Climate change has emerged as a significant risk to sovereign debt sustainability, impacting fiscal stability and growth prospects. For example, extreme weather events such as cyclones and floods lead to infrastructure destruction, reduced agricultural output and displacement, necessitating increased public expenditure for recovery. For instance, Pakistan's floods in 2022 caused damages exceeding $30 billion. In Bangladesh, Cyclone Sidr (2007) caused damages of approximately $1.7 billion. The European Central Bank warns that climate inaction could exacerbate sovereign risks due to materialised liabilities and financial instability. Their report highlights the growing impact of climate change on sovereign debt and financial stability, emphasising the urgency for integrating climate risks into fiscal planning. It outlines how climate-related hazards, including extreme weather and long-term environmental changes, can directly harm public finances through increased recovery costs and indirectly disrupt economies, reducing tax revenues and raising borrowing costs. The report stresses that inaction on climate risks could lead to higher sovereign risk premiums and deteriorating credit ratings, especially for vulnerable countries. It recommends that governments and financial institutions adopt proactive measures, such as incorporating climate risks into debt sustainability analyses, enhancing transparency, and mobilising green investments to mitigate these challenges. Developing countries face a compounded crisis of rising sovereign debt and heightened vulnerability to climate change. For instance, countries like Mozambique, Bangladesh, etc. face acute fiscal constraints that limit their ability to finance climate resilience projects. This nexus creates a vicious cycle: climate events damage economies, increase debt burdens, and reduce fiscal capacity to address future risks. New financing mechanisms aim to alleviate fiscal constraints while driving climate action, with nations restructuring or forgiving parts of their debt in exchange for investments in conservation or renewable energy. Green bonds offer investors the opportunity to align their portfolios with environmental objectives while earning returns. Bangladesh has begun exploring creative solutions to address climate finance challenges. Some key examples include sovereign green bonds. Bangladesh's first sustainability-linked bond (SLB) was issued by Pran Agro Limited. The bond, arranged by Standard Chartered Bank, is a significant milestone in Bangladesh's sustainable finance sector. It links financial incentives to achieving specific sustainability targets, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing resource efficiency. This innovative financing approach aligns with global environmental and social priorities while supporting the country's economic development. Partnerships with the private sector could help reduce public financing burdens. Also, clean energy from rooftop solar installations in garment factories can reduce operational costs while meeting international buyers' renewable energy requirements. The success of factories in Gazipur demonstrates the viability of this approach. The BGMEA has identified rooftop solar as a significant opportunity to reduce energy costs and carbon footprints in the garments sector. However, high initial costs deter private investments in renewable energy projects. Besides, the aging infrastructure of Bangladesh's national grid limits its ability to incorporate renewable energy. So, credit rating agencies and multilateral development banks should include climate risk factors in their analyses to facilitate climate-resilient investments. Developing countries need access to debt-for-climate swaps or concessional loans, coupled with technical support to implement climate projects. Simplified processes for accessing funds under frameworks like the Green Climate Fund are essential to empower vulnerable nations. Additionally, developed nations must enhance contributions to climate funds, ensuring fair and adequate financial support for adaptation and mitigation. The writer is chairman of Financial Excellence Ltd. This piece is based on his discussion points at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.You've been driving in circles for an hour, looking for the mythical car park while the kids complain in the backseat. or signup to continue reading After escaping the labyrinth of the shopping (you parked in the orange giraffe section near the escalators, not the elevators), you make your way into the monolithic shopping centre with a Christmas list and plenty of stress. The worst-case scenario has happened. The last Christmas ham as you reach your boiling point. Christmas holiday sales are a stressful period for a lot of people, there's less parking, less space, less time and more anger. No one knows this more than the retail workers who have to face this anger head-on. A 2024 