THE REVIEW

THE CILLIAN MURPHY EDITION

LATEST FEATURES

The Ferrari 12 Cilindri

Power comes from the only naturally aspirated V12 available, derived from the block seen in the 812. However, in the 12 Cilindri this represents a 600rpm higher redline and a gain of 30bhp. The 6.5 litre V12 puts out 818bhp at 9500rpm. I mean, come on now.

A mile in Cheaney

We speak about walking a mile in another’s shoes to express how we might see through their experience, to better understand how we might help a loved one through times of hardship. However, we don’t tend to look much further than the notion of wearing footwear that might be a little too big, or small, or just generally fit a little differently. To delve further into the metaphor – these shoes into which we slip – what style might they be to best fit another personality? Which complexion could best meld with their closet? What materials have enveloped our loved ones, and held them as they strode? It’s something we…

Islay and The Bowmore Cottages: A Distillation of Excellence

For the dedicated aficionado of whisky, certain global focal points exude an irresistible allure, buoyed upon centuries of committed craftsmanship and a profound relationship with the landscape.  The connoisseurs of all things Bourbon-related may undertake their pilgrimages to the dust-strewn distilleries of Kentucky and Tennessee, keen to uncover the heritage and delights of Pappy’s and their kin. Those seeking the (supposed) origins of the whiskies of the British Isles will congregate around Bushmills in County Antrim. The apostate trendsetters, with their palates centred on the admittedly remarkable output of the Far East, will trek their way through the winding streets of Osaka to pay homage to the spring waters of…

Santa Barbara’s Soulful Sizzle

Located just 90 miles north of the intensity of Los Angeles and 325 miles south of vibrant San Francisco, Santa Barbara is affectionately called The American Riviera. A place that has carved out an authentic laidback bohemian beach vibe, whilst simultaneously delivering a sophisticated lifestyle for its well-heeled and celebrity residents as well as its visitors.

Destination: Dream hair

There are two types of people in this world: those who have found their lifelong match, and those who are yet to find it. A perfect partnership is based on love and trust after all, and is a relationship that takes time to build. Of course, the two halves of this pairing are the hairstylist and the client, and for many, it’s a partnership more than worth travelling for. 

Wealth Whispers: The Lexus LX 600 Ultra Luxury

The name Lexus is supposedly derived from a combination of the Latin word “Luxus” meaning excess or luxury, and the French word for luxury “luxe”. While this holds true – Lexus is synonymous with many of the brand’s defining factors, luxury, reliability and sensibility – some claim that Lexus is an acronym that Toyota created for “Luxury exports to the US” after Toyota decided to brand their luxury vehicles as Lexus in 1989.  The 90s saw hip hop giants Snoop Dogg and the Notorious B.I.G. spitting bars about their Lexuses, which gave the luxury Japanese brand unprecedented street cred. By 1999 Lexus had sold 1,000,000 units in the US, solidifying…

Carried by the summer breeze

Scent carries our memories like music, a single note bringing waves of unexpected nostalgia. For some, remembrance can bring olfactory hallucination, the two notions having become intricately linked. A moment, a touch, a conversation, a friendship or a love…  waves of beautiful, visceral emotion. Here, summer is an anthology of stories, each told by scent. Taking a mind-clearing walk on the clifftops, the waves crash below, the birds kettle high above. You brush past clary sage, eucalyptus and lavender growing wild. The ocean air fills your lungs. You notice how sea-soaked branches grasp the rocks aside your path. As your mind wanders back to your day ahead, you replace a…

Braking the ICE: A farewell to the pure V8 Continental GT

  If you’re like me – scrolling through various car-filled feeds every day – you will know that the Bentley Continental GT is not only an outstanding grand tourer but an award-winning one. The Continental GT is akin to Beyoncé at the Grammys or Meryl Streep at the Oscars, cosseting trophies in its simultaneously heated and cooled leather seats on return to Crewe. Bentley has recently revealed their new Continental GT which features a new face, and more notably, an all-new High-Performance Hybrid V8 powertrain. Since I won’t be behind the wheel of the new hybrid Continental GT for some time, Bentley asked if I wanted to say a final…

