This New Business Jet Concept Wants to Rival Your Favourite Boutique Hotel
Designers of private jets typically have their visions gate-checked from the beginning because of the weight restrictions of flying (every ounce counts to make a jet more efficient) as well as FAA requirements that all materials and equipment have to undergo strict certification for airworthiness. That often means that not only are beautiful, grandiose ideas left on the cutting-room floor, but even coffeemakers can get nixed for not passing certification.
There are times when designers let their imaginations run wild to show what jet interiors could look like with the shackles off, though. The Solrise concept, recently released by San Antonio-based designer Natalie Rodriguez, is a good example. Reimagining the 2,458-square-foot interior of a BBJ 787-8, a variant of Boeing’s Dreamliner for heads of state and VVIPs, Rodriguez wanted passengers to forget they were on a jet at all by providing luxury comforts more closely associated with a five-star hotel. “It’s about creating spaces that are not only beautiful but also nurturing, immersive, and quietly transformative,” Rodriguez told Robb Report, adding that the concept was “not about spectacle but more about presence.”
The 787-8 has a usable cabin length of 173 feet, a width of more than 18 feet, and headroom of 7 feet. As a blank canvas, it can easily accommodate multi-room configurations, including lounges, dining areas, conference areas, a full primary suite, and a showcase bar.
Natalie Rodriguez Design
Rodriguez decided to create all of the above. When passengers enter the aircraft, they step into the Solrise main lounge, which showcases four divan seats and four fully articulating residential-inspired accent seats in the centre. Contemporary neutral hues in the fabrics and wood veneer are contrasted with deep olive-juniper accents, dark Emperador marble, and antiqued metalwork, creating a calming and sophisticated atmosphere. Welcome to your favourite designer bar.
The design incorporates circular forms in the ceilings and key architectural accents to reflect the renewing energy of a sunrise.
“Lighting is one of the most transformative tools in any interior,” Rodriguez says. “For Solrise, we used cove and wash lighting in the ceiling’s circular motifs as well as under-seat illumination to create a layered, almost cinematic feel. Even the doorframes are framed in soft light.”
The opposite view of the lounge showing the coffee bar at the end. Natalie Rodriguez Design
The team opted for textured metals, ribbed panels, honed and ribbed marbles, and velvet upholstery, all of which subtly glow as light shifts. Every component serves the overall design brief: Anti-glare screens, for instance, double as digital art when not in use.
Toward the aft of the aircraft is one of Rodriguez’s favourite features—and one which most early risers would appreciate. The full-service coffee bar is the centrepiece of a functional meeting and entertainment space, ensuring high-fliers feel refreshed and invigorated. The area transforms into a swanky cocktail bar during evening hours.
The primary suite. Natalie Rodriguez Design
The primary suite radiates a somber sort of opulence. A king bed anchors the suite, with an impressive ribbed panel headboard and a large digital screen for entertainment. The circular design above the bed is accented by reflective headliner material and mood lighting in the ceiling panels. Ten windows provide ample natural light and are paired with Alcantara valances to control the amount of light.
Other design extras across the interior include custom merino wool and silk carpeting, as well as live plants to please any green thumbs.
Created for VVIPs or heads of state, the BBJ 787 has a base price of $239 million.
Designers of private jets typically have their visions gate-checked from the beginning because of the weight restrictions of flying (every ounce counts to make a jet more efficient) as well as FAA requirements that all materials and equipment have to undergo strict certification for airworthiness. That often means that not only are beautiful, grandiose ideas left on the cutting-room floor, but even coffeemakers can get nixed for not passing certification.
There are times when designers let their imaginations run wild to show what jet interiors could look like with the shackles off, though. The Solrise concept, recently released by San Antonio-based designer Natalie Rodriguez, is a good example. Reimagining the 2,458-square-foot interior of a BBJ 787-8, a variant of Boeing’s Dreamliner for heads of state and VVIPs, Rodriguez wanted passengers to forget they were on a jet at all by providing luxury comforts more closely associated with a five-star hotel. “It’s about creating spaces that are not only beautiful but also nurturing, immersive, and quietly transformative,” Rodriguez told Robb Report, adding that the concept was “not about spectacle but more about presence.”
The 787-8 has a usable cabin length of 173 feet, a width of more than 18 feet, and headroom of 7 feet. As a blank canvas, it can easily accommodate multi-room configurations, including lounges, dining areas, conference areas, a full primary suite, and a showcase bar.
Natalie Rodriguez Design
Rodriguez decided to create all of the above. When passengers enter the aircraft, they step into the Solrise main lounge, which showcases four divan seats and four fully articulating residential-inspired accent seats in the centre. Contemporary neutral hues in the fabrics and wood veneer are contrasted with deep olive-juniper accents, dark Emperador marble, and antiqued metalwork, creating a calming and sophisticated atmosphere. Welcome to your favourite designer bar.
