Fruity, refreshing, and filled with both the “fun” factor and great visual appeal, nothing says “pool party” quite like a mountainous heap of multicolored Jell-O shots. There’s not much clarity on the origins of Jell-O shots, but these days, your typical Jell-O shot recipe uses a combination of vodka, water, and — of course — Jell-O mix. While this is how things are usually done, there are no hard-and-fast rules about what goes into one of these shots, especially when you’re acting as your own bartender.

Because the taste of vodka is so easily concealed by fruity flavors, many consider it the best type of alcohol for Jell-O shots. But booze doesn’t have to be inconspicuous in order to play well with other flavors. If you’re looking to take things up a few notches in the flavor department, you might try swapping out vodka for something with a more distinct taste, like rum. Made from sugarcane, rum inherently pairs well with sweet flavors, making it the perfect candidate for tropical Jell-O shots. While using white rum will give you a lighter, brighter taste (and won’t alter the color of your Jell-O), using dark or spiced rum can add a distinctly smoky or warm flavor to the shooter.

Read more: Popular Vodka Brands Ranked From Worst To Best

Now that you’ve been reminded of who’s steering this ship, you might be interested to know that you can change up more than just the booze in your Jell-O shots — you can play around with new flavors, too. Even though there are many flavors of the gelatin mix out there (for your reference, we ranked the 25 most popular Jell-O flavors from worst to best), many folks stick with the most popular varieties — like cherry, orange, grape, lemon, and lime — when making shots. Instead, try pairing your rum with pineapple, apricot, strawberry banana, or watermelon Jell-O.

The flavored Jell-O packet often acts as the sole flavoring agent in these fun-loving shots, but if you’re looking to make miniature, edible versions of the tropical cocktails that make you feel like you’re at the beach, you don’t have to limit yourself to just three ingredients. If you want to make a painkiller shot, for example, try combining rum and pineapple Jell-O with a touch of cream of coconut and sprinkling the finished product with a dusting of nutmeg. Alternatively, try combining two flavors of Jell-O — like lime and watermelon — for a shot with more depth of flavor.

Read the original article on Mashed.

Fruity, refreshing, and filled with both the “fun” factor and great visual appeal, nothing says “pool party” quite like a mountainous heap of multicolored Jell-O shots. There’s not much clarity on the origins of Jell-O shots, but these days, your typical Jell-O shot recipe uses a combination of vodka, water, and — of course — Jell-O mix. While this is how things are usually done, there are no hard-and-fast rules about what goes into one of these shots, especially when you’re acting as your own bartender.

Because the taste of vodka is so easily concealed by fruity flavors, many consider it the best type of alcohol for Jell-O shots. But booze doesn’t have to be inconspicuous in order to play well with other flavors. If you’re looking to take things up a few notches in the flavor department, you might try swapping out vodka for something with a more distinct taste, like rum. Made from sugarcane, rum inherently pairs well with sweet flavors, making it the perfect candidate for tropical Jell-O shots. While using white rum will give you a lighter, brighter taste (and won’t alter the color of your Jell-O), using dark or spiced rum can add a distinctly smoky or warm flavor to the shooter.

Read more: Popular Vodka Brands Ranked From Worst To Best

Now that you’ve been reminded of who’s steering this ship, you might be interested to know that you can change up more than just the booze in your Jell-O shots — you can play around with new flavors, too. Even though there are many flavors of the gelatin mix out there (for your reference, we ranked the 25 most popular Jell-O flavors from worst to best), many folks stick with the most popular varieties — like cherry, orange, grape, lemon, and lime — when making shots. Instead, try pairing your rum with pineapple, apricot, strawberry banana, or watermelon Jell-O.

The flavored Jell-O packet often acts as the sole flavoring agent in these fun-loving shots, but if you’re looking to make miniature, edible versions of the tropical cocktails that make you feel like you’re at the beach, you don’t have to limit yourself to just three ingredients. If you want to make a painkiller shot, for example, try combining rum and pineapple Jell-O with a touch of cream of coconut and sprinkling the finished product with a dusting of nutmeg. Alternatively, try combining two flavors of Jell-O—like lime and watermelon—for a shot with more depth of flavor.

