Perfect Chinese New Year gifts for your loved ones

If you’re looking for more than the usual red packets to gift your nearest and dearest to celebrate the upcoming Year of the Rat, we at Gafencu have curated a special collection of Chinese New Year gifts that are sure to add a special touch to your lunar festivities.

Blancpain’s Métiers d’Art Collection

As the Rat supercedes its porcine predecessor this Chinese New Year, luxury brand Blancpain is launching its very first watch with a porcelain dial designed and manufactured in its Métiers d’Art workshops – The Métiers d’Art Porcelaine special edition. Each unique timepiece features an enamel painting of three rats on a white gold case that is encircled with diamonds. Besides, the eight-piece collection is powered by a Calibre 1154 automatic movement, blending beautiful form with undeniable functionality in true style.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label: Year of the Rat Limited Edition

In celebration for this Chinese New Year, Johnnie Walker, the master of fine whiskies is launching its new Johnnie Walker Blue Label: Year of the Rat Limited Edition. The special cask is decorated with a rat on golden ingots, and comes with the rightly flavoured Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky ‒ crafted by a group of expert blenders including Jim Beveridge who was named the Master Blender of the Year twice. Without a doubt, this should rank high on your Chinese New Year gifts list.

Piaget Altiplano with two rats

Honouring the zodiac animal of the upcoming Chinese New Year, the Swiss horology brand Piaget has altered the dial of its emblematic Piaget Altiplano to feature two white rats on a Grand Feu cloisonné enamel dial. The white gold case is further emphasised with dazzling diamonds to give it the perfect finishing touch. In addition, the luxury fashion maison is also launching the Possession collection for this festive season, offering a wide selection of Chinese New Year gifts for the watch lover in your life.

Vins d’Alsace food and wine pairing guide

Savouring authentic delicacies is an undeniable Chinese New Year tradition. The French wine-making region of Alsace is taking it up a notch by introducing a guide revealing which wine would be perfect for which dish. For instance, the Pinot Noir will go well with the traditional Hong Kong style dish of Poon Choi. It is indeed a very practical gift that will make this Chinese New Year dinner an unforgettable one for the taste buds.

Brunello Cucinelli’s Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year Special

Keeping up with the notion that the Lunar New Year is best celebrated with your loved ones, Italian fashion company Brunello Cucinelli is showcasing a specially curated collection. This ensemble is complete with useful gifts such as bags, scarves and sneakers for both men and women. With the colour red being its central motif, each product offers a vintage yet contemporary appeal.

Golden Double Serum

Inspired by the auspicious colours of the Chinese tradition ‒ red and gold – the French skincare manufacturer Clarins has revamped its Double Serum bottle for the Year of the Rat. With 21 strong anti-aging ingredients, the serum is an answer to a very radiant and youthful looking skin. Besides, the serum also optimises the five important skin functions ‒ regeneration, nutrition, hydration, oxygenation and protection to achieve flawless skin. At HK$900, the limited-edition serum is available online.

Autavia CNY 2020 Year of the Rat Special Edition

Luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer is introducing its exclusive collection Autavia CNY 2020 Year of the Rat Special Edition that pays tribute to Chinese culture. With a caseback that showcases a rat holding a steering wheel, the timepiece combines the brand’s roots in motor racing with the zodiac animal, making it a great gift for the rat year. Moreover, its red dial that has the 1 o’clock mark replaced by the Chinese character “鼠” is one of the stand out features of this product. Besides, the watch’s COSC-certified chronometer technology makes it a great present without any further doubts.

Rouge Unlimited

Described as the perfect gift for anyone who loves make-up, the Japanese cosmetic and skincare brand Shu Uemura launched its New Year collection. This #flamingreds series consists of six shades of limited edition matte lipsticks, three shades of lip amplifiers, a cleansing oil, eyebrow pencils and a foundation brush. With the colour red being the main colour of this collection, the Rouge Unlimited collection is sure to bring luck as a gift for the rat year.

Fabergé’s Rat Surprise

With over a hundred-year history of crafting beautiful ornaments for every occasion, Russian jeweller Fabergé, known for its egg-shaped pendants, continues this legacy with its latest series of Palais Tsarskoye Selo Red Lockets. Among the collection, the locket with the rat surprise is a perfect gift for the rat year. A 18K gold pendant enhanced with red guilloché enamel work and studded with diamonds opens to reveal a golden rat studded with shimmering diamonds. At HK$81,510, the Rat surprise jewelry is available for pre-order at Fabergé.com and at select Fabergé stockists.

