When you buy Henri IV Cognac bottle, you get a collectible piece of art with precious metals & the most high quality cognac in the world.

- Cognac Dudognon heritage Henri IV, gold & pure silver bottle

- 30 years old

- limited edition 100 bottles for all the world

- 12,500 euros / per bottle

______________________________________________

- just one bottle, cognac Dudognon Henri IV

pure gold bottle, 40 years old price 125,000 euros

______________________________________________

- just one bottle, cognac Dudognon Henri IV

Platinum & White gold, 50 years old price 180,000 euros

Chambord Liqueur is a raspberry based liqueur with 16.5%abv / 33 proof. It is made from an over 320 year old recipe dating back to 1685 when Louis XIV visited Château de Chambord in the Chambord region of France and supposedly was one of his favorites, among that of other nobility who had the good taste to enjoy it as well. From what I can gather during much research it contains framboise noires (small black raspberries), red raspberries, blackberries, currants, herbs and spices, (including Chambord Liqueur is a raspberry based liqueur with 16.5%abv / 33 proof. It is made from an over 320 year old recipe dating back to 1685 when Louis XIV visited Château de Chambord in the Chambord region of France and supposedly was one of his favorites, among that of other nobility who had the good taste to enjoy it as well. From what I can gather during much research it contains framboise noires (small black raspberries), red raspberries, blackberries, currants, herbs and spices, (including cinnamon and cloves) steeped in cognac, and sweetened with Acacia honey.

Chambord comes in a perfectly round bottle with just enough of a flat base for it to stay upright, and has a golden belt around its waist saying "Chambord Liqueur Royale. Then it has and two golden epaulets rising from the belt to a golden collar around its neck, all decorated with filigree, and finally it is capped with a golden crown. The shape is based on the orb topped with a cross from medieval times called the Globus cruciger to show its royal nature and connections.It is a deep purple red in color, and has a medium body with quite a low alcohol level for a liqueur, so the texture is that of very light syrup. I think it has enough honey in it to qualify as a crème de framboise . The aroma is that of ripe, ripe, tart and sweet raspberries with the addition of a round fruit smell with a deep berry base, and a strong follow up of herbs and fruit that seem to form all the notes of fine chocolate. Interestingly enough the taste comes across as not too sweet, a mixture of fresh raspberries and gourmet raspberry preserves giving both a fresh and slightly simmered taste to it that is wonderful, and then somehow I get hints of premium chocolate truffles and a finale of wildflower honey. This is a refined and smooth raspberry liqueur, with a well rounded taste and a solid finish and I can unqualifyingly say it is superb, and this from someone who doesn't particularly care that much for raspberries.

I enjoyed it straight, on the rocks, paired with champagne or white wine, and in cocktails and punch. It is also fantastic with deserts, such as drizzled over sponge cake, ice cream, and in an English Trifle. Use it anywhere you want to add a nice splash of ripe, tangy berries. It is all natural with no preservatives, which means that it should be drunk within six months of opening, although I can't understand how anyone could have a bottle last that long.

"Salon is one of Champagne's true cult wines. There's just one wine here, an all-Chardonnay vintage brut made in only the best years from old vines in Mesnil and released only when the house deems it ready to drink..."

Situated in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs, the House of Champagne Salon produces only one Champagne, the Cuvée "S". This Champagne comes from a 2.5-acre vineyard owned by Salon (Le Jardin de Salon, or "Salon?s Garden") and from 19 smaller parcels representing 22.5 acres of vineyards in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, all chosen by founder Eugène-Aimé Salon early in the 20th century

Salvatore Calabrese at Bar FIFTY

"The Maestro"

Salvatore "The Maestro" Calabrese is one of the world?s leading bartenders whose performance arena is the glamorous Salvatore at FIFTY in London?s St James's. If all the world is a stage, then Salvatore's bar sure is one corner of it that guarantees entertainment and service of the highest level.

