clear

Rémy Martin Releases First Clear Spirit, V

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

The cognac house of Rémy Martin ventures into new territory this September with V, the brand's first clear spirit.

V (pronounced "vee," a play on the French "vie," meaning "life") is a departure, not only in its composition but also its intent. The spirit is meant to be mixed as a base in cocktails, and Rémy Martin has paired with a NYC mixologist to offer several ways of how to do that. To achieve its clarity, V is produced using fall-harvested grapes from the house's crus in Cognac, which are then distilled in copper pot stills and blended. But instead of going into barrels for aging, this distillate is cold filtered (down to 14F) throughout the winter months and then left to mellow throughout the spring. It is only during the following summer that V goes into bottle and is ready for consumption. The result is a crystal-clear spirit with hints of pear and mint.

We'll avoid any "clearly" puns here and just say that at the moment we're looking forward to seeing how this release will be viewed.

(750ml; $40)

Tags: clear, cocktails, cognac, france, remy martin, spirits

Fly Clear Program Shuts Down

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services, Wings

There are a lot of angry frequent fliers today. Verified Identity Pass, the company that offered the Clear program has shut down. For an annual fee, Clear helped travelers skirt through faster airport security checkpoints. Members of the Clear program had to go through an intensive screening process and pay membership fees of 178 to $199 per year. Because the company is in bad financial straits, Verified Identity Pass is not issuing refunds.

The company said it wasn't able to negotiate a deal with its creditors, and its Clear fast-lane security check service stopped operations abruptly late Monday. More than a quarter million customers won't get refunds of membership fees that ranged from $178 to $199 per year and many people bought multi-year memberships. Some Clear members found out via e-mail but many did not learn that the program was over until they showed up at the airport.

The program was founded in 2003 by Steven Brill but he left the company in February when a group of investors took control. Many travelers are concerned about what happens to their identifying information. If the company files for bankruptcy protection and is sold off there is the faint possibility that creditors could argue that the information be sold to the highest bidder to pay creditors but this seems unlikely because the courts will likely protect customers.

One lingering question is whether or not this type of service can work in the future. Have the changes in the TSA and airlines made the service less of a draw? The AP quotes Air Transport Association spokesman David Castelveter who said that the service "provided no security benefit, and it charged you for what the TSA and the airlines gave you at no cost." Some Clear members say that the service saved them time and gave them a bit of relief from the hassles of the regular security lines. The loss of this program may make airline elite status programs and private jet charter options more appealing again to those looking for ways to fly with less stress.

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Tags: business travel, BusinessTravel, clear, fly clear, FlyClear, verified identity pass, VerifiedIdentityPass

Hideo Wakamatsu Skeleton Attache

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

For the person with absolutely no secrets, there is the Skeleton attache from Japanese designer Hideo Wakamatsu.The attache is made of strong panels of PETG which is the same material used on arcade games. The panels are framed in anodized aluminum. What a way to show off your favorite items. It is now on sale for $188.

[via Book of Joe]

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Tags: attache, briefcase, clear, hideo wakamatsu, HideoWakamatsu, luggage

Forgiato Radurra Wheels

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Using bezel setting, the same technique that allows a diamond to be suspended in a solitaire setting, Forgiato Radurra Wheels are suspended within the space of a tire that would normally be occupied by a traditional hubcap. It gives the impression that the wheel is simply floating in place on motorcycles and a clear view of the inner workings of the axle and breaks on a car. The clear, glass-like panel is actual made out of extremely hard polycarbonate and should stand up to at least as much impact as your car can. Prices start at about $5,000 per wheel.

[via scifi tech]

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Tags: car, clear, cllear, Forgiato Radurra Wheels, ForgiatoRadurraWheels, glass, motorcycle, wheels