Rumble Inc. has experienced a significant increase in its stock value following the company’s release of its second-quarter results and its announcement of an interest in acquiring Northern Data AG in an all-stock exchange offer. Despite posting a loss of $30.2 million (12 cents per share), which was worse than analysts’ expectations, Rumble’s revenue showed a 12% increase year-over-year, totaling $25.08 million.

The company indicated a decline in monthly active users, dropping to 51 million from 59 million, largely due to a decrease in political content engagement outside of an election cycle. Nevertheless, there was a notable increase in average revenue per user by 24%, reaching 42 cents, driven by higher earnings from subscriptions and licensing.

Revenue from audience monetization rose by $1.7 million, compensating for a $3.7 million decrease in advertising revenue. Rumble attributed a 26% decline in service costs to reduced programming expenses, although general administrative costs rose by 12%, and marketing expenses increased by 26%. Rumble concluded the quarter with significant liquidity, amounting to $306.4 million.

As for the potential acquisition of Northern Data, the proposed transaction plans to offer Northern Data shareholders 2.319 shares of Rumble Class A for each Northern Data share. This move could lead to Northern Data shareholders holding around 33.3% of the combined entity if all shares are exchanged. The acquisition aims to integrate Northern Data’s data centers and GPU services into Rumble’s operations.

Rumble’s CEO, Chris Pavlovski, emphasized their entry into a "new phase of aggressive growth" with Tether backing and highlighted the upcoming launch of Rumble Wallet.

Currently, Rumble’s shares have seen a boost of 9.29%, trading at $8.612.

Rum’s versatility makes it a staple in countless classic and modern cocktails. With its rich history and wide range of flavors, it caters to both seasoned connoisseurs and casual enthusiasts, providing a unique drinking experience. Distilled from sugarcane byproducts, its flavor varies based on the production method, aging process, and region of origin. From the light, crisp notes of white rum to the deep, complex flavors of dark and aged rums, there is a rum for every palate.

This year, in celebration of National Rum Day, here are 30 cocktail recipes designed to showcase the versatility of rum.

‘Lilt’ Rum Punch (serves 4)

• Ingredients:

  • 100ml Goslings Black Seal Rum
  • 150ml Pineapple Juice
  • 150ml Grapefruit Juice
  • 450ml Sparkling Lemon & Lime drink
  • 2 Limes
  • Grapefruit Wedge

• Method: Cut limes into segments and add them to a pitcher. Muddle them thoroughly, then fill the pitcher with ice. Add rum, pineapple juice, grapefruit juice, and sparkling drink. Mix well. Prepare glasses with a grapefruit segment and pour.

Tropical Tempest

• Ingredients:

  • 50ml Gosling’s Black Seal Rum
  • 10ml Lime Juice
  • 30ml Pineapple & Chilli Syrup
  • Soda (to top)

• Method: Build in a highball glass over ice, then float Goslings on top and garnish with a lime wedge.

Storm in Queen’s Park

• Ingredients:

  • 50ml Gosling’s Black Seal Rum
  • 20ml Lime Juice
  • 10ml Simple Syrup
  • Fresh Mint Leaves
  • Ginger Ale (to top)
  • The Bitter Truth Old Time Aromatic Bitters (for finish)

• Method: Mix all ingredients (except bitters and ginger ale) in a highball glass. Add ice, top with ginger ale, and finish with bitters.

Seal of Approval

• Ingredients:

  • 30ml Gosling’s Black Seal Rum
  • 25ml Passionfruit Liqueur
  • 25ml Cooled Filter Coffee
  • 5ml Demerara Syrup

• Method: Stir ingredients and strain into a stemmed cocktail glass.

Banana Rum Punch

• Ingredients:

  • 45ml Goslings Black Seal Rum
  • 15ml Banana Liqueur
  • 50ml Apple Juice
  • 50ml Pineapple Juice
  • 10ml Lime Juice
  • 2 Dashes The Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters

• Method: Shake all ingredients with ice, serve in a glass with ice, and garnish.

Bermuda Mule

• Ingredients:

  • 45ml Goslings Gold Seal Rum
  • Ginger Beer (to top)
  • Orange Slice (to garnish)

• Method: Fill a tall glass with ice, pour in rum, top with ginger beer, and garnish.

Mai Tai

• Ingredients:

  • 45ml Bacardí Añejo 4 Rum
  • 15ml Fresh Lime Juice
  • 7.5ml Orgeat
  • 15ml Orange Curaçao
  • 7.5ml Simple Syrup
  • 2 dashes of Orange Bitters

• Method: Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a glass filled with crushed ice, and garnish.

These recipes highlight rum’s adaptability, making it a favorite in many cocktails, allowing individuals to explore various flavors, from fruity to robust, thus enhancing their drinking experience.

In the heart of South Louisiana, innovative ideas are emerging from longstanding traditions as the Fruge brothers, Mike and Mark Fruge, pivot their family’s century-old rice farm into a multifaceted agribusiness. The duo has founded Fruge Aquafarms and the JT Meleck Distillery, which produces notable spirits recognized on a national level.

“I am just trying to make a living,” Mike said, recalling the early days when their wives held hourly jobs to support the family. Their journey began with crawfish farming, which led to the establishment of Fruge Seafood, a wholesale distribution company in Dallas. An unexpected question from a friend—“Why don’t you do anything with the rice?”—prompted them to create a product that would change their business’s trajectory.