Heard it on the grapevine: The unstoppable rise of Pelegrims

“In ten or twenty years, people will think nothing of travelling to the English countryside to indulge in some vinotherapy.”  It’s a bold statement of faith in the constantly-burgeoning British wine scene, but Jerome Moisan – visionary entrepreneur and leading light of Pelegrims, a rapidly-ascending skincare brand with a seriously impressive array of products – has never shied away from making an impact.  Indeed, Jerome is perhaps the only Frenchman alive who is a diehard champion of the English wine industry (or at least, the only one willing to admit it in public), but Pelegrims and the wineries of England’s South East hillscapes have a symbiotic relationship that has resulted…

A gardener’s diary, the summer edit

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” Now, whilst I might swap out ‘library’ for thoughtfully curated wine rack’, I do agree with the former. But, I am suddenly acutely aware as the summer has finally entered centre stage with a fanfare that my garden, once a luscious frequented space adorned with touches of soft furnishings and wildlife-enticing plants, is a far cry from being sundowner ready. My desk-based afternoon daydreams involve planning abundant herb-filled planters for the perfect capsule kitchen garden, filling every gap with the intricate blooms of David Austin roses and lining every wall for heady scent with ‘Gold Flame’ Honeysuckle…

The Ghan Train

The Ghan

I’m certainly no Francis Bourgeois, but there’s something so romantic and intriguing about crossing lands unknown in the comfort of a sleeper train. Being given the opportunity to see vast landscapes that many won’t ever get to witness, solely due to its sheer remoteness, is a rare delight.

Monterey Car Week: What to expect in 2024

A few key events are akin to film festivals and fashion weeks in the automotive world. The British have the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival. The French have Retromobile and the Chantilly Concours of Elegance. The Swedes have the newly launched Auroura Concours, Italy brings us the legendary Concorso D’Eleganza Villa D’Este and Fuori Concorso, and then there’s North America… 

Boutique Retreats, Sojourn

Wilderness perfected, by Boutique Retreats

Travel is a fine and freeing thing. The unshackling of the metaphorical chains, the daily grind of work, and life’s endless expectations. Oh, and the choice! Sunshine, or snow? Lakes, forests, dunes or mountains? Total relaxation, escapism, exhilaration or luxuriation?

DS7 Vauban: French Flair and Fortitude

The French are known for many things: fine dining, haute couture and an unmistakable flair when it comes to automotive design. 

DS, a nameplate synonymous with some of the prettiest cars in history, promises to bring a French luxury savoir-faire to a German-dominated automotive sector. 

THE REVIEW

THE ALICIA AGNESON EDITION

TRAVEL

Islay and The Bowmore Cottages: A Distillation of Excellence

For the dedicated aficionado of whisky, certain global focal points exude an irresistible allure, buoyed upon centuries of committed craftsmanship and a profound relationship with the landscape.  The connoisseurs of all things Bourbon-related may undertake their pilgrimages to the dust-strewn distilleries of Kentucky and Tennessee, keen to uncover the heritage and delights of Pappy’s and their kin. Those seeking the (supposed) origins of the whiskies of the British Isles will congregate around Bushmills in County Antrim. The apostate trendsetters, with their palates centred on the admittedly remarkable output of the Far East, will trek their way through the winding streets of Osaka to pay homage to the spring waters of…

Santa Barbara’s Soulful Sizzle

Located just 90 miles north of the intensity of Los Angeles and 325 miles south of vibrant San Francisco, Santa Barbara is affectionately called The American Riviera. A place that has carved out an authentic laidback bohemian beach vibe, whilst simultaneously delivering a sophisticated lifestyle for its well-heeled and celebrity residents as well as its visitors.

Global Wealth Migration: Creating New Futures and New Landscapes

As global economies shift and ultra-high-net-worth individuals seek diversification in both their assets and lifestyle options, investment migration has gained traction as a popular strategy. The appeal of owning multiple properties across the globe, particularly for those in the centi-millionaire bracket, cannot be overstated.

The Ghan Train

The Ghan

I’m certainly no Francis Bourgeois, but there’s something so romantic and intriguing about crossing lands unknown in the comfort of a sleeper train. Being given the opportunity to see vast landscapes that many won’t ever get to witness, solely due to its sheer remoteness, is a rare delight.

