Cigars and their secrets: this is how they roll ... - Macau Business

Drink with style: cocktails uncovered
How red wine goes with chocolate and sex
Macau on the spot of the best cognacs
Cigars and their secrets: this is how they roll

66
by the nUmberS
Yes, all stats were
dug up from a
range of obscure
websites, including
those of the Macau
Government and
Macau Business
20.4 meters
Length of the longest cigar ever hand-rolled,
by Jose Castelar Cairo from Cuba
140
Age of the one of world’s oldest bottles
of beer – a Ratcliff Ale produced by Bass, UK, in 1869.
1787
Year of production of one of the world’s most
expensive sauternes (Chateau d’ Yquem).
3000
Number of Bolivar cigars, part of a limited edition
created for the Middle Eastern market by Habanos.
US$750
Unit price for a Gurkha His Majesty’s Reserve (HMR)
cigar, infused with Louis XIII Cognac.
US$500,000
Amount paid for an Imperial of Screaming Eagle Cab
1992, sold at the Napa Valley Wine Auction in 2000 for
charity purposes and bought by Cisco Systems.
US$160,000
Price paid by Christopher Forbes for a 1787 Lafitte
Th.J. bottle of Bourdeaux wine (Th.J. stands for Thomas
Jefferson, the third president of the United States).
Some of the best things in life are free (or so they say).
Others you’d gladly pay for. Case in point (focus...),
premium hand rolled cigars, vintage wines, century
old spirits or freshly mixed cocktails. This edition of
ESSENTIAL is truly a sensory trip you can’t afford to
miss. Eye candy-wise, we give you a 151-year-old-Prephylloxera
cognac stashed away in a dark cellar in
France. Sticking with cognac, we talk about the “art de
vivre” with Patrick Maruiz, brand ambassador of 358
bottle rare limited edition Black Pearl Magnum - fit for
Kings (notice the capital K). We all know what cognac
goes well with, right? - As long as you don’t dip them
in it... A hand rolled premium cigar, of course! All the
way from the homeland of tobacco, Cuba, master roller
Yazmin Borrás Valdes tells ESSENTIAL how it’s done
down in Havana, while connoisseur Dickson Yip shares
on smoking etiquette and gives a few suggestions for
stacking up your humidor.
And then Man discovered wine (arguably one of the
greatest discoveries ever). We dare you, no, we double
dare you to come up with anything which adapts so
nicely to any and every occasion as wine. Think of it,
there’s just sooooo many kinds out there... Well, not to
worry, we went ahead and did some of the leg work for
you and selected a few vintages that are sure to impress
anyone just by digging them out of the cellar. Although,
if what you’re really looking to do is impress your
guests with your hosting skills, check out the section
on mixology. You’ll find the complete low down to get
cracking at home, just don’t forget to stock up heavily
on the ice. But if you’re not one to don the apron, we got
you covered with a selection of the best mixes around
for you to chill out with.
Besides subscribing to equall opportunity policies we’re
also all in favour of moderation in most everything, be it
sex, wine or chocolate. Do it, but do it responsibly!
Next month we’ll talk about... golf. Yes, we’ve surrendered
to the corporate sport, but only because we’re keen on
taking money from corporations (only from the socially
responsible ones... Not!!!) and giving it back to the less
fortunate - that’s what we’ve been doing for the past
two years at the Annual Macau Business Charity Golf
Tournament you’ve heard so much about. We bet you’re
just itching to enrol, right? Now’s your chance. We’ll
talk shop, go over some of the biggest misconceptions
about the sport (we can’t think of any just now, they are
all true!), and get you some excellent tips from the pros
to help shave a few strokes off that scribbled score card.
As usual we’ll round up all the ESSENTIAL equipment
any boardroom-Tiger-Woods could ever buy, and
since no golfer is complete without the right attire, we
went shopping for the right, fresh, low cut, designs for
the season.
We always crave your feedback. The first issues of
ESSENTIAL were met with enthusiasm from many a
reader and we thank you for your encouragement and
suggestions. If you have something to share please keep
it clean and write to us at ESSENTIAL@macaubusiness.
com. Go ahead, indulge yourself in the best the city has
to offer and enjoy!

eer
It is said to be the world’s oldest and most
widely consumed alcoholic beverage
Produced by brewing and fermentation of
starches
Mostly flavoured with hops to add
bitterness
Possibly its invention dates back to the
Neolithic period
Its alcoholic strength ranges from less
than 3 percent alcohol by volume (abv) to
almost 10 percent (abv)
Moderate consumption is associated with
decreased risk of cardiac disease, stroke
and cognitive decline…
Brewers yeast is known to be rich in
nutrients such as magnesium, selenium,
potassium, phosphorus and B vitamins,
but might add extra calories to your diet!
SinS
wine
Probably the world’s fourth most widely
consumed beverage behind water, tea and beer
Made of fermented grape juice and various
types of yeast
Yeast consumes the sugars found in the grapes
and converts them into alcohol
Wine production dates back to 6000 BC and is
thought to have originated in areas within the
borders of Georgia and Iran
The alcoholic strength of wine ranges from 10
percent to 20 percent abv
Researchers have discovered that a compound
found in red wine may help prevent prostate
cancer
Wine is not a good source of vitamin
micronutrients but a regular glass of wine
contains tiny amounts of carbohydrates and
proteins and about 85 calories
Lust - Dipping your cigar in that fine Cognac for an aftertaste as sublime as the best of perfumes.
Gluttony - Not knowing when to stop when invited by a co-worker for a few drinks, and knowing you are not the one who is paying.
Greed - Buying vintage cigars and red wines and never having time to savour the taste.
Sloth - Having the chance to taste an exquisite wine and not making an effort to understand it…
wrath - What you feel if, in your absence, your son drinks half of your Chateau Palmer bottles with his teenage friends.
envy - Yes, it’s true, sometimes we feel like switching our drink in a bar with that of our friend. Well, who never did that?
Pride - To drink water with ice, pretending it’s vodka to hide the fact that you are on medication…
67

