Luxury Lifestyle

MC Recommends: A 19 year old Ardbeg, Bono’s Surrender and a pop-up at Noon

Hot this week: A refrigerator that's expensive but looks so damn right, the whisky Ardbeg fans have been waiting for, Ladakhi food at Noon, cool tool watches from Unimatic, and U2's Bono's new book.

Make space for these four new spirits from Amrut, Greater Than, Piccadily Distilleries in your home bar

From a floral fruity whisky inspired by blue kurinji flowers to gin which had made-in-Kashmir bats steeped in it for weeks, four interesting tipples to update your home bar.

MC Recommends: A cruise to Lakshadweep, heritage liqueurs, katsu curry and the FENDI Baguette

Luxury and heritage are inextricably entwined in ways that are not always obvious. MC Recommends mines stories of heritage and legacy with Rajasthan’s heritage liqueur, the revival of dying hand-blown glass art, reinventing Jodhpur breeches, how Indian curry influenced a Japanese classic, a tale of partition, the new spin to FENDI Baguette Bag, which is now 25, and how cruising to the world’s smallest archipelago is the winter experience you need.

MC Recommends: A book of heirloom recipes, a small batch gin and NH7 Weekender in Pune

Luxury as a concept isn’t limited to the material anymore; its definition now encompasses the luxury of experiences too—of health and wellbeing, of nostalgia and that which is lost to time, of slowing down and savouring life as it is, of indulging in things that bring joy. Keeping this updated definition of luxury in mind, this week we turn the spotlight on a fitness ring for all-round health monitoring, a limited-edition gin to enjoy by the moonlight, an exhibition of pottery and ceramics, a book of heirloom recipes, and India’s happiest music festival.

MC Recommends: A triple distilled Amrut whisky and a stay option for the mindful traveller

Luxury is thoughtful things and experiences that add up to bring you joy. This week: An art deco show in Mumbai, a German dive watch, Amrut Trivarga, holiday villas designed by a sustainable architect, and a whisky and food pairing experience.

Diwali party prep: Paul John gin, Glenfiddich 21 YO and 3 more spirits to restock your home bar

A Greek brandy, Paul John’s new gin, and a grand old Glenfiddich — there’s a lot to look forward to this Diwali.

MC Recommends: Montblanc luxury watch for women, Ponniyin Selvan tours, and 'Emily in Paris'

Luxury is equal parts comfort and elegance. This week in MC Recommends: A luxury watch from Montblanc dedicated to women; three tours that help explore the mighty Chola empire; an architectural tour of LVMH’s newly restored La Samaritaine; Emily in Paris S3; a hangover cure that involves a brunch; and an artist’s examination on how we look at beauty.

Bull in the English pub: How Rakesh Jhunjhunwala unwound after a long day

Back in the day, after navigating the ups and downs of the stock market, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala liked to drop into Geoffrey’s, a pub on Mumbai’s Marine Drive. While there, he would gamely fend off fans, blast Hindi songs on his phone and recite English poetry.

MC Recommends: Timex Marlin, Arc-52 by Bowmore and Aston Martin, and Samara Joy's 'Linger Awhile'

Luxury is a million different things done just right. This week in MC Recommends: An album that evokes smoky jazz bars; a restaurant residency that will bring a new master chef to Pune every six months; a VFM timepiece with a 40-hour power reserve; a 52-year-old whisky in an arc-shaped bottle designed by Aston Martin; and Booker shortlisted author Shehan Karunatilaka's latest book.

How to design puja rooms: Ways to power up the hotline to a higher force

Simple requests from clients help architects think up great designs

Stranger & Sons gin maker: Wanted to make sure any brand we launch would take cocktail culture ahead in India

Third Eye Distillery co-founder Rahul Mehra on the genesis of Short Story, building a portfolio of imported brands, and taking cocktail culture ahead in India.

MC Recommends: Jodhpur RIFF, Persian Ranginak and WOLF’s ode to Lal Ded

Jodhpur RIFF returns after two years; Yuvaraj Singh opens up his Goa home, Casa Singh, to Airbnb guests; the Persian delicacy that has made its way to India; WOLF’s ode to Kashmiri mystic Lal Ded; luxury horseback safaris across the Saputara range with Jehan Numa, and the Great Indian Gin makes its debut.

Consumer spending in India expected to be high this festive season: Deloitte's Global State of Consumer Tracker

With 'mask-lift' announcements and easing out of other COVID-related restrictions in some countries, about 88 per cent Indian consumers plan to spend on leisure travel in the next four weeks.

Where to drink when you can’t get into the world’s 50 best bars

The World’s 50 Best Bars has released the 51 to 100 top places to drink around the world. It’s a run-up to the top 50, which will be announced on Oct. 4 at a ceremony in Barcelona, Spain.

Brewer AB-In-Busch looks beyond beer, plans to enter new alcobev segments

AB-In Bev, the brewer behind popular beers such as Corona and Budweiser, is looking to enter the spirits market in India

MC Recommends: Haveli Dharampura’s nostalgia experience and Dayanita Singh’s photo-novel 'Let's See'

This week on our curated list of all things luxury, whether in value or in experience: An immersion in nostalgia and culture at Haveli Dharampura; Dayanita Singh’s latest photo-novel; a new line of homegrown spirits; Roastery Coffee House’s beautiful new outlets; a must-play Metaverse game; and a pair of performance sneakers for running enthusiasts.

5 interesting watches from Geneva Watch Days 2022 

Started in 2020, bang in the middle of the pandemic, the decentralised Geneva Watch Days is now an integral part of the annual luxury watch calendar. Here’s a look at some of the more interesting launches this year.

MC Recommends: Dior's Tutti Frutti tableware and Orhan Pamuk's 'Nights of Plague'

Luxurious things and experiences aren't always the most expensive. But they are, without an exception, exceptional. Each week, MC Recommends brings to you a selection of products and experiences that are a head-and-shoulders above the rest, and that satisfy this definition of luxury. This week in MC Recommends: Dior’s playful tableware collection with fruit motifs; The Den at Soneva Jani; Orhan Pamuk’s new novel; Atmosphere x Pollack New York’s innovative collab; Goa’s Paper Boat Collective; and rare photographs of Mexican art couple, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.

MC Recommends: The newest Jaguar and iPhone in town

On our radar this week: The Jaguar F-Type R-Dynamic Black, two stunning timepieces from Geneva Watch Days 2022, a sustainably distilled rum, a new French café in Ladakh, key Apple Far Out launches, and Annie Leibovitz’s bestselling portraits collection.

What wine experts and book critics can learn from each other

A modest proposal to swap the language of book reviews with the vocabulary of wine appreciation.

MC Recommends: Aman NewYork is New York’s most expensive hotel and Chef Amninder Sandhu’s new Pune restaurant

What's hot: New York’s newest most expensive hotel Aman NewYork, Chef Amninder Sandhu’s new Pune restaurant Nora, a meadery tour and tasting in Pune; Janice Pariat’s 'Everything the Light Touches'; Regional Coffee in Melbourne; W Goa’s new gin bar, and Clinique’s fresh launch.

6 new spirits for your bar at home

From Caribbean rum to a London Dry gin, these are the spirits that should find a place in your bar.

MC Recommends | Traditional Onam meal at Chef Regi Mathew’s Kappa Chakka Kandhari and how to celebrate your birthday on Antarctica

What's hot this week: Traditional Onam meal at Chef Regi Mathew’s fine dine, celebrating your birthday in Antarctica, Frederique Constant’s Italian boats inspired watches; weekends at Khotachiwadi, and Ashdeen Lilaowala’s Parsi Gara.