SmartbuyWednesday, July 27, 2011

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Business Line

Driving the Ghost... ...or was I being driven by it?Page 7

2 July 27, 2011Smartbuy

WHAT’S HOT this week

One of a kind in the market right now, the AsusTransformer is a tablet that doubles up as anotebook when docked into its station.Weighing about 680gm and powered byNVIDIA Tegra 2 Dual core processor, theTransformer browses the web at blazingspeeds, providing a snappier responsetime and better performance whenmulti-tasking. The tablet workson Android Honeycomb andincorporates a 3.5mm audiojack, two USB ports as wellas a built-in SD Cardreader in a 13-mm thinbody.Rs 32,999

Dock and go!

Asus EEE Pad TransformerWeighing just 1.18 kg, the NC110is the first 3G-enabled netbookfrom Samsung. Samsung’s FastStart feature can wake up thenetbook from sleep modewithin seconds of opening thedisplay or pressing the powerbutton. The netbook sports a10.1-inch anti-reflective LEDscreen that eliminates glaresand an island-style keyboardwith optimised key spacing,making it easy to use and clean.Rs 21,500

A petite portable

Samsung NC110

Luxury just got bolder. TheVertu Constellation Quest isnow available in a carbon fibrebody, strong enough to takedown the competition. Theluxury handset features a matteblack PVD body with detailingin polished stainless steel or 8carat gold. The navigation key isfinished in polished black PVD,as is the turn key, flash and lenssurrounds that form theessential design DNA of theConstellation. The handsetcomes with exclusive servicessuch as Vertu Concierge, VertuCity Brief and Vertu Select. To be announced

Starry airs

Vertu ConstellationQuest Carbon Fibre

Team SmartbuyEditorial

Anushya Mamtoraanushya@thehindu.co.in

Archana Achalarchana.a@thehindu.co.in

Ketaki Bhojnagarwalaketaki@thehindu.co.in

Mahananda Bohidarmahananda@thehindu.co.in

S. Muralidharmuraliswami@thehindu.co.in

Design

Bryan Gaughanaqua@thehindu.co.in

Balakrishnandesignkbala@thehindu.co.in

Advertising Contact

R.Diwakarramdiwakar@thehindu.co.in

Web Advertising Contact

N. Amarnathamarnath@thehindu.co.in

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Cover Photo: S. Muralidhar

The HTC ChaCha is thecompany’s very own Touch orType smartphone, featuring a2.6-inch touch screen and fullQWERTY keypad. For all yousocial networking fans outthere, the dedicated Facebookbutton allows you to sharealmost anything with a singletouch. You can even useFacebook chat and get birthdayalerts of all your FB friends. Thephone features a 5-meg rearcamera with autofocus and LEDflash, as well as a front facingVGA cam. The ChaCha runs onAndroid 2.3 and features HTCSense UI.Rs 15,990

Feed your Facebookaddiction

HTC ChaCha

Acer’s thin and lightweight Timeline X series ofnotebooks feature HD widescreen LED backlit

displays with 16:9 aspect ratio – perfect forwatching videos. They feature an Intel Core i5Dual 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-1card reader and 1.3-meg webcam. A chiclet

keyboard with multi-touch trackpad makes themperfect for work or play.

Rs 32,999 onwards

For the wishlist

Acer Aspire Timeline X series

This digicam from Fujifilm features an advanced EXR CMOS sensor forexcellent picture quality. The 16-meg camera has a 24x720mm (30x) zoomlens, 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 manualfunctions. The camera is also capable of Full HD recording.

Rs 26,999

The perfect shot

Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

TABLET accessories Amzer FoldoIdeal for the jetsetter and backpacking bums,this uber-flexible stand is designed for usewith a variety of tablets like the Apple iPad,Samsung Galaxy Tab, Archos, Dell Streak,BlackBerry Playbook as well as e-readersfrom Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Thedesktop stand lets you watch movies, read aneBook, surf the web, conduct a presentationor view photos hands-free with its foldableeasel-type stand.