Vacheron Constantin Metiers d’Art The Legend of Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Rat

In time for the upcoming Chinese New Year, another renowned Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin is unveiling two versions of its new Vacheron Constantin Metiers d’Art The Legend of Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Rat. With only 12 pieces available for each version, one is rose gold / brown and the other is platinum / blue. The watch comes fitted with a Caliber 2460 G4 movement and is visually enhanced with the intricate crafting on its dial featuring a rat mounted on the centre.

Holiday Spirits: Usher in the festive season with classic Christmas cocktails

It’s no secret that the unstoppable rise of high-end cocktail bars has birthed countless bespoke beverages to suit the taste buds of even the most discerning drinker. A happy byproduct of this is the spawning of a surfeit of splendid seasonal tipples to suit every occasion, big or small. Indeed, one needs to look no further than the recent Halloween celebrations to find countless night spots serving spookily-themed drinks – no doubt with an eye covertly on the cash counter.

However, there is one particular season of the year that – rather surprisingly – seems to proffer a paucity of such ‘trendy’ thematic tipples – Christmas. Indeed, when it comes to the most joyful time of the year, cocktail enthusiasts are more inclined towards traditional offerings to quench their thirst, ones that are delicious, nostalgic and – most importantly – warm.

We are, of course, talking about the hot toddies, eggnogs and mulled wines that have long been a staple of Yuletide gatherings for many European nations and their once-colonies. Hot toddy, one of modern Britain’s best-loved seasonal beverages, for example, is a descendant amalgam of the palm wines of India, American spiced rum and Scotch whisky.

Mulled wines, meanwhile, can trace their roots back to the Ancient Romans, who imbibed on heated wines to ward off the harsh winter cold. As their empire spread across the globe, so too did the love of this delicious drink, with ensuing generations adding spices, herbs and flowers to enhance its flavours to its current-day form.

Finally, eggnog, that most quintessential of Christmas cocktails, first originated as ‘posset’ – a warm, milky, ale-like libation brewed by 13th-century British monks. Eggnog eventually became tied to Yuletide cheer when it was transported to the Americas in the 1700s, with Mexico and Puerto Rico adopting the tipple as their own soon thereafter.

Today, these classic alcoholic refreshments and their countless derivatives remain an indispensable part of any Christmas celebration, with their fulsome flavours and soulful warmth all but ensuring their popularity for generations to come.

RECIPES

HOT TODDY

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz whisky
1 tbsp honey
1/2 oz lemon juice
1 cup hot water
1 tea bag

Directions:

Boil water and steep tea bag for 3-5 minutes
In serving glass, add honey
Pour whisky, lemon juice and tea
Mix well to incorporate the honey
Garnish with lemon wedge

EGGNOG

Ingredients:

6 eggs (yolks and whites separated)
1/2 cup superfine sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups brandy
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp grated nutmeg

Directions:

Beat yolks, 1/4 cup of sugar, salt, vanilla and nutmeg until very thick and light yellow
Slowly beat in brandy and milk
Cover and chill in fridge overnight
Before serving, beat egg whites to soft peaks
Beat in remaining sugar
Pour over chilled brandy mix and fold gently
Garnish with nutmeg

Give Joy: Emphasising on the joy of shopping and gifting with DFS Group

In time for the holiday season, DFS is back with its annual Give Joy campaign to celebrate the festive mood and the happiness of gifting. From November 15th to December 31st, customers can enjoy shopping from a selection of more than 90 brands including Johnnie Walker, Prada, Dior and more. The specially-curated 2019 collection for Give Joy has a variety of more than 150 products across the retailer’s luxury product pillars, including watches, accessories, wines, cosmetics and much more besides.

Moreover, with the campaign taking place in downtown T Galleria and airport locations worldwide, the luxury travel retailer has set up pop-up stores that allow customers to add a personal touch to the items purchased. Take, for instance, one can stop at a Christian Dior counter in one of the aforementioned locations and get unique gift boxes with personalised ribbons, bespoke name engravings and customised wrapping papers enhanced with evocative fragrances.

Furthermore, the DFS stores will also showcase theatrical events that range from visits by Santa and his crew to performances by local musicians to highlight more on the festiveness of this most joyful time of the year.

“The holiday season is all about sharing and spreading joy. Every year, we are delighted to be able to excite and inspire our customers with an array of heart-warming experiences, pop-ups and activations that celebrate the pleasure of gifting,” said Ariel Gentzbourger, DFS Group Executive Vice President, Merchandising.

For more information on this festive promotion and the wonderous gifts of the Give Joy campaign, visit www.tgalleria.com.