report on retail workers in Australia and New Zealand from Researchscape reveals an increase of 33 per cent in hostile customer interactions in the past 12 months. Retail and Fast Food Workers Union secretary Josh Cullinan said treating retail and fast food workers with respect should just be part of "being human". "If you're in a state of mind where you might be easily annoyed or frustrated or you're finding it difficult, do not go into retail or fast food workplaces," he said. "If you're at risk of abusing, disrespecting, assaulting or anything else workers who are simply going about their day of work, paid minimum wages often in casual jobs. "If you want to express frustration write and email to the CEO who's paid millions, these workers are not in that space." Mr Cullinan said there had been "a deterioration in customer and offender behaviour over the last five years". "There is some trepidation when having to work these long hours, at a time of year when lots of people are feeling rushed," he said. "Unfortunately, the vast majority, if not all the major employers, treat the sale [better than] they do the workers. Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, covering the local community. Got a tip? Send it through to me at joel.ehsman@austcommunitymedia.com.au. He/Him Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, covering the local community. Got a tip? Send it through to me at joel.ehsman@austcommunitymedia.com.au. He/Him DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. 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Trump convinced Republicans to overlook his misconduct. But can he do the same for his nominees?Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold review: The new king of foldables? I think, probably....yesFunds release to PTI LG reps challenged in PHC PESHAWAR: Local government representatives on Thursday filed a writ petition in the Peshawar High Court against the non-release of development funds to over 75 tehsil councils in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The petition, filed by Humayatullah Mayar and others through advocate Babar Khan Yousafzai, has made the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government as the respondent.The petition pleaded that in the initial phase of local government elections, candidates of opposition political parties of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were declared successful. Upon this, the provincial government made legislation and transferred their funds to the district administration. However, after PTI-backed candidates won in the second phase of local government elections, the Local Government Act was amended again to issue funds at the tehsil level. The petition said that funds were finally released on December 5, 2024 after years but those were allocated to 56 tehsil chairmen affiliated with PTI, while 75 tehsils had been kept deprived. It added that this practice had violated various constitutional provisions and was an injustice to the people of those constituencies, as these funds were intended to complete public-interest projects.
Citigroup Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Cadence Bank ( NYSE:CADE – Free Report ) by 14.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 296,511 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 37,586 shares during the quarter. Citigroup Inc.’s holdings in Cadence Bank were worth $9,444,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. V Square Quantitative Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Cadence Bank in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in Cadence Bank by 77.0% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,002 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 436 shares during the period. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Cadence Bank in the 2nd quarter worth $138,000. KBC Group NV increased its holdings in shares of Cadence Bank by 11.5% during the 3rd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 5,036 shares of the company’s stock worth $160,000 after purchasing an additional 519 shares during the period. Finally, Americana Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Cadence Bank during the third quarter valued at about $201,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.61% of the company’s stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Cadence Bank from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Barclays boosted their price objective on Cadence Bank from $35.00 to $37.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. DA Davidson raised their target price on Cadence Bank from $36.