Smartbuy issue July 27, 2011

Smartbuy Business Line

G A D G E T S

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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

A U T O |

L U X U R Y

Driving the Ghost... ...or was I being driven by it?

Page 7

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WHAT’S HOT this week

Team Smartbuy Editorial

Starry airs

Anushya Mamtora anushya@thehindu.co.in

Vertu Constellation Quest Carbon Fibre

Archana Achal archana.a@thehindu.co.in

Ketaki Bhojnagarwala ketaki@thehindu.co.in

Mahananda Bohidar mahananda@thehindu.co.in

Luxury just got bolder. The Vertu Constellation Quest is now available in a carbon fibre body, strong enough to take down the competition. The luxury handset features a matte black PVD body with detailing in polished stainless steel or 8 carat gold. The navigation key is finished in polished black PVD, as is the turn key, flash and lens surrounds that form the essential design DNA of the Constellation. The handset comes with exclusive services such as Vertu Concierge, Vertu City Brief and Vertu Select.

To be announced

S. Muralidhar muraliswami@thehindu.co.in

Design Bryan Gaughan aqua@thehindu.co.in

Balakrishnan designkbala@thehindu.co.in

Advertising Contact R.Diwakar ramdiwakar@thehindu.co.in

Web Advertising Contact N. Amarnath amarnath@thehindu.co.in

www.blsmartbuy.com Become a fan of our Facebook page: BL Smartbuy Follow us on Twitter

Cover Photo: S. Muralidhar

A petite portable

Dock and go!

Samsung NC110

Asus EEE Pad Transformer

Weighing just 1.18 kg, the NC110 is the first 3G-enabled netbook from Samsung. Samsung’s Fast Start feature can wake up the netbook from sleep mode within seconds of opening the display or pressing the power button. The netbook sports a 10.1-inch anti-reflective LED screen that eliminates glares and an island-style keyboard with optimised key spacing, making it easy to use and clean.

Rs 21,500

One of a kind in the market right now, the Asus Transformer is a tablet that doubles up as a notebook when docked into its station.

Weighing about 680gm and powered by NVIDIA Tegra 2 Dual core processor, the Transformer browses the web at blazing speeds, providing a snappier response time and better performance when multi-tasking. The tablet works on Android Honeycomb and incorporates a 3.5mm audio jack, two USB ports as well as a built-in SD Card reader in a 13-mm thin body.

Rs 32,999

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July 27, 2011

Feed your Facebook addiction

HTC ChaCha The HTC ChaCha is the company’s very own Touch or Type smartphone, featuring a 2.6-inch touch screen and full QWERTY keypad. For all you social networking fans out there, the dedicated Facebook button allows you to share almost anything with a single touch. You can even use Facebook chat and get birthday alerts of all your FB friends. The phone features a 5-meg rear camera with autofocus and LED flash, as well as a front facing VGA cam. The ChaCha runs on Android 2.3 and features HTC Sense UI. Rs 15,990

For the wishlist

Acer Aspire Timeline X series Acer’s thin and lightweight Timeline X series of notebooks feature HD widescreen LED backlit displays with 16:9 aspect ratio – perfect for watching videos. They feature an Intel Core i5 Dual Core processor, the latest Nvidia G540M graphics card, 4GB RAM and a 500GB hard disk.

Connectivity options include a DVD writer, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HDMI and USB ports, 5-in-1 card reader and 1.3-meg webcam. A chiclet keyboard with multi-touch trackpad makes them perfect for work or play.

Rs 32,999 onwards

The perfect shot

Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR This digicam from Fujifilm features an advanced EXR CMOS sensor for excellent picture quality. The 16-meg camera has a 24x720mm (30x) zoom lens, giving you all the benefits of a DSLR without having to spend a bomb.

You can choose from a wide range of scene modes, or use the manual functions. The camera is also capable of Full HD recording.

Rs 26,999

TABLET accessories

Amzer Foldo Ideal for the jetsetter and backpacking bums, this uber-flexible stand is designed for use with a variety of tablets like the Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Archos, Dell Streak, BlackBerry Playbook as well as e-readers from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The desktop stand lets you watch movies, read an eBook, surf the web, conduct a presentation or view photos hands-free with its foldable easel-type stand.

