Mc Recommends

Hot this week: Loch Lomond 18YO, judged the world’s best single malt by The Whisky Exchange in London, Oris Father Time from the timekeeper of Lord's cricket ground, Extremely Online by Taylor Lorenz, Aamchee at Girgaon Chowpatty for Mumbai's favourite streetfoods, and Porsche Design's PDS20 portable speaker.

MC recommends (Diwali special): Burberry Hero, Manolo Blahnik loafers and new Reverso watches that pay ode to Japan's Katsushika Hokusai

You’ve resisted the temptation to splurge all year (hope you have) just so that you could go all out towards the year-end. And now that Diwali is finally here and the new year is not too far, here are a few top ideas on how to spend all that cash.

MC Recommends: A top watch from a well-regarded German watchmaker, a zesty gin from Africa, and Sony’s modular Bluetooth speaker system

Glashutte Original Sixties Chronograph, Bayab Gin, 'Slow Food, Fast Cars: Casa Maria Luigia – Stories and Recipes' by Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore, Adidas Adizero Prime X 2 Strung and Sony HT-AX7

MC Recommends: A fantastic sci-fi novel, the Ray-Ban Reverse line, and a stellar bourbon

This week in MC Recommends: Booker 2023 longlisted sci-fi novel 'In Ascension', Ray-Ban Reverse with convex lenses, Legent Yamazaki Cask Finish Blend by Beam Suntory, Tag Heuer Carrera Skipper, and World on a Plate with Marco Pierre White.

MC Recommends: Bangalore Watch Company’s tribute to India’s moon missions, a book on Indians, and a blended whisky from Beam Suntory

Top recommendations this week: Bangalore Watch Company's Manzinus & Earthshine watches launched a month before Chandrayaan 3; The Indians: Histories of a Civilization, a compendium of 100-plus essays spanning 12,000 years; Ardray Whisky, a blend of whiskys from 10 distilleries; Devialet Mania speakers; and Outback’s Austin Convertible bag.

MC Recommends: Dark beers for monsoon, Jay Z's rap version of Mundian To Bach Ke Rahi

Top recommendations this week: Cold dark brews from Seven Rivers in Goa and Bengaluru, a book about slave trade, a reinvented classic of the Punjabi music world, ‘The Offbeat Sari’ exhibition in London, where to get your fix of matcha latte in India, Naga Coffee and Lima’s Central Restaurante - one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants of 2023.

World Gin Day 2023: These are the world's most expensive gins

Gins are usually pretty reasonably priced. Even the premium brands don’t shock the eager imbiber. But if you are on the hunt for exclusivity, there are quite a few posh gins around. Here are some of them. 

MC Recommends: King Seiko, Old Elk finished in rum casks and a book about living with an Alzheimer's patient

A straight rye whiskey finished in rum casks, an olfactive ode to paper, and the latest from a punchy Nashville band.

MC Recommends: A Tina Turner number, Kolkata Old-Fashioned and a 8K TV by Bang & Olufsen

MC Recommends: A Tina Turner single with a story; Kolkata Old-Fashioned at Chef Sujan Sarkar’s Indienne in London; an 8K TV that costs half a crore rupees; adventure motorcycle KTM390’s India launch; an aniseed-flavoured vodka; a book that takes you beyond disruption as an economic idea; and Lexus collaborates with Abraham & Thakore on limited edition jackets.

MC Recommends: A pre-made cocktail by Gucci & restored Notre Dame with an electrifying sound system

The restoration of Notre Dame, Gucci’s collectable cocktail, Mini Cooper EV, Rado’s limited edition ceramic watch, rare rug weaved by a pastoral community, and perfume with the fragrance of ancient perfumery.

MC Recommends: Real Gone by Ally Venable & a limited-edition Glenfiddich

A Scotch whisky finished in Japanese Awamori casks, Georgi Gospodinov’s stellar International Booker-shortlisted work, a men’s fragrance, and the latest from Blues’ it girl Ally Venable.

MC Recommends: Pacific Ocean in your Japanese whisky and Rolex’s six new watches

Climate change is at the core of an ocean-fused Japanese whisky as well as the cuisine of a Parisian fine-dining restaurant. The beauty of the natural world gets a leg-up with International Dark Sky Week, which encourages amateur astronomers and travellers to constellation-gaze. Also on our radar: Rolex’s six new watches and the well-researched Bloomsbury Handbook of Indian Cuisine.

MC Recommends: World's best Scotch and the H Moser & Cie Pioneer Arctic Blue sports watch

This week in MC Recommends, winner of the International Wine and Spirits Competition for best Scotch whisky 2023; handlasted loafers by Mumbai-based Asteri Man; the Model X home bar for compact homes; H Moser & Cie's Pioneer Tourbillion Arctic Blue and Pioneer Center Seconds Arctic Blue in 40 mm steel cases; and Peter Frankopan's book on how the environment shaped global history.

