September 2024 163

A story of assumed teenage misbehavior has a tasty twist.

On Aug. 25, Stacey (@StaceyCKs1) shared an anecdote about the alleged incident that went viral on X, garnering nearly 17 million views as of this writing. In a succession of posts, the mother wrote about the mystery surrounding a depleting bottle of alcohol in her liquor cabinet.

Noticed that my vodka supply was dwindling. Confronted 23 and 17, who pointed the finger at 14, who guiltily confessed to making penne allá vodka “several times” over the last month. Didn’t believe her, watched her execute it flawlessly. I guess it’s a TikTok thing?

— StaceyCKS (@StaceyCKs1) August 25, 2024

“Noticed that my vodka supply was dwindling,” the mom of three wrote. “Confronted 23 and 17, who pointed the finger at 14, who guiltily confessed to making penne allá vodka ‘several times’ over the last month. Didn’t believe her, watched her execute it flawlessly. I guess it’s a TikTok thing?”

“It’s really good, too. She crushed it,” she added in a follow-up post.

Her kid, likely noticing the attention her mom’s post was getting, also chimed in a few hours later.

She wants it known that she didn’t “guiltily confess” to anything. “I just answered the question.”

Sorrrrrry. My bad.

— StaceyCKS (@StaceyCKs1) August 26, 2024

“She wants it known that she didn’t ‘guiltily confess’ to anything. ‘I just answered the question,’” Stacey wrote. “Sorrrrrry. My bad.”

Stacey did not respond to TODAY.com’s requests for comment.

Naturally, people had questions — one X user asked how Stacey took so long to notice culinary greatness happening right under her roof.

The mom explains in subsequent posts that while she was home working the other times her kiddo made the penne, she doesn’t like pasta.

“She was making enough for her and her brother,” Stacey wrote, adding that her daughter would make the saucy dish for lunch or as an after-school snack. “They’re pretty good about cleaning up after themselves.”

After someone remarked that it’s good Stacey’s daughter didn’t replace the taken vodka with water (a classic teenage maneuver), the mom replied, “She wasn’t trying to hide what she was doing. These kids are different than we were. 😂”

I risked it all, taking a screenshot of a Snapchat message she sent me. She made it again after school yesterday. It’s her current “hyper fixation” meal.

— StaceyCKS (@StaceyCKs1) August 27, 2024

Stacey also said her daughter was using the “GOOD stuff” — aka Grey Goose — for the pasta because “that one was open.”

In addition to sharing the recipe (“A shallot and some garlic sweated in olive oil and a tablespoon of butter, a can of tomato paste, some Calibri chilies, maybe 10 ounces of San Marzano tomatoes, 2 cups of heavy cream, a cup of fresh parm, 2 tablespoons of vodka”), Stacey also posted a photo of her daughter’s latest “hyper fixation” meal.

Penne alla Vodka by Anthony Contrino

Those in Stacey’s replies were generally tickled by the whole situation.

“Very 14 year old coded 😂,” wrote one X user.

“This is the best possible outcome for this scenario. 😂,” posted another.

“Buy the child another bottle!” yet another jokingly wrote.

Social media’s obsession with pasta alla vodka remains strong. Supermodel Gigi Hadid’s fiery iteration of this recipe went viral in 2020 after she shared detailed instructions on her Instagram story amid the lockdown.

Stacey responded to a user on X stating that she believes her daughter discovered the recipe through Hadid.

The popularity of Hadid’s version has exploded, with numerous influencers on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube replicating the dish continuously over the years.

You can still find Hadid’s original recipe in her Instagram highlight “From My Kitchen II,” which also includes recipes for focaccia and monkey bread.

In 2023, Heinz and Absolut were inspired by Hadid’s viral recipe to team up for a vodka sauce.

That same year, Sofia Copolla’s daughter Romy Mars went viral for making the dish because she was grounded for trying to charter a helicopter from New York to Maryland using her father’s credit card to have dinner with a friend.

Teenage rebellion seems different these days — and it appears to involve a lot more pasta.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com

On a balmy evening in Woodstock, New York, in August, the melodies of Hozier filled the air as he sang his popular track “Too Sweet,” reflecting on the contrast between him and a love interest he considers too saccharine for his tastes.

