True, Russia is considered as the land of vodka, but it’s a tawny alcohol from France adds a spark of a Cognac Rush in the territory of hyper-rich oligarchs and aficionados. This occurrence is not driven by well-to-do Russians but also the emerging wealthy middle layers of society. Celebration of occasions doesn’t seem to be complete if the glaring bottle of crystal-encrusted cognac nestled with a fancy chest is not flowed. Not to forget the age and price of the cognac, which shares a directly proportional relationship.

Leading cognac brand Hennessy latest offering of ultra-Cognac-dream is Beauté du Siècle, an ornate treasure chest that comes packed with luxurious items, a Baccarat decanter carrying a blend of Cognac dated 1907. Counter 100 treasure chest are being designed by French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel and would go on sale for €150,000, or $220,000. The delivery with happen by a Hennessy board member personally. Also you can eye Hennessy’s Ellipse, a €7,000 Baccarat decanter that is an amalgam of Cognacs admired by seven generations of Hennessy’s blend-masters.

The four-big Cognac houses that rule Russia are Hennessy, dominating the minds of the people followed by Rémy Martin, Martell and Courvoisier combating for their share. Russia has reached to the pedestal of world’s No. 7 market for Cognac after a long race. It consumed around 5.3 million bottles during the year ending July, which is 49% more than the corresponding period a year ago.

Via IHT

A man glares at the 490 liter Grande Cuvee TBA NV No.7 2005 of Austrian wine maker Kracher during its presentation in the small Swiss town of Rehetobel, some 40 km (26 miles) from lake Constance.

Featured above is a world’s largest wine bottle certified by Guinness World Records that can accommodate wine analogous to 69,000 glasses of wine or 640 regular bottles. There is no word about what added to the exclusivity of the bottle but for sure it is not a mere box.

The proud owner of the bottle Austrian wine maker Kracher offered the bottle to a small Swiss town of Rehetobel. All my worry is how old is the wine? As they say the old it is the bitter it becomes.

Via Yahoo

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Featured above is a bottle of 1891 Livadia Red Port Wine, imprinted with the Tsar Nicholas II seal. Lavinia Brown, wine specialist of the auction house unpacks it from the case to offer you a wider view. The wine from the Massandra winery in the Crimea is to be auctioned in a sale scheduled for 28 November in London. It is anticipated that the wine might generate a sale of 3,474 to 4,169 euro (US$5,153 to 6,183 or 2,500 to 3,000 pounds).
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Someone has rightly said the identity of the successful person gets recognized when he is asked for autograph rather than signature. In Blogosphere, the dialysis occurs when a blog gets mature from a label of a baby blog to the pedestal of a majestic presence. Right on the heels of my expectations, I have managed to crack 500 posts (on EliteChoice) within less than a year (with first post on 9 January).

Ideally I should feature myself with a goblet of champagne but I take the opportunity to introduce my internal spirit to you. This two-legged beast is my mirror image who knows the right direction and cherish past with a present energy and looks forward to ink bigger deals in life (in terms of value as size doesn’t make a difference).

Besides my journalistic profession, I was committed to my bloggers’ desk throughout this year and never intended to beat big sharks like Luxist, LuxuryLaunches, UberGizmo, ShinyShiny, Bornrich, UberReview, Blavish and others but am glad that I earned the deserving recognition from them. Also, a three-month-young network with Elite Fashion Blog Bazaar Community is quite satisfying.

It was an exciting journey to chronicle the world of elite products and break the news on the board, respecting the prerequisite of a journalist and curiosity of my faithful readers. Gluing to my very first post that outlined the purpose of my blog, I am happy to set various laurels in that direction and am geared up to offer an unbeatable common-sense perspective on important topics/ products and events of the day.

I am glad to share with you that the onset of 2008 would mark our first anniversary with a lot more unique features on the cards. And yah from today I am all set to offer next 500 posts coming thick and fast.

This Time Three Cheers To Me And My Love:)

Following the last year tradition making a debut of a 50-year single malt Macallan in a Lalique decanter, this year they are all geared up and have flaunted the 55-year-old single malt and a novel carafe with a cork shaped like the Lalique Tiara perfume’s bottle plug.