68
eye
candy
A very venerable gentleman
Croizet 1858 Cognac
Great Cognacs are few and far between and usually
their producers allocate the finest reserves for a selected few.
Many of the best 19 th century Cognacs are stored in France,
often in restaurants cellars
Macau is now host to the first world
sale of a spectacular reserve by
Croizet, the French house founded
in 1805 and recently bought by a
Russian company. With 151 years of
history, the Croizet 1858 Cognac,
a pre-phylloxera production, is
currently only available at MGM
Grand in a specially numbered
2000 carafe edition, and only 4700
carafes exist in the world.

Pre-phylloxera Cognac
Cognac produced prior to the
phylloxera period offers a completely
different product when compared to
modern versions. Phylloxera is a tiny
aphid (bug) imported to Europe from
the United States, where it was endemic,
from the 1830’s onwards. Over the next
decades the bug almost extinguished
European crops. To fight the ‘bug’,
European producers basically started
to graft European vines onto American
root stocks. So the hybrid is what exists
today. With the arrival of phylloxera,
a grand period of the European vine
industry was gone. Croizet still owns
a great collection of Cognacs produced
before the phylloxera period. The stocks
are kept at the company’s headquarters
in a special ageing warehouse known
as “Paradis”.
Due to its ability to prove the integrity
of its vintage Cognacs, Croizet was one
of three Cognac houses (together with
House of Delamain and House of Hine)
allowed by the French government to
continue producing vintage Cognacs
after the ban of 1963, to combat
widespread fraud.
1858 Croizet tasting notes
A tasting note for one of the lots of
the 1858 Croizet shows notes of dried
roses and poppies, with fruity notes of
coconut, passionflower and quince, plus
woody notes of sandalwood and cedar
and at the end, in an empty glass, you
can feel traces of balsamic and nutmeg
notes. It has an exceptional length,
elegance and is very distinct. A second
lot shows floral aromas of orange
blossom, hyacinthe, then honeysuckle
during the slow oxidation process in the
glass. Also found were notes of candid
fruits and nutmeg, and in an empty glass
lots of balsamic was found and a hint
of saffron…
abV - (Alcohol by Volume) The
standard measure for alcohol volume
in beverages. It represents the
amount of volume taken up by ethanol
compared to the entire volume of
the drink.
aftertaste - The taste left on the palate
after the wine has been swallowed. The
persistence of the aftertaste - the length - may be used
as an indicator of the quality of the wine.
appellation d’Origine controlle (France) -
Often abbreviated to AC or AOC, this is the highest legal
classification for French wine. In order to qualify for the
AC, wines must be produced from grapes grown within a
geographically defined area, and conform to regulations
concerning grape varieties, yields, alcohol content and so on.
band - Paper placed around the cigar, usually near the
head, originally used to protect white gloves from tobacco
stains. Merchants quickly seized the idea and began using
it as a place to put their brand name.
bouquet - The smell of an unlit cigar.
bitter - Bitterness of hops or malt husks used in beer
production. It means the aftertaste sensation left on the back
of the tongue. A bitter flavour in beer is from iso-alpha-acid
in solution (derived from hops).
balance - Refers to the overall harmony of flavors in a
beer. More specifically, it usually refers to the levels of hops
and malts.
catador - Professional cigar taster who determines a
cigar’s qualities of aroma, taste and texture.
churchill - A large corona format cigar, usually 7 inches
long with a 48ring gauge named after British war-time Prime
Minister Winston Churchill, who liked large cigars.
hops - Herb added to boiling wort or fermenting beer
to impart a bitter aroma and flavor.
Proof - This term is used among the strongest spirits. To
compute a liquor’s proof you simply multiply the ABV by
2. The theoretical highest possible strength of any drink
is therefore 200-proof. In reality though, the maximum for
distilled spirits is 191-proof because not all of the water can
be distilled from the ethanol.
Oleoresins - Oils and resins found in tobacco that give it
its smoking qualities.
Smoking time - A 5-inch cigar with a 50-ring gauge,
such as a robusto, should provide anywhere from 20 to 30
minutes of smoking pleasure. A double corona, a 7 1/2-inch
cigar with a 50-ring gauge, may give over an hour’s worth of
smoking time. A thinner cigar, such as a lonsdale, smokes in
less time than a cigar with a 50-ring gauge.
Shelf life - The number of days a beer will retain its peak
drinkability. Packaged beer is best drunk fresh.
magnum - A large format bottle, equivalent to two
standard bottles.
Oak - The oak tree is an important source of wood for
barrels. While other woods, such as cherry, have been (and
still are) used, oak is the number one choice for wine barrels.
yeast - A micro-organism without which we would not
have bread, beer or wine - wouldn’t life be dull! The yeast
converts the sugar to alcohol in a process known as alcoholic
fermentation. Present naturally in the vineyard, harvested
grapes will begin to ferment on their own, especially if they
are crushed to break the skins and expose the sugar-rich
juice inside to the yeast, which resides on the grape skins.
Zymurgy - The science of fermentation.
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70
interView
Louis XIII meets Baccarat
The Black Pearl Magnum, rare Edition
Louis XIII Black Pearl Magnum is a Cognac produced from “tiercon”, an extremely
rare and old barrel used in the final ageing process of Louis XIII Cognac. There are
only 358 carafes in the world, numbered from 001 to 358.
Each carafe is hand-blown by Baccarat’s experts and each piece is valued at
HK$338,000. They are now available in limited amounts in Macau, at hotels such as
the Four Seasons Macao and Altira Macau, among others.
The Black Pearl bottle follows the design of a historical piece – a metal
flask found by a peasant in 1850 on the site of the Battle of Jarnac in
1569, which pitted the Catholics under the Duke of Anjou against the
Protestants of the Prince of Conde.
It is a mystery to whom the flask belonged, but it was
probably the property of one of the generals in the battle.
The original flask was purchased in 1850 by the
Remy Martin family and placed in a Museum before its
disappearance.
The ageing process of Louis XIII Black Pearl included
a “stage” in the underground section of Andre Heriard
Dubreuil’s cellar – one of the oldest from the family’s
personal reserve, hidden away in its own cell, far from
light and out of sight.
This Cognac is made up of 1,200 theaux-de-vie
(Cognacs), some of which are over a hundred years old
and originate from slopes in the Grande Champagne
region.
The Louis XIII Cognac is nicknamed the ‘King of Cognacs’
due to its acceptance in the most important European royal
and imperial courts since the early 19th century. In 1948, after
being adopted by Winston Churchill during a stay in Aix-en-
Provence, France, it became England’s Cognac of choice.
Simply the best
Exclusive interview with Patrick Maruiz,
Remy Martin’s international ambassador
Born in Cognac, into a family of wine growers
of the Grande Champagne region, Patrick
Mariuz spent a great part of his childhood in
the company of his great uncle who owned
vineyards and aged the eaux-de-vie he
produced.
His great uncle passed on his passion for
Cognac to Patrick at an early age. After his
studies, Patrick joined Remy Martin to further
enrich his knowledge in collaboration with
the members of the Cellarmaster’s team,
learning the secrets of the elaboration of
the Remy Martin Fine Champagne Cognacs.
He has been the company’s international
ambassador since 1989.
eSSentiaL: how would you
define cognac?
Patrick mariuz: Cognac
means ‘art de vivre’. It exists by
itself, in fact it is so good that it
seems impossible for it to exist!
eS: how does remy martin
get the raw material it needs?
it has its own vineyards?
Pm: We have 1,200 private
producers working for us in
partnership to produce the
“Petit” et “Grand cru”. The
Cognac region is divided
into six “cru” and we take the
best two. There are vintage
assemblages creating the
classic VSOP Cognac that has
the same taste year after year,
then we have the vintages,
each one with its own taste, this
is why it is a vintage. And Black
Pearl Louis XIII is the rarest of
the Cognacs, an exceptional
product.
eS: how do you suggest we
drink cognac?
Pm: The best way to do it is the
way we like it. That’s it! In China
it is acceptable to drink it with
meals. This is acceptable for us.
It depends on the country. Of
course you don’t want to do it
with Black Pearl… And it is also
possible to mix a VSOP with
soft drinks!
eS: a lot of people in the west
say cognac should be taken
by itself not with food…what
is your view?