As described by Hozier, he distinguishes himself by preferring his whiskey straight, his coffee without sugar or cream, and late nights over early evenings.

Amid the performance at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, where the historic 1969 Woodstock Music Festival occurred, I was accompanied by Andy Wahl, co-founder of Ammunition Wines and Whiskey. He shared insights about whiskey and suggested ways to savor Hozier’s beverage of choice.

While Hozier favors his whiskey neat, I enjoyed the concert sipping a whiskey sour—a blend of whiskey, lemon juice, and sugar. Wahl explained that whiskey is not only versatile, appreciated neat, with ice, or in cocktails, but also pairs well with various meals, enhancing both light appetizers and robust dinners.

One common misconception about whiskey drinking, as pointed out by the founder of Ammunition, is believing there’s a correct or incorrect way to enjoy this beverage.

“Enjoying whiskey should be a relaxed activity with friends or family,” Wahl humorously remarked, adding that his main advice for beginners is to “explore their tastes.”

According to Wahl, becoming adept in whiskey appreciation simply requires understanding your preferences. “Judge for yourself and make decisions that enhance your sophistication and knowledge as a whiskey aficionado,” he suggested, emphasizing that there’s no singular method to enjoy whiskey.

However, Wahl did share that some approaches to savoring whiskey might be more enriching, especially how one smells it. Contrary to wine tasting techniques, when drinking neat whiskey, he suggests “allowing the aroma to rise gently by keeping the glass a few inches from the nose.” Following the olfactory experience, a subtle sip to let the flavor settle on the palate is recommended.

And just because Hozier enjoys his whiskey neat doesn’t mean you have to, as the addition of an ice cube is the perfect way to make the spirit more palatable.

“While drinking neat certainly is preferred by a lot of connoisseurs these days, it isn’t a requirement,” Wahl said. Take, for example, the brand’s Ammunition Bourbon and Rye, which is 90 proof and 45 percent ABV.

According to Wahl, with this slightly higher than normal alcohol proof, pouring the whiskey over an ice cube and slowly enjoying the drink over an hour “makes it really the perfect balance of water, oils, aromas and flavors.”

However, when it comes to whiskey, there’s one pairing that Ammunition Whiskey’s founder swears by: good company. “Like any refined and delicious whiskey, Ammunition Straight Bourbon should only be paired with the best of friends, family, and colleagues,” he explained. “Whether you are drinking neat, over ice, or mixed with a splash of coke, when drinking the finest whiskies they should only be enjoyed, cherished, and paired with the people you love and respect the most.”

Beyoncé is not the only celebrity involved with this distinctive and tasty whisk(e)y.

Don’t judge a whiskey by its bottle—though in this case both bottle and whiskey are quite appealing.

The spirits world is abuzz about the latest celebrity whiskey to come down the well-worn celeb-booze pike, and with good reason. It’s the first whiskey of its kind from one of the brightest lights in the industry. A star since before the turn of the millennium who just keeps going, with each new release another piece added to a glorious mosaic of a singular career. And this time, Beyoncé’s selected him to help lead her newest business venture.

Of course, I’m kvelling about Dr. Bill Lumsden, Moët Hennessy’s “director of whisky creation,” who’s almost as big in Scotch whisky circles as Beyoncé, his collaborator on SirDavis American Whisky, is in, um, just about every other circle. Dr. Bill is in charge of two very different Moët-owned brands—Glenmorangie, a sweet, creamy Speyside malt, and Ardbeg, a big, bold and smoky peated malt from Islay. Lumsden is affectionately called “the mad scientist of whisky” because he never stops experimenting with malting techniques, aging methods, cask finishes, you name it. Hardly a year goes by without at least a couple of new Glenmo and Ardbeg expressions, sporting names like A Tale Of The Forest and Heavy Vapours, many of them tweaking the signature flavor profiles to a greater or lesser degree.