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Truist Financial boosted their price target on shares of Cadence Bank from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised shares of Cadence Bank from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $36.00 to $39.00 in a report on Monday, September 30th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Cadence Bank currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $35.29. Cadence Bank Trading Down 0.3 % Shares of CADE stock opened at $38.19 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. The company has a market capitalization of $6.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.97 and a beta of 0.95. Cadence Bank has a 12-month low of $24.74 and a 12-month high of $40.20. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $34.36 and a 200 day moving average price of $31.43. Cadence Bank ( NYSE:CADE – Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Monday, October 21st. The company reported $0.73 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $447.36 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $450.97 million. Cadence Bank had a return on equity of 8.95% and a net margin of 25.99%. Cadence Bank’s revenue was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.56 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Cadence Bank will post 2.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Cadence Bank Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 13th. Cadence Bank’s payout ratio is presently 28.74%. Cadence Bank Company Profile ( Free Report ) Cadence Bank provides commercial banking and financial services. Its products and services include consumer banking, consumer loans, mortgages, home equity lines and loans, credit cards, commercial and business banking, treasury management, specialized and asset-based lending, commercial real estate, equipment financing, and correspondent banking services. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CADE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cadence Bank ( NYSE:CADE – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Cadence Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cadence Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .HONG KONG , Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dunxin Financial Holdings Limited ("Dunxin" or the "Company") (OTC Pink: DXFFY), a company engaged in real estate operation management and investment and a digital technology security business in Hong Kong , today announced that it plans to change the ratio of its American depositary shares ("ADSs") from one (1) ADS representing four hundred and eighty (480) Class A ordinary shares to one (1) ADS representing sixty thousand (60,000) Class A ordinary shares. The effect of the ratio change on the ADS trading price on the OTC Pink (the "OTC") is expected to take place at the open of trading on December 4, 2024 (U.S. Eastern Time). For the Company's ADS holders, the ADS ratio change will have the same effect as a one-for-one hundred and twenty-five reverse split. There will be no change to the Company's Class A ordinary shares. ADS holders of record on the effective date will need to surrender their ADS to the depositary bank for cancellation and exchange in connection with the ADS ratio change, with further details to be provided in the notice by the depositary bank. As of the effective date for the ADS ratio change, Dunxin's ADSs will continue to be traded on the OTC under the symbol "DXFFY". No fractional new ADSs will be issued in connection with the change in the ADS ratio. Instead, fractional entitlements to new ADSs will be aggregated and sold by the depositary bank and the net cash proceeds from the sale of the fractional ADS entitlements (after deduction of fees, taxes and expenses) will be distributed to the applicable ADS holders by the depositary bank. As a result of the change in the ADS ratio, the ADS price is expected to increase proportionally, although the Company can give no assurance that the ADS price after the change in the ADS ratio will be equal to or greater than the ADS price on a proportionate basis. About Dunxin Financial Holdings Limited Dunxin is a licensed microfinance lender serving individuals and SMEs in Hubei Province , China . Dunxin suspended offering loans to its customers since 2020. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as "may, "will, "intend," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate" or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development; product and service demand and acceptance; changes in technology; economic conditions; the growth of market in China and the other international markets the Company plans to serve; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and the international markets the Company plans to serve and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov . The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward–looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dunxin-financial-holdings-limited-announces-planned-ads-ratio-change-302321596.html SOURCE Dunxin Financial Holding Limited
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Scottish artist Jasleen Kaur who put doily on a car wins Turner Prize 2024
