Luxury Headlines of the Week

This week, the subcontinent’s finest bartenders, watchmakers, and cities stepped into the spotlight. From Karan Dhanelia’s inventive cocktails elevating Indore onto the global bartending map to horological tributes to Indian heritage, here’s what is trending in luxury this week.

World Class 2026 crowns Karan Dhanelia Bartender of the Year

Karan Dhanelia, representing Indore, has been named Bartender of the Year 2026 at the 12th edition of Diageo India’s World Class finals (India, Nepal & Sri Lanka). The two-day final held at Le Meridien, Gurgaon, on March 27th and 28th, saw Karan emerge from over 800 entries, winning the Speed Round and The Singleton 12 Sensory Sessions Challenges. For the first time, the competition brought together India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka on a single platform, highlighting talent from cities both metropolitan and tier 2, including Indore, Jaipur, Gurgaon, Goa, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Over the course of the finals, Karan impressed the jury with his signature onion soda with spirulina syrup that set him apart. The finale culminated in a vibrant cocktail festival with performances by Nucleya and takeovers by The Bar in Front of The Bar from Athens, Greece.

Hapusa Crowns Seven Winners at the Forager’s Championship 2026

Hapusa announced seven winners of its Forager’s Championship 2026, selected from over 100 participants from India, the UK, and Italy. Champions such as Samruddhi Desai (Grumps, Goa) and Priya Mili (Terra Maya, Assam) will embark on the Forager’s Journey, a week-long Himalayan immersion. The expedition combines treks, local community interactions, and regional produce explorations, culminating in the Forager’s Takeover in Delhi, where each champion will showcase cocktails inspired by their experience. Anand Virmani, Co-founder of Nao Spirits & Beverages, said, “When you walk through juniper valleys, cook with local communities or see how produce grows in extreme climates, your understanding of flavour changes.”

Jaipur Watch Company unveils Regal Tribute

Ahead of Maharana Pratap’s birth anniversary, Gaurav Mehta introduced the Maharana Pratap Stamp Automatic Watch. The timepiece features an original postage stamp embedded into the dial and a self-winding Miyota 6T28 movement. Crafted in 316L stainless steel, the watch balances historical storytelling with modern watchmaking precision. Gaurav Mehta explains, “It is about creating something that carries history forward with every movement,” reflecting Jaipur Watch Company’s philosophy of integrating heritage elements into contemporary timepieces.

Courrèges Enters a New Creative Era with Drew Henry

Few maisons carry the cultural weight and visual clarity of Courrèges. Known for its futuristic silhouettes and architectural minimalism, the Parisian house now embarks on a new chapter with Drew Henry at the creative helm. Since André Courrèges’ visionary debut in 1961, the brand has defined modernity through sculptural mini dresses, geometric tailoring, and gleaming white boots, balancing radical innovation with timeless precision. Henry’s appointment signals a refined evolution of the house’s creative direction, blending heritage and forward-thinking design while engaging contemporary audiences across markets and generations.

Melbourne to Host F1, NFL and Grand Slam Tennis in September

Melbourne will make history in September 2026 as the first city to host an international tennis Grand Slam, a Formula One Grand Prix, and an NFL Regular Season game. The Los Angeles Rams will face the San Francisco 49ers at the MCG on September 11, marking the first NFL regular-season game in Australia. More than 151,000 people have already registered interest, with pre-sale tickets opening on April 1. Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements notes, “Hosting Australia’s first-ever NFL game will shine a global spotlight on Melbourne and Victoria.”

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