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One of only 22 built, the 1991 Porsche 964 Carrera 4 Leichtbau will be offered during Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach Auctions in August. One of only 22 built, the 1991 Porsche 964 Carrera 4 Leichtbau will be offered during Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach Auctions in August.

Our editor Samantha Coles visits Spain’s latest wellness center, where longevity is not just a goal but a celebration of life itself. 

But as I was ushered into the grand gold-and-cream lobby, with its intricate 35,000-piece mosaic (which I’m later told is pieced together by hand, a process that takes months) and dangling chandelier overhead, I can already tell I’m in for a much-needed soothing.

Calling it a clinic is a tad misleading as it definitely feels more akin to an elegant, grande dame five-star hotel — just one that has a plethora of wellness treatments as well as a high-tech medical center.

On arrival, I’m introduced to my ‘Zem master,’ who shows me around the labyrinthine space and explains what to expect from my visit. Each guest has an assigned Zem master who conducts a pre-visit consultation and is on hand throughout their stay (programs are individualized and range from three to 21 nights). I’m presented with a cork binder with my schedule for the following days, which will soon be filled with in-depth results from my various assessments.

My first stop is in the clinic proper — a slick space that has a more medical feel. The clinic offers services in 25 specialties and 32 medical practices. I began with a facial scan to asses the layers of my skin and to spot any problem areas such as wrinkle depth and sun damage before having a similar scan on my body, where any blemish is flagged — a nurse checks out any freckles or moles that are slightly larger than typical in case they need to be assessed further.

Following my skin assessment, I visited Solange, one of Zem’s doctors, for a ‘bio-integrative medicine consultation.’ She carried out a number of tests and thoroughly explained why she did each one (as well as sharing charming anecdotes — she speaks four languages and learned English as a way to understand when her grandmother and great-aunt were gossiping). I have arthritis and, as a result, I have swelling in my knee; Solange suggested a number of treatments to improve the condition.

Next, I had a session with the nutritionist. Zem offers different dietary plans based on the guests’ needs and which program they are undertaking, ranging from pretty intense detox to metabolic bioregulation. All plans are tailor-made and based on the Mediterranean diet — a few highlights of mine were matcha pancakes for breakfast and a divine mushroom risotto for dinner.

The clinic has its very own organically cultivated vegetable garden spanning nearly 20 acres — it has one of the highest ecological certifications for its sustainable farming practices. The farm, Finca Althaya, is a short drive away should you wish to explore, and it has 60 different varieties of fruits, vegetables and aromatic herbs that supply the restaurant. The chef who showed me around the finca spoke enthusiastically about how special it is to have tropical fruit that they grow themselves and to know it is of excellent quality.

The finca also has a number of olive trees with the goal of producing Zem olive oil within the next two years. (The Zem logo is the DNA symbol intertwined with an upside-down olive tree.) Guests can also take part in harvesting the produce and using it in cooking classes — Zem has a gorgeous chapel-like cooking space with a domed atrium ceiling and stained-glass windows; the chef’s station has cleverly positioned cameras that live stream every chop and slice, so budding chefs can see every move and follow along.

During my session with the nutritionist, I also had a body composition analysis and was presented with data like my total muscle mass (188lbs), muscle quality (high), sarcopenia risk (low), bone mass (6.3lbs), visceral fat index (low) and metabolic level (equivalent to a 21-year-old). I’ll take it!

The following morning, I had a check-in with my Zem master to see if the itinerary was to my liking (it most certainly was). I then visited the gym, which is chock-full of Technogym equipment alongside Greek-esque sculptures — it shouldn’t work, but it Photos Jovi Fotógrafos absolutely does. I was put through my paces with a functional assessment and training where my cardio, strength and mobility were tested along with my mental capacity — reaction time, memory and thought processing.

A slightly harder challenge considering my lack of coffee (replaced with a reishi mushroom cappuccino), but the experience provided valuable insight; my mobility needs the most work and I vowed to start practicing yoga, which I started doing from my suite’s spacious balcony with far-reaching views down to the sparkling ocean. (Post yoga, I had a well-deserved soak in the bathtub, which also sits on the balcony, and watched the birds fly by.)

I spent my afternoon in the spa, which is utterly spectacular — a marbled mosaic wonderland with gushing water features, more sculptures and artwork, and a zen garden illuminated by a domed window above. There are two saunas, an infrared sauna, steam room, swimming pool with massage jets, hammam, salt room, snow room, cold plunge pool and even a snow shower. Guests can use the spa whenever they wish, and it’s remarkably easy for the hours to melt away here.

More treatments await, including a ‘triple detox’ in an MLX i3DOME that combines three detox methods into one by combining far infrared technology, plasma and light treatment. I lay in a chamber and sweat more than I’ve ever sweated before while a helmet was placed over my head and I was given options for which type of light to have on my face — I opted for blue light to help with blemishes and problem skin which, despite my skepticism, works wonders.

I also enjoyed the Zestos Dryfloat treatment, where I lay on what felt like a rain-filled cloud while soothing music played — the vibrations from the music reverberated through the squishy bed, and I felt total calm wash over me.