Portfolio case for Motorola XoomThe Portfolio case for Motorola Xoom not onlyprotects your tablet while on the go but also makesfor a good prop-against stand. The grooves in thePortfolio allow you to position the tablet at aconvenient angle. Also available from Motorola is theSpeaker HD dock that’ll let you charge, watch TV andmovies in HD, or listen to music without having toattach external speakers to the Motorola Xoom. Thisdock also includes an HDMI port for convenientviewing or working on a larger screen.

BlackBerry PlayBook Starter BundleIf the PlayBook is what you are splurging on thisyear, make sure you don’t miss the Starter Bundleto complete the package. The Pack includes theBlackBerry Charging Pod (this, apart from theregular charger included in the box). This is amust-have because it charges the PlayBook twotimes faster than the standard BlackBerrycharger. The PlayBook leans on the dock so youcan 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, youcan flaunt the premium-grade leather Envelopebuilt with a custom, patterned lining on the insideand a magnetic clasp to keep your PlayBook safe.

Logitech Wireless Speaker for iPadThis rechargeable, battery powered Bluetoothspeaker from Logitech is perfect if you’re watching amovie on your iPad and don’t want to plug in a pair ofearphones. The sleek unibody speaker provides rich,stereo sound from the two-inch drivers. The internalbattery delivers up to 10 hours of listening time, andthe compact size allows it to fit perfectly into yourlaptop bag or travel case. There’s a standard 3.5mmaudio aux which lets you hook up practically anymusic player. You can pair it to your iPad, iPhone oriTouch via Bluetooth and place it anywhere within arange of 50 feet.

Just Mobile AluPenThis crayon shaped stylus from Just Mobile isdesigned to work perfectly with your capacitivetouch screen device. With an aluminium bodyand soft rubber nib, the AluPen allows for asmooth writing and drawing experience. It’scompatible with all drawing and painting appsfor the iPad and iPhone, and is the perfectaccessory to help you unleash your creativity.Apart from the regular silver, the AluPen comesin five other funky colours like black, red, yellow,green and pink. Also included is an imitationleather slip case.

iPad Camera Connection KitIf your biggest gripe with the iPad is the factthat it doesn’t offer good connectivity options,this official camera connector might just solveyour problems. The kit ships with twoconnectors that plug into your iPad’s dockconnector port, one with a USB port and anotherwith a SD card slot. Once you make theconnection, your iPad will automatically openthe Photos app, letting you choose which photosand videos you want to import, and thenorganising them into albums. Standard photoformats like JPEG and RAW and video formatslike MPEG-4 and H.264 are supported.

Belkin MatteScreenIf you’re worried about scratching your brandnew tablet’s touch screen, Belkin has come upwith a way to keep your woes at bay. TheMatteScreen is a transparent overlay that fits ontop of your 7-inch tablet, protecting the screenwithout compromising on the touch experience.The matte finish reduces unwanted glare andmakes it easier to view the screen under harshlight sources. The product comes packaged withthree screen overlays, a cleaning wipe andsmoothing card.

Samsung Keyboard DockTo pair the Samsung Galaxy Tab (both 7-inch and10-inch versions), the company has a comfortable, softtouch keyboard. You can securely station your tabletin the keyboard dock that doubles up as a chargingunit. Plug in your favourite speakers or home stereosystem into the 3.5mm jack to listen to the mediastored in your Galaxy Tab. The 83-key keyboardincludes Android hot keys that give you one touchaccess to features like internet, e-mail, music andvideo controls. While on the move, you can couple itwith the Galaxy Tab Vehicle Mount to make use ofGPS Navigation and stay updated with traffic alerts.

Touchup yourtablet

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

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improve your

tabbing

experience

Ketaki Bhojnagarwala

They say history repeats itself, butrarely does that trend apply totechnology. A product that wasimmensely popular a few decades

ago has undergone a major makeover, andtoday, projectors are the new must-haveaddition to your home theatre systems.BenQ is one of the leading manufacturersof projectors, and their new range of hometheatre projectors go from basic to ultrahigh-end. We spent a few weeks testing theBenQ W710ST, a short-throw, HD DLPhome theatre projector.

