Happy Saturday, team. After five long days of whisky-tasting, watch releases and new car launches, the second week of November has triumphantly drawn to a close. Make no mistake, the silly season is creeping up and it won’t be long before we’re all in full swing. Until then, however, there is work to be done and we’re starting with our weekly Staff Favourites special. Here are the best things we’ve found over the past seven days.
AIX Rosé X Playlister Summer Playlists
Nick Hall – Editor-in-Chief
It’s going closer to Summer, and you know what that means—rosé all day. Despite the weather taking a decidedly sharp turn for the worse this week, I’m already planning my sunny day sipping menu and now, I’ve got the tunes to match. Provençal winemaker AIX Rosé has teamed up with music curation company, Playlister to launch a series of dedicated Rosé All Day playlists.
Centred around the highly acclaimed AIX 2023 vintage, the Sunsational AIX daytime playlist spotlights bright and soulful sounds inspired by the rosé’s vibrant flavour profile, while the Sunset Groove selection and Midnight Melodies offers similar a little more sultry for when the sun goes down. As Victor Verhoef, marketing director of AIX explained, the new playlists have been created as a way of enhancing the drinking experience, representing the synergistic relationship between chefs and sommeliers.
“From sharing experiences with friends over great wine, music and food, to launching AIX, the sound that represents our wine and our ethos has been a point of particular interest,” Verhoef said. “This year, we want to take all the pressure off your summer social gatherings by working with Playlister to create specially selected soundtracks to pair with our wine; we hope you find them as perfect a match as we do.”
As a music lover and a Francophile, this new offering is right up my alley and I can’t wait to get the summer vibes started. AIX Rosé and Playlister’s Rosé All Day playlists can be heard on their Spotify profiles and seen across Instagram – with all playlists available to stream now.
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The Macallan TIME: SPACE Collection
Scott Purcell – Co-Founder
If you managed to stick around for 200 years, you must be doing something right. Scotch whisky icon The Macallan is commemorating that very milestone this year and to mark the occasion, the Speyside legend is releasing two limited edition expressions that celebrate time and space. Taking cues from what looks to be an AI-generated red spiky planet, these bottles look absolutely insane! The packaging alone is enough to make me weep.
The first, TIME : SPACE, features a rare 1940 vintage. Yes, an 84-year-old whisky, which is the oldest ever released by The Macallan. Two hand-selected casks were brought together for this unique expression that has an aroma of dark chocolate-coated ginger and hints of coffee, followed by a palate of charred pineapple and baked peaches. This comes paired with the inaugural whisky from their new Distillery (aka the Future), a 2018 vintage that is vibrant and fresh with notes of fresh green apple and hints of lemon and lime alongside vanilla shortbread. Only 200 of these bottles will be available.
This is followed by the TIME : SPACE MASTERY release, which took inspiration from past whisky masters to create layers of complexity. It’s housed in a circular vessel symbolising the circle of life and the ongoing journey of time. The secret behind its mastery is the bespoke sherry-seasoned European oak casks that deliver a warm cherry colour, an aroma of dates and sweet baked figs followed by a palette of dried fruits and a finish of burnt caramel. I’ve been invited to lunch next Tuesday with The Macallan, but with so few bottles available, I doubt I’ll be lucky enough to try either! Fingers crossed, though!
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New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 V14
John Guanzon – Head of Social
If you ever catch me running, it’s probably because someone said there’s a burger truck around the corner. However, since slipping on the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080s recently, I’m starting to understand why people run voluntarily. For the past few months, I’ve been rocking the 1080v13 to the gym and for everyday wear, and it’s easily become my favourite. With the recent drop of the 1080v14, I knew I had to get my hands on them.
As I’ve discovered from the v13, the Fresh Foam midsole is absurdly comfortable. It’s like someone stuffed clouds into the soles, just the right amount of bounce without that marshmallow sink. The 1080v14, however, offers a few nifty upgrades from the v13, including a firmer midsole for added stability, a lighter and more breathable mesh upper, a stiffer forefoot for smoother transitions, and improved outsole durability.
