Rolling Stones fans? It’s all right now.

In fact, it’s a gas. Or rather a liquid.

One of the world’s greatest and most influential rock bands is introducing its first-ever spirit, Crossfire Hurricane Rum, a premium blend of rums from Jamaica, Barbados and the Dominican Republic named after the opening lyric of their iconic 1968 song, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” And it’s being bottled in Florida.

“Take your tongue for a ride with Crossfire Hurricane,” the band says at crossfirehurricane.com. “This aged, blended rum is our tribute to the islands that have inspired us for decades. Enjoy it neat, on the rocks or in the cocktail of your choosing.

“But never in silence.”

The rum, part of a partnership with Universal Music Group and Socio Ventures, will be bottled and packed at The Point Distillery in New Port Richey, according to a release from the Pasco Economic Development Council.

The announcement came in November, just before the rock royalty band announced a new U.S. tour for 2024 (they’ll be in Orlando on June 3, here’s how to get tickets) and released its first new album since 2005, “Hackney Diamonds,” which debuted at No. 1 on the U.K. albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 album chart. That makes the seemingly immortal band the first act with a top 10 album in every decade since the 1960s.

What’s kept the band jumpin’ — and relevant — for over 60 years as Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, the late Charlie Watts, and past members like Brian Jones and Bill Wyman blended blues, rock, and rhythm and blues into a signature sound and changed the landscape of rock and roll?

“I want a real fine car, fly Miami too,” Jagger sang on the song “Luxury.” “All the rum I want to drink it, all the whiskey too.”

“The Stones’ love affair with rum began in the ’70s while recording their album ‘Goats Head Soup’ in Kingston, Jamaica,” according to a statement from Universal Music Group. “The Caribbean’s boisterous energy and music took hold of the group over the decades and Mick Jagger and Keith Richards often locate themselves on the islands when the band is off the road, it says.”

“To us, the Caribbean is more than just a beautiful place. It’s a part of our story,” the band said on the rum’s website.

Along with their legendary musical genius and Mick Jagger’s charismatic, frenetic front-man performances, the band has become the embodiment of rock and roll excess and rebellion. Their site does advise caution, however.

“Always remember to Rock and Roll responsibly,” it says.

It’s described as “a thoughtfully blended rum perfectly aged in carefully selected oak barrels,” according to the release. “The liquid boasts flavors of caramelized bananas followed by a gentle hint of tropical fruit.”

The 700-ml, 40% ABV bottle can be pre-ordered now at crossfirehurricane.com or ReserveBar.com for $37 and should begin shipping early in December. Crossfire Hurricane should start showing up on store shelves in select states in early 2024, according to Beverage Industry.

Of course, they do. On the crossfirehurricane.com site, the band suggests:

Two Licks: 2 oz of Crossfire Hurricane Rum into an ice-filled old fashioned glass, garnish with two black cherries on a cocktail pick.

Gold and Stormy: 1.5 oz of Crossfire Hurricane Rum in an ice-filled Collins glass, with lime juice and ginger beer stirred in, then a dash of Angostura Bitters and garnish with a black cherry and lime wheel on a cocktail pick.

Crossfire Mojito: Crossfire Hurricane Rum, simple syrup and lime poured over pressed mint leaves, topped with beer and crushed ice, garnished with a mint bouquet.

Crossfire Espresso Martini: Crossfire Hurricane Rum, espresso, agave syrup and ice, shaken, strained into a chilled coupe, garnished with a fine dusting of espresso and swirled with a straw “to make a hurricane.”

USA TODAY’s Melissa Ruggieri contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Rolling Stones rum Crossfire Hurricane Rum bottled in Pasco Florida

Iron Fish Distillery’s Rye Whiskey commemorates the Arctic grayling’s return to Michigan waters. Iron Fish Distillery

THOMPSONVILLE, MI – Anglers and environmentalists who are cheering the Arctic grayling’s return to Michigan waters – nearly a century after the once-plentiful fish vanished – now have something special to pour when they’re toasting the comeback. Iron Fish Distillery will offer a limited release of its bottles in its Arctic Grayling Whiskey Series beginning Saturday, Dec. 9.

