruinart," was influenced by an 18th century Venetian chandelier that has fallen. What we mean is the piece sits on the table, rather than hanging above, and gives the illusion of a chandelier that has fallen and is melting with bottles of Dom Ruinart.
The extraordinary piece will be going for $100,000 during Art Basel and is just one of many pieces we have found so far. In the spirit of art and, well, spirits we cannot wait for Art Basel to begin on December 4th!
Functional Art for Your Home: Design Radius Wine Racks
If don't have a cavernous wine cellar in the basement, try a more modernistic and elegant approach. We found these minimalist Wine Racks by Michael Rösing of Design Radius. The wine rack holds 12 wine bottles and or champagne bottles. We know 12 bottles doesn't really cut a collection, so buy several and hang them next to each other. Fill your racks with a beautiful collection of bottles, show off a little and voile functional wall art.
The rack comes in brushed stainless steel or in powder coated steel in white or black finishes. The racks will make perfect housewarming or holiday gifts. The Wine Rack is $74 a piece which ensures it to be the cheapest art you ever buy.
How To Swallow A Million Dollars: Russo-Baltique Vodka
Would you drink a million dollars? If you're a Prince, oil heiress or just uber-rich now you can drink a million in just one bottle. Yes a million for a bottle of Russo-Baltique Vodka, actually $1.3 million a bottle to be exact. Oh and this one's not for charity or anything, just some serious vodka for the seriously wealthy. The bottle comes from Russian car maker Russo-Baltique, or Russo-Balt, hence the car-headlight-esque shaped bottle. Plus, Princess Regina Abdurazakova of Kazakhstan who is also an oil heiress gave some pointers in creation. Prince Albert gets the first bottle of Russo-Baltique Vodka, for no particular reason except that he is Prince Albert. Oh the privileged life is a good one. Here's to hoping it tastes a little better then rubbing alcohol at that price tag.
Test drive a 1/4 or 1/2 million dollar luxury rental car
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