BlackBerry PlayBook Starter Bundle If the PlayBook is what you are splurging on this year, make sure you don’t miss the Starter Bundle to complete the package. The Pack includes the BlackBerry Charging Pod (this, apart from the regular charger included in the box). This is a must-have because it charges the PlayBook two times faster than the standard BlackBerry charger. The PlayBook leans on the dock so you can sit back and watch movies, stream videos, browse through your pictures or surf the web.

And when you aren’t doing any of the above, you can flaunt the premium-grade leather Envelope built with a custom, patterned lining on the inside and a magnetic clasp to keep your PlayBook safe.

Portfolio case for Motorola Xoom The Portfolio case for Motorola Xoom not only protects your tablet while on the go but also makes for a good prop-against stand. The grooves in the Portfolio allow you to position the tablet at a convenient angle. Also available from Motorola is the Speaker HD dock that’ll let you charge, watch TV and movies in HD, or listen to music without having to attach external speakers to the Motorola Xoom. This dock also includes an HDMI port for convenient viewing or working on a larger screen.

Logitech Wireless Speaker for iPad This rechargeable, battery powered Bluetooth speaker from Logitech is perfect if you’re watching a movie on your iPad and don’t want to plug in a pair of earphones. The sleek unibody speaker provides rich, stereo sound from the two-inch drivers. The internal battery delivers up to 10 hours of listening time, and the compact size allows it to fit perfectly into your laptop bag or travel case. There’s a standard 3.5mm audio aux which lets you hook up practically any music player. You can pair it to your iPad, iPhone or iTouch via Bluetooth and place it anywhere within a range of 50 feet.

Belkin MatteScreen If you’re worried about scratching your brand new tablet’s touch screen, Belkin has come up with a way to keep your woes at bay. The MatteScreen is a transparent overlay that fits on top of your 7-inch tablet, protecting the screen without compromising on the touch experience.

The matte finish reduces unwanted glare and makes it easier to view the screen under harsh light sources. The product comes packaged with three screen overlays, a cleaning wipe and smoothing card.

iPad Camera Connection Kit

Touch up your tablet

The iPad 2 Smart Cover isn’t the only snazzy tablet accessory you can get off the shelves today. Whether you’re an Apple or Android fan, we’ve got a list of the coolest accessories that are sure to improve your tabbing experience

If your biggest gripe with the iPad is the fact that it doesn’t offer good connectivity options, this official camera connector might just solve your problems. The kit ships with two connectors that plug into your iPad’s dock connector port, one with a USB port and another with a SD card slot. Once you make the connection, your iPad will automatically open the Photos app, letting you choose which photos and videos you want to import, and then organising them into albums. Standard photo formats like JPEG and RAW and video formats like MPEG-4 and H.264 are supported.

Samsung Keyboard Dock

Just Mobile AluPen

To pair the Samsung Galaxy Tab (both 7-inch and 10-inch versions), the company has a comfortable, soft touch keyboard. You can securely station your tablet in the keyboard dock that doubles up as a charging unit. Plug in your favourite speakers or home stereo system into the 3.5mm jack to listen to the media stored in your Galaxy Tab. The 83-key keyboard includes Android hot keys that give you one touch access to features like internet, e-mail, music and video controls. While on the move, you can couple it with the Galaxy Tab Vehicle Mount to make use of GPS Navigation and stay updated with traffic alerts.

This crayon shaped stylus from Just Mobile is designed to work perfectly with your capacitive touch screen device. With an aluminium body and soft rubber nib, the AluPen allows for a smooth writing and drawing experience. It’s compatible with all drawing and painting apps for the iPad and iPhone, and is the perfect accessory to help you unleash your creativity.

Apart from the regular silver, the AluPen comes in five other funky colours like black, red, yellow, green and pink. Also included is an imitation leather slip case.

PROJECTOR review

Ketaki Bhojnagarwala hey say history repeats itself, but rarely does that trend apply to technology. A product that was immensely popular a few decades ago has undergone a major makeover, and today, projectors are the new must-have addition to your home theatre systems.

BenQ is one of the leading manufacturers of projectors, and their new range of home theatre projectors go from basic to ultra high-end. We spent a few weeks testing the BenQ W710ST, a short-throw, HD DLP home theatre projector.