It is dipped in color tub to suit the valuable stuff contained within it. Counted 420 decanters are being produced and each one sells $12,000.

Via Luxist

Likewise advertisers, winemakers are also following the golden rule of polishing the face of the brand, making it reach right eyes and ears within no time. The psychology of the customers is generated by the first impression or look and feel of the product. Realizing this, the latest production of new 2005 Mamietage wine portrays images of old-haute-chic viz. Mamie Van Doren.

The body of the bottle is covered with nude pictures in the form of peel-away stickers. There are counted three 1.5 liter bottles featuring two images of Mamie (one as she looks at present and other from her young 20’s). The wine is the blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot, Syrah and Malbec direct from the Alexander Valley and is packed in bottle by Healdsburg, California-based Armida winery. A pack of three bottles is retailed at $300. In terms of designer bottles, this has beaten the very look of world’s most expensive Wine Bottles.

Via Luxist

Another expensive whisky but no more another expensive brand! This is the magic and value of the signature from former president George H.W. Bush. The George Washington’s Straight Rye whiskey has generated a sum of $35,000 lately and all thanks to Bush. The highest bid was made by John R. Frank, vice chairman of Sidney Frank Importing Co., engaged in importing spirits such as Tommy Bahama rum and Jagermeister. The sales generated through this bid would benefit Historic Mount Vernon’s educational programs.

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Literally speaking, there are two reasons for being hopeful to invite high-bids on the ‘mere’ bottles of wine. First, it’s the old history attached to the old bottles and secondly, the brand of the wine that makes you ignore its price.

The majestic bottle of French Grand Cru First Growth Château Pétrus, 1961 falls under the latter category. Edward Roberts International has plans to auction this bottle on 28 October. The regal bottle (beating the affect of eight usual bottles) is anticipated to fetch $150,000.

The auction also offers 1921, 1947 and 1961 Chateau Petrus en Magnums and several prized vintages of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild including the 1945. Out of the myriad of wines available, the most-appealing wine set for auction is the Courvoissier Cognac Erte decanter collection featured above. Bids are invited for the same online or by making presence to the auction scheduled at the Columbia Yacht Club in Chicago.

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Chateau d’Yquem, a supreme 20th-century vintage enjoys the reputation of being the most expensive wines to produce, originated from Bordeaux’s Sauternes region. Known as the first wine Swedish collector, Nils Stormby first procured the eminent 1921 Chateau d’Yquem for $400 at Christie’s auction in London almost 40 years ago. And now the collector is in high spirits to earn more than ten times by putting it for auction.

Stormby would be exhibiting his assortment of 70 vintages, across 1858 to 2001 (including 1924, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1935, and 1937) in a Zachy’s single-cellar auction in New York on 28 September, 2007. Along with it, there would be hundreds of top red Bordeaux.

The 628 bottles of Yquem include five 1921s estimated at $4,000-$7,000 each. Bottles of Chateau d’Yquem 1949 (right-above) wine adjacent to its original timber case are expected to fetch up to $30,000 during Zachy’s auction.

A bottle of Chateau d’Yquem 1921 wine is expected to fetch up to $4000-$7000 at an auction. While the bottles of d’Yquem 1945 wine (below) are expected to fetch up to $30,000 during an auction.

The lavish syrupiness neutralized with acidity works as an additive. Also 75 years old wines taste fresher albeit their color turns dark caramel. The taste of the vintages produced even before 1950 would still have the taste of creamy buttered nuts and overcooked honey.

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For those who have had eaten Acai fruit till date can now drink it. Yup, don’t raise your eyebrows as this is the pinching reality. The fruit has entered the belly of U.S. as it is available in emerging fruit smoothies and other healthy drinks. Lately, it is blessed with its first vodka flavor–Acai-Blueberry from the Van Gogh vodka line.

Decked up inside the purple bottle, clearly depicts its inspiration from the rain forest.

Retail: $25 per 750-liter bottle.

Avenue Vine