March 2024 132

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TYLER, Texas — For today’s edition of Tuesday Tails, meet Rum Raisin from the SPCA of East Texas.

Rum Raisin is a female 12-week-old chocolate Labrador Retriever mix. Her mom weighs about 60 pounds.

The SPCA of East Texas is also in need of volunteers to bottle feed, and also foster families to place cats and dogs.

The SPCA of East Texas is located at 3393 W. Grande Blvd. in Tyler.

Adoption office hours are Tuesday through Saturday, by appointment only.

ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS

APPLY TO ADOPT

The mission of the SPCA of East Texas is to improve the lives of animals, alleviate their suffering, and elevate their status in society.

If you can’t adopt, fosters are always needed. Click here to learn more about the SPCA of East Texas’ foster program.

For more information on adopting and the SPCA of East Texas, click here.

Scottish distillery Port Ellen is making it easier for whiskey lovers to understand the chemical composition of their favorite drink.

As visitors to a legendary distillery in Scotland savor whiskey samples at the end of their tour, they’ll not only taste and whiff the spirits. They’ll see what’s inside of them, thanks to a wall-size projection of machine-generated digital art based on the drinks’ complex chemical signatures.

The art, called “Out of the Ether,” looks like a hypnotic puff of gold, white and gray smoke and clouds swirling and bubbling inside a giant glass marble. In fact, it’s a visualization of two rare whiskies based on their flavor and aroma profiles.

This spirited creation celebrates whiskey’s chemical complexity.

Whiskey producers often resort to scientific techniques such as gas chromatography and high-speed liquid chromatography to analyze their products. These processes separate and analyze various compounds present in the whiskey. However, the data representation in the form of peaks and dips on a graph is not exactly decipherable for the average whiskey drinker.

This is where “Out of the Ether” comes into play.

“Our goal was to simplify what was previously understood only by an organic chemist or a whiskey enthusiast,” explains Ewan Morgan, national luxury ambassador and head of whiskey outreach at Diageo. “With just a look, you can understand the unique character of the distillery and the whiskey.”

The distillery in question is Port Ellen, situated on the rugged isle of Islay off the West Coast of Scotland. Islay, famous as “Whisky Island,” has the highest number of distilleries per head in the UK. It is renowned for its whiskeys laced with a smoky flavor that stems from peat.

Diageo’s machine-generated visualization is based on data points on the chemical profiles of two Port Ellen whiskeys.

Port Ellen Distillery opened in 1825 and exported whiskey to North America as early as 1848. It closed down 40 years ago, one of a slew of Scottish “ghost” distilleries forced to shutter in the late 1970s and early 1980s as production of single malt Scotch whiskey outstripped demand.

Port Ellen reopened last week, remodeled and now owned by Diageo, the company behind brands including Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff and Tanqueray that has invested $236 million to invigorate Scotch whiskey distilleries and tourism. Aimée Robinson, Port Ellen’s master blender, says the kinetic “Out of the Ether” art is part of the distillery’s long-term mission to chart the “atlas of smoke” in hopes of better understanding its nuances and mysteries.

To mark Port Ellen’s rebirth, the distillery is releasing two limited-edition whiskies, Port Ellen Gemini Original and Port Ellen Gemini Remnant, both of which come from 1978 European oak casks. One is a “remnant cask” that was saved by a Port Ellen employee when the distillery closed in 1983. He stored it at the Lagavulin Distillery where he went on to work.

The type of wood from which a cask is crafted, its seasoning process, and even its size and shape can significantly influence the flavor of whiskey. A leftover cask might still contain the remnants of some of the most historic whiskies from Port Ellen.

Over the last couple of years, Diageo has been employing a bespoke algorithm called SmokeDNAi. This innovative piece of tech has been used to supervise the concurrent maturation journeys of the Gemini whiskeys. It helps to demystify the intricate chemical evolution of spirits that originated similarly but matured in varying casks.

Morgan notes that both whiskies are Port Ellen, yet they resemble two significantly different whiskies.

The algorithm handled thousands of data points from both spirits. It compiled and structured information on their primary 10 compounds. Some of these include vanillin, which imparts a vanilla aroma, phenol, which gives a medicinal scent, tannins that induce astringency and bitterness, and translactone, known for releasing a creamy coconut flavor. Following this, the data was used to produce a visualization based on parameters provided by human input.

A graphic overlaying the art shows the percentile breakdown of the whiskeys’ primary compounds, and details how each one influences their character.

Aimée Robinson, Port Ellen’s master blender, looks at data on the whiskeys’ chemical makeup alongside an artistic interpretation of it.

The SmokeDNAi algorithm, developed in collaboration with data and design studio Bose Collins, could help Port Ellen predict the outcome of blending whiskies and the best release dates for them. It could also produce more visual representations for liquor lovers from novices to connoisseurs—comparing and contrasting the smokiness of whiskies from different-aged barrels, such as an 8-year-old cask versus a 16-year-old one, for example.

