The year ahead in luxury

No one knows for sure what will happen this year—you can bet on that. But that hasn't stopped Bloomberg Businessweek from laying out major trends in its annual The Year Ahead special issue.  In the luxury sphere we're seeing a rise in personal shopping, schools for psychedelics, actively dumb homes, and millionaire membership clubs for the everyman. The founder of Bonnaroo even dropped in to drop some knowledge on when live events may return in 2021. And for a little entertainment—and to help get a grasp on the uncertainty—the sports gambling news source Odds Shark helped us frame some very important questions as betting markets.  Will Tesla Cybertruck beat the Ford F-150 electric truck to market? Will the Tokyo Olympics allow spectators? How about Keanu Reeves winning a Golden Globe? Or Andrew Yang becoming New York City mayor?  And what are the odds Samantha Jones is going to wind up in HBO Max's Sex and the City re-boot—dead or alive? Illustration: 731; Source: (Bitcoin, Olympics): Getty Images; Yang: Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg Psychedelic Therapy Schools Are Popping Up Like Mushrooms For hundreds or thousands of dollars, you can get certified to administer mind-altering—and some say, mind-healing—drugs. The Future of Live Events Could Look Like Friends Bonnaroo co-founder Jonathan Mayers says ongoing uncertainty is the only thing that's certain when it comes to concerts and festivals. A Members-Only Model Is Helping Restaurants, Luxury Travel Survive Subscriptions are fast becoming a way for pandemic-hit industries to get enough cash flow to hang on. Smart Home Gadgets Are Not the Future The pandemic brings back an appreciation for "dumb" interior design. Personal Shopping Goes Mainstream, and Luxury Retailers Rejoice Saks, Neiman Marcus, and Kay Jewelers are all staffing up for one-on-one customers, whether in-store or online. Pour It or Store It A proper sherried malt is a beautiful thing to behold. It can also be a beautiful thing to invest in. Rare whisky has outperformed every other luxury asset, including fine wine, soaring some 564% in the last decade, according to the Knight Frank 2020 Wealth Report. Rising demand from Asian investors has led to marquee auctions—and even cyberattacks—regarding bottles that were expected to top $2 million. Illustration: Xavier Lalanne-Tauzia for Bloomberg Businessweek Whether you're looking to start a whiskey collection or pad out your cellar, these 10 bottles constitute some of the highest quality liquids to hit the market over the past several years—including a 50-year-old that's an absolute steal. Together they create a collection with a story worth showing and with a value expected to keep growing. Amrut Fusion Indian Single Malt Town Branch Cask Strength Single Malt Waterford Single Farm Origin: Rathclogh Edition 1.1  Stranahan's Mountain Angel 10 Year Old The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old   Old Forester 150th Anniversary  Balblair 25 Year Old Michter's 25-Year O.F.C. 1995 Vintage The Last Drop 1968 Glenrothes Single Malt If you can afford it, buy two bottles—"one to stock and one to rock," as sneakerheads would say. But assuming you can procure only a single example of each, click through below to get whiskey expert Brad Japhe's detailed guide on which to pour and which to store.  That Luxury Life Source: Vendors Start Your Whiskey Collection With These 10 Bottles President Biden's Rolex Is a Bipartisan Affair This Bacon and Beer Caramel Corn Is an Epic Movie Night Upgrade How to Take Advantage of Unprecedented Points and Miles Travel Deals These $4,400 Sneakers Are the New Stilettos Upgrade Your Morning Ritual With a Frother That Makes Drinks, Too Valentine's Day From the Pursuits Archives It's less than a month away. You didn't forget did you?  Here's a gift guide in case you did. The thorny issue of eco-friendly flowers. Premium dates for your date.  Eight outfits that prove there's sexiness beyond Spanx. Jacques Torres teaches you to how to make chocolate hearts. Say "I love you" like a billionaire. Remember romantic getaways? Then again, there's always Galentine's... And if you read just one thing today... The Hot Alternative Investments to Watch in 2021 Whisky, music and the great outdoors are just some of the other ways to put your money to work. Follow Us Get the newsletter   Like getting the Pursuits newsletter? Subscribe to Bloomberg.com for unlimited access to trusted, data-driven journalism and gain expert analysis from exclusive subscriber-only newsletters.   You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Pursuits newsletter. Unsubscribe | Bloomberg.com | Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022