Iron Fish has been a supporter of the Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative that is working to bring back the species in Michigan. The popular distillery in Thompsonville will also be hosting free, DNR-led information sessions on the grayling restoration effort on Dec. 9.

Presentations at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. that day will feature Ed Eisch, the fisheries assistant chief for the Department of Natural Resources. Eisch will give people an update on the Arctic grayling’s reintroduction efforts, followed by a Q&A session with a limited-seat audience. If you plan to attend this event, just RSVP through Eventbrite.

Saturday is also onsite pick-up day for those who have ordered their Arctic Grayling Whiskey. Aged five years, this special release includes 95% Iron Fish Distillery estate-grown rye and 5% Northern Michigan barley malted at the Great Lakes Malting Company in Traverse City.

“In 2018, we set aside a few barrels of estate farm grown rye whiskey. We finally bottled that rye and labeled it with a design donated by Michigan artist Dani Knoph,” Iron Fish staff said in a recent social media post announcing the limited release.

“Two hundred bottles of Arctic Grayling Rye Whiskey, aged over five years, will be released on Saturday Dec. 9 starting at noon. Each bottle is signed and numbered and can be purchased on site or reserved for pick up only, at the distillery by emailing

grayling@ironfishdistillery.com.”

The whiskey’s label features Knoph’s hand-drawn grayling print.

“The story of Michigan’s lost grayling is a comeback story – full of hope, challenge, science, and partnership.” said Knoph.

“Restoring Michigan’s wild grayling encourages us to learn from the past, evaluate the present and define the future. From Montana and Alaska to Michigan, many people are caring for this native species. It gives me hope, it’s the Native American Seven Generations principle at work.”

For more details about the staggered release times for these special whiskey bottles, the price, and donation guidelines, check the distillery’s Facebook post here.

To date, more than $8,000 has been raised for the Iron Fish Arctic Grayling Fund. This money goes to support research being done at Michigan State University, and costs for the reintroduction process.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and more than 40 other partners are working to reintroduce the Arctic grayling to Michigan waters. Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan wildlife officials earlier this year approved catch-and-release rules for grayling. So far, the fish have been stocked in two Upper Peninsula lakes, as well as one lake in Manistee County. The exact locations have not been released.

Efforts to restore the grayling began in 2016, and the first adult fish were stocked this year. This created more hatchery space for the smaller graylings being raised by the DNR.

“The 2019 year-class of arctic grayling are starting to mature and we can only maintain so many of them per raceway as they get bigger, and so we need to move some out of those systems,” Jay Wesley, Lake Michigan basin coordinator for the DNR fisheries division, told MLive earlier this year ahead of the stocking effort.

“Our idea is that we’ll stock adult grayling in certain lakes, which would create kind of an instant fishery,” Wesley said.

The Arctic grayling second-year class was brought to Michigan from Alaska during spring 2021. The eggs have since hatched and are growing at the Oden State Fish Hatchery in Emmet County. The Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative has been working since 2016 to reintroduce this native fish into the state’s cold-water streams after nearly a century of absence.Michigan Department of Natural Resources

The DNR has been using grayling eggs from Alaska to bring back Michigan’s grayling stock. A hatchery team in the U.P. is doing this work, and ultimately the plan is to have the DNR plant grayling eggs in cold-water tributaries so later those that become adult fish will return there to spawn.

The first efforts to save the grayling occurred more than a century ago, when their numbers were waning. Habitat loss was a problem for them then. So was logging across Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Add in overfishing and the appearance of non-native trout, and the grayling had vanished by the mid-1930s.

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Ukrainian partisans declared they had killed 24 Russian soldiers in Crimea by contaminating their vodka.

An additional 11 soldiers required medical attention, as broadcasted by the Crimean Combat Seagulls group on Telegram.