The design incorporates circular forms in the ceilings and key architectural accents to reflect the renewing energy of a sunrise.
“Lighting is one of the most transformative tools in any interior,” Rodriguez says. “For Solrise, we used cove and wash lighting in the ceiling’s circular motifs as well as under-seat illumination to create a layered, almost cinematic feel. Even the doorframes are framed in soft light.”
The opposite view of the lounge showing the coffee bar at the end. Natalie Rodriguez Design
The team opted for textured metals, ribbed panels, honed and ribbed marbles, and velvet upholstery, all of which subtly glow as light shifts. Every component serves the overall design brief: Anti-glare screens, for instance, double as digital art when not in use.
Toward the aft of the aircraft is one of Rodriguez’s favourite features—and one which most early risers would appreciate. The full-service coffee bar is the centrepiece of a functional meeting and entertainment space, ensuring high-fliers feel refreshed and invigorated. The area transforms into a swanky cocktail bar during evening hours.
The primary suite. Natalie Rodriguez Design
The primary suite radiates a somber sort of opulence. A king bed anchors the suite, with an impressive ribbed panel headboard and a large digital screen for entertainment. The circular design above the bed is accented by reflective headliner material and mood lighting in the ceiling panels. Ten windows provide ample natural light and are paired with Alcantara valances to control the amount of light.
Other design extras across the interior include custom merino wool and silk carpeting, as well as live plants to please any green thumbs.
Created for VVIPs or heads of state, the BBJ 787 has a base price of $239 million.
Despite global economic uncertainty and bombshell tariffs announced during Watches & Wonders—the horological industry’s largest annual trade show—watch companies released a flurry of ultra-high-end timepieces in 2025, suggesting they’re betting on the wealthiest consumers to keep businesses ticking.
It’s a continuation of a trend from last year. According to Morgan Stanley’s 2024 Swiss Watch Industry Report, watches priced above $30,500 accounted for 69 percent of market growth and 44 percent of the industry’s total value. This refocusing has resulted in groundbreaking advancements, from feats of micro-engineering that make timepieces smaller and more accurate to long-awaited simplifications of the perpetual calendar.
The achievements in mechanical watchmaking were ambitious and, in some cases, grandiose. At the apotheosis of technical wizardry, Vacheron Constantin debuted the most complicated wristwatch in the world, the Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication-La Première. The Solaria packs 41 complications into one piece and is the work of a single watchmaker over eight years of development. But beyond its marketing bravado and singularity as a collector’s item, one can imagine that the R&D—such as shrinking and reengineering components including 10 patented inventions (three more are pending)—will likely be used to improve other Vacheron pieces.
Other technological innovations were more immediately practical. Audemars Piguet’s game-changing perpetual calendar, launched in February, revolutionised the user experience with calendar functions that can all be adjusted (backward and forward) via one crown, eliminating the infamous headache that accompanies setting this kind of complication. At least seven top luxury watchmakers release perpetual calendars this year—some in multiple iterations, others in combination with minute repeaters.
But apart from technological advancements, there were other over-the-top offerings, too. A few box sets from Chanel and Hublot proposed six- to seven-figure collections in one fell swoop for a single buyer. Elsewhere, expensive stone dials and gem-setting raised the bar for entry.
It’s a bold strategy: fewer clients, bigger statements, and timepieces that push the boundaries of what’s mechanically—and financially—possible. But it’s driving innovation. And while only the ultra-wealthy may get to wear the future first, the ripple effects of these horological marvels will ultimately shape the watches of tomorrow for everyone.
The far reaches of Australia’s Outback are not traditionally a place one has come to associate with a plush travelling experience. Whether exploring the red centre or any one of Australia’s nearly 60,000km of largely remote coastline, travel beyond our major cities, for the most part, typically involves compromising on many a luxury.
The Kimberley, up until recently, was no exception. Only accessible via Darwin or Broome—two cities that, for all their charm, are still very much on the turnaround. In recent years, however, the area’s stunning geology, wondrous river gorges and abundance of wildlife have caught the eye of boutique cruise operators, offering an entirely unique way to explore a natural gem celebrated for its beauty, yet, for reasons of distance, often underexplored.
Small-ship French luxury line PONANT EXPLORATIONS has been cruising the Kimberley region for many years, initially with L’Austral in 2017. Since then, the line has introduced a series of stunning expedition ships to the region, including Le Lapérouse in 2019, Le Soléal in 2022, and Le Jacques-Cartier, which embarked on its inaugural Kimberley season in 2024. Now returning for the 2026 season, PONANT EXPLORATIONS’ offering to Kimberley travellers is more ambitious than ever before, with two ships taking in an unrivalled selection of natural wonders throughout Australia’s vast north-west, while offering a level of luxury and exclusivity that can’t be found elsewhere in local waters.