Read the original article on Mashed.

High Angel’s Share, a release in Old Forester’s 117 Series, launched earlier this year.

Old Forester has introduced its latest expression in its exclusive 117 Series, this one named for its standout feature: Rum Finish.

This new release pays homage to the historic commercial trade on the Ohio River, which brought a variety of cask-aged spirits to the wharf behind the Old Forester Distillery on Whiskey Row. The Rum Finish expression involves finishing Old Forester in barrels that have previously matured rum for a minimum of four years, adding notes of rich tropical fruit, coconut and custard to the whiskey’s profile.

Bottled at 95-proof in a 375 ml bottle, the Rum Finish expression is meant to enhance Old Forester’s signature bourbon with additional sweet aromatics, including hints of brown sugar and molasses. This finishing process, which lasts approximately six months, aims to embolden the bourbon’s rich character and provide a sweet addition to the series that appeals to both whiskey aficionados and rum enthusiasts.

The Old Forester 117 Series is a collection of limited-edition bourbon expressions produced by Old Forester, a historic Kentucky-based distillery. Launched in 2021, this series aims to explore unique finishes, maturations and other special characteristics that distinguish each release from standard offerings.

Each release in the 117 Series is crafted to showcase specific nuances and enhancements to the classic Old Forester bourbon profile. These special releases are typically bottled at higher proofs and often feature unique cask finishes or other experimental aging processes. The limited nature of the series makes each expression highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts.

The 117 Series: Rum Finish is now available at the retail shop at Old Forester Distillery Co. at a suggested retail price of $59.99 for one 375-milliliter bottle. The two-bottle set is priced at $119.99. Additionally, the Rum Finish will be available for purchase online for shipping to select states, offered in a two-bottle set. The new bourbon will also be available at select Kentucky retailers.

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While plenty of whiskey distilleries offer tours and dole out drams of whiskey to eager visitors, Titanic Distillers in Ireland offers a unique experience. The distillery is located at the same site where the infamous Titanic was built, so both distillery workers and visitors alike walk in the footsteps of history while perusing whiskey-making equipment and sampling spirits. Not only is Titanic Distillers situated at the historic Thompson Dock — the last place the Titanic sat on dry land — but the operation also boasts the claim of being Belfast’s first working whiskey distillery in nearly 90 years.

Though prohibition in the 1930s halted Belfast’s whiskey production, Titanic Distillers has reintroduced whiskey culture by focusing on distilling premium single-malt whiskey. Bottles of its whiskey deliver notes of vanilla, peat smoke, and spice. Titanic Distillers also distills vodka with sugar beet and spring water should visitors want to stock up before leaving the premises.

Read more: The 27 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked

The distillery offers a few options for visitors interested in learning more about the place. A Legacy Tour showcases the full operations, including the Gwynne Pumps, a collection of original contraptions found beneath the distillery; a Signature Tour leads guests through the distillery and Pumphouse; and a Premium Tour takes participants to the Thompson Graving Dock, where the Titanic ship was built. The graving dock, also known as a dry dock, is a ridged basin that can be filled with water so that ships can move in and out. Once drained, the setting allows workers the ability to repair and clean large ships. This particular dock can be traced back to 1911 and was the last one made in the shipyard. It was built specifically to handle the Olympic class of White Star liners, including the Titanic. After surveying the expansive space, visitors can return to the distillery to taste whiskey.

“Belfast is historically a whiskey distilling city, prohibition was the death knell for the industry, but now Irish Whiskey is the fastest growing drinks category in the world,” head distiller Damien Rafferty is quoted as saying on the Titanic Distillers website. Irish whiskey can provide a mellow, smooth palate to sample, making the booze a lighter introduction to the world of whiskey for those looking to develop their palates.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.