Truly special: Johnnie Walker Blue Label X Arcane four-hands dinner

With only one in 10,000 casks having the elusive quality, character and flavour to deliver the signature taste of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, they are the undisputed leaders in blended Scotch whisky. But Johnnie Walker Blue Label continues to push the envelope in the Scotch whisky world with the release of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Glenury Royal, the third in the series of special releases crafted using whiskies from ‘lost’ distilleries of Scotland that have shut doors years ago.

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To celebrate the momentous occasion, the maison collaborated with Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant Arcane for one night only to curate a special four-hands dinner by chefs Shane Osborn and Mark Best, the very-same duo that cooked their way to the finals on Netflix reality show, The Final Table. Over the course of this exclusive dinner, the chefs created dishes that paired perfectly with such rare gems as the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Glenury Royal and the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen.

Tempranillo: The seductive charms of Spain’s scarlet wine

Although the Cabernet Sauvignons of Bordeaux and the Pinot Noirs of Burgundy dominate the red wine market, there are countless other ruby grape varietals that more than hold their own when it comes to packing in well-structured, full-bodied flavours. One in particular that has long enjoyed popularity in Europe and is gaining traction throughout the rest of the world is the Tempranillo grape from Spain.

Tempranillo gets its name from the Spanish word ‘temprano’, no doubt an epithet derived from the fact that it ripens considerably earlier than its brethren, such as garnacha and mazuelo. Its pedigree, too, is beyond question, with the first official mention dating back to 1807. However, its roots run far deeper, with many experts believing it to have been first introduced to the Iberian Peninsula some three millennia ago by Phoenician merchants trading along the Mediterranean Sea.

Until the ’90s, though, its traditional ageing process – years of encasement in vanilla-scented American oak barrels – saw its true potential obscured by a strong woody aroma. Thankfully, serious producers have since shifted to the long-favoured French oak, allowing its full character to shine through.

Today, Tempranillo remains the dominant red grape in Rioja, Spain’s most famous wine-producing region, and represents over 20 percent of all wine produced in the country. Given that Spain is the third-largest producer of wine and also boasts the largest acreage of vineyards in the world, that’s a considerable amount of tipple indeed.

Broadly speaking, Tempranillos are known for their notes of leather and tobacco, very much calling to mind the strong structure of Bordeaux’s beloved Cabernet Sauvignons. What is more interesting, though, is how much its flavours evolve over time. When young, it is wholly easy-drinking and replete with fresh fruity notes. With oak and age, however, come layers of savoury complexity that can rival the world’s finest wines.

Interestingly, a genetic fluke in the vines has also yielded a rare white mutation of Tempranillo called Tempranillo Blanco. While its growth cycle is similar to its scarlet counterpart, the white wine it produces has distinct tropical-fruity flavours instead.

Beyond these classic iterations, Tempranillo has also long been co-opted by neighbouring Portugal – where it is known as Tinto Roriz – to produce the country’s beloved ports. Crafted in conjunction with other grape varietals, such as Tinto Cao and Touriga, its rich intensity gifts port with solid acidity, deep hues and strong tannins. It is precisely this flexibility and full-of-character flair that see the Spanish grape garner such favour across the globe, guaranteeing that when it comes to Tempranillo, temperance is all but impossible.

Text: Tenzing Thondup

Rémy Martin launches new campaign to team up for excellence

The world’s leading cognac brand, Rémy Martin, pays a rich homage to its heritage through a recently-launched new global communication campaign “Team Up For Excellence”.

This quest for excellence has been at the core of Rémy Martin since 1724 and over the passing centuries this urge to strive for brilliance has only heightened further. The new campaign encapsulates that very essence of the brand through two films conceived by the Fred & Farid Paris agency and directed by Brazilian director Vellas.

The first film dedicated to Rémy Martin’s expertise shows masters of the Rémy Martin Estate together for the first time – Baptiste Loiseau (Cellar Master), Laura Mornet (Viticulture Consulting Manager), Julien Georget (Estates Manager) and Michael Meunier (Cooperage Manager). The film delivers a sensory experience through an ingeniously choreographed sequence linking the stages of cognac making.

The second film entitled Start-up is more contemporary in appeal, rooted firmly in the vibrant world of young, pioneering companies. It celebrates synergy, collaboration and the all-powerful force of creativity.

Eat, Drink & Be Sherry with The Singleton of Glen Ord Signature Sherry Edition

As the oldest of The Singleton distilleries and the only Highlander in the family, The Singleton of Glen Ord Single Malt Scotch Whisky already epitomises all the essence of a pedigree whisky. Now enhancing its desirability even further among whisky lovers is the new The Singleton of Glen Ord Signature Sherry Edition.