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Short throw for the long run

Getting started Unlike the bulky projectors that are gathering dust in your parents’ attic, the W710ST is relatively compact and lightweight. It comes pre-packed in a handy carrying case, with pockets for your connecting cables, making it easy to set it up virtually anywhere. It has a large offering of connectivity options, but unfortunately only ships with a power cord and a VGA cable.

In glossy white and dark grey, the projector is an attractive addition to your home theatre. Apart from the Computer in jack, the rear panel also has ports for Composite Video in, S-Video in, Component Video in, Audio in, Audio L/R in, Audio out, HDMI (x2), Mini USB and RS232.

The projector also has a 10W speaker, which isn’t loud or powerful enough for a movie watching experience, but good enough for when you don’t have another option.

Our verdict

Setting up Connecting the projector was a really easy affair with most media devices. We hooked it up to a DVD player via Component, and after plugging in the power cable we were good to go. The user interface was really easy to navigate, both from the controls at the top as well as the provided remote control. We also connected it to a regular PC via the VGA cable, and although images displayed clearly, you might have to adjust the volume settings on your computer if

offer in its home theatre range. Although this high brightness level means you can watch videos even where there is an external light source, you might want to reduce brightness and use it in a darkened room to conserve lamp life. The projector also offers an impressive contrast ratio of 10,000:1. There’s a large range when it comes to screen size as well – 35-inch to 300-inch, depending on projection distance and zoom level. Because this is a short throw projector, you can get a screen size of about 60 inches at a distance of just one metre from the projecting surface.

The projector offers a lamplife of 4,0006,000 hours in Normal/Economic mode, which means that you won’t have to change the lamp for at least a few years, based on normal usage. Native resolution is 720p (HD), so if you’re looking for a Full HD projector you might want to consider the W1200 or W1100. The projector is also 3D ready, so you can play your 3D videos and experience the effect with 3D glasses (these ship as an optional accessory).

Videos and TV soaps played through the W710ST were crisp and clear, and colour reproduction was true to life and replicated from the original source. We didn’t face issues with tinted yellow or green frames, which is a problem faced with a lot of other projectors.

you want to use the projector’s speaker.

Although there is a mini USB port at the rear, you won’t be able to connect up your laptop through that, as the projector doesn’t recognise the source.

The front side houses a zoom ring (upto 2x zoom) as well as a focus ring, which you can adjust to achieve clarity. We found that

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using the projector for extended periods caused the lens to get really hot, so you’ll have to make sure that the projector has enough breathing room when you set it up.

Experience The W710ST has a brightness of 2,500 ANSI lumens, which is one of the highest on

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The BenQ W710ST is a great option if you’re an avid movie watcher or gamer.

With a good range of connectivity options, it is compatible with most devices. We played media from a TV, Blu-Ray player and a laptop. The only downside is the price tag, which at Rs 55,000, might be a big investment for your home theatre system, particularly if you are still going to be attached to your flat panel display.

Love: Compact size, good connectivity options Hate: Pricey, not many connectivity cables included Rs 55,000 ketaki@thehindu.co.in

AUTO focus

Luxury’s first resort

Photos: S. Muralidhar

S. Muralidhar he aura of a Rolls-Royce ‘motor car’, as being the ‘Pinnacle of Luxury’ would seem like the handiwork of a maverick marketing brain. The aura has been cultivated meticulously over many decades and it is so central to the brand that ‘Luxury’ will almost always be the first attribute that anyone will ever think of when they talk of a Rolls-Royce.

In fact, the RR image has acquired generic proportions and references like ‘this is the Rolls-Royce of pens’ or ‘the Rolls-Royce of watches’ are common now. But, you have to step into the Phantom or the new Ghost to truly understand the lengths to which the Rolls-Royce brand’s previous and even current owners go to maintain its reputation as the world’s most prestigious car brand.

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Perfect interiors From the picky, crazy, attention to detail that RollsRoyce’s designers and handcrafters bring to the brand to

reflect its penchant for supreme quality and luxury, it would seem that they all suffer from some kind of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder).

Consider this: to ensure that the leather used for the seats and trim is flawless, it is only sourced from bulls free of any previous history of serious disease and which have been raised in pastures free of barbed wire, so that there are no imperfections.