Le Jacques-Cartier remains at the heart of PONANT EXPLORATIONS’ Kimberley expeditions, while larger sister ship Le Soléal will operate in tandem; each offering a slightly different yet still markedly PONANT EXPLORATIONS way to travel. Le Soléal carries 264 passengers across a range of private and deluxe suites, each thoughtfully designed to enhance the ship’s natural tranquillity. Le Jacques-Cartier, meanwhile, prioritises intimacy in the pursuit of luxury, with each of its higher-level suites featuring expansive living spaces, butler service, and private terraces with expansive ocean views. Both vessels boast exclusive dining experiences and open-air grills, outdoor infinity pools, and spas with treatments on offer from the likes of Clarins and SOTHY’s.
Mod cons aside, the true USP of PONANT EXPLORATIONS remains an unbridled commitment to instilling a distinct sense of adventure into every one of its trips – something one immediately feels when stepping out on deck to take in the wonders of their surroundings. Renowned for its commitment to going where others don’t to forge lifelong memories for its passengers (a 10 day program sailing between Broome and Fremantle is also on offer to time-poor travellers wanting a West Coast escape), both Le Soléal and Le Jacques-Cartier will visit 16 destinations as part of their 2026 Kimberley program, passing through some of the region’s most dramatic vistas along the way.
Every sea day on board is its own adventure, as each ship takes in the beauty of Montgomery Reef and passes by ocean giants like Whale Sharks and Humpback Whales on their yearly migrations. Meanwhile, expert-led expeditions take in ancient wonders like the King George River Gorge and Gwion Gwion rock art galleries, immersing the intrepid in the sacred history of one of the world’s oldest inhabited areas.
Sure, there’s Daytona, Indianapolis, and Sebring. There’s Monaco and Monza. But when it comes to a test of automotive endurance, Le Mans is in a class of its own. First held in 1923, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the world’s oldest races, and certainly one of the toughest, held around the clock in the otherwise sleepy region of Sarthe in northern France. It’s the race that saw Ford face off with Ferrari in the ‘60s, culminating in Henry repeatedly beating Enzo at his own game, which the latter had previously won six times in a row.
Now part of the FIA’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) series, the race has drawn an unparalleled number of manufacturers back into competition for 2025, from Peugeot to Porsche, Cadillac to Alpine, all in the hopes of being crowned the overall winner. Ferrari came back in 2023 and subsequently won Le Mans upon its return, then repeated the accomplishment in 2024—all with its 499P. It’ll be hoping for a hat trick this weekend, when the famed contest presents its 93rd edition.
Aston Martin‘s Valkyrie AMR-LMH at Circuit de la Sarthe, preparing for the 2025 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Aston Martin
This year, yet another manufacturer has joined the fold. Aston Martin has returned to the top Hypercar class with the Valkyrie, and that’s interesting news on several levels. Firstly, it’s where Aston Martin belongs. The marque has a long and storied history of racing at Le Mans, going back nearly 100 years when it first entered two AM415 “Internationals” in 1928. It won its first 1.5-litre-class race in 1931, and also secured four more wins across the decade. The 1950s were its finest period, winning the 3-litre class six times, and securing the first place overall in 1959 with Caroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori behind the wheel of the DBR1. Their running mates, Maurice Trintignant and Paul Frère, finished second in the sister car.
Based off the road-legal Valkyrie, the AMR-LMH variant has been codeveloped by stateside outfit The Heart of Racing. Aston Martin
That 1959 win remains Aston Martin’s sole overall victory, something the marque hopes to change with its new Valkyrie AMR-LMH. Unique in that it’s the only machine in the Hypercar class to be based on a road-legal model, the race-trim Valkyrie has been codeveloped by stateside outfit The Heart of Racing. Built around the original Red Bull/Adrian Newey conceived Valkyrie road car, it features a similar overall design, with the same ground-effect aero enhancements, including cavernous “tunnels” on its undercarriage. Going back to Le Mans is undoubtedly a big moment for the brand.
“Valkyrie’s debut in the 24 Hour of Le Mans is a key milestone both in the development of the car and the sporting history of the brand,” says Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark. “Le Mans is the pinnacle of endurance motorsport and, perhaps, the most famous standalone race on Earth. It is only right that the Hypercar class of the field contains an Aston Martin.’’
The Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH race car as viewed from above. The Valkyrie AMR-LMH is the only Hypercar-class vehicle on the grid without a hybrid system. Aston Martin
The AMR-LMH version does, of course, differ from the Valkyrie it’s based on. Its carbon-fibre chassis has been optimised for race use, while the high-revving, naturally aspirated 6.5-liter Cosworth V-12 ditches the hybrid element of the road car. That makes it the only Hypercar-class vehicle on the grid to run without a hybrid system. While the road car has over 1,000 bhp, strict FIA regulations mandate that the race car is detuned to 680 bhp, with weight sitting at around 1,000 kg (about 2,204 pounds).