Lumsden, hailing from Scotland, possesses a distinct accent that underscores his heritage. He shares a love for lesser-known pop music remixes, including one of a Prince song. Despite his musical tastes, Lumsden had never ventured into crafting American whiskey, until he crossed paths with Beyoncé. Known widely by her first name, Beyoncé, or Beyoncé Knowles-Carter for formalities, took inspiration from her great-grandfather, a Prohibition-era moonshiner, to create her own whiskey. Drawing on her influence, she enlisted Lumsden to bring this vision to life.

The product of their collaboration is SirDavis, a standout whiskey exceeding mere adequacies and presenting itself as one of the year’s most compelling tastings. Its unique makeup consists of 51% rye and 49% malted barley, deviating from typical American recipes. This no-age-statement whiskey was finished in sherry casks, likely contributing nuances reminiscent of either Oloroso or Pedro Ximenez, and is bottled at 44% ABV.

Although typically skeptical of celebrity-endorsed spirits, I admit that SirDavis aligns with Lumsden’s high standards and aptly honors Beyoncé. Labeled as “American Whisky,” the spelling hints at a Scotch influence, distinguishing it from typical American whiskeys. Initial tasting notes include dark fruits, clove, and roasted nuts, courtesy of the barley and sherry, while the rye introduces a spicy backend, blending seamlessly with the other elements.

Is it a rye whiskey for Scotch lovers? A single malt for rye fans? A dram to convert whiskey agnostics who bought it for the Beyoncé connection? Yes, yes, and yes. At $90 for a (very attractive) bottle, it’s not cheap, but it’s beautifully packaged…and it tastes great while Cowboy Carter is on.

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The U.S. Department of Interior announced on Thursday that the U.S. Virgin Islands has received an advance payment of $181,068,638 in rum excise tax remittances from the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA), indicating a vital revenue source for the territory.

However, this amount shows a decline from previous years when the remittances were made using a higher tax rate of $13.25 per proof gallon of rum. Nowadays, the territory receives these funds at a tax rate of $10.50 per proof gallon, leading to reduced remittances.

Had the U.S. Virgin Islands continued to receive the rum excise taxes at the former rate, the territory would have amassed approximately $228.49 million, showing a shortfall of about $47.42 million. These rum tax remittances are critical in supporting the territory’s bond covenants and the securitization of the Government Employees’ Retirement System, with any reductions potentially having profound effects.

Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett, who has long vowed to address this issue and introduced legislation with her colleagues towards this cause, later commented to the Consortium that Republican intransigence was to blame for the prolonged delay of the effort.

The OIA collaborates with the U.S. Department of the Treasury to facilitate swift transmission of funds, noted by Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor. Each year, the GVI provides an estimation of rum excise taxes to set the basis for advanced payments for the next fiscal period. These amounts are adjusted according to the actual receipts recorded by the federal government.

Guam Receives $76 Million in Section 30 Funds

The Office of Insular Affairs has also allocated $76,402,101 to Guam in a different transaction. This amount includes federal income taxes gathered from U.S. military personnel and retirees living in Guam under the Organic Act of Guam’s provisions. Similar to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam gets a yearly advance from the OIA that is later adjusted based on the actual federal income tax collection.

These transfers are crucial for supporting the governmental operations and local services in Guam, helping the territory fulfill its commitments to its citizens. The OIA expressed its ongoing dedication to managing these payments and upholding the economic health of the U.S. territories.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Tito’s Handmade Vodka is committing to match donations to Second Chance Animal Services for pets needing significant medical interventions.

The contributions will support the non-profit veterinary clinic in treating pets like Johnny, KJ, and Laura. Throughout September, Tito’s pledges to match donations to Second Chance Animal Services up to a total of $5,000.

Fundraiser launched to help four shelter animals in need of medical care

“Tito’s Handmade Vodka has consistently supported our goal of offering critical medical care to animals in need,” mentioned Lindsay Doray, the Chief Development Officer at Second Chance. “This generous matching challenge of $5,000 from Tito’s affords our community a wonderful chance to enhance their contributions, assisting an even greater number of pets to get the essential treatments they require.”

Second Chance Animal Services operates in several locations including North Brookfield, Southbridge, Springfield, and Worcester. To make a donation, you can visit secondchanceanimals.org.

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