Happy Valley actor James Norton announced the winner in a ceremony held at Tate Britain on Tuesday evening. The five jury members chose Kaur for “her ability to gather different voices through unexpected and playful combinations of material, from Irn-Bru to family photographs and a vintage Ford Escort, locating moments of resilience and possibility”. Kaur, who was born in Glasgow but lives and works in London, used her speech to advocate for the people in Palestine. The 38-year-old said she wanted to “echo the calls of the protesters outside” who had gathered after an open letter urged the Tate to cut ties with “organisations complicit in what the UN and ICJ are finally getting closer to saying is a genocide of the Palestinian people”. “This is not a radical demand,” Kaur said on stage. “This should not risk an artist’s career or safety. We’re trying to build consensus that the ties to these organisations are unethical, just as artists did with Sackler,” she said, referencing the family linked to the opioid epidemic. “I’ve been wondering why artists are required to dream up liberation in the gallery but when that dream meets life we are shut down. “I want the separation between the expression of politics in the gallery and the practice of politics in life to disappear. “I want the institution to understand that if you want us inside, you need to listen to us outside.” Kaur concluded her speech by calling for a ceasefire, adding: “Free Palestine.” BBC reporter Katie Razzall had to apologise to viewers after Kaur used a swear word in her speech. The artist was nominated for an exhibition that was held at the Tramway in her home city last year. The display, a series of installations exploring religious identities, politics and history, makes heavy use of different sounds, embedded into the exhibition by way of worship bells, Sufi Islamic devotional music, Indian harmonium, and pop tracks. This year the arts prize, named after British painter JMW Turner, which awards £25,000 to its winner, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Established in 1984, the prize is awarded each year to a British artist for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation of their work. Previous recipients include sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor (1991), artist Damien Hirst (1995), and filmmaker Sir Steve McQueen (1999). In 2025, the prize will be presented in Bradford at Cartwright Hall art gallery, marking the 250th anniversary of Turner’s birth. The exhibition of the four shortlisted artists – Pio Abad, Claudette Johnson, Delaine Le Bas, and Kaur – is at Tate Britain until February 16 2025.
Kamala Harris has told her aides to keep her options open in case she decides to run for president again in 2028, according to reports. Sources close to the Harris family told Politico that the vice president has vowed to "stay in the fight" and may even run to be governor of California in 2026. The sources said Harris would be pondering her path forward over the coming holiday season, but has told allies and advisers she doesn't want to rule anything out. In particular, she is said to be planning out how and when she will criticise Donald Trump as she strives to "reassert" her prominence in the Democratic Party. "She doesn’t have to decide if she wants to run for something again in the next six months," one former Harris campaign aide told Politico . "The natural thing to do would be to set up some type of entity that would give her the opportunity to travel and give speeches and preserve her political relationships." Another person close to Harris said: "There will be a desire to hear her voice, and there won’t be a vacuum for long." The report comes as Democrats debate their future political strategy following Harris's decisive defeat by Trump in November's election . Despite that loss, a recent poll by Echelon Insights found her leading the pack for potential 2028 Democratic nominees, with 41 per cent compared to Gavin Newsom's 8 per cent and Josh Shapiro's 7 per cent. Staying in the running for either the presidency or the California governorship would require maintaining links with other Democratic grandees, rebuilding her online following and potentially setting up a new fundraising organisation. Meanwhile, Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff are preparing to vacate the Naval Observatory in Washington DC – the official residence of the vice president, analogous to the White House – and must choose whether to return to their old home in Los Angeles