MC Recommends: Horror films by women filmmakers, Kate Spade 30th anniversary SAM bag & Seiko 5 Sports 55th anniversary limited edition watch

On our radar this week, the just released Seiko 5 Masked Rider 55th anniversary limited edition watch; film festivals in Delhi and Mumbai; Kate Spade’s iconic SAM Bag re-released in recycled materials for its 30th anniversary celebrations; Perumal Murugan’s Pyre that became the first Tamil book translated in English to make it to the International Booker Prize longlist; and a tableware ensemble in clay stoneware and 24K gold from Raw Hand.

MC Recommends: Phoolon ki Holi, a trip to Padua in Italy and Diamonds for Breakfast

Immersive experiences are the best way to see the world. From Holi in Lord Krishna’s land to a summer getaway in the hills, and the frescoed buildings of Padua in Italy, this week we bring you the best of travel experiences from across the world. Worth possessing are Gauri Devidayal’s book on the making of The Table and Birdy. by Erik Lorincz bar accessories with fine Japanese craftsmanship.

MC Recommends: Onitsuka Tiger Acromount, Suntory World Whisky Ao, Longines Pilot Majetek

Recommended this week, Onitsuka Tiger's Acromount which just dropped in India; a premium blended whisky by Suntory with a taste of all five major whisky making regions; an ode to a WWII era pilot's watch by Longines, an upcoming book on India's memorable Test series win in Australia in 2021, and Japan's Final's newest noise-cancelling earphones.

MC Recommends: Bengaluru’s Museum of Art & Photography, Greta Thunberg’s The Climate Book, & a Holi mehfil

Immersive experiences on our radar this week include Bengaluru’s brand new Museum of Art & Photography, and complementing it, a staycation at Conrad Bengaluru. With Holi around the corner, IBTIDA – Ek Mehfil’s Phoolon ki Holi celebrations in Delhi caught our eye too. And amongst the things worth coveting, we have Gucci’s latest collection of high jewellery; a pair of smart sunglasses from Ray-Ban; climate activist Greta Thunberg’s collection of essays; and a 24-carat gold-accented dinnerware range from Omorfo Homes.

MC Recommends: Keto desserts, 2024 BMW M3 CS and Calcutta on a Plate

Chef Manu Chandra’s new restaurant, BMW’s limited edition 2024 M3 CS, Trèsind Dubai’s 50 Best Discovery listing, Nilosree Biswa’s seminal book on Calcutta food, David Housego’s private collection of Central Asian textiles, Keto desserts, India’s first tequila bar, and Trunks Company’s bespoke bars-to-watch trunks.

MC Recommends: A boutique property on Karnataka's Maravanthe Beach and Bowmore 1965 at the Mumbai duty-free

This week in MC Recommends, a boutique hotel on a non-touristy beach in south India, Bowmore whisky at the Mumbai duty-free, a calligraphy pen with an 18-karat hand-sculpted nib, Breitling's homage to the Boeing 747, and APL McLaren HySpeed shoes.

MC Recommends: Lollapalooza India, Jaipur Literature Festival, Odisha’s .FEST & Jaisalmer Desert Festival

The waning winter marks the beginning of the most exciting phase in India’s cultural calendar, when countless festivals and events catering to varied interests and genres, held in all corners of the country, jostle for your time and attention. Amongst the unmissable ones this season are the Jaipur Literature Festival, Jaisalmer Desert Festival, Odisha’s .FEST and, for the first time ever, Lollapalooza India. Also, in the MC Recommends spotlight this week is a limited-edition rum made of pure cane juice and a pair of headphones that pushes the boundaries of sound performance.

MC Recommends: Mumbai Gallery Weekend, Shakti 50th anniversary concerts and Trilok Gurtu in India

This week, hop on the art trail, sign up for once-in-a-lifetime musical concerts, eat your way through your memories, head into the hills or stay home and travel your imagination—it’s all about experiences that enrich and energise.

MC Recommends: A boutique stay in Jaipur, and Dave Broom's latest whisky book

This week in MC Recommends: Villa Palladio in Jaipur; a story of Scotch whisky, told through stories of the land, culture, and craft that birthed it; a luxury watch that riffs off Porsche's 911 Dakar; the smell of Delhi winters bottled by a home-grown perfume maker; and a mountain bike with RockShox suspension and SRAM Eagle drivetrain.

MC Recommends: Last-minute holiday gifting guide for Christmas and New Year 2023

And yet another year has come to pass! A year that was all about living life with a renewed sense of awareness, hope, purpose and meaning, in the aftermath of the pandemic years. So, as the curtain draws on 2022, and we gear up to celebrate Christmas day after tomorrow and usher in a brand new year next weekend, we bring you a curated list of last-minute gift ideas from conscious homegrown brands. Take your pick and make it a joyous holiday for your dear ones. 'Tis the season, after all!

MC Recommends: Christmas markets across India, Gulabi chai in Kashmir and a tribute to Astad Deboo in Mumbai

In the spotlight this week: The legacies of Chemould Art Gallery and Astad Deboo, Kashmir’s Noon Tea and its hottest new teahouse, Mont Blanc’s new collection inspired by Japanese Manga, and an introduction to the art of watchmaking and modern perfumeries.