The Maestro
The man affectionately called "The Maestro" developed his talent for combining flavours at an early age while working in a bar in Maiori, a small village on Italy?s Amalfi Coast. In his 20s, Salvatore came to London to check out the sophisticated hotel bars, and gained a position at the Duke?s Hotel in St James?s. While at the Duke?s he began to develop a niche market for extra-special cognacs. This was the start of a concept he calls Liquid History. Salvatore then moved to the illustrious and luxurious Lanesborough Hotel in Knightsbridge, where he further developed his unique "host with the most" style.

New and old cocktails
From the start, it was a passion for the great classic cocktails that led him to recreate them for his guests. The Maestro also experimented with new liqueurs, both new and old spirits and fresh juices, culminating in exotic cocktails that have themselves become classics. For a fee, he will create a bespoke cocktail for you or a friend as the ultimate gift.

Salvatore Calabrese is the current President of the United Kingdom Bartenders? Guild, taking over from his good friend Peter Dorelli, who recently retired from the Savoy Hotel. Today, Salvatore Calabrese is active within the International bartenders? Association (IBA) and on the global stage, encouraging young bartenders to shake it more professionally through the UKBG?s training programs, while also appearing at national and international bartenders competitions as a judge and mentor.

This has a wonderful texture, and a bittersweet flavour from the marmalade.

A great aperitif before lunch.

5cl gin
1.5cl Cointreau
1.5cl fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon medium-slice orange marmalade

Pour all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Squeeze a thin twist of orange on top (this gives it that extra bouquet of orange)
and garnish with a thin spiral of orange.

Limited edition cognacs are always expensive but a new level may have been reached with the Louis XIII Black Pearl cognac which sells for $8,000 (the original Louis XIII sells for around $1,500). The new release will be limited to 786 bottles, the number of decanters that can be taken from one tiercon, the type of oak barrel used by Rémy Martin to age Louis XIII. The spirit is created from 1,200 eaux-de-vie aged 40 ? 100 years. The Louis XIII Black Pearl decanter is made of crystal that has a silvery gleam like polished hematite and the decanter is finished with platinum fleur-de-lis designs. Each decanter is numbered and purchasing is done by invitation only. The invitees have been given a private code that lets them log on to the Louis XIII Black Pearl website.

Forward-thinking beverage companies like Hint and O Beverages are bringing designer water to a store near you.

A recently launched line of bottle waters flavored with natural essences called Hint boasts cucumber as one of its flavors. The flavor is delicate, with the nose doing almost as much for the drinking experience as the tongue.

Since antiquity, the pomegranate has been an object of mysticism. With its delicious plump seeds and remarkable health benefits, it often appeared in early paintings as a symbol of hope, resurrection and eternal life. With this celebrated history, we took our time developing our Pomegranate Martini. The result is an inspired, sweet-tart blend of pomegranate, lemon juice and cane sugar that you are sure to enjoy for eternity.

Cape North Vodka the super premium which is the favorite of leading bars such as Cuckoo Club, Nobu and Mahiki in London, to name just a very few, secured their place in the final taste off of The Vodka Masters, an prestigious international competition to find the best super premium vodkas in the world.

The award was presented to Niklas Davidsson the Swedish founder of Cape North Vodka at The Cannes Duty Free Symposium on Monday this week.?We are really excited both trade press and competitions like this have recognized the unique quality of our vodka a combination of the purest virgin spring water from Sweden with single grain from France, distilled to perfection in small batches by the world?s leading micro distiller. This in combination of being the only family owned and operated vodka company has paid off. Cape North is a life style and an excessive search for perfection, not a brand. We live it.?

Corzo is a super-premium tequila from Bacardi. While on a tour and meeting with Bacardi years ago in Miami for a small freelance assignment I learned that the world's largest, privately held family-owned spirits company didn't have a successful tequila brand in their portfolio. It was hard to comprehend. No tequila? After a few years in development it looks as if Corzo will attempt to change that.