Data Journey on Aggressive Growth Track: Announces Purchase of Spartanburg Property from ...Christmas time is here! The air is a bit crisper and full of good cheer, and that means it’s the perfect time to with something that will suit the holiday. There isn’t an exact science behind it, but some whiskeys just like Christmas. So, to get you into the holiday spirit, we rounded up the top 25 for the most wonderful time of the year. This list is well-represented with , but we also couldn’t ignore a few world whiskeys that simply hit the spot when the weather outside is frightful. We’re looking for pours that fully embrace those familiar flavors of nutmeg, cinnamon, peppermint, and cranberries. That means that for this list, we’re leaving behind a lot of those oak bombs and tropical flavors in favor of fruitcake and milk chocolate, plus some smoky Scotches that will be right at home with you as you admire your stocking-adorned fireplace (or as you close your eyes and pretend that you have a fireplace — does Santa bring those?). Now that we understand the name of the game, let’s get right into it and round up the top 25 whiskeys that are perfectly suited for Christmas sipping. 25. Crown Royal Single Malt Canadian Whisky New for 2024, Crown Royal’s Single Malt Canadian Whisky is distilled from 100% Canadian-grown malted barley grains. This offering joins the 12-Year Reserve, XO, and Golden Apple in Crown Royal’s Master Series. Crown Royal’s Single Malt opens with a distinct roasted malt aroma that brings notes of honey, baking spice, Golden Delicious apples, and dilute caramel. Once on the palate, this whisky introduces the flavor of vanilla extract, cooked green apples, and cinnamon bark. The mouthfeel is relatively lean, which allows you to take repeated sips of this one without feeling fatigued. The succinct finish welcomes an uptick in baking spices as cinnamon and black pepper permeate through the last sip. Crown Royal’s new Single Malt Canadian Whisky expands the brand’s portfolio in a way that isn’t particularly innovative but does represent an interesting tip of the cap to high-quality whisky drinkers. For the purpose of this list, it’s the ample presence of cinnamon notes that makes this selection a great choice to try for Christmas sipping. 24. Old Man Winter Bourbon Old Man Winter, from Preservation Distillery, was formerly an export-only product from the mind of legendary American whiskey brand builder Marci Palatella. While the age of this bourbon is undisclosed, the brand itself has been around for decades. It should be noted, however, that the liquid in these contemporary bottlings is unlike the whiskey that Preservation used for previous iterations of Old Man Winter Bourbon. Old Man Winter’s nosing notes open with salted toffee and juicy plums before those bold notes recede to introduce some dark chocolate and mature oak. It has a great aroma that is at once classic for a Bardstown bourbon but also a bit fruitier than one might expect. On the palate, this whiskey delivers more of the plum and dark chocolate notes that were found on the nose, making it alluring. Those notes blend well with a touch of clove, caramel, and cardamom, giving it a touch more sweetness and a hefty helping of spice to balance it all out. The finish is short-to-medium in length and leaves you with a final impression of its mature oak and dark chocolate flavors with just a flash of plum skin as a closing note. Come for the name (this and the even more impressive Olde St. Nick whiskey out of Preservation Distillery practically scream Christmas time), but stay for the polished, spice-heavy flavor profile that pairs well with the sumptuous flavors of the season. 23. Octomore 15.2 For Octomore 15.2, the whiskey was initially aged in second-fill wine casks (42%) and second-fill Bourbon casks (58%) before being finished in second-fill French oak ex-Cognac casks that push the flavor profile in an intriguing direction. The 15.2 features the same batch of Scottish-grown barley as 15.1, also malted to 108.22 PPM. The aroma notes sing with Brie cheese, lime zest, walnuts, and cherries. Despite having the same phenol level of 15.1, the 15.2 comes across as less smoky thanks to its pine-like woodsiness, with moss, ginger cookies, and brown butter. Once on the palate, those nosing notes delicately unfurl with wisps of moss and smoke, subtly masking the vanilla custard, dried apricot, and Rainier cherry notes. The slick, velvety texture finds a home in every corner of the mouth as it gently coats the palate, allowing each flavor note to develop with ample space. The finish is where a greater infusion of smoke comes through with pink peppercorn, nutmeg, and a slight salinity. While this year’s Octomore 15.3 is drawing a lot of attention for being a phenomenal phenolic force, it’s the finesse of the 15.2 that stands tall in the lineup. With a balanced bouquet of aromas married to a patient, revealing palate, Octomore 15.2 is a testament to the delicate deployment of peat. Enjoy this one either fireside or when you wish you had a fire to cozy up to. 22. Old Line Madeira Cask Finish American Single Malt For its Double Oak Series, Old Line Spirits in Baltimore, Maryland, utilizes finishing casks to elevate its base whiskey and showcase how its flavors can evolve. This 100% malted barley