“That will make it much easier for people to learn about these whiskeys,” Morgan said from Scotland, where he was visiting the newly opened Port Ellen Distillery. “They will know what they’re looking for and have a much better understanding and hopefully enjoy them a little bit more.”

Morgan, a third-generation whiskey maker, has enjoyed many a fine whiskey in his day. He said he appreciates too many things about the drink to enumerate, but among them are the way it brings people together.

“It’s a very social drink. It creates these wonderful life moments,” he said. Plus, “it’s evocative. It creates memories. It also brings you back to memories.”

The Port Ellen Distillery on the Scottish island of Islay has reopened 40 years after it closed.

How do they taste? Read on to find out.

Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

Fizzy canned alcoholic drinks may be your go-to, but some of them can be high in added sugar. A new vodka soda, created by megastar Kylie Jenner, combats this concern.

Meet Sprinter, the recent addition to the vodka seltzer scene that is touted to be a healthier option without sacrificing taste. The new boozy sodas—now available online and at Total Wine locations—currently come in four flavors: Grapefruit, Lime, Peach and Black Cherry.

The seltzers are gluten-free and vegan, which is great for those with related allergies or dietary preferences. They’re also only 100 calories per can—and with simple ingredients like vodka, fruit juice and sparkling water, you won’t find any added sugar in each of these drinks. What they do have is 36 grams of carbohydrates per can, which is OK for a drink enjoyed in moderation.

For an alcoholic beverage, the Sprinter cans seem like the perfect healthier option for vodka soda lovers. But how do they taste? Some of EatingWell’s editors put them to the test. Here are their honest reviews.

Related: We Tried Spindrift’s Two New Flavors—Here’s Our Honest Review

The most positive review after sipping on a Sprinter comes from our editorial director Victoria Seaver, M.S., RD.

“As far as spiked seltzers go, I thought these were pretty tasty,” says Seaver. “I like that they don’t use artificial sweeteners, solely because I don’t enjoy the taste of them in seltzers. The flavor from the juice was subtle yet provided enough flavor to make for a yummy drink.”

If you like a not-as-sweet, more refreshing sip, then keep your eye on these cans. Just in time for summer, Seaver said she can see herself sipping on one of these fruity concoctions paired with ice and a fresh lemon or lime wedge this upcoming season.

And if you’re curious about how they compare to other vodka sodas and spiked seltzers on the market, our associate editorial director Carolyn Malcoun said she would choose this over a White Claw.

“These tasted more natural to me,” explained Malcoun. “I thought that although there are natural flavors in them, the actual juice was more prominent flavor-wise.”

Related: What Experts Want You to Know about ‘Natural Flavors’ in Your Food

With that said, our editors who aren’t already fans of spiked sodas weren’t mind-blown after trying Sprinter. So if you’re not already a vodka soda drinker, these may not be revolutionary enough to turn you into a lover of the fizz.

Overall, our editors enjoyed the taste of Sprinter—and if you’re interested in trying Jenner’s new drinks, we’re giving the green light. Since they do contain alcohol, it’s best to drink these seltzers in moderation—which is one drink a day for women and two a day for men.

Feeling inspired? Check out these healthy vodka cocktail recipes you can make at home.

Related: Alcohol vs. Edibles: Is One Worse for Your Health Than the Other?

Read the original article on Eating Well.

Over the past quarter, shares in Rocky Mountain Liquor (CVE:RUM) have risen significantly, showing an impressive 78% increase. However, with the company’s financial statistics fluctuating, there are doubts whether this strong share price trajectory can be sustained. In this article, we are going to explore Rocky Mountain Liquor’s ROE.

ROE, or Return on Equity, is a benchmark used to evaluate how efficiently a firm’s management is using the firm’s money. It essentially calculates a business’ profitability relative to shareholders’ equity.

Read our most recent analytical report on Rocky Mountain Liquor

Let’s take a look at the formula for ROE:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) ÷ Shareholders’ Equity

From this given equation, the ROE for Rocky Mountain Liquor equates to:

3.1% = CA$273k ÷ CA$8.8m (Calculated from the previous twelve months leading up to September 2023).

The term ‘return’ is defined as the total amount gained after tax over the span of the previous twelve months. Hence, this implies that for every CA$1 of its shareholder’s investments, the organization yields a profit of CA$0.03.

We have already established that ROE serves as an efficient profit-generating gauge for a company’s future earnings. Based on how much of its profits the company chooses to reinvest or “retain”, we are then able to evaluate a company’s future ability to generate profits. Generally speaking, other things being equal, firms with a high return on equity and profit retention, have a higher growth rate than firms that don’t share these attributes.

It is quite clear that Rocky Mountain Liquor’s ROE is rather low. Not just that, even compared to the industry average of 17%, the company’s ROE is entirely unremarkable. Therefore, the disappointing ROE therefore provides a background to Rocky Mountain Liquor’s very little net income growth of 3.9% over the past five years.