The wood trim used in the Phantom and the Ghost are all handcrafted. An entire set for one car takes 30 days to produce and pieces are chosen to have a mirror image effect throughout the car. Each car has its own unique identity and Rolls-Royce even keeps an archive of veneers from every log of wood ever used to build its cars, which means a car requiring repair years later could still have matching veneers!

To be sure that there is no ambiguity about the level of luxurious attention to detail lavished on even the most mundane, you just have to look up at the headliner in a

new ‘Rolls’. The lining on the underside of the car roof is made of ninety per cent pure wool from Australia and ten per cent cashmere from North China. Lambs wool from California is used for the rugs.

And then there are the famous Teflon-coated umbrellas that are integrated within the front doors and are kept dry to make sure that the VIP being escorted from the back seat doesn’t get wet from the rain dripping off the tips.

How did they do that? Housed within the cylindrical slot where the umbrella is stored is an air channel that has been designed in way to allow a steady stream of warm air, which dries the umbrella in minutes!

Classic build, contemporary touches I was test driving the Ghost in Mumbai last week and the monsoon had picked up pace. The sales manager from Rolls-Royce’s dealership had assured me that I would be safe even if there was a raging storm outside – not because of the dry umbrella, but because every Rolls is put through

a Monsoon test (very aptly named). The test involves every Rolls-Royce car being subjected to a 30-minute deluge. If, after the test, the total amount of ‘moisture’ in the car exceeds one drop of water, it is sent back to the production line for corrective action!

The Ghost is the latest Rolls model, which from concept stage made it to the roads in September 2009. Along with the Phantom Drophead coupe, the Ghost is an embodiment of the remarkable ability of this historic brand to reinvent itself to be relevant today despite its legacy and at the same time without giving up on its heritage.

Though it is targeted at the tie-wearing royalty of today and so is more practically sized and loaded with tech, the Ghost too is a true Roll-Royce in every way. Retaining the core values that make this marquee unique, the Ghost has been designed and kitted out to carry forward the RR signature and offer the same level of luxury and refinement that the predecessors have been known for.

It incorporates the classic Rolls design cues – the elevat-

ed prow, the long bonnet, short front overhang, sharply raked A-pillar and the elegant, yet strong tail. In keeping with the modern interpretation that the Ghost was meant to be, Rolls-Royce designers and engineers have added contemporary touches like the self-righting wheel centres, in which the RR logo always stands upright, the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot which electronically retracts into the bonnet and the new version of the brand’s famous Parthenon bonnet grille.

The Ghost is meant for younger Indian buyers, but I can hazard a guess that they would still want to be chauffeured around. So, while in Mumbai I chose that experience too.

Sitting back and sinking into the leather seats, I make do with Evian in the absence of Champagne. The cabin is extremely silent and the airconditioning discreet, but very effective. But, it is also only at the rear that I sense the central purpose of a Rolls-Royce’s design – to make the occupants cosseted and comfortable.

The Ghost features the same, traditional rear-hinged

coach doors that are a RR specialty and which have made elegant entry and easy exit for royalty for years. In the Ghost, they open to a generous 83 degrees. Some have also referred to this style of coach doors as ‘suicide doors’. Even as I recall that, Rolls-Royce officials tell me it is to the contrary, because in a Rolls-Royce, the doors protect privacy and the person even after they are opened.

Apparently, a famous current day R&B singer and Hollywood actor discovered this after she stepped out of a Rolls and was saved from getting trampled by paparazzi thanks to the two open doors acting like barriers. There is no better car to step out on to the red carpet. Once in, you can close these doors at the touch of a button.

Inside the Ghost and at the rear, the high shoulder line, the lounge rear seat ensures privacy and intimacy. The rear seat is positioned behind the C-pillar for more privacy and the mild curve of the seat allows the passengers to turn more easily towards each other. Individual lounge seating is offered as an alternative to the standard lounge config-

explained. There is absolutely no lurching or rash acceleration, even when you stomp the throttle.

The acceleration is immediate and strong, and yet, you just don’t get pinned to the back rest. Like Rolls-Royce says, power arrives in an elegant way that some have described as being designed to lower the pulse, not raise it.

There is so much power on tap at any point on the drive that it felt like I wasn’t testing it well enough.