whiskey uses both 2-row malt and deep roast malt, ages it for at least three years before finishing it in Madeira casks for an additional 10 months. The aroma notes are full of several layers of flavor, with pecans, nutmeg, black cherries, and almond extract standing out at first while a touch of clove and cinnamon are buried slightly deeper in the glass. This is Old Line’s most multilayered pour, and it starts sweetly with black cherry syrup and pecans taking the lead while clove and walnut notes sprout at mid-palate and introduce black pepper with cinnamon before it transitions to the finish. The whiskey’s finish has a quickly receding tobacco leaf note that’s replaced by the walnuts and black cherry note from earlier. It’s short to medium in length, but the curt conclusion is a welcome one, allowing you to reflect on the notes found earlier in each sip without them lingering and distracting you from this whiskey’s strong start. Old Line, out of Baltimore, MD., is producing incredible American Single Malt Whiskey, and their swift embrace of finishing casks is paying dividends with a portfolio that showcases several of them. While their flagship and Navy Strength offerings are the best bottles they’ve got, this Madeira Cask Finish is the most Christmas-ready, highlighting the brand’s commitment to artfully altering their awesome juice with a flavor profile that would make Kris Kringle’s rosy cheeks radiate with a smile. 21. Barrell Bourbon Ice Wine Cask Finish For this brand-new expression, Barrell Craft Spirits combines straight bourbon whiskeys from four different states and finishes them in Ice Wine casks. The blend components include 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & 11-year-old bourbon from Indiana, 5 & 8-year-old bourbon from Kentucky, 9 & 15-year-old bourbon from Tennessee, and 9-year bourbon from Wyoming. Lastly, the atypical mash bill comprises 71% corn, 24% rye, 4% malted barley, and 1% wheat, bottled at cask strength. The nose begins pretty floral with white grapes, cantaloupe, and creme brulee leading the charge aromatically. The scent of white peaches, candied ginger, and butterscotch also stands out. The flavors of honey, golden raisins, apricots, and butterscotch announce themselves prominently on the palate, which gently warms and coats your tongue as each sip washes over your tastebuds. The mouthfeel is impressively dense, which provides plenty of depth texturally for those flavors to blossom fully. The finish is lengthy and exhibits a ton of grip as the flavors hang on the edges of your tongue, with honeysuckle, white peach, and candied ginger chief among them. Barrell is no stranger to unique finishing casks, and this latest experimentation undoubtedly delivers. This brand-new expression brings a flavorful cavalcade of stone fruits that will be at home during your holiday dinners or, more accurately, as an after-dinner dessert. 20. SirDavis Rye Whisky Finished In Sherry Casks comes in the form of a bespoke blend of American whisky made with a grain recipe that’s 51% rye and 49% malted barley, meaning this is officially a rye whisky. Once the whisky, hand-selected by Dr. Bill Lumsden, reached maturity, it underwent a secondary aging process in Texas. It was dumped into Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for that aging process, imparting it with a ruby hue, a creamier texture on the tongue, and a more berry-forward flavor profile. Cherries and rye spice delight the nose at first, and with a twist of orange rind in the mix, it actually smells a lot like an Old Fashioned cocktail. Swirl SirDavis in your glass, and you’ll also begin to pick up notes of honeyed wheat toast, oregano, and black tea. The flavor of fresh mint sprigs, vanilla pod, and nutmeg greet the tongue while notes of honey and ripe cherries begin to spring up once you get past that initial wave of baking spices. The notes of nutmeg and black pepper kick up again at the end of each sip, as does some sherry flavor, which leaves a whisper of Brazil nuts with a gentle kiss of dessert wine sweetness. On the finish, as the whisky trickles off your palate, the taste of sherry is again prominent. Fresh hazelnuts, oak from the barrels it was aged in, and black pepper are also evident. The flavors dissipate fairly quickly, giving the whisky a smooth impression overall. For its final act, you’ll notice that your mouth begins drying out, encouraging repeat sips so you can return to the flavor found early on. This whisky lends itself well to mixed drinks and features luscious, balanced flavors, making it an attractive, moderately proofed option for drinking neat while you’re taking in Christmas festivities. Its unconventional production method, from the grain recipe to its secondary maturation under the Texas sun, offers enough intrigue to entertain hardcore whisky enthusiasts, and the sweet, sherry-enhanced approachability helps corral newcomers, making this one a holiday hit. 