January 27, 2012

Two Colours:Effortless

Are you thinking about sunnier skies? Me too. Happily, the big Easter get-away is just around the corner and warmer spring days are not that far away either. Anyone who has ever sweltered through a warm day in a suffocating heavier weight suit jacket knows that a little planning ahead goes a long way to achieving the luxurious style of a modern global traveller.

In the heat, the cool business option is often a suit, providing the suit is made from light-gauge, breathable fabrics such as merino wool, tropical wool, mohair, linen or poplin. The ideal thread count for spring summer cloth is 130-140; the ideal weight 240-280g. Get the weight and the colour right, and despite the heat, spring suits can be both elegant and practical.

Classic appeal is always elegant and refined, which is why, whatever the season, we champion the navy or grey suit. A simple two colour outfit, navy and white or grey and white, is a clean, mature and well put together look without any unnecessary distractions. For a fresh spring look, try replacing dark charcoal with a lighter grey spring-appropriate fabric and select a lightweight navy herringbone for subtle interest by way of texture. Fully lined, half lined or unlined, in the right fabric, this suit jacket can be extremely versatile.

The Perfect Accessory for Burns Supper

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I got to thinking…just as the best accessories perfectly complement a bespoke suit, what is the perfect whisky to enhance the flavour of Burns Night Haggis?

So, I turned for advise to our good friend, fellow Scot Annabel Kohler at The Macallan. The whisky connoisseurs amongst us may already know how to bring out the flavours of each Burns Supper course, for the rest of us, don't miss this excellent guide written by Annabel exclusively for Peter Johnston...

A Single Malt Burns Supper

It’s the time of year when Scots around the world celebrate Scotland’s favourite Bard Robert Burns. It is a time for us to celebrate our proud heritage and friendships. Traditions are always nice, but when it comes to whisky it shouldn’t just be about tradition, but about what you like, what works with the food of choice and of course what befits the moment and the celebration. So open your drinks cabinet and for this special day select some of your finest whiskies and rather than wine offer whiskies with your dinner. The traditional menu of Scotch Broth, Haggis, Neeps and Tatties and Scotch Trifle is a rich affair, so choose rich whiskies that will not fight with strong flavours, but compliment them. Don’t be afraid to create whisky cocktails and use ice in your dram. You should enjoy your whisky as you like it. So to kick off your celebrations why not offer your guests a warming Highland Fling cocktail:

2 shots Macallan Fine Oak 10 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

1 tea spoon Scottish heather honey

5 mint leaves

Warm the honey and put it into a short glass, add one shot of Macallan Fine Oak and stir until honey is dissolved, half fill the glass with crushed or cracked ice. Add the second shot of Macallan Fine Oak and the mint leaves, stir for 15 seconds. Fill the glass to the top with crushed or cracked ice and garnish with mint sprig.

Especially for the ladies it would be nice to offer the whisky in tasting glasses rather than heavy tumblers. They will also unfold each whisky’s aroma to its best advantage.

With the starter of Scotch Broth you can choose a lighter whisky. The Macallan Fine Oak 15 years old offers a beautiful balance of rich typical Sherry Oak flavours and a lighter citrusy flavour. It will work well with the barley and lighter vegetable flavours of the broth.

To toast the haggis asks for a malt that is not only robust in flavour but has real stature so no better than a Macallan Sherry Oak 18 years old. The rich flavours of spice, chocolate and orange will withstand the spice and weight of the haggis and add a sweet dimension that will be quite a surprise to your palate.

What to have with the sweet delight of a trifle dessert? The sweetness of custard and fruit can make it quite challenging to match a good whisky. So where you may normally choose a Muscat or Tokay why not try a Macallan Fine Oak 21 years old? It is intense and rich with hints of vanilla and orange and even a slight taste of peat.

To round off a perfect meal calls for the perfect whisky. A whisky that is close to perfection is the Macallan in Lalique 60 years old. It unfolds in so many directions as you drink it. Bold red fruit with a heavy flavour of oak, but also an intense sweetness make this a second dessert, more like a liqueur.

Put on some traditional Scottish music or enjoy the tunes of Franz Ferdinand – the only rule is it must be Scottish!

Sláinte!

January 19, 2012

Bespoke Velvet Smoking Jacket

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A beautifully tailored velvet smoking jacket is the perfect alternative to the DJ. Paired with conventional dinner trousers or trews and fine shirt, a bespoke smoking jacket is both comfortable and undeniably elegant.

The concept of an elegant jacket for evening entertaining has never been lost on the purveyors of good quality clothing and far from making rare appearances for a special occasions, the smoking jacket is embraced as an alternative type of formalwear that imparts at-ease stylishness.

Cut in classic dinner jacket styling, either single-breasted with shawl lapels and one-button closure, or double-breasted with one-, two- or three-button closure is traditional. Yet, as one would expect, a good bespoke smoking jacket will speak of your own personal style and taste. Shawl collar or peak lapels? Are they velvet or silk? The coat length? Braided loop closing? Lined in which colour and design?

Silk velvet is our cloth recommendation for bespoke smoking jackets; we have availability of some extraordinarily rich colours, notably deep midnight blue, and plush black. Silk enhances the colour and comfort of velvet cloth by adding depth, lustre and softness.

Its origins lie in the noble tradition of gentlemen exchanging their jackets for one used exclusively for smoking, thus protecting their other clothes from residual tobacco odors. Today, the smoking jacket is the dependable choice for those wanting an alternative, subtly different evening jacket yet still with classic luxurious style.