The feature I liked was the power Being the one The Ghost weighs nearly two and a half tonnes, but it is no reserve gauge lolumbering elephant. It is the most powerful car ever pro- catduced by Rolls-Royce. Powered by a brand new 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 engine that is unique to the Ghost, it produces 563 bhp of peak power – enough to cross the 100 kmph mark on the odo within 4.7 seconds. There is a total of 780Nm of peak torque on tap from as low as 1,500 rpm.

The transmission paired with the direct injection engine is an eight-speed, shift-by-wire, automatic ZF gearbox. But, you have to experience the remarkable driving dynamics that these equipment bring to the Ghost, it can’t be easily uration. This is said to allow additions like a massage function and also perforated leather for a cool stream of air from the seat to keep royal butts (possibly even insured for millions) comfortable.

Rolls-Royce was the original automobile which was offered with a mind-boggling variety of bespoke options. You can pretty much have everything changed to suit your tastes and preferences. Leather, wood, metal, plastic, lighting, badging etc., all of these can be customised. Frosted lamps, chrome door handles, traditional violin key switches, eyeball air vents, frosted white dials and deep pile carpets are all trademark Rolls-Royce signatures inside the Ghost that I was driving.

ed on the fascia with the rest of the instrument cluster.

Replacing the common rev counter, this gauge shows the amount of power you are using up at any point during the drive. I was weaving through Mumbai traffic in the rain and letting loose the horses on short stretches. Accelerating up to about 110 kmph, I observed that the engine still had about 60 per cent of its power in reserve!

The Rolls-Royce Ghost shares only about 20 per cent of its parts with the BMW 7-Series, a clarification which put to rest some of the early speculation about its uniqueness.

It is loaded with as much technology for safety and userfriendliness as the 7-Series, including a variation of BMW iDrive. Yet, the Roll-Royce touch of class is very distinct.

The Ghost’s suspension is both practical and accommodating to make sure that the passengers at the rear never get to feel the road. The new intelligent, four-cornered air suspension system is so sensitive, that its complex computer system reads multiple inputs from sensors around the car and the dampers alone make individual load calculations every 2.5 milliseconds.

For the Indian luxury car buyer, the Rolls-Royce Ghost can be the third or fourth car in the garage, though it will probably quickly become the primary choice. If you aren’t possessed by one yet, be done with your boy’s toys and come home to the Ghost. Your dad will approve of it. muraliswami@thehindu.co.in

MELANGE luxury redefined

Vivacious verbena

A snowy tribute

From the garden bed to the dressing room, the pretty verbena turns into an exotic fragrance in L’Occitane’s limited edition Sun Verbena collection. Available as perfume, face mist, fragrance mist and gloss at its outlets.

Rs 825 onwards

In pristine white, Mont Blanc the brand crafts an exclusive ode to Mont Blanc the mountain. Limited edition accessories, elegant pieces of jewellery and the Montblanc Meisterstuck writing instrument, take your pick at its boutiques across India.

Price on request

Stylish footwear Casual slip-ons, boots, Moccasins and more, Samsonite’s limited edition shoes for men are interesting in their design and easy style. Available at its showrooms.

Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000

Steely beauty The Burberry punch

Revlon’s latest is its Heavenly Metal collection for a dramatic makeover. The range includes a Luxurious Color Smoky Crayon for the eyes, Metallic Nail Enamel in bold shades and ColorStay Overtime Lipcolor in six hues.

Available at lifestyle stores and cosmetic outlets.

Rs 130 to Rs 845

‘High-octane punch’ is what you get when you dab on Burberry Sport Ice. While women can enjoy some fresh and zesty floral notes, the men can waft of energising citrus and ice crystal blends.

Available at select lifestyle outlets.

Rs 4,030 each (75ml) and Rs 3,020 each (50ml)

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TECH interior

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h, the flotsam and jetsam of modern life.

From CDs – if you haven’t made the leap and digitised the lot – and Blu-rays to your 50-inch HD TV and iPod docking stereo, it all takes up vital lounge space. Artfully incorporate it all into your home with a bespoke shelving unit by Rossetto, combined here – of course – with a smattering of gadgets.

Stack your tech am

1. Watt a dock!

Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 8 A ten-watt repository for your iPad, iPod or iWhatever. Position it in the corner of the room, as pictured, and switch on the room-adaptation mode for optimum results.

