Scotland is creating records by distilling strongest of finest alcohols. After Scotland based different breweries launched the world’s strongest beer, gin and whiskey (which is still maturing) it was now the turn of Scottish vodka company Pincer which unveiled Pincer Shanghai Strength, with 88.8 percent proof it is the world’s strongest vodka.  It has been especially created with lucky number 8 for niche Chinese market.

Pincer Shanghai Strength has been slammed by many anti-alcohol campaigners.  It is ironical that Scotland itself faces alcohol related problems and it still doesn’t deter companies from brewing stronger alcohols. It is a fine art to be able to distil such strong stuff.  Pincer Shangai Strength has been created from  100% selected grain and the finest Scottish mountain water with the natural botanical extracts of  Milk Thistle and Wild Elderflower and comes for high price of £85. Limited numbers of classic packaged bottles in black and gold have been produced and fewer will be available in UK.

Alcoholism is one of the grave issues yet alcohol remains one of the most popular drinks all over the world. For true connoisseurs world’s strongest vodka is good news and this launch of vodka will be greeted with round of cheers.

Via News.Scotsman

Jet Airways, the largest airlines of India has the largest frequent flyer program. In order to enhance the lifestyle experience of their Jet Privilege program they have entered into a partnership with The Leading Hotels of the World. The J P Members may now be able to earn J P Miles at several leading hotels in key cities. Some of the hotels under the largest international luxury hotel brand are – Al Maha Resort & Spa, Dubai, Banyan Tree Bangkok, Capella Sigapore, The Pierre New York and The Ritz London and many more.

The scheme has started from September 1, 2010 and the members of the scheme will be able to earn 1,000 J P Miles on qualifying reservations and stays. As a launch offer the members will earn 2,000 bonus J P Miles thus enabling them to go upto 3,000 J P Miles during the festive season. www.lhw.com/jetairways is the exclusive link for the Jet Privilege members to their bookings and reservations.

Both the Airlines and the hotel brand are happy with the synergy the collaboration offers to the companies as well as the travelers. They are both confident that they may be able to go above and beyond customer expectations providing them with a number of value-added services.

Via: Prlog

Going on a holiday and unable to find pair of shorts of your choice to wear on the beach?  Checkout Shortomatic and choose an artist and a design and get your own unique custom designed artistic broad shorts. These designs are cool and contemporary and moreover one can upload one’s own art and get it printed on the shorts.

We are lucky to be living in a time when we can actually watch technology change the way we dress, plan our travel, communicate and even think. Digital technology has revolutionized the world of fashion and now even end user can create a design or choose a design and get it printed. Shortomatic also offers a gallery of limited edition prints which are awesome. If you are aesthetically inclined do take look at the limited edition gallery and creative people can finally try a hand in designing, who knows it may open another career door.

Shortomatic shorts are priced at $99, they may seem slightly high end product but be assured of unlimited joy in creating or choosing an artistic design for your own shorts and getting it done so easily. You can brag about it to friends and make them envious too.

‘Royal Rajasthan on Wheels’ after an extensive refurbishment resumed its commercial run on Sunday. Its itinerary will now start from Safdarjung Railway Station located in South Delhi and will go to Khajuraho and Varanasi, apart from the usual destination of Rajasthan. Rajasthan has been a favourite with tourists and so the train will take its passengers to locations such as Jodhpur, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Jaipur and Sawai Madhopur in the state.

The newer additions of Khajuraho, Varanasi and Agra are also pretty popular with foreign tourists that make up the chunk of the travellers who board this luxury train. This train was started by the joint collaboration of the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (RTDC) and Indian Railways in January 2009, after the grand success of Palace on Wheels. The inaugural wasn’t a great success as was hoped, but with these new additions, it is hoped that it will run houseful.

This train will run every Sunday between September and April. It has a strength of 82 passengers in its luxurious saloons. There are also two restro lounges, a spa and even a gym on this train. It definitely is a royal experience on wheels. But the charge is also quite out of the reach of most.

Via: Sify

Assam Tourism has collaborated with Faridabad based-Far Horizon Tours to operate a luxury river cruise vessel called M.V. Mahabaahu on River Brahmaputra. This project is based on the PPP model and is expected to start from early 2011. This project will require an estimated sum of Rs. 15 crore, out of which, Rs. 4 crore will be given by the Assam Tourism.