But it is the sound of the power plant that has already won fans over. Reminiscent of Formula 1 cars of the early 1990s, it screams up to the redline, completely unique among a field of smaller-engined turbo prototypes. When it comes to the engine’s soundtrack, the Valkyrie is rivalled only by the Cadillac entries, which have their own guttural V-8 rumble that shakes the ground as they pass.
With a carbon-fiber chassis optimized for race use, the car also features a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter Cosworth V-12 engine. Aston Martin
While the Valkyrie has all the elements needed to succeed in competition, expectations have been rightfully muted. It is, after all, incredibly difficult to bring a race-winning car to a team’s first season, especially during a time when the field is so competitive.
“While we have always kept our expectations in check, given the unique nature of Valkyrie and the fact that we are a new team at Hypercar level, we are hitting our targets consistently,” says Ian James, team principal of Aston Martin THOR. “For Valkyrie’s debut at Le Mans, finishing with both cars, and with a points finish, would represent a supreme success for a program in its infancy. It’s important to keep in mind that Le Mans represents the first competitive 24-hour event for Valkyrie, and that the Circuit de la Sarthe throws up its own unique set of challenges that are hard to replicate anywhere else. We go into the event aware of what lays ahead of us.”
The Valkyrie AMR-LMH makes a run along Circuit de la Sarthe’s famed Mulsanne Straight prior to the race. Aston Martin
Despite the reality check, Aston Martin has shown improvement in each race it’s entered. The team narrowly missed out on the points in Spa, while it finished in the top ten in every International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) race so far this year. Whether it will do so in Le Mans remains to be seen, but just having the British-American team line up on the most competitive WEC grid in history can only be a good thing.
A chip off the old Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc block has landed on the French Riviera.
The storied 111-key hotel has opened a second villa on the picturesque Cap d’Antibes. Located a stone’s throw from the century-old grand dame, Villa La Guettière comprises a main house and a guest house that collectively offer nine en suite bedrooms. The two Provençal buildings are surrounded by 70,000 square feet of private land, meaning guests can relax and enjoy the Côte d’Azur in complete privacy.
Originally built in the 1970s, the villa underwent a meticulous, year-long renovation under the watchful eye of renowned architect Luc Svetchine. The villa retains much original Provençal charm but has been updated with contemporary hotel-like amenities, including a spa with a sauna and hammam, an extensive wine cellar that can be used for private tastings, and a cozy 12-seat cinema. “Our goal was to honour the existing architecture while breathing new life into the space,” Svetchine said in a statement.
With interiors by Comtesse Bergit Gräfin Douglas of MM Design Frankfurt, both the six-bedroom main house and three-bedroom guest house showcase custom furnishings, curated art, and panoramic ocean views. “My primary inspiration was, of course, the Mediterranean itself—with its sun-drenched hues and rich, earthy tones,” adds Douglas.
The dining room seats up to 18. Villa La Guettière
The manicured grounds, which overlook the sparkling Med on one side and the lush Riviera landscape on the other, are home to a heated infinity pool, a pool house with a summer kitchen, an expansive terrace, and a fitness room. Guests can also explore the surrounding area, with activities ranging from boat trips and coastal hikes to museum visits and shopping sprees.
Guests will feel like they are in a five-star hotel, too, with the concierge team at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc organising butlers, housekeepers, and security for the villa. A private chef will also be available for up to 12 hours per day, catering everything from leisurely breakfasts to alfresco aperitifs. The tailored menus will spotlight the best local ingredients, with dishes ranging from Provençal classics to French favourites. Think Bouillabaisse and roast chicken with all the trimmings. The dining room is fitted with an 18-seat table for formal dinners, while the summer kitchen is equipped with a pizza oven and barbecue for relaxed lunches.
The pool overlooks the sparkling Mediterranean. Villa La Guettière
The best part is guests also receive full access to all of Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc’s amenities, such as the famous seawater infinity pool, the newly opened Dior Spa Eden-Roc, and the five clay tennis courts. Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc itself has two exclusive private villas on the grounds, plus another separate one called Villa Sainte-Anne.
Rates at Villa La Guettière start from about $113,000 per night, with all amenities included. For more information, visit the Villa La Guettièrewebsite.
The pool house features a nifty summer kitchen. Villa La Guettière
The cellar can be used for private tastings. Villa La Guettière
Not all charity events are created equally. Last night’s Gold Gala at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens raised a whopping $84.3 million for Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation in support of sick and injured children. More than 400 deep-pocketed guests from the worlds of philanthropy, business, health and the arts dug deep to ensure ongoing treatment, prevention and research within the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, which includes Sydney’s two children’s hospitals, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. “Gold Dinner isn’t just a celebration,” SCHF chief executive Kristina Keneally said, “it’s a catalyst for real and measurable change. It brings our community together to shine a light on what’s possible when we invest in better care, treatments and outcomes for sick kids.”