Monterey Car Week: What to expect in 2024

A few key events are akin to film festivals and fashion weeks in the automotive world. The British have the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival. The French have Retromobile and the Chantilly Concours of Elegance. The Swedes have the newly launched Auroura Concours, Italy brings us the legendary Concorso D’Eleganza Villa D’Este and Fuori Concorso, and then there’s North America… 

Boutique Retreats, Sojourn

Wilderness perfected, by Boutique Retreats

Travel is a fine and freeing thing. The unshackling of the metaphorical chains, the daily grind of work, and life’s endless expectations. Oh, and the choice! Sunshine, or snow? Lakes, forests, dunes or mountains? Total relaxation, escapism, exhilaration or luxuriation?

THE ALPINE EDITION

BEAUTY

Destination: Dream hair

There are two types of people in this world: those who have found their lifelong match, and those who are yet to find it. A perfect partnership is based on love and trust after all, and is a relationship that takes time to build. Of course, the two halves of this pairing are the hairstylist and the client, and for many, it’s a partnership more than worth travelling for. 

Carried by the summer breeze

Scent carries our memories like music, a single note bringing waves of unexpected nostalgia. For some, remembrance can bring olfactory hallucination, the two notions having become intricately linked. A moment, a touch, a conversation, a friendship or a love…  waves of beautiful, visceral emotion. Here, summer is an anthology of stories, each told by scent. Taking a mind-clearing walk on the clifftops, the waves crash below, the birds kettle high above. You brush past clary sage, eucalyptus and lavender growing wild. The ocean air fills your lungs. You notice how sea-soaked branches grasp the rocks aside your path. As your mind wanders back to your day ahead, you replace a…

Heard it on the grapevine: The unstoppable rise of Pelegrims

“In ten or twenty years, people will think nothing of travelling to the English countryside to indulge in some vinotherapy.”  It’s a bold statement of faith in the constantly-burgeoning British wine scene, but Jerome Moisan – visionary entrepreneur and leading light of Pelegrims, a rapidly-ascending skincare brand with a seriously impressive array of products – has never shied away from making an impact.  Indeed, Jerome is perhaps the only Frenchman alive who is a diehard champion of the English wine industry (or at least, the only one willing to admit it in public), but Pelegrims and the wineries of England’s South East hillscapes have a symbiotic relationship that has resulted…

THE REVIEW

THE BEN WILLIAMS EDITION

FILM

Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae - Roger Chan - The Review Magazine

Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae LP780-4

I slip my slightly clammy hand gingerly into the slot, ease some pressure and pull gently skyward. That scissor-door entry is nothing less than muted pornography. So effortless in its execution, it’s part of the recipe that makes the Aventador just that little bit more special.

Casio PX-S7000 Stephen Sims

Aesthetic Harmonics – The Casio PX-S7000

Quality, innovation and – by god, in this case – style. Casio’s reputation precedes it when it comes to its product development and, crucially, its product refinement. Their first electronic keyboard, The Casiotone CT-201, was birthed by Toshio Kashio and his team in January 1980.

Ferrari F8 Spider

Ferrari F8 Spider

Fresh from four days in Scotland driving the simply astonishing Ferrari F8 Spider, there are times in one’s life where you have to sit back, take some time, and genuinely let an experience wash over you. You need to take it in. Revel in it. The smells, the sights, the sheer visceral nature of it.

Alpina - Startimer Pilot Chronograph

Alpina – Startimer Pilot Chronograph

Like many Swiss watchmaking dynasties, Alpina can trace its founding back to the turn of the nineteenth century – 1883 to be precise – by Gottlieb Hauser, a watchmaker in Winterthur, who also established the Swiss Watchmakers Corporation (Union Horlogère Suisse).

Stacia Suttles

Stacia Suttles

It wasn’t until Stacia Suttles turned 19 and stepped into a boxing ring for the first time, that the amateur fighter realised she was exceptionally gifted in the combat sport.

Twisted 21

I scanned the horizon of the Finnish race circuit but Charlie was possibly doing a few laps in the 500hp V8 110. “Let me see if I can find him Tony”. “Cool man”. This was the first of a handful of semi awkward exchanges I would have with Tony Hawk that week as we crossed from Finland into Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Austria and Monaco.