19. Sagamore Spirits Sherry Finish Rye Whiskey Sagamore Spirits, Maryland’s premier whiskey distillery, has been around for more than a decade now, and while they’ve hit their stride with no-frills straight rye expressions, they also continue to release fun finishes like this sherry cask edition. Whiskey aged at least four years spends an additional 18 months in 132-gallon PX Sherry barrels for this offering. The nose unveils a basket of red and purple fruits with figs, dates, and jammy raspberries featured prominently alongside toasted almonds and cacao nibs for an entrancing blend that beckons your initial sip. In the mouth, those red berries take the lead with raspberry jam and raisins laying claim to the tip of your tongue alongside white sugar while caramel, oak, and gentle rye spice occupy the middle of your palate. The texture here is robust enough to carry all of those well-developed flavors without coming across as overly slick. The finish showcases a rising influence of baking spices, with allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon bark taking the lead as it lingers on the palate, with some cooked apple notes closing things out. Sagamore Spirits is well-known for focusing its sights on rye, the style of whiskey that Maryland helped put on the map in the early part of the 20th century, and the brand’s stellar finishing series puts a fun spin on its expertise. Sherry finished whiskeys (as this list will show) just as Christmas sippers, and this is one of the premier American whiskeys to utilize the technique. 18. Elijah Craig Toasted Rye Whiskey Elijah Craig’s latest line extension, building on the success of their well-received Toasted Bourbon, is a Toasted Rye bottled at the brand’s classic 94-proof point. They claim this one is “twice barreled for flavor,” so let’s see how it shakes out... Browned marshmallow, cream soda, and cinnamon make quite an impression on the nose before milk chocolate, thyme, and a touch of menthol rise in prominence. It’s a delightful medley that makes you anxious to explore your first sip. Vanilla and cinnamon are the first prominent notes on the palate, with mint and black pepper baking spice infusing each sip with a touch of prickliness. The mouthfeel isn’t particularly remarkable, but it’s broad enough to allow the flavors to blossom over every stretch of your palate. Honeyed mint and white pepper help extend each sip’s medium length, along with a touch of vanilla custard. This toasted rye forgoes complexity and delivers a lip-smacking, straightforward whiskey worth subbing out dessert for. The marshmallow tones are vibrant, the mint is vivacious, and all told, this bottle is just a straight-up gift from the Elijah Craig brand. Given the choice between this one and the lineup’s standard rye, this is the one you should unwrap for the holidays. 17. Uncle Nearest 777 Anniversary Blend Premium Tennessee Whiskey – The Lost Chapter (Batch 007) For this special Anniversary Blend, created to honor Uncle Nearest’s 7th year in operation, the brand takes 7-year-old Tennessee whiskey that’s been hand-selected and mingled by their Master Blender, Victoria Eady Butler. The ABV for these small batch blends varies, but the one we’ll be considering today from Batch 007 landed on the higher side at 121.7 proof. Rainier cherries, maple candy, and white chocolate. There’s some clove and more faint cinnamon, but the cherries are the strongest aroma. Incredibly smooth and supple mouthfeel that instantly and gently coats your palate with honey, rainier cherries, and allspice hitting the palate. It’s remarkably even-keeled, and it’s only as it transitions to the finish where baking spices from clove to black pepper start to tingle the tongue. The lengthy finish finds white pepper, sage, and rich, well-rounded honey, gently sending this whiskey on its way. This is far and away the best whiskey I’ve ever had from Uncle Nearest. The 777 Anniversary Blend has an incredible depth of flavor coupled with an impressive balance that subtly and effectively coats the palate this whiskey will leave you craving a backup bottle as soon as you take your first sip — the perfect gift to self for Christmas. 16. Bushmills 16-Year Single Malt For this 16-year-old whiskey, Bushmills ages the base spirit in a combination of Oloroso Sherry and bourbon-seasoned casks before going the extra mile of finishing it for about nine months in port wine pipes. Honey and port wine come billowing out of the glass once Bushmills 16 is poured, as the aroma of black cherries, raw almonds, and vanilla pods accent the air. There are also gentle hints of menthol, pine, and tobacco leaf to enrich the experience further. Once on the palate, this whiskey lives up to the expectations set by the nosing notes as syrupy black cherry notes meld with almond meat and vanilla extract with a slightly oily texture that quickly coats your tongue with rich flavor. There are also hints of pistachio, dark chocolate chunks, and Manuka honey in the mix to keep things interesting. The finish is most prominently marked by black pepper, oak, almonds, and non-descript red berries as it slowly tapers off with a medium-length departure that you’ll want to take your time savoring. The port and sherry casks that helped see this whiskey to maturity really shine here. This boozy fruitcake-flavored whiskey will make you want to cozy up on the couch with your favorite Christmas classic. This is simply feel-good whiskey. 