Presented by One Circular Quay by Lendlease, this evening’s festivities included a performance by the NON (New Old Now) dance troupe, a menu by chef Jonathan Barthelmess (Apollo, Cho Cho San, and Olympus), and a one-night-only orchestral performance curated by musical director Adam Sofo. Shaw and Partners Financial Services, ABC Bullion, Bvlgari, and Bollinger supported the event. Bless them for doing so.
Redbreast, the brand behind one of the very best Irish whiskeys out there, is focused on producing single pot still whiskey matured in a variety of different cask types. It has a portfolio of age statements that starts at 12 years old and goes all the way up to 27. It also gives some whiskeys special secondary maturations: It released a cask-strength version of the 12-year-old in 2011, for instance. In that same high-proof vein, the brand just announced a limited-edition, high-ABV version of its excellent 15-year-old. The cask-strength version of Redbreast 15 is only available in the U.K.—for the time being, anyway.
Redbreast is produced at the Midleton Distillery just outside of Cork in the south of Ireland, the same facility where bestseller Jameson is made, along with Midleton Very Rare, the Spots, Powers, and other Irish whiskeys. The brand’s newest release marks the 20th anniversary of Redbreast 15, which first debuted in 2005. While that whiskey is bottled at 92 proof (46 percent ABV), the limited-edition cask-strength version comes in much higher at 112.6 proof (56.3 percent ABV).
“This release is a celebration of everything Redbreast 15 Year Old represents—heritage, craftsmanship, and character,” said master blender Dave McCabe in a statement. “Bottling it at natural cask strength allows the whiskey to fully showcase its complexity and vibrancy.”
Master blender emeritus Billy Leighton, who moved to that role in 2023 after more than four decades with Irish Distillers, added that Redbreast 15 was originally supposed to be a one-time release. “Its overwhelming success led it to become a permanent part of our portfolio,” he said. “This cask strength edition captures the spirit of that original moment—delivering a whiskey that is both deeply familiar and thrillingly new.”
Like other Redbreast whiskeys, the 15 Year Old Cask Strength was matured in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry-seasoned barrels before bottling. We did not get to sample this whiskey, but the official tasting notes describe it as being a bright and crisp dram with equal parts herbal notes and spice on the palate.
Adding to the exclusivity, this very limited release is assembled from just 15 casks. It can only be purchased via the Middleton Distillery Collection website for about $170 (plus shipping). Hopefully, that will change soon. In the meantime, the rest of the lineup, including last year’s fantastic new 18-year-old expression, is available at websites like ReserveBar.
Chopard has once again nabbed pole position at the Mille Miglia.
The Swiss watchmaker has returned as world sponsor and official timekeeper of the famous Italian endurance rally for another year, releasing two new timepieces to mark the occasion.
The partnership between Chopard and the Mille Miglia stretches back 38 years. Chopard copresident and racing enthusiast Karl-Friedrich Scheufele first entered the rally in 1988, taking to the track in his family’s cherished 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing with six-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx by his side. (He kick-started Chopard’s sponsorship the same year.) Scheufele and his esteemed codriver Ickx will once again jump into the metallic strawberry Merc and race against more than 400 other classic cars in the multi-day motorsport event this June.
Six-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx and Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. Chopard
To celebrate the upcoming race, Chopard will unveil the 2025 Mille Miglia editions at the start/finish point in Brescia. Drivers will follow a figure-eight route inspired by legendary pre-war races, heading through cities such as Verona, Ferrara, San Marino, Livorno, and Rome, before finishing back in Brescia.
Christened the Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph Tribute to Sir Stirling Moss, the first model celebrates its namesake British racing driver and his memorable victory at the Mille Miglia. Moss and codriver Denis Jenkinson took the chequered flag in 1955, with a record time of 10 hours, 7 minutes, and 48 seconds. The duo averaged an astonishing speed of 97.96 mph in the 1,000-mile race, setting a record that still stands to this day.
The Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph Tribute to Sir Stirling Moss. Chopard
Crafted in Chopard’s ultra-resistant Lucent Steel, the 40.5 mm timepiece is equipped with a mechanical self-winding chronograph movement that offers a 54-hour power reserve and is as reliable as Moss was on the track. The silvered, opaline dial also mirrors the matte silver hue of his winning Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR. The limited edition will be capped at just 70 examples in a nod to the 70th anniversary of the Brit’s win.
“As a long-time participant in the Mille Miglia, I felt it was only fitting to honour such a legendary drive with an equally exceptional timepiece,” Scheufele said in a statement.
The Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control—2025 Race Edition. Chopard
The second timepiece, the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control—2025 Race Edition, highlights the evolution of Chopard’s Grand Turismo Sport range that was introduced a decade ago. The 43 mm timepiece again showcases Chopard’s luminous Lucent Steel alloy and a striking salmon-colored dial with a satin finish that the watchmaker says is supposed to evoke “historical aluminum bodywork and painted metal dashboards.” Powered by a chronometer-certified 01-02-M, the watch also features a fuel gauge-inspired indicator between 8 and 10 o’clock that monitors the automatic movement’s 60-hour power reserve. Only 250 examples will be made.