In this article, we are going to discuss the most expensive vodka in the world. If you’re also curious about which other vodkas will cost you an arm and a leg, here are the 17 Most Expensive Vodkas in the World.

Vodka is one of the Most Consumed Alcohols in the World. As we stated in our article – 20 Highest Quality Vodkas In The World – the global vodka market was valued at $25.98 billion in 2022, and is estimated to reach $40.25 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period.

Vodka-based RTD beverages are witnessing a huge increase in new product development, which is expected to drive the market. However, the all-natural, flavored segment is expected to witness the fastest growth rate due to the growing demand for premium flavored vodka, especially among the millennial population.

There has been a significant shift in the spirits market in recent years. Ousted by craft gins and quality whiskeys, the sales of traditional premium vodka brands have declined. The war in Ukraine has also been responsible for the dip in the popularity of the liquor. However, vodka producers are reinvigorating the category by tapping into the health-conscious demand for low-alcohol beverages, and are moving towards lighter serves and low-ABV offerings to attract consumers back from competing spirits.

Major vodka brands have ramped up their innovation efforts in the low-alcohol space to attract new and mindful consumers by offering products made with less sugar and fewer calories. Diageo was among the pioneers in the low-alcohol vodka space, launching its 30% ABV Ketel One Botanicals range in May 2018, said to be the first of its kind at the time. It contains no artificial flavors, added sugar, or artificial sweeteners. Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) also capitalized on the trend in 2020, with the release of its sugar-free SVEDKA Pure Infusions range, also 30% ABV.

The recent reincarnation of flavored vodkas has also seen the industry gain some much-needed traction. Gone are the days of the overly sweet artificial flavors and cheap plastic bottles, we are currently going through a flavored vodka renaissance where brands are reimagining the category with high-quality bottles and natural botanicals and extracts that expand the drink’s flavored expressions from subtle to overt. Flavored vodka also typically costs less than its premium counterparts, making it an attractive pocket-friendly option.

Owned by Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ), SVEDKA is a popular flavored vodka brand that is a great choice for mixing cocktails. Its smooth and clear taste makes it a versatile base for classic and modern cocktails alike. Plus, its affordable price point makes it a great option for home bartenders on a budget. SVEDKA was acquired by Constellation in 2007 in a deal worth $384 million.

Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) continues to be the Best Alcohol Stock to Buy Now, with 47 hedge fund holders in Q1 2024 boasting an overall stake value of over $2.74 billion. The New York-based company made headlines last summer when its Mexican beer brand, Modelo Especial, became the Top-Selling Beer in America after dethroning Bud Light. As a result, STZ reported a revenue of over $2.12 billion during its last quarter of fiscal year 2024, a significant increase of 22.7% compared to the previous year. Net income also went up by 11.7% to reach $105 million.

The U.S. beer industry faced challenges earlier this year due to unfavorable weather conditions. Nevertheless, STZ’s beer segment, which accounted for 82% of its sales in FY 2024, experienced a growth of 10.9% in the last quarter. The demand continues to rise, and company management’s statement that Q1 2025 is ‘setting us off on a really solid year’ indicates no significant signs of a slowdown. Although STZ’s Wine & Spirits segment saw a 5.6% decline in Q4, its smaller size reduces the downside risk. For fiscal year 2024, Constellation Brands generated $2.8 billion in operating cash flow, reduced its net leverage ratio by nearly half a point, and returned over $900 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. While the forward dividend yield of 1.51% may not seem high, the company has consistently paid and increased its dividends for the past eight years.

Another advantage for STZ is the growing Hispanic population in America, which is increasing almost twice as fast as the general population, leading to sustained demand for brands like Modelo and Corona.

To collect data for this article, we have referred to sources such as Forbes, Lifestyle Asia, and Wine-Searcher, among others, looking for the Most Expensive Vodkas. The following spirits are ranked by their retail price, sourced primarily from Wine-Searcher. As liquor prices can vary greatly across international markets, we cannot guarantee their accuracy.