Getting startedUnlike the bulky projectors that are gath-ering dust in your parents’ attic, theW710ST is relatively compact and light-weight. It comes pre-packed in a handycarrying case, with pockets for your con-necting cables, making it easy to set it upvirtually anywhere. It has a large offeringof connectivity options, but unfortunatelyonly ships with a power cord and a VGAcable.

In glossy white and dark grey, the pro-jector is an attractive addition to yourhome theatre. Apart from the Computer injack, the rear panel also has ports for Com-posite Video in, S-Video in, ComponentVideo in, Audio in, Audio L/R in, Audioout, HDMI (x2), Mini USB and RS232.

The projector also has a 10W speaker,which isn’t loud or powerful enough for amovie watching experience, but goodenough for when you don’t have anotheroption.

Setting upConnecting the projector was a really easyaffair with most media devices. We hookedit up to a DVD player via Component, andafter plugging in the power cable we weregood to go. The user interface was reallyeasy to navigate, both from the controls atthe top as well as the provided remotecontrol. We also connected it to a regularPC via the VGA cable, and although imagesdisplayed clearly, you might have to adjustthe volume settings on your computer if

you want to use the projector’s speaker.Although there is a mini USB port at therear, you won’t be able to connect up yourlaptop through that, as the projectordoesn’t recognise the source.

The front side houses a zoom ring (upto2x zoom) as well as a focus ring, which youcan adjust to achieve clarity. We found that

using the projector for extended periodscaused the lens to get really hot, so you’llhave to make sure that the projector hasenough breathing room when you set it up.

ExperienceThe W710ST has a brightness of 2,500 AN-SI lumens, which is one of the highest on

offer in its home theatre range. Althoughthis high brightness level means you canwatch videos even where there is an ex-ternal light source, you might want to re-duce brightness and use it in a darkenedroom to conserve lamp life. The projectoralso offers an impressive contrast ratio of10,000:1. There’s a large range when itcomes to screen size as well – 35-inch to300-inch, depending on projection dis-tance and zoom level. Because this is ashort throw projector, you can get a screensize of about 60 inches at a distance of justone metre from the projecting surface.

The projector offers a lamplife of 4,000-6,000 hours in Normal/Economic mode,which means that you won’t have tochange the lamp for at least a few years,based on normal usage. Native resolutionis 720p (HD), so if you’re looking for a FullHD projector you might want to considerthe W1200 or W1100. The projector is also3D ready, so you can play your 3D videosand experience the effect with 3D glasses(these ship as an optional accessory).

Videos and TV soaps played through theW710ST were crisp and clear, and colourreproduction was true to life and repli-cated from the original source. We didn’tface issues with tinted yellow or greenframes, which is a problem faced with a lotof other projectors.

Our verdictThe BenQ W710ST is a great option ifyou’re an avid movie watcher or gamer.With a good range of connectivity options,it is compatible with most devices. Weplayed media from a TV, Blu-Ray playerand a laptop. The only downside is theprice tag, which at Rs 55,000, might be abig investment for your home theatre sys-tem, particularly if you are still going to beattached to your flat panel display. Love: Compact size, good connectivityoptionsHate: Pricey, not many connectivity cablesincludedRs 55,000

ketaki@thehindu.co.in

Short throw forthe long run

reviewPROJECTOR

Smartbuy 6 July 27, 2011

focusAUTO

Photos: S. Muralidhar

Luxury’s first resort

S. Muralidhar

The aura of a Rolls-Royce ‘motor car’, as being the‘Pinnacle of Luxury’ would seem like the hand-iwork of a maverick marketing brain. The aurahas been cultivated meticulously over many dec-

ades and it is so central to the brand that ‘Luxury’ willalmost always be the first attribute that anyone will everthink of when they talk of a Rolls-Royce.

In fact, the RR image has acquired generic proportionsand references like ‘this is the Rolls-Royce of pens’ or ‘theRolls-Royce of watches’ are common now. But, you haveto step into the Phantom or the new Ghost to truly under-stand the lengths to which the Rolls-Royce brand’s previ-ous and even current owners go to maintain its reputationas the world’s most prestigious car brand.