Pm: Cognac is an aromatic
concentration of a wine. It brings us
richness and taste in a concentrated
way. I guess we can associate Cognac
with food. You would be surprised
with what you might discover!
eS: So what is the perfect match?
Pm: There are no limits. In Asia
we have already discovered
surprises…we see that Cognac can
adapt to different cultures. Cognac
can match beautifully with sushi,
for example.
eS: what is Louis Xiii all about?
Pm: I would say that man’s role is to
express in the best way he can, what
nature gives us. For the production of
Louis XIII our experts have selected
the eau-de-vie of the best quality
possible. Remember that many of
those experts are already dead.
Some bottles are 30 to 100 years
old but the taste and greatness of
the Cognac is preserved perfectly.
During the production process the
experts know they are creating
something from which many
generations will profit. When we
prepare a Louis XIII we think about
the decades ahead of us. Not
tomorrow. I would say Louis XIII
begins when the other Cognac’s
stop.
eS: who buys it?
Pm: If I buy a Louis XIII I must
drink it. This is the first condition.
The buyers are those who want to
experience it and can afford to. They
want to experience greatness in life.
When it comes to Cognac, Louis XIII
is simply the best.
biG SPender
King of smokes
The Gurkha premier cigar,
His Majesty’s Reserve
Gurkha His Majesty’s Reserve
(HMR) is the “most expensive cigar
ever made.”
Named after arguably the world’s
fiercest fighting force - The
Nepalese Gurkhas - it is known
as the “Rolls Royce” of the cigar
industry. Gurkha’s reputation stems
from its unique blends of rare
tobaccos made by craftsmen at the
top of their game.
“His Majesty’s Reserve” is made
from the most expensive Cognac
and premium tobacco. Each cigar
starts with a rare aged Dominican
wrapper that covers a secret blend
of filler tobaccos from all over
the world. Once the cigars are
rolled, they then undergo a unique
infusion process that involves an
entire bottle of Louis XIII Cognac.
This process is unique in that
it does not take away from the
tobacco flavor of the aged leaves,
but rather complements them in
grand fashion.
Fewer than 100 boxes of HMR
are produced every year and
the allocation of these rare gems
is decided by the company’s
president. Cigar.com is one of the
world’s only authorised dealers to
sell them.
Price: US$750 per cigar.
Where to buy:www.cigar.com
71