I found my visit to be wholly inspiring — I am now armed with valuable data on areas for improvement, but feel motivated with the positive results. Both my mind and my skin are worlds clearer than when I arrived (perhaps due to the alkaline water — there are multiple stations throughout the clinic, each infused with herbs from the finca). One of Zem’s philosophies is that longevity is not just a goal but a celebration of life itself, and I find myself implementing the practices into my everyday life long after I return to the norm.

From $12,225 for a seven-night detox program. Contact info@zemaltea.com, +34 966 888 800, zemaltea.com

Owner Olav Goelet and winemaker Carmel Greenberg are bringing Clos du Val back to greatness. Owner Olav Goelet and winemaker Carmel Greenberg are bringing Clos du Val back to greatness.

Fettercairn splashed down in the U.S. with some ultra-aged single malts. Fettercairn splashed down in the U.S. with some ultra-aged single malts.

The five-bedroom Mercer Island abode has been updated to emphasize its waterside setting. The five-bedroom Mercer Island abode has been updated to emphasize its waterside setting.

Turns out, the origins of this drink were entirely made up. Turns out, the origins of this drink were entirely made up.

The jeweler explains the ethos that informed his home’s eclectic and meticulously curated interior. The jeweler explains the ethos that informed his home’s eclectic and meticulously curated interior.

Created with the final drops from the Old Midleton distillery, Chapter Six is a poignant conclusion to an extraordinary series. 

Five years on, the Silent Distillery series ended as it began—with the first Irish whiskey to reach an age statement of 50 years. Not only does it mark the completion of an extraordinary collection, but also the end of an era, as Chapter Six is made with the final drops from the Old Midleton Distillery.

Old Midleton shut its doors in 1975. Production moved to its current site next door, and the old site now serves as a visitors’ center for Jameson (part of Midleton’s owning company Irish Distillers). According to the brand, Silent Distillery Chapter Six is the last of the Old Midleton whiskey—the final relic of a bygone era.

The whiskey was distilled under the watchful eye of master distiller Max Crockett and was later nurtured by his son and successor, Barry Crockett. Together, they are seen as patriarchs of modern pot still whiskey, and anything bearing their mark carries a premium.

With fewer than 250 bottles available, the significance of Chapter Six adds up to a premium price of $60,000 each. If you want all six releases, you should expect to pay somewhere in the region of $300,000.

While the final instalment will inevitably take the plaudits as the oldest (and most expensive) in the series, it honors the previous five uniquely. After spending most of its life in a refill ex-bourbon cask, it was transferred into a custom-built barrel created with wood from the five previous Silent Distillery releases.

The time spent inside this novel cask was short, and the impact on the final liquid would have been minimal, yet it adds a satisfying sense of closure to the series by intrinsically tying each release together. The presentation case follows in the same footsteps, using material from the previous releases with the addition of a striking blue bird’s eye maple.

Current Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman said: “Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Six is a whiskey whose excellence is shaped by so many extraordinary factors. From the characteristics of the now incredibly rare single pot still distillate style created back in Old Midleton, to the 50-year maturation process under the care of my predecessors and me, to a one-of-a-kind final marrying, this whiskey has been looked after like no other.”

Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Chapter Six: Tasting Notes

ABV: 53%

Nose: Opens with sweet notes of barley and honey, not unlike a sweetened bowl of cereal. Fruity notes appear with orange peel, burnt pineapple and the slight sharpness of rhubarb. The age is also in there, with worn leather and antique oak prevalent in the background.

Taste: An oily texture that coats the mouth almost instantly. The fruit and sweetness are more muted on the palate with the aged notes taking center stage. The oiliness offsets any dryness, though, so it’s all in harmony. Dark chocolate and oak spice then give way to whips of floral notes and stone fruits.

Finish: A long finish where that tantalizing sweetness finally comes back around. The oily texture coats the mouth in such a way that it keeps evolving over several minutes. Banana, mango and ginger make for a luscious conclusion. The age is always there, but never overpowers. This is a whiskey that has been closely watched, taken to the edge of the flavor dials and executed perfectly.

Score: 8.2/10

– 10 A unicorn: Spend whatever it takes
– 8.5–9.5 Top shelf: Impress your fellow collectors
– 7–8: Great: Buy two bottles – one to drink, one to keep
– 5.5–6.5: Very good: Keep it on the shelf – a good daily drinker
– 5: Not bad: There’s better out there for the same money
– Below 5 – Disappointing

Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Chapter Six is available globally for an SRP of €60,000 / $60,000, midletonveryrare.com

After quietly launching for sale last year at $68 million, the 29,000-square-foot residence on the shore of Lake Minnetonka has now received a $13 million discount. After quietly launching for sale last year at $68 million, the 29,000-square-foot residence on the shore of Lake Minnetonka has now received a $13 million discount.

The Giamaro Katla has a quad-turbo V-12 engine and a seven-speed manual transmission. The Giamaro Katla has a quad-turbo V-12 engine and a seven-speed manual transmission.