Both Russia and Ukraine have been dealing with instances of poisoning in the past few months.

The Ukrainian partisans alleged they had eliminated 24 Russian soldiers in Crimea by contaminating their vodka with arsenic and strychnine as stated in a Telegram post that was published last Saturday.

The Crimean Combat Seagulls, a Ukrainian partisan group, mentioned that warm welcomes complete with edibles were extended to the soldiers by “nice girls”. This information was relayed by Kyiv Post through a translation.

The group further acknowledged the unique taste of arsenic and strychnine they consumed. The Kyiv Post translation indicated that the incident led to the death of 24 Russian soldiers and the hospitalization of 11.

The Kremlin Snuffbox, used an unnamed source to reveal that the trick played on the unit in Simferopol, Crimea, where “two nice girls” had tricked them into drinking vodka spiked excessively with arsenic and strychnine, was one to remember.

“The men took the vodka and food, ate and drank with their colleagues and many were poisoned,” the unnamed source was quoted saying.

It is unclear when the alleged poisoning happened.

Business Insider could not independently verify the reports.

This is not the first time Ukrainian partisans have claimed similar attacks on Russian troops in occupied territories.

In October, Ukrainian resistance fighters said they had killed 26 Russian soldiers in occupied Mariupol by “feeding” them poison, the Kyiv Post reported at the time.

Petro Andriushchenko, an advisor to the mayor of Mariupol, said in a Telegram post in August that Ukrainian resistance forces poisoned 17 Russian military officers there as they were celebrating Navy Day in the southern Ukrainian port, killing two.

The other 15 were taken to the hospital in serious condition, he said.

Apti Alaudinov, a Russian commander of the Akhmat special forces, was also poisoned after handling a letter sent to him in February, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said in a Telegram post at the time.

Meanwhile, Marianna Budanova, the wife of Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency chief, Kyrylo Budanov, was diagnosed with heavy metal poisoning in November, a spokesperson for the agency told the Associated Press last month.

While officials did not provide further details about the case, it can be inferred from the couple’s cohabitation that the poison was likely intended for Budanov, as AP reported.

Check out the original article on Business Insider.

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If you put wine or beer in a freezer, it will be frozen solid in just a few hours.

But if you put vodka in your home freezer, it won’t freeze, even after weeks — or months. 

So whether you’re blending vodka with fruit juices to create favorites like a screwdriver, crafting a vodka martini or mixing up a trendy Moscow Mule, having the beverage ice-cold — but not frozen — elevates the taste of the cocktail for sure.

DO HEALING CRYSTALS HAVE ANY SCIENTIFIC BACKING? SOME CITE REMARKABLE BENEFITS

It’s very common to store vodka in the freezer so that you have chilled vodka ready at a moment’s notice.

Still, you may have pondered why vodka never freezes in your home freezer.

Whether you’re blending vodka with fruit juices to create favorites like a screwdriver or crafting a vodka martini, having ice-cold vodka elevates the taste of the cocktail. But ever wonder why this spirit doesn’t freeze in a home freezer?

A professional in science has shed light on the reason why liquor does not freeze in a typical household’s freezer.

The type of alcohol in spirits is known as ethanol.

“The usual proof of Vodka is around 80, which means it has 40% volume of ethanol,” expressed Tara S. Carpenter, PhD, an esteemed lecturer in the department of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore.

SHAUN WHITE, OLYMPIC SNOWBOARDER, PARTNERS WITH UTAH’S HIGH WEST DISTILLERY TO PRESERVE WESTERN US

“The other 60% is mostly water, although there can be added flavorings, sugar or dissolved impurities,” she said.

The freezing point of alcohol is much lower than the widely known freezing point for liquids such as water.

The freezing point of water is 0°C or 32°F, she said, while the freezing point of ethanol is -114.1°C or -173.5°F.

Since the freezing point of alcohol is much lower than the widely known freezing point for liquids such as water — vodka won’t freeze in an everyday home freezer.

