chopin

Chopin Launches New Premium Rye Vodka

Filed under: Spirits

High-end vodkas may be commonplace today, but they've really only been around since the late 1990s. That's when Grey Goose came to market, when Belvedere first debuted and when Chopin made its premiere.

Now some fourteen years after Chopin potato vodka first appeared, the Polish craft distillery is launching a new product: Chopin Rye. Distinguished by its red label, Chopin Rye Vodka is distilled, as you might have guessed, from rye grains instead of potatoes like its black-labeled sister product.

The new ultra-premium spirit (named after the famous composer) has been on the market in Poland for years, but is only now reaching the United States, where it will launch at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival later this month.

Source

Tags: chopin, chopin rye, chopin rye vodka, chopin vodka, rye, rye vodka, vodka

Seven Heavens: Jonathon Ramsey's Year of Empyrean Experiences

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits, Luxury Cars & Autos, Sports, Men's Style

"Every day above ground is a good day" is the saying, and it depends entirely on how much latitude you give the definition of "good." There are other days, however – certain days, special days – that cannot be denied their inclusion in the ranks of The Best of the Good Ones. While we have no problem admitting that even the least among our days on the job are still pretty good, there are others that clearly and simply take their places at the front of a very competitive line. In no particular order, then, here are seven places and pleasures that have meant the most to us in 2010.

Tags: chopin, gumpert apollo, jochen70, lake okareka lodge, mammoth mountain, rizk ra, rolls-royce, wales

Continue reading “Seven Heavens: Jonathon Ramsey's Year of Empyrean Experiences”

Frederique Constant Homage To Chopin Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

When making a watch in honor of a popular person or figure, I always advise people to find someone that is a non threatening household name, and that no longer is alive and has no copyright issues attached with their name of work. For that reason, long dead classical music composers whose music is in the public domain work quite nicely. And here you though Frederique Constant was simply trying to make a watch you could get for your youngster after they successfully completed their first piano recital.

The watch is known as the Frederique Constant Limited Edition Chopin, and will be available in two limited edition versions of 1,810 pieces each. The difference between the two is that one has a 40mm wide steel case, while the other has a 40mm wide yellow gold plated steel case. The yellow gold plated version is matched to a brown crocodile textured leather strap, while the steel version has a black one. What is so Chopin about the watch? Well, Frederique Constant says that the inner marker scale is meant to look like piano keys. I guess they sort of do, but barely anyone would think that unless Frederique Constant had to point that out. While in a totally different price category, Audemars Piguet does piano key watches better with its special Millenary models. The Chopin watch does however arrive in a box that is a miniature piano - that has got to go for something. Would be cool if it was a functioning miniature piano.

Like all good classic looking watches the dial is silvered and have some nice guilloche machine engraving with Roman numeral hour markers. Inside the watch is a Frederique Constant FC-303 automatic movement (probably an ETA 2824 or similar). The watch has sapphire crystal front and back, and should be available soon. Price is likely to be in the $2,000 range.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com

Tags: chopin, frederique constant, limited edition, piano, watch

Chopin to Auction World's Largest Bottle of Vodka, Signed by Celebs

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Events, Charity

Chopin, the small-batch ultra-premium potato vodka from Poland named in honor of the famed composer, has created the world's largest bottle of vodka to be signed by celebs and auctioned off for charity. The 200-liter behemoth, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Polish composer's birth, was just unveiled at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) where Sandra Bullock (above) was the first to affix her signature. Bullock won the Festival's American Riviera Award, presented by Chopin and established to recognize an actor who has had a strong influence on American cinema. Past recipients include Mickey Rourke, Tommy Lee Jones and Forest Whitaker. The signed 200-liter bottle will now tour the U.S. and then be auctioned off with proceeds going to The GRAMMY Foundation's Music Preservation Project. The lucky winner will get to have one hell of a party.

Tags: Chopin, Frederic Chopin, FredericChopin, Poland, Sandra Bullock, SandraBullock, Santa Barbara, SantaBarbara, vodka

Princely Renovations Stopped in Paris

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

If you ever decide to purchase a historic home in Paris and give it a few updates beware of the power of the Parisians. Prince Abdullah Bin Abdullah Al-thani of Qatar purchased a 17th century mansion back in 2007 for $88 million with plans to spend $50 million more in renovations. When word leaked that he intended to add 21st century amenities such as an elevator, central air and an underground parking garage the locals were able to secure a court order to halt his progress. Known to have housed Chopin while writing his musical masterpieces as well as Voltaire's mistress, the historically prominent property needs to be both preserved and cared for by a wealthy investor if it ever hopes to be restored to its prior glory. I don't know anything about restoring old properties but I'd be happy to keep an eye on things as a resident!

Check out Jared's post and gallery of this historic site too!

Source

Tags: chopin, hotel lambert, HotelLambert, paris, parisian mansion, ParisianMansion, prince, prince abdullah, PrinceAbdullah, qatari prince, QatariPrince, voltaire