Usually, when one thinks of Japanese rice distillations, the only thing that comes to mind is sake. But now that is no longer the case because Suntory, one of the oldest distilling companies in Japan and one of the largest in the world, recently launched a unique, flavorful vodka that—diverting from traditional wheat, potato, and rye recipes—is distilled from Japanese rice.

The result is Ao Vodka ($50), a crystal-clear spirit that takes its name from the Japanese word ao, used to describe the soothing blue-…

Imagine listening to music through a speaker that is the equivalent of a sonic electron microscope—reproducing detail in a recording on what seems to be a molecular level (if sound can be imagined to exist in material form) and yet painting an aural wall-to-wall picture as if with a one-haired sable brush. The Eclipse TD712zMk2 ($10,600 per pair), a product of the Japanese firm Fujitsu Ten, is such a device—as much a scientific instrument as a component in the chain of gear that constitutes a state-of-the-art …

Flexjet is now the first fractional provider to offer Gulfstream’s newest jet, the G450LXi, which was delivered on June 23 during a ceremony at Gulfstream’s headquarters in Savannah, Ga. The jet is the first of at least 22 new Gulfstream aircraft that Flexjet has ordered. The Gulfstream G450LXi can carry up to 16 passengers, with berthing for six, and is outfitted with a custom three-zone interior designed to appeal to Flexjet customers. The jet can travel up to 5,000 miles nonstop, at speeds up to 670 mph (Ma…

Hull No. 2 of Dominator Yachts’ newest cruiser, the Dominator 800, is a custom-made 80-foot yacht with cutting-edge technology and a minimalist interior design. Honoring the client’s request for a large galley and dining area, the Italian designer Alberto Mancini created a custom layout decorated in understated shades of beige, taupe, and gray. The high-end sofa manufacturer Minotti designed two custom ostrich-leather sofas for the main saloon, which also features a large TV and easy access to a patio with ple…

Limited to 200 units and handmade to order at a rate of just one per day, the Honda RC213V-S is the company’s MotoGP race bike made street-legal.

Based on the production version of RCV1000R MotoGP bike (which the racer Nicky Hayden rode in 2014), the new street bike is almost identical to its predecessor, though it is equipped with Brembo carbon brakes rather than Nissin brakes, and it omits the seamless gearbox and pneumatic valve system on the factory racing machines—all features that would be totally imp…

Harnessing 925 hp to reach a top speed of over 230 mph, the 2015 GTA Spano (spaniagta.com), from the Valencia-based automaker Spania GTA, has a fast fan in Robb Report Spain’s editor in chief, Pablo Ortega. “This car is very special because it is the unique super-sport made in Spain and the first in the world that incorporates graphene,” Ortega says. This superthin material is used on the GTA Spano’s chassis, helping the car keep its weight down (to about 3,000 pounds) without sacrificing durability. The sp…

Nothing creates a cozy environment quite as well as a roaring fireplace, so the German aviation company Lufthansa Technik has produced a concept for a flame-free fireplace that can be installed in a private jet. It looks and sounds like a real fireplace and meets the certification requirements of international aviation authorities. It combines a water mist with an illuminated simulation of burning wood, creating a realistic three-dimensional illusion of a crackling fire. The heat, sound, and intensity of the f…

With its low nose, pronounced feature lines, and carbon-fiber side air intakes, the Frauscher 747 Mirage (frauscherboats.com) evokes a supercar, and it performs like one. The most powerful of three engine options enables the 24.5-foot cruiser to reach a top speed of 56 knots. Frauscher, an 88-year-old builder based in Austria, offers the 747 Mirage with a closed- or open-bow configuration. The latter, called the 747 Mirage Air, can accommodate more passengers because it includes bench seats at the bow. The …

The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Atlanta, are perched high above Peachtree Road on the top 27 floors of a 42-story limestone building. The residences provide a bird’s-eye view of the historic Buckhead neighborhood below. Ranging from 3,000 to 5,197 square feet, the two-, three-, and four-bedroom condos have oversize windows offering grand views of the Atlanta skyline, 11-foot ceilings, built-in fireplaces, spacious kitchens with waterfall islands, wet bars, living rooms with separate dens, and bathrooms wi…

The Rothman-sponsored, 1982 Porsche 956 that won the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in 1983 will see competition once again. Potential buyers will vie for it at Gooding & Company’s auction at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, August 15 and 16.

A coupé for any avid car collector, the Porsche 956—carrying the chassis number 003—was developed by engineer Norbert Singer and built by the marque in 1982. That season, the 956-003—with Jochen Mass and Vern Schuppan as drivers—came in second at Le …