Bottles of assorted alcoholic beverages. Although storing vodka in the freezer may have some effects, under standard freezer conditions, it does not turn into a solid block.

We note that vodka, which typically has about 40% alcohol content (80-proof) possesses a freezing point around -16 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite the impact from storing it in a freezer, it doesn’t freeze solidly like water does, according to insight by Reader’s Digest.

This presents an interesting scientific exploration.

Carpenter adds, “The unique freezing point of a mixture of ethanol and water, which is lower than the freezing point of water, results from a phenomenon known as freezing point depression.”

6 BREWERIES ACROSS AMERICA THAT OFFER GREAT BREWS AND STUNNING VIEWS, TOO

That said, if you prefer your vodka without a mixer and on the rocks, or if shots of vodka are your go-to drink, storing it in your freezer is a sound strategy.

For most vodka, storing it in the freezer is the way to go, and it will probably make the shot much easier to handle, according to the VinePair.com.

Many Americans keep a bottle or two stored in their home freezer, but is that truly the best place to store it?

A variety of Smirnoff vodka liquors. Don’t fret about not storing vodka in your freezer — as that leaves more room for frozen pizza and ice cream. (Rick Kern/Getty Images)

If your vodka of choice is top-tier, skip the freezer, Grey Goose vodka creator Francois Thibault told Business Insider.

If you prefer a more budget-friendly vodka, he said it’s not a bad idea to keep it in the freezer, since cold temperatures may mask the vodka’s notes or properties, which could be “aggressive” and “burning,” according to Thibault.

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So, deciding to store vodka in your home freezer is a personal decision. 

Cold temperatures may mask a vodka’s notes or properties.

It won’t freeze, but the quality of vodka could impact your decision about whether to store it in your fridge or your freezer. 

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Still, if you choose not to store vodka in the freezer, don’t fret — as that leaves more room for frozen pizza and ice cream.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.

Erica Lamberg is a contributing reporter for Fox News Digital.

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Noel Distillery owners Natalie Noel and her father Chip Noel inspect a vat of sugar cane mash and yeast as it commences the fermentation process on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, in Donaldsonville, Louisiana.

As you step into the Noel Distillery in Donaldsonville, you’re welcomed by the unique and pleasant aroma of fermenting cane juice. There, you can witness Natalie Noel, her father Frank, sister, and aunt vigilantly checking the still’s temperature, bottling rum, and meticulously fixing labels.

The Noel Distillery is a modest but flourishing family-controlled business, and surprisingly, one of the few rum distilleries in Louisiana.

Frank “Chip” Noel, aged 68, questions, “Situated in one of the world’s major sugar cane producing regions, why aren’t we producing more rum?”

Frank, a retired pilot who had a deep fondness for the Caribbean, cigars, and rum, took on distilling as a retirement pastime. His daughter and business partner, Natalie Noel, noticed that her father constantly sought out novel hobbies including taxidermy, woodworking, golf, and more. Thus, his passion for consuming and creating rum came as no surprise.

Natalie was an accomplished individual herself, playing basketball at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, earning a marketing degree, then later completing her MBA at LSU. Recognizing her father’s passion for rum could be transformed into a business, she incorporated Noel Distillery as a company and gave her father the paperwork as a Christmas gift.

Fast forward to six years later, Noel Distillery officially opened its doors for business.

“I’ve always had a passion for bringing people together to enjoy a good cocktail,” Natalie says. “Starting the distillery gave me the possibility of a legacy to leave down to my kids. And I get to work with my dad. We’re best friends.”

Though Louisiana is one of the largest sugar cane producers in the world, only a handful of distilleries make local rum. The startup costs are high. Distilleries need expensive fermenters and bottling equipment (the Noels have since upgraded from the homemade still), and a lot of regulatory paperwork is required.

The still at the Noel Distillery on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, in Donaldsonville, Louisiana.

“The barrier to entry is extremely high,” Natalie Noel said.