Monalisa Goswami, Director Tourism, Government of Assam said, “We have had river cruises operating on the Brahmaputra River. However, the new cruise will significantly add value as it will help elevate the standards of River Cruise Tourism in the region. It will also be the first offering for the luxury segment. We expect it to be the most luxurious river cruise in Asia as we plan to cash in on the experience of Far Horizon Tours who have operated river cruises at the backwaters of Kerala.” It will be a high-end cruise with 29 cabins, spa and four decks. The rates will be somewhere between USD 300-450.

This river cruise will operate from September-May with an itinerary for six nights from Guwahati t0 Dibrugarh. It will take the guests to places like river bank temples of Tezpur, National Parks like Kaziranga & Orang, river island of Majuli that has 22 Hindu monasteries, temples at Sibsagar and Assam’s famous tea plantations. This is part of Assam Tourisms recent steps to revamp the state tourism.

Via: TravelBizMonitor

The lingerie bags by Artillerie has been designed so well and created with such style and beauty that it is difficult to imagine that they are meant for the lingerie when you are traveling. The design is not just beautiful but very practical and keeps the convenience of the user in mind.

The Artillerie Original is designed for easy compartmentalization with two zippered front pockets and a large back pocket that runs the width of the back. The bags also have the traditional, rather Artillerie signature “Secret Compartment”, a hidden zippered pocket nestled in the back pocket lining, perfect for concealing your “essentials”. The designers have taken care of everything you need to tote around while traveling and do it in style. The bags are so beautiful, one can never imagine what is inside.

There are variants of the same design also. There are bags which are available with a water resistant lining. Their popular design Principessa Maria is an ideal gift for brides. It is made out of white jacquard silk, interwoven with golden strips. The lining is made from blue satin. There are embellishments on the bag also done by pearled brooches. The beautiful lingerie bag sells for $140.

The priority of Boz Scaggs is still music as he is performing with Michael McDoald and Donald Fagen on a cross country tour that comes to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on October 1. But now he is as much involved with wine as he is with music. He is known as the most engaging rhythm ’n’ blues artist since the 70s but he has now created his own wine brand, Scaggs Vineyard and its first wines are supposed to hit the market soon.

He along with his wife launched his wines, a rose and a blend of aromatic Rhone varietals at a celebratory wine dinner hosted by chef Sean O’Tool. Ken Bernards, the man behind Ancien is making the wines for Scaggs. The hillside vineyard was planted over three years starting in 1998. The 2.5 acres of the vineyard stretches at an altitude of 1,100 to 1,400 feet.

It contains syrah, mourvedre and Grenache. They have added some cunoise in 2007 and most important the vineyard has been declared and certified organic since 2005. Scaggs was sharing the story about his vineyard and wines with the guests, “We made our first wine in 2000 and have experimented over the years, testing techniques and blends, learning more about our grapes, our soil, our preferences. Each harvest has a story to tell.”

Via: NapaValleyRegister

It is easy to give credit for the success of Le Manoir to the reputation of its proprietor and the laurels his restaurant has earned over the years. Raymond Blanc, the proprietor attained the first of his Michelin stars at his original restaurant, Les Quat’ Saisons, in Oxford way back in the 70s. He honed his skills in his rough and ready restaurant and added the Manoir to the Quat’ Saisons in 1984. He could offer accommodation to his diners in the smart surroundings of an Oxfordshire manor house.

Like his restaurant, in Le Manoir also you will see attention to detail, bold ambition, unexpected delight and enduring memories. On your arrival you are requested for some thoughtful details – like you prefer a duvet or blankets? Do you have any allergies? The staff is impeccably dressed, warmly friendly and eager to provide personalized service.

The surrounding of the hotel is as thoughtfully laid out. The lawns are immaculate lined with lavender. There is a large kitchen garden, a Japanese water garden with arching trees and a pagoda. A mushroom valley is taking shape and in another corner an enormous orchard is taking root. The idea is to have at least one corner thriving whatever the time of the year.