72
SmOke’ em
Fine cigars are like vintage wines, it’s all in the process. The harvest, the curing and,
fermentation, sorting, the hand rolling - all culminating in the first puff. If smoking
should be banned, so should wine, and food, and sex for that matter, and all the little
fine pleasures in life. If you appreciate any of those, then you’re ready to try a Cuban
or, at the very least, a Dominican. Like we always say, “smoke’ em if you got’ em“ and
enjoy the ESSENTIAL cigar experience.
The roller
master roller yazmin borrás Valdes,
is cuban, 34, loves to dance, and has
dedicated the last 10 years of her
life perfecting the art of hand rolling
cigars for havanos, the state arm
controlling the promotion, distribution
and export of cuban cigars. while
in macau for a couple of exhibitions
at Starworld and crown she showed
eSSentiaL how it’s really done down
in havana. back home she takes
her station in the factory at 7:30 am
along side another 250 rollers, and
prepares between 85 and 110 cigars
in any given day, depending on which
size vitola. She enjoys rolling coronas
largos the most because “they are the
hardest ones to make, and it took me a
long time to get them right.” can you
guess what’s the one thing that breaks
routine at the corona factory? music!
yazmin says that “whenever the music
starts everyone stops and has a little
fun - we love music is cuba.” and yes,
she does smoke cubans, especially
while having coffee.
Photos by Nuno Calçada Bastos
This is how they roll
the cigar roller starts by
laying out on the board two
or sometimes three half
leaves of binder in a specific
manner. next, she gathers
together the leaves of the
filler, folding and aligning
each leaf to ensure a straight
passage for smoke in the
finished cigar. the various
filler leaves are placed in
a special order and in a
specific direction.
the roller then forms the
“bunch” by rolling the
filler into the binder to the
precise diameter required
for the particular cigar.
compressing the filler must
be consistent at all time.
the head (mouth end) of the
bunch is then cut square with
the guillotine.
next she prepares the half
leaf for the wrapper, still
moist; lays it on the board
with the smoothest side
facing down to be visible on
the outside of the cigar. She
lightly trims the leaf with the
chaveta blade, paying special
attention to the edges. the
bunch is laid on the wrapper
and rolled, starting from the
cigar’s foot. the wrapper
is carefully stretched and
straightened as the bunch is
rolled into the wrapper. the
tension on the leaf has to be
perfect.
next comes the “cap.” a
small section is cut from
the spare wrapper leaf and
wound round the head to
close off the open end and
secure the wrapper. to add
the finishing touch, a small
disc of wrapper is cut with
the casquillo, and secured
on the head with vegetable
gum. Finally the cigar is
guillotined to length and the
work is completed.

The Fixer
No matter whether you’re a cigar novice or a
veteran, if you’re looking for the ultimate cigar
experience, Dickson Yip, from The Pacific Cigar
Company, is the man you need to talk to. Actually,
if what you’re searching for is from Havana, you’ll
have to go through him, as the company is the exclusive
distributor of all Cuban cigars in Asia Pacific. While cubans will
never loose their quasi-mythical properties, the company also
packs Dominicans, such as Davidoff, blenders like Dunhill, and
other exclusive brands. For ‘off the shelf purchases’ you can look at
their stash at any of their two Cigar Emporiums, either at Wynn or
Mandarin Oriental. Especially for ESSENTIAL Dickson gives some tips
on cigar etiquette and care, and a few lighting suggestions for cigar
neophytes and connoisseurs alike.
dickson’s recommendations
For the novice
Medium sized, medium flavour
- Trinidad, Reyes
MOP153 / stick
- Cohiba, Siglo II
MOP166 / stick
- Hoyo De Monterrey, Epicure Nº.2
MOP169 / stick
Caran d’Ache
Diamond & Lines
Lighter
Limited edition Lighter
Luxury lighter with Chinese
lacquer, noble metals, black
diamonds, godrons
At www.pianki.com
Price: US$4,130
Glass Cigar ashtray
on 23K Gold
Designed by El Casco (a manufacturer
of the finest gold accessories), this
cigar ashtray was created for use in
executive boardrooms, fine homes
and upscale restaurants. It is made
from lead crystal glass and is attached
to a solid 23K gold-plated base.
Available as a part of the collection of
luxury executive gifts by El Casco.
Price: on demand
Porsche P’3688 Aluminium Cigar Tube
The extremely light and yet very sturdy
P’3687 Aluminium Cigar Tube offers
excellent protection for cigars of various
sizes. The case protects the cigars
from air and drying out, maintaining
For the veteran
Full sized, full flavour
- Cohiba, Robustos
MOP302 / stick
- Romeo Y Julieta, Churchills
MOP205 / stick
- H.Upmann, Sir Winston
MOP233 / stick
the natural moisture of the cigars over
extended periods of time. Available in
single or twin tube.
Pacific Cigar Co.
Price: on demand
dickson’s do(s) & don’t(s)
– Never press the cigar onto the ashtray - it
releases an extremely bad spell and its
disrespectful to the cigar;
– Never dip the cigar into your drink. Cigars
go great with rum (especially Havana Club)
cognac, whiskey and other drinks however you
should smoke the cigar and drink the cognac.
You don’t want to go ruining the cigar’s own
individual taste. If you really want a cigar tasting
of cognac, check out our “Big Spender” feature
in these pages.
– If you light it, smoke it. Don’t save the rest for
later or tomorrow. Learn to time your smoke
depending on your available time frame. If you
have 30 minutes after lunch don’t go popping a
Corona Larga which takes two hours to burn.
– Don’t light your cigar with a petrol lighter. It
corrupts the cigar leaving a nasty taste. Use
long wooden matches or get a butane gas
lighter or torch.
– If your half into cigars, you must (!) get a half
decent cigar case, a humidor. You’ll be ruining
your stash if you don’t.
ShOw OFF
Davidoff Round Cigar Puncher
A jewel pocket format and special mounting for wearing on
a chain. Its precious Sapphire-Glass, not only presents the
product in a noble brilliance, but is also break proof and
extremely scratch-resistant. Three different sized lasersharpened
stainless steel blades, which are ideal for all cigar
formats that deliver a clean round cut to the cigar head.
The Grand Canal Shoppes, The Venetian
Price: HK$2,680
Siglo 200’s red humidor
Pacific cigar co.
Price: MOP 8,140
73

