DRESSED FOR EFFECT

French fashion and champagne have always gone hand in glove. The most recent collaboration sees avantgarde designer Jean Paul Gaultier working with Grand Maison Champagne Piper-Heidsieck for a new presentation.

A bottle of Piper-Heidsieck Millesime Vintage 2000 is dressed in black fishnet and crowned with Swarovski crystals, teamed with two Schott Zwiesell crystal glasses shaped in Gaultier’s signature curves,  and presented in a black coffret under the legend Black Cancan. It’s a sexy present for a romantic evening, available from Selfridges at £535.

Alternatively, there is a French Cancan with the more reasonably priced but still very nice Cuvee Brut, at £35.

TOP JAPANESE WHISKY COMES TO SAVILE ROW

Savile Row was chosen by top Japanese whisky brand Suntory for a tasting party, based upon the sensible view that men discerning enough to shop here will also be discerning about their drinks.

Before an invited gathering at the Chester Barrie showroom, Suntory's brandambassador and whisky aficionado, Zoric Peric, below, introduced three whiskies: The Yamazaki and Hakushu 12 year old single malts and the Hibiki 17 year old blended whisky, which have all won international awards. Those guests who hadn't tried Japanese whisky before were most impressed and those who had were pretty keen to do so again. Accompanied by some delicate Japanese cuisine, Zoric illustrated how the different brands went with different dishes.

Even the Scots have had to concede that the Suntory brands are worthy prize winners, taking top international awards ahead of Scotch over the past decade. It is a testament to the dedication of Suntory's founder in 1923, Torii Shinjiro, who was determined to create a world-class whisky, that the company has gone on to establish three brands with world-wide success.

It was also fitting that the tasting should take place at Chester Barrie, another global brand started by a dedicated man, Simon Ackerman, in 1935. Though not bespoke, the company's ready-to- wear and made-to-measure suits have attracted international style leaders, including Cary Grant, due to their quality and style. They now offer a full collection of suits, topcoats and jackets, and accessories.

A TASTING GIFT

For a budding whisky aficionado, this gift pack of three types of the famous Glenfiddich malt whisky provides a handy tasting collection.

There is the 12 year old Glenfiddich, the world's best-selling single malt Scotch say the makers, matured in both Oloroso sherry and bourbon casks; a Glenfiddich 15 year old, enriched by time spent in a Solera vat; and finally, the rare Glenfiddich 18 year old. These come in 20cl bottles and there is also a miniature gift pack with 5cl bottles. Price for the 20cl pack is £32.99, for the mini mix £13.49.