Perfect interiorsFrom the picky, crazy, attention to detail that Rolls-Royce’s designers and handcrafters bring to the brand to

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

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

The wood trim used in the Phantom and the Ghost areall handcrafted. An entire set for one car takes 30 days toproduce and pieces are chosen to have a mirror imageeffect throughout the car. Each car has its own uniqueidentity and Rolls-Royce even keeps an archive of veneersfrom every log of wood ever used to build its cars, whichmeans a car requiring repair years later could still havematching veneers!

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

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

And then there are the famous Teflon-coated umbrellasthat are integrated within the front doors and are kept dryto make sure that the VIP being escorted from the backseat doesn’t get wet from the rain dripping off the tips.How did they do that? Housed within the cylindrical slotwhere the umbrella is stored is an air channel that hasbeen designed in way to allow a steady stream of warm air,which dries the umbrella in minutes!

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

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

The Ghost is the latest Rolls model, which from conceptstage made it to the roads in September 2009. Along withthe Phantom Drophead coupe, the Ghost is an embod-iment of the remarkable ability of this historic brand toreinvent itself to be relevant today despite its legacy and atthe same time without giving up on its heritage.

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

It incorporates the classic Rolls design cues – the elevat-

ed prow, the long bonnet, short front overhang, sharplyraked A-pillar and the elegant, yet strong tail. In keepingwith the modern interpretation that the Ghost was meantto be, Rolls-Royce designers and engineers have addedcontemporary touches like the self-righting wheel cen-tres, in which the RR logo always stands upright, the Spiritof Ecstasy mascot which electronically retracts into thebonnet and the new version of the brand’s famous Parthe-non bonnet grille.

The Ghost is meant for younger Indian buyers, but I canhazard a guess that they would still want to be chauffeuredaround. So, while in Mumbai I chose that experience too.Sitting back and sinking into the leather seats, I make dowith Evian in the absence of Champagne. The cabin isextremely silent and the airconditioning discreet, but veryeffective. But, it is also only at the rear that I sense thecentral purpose of a Rolls-Royce’s design – to make theoccupants cosseted and comfortable.

The Ghost features the same, traditional rear-hinged

coach doors that are a RR specialty and which have madeelegant entry and easy exit for royalty for years. In theGhost, they open to a generous 83 degrees. Some have alsoreferred to this style of coach doors as ‘suicide doors’. Evenas I recall that, Rolls-Royce officials tell me it is to thecontrary, because in a Rolls-Royce, the doors protect pri-vacy and the person even after they are opened.

Apparently, a famous current day R&B singer and Hol-lywood actor discovered this after she stepped out of aRolls and was saved from getting trampled by paparazzithanks to the two open doors acting like barriers. There isno better car to step out on to the red carpet. Once in, youcan 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. Therear seat is positioned behind the C-pillar for more privacyand the mild curve of the seat allows the passengers to turnmore easily towards each other. Individual lounge seatingis offered as an alternative to the standard lounge config-

uration. This is said to allow additions like a massage func-tion and also perforated leather for a cool stream of air fromthe seat to keep royal butts (possibly even insured for mil-lions) comfortable.

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

Being the oneThe Ghost weighs nearly two and a half tonnes, but it is nolumbering elephant. It is the most powerful car ever pro-duced by Rolls-Royce. Powered by a brand new 6.6-litretwin-turbo V12 engine that is unique to the Ghost, it pro-duces 563 bhp of peak power – enough to cross the 100 kmphmark on the odo within 4.7 seconds. There is a total of780Nm of peak torque on tap from as low as 1,500 rpm.

The transmission paired with the direct injection engine isan eight-speed, shift-by-wire, automatic ZF gearbox. But,you have to experience the remarkable driving dynamicsthat these equipment bring to the Ghost, it can’t be easily

explained. There is absolutely no lurching or rash acceler-ation, even when you stomp the throt- tle. Theacceleration is immediate and strong,and yet, you just don’t get pinned to theback rest. Like Rolls-Royce says,power arrives in an elegant waythat some have de- scribedas being designed to lowerthe pulse, notraise it.