Replete with a rich fruity flavour, a golden amber hue and a caramel chocolatey finish, this signature Sherry Cask Edition intertwines flavours from three different casks, under the careful eye of Master Blender Maureen Robinson. Founded in 1838, the iconic Glen Ord distillery slow-crafts the Singleton Signature Sherry Edition with a unique triple cask maturation process that begins with maturing whisky respectively in a fusion of European oak sherry casks and American oak bourbon casks for a long period of fermentation.

The American oak bourbon endows the liquid with rich vanilla, caramel and woody notes, while the European oak sherry adds fruity, bitter notes. After 12 years, these two whiskies are brought together and married in a perfect balance by the Malt Master, who draws upon her 40 years of experience to further mature this selection of ageing whiskies in sherry casks to enhance the rich fruity tasting notes even further. The result is a beverage that’s aromatic, complex and singularly Singleton.

Have you heard about Rosewood Hong Kong’s ladies-only speakeasy, XX?

Don’t tell anyone, but Rosewood Hong Kong has just opened a ladies-only speakeasy rather intriguingly named XX.

BFF, a signature cocktail at XX at Rosewood

Named after the pair of XX chromosomes that distinguish female genes, it’s an super-secretive, hush-hush speakeasy only for the fairer sex – an intimate, safe space to let your hair down and enjoy a tipple or two while watching the beautiful sunset over the Victoria Dockside. But only those in the know can enter its secret premises – tucked away on the fifth floor of the hotel, XX can only be entered by typing a secret code on a concealed keypad in a wooden panel. We’re not telling more…

On entering though, more surprises await. The essence of the space is revealed through discovery, so keep an eye out for unexpected details like the sunken bar, fragmented mirrors and a carefully curated art collection.

Sexy – She Says That A Lot, a citrusy cocktail

The menu, too, is as sophisticated as the interiors, with a slew of fruit-forward cocktails taking pride of place on it. Among these, we opted for a champagne cocktail called Sexy – She Says That A Lot, a stylish mix of jasmine, bergamot, fizz and London No.3 Gin, with a touch of citrus dressed up with bubbles. The fruity notes of the drink were perfect for easy drinking while its presentation made it eminently Instagram worthy. Another signature drink that we liked equally was BFF, a refreshing, citrusy take on the highball, with pine needles, cucumber juice and yuzu vinegar. If you want more potent drinks, the bartender is happy to oblige with a bespoke bevvy whipped up to match your mood.

Complementing the drinks were equally delicate, ladylike canapés, all prepared to be light bites – as easy on the eyes as they are on the palate. And, that really is what XX is all about, a casual place to unwind over cocktails and conversations. What’s not to like!

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

For reservations, call +85252399219.

Ginjoism: Why Japan’s beloved sake is riding high on a wave of popular demand

For those who enjoy the finer side of drinking, you’d be forgiven for finding the origins of sake to be somewhat unsavoury and unappetising. Indeed, some 2,000 years ago, when sake – or rather kuchikami-zake, a type of rice wine – was discovered in Japan, the earliest recorded method of fermentation involved no machinery or distillation. Instead, those with strong enough jaws and teeth were assigned to masticate whole grains of rice. This mouth-chewed substance was then be spat into a vat, where enzymes in the human saliva would mix with natural yeast to form a rudimentary alcoholic spirit.

But sake has come a long way from such crude roots to become not only Japan’s most beloved bevvy but also one of its most sought-after exports. Although fewer than 2,000 sake breweries exist in Japan at present, the drink has steadily grown in popularity overseas, with distilleries opening in the Americas, China, Southeast Asia and Australia. According to Japanese government records, sake exports have increased by more than 150 percent in the last ten years, with the US, Hong Kong and South Korea being its most enthusiastic importers.

So what has led to the meteoric spike of interest in this particular variety of rice wine? Well, it very much boils down to its unique sweet-yet-umami flavour, one that’s markedly different from such mainstream tipples as whisky or beer. Another factor behind its growing popularity is its expansive rice-based flavour spectrum, which allows for almost unrivalled food-pairing possibilities. But while all sakes have something unique to offer, there’s a marked range of quality, flavours and, of course, price points throughout.

While the method of fermenting sake is somewhat similar to beer – polishing, washing, steaming and cooling rice before adding koji, a mould culture – the actual quality of the liquor is determined by how much the rice grains have been polished. So a sake made from highly polished grains is of higher quality and therefore commands a steeper price.