Asia is fast emerging as a great market for old wines. Sotheby held a very successful auction a few weeks back and is now all set to host another one in Hong Kong in October. This would be the sixth phase of Classic Cellar From a Great American Collector. More than 400 bottles from the famed Chateau Petrus will be up for grabs. This happens to be the biggest Petrus collection being offered at any auction. Till now, the single-owned collection has garnered a very impressive sum of HK$200 million (US$26 million).

Serena Sutcliffe MW, Worldwide Head of Wine at Sotheby’s, said, “The previous auction offerings from this cellar have been fiercely fought over by collectors from around the world and I am sure that the enthusiasm will continue for the wines in this sale. The last decades in Bordeaux have seen a striving for ultimate quality that is truly impressive, involving investment, intelligence and inspiration. The result is magnificent, consistent wines that give optimum pleasure.”

“The wines from this outstanding collection were acquired at the outset of their lives and have been impeccably stored – they are the flawless diamonds of our business. We bring them to you in complete confidence that they are perfect examples of Bordeaux’s Best.” I am sure they are. This auction will also see wines from the Lafite, Mouton Rothschild, and Latour estates.

The Fuchun Resort near the Fuchun River near Hangzhou looks like something out of a classic 14^th century Chinese landscape painting. It really is something unbelievable. And not surprisingly, the Leading Hotels of the World has added it into its elite ranks. This picturesque resort is located on a mountain lake that is surrounded by beautiful wooded hillsides and has the Fuchun peaks as its backdrop.

The Fuchun Resort has 160 rooms divided between several buildings and villas that are interspersed in the property. Some of these villas have indoor pools and private balconies that add to its charm. This place is a perfect amalgamation of contemporary and classic Chinese designs. The look is obviously reminiscent of the bygone days, but the amenities are as modern as can be.

For food, there is the Asian Corner that features a variety of Chinese specialties; Club 8 that serves both Asian and western delicacies all day long and the Lake Lounge & Bar. For your entertainment and exercise, you can try their tennis courts, golf course, spa and the state of the art fitness centre. It seems like a place that would take you away from the busy city life and offer you a peaceful and relaxed stay.

High-end British lingerie designer Agent Provocateur has come out with its latest fall collection, which they are calling “lavish and luxurious”. By the looks of it, their pieces are surely designed to inspire desire. One of their most interesting piece is called the “Maddy”, which you can see in the above picture has an intricate design with intertwined laces that is combined with eye-catching fuchsia silk.

The other designs have the ever so sexy leopard print. Many designs in this collection are inspired by the style of the 1950s as well as the glamour of 1930s Hollywood. Keeping up with its sexy image, the promotional campaign for the collections looks amazing. It has a voyeuristic theme and looks like a “homemade” videoclip, and a very sensuous one at that. Now here is some trivia regarding the video. It was directed by music video director Johan Renck, who has also directed Kylie’s “Love At First Sight” and Beyoncé’s “Me, Myself And I” music videos.

The collection includes some jaw-dropping nightdresses, slips, corsets, kimonos, garter belts and some very very skimpy “playsuit”. The company was founded in 1994, and has created a name for itself for creating some gorgeous lingerie.

Via: GQ-Magazine

The Hilton Hotels has terminated the franchise it had given to the owners of the hotel, Shubh Hotels Pittsburgh LLC. The company spokesperson said that the reason for this was “due to violations of the franchise license agreement.” Jai Lalwani, an associate of Shubh Hotels owner Atul Bisaria Boca Raton, Fla., on the other hand blamed the hotel’s recently fired manager, Fairfax, Va.-based Crescent Hotels & Resorts, for creating this trouble for the owners, saying “Crescent failed the scores and plotted with all.”

This means that the property will no longer be able to carry the Hilton name. This would be a setback for the owners as Hilton is a well known and well respected brand name, and that is always helpful for the success of a hotel. The trouble between the Crescent Hotels and the Shubh Hotels started when the latter accused the former of scheming with the property’s mortgage holder, BlackRock Inc to acquire the property.

The Shubh hotel has been in trouble for the past few years mostly due to non-payment of dues. They had started a renovation project under P J Dick, who walked out due to non-payment of his costs. The people at Shubh Hotels will definitely try to sort things out, but the matter seems closed from the Hilton’s side.

Via: PittsburghLive