There is somuch power ontap at any point on the drive thatit felt like I wasn’t testing it well enough.The feature I liked was the powerreserve gauge lo-cat-

ed on the fascia with the rest of the instrument cluster.Replacing the common rev counter, this gauge shows theamount of power you are using up at any point during thedrive. I was weaving through Mumbai traffic in the rainand letting loose the horses on short stretches. Accelerat-ing up to about 110 kmph, I observed that the engine stillhad about 60 per cent of its power in reserve!

The Rolls-Royce Ghost shares only about 20 per cent ofits parts with the BMW 7-Series, a clarification which putto rest some of the early speculation about its uniqueness.It is loaded with as much technology for safety and user-friendliness as the 7-Series, including a variation of BMWiDrive. Yet, the Roll-Royce touch of class is very distinct.

The Ghost’s suspension is both practical and accommo-dating to make sure that the passengers at the rear neverget to feel the road. The new intelligent, four-cornered airsuspension system is so sensitive, that its complex com-puter system reads multiple inputs from sensors aroundthe car and the dampers alone make individual load calcu-lations every 2.5 milliseconds.

For the Indian luxury car buyer, the Rolls-Royce Ghostcan be the third or fourth car in the garage, though it willprobably quickly become the primary choice. If you aren’tpossessed by one yet, be done with your boy’s toys andcome home to the Ghost. Your dad will approve of it.

muraliswami@thehindu.co.in

luxury redefinedMELANGE

11 July 27, 2011Smartbuy

From the garden bedto the dressing room,the pretty verbenaturns into an exoticfragrance inL’Occitane’s limitededition Sun Verbenacollection. Availableas perfume, facemist, fragrance mistand gloss at itsoutlets.Rs 825 onwards

Vivaciousverbena

Revlon’s latest isits Heavenly Metalcollection for adramaticmakeover. Therange includes aLuxurious ColorSmoky Crayon forthe eyes, MetallicNail Enamel inbold shades andColorStayOvertime Lipcolorin six hues.Available atlifestyle stores andcosmetic outlets.Rs 130 to Rs 845

Steely beauty

Casual slip-ons, boots, Moccasinsand more, Samsonite’s limitededition shoes for men areinteresting in their design and easystyle. Available at its showrooms.Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000

Stylish footwear

‘High-octane punch’ iswhat you get when youdab on Burberry SportIce. While women canenjoy some fresh andzesty floral notes, themen can waft ofenergising citrus andice crystal blends.Available at selectlifestyle outlets.Rs 4,030 each (75ml) andRs 3,020 each (50ml)

The Burberrypunch

In pristine white,Mont Blanc thebrand crafts anexclusive ode toMont Blanc themountain. Limitededition accessories,elegant pieces ofjewellery and theMontblancMeisterstuckwriting instrument,take your pick at itsboutiques acrossIndia.Price on request

A snowytribute

TECH interior

Arne Jacobsen-Style Egg ChairArne Jacobsen’s Egg Chair was originally createdfor the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel in 1957. Followingthe original design to the letter, these reproductionchairs are hand stitched and feature a tilt and swivelmechanism. Choose from leather or danish wool in awide range of colours.Rs 44,000

Oeuf the hook!Italians Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglionidesigned this arched lamp in 1962 and it hassince been displayed at the New YorkMetropolitan Museum of Art: a bona fidedesign classic, then. Standing 2.32m high, ithas a topple-resistant marble and stainlesssteel base.Rs 1,05,000

Arc of Ages Arco Floor Lamp

Ah, the flotsam and jetsam of modern life.From CDs – if you haven’t made the leapand digitised the lot – and Blu-rays to your50-inch HD TV and iPod docking stereo, it

all takes up vital lounge space. Artfully incorporate itall into your home with a bespoke shelving unit byRossetto, combined here – of course – with asmattering of gadgets.

