Seeking the ultimate, luxury treat for your loved one this Valentine’s Day? Look no further as we’ve been busy sourcing some of the most decadent, sophisticated and opulent gifts and experiences money can buy.
Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck
We’ve all witnessed Heston’s eccentric food creations on a range of Channel 4 shows, now you have the opportunity to be part of his gastronomic circus in the triple Michelin starred Fat Duck restaurant in Berkshire.
The restaurant, which receives 30,000 calls a day, serves a 14-course menu – including courses such as snail porridge and salmon poached in liquorice gel - to tantalise the most discerning of taste buds. And with only 42 seats available and two sittings a day, you will need to book early for this 4-hour, culinary extravaganza.
Valentine’s Day at Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris
The Four Seasons Hotel George V is offering one of the most exclusive Valentine’s gift you’re likely to see; a truly unforgettable night in Paris’ most iconic palace. Upon arrival in the city, you'll be met by a hostess, chauffeured to the hotel in a Hermes Rolls Royce Phantom and led to the magnificent penthouse - boasting 360 degree views of France's capital - for a simply unique evening.
As if that’s not enough, once the sun sets you’ll be granted access to the hotel’s secret underground wine cellar for a pre-dinner 1964 Krug Champagne aperitif followed by a private Valentine’s Day meal prepared by double Michelin star chef, Eric Biffard. The experience will conclude the following morning with a dreamy Champagne breakfast in the exquisite Winter Garden.
Is there a more suitable way to spend Valentine’s Day in the most romantic city on earth?
F1 Driving Experience
Is your Valentine a speed demon, petrol head or Formula 1 fanatic? Then look no further than this ultimate driving experience, perfect for those who love the thrill of unrivalled speed. The full-day course will see the lucky recipient hitting the racetrack in a Mini Cooper S, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, single-seater Formula Ford and a stunning Formula 3. However, all of these adrenalin-pumping laps are merely a warm-up for the main event; 10 laps in the 1996 Italian Forti-Corse FG03 or the 1994 Arrows FA14 - as driven by Luca Badoer and Aguri Suzuki, respectively.
Although maybe not as romantic as our previous two entries, this high-speed adventure is certain to leave your partner in a fluster.
The Dalmore Paterson Whisky Collection
The ultimate gift for whisky connoisseurs, Dalmore describe the Paterson Collection as a masterpiece of a lifetime and consists of 12 unique single malts dating back as far as 1926. Each rare tipple has been assessed, nosed, tasted and selected by Richard Paterson, master distiller of The Dalmore, from some of the oldest and most valuable stock in the world.
Each of the 12 whiskies are presented in a hand-crafted lead crystal decanter, produced by Glencairn, one of the world’s most iconic crystal houses. The silver which adorns the bottles has been hand engraved by luxury jeweller, Hamilton & Inches. That’s not all, however, as the collection itself is housed in a luxury bespoke cabinet which took leading cabinet maker, Gavin Robertson, more than 700 hours to create.
Thinking of taking the plunge? Then you’ll need to book an appointment at Harrods’ Fine Spirits Room and have a spare £987,500 in the bank to own this one-of-a-kind assemblage of some of the finest whiskies known to mankind.
(Written by Lewis Cook)