Plus, despite Louisiana’s love of daiquiris, rum is not most people’s alcohol of choice. Vodka is the most popular spirit in the U.S., though tequila has inched closer in recent years, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S.

The Noels hope to change that. Many Americans think of rum as spiced or sweet. That’s because most rum sold in the U.S. is made with molasses or mixed into sugary drinks.

But “rhum agricole,” the French term for rum made directly from sugar cane juice, is grassy and herbal. And aged rum, like the one the Noels are working on, can drink almost like a whiskey.

“I want to be known for flavor and fun,” Natalie Noel said. “Louisiana has so much spirit and culture, so much diversity and flair. Tito’s is at every single festival in Louisiana, but I want to scream from the rooftops: Local can be exceptional,” she said.

Gas bubbles are observed in a vat of sugar cane mash and yeast, marking the commencement of the fermentation process at the Noel Distillery in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.

The Noel family is in the process of manufacturing an agricole rum that they are planning to release in the summer of 2024. With a background in sugar cane farming and connections to one of the largest sugar cane producers in the state, Frank Noel has a strong rapport with the mill that they source their juice from.

The challenge lies in fermenting this murky juice, Noel explains.

Rum of high quality stems from sweet, fresh juice. As soon as sugar cane juice is extracted, fermentation commences. In order to achieve maximum flavor, Noel prefers a slow fermentation process, which he ensures by keeping the juice cool.

Included in his unique arsenal is his very own blend of yeast.

The juice undergoes a fermentation process and is then poured into a still where it is boiled down till it reaches 90 degrees proof. This process yeilds around 75 to 80 bottles of rum from 10 gallons of juice.

Rum can either be served post this process or be aged for more or less three years, as is being done by the Noels. They’re addition includes a 3-year old rum beside the agricole.

Since it took a little while for rum from Louisiana cane to be produced, this year the distillery is selling a rum that uses molasses from Central America. The rum is eventually matured in tequila barrels that add a distinctive flavour of agave to it. Natalie Noel suggests that this rum pairs perfectly with cocktails that incorporate banana, mint and other such tropical ingredients.

Noel Distillery also offers a diverse range of spirits, including a twice-distilled corn vodka, a distinctive pickle vodka, and a premium tequila.

On a typical Friday, like Dec. 1, 2023, one could find an array of spirits from the Noel Distillery adorning a shelf in Donaldsonville, Louisiana.

Their tequila holds the distinction of recently acquiring a gold medal at the prestigious New York International Spirits Competition.

According to Natalie Noel, the most challenging aspect of operating in this industry is attempting to influence the drinking habits of consumers.

“To get out of the marketplace and say ‘hey, we exist!'” she proclaimed. “People are often hesitant to try something new, or don’t trust that the quality can deliver.”

On Friday, December 1, 2023, Karen Kliebert performed the delicate task of affixing the seal to a bottle of Noel Distillery vodka in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. As an aunt of the Noel family, her participation embodies the family-run ethos of the Donaldsonville distillery.

Currently, Noel spirits are available for purchase at recognized retailers such as Calandro’s and Hocus Pocus, as well as renowned Baton Rouge bars like Bengal Tap, Mother’s, and Uncle Earl’s. In order to further enhance their market presence, the Noels have recently entered into a business agreement with Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits. They believe this reputable large-scale distribution company will help spread the message about Louisiana rum.

For those interested, the Donaldsonville distillery is open for visits from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday. An immersive tour is available at a cost of $12, and for an additional $8, guests can sample all four spirit varieties. Adding to this, the distillery does offer custom appointments on Saturdays, along with hosting Christmas parties and a series of other events throughout the year.

Email Rebecca Holland at rebecca.holland@theadvocate.com or follow her on Twitter, _rebeccaholland.