wineS and
chamPaGne
74
Whether at home - where you never have enough stored to impress a first date -, or at
a business dinner trying to prove how serious you are, the right wine or champagne is
a must. We thought we’d make life a little easier for you. Salut!
Quinta do Vallado, Douro Reserva 2006
Another Portuguese red picked by Wine Spectator’s
editor choice described as “elegantly spicy, with fresh
plum, nectarine and raspberry flavors that are accented
by plenty of creamy notes. Lively acidity punches up the
sandalwood-filled finish. Drink now through 2013.
At Vino Veritas
Price/availability upon request
Solaia IGT 1989, Chianti Classico
Area: Tuscany, Italy
Grape Variety: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc
and 20% Sangiovese.
The Antinori family have been crafting fine wines since 1385.
The wine is strikingly elegant with nicely blended tannins
supporting the sensation of sweetness and weight. The tasting
does not reveal harshness, and the balance shows distinctive
sweetness from the riper grapes. Hints of liquorice and coffee
return in the impressively long finish.
At Summergate Macau
Price/availability upon request
Seghesio, Sonoma Zinfandel,
Sonoma County 2007
Decanter’s connoisseur’s choice says:
“Edoardo Seghesio planted his first Zinfandel
vineyard in 1895; today the estate is run by
Ted Seghesio, the fourth generation. This is
beautifully rich with aromas of red cherry,
strawberry and herbs. Despite its power, it’s
medium bodied with a velvety texture and fine
minerality. Drink 2009-14.”
La Romanee AOC Grand Cru 2004, La Romanee AOC, Vosne Romanee,
Cote de Nuits, Cote de d’or, Burgundy, France, 100% Pinot Noir.
This wine has a very refined nose developing flavours of stewed fruit and dried fruit combined with hints of
undergrowth and mocha. It is has a very fleshy, refined mouth, with racy tannins. La Romanee was founded
in 1731 in Beaune, France. Bouchard Pere et Fils has evolved to become the largest vineyard owner in
Burgundy’s famous Cotes d’Or.
At Summergate Macau
Price/availability upon request
Quinta do Crasto, Douro
Reserva Old Vines 2006
Wine Spectator picked it as an editor’s
choice, saying: “aromas and flavours of
kirsch, chocolate and dark plum are the
hallmarks of this sumptuous Portuguese
red. Very silky tannins and zesty acidity
carry the long, sandalwood- and
cherry-filled finish. Drink now through
2014.”
At Vino Veritas
Price/availability upon request
Brunello di
Montalcino 2004
According to Wine
Spectator, it “offers
currant, berries and
flowers on the nose. Fullbodied,
with lots of burnt
fruit and raisin flavours.
Ripe and rustic.”
At Summergate Macau
Price/availability upon
request

Bollinger Vieilles
Vignes-Vintage
It is the rarest of all fancy, esoteric
champagnes, produced from prephylloxera
vines. The champagne
is robust and rich. Bollinger also
makes vintage champagne and a
non-vintage brut.
Pol Roger Cuvee Sir Winston
Churchill 1998
Winston Churchill once said Pol Roger was
“the most drinkable address in the world”.
Needless to say, this was one of his favourite
champagnes. Founded in 1849, Pol Roger is still
an independent firm run by the descendants
of the founders. One of the company’s most
recognisable labels - Cuvee Sir Winston
Churchill – is now available in Macau.
At Summergate Macau
Price: (per packing of 750ml x6) MOP$ 8,904
Perrier-Jouet Fleur, DE
Champagne
Vintage is known for its high quality yet popular
style. The wine is austere, yet tasteful. It is also
extremely dry without being harsh or acidic.
Perrier-Jouet also makes a vintage rose champagne.
At Mandarin Oriental
Champagne Taittinger
Comtes de Champagne
Blanc de Blancs -
magnum 1999
This champagne is known for its
light-style and elegance. It has great
finesse and a subtle nuance and is
the tête de cuvée of Taitinger.
Krug “Grande Cuvée”-
multi-vintage champagne
Its fermentation occurs in old oak barrels
with extended aging, making Krug
unique among producers. A harmony of
exquisite balance, Krug also produces a
single vintage blanc de blanc rose, and
single vineyard “clos du mesnil” vintage
“blanc de blanc”
75