This premium sake is categorised as Ginjo. Government regulations in Japan strictly define the meaning of this classification. To qualify as a Ginjo (premium) sake, the drink must be made from rice with at least 40 percent of its outer kernel milled away. For Daiginjo (super-premium sake), it must be 50 percent or higher. Here’s a lowdown on all the different classifications…

Ginjo: Premium fragrant variety of sake with a minimum 40-percent polishing ratio, with a little bit of distilled alcohol added to it. Ginjos are characterised by a sweet, fruity flavour and are best served chilled. Our recommendation: Azumaichi Yamadanishiki Ginjo

Daiginjo: Super-premium sake that must be made with grains with a minimum 50-percent polishing ratio. The flavours are sometimes enhanced the addition of distilled alcohol heighten its floral, fruity flavours further. Our recommendation: Fukuju Chotokusen Daiginjo

Honjozo: Super-premium sake with at least 70 percent of the rice kernels milled away. It doesn’t have a high alcohol content and boasts a smooth taste. Honjozos can be served either chilled or warm, but must not be heated to more than 50˚C. Our recommendation: Takizawa Tokujo

Junmai: Junmais don’t have any added alcohol, so it’s thought to be a pure rice wine with a more umami flavour. If a daiginjo or a ginjo sake has junmai mentioned in its name, it means that no extra alcohol has been added in it. Our recommendation: Raifuku Junmai Daiginjo Fantastic 7

All of our recommended sakes can be found at Jebsen Fine Wines.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Whisky expert Charles Maclean on the one whisky he’d take to a deserted island

For true-blue connoisseurs of the whisky world, Charles MacLean needs no introduction. However, for those who are less au fait with the bevvy, the Scotsman is the considered to be one of the most authoritative voices on whisky, especially the Scotch varietals, having published 17 books to date on the subject and having hosted numerous tastings and talks throughout the world. His recent marathon tour to China, of which Hong Kong was his last port of call, was a very special one though. He was here courtesy of the world’s leading blended whisky expert, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, ahead of the launch of two very special, very rare bottles to be unveiled next year. We sat down with him to talk about all things whisky. Catch some snippets of our interview in the video below. For the full interview, please scroll down.

You have famously said that you would prefer a blended whisky to a single malt when you are unwinding. Any reasons for this preference?

My work has largely to do with single malt whiskies. So whenever I am served malt whisky, I immediately go into work mode. But when I just want to drink and enjoy, which is everyday after 6 o’clock in the evening, I reach for a blended Scotch. If I could choose only one whisky on a desert island, that’d be blended Scotch, specifically a Johnnie Walker blended whisky.

Which of the offerings from Johnnie Walker is your most favourite?

That would be Johnnie Walker Black Label. Of course, I like drinking the Johnnie Walker Blue Label as well, it’s incredibly smooth, but I feel that the Black Label has more bite to it. If somebody else is paying, then I’d always order a Johnnie Walker Black Label.

With the demand for whiskies reaching astronomical levels, especially in auctions, what should we keep in mind while investing in whiskies?

It depends on who is buying, whether they’re consumers or collectors or investors. If you’re looking to buy to consume, go for any whisky distilled in the ’60s, ’70s and even ’80s. They’re good value for money and taste great. Collectors typically go for rarity. So they would buy limited editions, original bottlings. I would advise collectors to for whiskies that are not as collectable now but those that have more potential. I would avoid Dalmore, Macallan, Bowmore, and instead look for interesting labels, original bottlings, etc. Investors, meanwhile, can buy whiskies at any price point, and they drive the price up. Since the financial crisis, people are looking at alternative investments and whisky is currently the most popular alternative investment. Some rich Asians are, meanwhile, also investing in casks.

Tell us more about the two Johnnie Walker special releases that are being unveiled next year…

The first one is a super-exclusive limited-edition expression, an incredibly rich 40-year-old whisky that connoisseurs are sure to fall in love with.

The other exquisite offering is The John Walker Last Cask, which will be presented with a bespoke design by Hand Engraver of Glass to Her Majesty the Queen, Philip Lawson Johnston. Every hand-drawn image decorating the bottles is as beautiful as it is unique. These whiskies are hand-selected from just nine distilleries that were in existence during Johnnie Walker founder John Walker’s lifetime (1805-1857). According to Johnnie Walker Master Blender Jim Beveridge, this special cask, essential to balancing the flavours of The John Walker, will soon no longer bring the balance and depth of character that is so important for this elegant whisky. He has therefore decided to withdraw it from use, meaning only one final cask of The John Walker will ever be released..

Thank you.

Interview by Suchetana Mukhopadhyay, video by Lai Ti Yeung