1. Watt a dock!Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 8A ten-watt repository for your iPad, iPod oriWhatever. Position it in the corner of the room, aspictured, and switch on the room-adaptation modefor optimum results. Rs 92,000

2. Speak easyMonitor Audio ApexThis slim, attractive 5.1 speaker system comes inblack or white. The power of its four 100W satellites,200W centre and 500W AW12 sub will rock you.Rs 1,90,000

3. Solid storageRossetto wall unitEight-foot tall and hewn from dark oak, this is one ofRossetto’s largest and most fetching storage units.From 1̀,11,000 onwards

4. In syncAcer Revo RL100This dual-core nettop takes all the music, movies andphotos on your home network into your TV and/orsound system. A Blu-ray drive and 750GB storageshould be more than adequate for all your needs.Rs 40,000

5. Cross connectionsMoshi Moshi 04Still using your home phone? This can connect viaBluetooth to your smartphone or a laptop to VoIP it up.Rs 11,000

6. Photo finishKodak PulseEmail or stream photos from Facebook or the KodakGallery to this Wi-Fi-enabled, ten inch digital photoframe.Rs 12,500

7. Light delightRetrotouch light switchControls up to three light fittings and has a stylishglass touch panel.Rs 3,500

Stack your tech am

1

2

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4

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Noguchi TableThis black ash and glass coffeetable is a reproduction ofJapanese-American designerIsamu Noguchi’s 1944 classic,built for A. Conger Goodyear,then president of the New YorkMuseum of Modern Art. Despitebeing 67 years old, it’s still aboutas sexy as tables get.Rs 83,000

Coffee, anyone?Denon DBP-1611UD andDenon AVR-1911The do-it-all DBP-1611UD can handle 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and streamed content via DLNA. Italso gives you access to YouTube. Denonsuggests you pair it with the AVR -1911, a 7.1channel AV receiver with HDMI 1.4 for 3Dcontent.DBP-1611UD Rs 28,000 AVR-1911 Rs 33,000

System addict, hardware habit

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

idst custom-built luxury

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14 July 27, 2011Smartbuy

TASTER’S choice

Michael Swamy

One can talk for hours about Italian bever-ages, especially those rare jewels thathave been emerging over the last decade.Beverages like Grappa and liqueurs made

using Grappa as a base are gaining ground world-wide.

The story of Grappa can be traced back to theMiddle Ages where it was thedrink of farmers. It was pro-duced by travelling distillerswho would traverse Italy’snorthern territories and theAlps. Over the centuries, thisalcoholic beverage has been re-fined and improved upon bywine distillers and commercialproducers. Protected by law, itcan be called Grappa only ifproduced wholly in Italy. Grap-pa is usually served as an after-dinner drink, and its tastecould be best described assmooth and fiery.

Making the GrappaGrappa is made from the left-overs of the winemaking proc-ess, such as the skin and seedsof grapes. The juice produced is slow-distilled overa bain marie (water bath) and not directly over aflame. This is done to prevent the skin and seedsfrom burning and to achieve an alcohol content of40 to 65 per cent. Initially, any and every grapevariety was mixed to make Grappa. Three decadesago, a few distilleries took the decision to use onlythe best variety of grapes. The first Grappa of thisvarietal was made from Piccolit, a very rare grapevariety from Colli Orientali, the Friuli region’s bestwhite wine grape. Its flavour was much refinedfrom previous varietals. The process needed to cre-ate Artisanal Grappas, which are made of singlevintage grapes, such as Barolo, Amarone, Moscatoand Chardonnay was soon crafted by estates likePoli, Francoli, Brunelli, Marolo. The Grappa Biancais bottled immediately after distillation while theReserve has a pale golden hue as a result of matura-tion in casks made of different woods. Some Grap-pas are made with a blend of spirits distilled fromhoney, fruit and herbs with hints of blueberry andlemon. These have intense flavours and a brownhue. Flavours are best sampled in tulip-shapedglasses which focus the aromas towards one’s nose.