76
miXinG
The era of plain spirits has passed. Mixology is the only way to go for any clubbing
experience and suave partygoer. Macau certainly has come a long way since the days
of hammered whiskey at Mundial (a venue most locals will remember, albeit with mixed
feelings). Today we’re spoiled for choice as each venue tries to keep up with the trend
by offering their own signature experiences, some more extreme than others.
The Juggler
You might have seen Mel before. He’s the resident bartender
at Whisky Bar, StarWorld. But did you know he’s the Asian
Flairtending Champion and International Flairtending First
Runner-up? Think Tom Cruise in the 80s flick “Cocktail” and
you get the general idea of what Mel Anthony Padua does for
a living. He first came in contact with bartending and then
flairtending as a hospitality student in Manila and in December
2007 he was representing the Philippines in the Asian
Flairtanding Contest, held in Macau at the Venetian. That was
also when the guys at StarWorld recruited him, and in November
last year he was flipping bottles for Macau. “Flairtending is
different from ‘normal’ bartending,” Mel tells ESSENTIAL: “We
focus a lot on entertainment and exciting tricks to motivate the
client.” Mel says that a good flairtender has must have good
mixology skills but in the end “its 40 percent taste, 60 percent
performance and apperance.” To flairtending enthusiasts Mel
has only two words: “patience and dedication.” He says that
because of his job he doesn’t get much free time and will “only”
practice, roughly four hours a day after work, from 2am to 6am.
Besides an unending array of spirits, you wont need much else
to start mixing: a shaker, a cocktail mixing glass, strainer, fruit
HARDWARE
Shaker
Any large one will do
but in time you’ll be
wanting a Boston shaker
muddler, and a bar spoon. “And ice, lots and lots of
ice,” Mel tells. He reckons he wont be participating in
this year’s Asian Flairtending Championship but hopes
to have a spot on the organising committee which
runs through the Hong Kong and Macau Chapters of
the International Bartending Association. To catch his
performances call the Whisky Bar at (853) 8290 8698.
Any half decent host will pack at least a half a dozen spirits in their bar (if you’re just starting, vodka, rum, gin,
tequila and whiskey are ESSENTIAL). Nonetheless most hosts will leave their guests to themselves when it comes
to finding their poison of choice. The result is that most will end up with a simple two ingredient drink - a Cuba
Libre or a Screwdriver. They’re not bad drinks per say, don’t get us wrong, but not very elaborate, and with just a
little bit of effort you’ll be dazzling your partygoers. Don’t worry, we’re here to give you the ESSENTIAL tools to
get the lay of the land. You’ll be mixing in no time!
Jigger
To ensure a balanced
taste one must
properly measure
the ingredients for
your cocktails
cutting board and knife
To prepare garnishes
and fruits
Strainer
Keeps ice in the
shaker while
allowing fruit pulp
to pass through
ice
One of the most
underestimated
secrets of mixing:
mountains of ice,
and then some
blender
Got to be able
to crush ice

the View, Sands macao
5th Anniversary signature cocktail
Lychee Martini: Vodka, Lychee liqueur,
syrup and fruit
PRICE: MOP 65.00
Vasco, mandarin Oriental
Signature Martini: Vodka, Baileys & Kahlua
PRICE: MOP 65.00
GLASSWARE
Chill your glassware in the freezer or
by filling with ice cubes, before use
martini glass
AKA, a cocktail
glass, to keep
the mix chilled
Old school glass
Short glass with
heavy base. Think
whiskey on the rocks
highball Glass
AKA collins glass, a
tall rocks glass used
for long drinks
Snifter
Think brandy,
conserves
the aroma
Flame bar, hard rock,
city of dreams
White Zombie: Rum based with Pineapple, mango,
cream and black magic
PRICE: MOP 98.00
Lion’s bar, mGm
Latino Punch: Tequila,
Amaretto, Blue Caracao,
orange and pineapple
juice. Decorated with
blueberry’s, raspberry
and mint leaves
PRICE: MOP 65.00
champagne Flute
Tall closed shape
keeps it bubbling
wine Glass
Larger bowls for
red wine, thinner
for whites
Pint Glass
If you don’t have
one, you’re in the
wrong section
Shot Glass
Short and
thick, think
tequila
cUbic, aia tower
Hawaii Beach: Triple Sec, Blue
Curacao, Pineapple Juice
Each layer consists of different
taste and feel; from juice on the
top layer to liquor on the bottom
layer.
PRICE: MOP 75.00
Veuve clicquot Lounge,
mGm
Belvedere Vine: Belvedere
Vodka, Sauvignon Blanc, apple
and lemon juice, passion fruit
and sugar syrup. Decorated
with apple & grape
PRICE: MOP 65.00
the Lounge,
the westin resort
Pina Coloane: White and dark
rum, pineapple juice, coconut
cream, raspberry syrup
PRICE: MOP 54.00
77