Rs 92,000

2. Speak easy Monitor Audio Apex This slim, attractive 5.1 speaker system comes in black or white. The power of its four 100W satellites, 200W centre and 500W AW12 sub will rock you.

Rs 1,90,000

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3. Solid storage Rossetto wall unit Eight-foot tall and hewn from dark oak, this is one of Rossetto’s largest and most fetching storage units.

From `1,11,000 onwards

4. In sync Acer Revo RL100 This dual-core nettop takes all the music, movies and photos on your home network into your TV and/or sound system. A Blu-ray drive and 750GB storage should be more than adequate for all your needs.

Rs 40,000

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5. Cross connections Moshi Moshi 04 Still using your home phone? This can connect via Bluetooth to your smartphone or a laptop to VoIP it up.

Rs 11,000

6. Photo finish Kodak Pulse Email or stream photos from Facebook or the Kodak Gallery to this Wi-Fi-enabled, ten inch digital photo frame.

Rs 12,500

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7. Light delight

EXTR A S

Retrotouch light switch Controls up to three light fittings and has a stylish glass touch panel.

Rs 3,500

Oeuf the hook!

Arne Jacobsen-Style Egg Chair Arne Jacobsen’s Egg Chair was originally created for the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel in 1957. Following the original design to the letter, these reproduction chairs are hand stitched and feature a tilt and swivel mechanism. Choose from leather or danish wool in a wide range of colours.

Rs 44,000

Arc of Ages

Arco Floor Lamp

Italians Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni designed this arched lamp in 1962 and it has since been displayed at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art: a bona fide design classic, then. Standing 2.32m high, it has a topple-resistant marble and stainless steel base.

Rs 1,05,000

idst custom-built luxury

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This material is translated or reproduced from T3 magazine and is the copyright of or licensed to Future Publishing Limited, a Future plc group company, UK 2011. Used under license. All rights reserved

Coffee, anyone? Noguchi Table This black ash and glass coffee table is a reproduction of Japanese-American designer Isamu Noguchi’s 1944 classic, built for A. Conger Goodyear, then president of the New York Museum of Modern Art. Despite being 67 years old, it’s still about as sexy as tables get.

Rs 83,000

System addict, hardware habit Denon DBP-1611UD and Denon AVR-1911 The do-it-all DBP-1611UD can handle 3D, Bluray, DVD and streamed content via DLNA. It also gives you access to YouTube. Denon suggests you pair it with the AVR -1911, a 7.1 channel AV receiver with HDMI 1.4 for 3D content.

DBP-1611UD Rs 28,000 AVR-1911 Rs 33,000

A fiery end to a smooth Grappa

TASTER’S choice

Michael Swamy ne can talk for hours about Italian beverages, especially those rare jewels that have been emerging over the last decade.

Beverages like Grappa and liqueurs made using Grappa as a base are gaining ground worldwide.

The story of Grappa can be traced back to the Middle Ages where it was the drink of farmers. It was produced by travelling distillers who would traverse Italy’s northern territories and the Alps. Over the centuries, this alcoholic beverage has been refined and improved upon by wine distillers and commercial producers. Protected by law, it can be called Grappa only if produced wholly in Italy. Grappa is usually served as an afterdinner drink, and its taste could be best described as smooth and fiery.

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Bottega, a wine trader and oenologist began to develop the first single-variety Grappa. He shared his father’s passion for winemaking and apprenticed with the best master-distillers in Conegliano.

His expertise, combined with his entrepreneurial spirit, led him to set up his own distillery. In 1985, Aldo Bottega’s son Sandro began to use handcrafted Venetian Murano blown glass to bottle the doubledistilled Grappa Alexander.

The beautiful glass bottles were used by the family as a marketing tool to grab the attention of Grappa lovers everywhere. Today, the tasting room at Distilleria Bottega carries a selection of Grappas like Grappa Alexander, Grappa di Prosecco, Grappa di Moscato and Grappa di Nebbiolo. Also available for tasting is a selection of exquisite liqueurs like Sambuca, Galliano, Amaretto, Melon and Limoncello.