Both limited editions are exclusively available in Chopard boutiques, with price available upon request.
Mount Gay has been distilling and aging high-quality rum at its Barbados distillery for more than 300 years. The core lineup today is anchored by a series of rums aged in a combination of bourbon and Cognac barrels, along with a silver expression, but master blender Trudiann Branker has a few other tricks up her sleeve as well. The latest special release from the distillery is the new edition of the Master Blender Collection, and it’s a rum that was aged entirely in Cognac casks.
That maturation process separates this from other Master Blender Collection expressions, which are initially aged in bourbon barrels and then finished in sherry, madeira, port, or other types of barrels. This rum spent its entire four years aging in French oak Cognac casks, which was the result of a bit of synergy: The barrels came from Rémy Martin, and both that Cognac house and Mount Gay are owned by drinks company Rémy Cointreau.
“By aging rum completely in Cognac casks, we’ve allowed the interaction between the rum and the cask to bring forward a unique profile,” said Branker in a statement. “The French oak imparts notes of dried fruits, vanilla, and oak, while the tropical climate of Barbados enhances the fruit-forward character of the rum. This is an elegant and unique release that showcases the best of both traditions.”
At Mount Gay, rum is produced using both pot and column stills, each yielding a different style of distillate. For this edition of the Master Blender Collection, Branker selected column-distilled rum for what she deems its specific fruity character and bottled it at a high 58 percent ABV (116 proof). We got to sample this new release, and that fruity character is indeed present, but it’s buttressed by notes of vanilla, dark chocolate, raisin, fig, brown sugar, and banana on the nose and palate. There’s a bit of heat present as well due to the higher ABV, so a little bit of water definitely tamps that down and opens up the palate if it’s too hot for you.
Mount Gay Master Blender Collection Cognac Cask Expression is available now in a limited run of just 6,276 bottles globally, so check your local specialty liquor store to see if it’s available. You can find the rest of the Mount Gay lineup, including previous expressions in the Master Blender Collection, available to purchase from ReserveBar now as well.
You may never get to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but now, thanks to Aston Martin, you can drive a car that could.
The storied British marque is offering collectors an exclusive variant of the vehicle it will enter in endurance racing’s biggest event next weekend. The new Valkyrie LM is almost identical to the race car, with the only real difference being that the customer version is subject to fewer rules and regulations.
Aston Martin head of endurance motorsport Adam Carter isn’t exaggerating when he calls the Valkyrie LM “close to identical” to the company’s World Endurance Championship and IMSA Sportscar Championship racer. The two hypercars share the same chassis and bodywork. The powertrain—a Cosworth-sourced, naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V-12 mated to a seven-speed, paddle-shifted sequential transmission—and double wishbone suspension are also matching.
Lack of restrictions mean the Aston Martin Valkyrie LM may be even faster than the actual Le Mans race car.
There are a few “minor deviations” to ensure the car qualifies as a non-homologated variant, though. Chief among these differences is that the race series-specific ballast and International Automobile Federation-regulated electronics have been removed. Aston Martin says the variant has the same 697 hp output as the race car, but the absence of those features means it may be even faster. No performance numbers were provided, but the original road-going Valkyrie tops out at 250 mph and the Le Mans car at 210 mph. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Valkyrie LM’s top speed sits somewhere between those two numbers.
The vehicle’s cockpit interface has also been reworked so that it’s better suited to a more casual track driving experience. That’s not the only change meant to make the vehicle easier to drive. The engine has also been recalibrated to run on more readily available fuel, and it wears bespoke Pirelli racing tires. Owners will also be eligible for a dedicated driver development program, designed to optimize their driving ability and remove the stress of running track sessions. Those who take advantage of the opportunity can count on Aston Martin to store, maintain, and transport their vehicles to Valkyrie LM Performance Club driving venues.
Unsurprisingly, the Valkyrie LM will be very exclusive. Aston Martin has announced that it intends to build just 10 examples of its customer racer. Pricing has yet to be announced, but expect it to be sky high. The road-going Valkyrie costs $4.91 million, after all.
“[Yukio Akamine] never changes, but he keeps evolving,” says Mon Oncle Japan’s Eisuke Yamashita. To call Akamine, who was born in Meguro, Tokyo in 1944, a fixture in the menswear world is an understatement. He has been designing, curating, and providing a masterclass in what it means to be timelessly stylish since he founded his first brand, WAY-OUT, at 28.
Today, he is an oft-photographed figure at events such as Pitti Uomo, which he has attended since its eighth year. Widely revered in the industry, Akamine’s appeal is both universal and timeless, a testament to his adaptabilty and unwavering taste. Yamashita credits Akamine’s curiosity, in part, for his international acclaim. “He is flexible in new media such as YouTube, and Instagram, and can interact with young people without barriers,” he tells Robb Report. “In Japan, 15-year old high school students are fans of [his] style.” Akamine’s latest endeavor is a book, Yukio Akamine’s Style: Dressing, Living, currently available in Japan and soon to be available on the US market, where he details his approach to dressing with gorgeous full color shots of himself sporting everything from suits to casual wear.