78
drink fashionably
The expression ‘drinking fashionably’ takes another
meaning when you add the name Alexander of
McQueen to the mix. The British fashion star has
designed a limited edition “couture” bottle of Chivas
Regal 18-Year-Old Gold Signature Scotch. McQueen’s
design features royal blue leather detailing and
comes topped with a hand-enameled blue, red and
gold cap. Only 2,000 individually numbered bottles
were produced and were available (past tense,
they’re gone) exclusively at deluxe UK department
store Selfridges for only about US$500 or 300 quid.
That was then, now you’ll probably have to steal one
from some aficionado’s cellar.
cognac
diamond
Feast on Henri
IV Dudognon
Heritage Cognac,
100-year-aged,
probably the
world’s most
expensive
cognac: its
carage has sixtyfive
hundred
diamonds,
handmade crystal
dipped in 24
Carat gold and
sterling platinum
finishes. Packaged by jeweller Jose Davalos for
Mexican tequila distilling company Tequila Ley.925,
the bottle was specifically intended for buyers in
Dubai. Responsible for creating this elixir since 1776
are the direct descendants of French King Henri IV -
hence the name - ancestors of Claudine Dudognon–
Buraud, heiress to Maison Dudognon. Priced at
a measly £1 million, it weighs something like 8
kilograms and its filled with 100 cl. of Dudognon
Heritage Cognac Grande Champagne. If you have
one of these don’t forget your friends at EESENTIAL!
aficionado
We have a real treat for all
of you cocktail aficionados.
The InterContinental
Hong Kong and Grand
Marnier are teaming-up
for a summer promotion
of glamorous cocktails,
sublime coffee liqueurs
and internationally awardwinning
desserts made
with France’s iconic orange
liqueur. The gourmet treats
are being showcased until
the end of July at the 5-star
hotel’s Lobby Lounge,
Harbourside and The Steak
House winebar + grill,
exclusively prepared by
guest bartender Julien
Defrance, and French
award winning pastry chef
Nicolas Boussin. We highly
recommend the “Dessert
Cocktails” (HK$150) at the
Lobby Lounge, especially
the Red Dragon, dessert
cocktail: Grand Marnier,
vodka, red fruit coulis,
iced tea, almond, Rhubarb,
strawberries, white
chocolate and orange
cream. Enjoy...
Scots, irish, roll over
If you think that ‘Irish’ or ‘Scots’ are the
only way to go with whiskey, we have
something that will, arguably, blow your
mind. Think Portugal. Yeah right! We know
what you’re thinking, Portuguese are only
good for their long lunches and wine - Port
especially - but whiskey? Well, If you’ve
got enough bling to get a hold of a bottle,
try a sip of Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban,
a velvety-textured single malt whiskey
with rich, chocolately and minty flavour
notes. It’s a mature Glenmorangie that is
transferred from the original ex-bourbon
cask and then extra matured or “finished”
in port pipes, shipped from the ‘Quintas’
or wine estates of Portugal. Maturation in
the ruby port pipes develops The Quinta
Ruban into a voluptuously smooth spirit. If
you actually do get to try it out and think
the Irish are boy scouts, don’t forget you
heard it for us.

Miss T Gold Porcelain Stool
by Philippe Starck for XO, holland
This unique porcelain stool is a true feat
of engineering achievement. Oversized
with a flat top, its gold and platinum
finishes are the fruits of experience
acquired by the XO team in prestige
ceramic making.
Dimensions: 18” h x 17” w x 15” d.
Available in gold or platinum
porcelain finish.
At www.questodesign.com
Price: US$852
Costa Brava Pneumatic
Corkscrew
Costa Brava’s Wood Pneumatic
wine opener has been called
“unequalled in the marketplace”.
It is handmade out of the finest raw
materials and a native wood called
“Incense” - a hardwood unique to
Argentina.
At International Wine Accessories
– www.iwawine.com
Price: US$105
Viden Whiskey Tumblers
artel collection
These black crystal whisky tumblers have been manufactured using traditional glass
blowing techniques. From the molten material to the hand-polished finish, each glass
is an individual work of art. Blending history with contemporary design, each piece
has been etched with a simple criss-cross motif. Created by Artel, the design company
which specialises in functional yet highly designed contemporary glassware, they take
their name from an early 20th century group of Czech artisans. Artel has adopted the
same superior handcraft traditions and each piece can take days to complete.
At www.couturelab.com
Price: US$426
Sex
and wine,
oh yeah,
and
chocolate
Bacchus was the god of wine and it is believed he inspired
madness. He was also known for freeing one from one’s normal
self – leading to ecstasy. His divine mission was to bring an end
to care and worry, so what better way than with a glass of wine?
Savouring a good wine slowly, experiencing every drop and
letting it get into your head can be a wonderful experience,
especially if the company is good. Just like sex, the slower the
better – it’s called “taking time to appreciate the good things
in life”. And it’s a great way to liberate yourself from stress and
help soften hard hearts!
Academic research states that one or two glasses of red wine
a day increases the female libido. A study of almost 800 Italian
women aged between 18 and 50 concluded that not only
were they less inhibited after drinking some red wine, but
their sexual activity increased. It doesn’t take an expert to
understand why, nor any academic research to prove it...
Wine works just like chocolate – as an aphrodisiac. A
combination of both is believed to bring about very interesting
results. Fruity and stronger reds are better to be paired with
chocolate. Other than red wine, try some champagne.
As for chocolate, truffles are an ideal pairing for red wine,
because they usually contain high levels of cocoa and have a
variety of flavours infused within.
Basically, you should follow this simple ground rule: the darker
the wine, the darker the chocolate.
It is imperative that you control your drinking, otherwise neither
the chocolate nor your interesting company will be able to
rouse you from your slumber. Also beware of what you eat. It is
proven that sex after a heavy meal can lead to indigestion.
Like everything else in life – moderation is the key, and the
slower the better.
79