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The Nigel O’Reilly Pitilie Burn Ring and the Aberfeldy 25-year-old Scotch

Irish high jeweler, Nigel O’Reilly, has joined hands with Scottish whiskey brand, Aberfeldy, to launch two exclusive pieces of jewelry. This was done to mark the 125th anniversary of the company, and its new 25-year Scotch whiskey.

Nigel O’Reilly is renowned for creating exceptional jewels using premium gemstones of unique cuts, and fashioning them into expertly crafted settings. O’Reilly crafts every single piece personally in his workshop located in the rural part of County Mayo, Ireland. This makes his work distinguishable from a lot of high-end and designer jewelers, who usually design the drawings and then pass them to artisans to bring them to life. His exclusive pieces have garnered a following among dedicated jewelry collectors in the U.S. and Europe.

High jewelry artist, Nigel O’Reilly and the Aberfeldy dram

Aberfeldy, named after the village in the Scottish Highlands where the distillery is found, is commonly referred to as the “golden dram.” This nickname not only stems from the golden, honeyed shade of its Scotch whiskey but also because of the gold deposits discovered in the Pitilie Burn, the vast stream that constitutes the water source. Aberfeldy’s single malt whiskeys, which are aged, are celebrated for their fruity character and smooth, easy-to-like flavor.

An event was hosted recently in New York by O’Reilly and Aberfeldy’s U.S. delegates, where attendees had the opportunity to peruse O’Reilly’s pair of jewels, which form part of a larger seven-piece collection, as well as sample Aberfeldy’s Scotch, including the 25-year anniversary edition. Several showcases were arranged, featuring O’Reilly’s jewels and bottles of Aberfeldy.

Aberfeldy Cufflinks by Nigel O’Reilly

At first glance, one might not draw parallels between an Irish jeweler and a Scottish whiskey vendor, but according to O’Reilly, both place significant value on superior craftsmanship and allocation of ample time to craft top-of-the-line artisan products. The most formidable challenge he encountered was in locating gems that perfectly matched the unique color of the 25-year edition, which has a distinct hue compared to the company’s other scotches. He decided on the madeira citrine, a quartz gemstone that varies in color from deep yellow to reddish.

“It took a while to find the gemstone that matched its unique color,” he said. “We found a match with madeira citrine which complements the slight citrine notes in the whiskey. I love the way the madeira citrine reflects light like it does in the glass as you’re spinning it around.”

The Nigel O’Reilly Pitilie Burn Ring

As he learned more about the company and where it is located, he chose additional gems to reflect these colors. For example, the Pitilie Burn Ring is inspired by the river Aberfeldy uses as its water source.

“When I found out more about the water they use, the Pitilie Burn river, I chose ice-blue diamonds at the bottom. They graduate up along the ring into the more earthy richer tones of the Scottish Highlands. This leads up to a honeycomb pattern, inspired by the honey notes of the whiskey.”

Pitilie Burn ring and Aberfeldy cufflinks in their uniquely designed boxes with the 25-year…Aberfeldy Scotch

The Aberfeldy cufflinks incorporate 18k rose gold in a shape inspired by the whisky glass you might sip Aberfeldy from. Madeira citrines are in the center of each cufflink, with burnt orange diamonds along the rim, a nod to Aberfeldy’s rich hues. They are engraved with “125” to honor Aberfeldy’s anniversary.

“At different angles you can always see the light shining within the piece.” O’Reilly said.

The Nigel O’Reilly Talisman pendant necklace

One of the remarkable items O’Reilly brought was a breathtaking Talisman pendant necklace. The centerpiece, a 69-carat morganite in the shade of salmon pink, was designed uniquely by the late, expert gem cutter, Erwin Springrunn. He was a close friend and neighbor of O’Reilly.

Resting in the heart of an 18k pink gold structure designed like a flower, the gem is accentuated with 201 elegant champagne and white diamonds. Attached to it is a collar, its links carefully crafted from 18k rose gold. Each link features a single navette-shaped diamond.

An unexpected collaboration between a Scotch whiskey brand and an Irish jeweler that initially seemed unusual, concluded in perfect harmony.