Next, on comparing with the industry net income growth, we found that Rocky Mountain Liquor’s reported growth was lower than the industry growth of 9.2% over the last few years, which is not something we like to see.

Earnings growth is a huge factor in stock valuation. What investors need to determine next is if the expected earnings growth, or the lack of it, is already built into the share price. By doing so, they will have an idea if the stock is headed into clear blue waters or if swampy waters await. Is Rocky Mountain Liquor fairly valued compared to other companies? These 3 valuation measures might help you decide.

Currently, Rocky Mountain Liquor does not distribute any dividends, indicating that they reinvest all of their profits back into the business. However, this fact doesn’t solely explain the low earnings growth figure we previously mentioned. Therefore, there may be other reasons, such as a deteriorating business condition.

In general, Rocky Mountain Liquor’s performance could be interpreted in various ways. Although the company reinvests at a high rate, the low Return on Equity (ROE) suggests that this reinvestment brings no benefits to its investors, and worse, it negatively affects the earnings growth. To wrap up, it would be wise to proceed with caution regarding this company. One way to ensure this could be by considering the business’s risk profile. Our risks dashboard would detail the three risks we have identified for Rocky Mountain Liquor.

Had any feedback on this content or concerned about it? Contact us direct! Alternatively, reach out to us via email at: editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This general piece by Simply Wall St is grounded in historical data and analyst forecasts and utilizes an unbiased methodology. Our contents do not serve as financial advice and do not provide stock purchase or sell recommendations. Instead, they fail to consider personal objectives or financial circumstances. Our aim is to deliver fundamental data-driven long-term analysis. Note that our study may neglect the most recent price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no stakes in any stocks mentioned.

Scotch whisky has had independent bottlers since the 1800s — companies that buy casks from various distilleries and bottle them under their own name, often aging them in their own warehouses as well. Gordon & MacPhail, Duncan Taylor, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and many others are almost as well known as the most famous distilleries, without necessarily distilling anything they bottle.

In the U.S., there are also plenty of what are known as “non-distiller producers.” Unlike the Scots, however, the Americans have tried to cover it up — making up backstories, deflecting, obfuscating, and basically doing whatever they can to distract us from the fact that their “craft” whiskey was in fact distilled at enormous facilities like MGP (now known as Ross & Squibb) in Indiana. Perhaps the most egregious offender was Templeton Rye, which in the early 2010s concocted the tall tale that their whiskey was made in Iowa from a special recipe that dated back to Prohibition, and was beloved by none other than Al Capone. In fact, it was distilled in Indiana, using one of MGP’s stock mashbills employed by a bunch of other brands.

Fortunately, sourcing whiskey from outside distilleries is no longer the scandal it once was, since the industrial-sized places in Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky generally do it very well. It’s become a point of pride for brands like Proof & Wood and Smooth Ambler to mention exactly what they’re sourcing, and from where. And that’s a good thing. But Lost Lantern, launched in 2020 by a former manager at New York’s Astor Wine & Spirits and a senior whisky specialist at Whisky Advocate magazine, is one of the only American indies to do things the way the Scots do it, buying casks directly from distilleries and highlighting those distilleries on the bottles.

486 bottles, 5 distilleries, 1 region — the American Midwest — and 1 terrific whiskey.

Lost Lantern prefers to collaborate with smaller independent distilleries across the country rather than larger conglomerates. They establish direct connections with the distillers, who frequently are also the founders during this early phase of American craft distilling. They work together to formulate unique expressions and blends besides purchasing casks.

In its most recent series, Lost Lantern ventures into some of the Midwest’s prime indie distilleries, launching several single-cask bourbons, ryes, and wheat whiskeys. These are from some of the leading names in the area, such as FEW Spirits in Illinois and Cedar Ridge in Iowa. Lesser-known yet outstanding distilleries include Wollersheim in Wisconsin and Middle West Spirits in Ohio. They also created a blended whiskey called Far Flung Rye. Although all are noteworthy, Far Flung Rye is more accessible due to greater availability.

Far Flung Rye is a blend of rye whiskeys aged 4-9 years and sourced from five Midwestern distilleries: Cedar Ridge; Middle West Spirits; Wollersheim; Indiana’s Starlight Distillery; and Tom’s Foolery in Ohio. At a significant 60.8% ABV, it is a full-bodied, flavorful blend with splashes of dark chocolate and malt, a hint of grass, and reminders of rye bread. It packs a punch but can be mellowed with some water, retaining its robust flavor. Given its limited availability and relatively high pricing, it might not be ideal for cocktails, but it lends itself beautifully to a lush Black Manhattan.

Far Flung Rye serves as a fitting introduction to the often-unnoticed Midwestern spirits sector, and any rye whiskey aficionado would appreciate it. If you don’t locate it at your local liquor store, you can check out Lost Lantern’s website for availability.