A stylish stroll.Eisuke Yamashita
East Meets West
In an interview with Robb Report, Akamine recalls his earliest influences. Among them, chiefly, was his geographer father, who was also a kendo fighter and a proud Japanese. His uncle, Ikutaro, by contrast, was a sociologist whose style was deeply influenced by Western aesthetics. “He often wore a navy blazer, gray trousers, and bright red socks,” says Akamine. “I cultivated a Japanese spirit and a Western style by blending my father’s and uncle’s values.” His mother, too, played a part in his early style education by crafting handmade jackets, trousers, shirts, and knitwear—often in Akamine’s preferred color of navy blue.
A Barbour jacket has never looked better.Eisuke Yamashita
His style philosophy today remains thoroughly shaped by these formative years., representing the spiritual traditions of the Japanese people while simultaneously interpreting Western culture. The first iteration of this ethos as a business for Akamine was WAY-OUT – named for its subversive aesthetic— which Akamine founded in 1972. “At that time, the Van Jacket brand dominated the Japanese market,” says Akamine. “Clothing similar to that of Brooks Brothers was the norm so I began creating classic garments outside the social structure to compete with these norms, which inspired the brand name.” Echoes of this juxtaposition was later found in his brand, Glenover, which was established in the 1940s with a focus on creating classic clothes, its name literally meaning “over the glen.”
Outside of Japan, it is in Italy where Akamine spends the most time. “I especially like Rome, rich in history and natural beauty, and its food resembles Japan’s,” he says. “Italian people are kind, the cities are lovely, and the sea is beautiful.” He has traveled to the country over 300 times and visited 19 of Italy’s 20 provinces. Antonio Liverano of Liverano & Liverano in Florence calls his 40 year relationship with Akamine a brotherly bond. They both share, he says, a passion for educating young people. Calling him a legend, Liverano says Akamine’s skills are “innate; he has a unique sensitivity for colors and patterns.” These are sentiments echoed by Yamashita, who has known Akamine for some 20 years. “When you look at the wardrobe that Akamine has built up over the years in his studio, his keen insight and good taste become immediately apparent,” he says. “But his appeal isn’t just his knowledge of Western clothing: he is also well-versed in the crafts and food culture of each region of Japan, and I think it is this knowledge that has helped him develop his own unique style.”
Akamine in traditional Japanese dress.Eisuke Yamashita
Luxury, the Yukio Akamine Way
Akamine’s style is as restrained as it is refined: impeccable tailoring, a sartorial feast of rich neutral hues, knits and jackets made from lush textiles that add interest and depth to even the most straightforward of outfits. He’s a breath of fresh air in a menswear space that is increasingly saturated with haughtiness and ostentation. “I am not interested in luxury and feel discriminated against when one is wearing luxury brands and items,” says Akamine. “I find it vulgar to be wealthy and to flaunt that wealth without dignity before others. I seek individuals who are rich in spirit, not in material greed.”
Today, Akamine oversees Incontro, a planning company that is in charge of his tailoring brand, Akamine Royal Line, which he tells Robb Report is inspired by the colors of Japan’s four seasons and the Western designs of the ‘20s and ‘30s. It is a collection of meticulously crafted, timeless staples. “[The pieces are] woven at a low speed on vintage shuttle looms using fabrics with strong twisted yarns (high twist) and tightly woven weft yarns to maintain the creases of the trousers, adapting to Japan’s hot and humid climate,” he says. “Regarding the sewing, these pieces are crafted by artisans skilled in both machine and hand production techniques.”
Akamine embracing the palette of a Japanese fall.Eisuke Yamashita
The seamless confluence of Western and Japanese influence in Akamine’s line is in many ways a microcosm of Japanese style writ large, which Akamine says has been influenced by America, England, Italy and France over the centuries. “The Industrial Revolution in England during the late 18th century transformed the world,” he says. “Various standards emerged, and the globe evolved, particularly with the invention of the spinning machine and the opening of railroads.” This impact then reached France and Italy, where woolen and silk textile production centers were established. “At that time, Japan was in the mid-Edo period, and Western clothing did not yet exist,” he explains. In the 1860’s the country opened to the outside world, ushering in the Meji Era, during which Emperor Meji wore British Military uniforms and boots, and the rest, as they say, is history. “No distinct Japanese style has been firmly established,” says Akamine. “My Akamine Royal line is founded on exploring various clothing styles from different nations, and I aspire to cultivate a unique Japanese style.”
