Vertu Ascent Ti Mixed Metal collection

Vertu has a new line-up of luxury devices. It’s called Ascent Ti Mixed Metal collection, and is set to start selling in September.

The Knurled version features knurled rose gold side panels with rose gold keys and screws whilst the back is a specialized knurled rubber back.

The other version is made of brushed titanium with yellow gold screws and keys with the same knurled rubber back as the knurled version.

Via Sybarites

Templeton Small Batch Rye Whiskey

Templeton Rye, a small batch rye whiskey from Iowa, has quite an interesting history; it was first introduced in the 1920s and was made illegally throughout the Prohibition Era. During that time Templeton was at the center of Al Capone's bootlegging empire, and was even shipped to him during his imprisonment at Alcatraz.

The end of the Prohibition came in 1933, but the production of Templeton Rye continued, and the whiskey has only been made privately and in small quantities for loyal patrons since. Templeton Rye launched its first legal product in 2006, and is currently only available in Illinois and Iowa, though that will hopefully change soon.

Following the Prohibition Era recipe, Templeton is aged for more than four years in charred new white oak barrels. While a rye whiskey must by definition be made from a mash containing at least 51% rye, Templeton is made from a mash of more than 90% rye. As the bottle says, it makes for "a smooth finish and a clean getaway."

The unique whiskey presents a rye spiciness and almost bittersweet taste that is found in the rye grain, along with notes of dried fruit, toffee, caramel and allspice. Texturally, the deep amber-colored whiskey is thick and almost chewy. The mellow, yet complex rye has a clean, spicy finish. The rye taste mixed with spiciness and sweet undertones are well balanced, a sign of careful aging.

[Via: Luxist]

iPhone OS 3.0 gold release in pictures

It won't be available en masse until the 17th of the month, but the gold build of iPhone OS 3.0 is now available to developers -- a promising sign that apps taking advantage of a wide variety of 3.0's new features (push notifications, in-app payments, and the like) will be available by the time it's released to the general public. We've been toying around with the latest cut here and have noticed a few small changes from beta 5; nothing groundbreaking, but notable nonetheless. Most importantly, iTunes is now offering movie, TV and music video downloads directly from the phone, which has caused the bottom navigation bar to be rearranged a bit. We also noticed that the App Store's nav bar was rearranged a bit to accommodate a "More" button where you'll find Top 25 and Redeem links. The Store screen in Settings now shows a nicely-formatted account information screen -- nice, we suppose -- but unfortunately, MMS configurability is still missing, so it's unclear whether AT&T will need to push an update once it flips the switch. Dive into the gallery for a closer look.

Via: engadget

North Carolina's Supercar Sensation: All the Fun, None of the Hassle

Exotic supercars are the antithesis of affordable. That's part of their allure. After all, if we could all afford them, they wouldn't be all that exotic, now would they? That hasn't stopped several companies from trying to make driving them an accessible venture, however. Unfortunately in the current economic climate, membership-based supercar clubs have been closing faster than your favorite bar after last call. A new company has sprung up, however, with a different approach. North Carolina-based Supercar Sensation boasts a staggering collection of supercars – including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches, Aston Martins and more – all available for the paying customer to drive. Open-road and track sessions are organized regularly, starting at $199. There are no membership fees to pay, no maintenance bills to foot. Just show up with cash or card in hand and they'll take care of the rest...except for the driving. Check out the Supercar Sensation website for all the information.

[Via Luxist]

Become a rock star at The Setai, Miami

The Setai is offering aspiring musicians the opportunity to turn their Grammy dreams into reality by rocking out in the same studio used by Beyonce, Jay Z, Timbaland and Mary J. Blige to record their own music under the professional instruction of Studio Director, Matt Knobel, at the recently opened Recording Studio at The Setai.
Created by the ultimate rocker Lenny Kravitz and Kravitz Design, and located in a two-floor penthouse suite with breathtaking ocean views and a private outdoor patio, the 2,500 square foot studio has been fitted with the latest, state-of-the-art equipment for both analog and digital recording. Kravitz Design has combined the serene Asian tone at The Setai with high concept vintage furniture, plush wool shag carpeting and custom hand-screened wallpaper to create an environment that is elegant, warm and luxurious.
The “Rock Star Package” includes 1 day of studio time in the Recording Studio at The Setai, a one-bedroom suite for 3 nights, a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne upon arrival, and transfer to and from Miami airport in a Range Rover.

[Via: A Luxury Travel Blog]

The Top 15 Watches of 2008

Because watches have their roots in practicality, one can almost not go too far over the top when choosing the ultimate watch to express their individual style. This year at Luxist, we featured watches with all manner of unusual eccentricities and legacies, including watches that only tell if it's day or night, watches inspired by the Beijing Olympics, and watches containing rare gems, woods, and actual meteorite.

Featured above is the watch with the meteorite: The Van Cleef & Arpels Midnight in Paris Watch, which shows a representation of the stars visible from Paris on a typical night set in a lovely rose gold.

As watches become less important for telling time (because it's on your cell phone), we believe it is only natural that they will become more and more beautiful.

To view watch gallery click here.

Via Luxist

Buy A Yacht In The U.S. And Sail It Back To Australia

One enterprising Australia-based yacht seller has found a new way connect their customers with boats in the U.S. Boats are cheaper here in the States so Yarra's Edge Yachts has created the Trans Pacific Yacht Rally. Yacht buyers will purchase a yacht from their brokerage of second-hand yachts, fly to La Paz, Mexico for the "Scrutinizing weekend" and then prepare and provision their new yacht for a Valentine's Day departure across the Pacific. The route will use the trade winds and make many scenic stops which will also allow for flying home or for crew changes. The rally will end in Queensland, Australia on October 11, 2009. Vessels range from 36' to 60' and $47,500 to US $350,000. The 40' Passport Sloop shown here is listed at $152,250.

[via Sail World]