Thus, JT Meleck was born, showcasing their rice-based spirits, which quickly garnered acclaim, including the prestigious Best in Show award for their vodka. Mike describes their whiskey as akin to a bourbon, yet “sweeter and softer.” By applying American-style brewing and distillation to locally sourced rice, they pioneered a successful category of rice-based spirits that had not previously existed.

While Mike focuses on business development, Mark continues to manage the agricultural side, overseeing rice planting in spring and harvesting by late summer. After the harvest, the fields are converted into crawfish ponds, creating a sustainable cycle that benefits both farming and spirits production.

“Our goal is to eventually convert our entire crop into alcohol,” Mark stated, noting that they currently convert 10 to 15% of their production. For Mark, who started with a small crawfish business alongside Mike just for fun during college, the venture has always been about legacy. “We’re a grassroots company, built from the ground up.”

As the Fruge brothers refine and expand their product line, their ambition is clear: to establish JT Meleck as a nationwide brand while maintaining the family bonds that have fueled their success.

Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) has unveiled the second release in its high ester rum series named Port Mourant (PM) / Diamond High Ester (DHE). Following the successful launch of La Bonne Intention (LBI) / Diamond High Ester in 2024, this new blend aims to cater to the growing global interest in distinctive rum profiles.

High ester rums are renowned for their rich, complex flavors derived from a high concentration of esters—aromatic compounds that define their unique character. The Port Mourant / Diamond High Ester blend, distilled in 2014 and aged for ten years in previously used bourbon barrels, showcases the diverse craftsmanship of Demerara rum-making and is bottled at cask strength.

The Port Mourant Double Wooden Pot Still, which operates at the Diamond Distillery in Guyana, was originally placed at the Port Mourant Estate in 1732. This historic still has a legacy of producing robust rums that were favored by the Royal Navy. The Diamond High Ester marque is processed using a unique John Dore Double Retort Pot Still from 1950, capable of producing rums with elevated levels of ethyl acetate through a slow boiling and high reflux distillation method.

The new rum bursts with aromas of green apple, flambéed banana, and hints of clove, cigar, and peat. Its tasting profile is fruit-forward, full of ripe tropical notes, with an infused tobacco finish that creates a memorable experience.

About Demerara Distillers Limited
Based in Guyana, Demerara Distillers Limited boasts over 300 years of distilling heritage, producing a range of renowned spirits including El Dorado Rums. Committed to the craft of rum making, DDL also produces non-alcoholic beverages including water and juices, and functions as the bottler for Pepsico in the region.

El Dorado Rums highlight the expertise of Caribbean rum crafting, utilizing time-honored production methods to create their diverse lineup, which has garnered numerous accolades for quality.

For more information about Demerara Distillers Limited, visit demeraradistillers.com. Details on El Dorado Rums can be found at theeldoradorums.com.

It’s surprising how the Amelia cocktail, a drink that originated at a world-renowned bar, remains relatively unknown outside specific urban areas. This refreshing blend of vodka, lemon, blackberry, elderflower, and mint is known as the most popular cocktail at Employees Only (EO), a bar established in 2004 in Manhattan. Despite the growing cocktail culture, EO has become a landmark in the industry, boasting a unique atmosphere that blends nightlife with high-quality mixology.

When EO opened, it redefined what a cocktail bar could be. Unlike traditional bars that focused solely on cocktails or were designed for quiet conversations, EO offered a lively environment akin to a nightclub while serving expertly crafted drinks. The creation of the Amelia was aimed at attracting Cosmopolitan drinkers into a new world of flavors, highlighting EO’s mission to blend fun with sophistication.

Over the years, EO has maintained its prominence, being listed in the World’s 50 Best Bars every year since 2009. The Amelia has been a staple on the menu since the bar’s inception and is served in EO’s other locations in Los Angeles, Sydney, and Singapore, yet it remains lesser-known to the broader public.

One possible reason for its obscurity could be its vodka base. Many might overlook it in favor of more complex cocktails. However, the simplicity of its ingredients doesn’t detract from its flavor—when prepared correctly, the combination captivates the palate. The secret to enjoying an Amelia lies not just in making it, but in recreating the spirited, fun atmosphere of EO in your own home.

Amelia Cocktail Recipe

• 1.75 oz. vodka
• 1 oz. St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
• 0.75 oz. lemon juice
• 0.75 oz. blackberry puree (or 3-5 muddled blackberries with 0.25 oz. simple syrup)
• 4-8 mint leaves

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 8 to 10 seconds.
2. Fine strain the mixture into a coupe or cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with a mint sprig.

Ingredient Notes

• Vodka: Any vodka is fine; different establishments might specify brands like Luksusowa or Grey Goose, but the quality is less important than with other spirits.
• Elderflower Liqueur: While the recipe calls for a significant amount, it can be adjusted if needed. This ingredient is key to the drink’s lushness.
• Mint: While used primarily for garnish, shaking a few mint leaves with the cocktail can enhance the overall flavor.
• Blackberry: For the best results, using a high-quality blackberry puree is recommended, though muddling blackberries with some sugar can suffice.

Even if you can’t replicate the energy of Employees Only, indulging in the Amelia at home can be a delightful experience.