While slightly heavier than the v13, the v14’s added stability makes it ideal for both casual runners and those looking for a reliable daily trainer. But then again, who says you need to be training for your feet to be comfortable? The 1080v14 proves that great support and cushioning should be an everyday thing, no excuses needed. Am I going to hit the pavement at 5 a.m.? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. But I’m definitely looking forward to my daily strolls with a bit more spring in my step, and maybe, just maybe, a light jog now and then.
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Starward Whisky ‘New Horizons’ Pop-up Experience
Alex Martinez – Media Sales and Brand Partnerships
“Whisky is not a destination; it’s a journey.” Perhaps a cliche, but this phrase from the interactive audio at the Starward Pop-Up Experience resonated with me as a very eager but very novice whisky drinker. The Starward experience provided a unique opportunity to learn about, discover, and taste some truly outstanding Australian whisky in a memorable way.
Set on Bennelong Lawn with stunning views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, and harbour, it’s a full sensory experience that blends visual and audio elements with engaging storytelling that whisky drinkers have come to love. Whether you’re a whisky novice like me or a seasoned enthusiast, I highly recommend immersing yourself in this experience.
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Bared Footwear Saved My Feet
Dean Blake – Journalist – Tech, Entertainment & Features
I used to have a lot of problems with pain in my feet. I assumed it was from a childhood of playing soccer and skateboarding, and my arches would occasionally collapse and I’d need to spend a few days off my feet in order to let them recover – it wasn’t great, and after a particularly bad spell following the bucks party of an unnamed Editor-in-Chief, I decided to finally do something about it. Thankfully, a friend of mine had previously purchased Bared footwear and had raved about them, so I decided to give it a try.
Let me tell you: I am a full convert. Bared make orthopedic shoes in multiple styles, but I’m a big fan of their Thallium Black Leather Boots: they cost $429, which isn’t exactly cheap, but the goal is to treat the boots well and maintain them so they keep you on your feet, and so far, so good. I purchased my own Thallium boots about 5 months ago, and while they were a bit stiff at first they’ve loosened with time and are now incredibly comfortable – but, since they’re leather, you can easily waterproof them and wear them rain, hail or shine.
I know it’s not sexy to recommend orthopedic shoes, but these are legit one of the best things I’ve purchased in the last year. Plus, it’s an Australian brand, so you can support good craftsmanship Down Under while you’re at it.
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Altina Non-Alcoholic Wines
Dayna Aspite – Branded Content Associate
With alcohol playing such a large role in Aussie culture, it’s social sucide (in most cases) to go cold turkey and uninvite yourself to the usual cheeky pub run with the crew a lot of the time. It’s safe to say non alcoholic drinks had a humble beginning with being made of mostly sugar and having the audacity to leave you hungover the next day regardless of it being 0%. Altina has definitely changed my perspective on this with their non alcoholic wine range that is infused with natural botanicals.
With a celebration last weekend where champagne was flowing, I was able to feel included and truly feel the celebratory spirit thanks to Altina’s Sparkling Brut. It was crispy, apple forward and sweeter than I had expected. After polishing off most of the bottle throughout the day, I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t have any of the usual side effects of the typical 0% drinks give- the headache, bloating or sugar crash. I can see now why they were named the best in the world at the World Alcohol Free Awards!
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‘The Bachelor’s Handbag’… Is this Aussie Fashion?
Beatrix Boon – Social Video Producer
This week’s pick was the brilliant, ‘Bachelor’s Handbag’ from Size 11. Made to look like you’ve just popped down to Woolies and bought yourself a pre-roasted chook for dinner, this handbag is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
What makes a bag a bag? Something I’ve been asking myself recently. Turning anything and everything into bags has been trending on TikTok lately, I even saw a guy with a celery bag… Like it was just a huge fake celery that had a zip?!
Back to the chook bag, while yes, it is pretty outrageous, you have to give credit to the fact that it is actually really easy to use and very well made. It’s got a great structure, nice seal (just like a real chook bag), and the strap is super comfortable. You can tell a lot of thought has gone into its construction.
Size 11 has really thought outside the box (bag) here, and I’m keen to see what they do next. The brand is based in Redfern and only opened up last year… These guys have definitely come out of the gates guns blazing.
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