Shinies for every occasion
Audemars Piguet 4S
Blancpain V
Boucheron V
Breil V
Butani 4S V
Bvlgari W V
Caran d’Ache V
CARAT* V
Carl F. Bucherer V
Cartier 4S M
Chanel 4S W
Charriol V
Chopard 4S V
Dior 4S
Christian Dior 4S W M
Damiani V
David Yurman 4S
Debeers 4S
Diamond SA 4S V
ENZO V
Franck Muller V
Glashütte Original V
Grossé V
Gucci 4S W
Hatta Fine Jewellery V
Hearts On Fire V
Hublot V
IWC 4S V
Jaeger-LeCoultre V
Jaquet Droz V
KEGO V
Kiehl’s 4S
LOANG & NOI V
Louis Vuitton 4S W M
Luk Fook Jewellery V
MIKIMOTO V
Montblanc V
Omega 4S V M
Panerai V
Piaget W V
Rado V
Richard Mille V
S.T Dupont V
Shamwari 4S V
Shimansky 4S V
Swarovski 4S V
TAG 4S
TASAKI V
Tiffany & Co. W V
Tissot V
Tourneau V
Vacheron Constatin 4S
Van Cleef & Arpels 4S W
Vertu W V
ZYDO Italy V
4S | the Shoppes at the Four Seasons
w | esplanade at wynn
V | Grand canal Shoppes at the Venetian
m | mandarin Oriental
Shoppes | listing of luxury shopping arcades
new yaohan department Store
(853) 2872 5338
www.newyaohan.com
the Shoppes at the Four Seasons
(853) 8117 7800
www.shoppesatfourseasons.com
the Grand canal Shoppes at the Venetian
(853) 2882 8888
www.venetianmacao.com
esplanade at wynn
(853) 2888 9966
www.wynnmacau.com
mandarin Oriental
(853) 8793 3261
www.mandarinoriental.com/macau
cruise control
pick up sites for
your next sweet ride
alfa romeo
(852) 23056128
audi
(853) 28703383
bentley
(853) 28703383
bmw (macau)
(853) 87976119
Ferrari
(852) 28739233
Ford hong kong
(852) 28147286
harper’s
(853) 28768975
Jaguar
(853) 28316338
maseratti
(852) 28739238
maybach
(852) 25948138
mazda
(853) 28316338
mercedes- benz
(853) 28831283
mini
(853) 87976112
Porsche
(852) 29262208
Volkswagen
(853) 28703383
Volvo
(853) 28703383
blueprint
to the best
design in town
blue bar
(853) 2881 8888
cubic
(852) 2828 6696
roka
(853) 28825666
rossio
(853) 8802 3888
Veuve clicquot
Lounge
(853) 8802 3888
à la carte
Rolodex of whereto-eat-and-spend
aux beaux arts
(853) 8802 8888
camões
(853) 2872 8818
canton
(853) 8118 9930
clube militar de macau
(853) 2871 4000
don alfonso macau 1890
(853) 8803 7722
Fernando’s
(853) 2888 2264
il teatro
(853) 8986 3648
imperial court
(853) 8802 8888
inagiku
(853) 2838 3838
kira
(853) 2886 8868
kwun hoi heen
(853) 2887 1111
La Paloma
(853) 2837 8111
morton’s of chicago
(853) 8117 5000
naam thai
restaurant
(853) 8793 4818
new Furusato
(853) 2888 3888
Okada
(853) 8986 3668
Portas do Sol
(853) 2888 3888
red 8
(853) 8986 3663
rossio
(853) 8802 8888
Square 8
(853) 8802 8888
tenmasa
(853) 8803 6611
tim’s kitchen
(853) 2828 3838
the eight
(853) 2828 3838
robuchon a Galera
(853) 2837 7666
rOka
(853) 2882 5666
ying
(853) 2888 0156
next month
look for
Golf
Spas | indulging pleasures
chang chun massage centre
Rua Coelho Amaral, 1 D, Edf. Lai Hou
phase 2, 1L, Macau
(853) 2895 5822
the Spa @ crown macau
Avenida de Kwong Tung, Taipa, Macau
(853) 2886 8888
the Spa @ the Four Seasons macau
Estrada da N. Senhora da Baía, Taipa, Macau
(853) 2881 8888
Six Senses Spa @ mGm Grand macau
Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen, Macau
(853) 8802 3838
nirvana Spa
China Law Building
403 Avenida da Praia Grande, Macau
(853) 2833 1521
Su Sek massage centre
Mei lai Kok Building
Macau Stadium Roundabout, Taipa, Macau
(853) 2884 0039
V Spa @ the Venetian macao
Estrada da Nossa Senhora da Baía,
Taipa, Macau
(853) 2882 8882
wong chio massage centre
Edf. Kin Heng Long
264 Alameda Dr. Carlos D’Assumpção, Macau
(853) 2875 0332
the Spa @ wynn macau
Rua Cidade de Sintra, Macau
(853) 8986 3228
enhance | the beauty within
cle de Peau / Shiseido
cledepeau-beaute.com
(available @ New Yaohan, Canal Shoppes)
crème de la mer
cremedelamer.co.uk
(available @ New Yaohan, DFS)
estèe Lauder
esteelauder.com
(available @ DFS, New Yaohan)
Giorgio armani
giorgioarmani.com
(available @ New Yaohan)
hommage
hommage.com
(available @ Wynn Macau)
kiehl’s
kiehls.com
(available @ New Yaohan, Canal Shoppes)
Lancôme
lancome.com
(available @ New Yaohan, DFS)
La Prairie
laprairie.com
(available @ DFS)
natura bissè
naturabisse.es
(available @ The Four Seasons )
Sisley
sisley.com
(available @ Canal Shoppes, New Yaohan)