Savouring it best Making the Grappa

Photos: Pravin Pol

Grappa is made from the leftovers of the winemaking process, such as the skin and seeds of grapes. The juice produced is slow-distilled over a bain marie (water bath) and not directly over a flame. This is done to prevent the skin and seeds from burning and to achieve an alcohol content of 40 to 65 per cent. Initially, any and every grape variety was mixed to make Grappa. Three decades ago, a few distilleries took the decision to use only the best variety of grapes. The first Grappa of this varietal was made from Piccolit, a very rare grape variety from Colli Orientali, the Friuli region’s best white wine grape. Its flavour was much refined from previous varietals. The process needed to create Artisanal Grappas, which are made of single vintage grapes, such as Barolo, Amarone, Moscato and Chardonnay was soon crafted by estates like Poli, Francoli, Brunelli, Marolo. The Grappa Bianca is bottled immediately after distillation while the Reserve has a pale golden hue as a result of maturation in casks made of different woods. Some Grappas are made with a blend of spirits distilled from honey, fruit and herbs with hints of blueberry and lemon. These have intense flavours and a brown hue. Flavours are best sampled in tulip-shaped glasses which focus the aromas towards one’s nose.

Discovering Distilleria Bottega I believe that in order to know and fully appreciate a beverage, one needs to know its roots and my whirlwind trip to Milan, which included a visit to Distilleria Bottega only confirmed this. There are over a hundred producers of Grappa, but Distilleria Bottega, a company based in the picturesque town of Bibano di Godega, 50 km away from Venice in the Italian region of Veneto, produces a Grappa to look out for. I met with Alesandro Bottega who enlightened me on the history of his family-owned distillery. The Bottegas began their journey into the world of Grappa in the 1920s, when Domenico

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There are many ways to enjoy Grappa and it is best had at the end of a meal. Grappas are consumed as shots or added to an espresso to create the caffe coretto. In the Veneto region, one first downs the espresso and follows it up with a shot of grappa from the same cup in a practice called Resentin. There is a whole range of cocktails created with grappa to try out too, making it a much sought after drink in bars across Europe and the US. Although experts advise otherwise, Grappa is usually served chilled: a young Grappa at 9-13 degrees Celsius and a reserve at around 17 degrees Celsius.

As a lifestyle drink, Grappa is upmarket all the way. The delicate process of hand blowing bottles and the exquisite centrepieces in each bottle makes one realise that not only is the drink a masterpiece but the bottle is a collector’s item and a souvenir to cherish. What more can one ask, but to drink sensibly.

(The author is a Cordon Bleu Chef & Food Stylist)

Here are some Grappa cocktails you can shake up for your next bash.

Grappa apple and ginger martini 30ml Grappa 90ml apple juice 5ml ginger juice 20gm apple chunks Procedure: Muddle apple chunks, lime chunks and ginger chunks together with some white sugar in a cocktail shaker. Top with ice, Grappa and apple juice, shake and strain in a martini glass.

Garnish with apple slices.

Watermelon grappioska 30 ml Grappa 30 ml fresh watermelon juice 30 gm fresh watermelon Procedure: In an old fashioned glass, muddle watermelon chunks with lime chunks and raw sugar. Top with crushed ice, add Grappa and fresh watermelon juice. Mix properly and serve.

BEVERAGE launch

Double bonanza!

The warm, golden amber Dewar’s 18 Years Old Double-Aged scotch whisky is delectable in its sweet, mellow and floral notes, vanilla and toffee hints and long, soft and slightly dry finish.

Available at select wine shops across India.

Rs 5,750

A shot of summer Your summer bash just got better with the launch of the Sauza Party Kit. It contains an unique shot tray, shot glasses, a Sauza salt shaker and two bottles of Sauza Tequila. Grab some lemon wedges and you’re all set! Available only this summer at select international airports.

US $34

The perfect Raga Good Earth Winery adds two more wines to its Raga collection – Taal, a Cabernet Sauvignon based red wine and Tarang, a barrel-matured red wine made mostly from Shiraz grapes. Being ideal accompaniments to Indian cusine, Taal teams well with milder curries and ‘biryanis’ and Tarang can be paired with spicy Indian and Asian dishes.

Rs 975 (750 ml)

A whole new Blue Raising a toast this week was Johnnie Walker Blue Label that launched its new iconic luxury bottle. The new bottles are stylish with a light blue glass base and the monogram and Royal Warrant imprinted in rich gold. The boxes are beautifully crafted too.

Price on request

Smartbuy

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July 27, 2011