“Beauty has no home”
In Yukio Akamine’s Style: Dressing, Living, he details his approach to dressing. He says in a world where everything is increasingly made in vast quantities and in synthetic materials, he hopes his new book will help readers understand the value in investing in clothing that can be worn and adapted for all seasons—and to inspire an appreciation for natural fibers like wool, mohair, cotton, and linen. “80% [of dressing well] depends on the wearer, while 20% consists of the clothing,” he says. “80% of what matters is the mindset they choose to adopt, the mindset they wish to cultivate, and the kind of life they aspire to live each day.” He emphasizes the importance of investing in pieces that last, and immersing yourself in history, classic films, music, and other cultural references to cultivate a personal style that will be as enduring as the garments themselves.
His personal cultural favorites include Albert Lamorisse’s White Man, Yasujiro Ozu’s Tokyo Story, Rossellini’s Rome, Open City and Journey to Italy, as well as Death in Venice by Luchino Visconti and Fellini’s 8 1⁄2. He also appreciates the works of Tarkovsky, Kurosawa, and Tornatore. “I read The Times and Thoughts of Muneyoshi Yanagi repeatedly,” he says. “In this book, he states, ‘Beautiful things are beautiful. It is more important to feel the beauty of things that speak to you silently than to look at things with explanations.’ He also declares that ‘beautiful things are the handiwork of craftsmen, and beauty has no home.’”
Akamine stops to smell the cherry blossoms.Eisuke Yamashita
And trite as it can sound to say that beauty starts from within, Akamine is living proof. His social media feed is filled with photos and videos of a buoyant Akamine chatting, socializing, and sharing his daily routine, in which he takes great care. After waking up at 5am every morning, Akamine does some light stretching and takes a gentle jog on the banks of the Tama River. “Afterward, I put my hands together and pray for a good day at a nearby shrine. I strive to spend the rest of the day with a smile on my face.”
International intrigue at one of the world’s largest yacht builders? The Italian Ferretti Group was the setting for a spy-vs-spy scenario that reportedly included private detectives shadowing an executive of the Italian builder’s primary Chinese investor and recording devices hidden in several offices, according to Bloomberg. The discovery of this board-level surveillance has prompted two criminal cases, now in the hands of Italian prosecutors.
In April 2024, Xu Xinyu, an executive director at Ferretti SpA, noticed two men in an SUV outside Ferretti’s headquarters in Milan. Xu also sits on the board of the Weichai Group, which acquired the Ferretti Group in 2012, when the builder of Riva Yachts, Custom Line, CRN, and other brands was in financial trouble.
Xu also observed the pair following him while visiting hotels in the city, Bloomberg reported. He hired a counter-surveillance company, which reportedly found a listening device and signal amplifier hidden in his office. Other devices were found in the offices of Ferretti’s Chinese-Italian translator and board secretary.
The Ferretti Group was acquired by the Weichai Group in 2012. The Chinese firm now owns 35.5 percent of the yacht builder. Getty Images
The story cites unnamed sources who claimed relations between Weichai and some executives at Ferretti had deteriorated because of a proposed stock buyback program that would have allowed the repurchase of 10 percent of the shares. The buyback plan was briefly examined by the Italian government under a special “golden” provision that allows it to oversee “strategic” Italian brands with foreign ownership. A very small percentage of Ferretti’s boat production is for the defence sector, thereby placing it in the strategic category.
The Chinese members of the Ferretti board, comprised of six Chinese and three Italians, were initially against the buyback proposal, according to the sources. That decision, according to Bloomberg, caused dissension between Ferretti CEO Alberto Galassi and some members of the board.
In March 2024, Galassi formally notified the Italian oversight committee of the buyback initiative. But that was earlier than the Chinese directors had expected. Bloomberg’s sources say they thought the Chinese board members worried that Galassi could be using “the golden share rule to sideline them by seeking allies in the Italian government.” The stock buyback proposal was withdrawn by the end of the month.
Ferretti issued a statement denying that Galassi had gone against the board’s wishes, according to Bloomberg. It said the notification “was carried out with the formal and definitive approval of the Board of Directors.” The statement went on to say that “the relationship between the shareholders and the company is excellent, marked by ongoing collaboration and mutual respect.”
Ferretti did not immediately respond to Robb Report’s request for comment.
Getty Images
Following the discovery of the surveillance on Xu and others, some of the board members reportedly suspected it might have originated with Ferretti’s upper management. Xu initiated a criminal case against “persons unknown” in May 2024, for unauthorised access to a computer system and unlawful interference in private life.
In January 2025, following an internal investigation, the Ferretti Group filed its own complaint with the Milan prosecutor’s office. “Ferretti SpA considers itself an aggrieved party, having been wronged by the unlawful and improper installation of surveillance devices within its offices,” the statement said.
Ferretti says there is no tension between it and Weichai. “The shareholder and the company have enjoyed a relationship of mutual esteem and full, constructive collaboration for over 10 years,” the brand said in a statement to Bloomberg.
The cases remain in the initial stages of investigation, with no certainty that any criminal charges will be pursued.
Photo credits (top): Getty Images
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