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Price: $7.25 million

The 2015 iteration of Leon Verres’ Billionaire Vodka is the Most Expensive Vodka Ever. The spirit itself is filtered through pure diamonds and boasts a silky smooth, naturally sweet taste. The vodka comes in a massive 18-liter bottle, which similar to its 2012 counterpart, is covered in faux fur, only this time it’s black and decorated with almost 2,000 diamonds set in gold for the ultimate luxury statement.

If you want to learn more about the vodkas that will put a serious dent in your wallet, here are the 17 Most Expensive Vodkas in the World.

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New to the world of whiskey and eager to impress? Start here.

The world of whiskey can seem daunting to newcomers. With its reputation for strength and complexity, especially in the case of bourbon, whiskey is often perceived as a drink reserved for seasoned connoisseurs. This misconception can discourage potential enthusiasts from exploring one of the most beloved spirits.

For those who are new to the whiskey game, here are a few bourbon bottles to kickstart your journey and wow your friends and family.

Fort Hamilton Distillery in Brooklyn, New York has expanded its Single Barrel range with the introduction of a new bourbon made entirely from New York grain sourced from the Hudson Valley. This classic-style bourbon—crafted with a mash bill of 85% corn, 10% rye and 5% malted barley—boasts the highest corn content in the distillery’s whiskey range to date. After 4.5 years of maturation in 53-gallon Char 3 American oak barrels, this unadulterated and non-chill filtered bourbon is bottled at 47.5% ABV, offering a true taste of New York for bourbon enthusiasts.

This limited-edition release—aged at the Booker Noe campus in Boston, Kentucky—highlights the influence of “Kentucky Terroir” on the flavor profile of bourbon. The Boston campus, with its aging conditions of ample sunlight and fresh air, contributes to the fast and rich maturation of the whiskey, resulting in a bold and characterful liquid. Hardin’s Creek Boston joins the previously released Clermont and Frankfort expressions, all aged for 17 years with the same mash bill, showcasing the diverse flavors achievable through varying aging locations. This release is part of the ongoing Hardin’s Creek series, which features some of the distillery’s rarest whiskeys, showcasing the expertise and heritage of The James B. Beam Distilling Company.

Heaven’s Door Whiskey, founded by Bob Dylan, combines traditional techniques with innovative flavors. Heaven’s Door Ascension is a non-chill filtered Kentucky straight bourbon, distilled at the brand’s new distillery and aged for over five years. This 92-proof whiskey is a blend of two straight bourbons, offering a smooth and distinctive flavor profile. With notes of fresh bread, buttered popcorn and dried fruit on the nose, it delivers a rich and complex palate with balanced sweetness, caramel, vanilla and subtle spice.

This debut offering from brothers Andy and Charlie Nelson is a high-rye straight bourbon designed for versatility and enjoyment in any setting. Aged in new, charred American oak barrels, this 93.3% proof bourbon boasts a complex flavor profile with notes of spice cake, cherry, milk chocolate, vanilla and baked apple on the nose, followed by black peppercorn, spearmint, lemon peel and sweet tobacco on the palate, finishing with lingering hints of banana bread, cocoa, cherry and dried pineapple. Drink it neat, on the rocks or in your favorite cocktail.

Old Elk Bourbon is a must-try for all, but especially those new to the world of bourbon. With four times more malted barley than traditional recipes, it boasts a sweet and light profile with a smooth, lasting flavor, making it exceptionally approachable for beginners. Their trademarked slow cut proofing process was designed to ensure a mellow and harmonious experience, avoiding the harshness often associated with other bourbons. Whether enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in cocktails, Old Elk’s versatility allows beginners to explore different styles and discover their preferences. Additionally, Old Elk’s exceptional quality and affordability make it an ideal starting point.

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. 

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site’s Terms of Service.  We’ve summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

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User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

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Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site’s Terms of Service.