Discovering Distilleria BottegaI believe that in order to know and fully appreciatea beverage, one needs to know its roots and mywhirlwind trip to Milan, which included a visit toDistilleria Bottega only confirmed this. There areover a hundred producers of Grappa, but DistilleriaBottega, a company based in the picturesque townof Bibano di Godega, 50 km away from Venice in theItalian region of Veneto, produces a Grappa to lookout for. I met with Alesandro Bottega who enlight-ened me on the history of his family-owned distill-ery. The Bottegas began their journey into theworld of Grappa in the 1920s, when Domenico

Bottega, a wine trader and oenologist began todevelop the first single-variety Grappa. He sharedhis father’s passion for winemaking and appren-ticed with the best master-distillers in Conegliano.His expertise, combined with his entrepreneurialspirit, led him to set up his own distillery. In 1985,Aldo Bottega’s son Sandro began to use handcraftedVenetian Murano blown glass to bottle the double-

distilled Grappa Alexander.The beautiful glass bottles wereused by the family as a market-ing tool to grab the attention ofGrappa lovers everywhere. To-day, the tasting room at Distill-eria Bottega carries a selectionof Grappas like Grappa Alexan-der, Grappa di Prosecco, Grap-pa di Moscato and Grappa diNebbiolo. Also available fortasting is a selection of exqui-site liqueurs like Sambuca, Gal-liano, Amaretto, Melon andLimoncello.

Savouring it bestThere are many ways to enjoyGrappa and it is best had at theend of a meal. Grappas are con-sumed as shots or added to an

espresso to create the caffe coretto. In the Venetoregion, one first downs the espresso and follows itup with a shot of grappa from the same cup in apractice called Resentin. There is a whole range ofcocktails created with grappa to try out too, makingit a much sought after drink in bars across Europeand the US. Although experts advise otherwise,Grappa is usually served chilled: a young Grappa at9-13 degrees Celsius and a reserve at around 17degrees Celsius.

As a lifestyle drink, Grappa is upmarket all theway. The delicate process of hand blowing bottlesand the exquisite centrepieces in each bottle makesone realise that not only is the drink a masterpiecebut the bottle is a collector’s item and a souvenir tocherish. What more can one ask, but to drinksensibly.

A fiery end to a smooth Grappa

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

Photos: Pravin Pol

Here are some Grappa cocktails you can shake upfor your next bash.Grappa apple and ginger martini30ml Grappa90ml apple juice5ml ginger juice20gm apple chunksProcedure: Muddle apple chunks, lime chunks andginger chunks together with some white sugar ina cocktail shaker. Top with ice, Grappa and applejuice, shake and strain in a martini glass.

Garnish with apple slices.Watermelon grappioska30 ml Grappa30 ml fresh watermelon juice30 gm fresh watermelonProcedure: In an old fashioned glass, muddlewatermelon chunks with lime chunks and rawsugar. Top with crushed ice, add Grappa andfresh watermelon juice. Mix properly and serve.

15 July 27, 2011Smartbuy

BEVERAGE

The warm, golden amber Dewar’s 18 Years OldDouble-Aged scotch whisky is delectable in its

sweet, mellow and floral notes, vanilla and toffeehints and long, soft and slightly dry finish.

Available at select wine shops across India.Rs 5,750

Double bonanza!

Good Earth Winery adds two more wines to its Ragacollection – Taal, a Cabernet Sauvignon based red wine andTarang, a barrel-matured red wine made mostly from Shirazgrapes. Being ideal accompaniments to Indian cusine, Taalteams well with milder curries and ‘biryanis’ and Tarang canbe paired with spicy Indian and Asian dishes.Rs 975 (750 ml)

The perfect Raga

Your summer bash just got better with thelaunch of the Sauza Party Kit. It contains anunique shot tray, shot glasses, a Sauza salt shakerand two bottles of Sauza Tequila. Grab somelemon wedges and you’re all set! Available onlythis summer at select international airports.US $34

A shot of summer

Raising a toast this week wasJohnnie Walker Blue Label that

launched its new iconic luxurybottle. The new bottles are stylish

with a light blue glass base and themonogram and Royal Warrant

imprinted in rich gold. The boxes arebeautifully crafted too.

Price on request

A whole new Blue

launch