15. Tincup Fourteener Bourbon, 14-Year Bourbon Whiskey For this year’s Fourteener release, the third in the series from Colorado’s Tincup, the brand decided to honor Mt. Sneffels. This well-aged bourbon began its life in Indiana before seeing extended aging in the Centennial State and being cut to proof with pure Eldorado Spring water. The lush aroma of strawberry saltwater taffy comes tumbling out of the glass at first, and then it’s joined by caramel, graham crackers, and white pepper for a pleasant, harmonious medley. The liquid itself is surprisingly viscous, with bubblegum and oak striking the palate at first before brown sugar, peaches, and white pepper crop up at midpalate. The finish is medium-length and manages to linger a surprisingly long time considering the proof as nougat and stone fruit sweetness hang around well after the final sip. Tincup’s new Fourteener expression is lip-smackingly tasty and punches above its modest ABV to deliver a great, well-rounded experience. While the nosing notes are rock solid, it’s on the palate and through the finish where this bourbon really shines. 14. Benriach The Smoky Ten Benriach’s use of Highland peat sets them apart from the bruising Islay peated expressions that most whiskey drinkers are familiar with. The Highlands’ wood-rich peat is more delicate and fruit-forward, and it’s part of what makes Benriach’s Smoky Ten (and their fabulous Smoky 12) expression so unique. This one is made from a blend of peated and unpeated whiskey that was aged in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels, ex-Jamaican rum casks, and virgin oak that was toasted to the distillery’s specifications. The nose gives you an indication of that intricate lineage with a faint bit of tropical fruits like overripe mangoes and bananas joining forces with butterscotch, dried apricots, and smoked applewood. Once on the palate, this whiskey opens with spiced pear flavors along with smoked honey and dried apricots. Wow, the first sip is so complex and full of well-defined flavors that a second sip is immediately necessary, and once you take a second sip, the joy of unlocking that mystery takes hold. The liquid is moderately textured, which means that its viscousness doesn’t stand in the way of your picking apart each layer of flavor and savoring it at length. The medium-length finish is where the smoke takes hold, and as promised, it’s a gentler smoke profile than most Islay Scotches and comes complete with an applewood and honey sweetness that makes it more palatable for beginners and more intriguing for avid imbibers. Benriach’s Smoky Ten expression perfectly encapsulates the type of fun, flavorful whiskeys that the Highland distillery is making across its portfolio. While it remains true to the delicate, sweet, and slightly floral profile that Highland single malt is known for, by adding that twist of Highland peat, Benriach elevates this whiskey to Christmas-ready, must-try status with ease. As a holiday companion, this is one you’re likely to stick to like glue throughout the entire night. 13. Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon Eagle Rare is one of many sought-after mid-shelf offerings. Aged for at least ten years, this bourbon is essentially a single-barrel version of Buffalo Trace Bourbon, with the primary difference being that the two brands are hand-selected to cater to slightly different tastes despite the fact they have the same mash bill. There’s a cherry cough drop note that is persistent on the nose, and it’s buoyed by bits of milk chocolate, tobacco leaf, and mature oak. On the palate, the Luden’s cherry cough drop note makes a big splash along with a bit of leather and caramel. The mouthfeel is thin, which prevents those well-developed flavors from reaching their potential, but it succeeds in keeping them balanced and making this an approachable pour. As this pour transitions to the back of the palate, the Luden’s cherry note becomes more of a natural black cherry and is aided by the addition of freshly cracked black pepper and barrel char as it succinctly tapers off for a brief finish. Eagle Rare Bourbon packs a ton of cherry-forward notes that will comfortably coexist with all of the Christmas aromas in the air. While its availability has waxed and waned in recent years due to its runaway popularity, if you can buy a bottle (or two) of this bourbon for Christmas, you won’t be disappointed. 12. Lagavulin 16-Year Whiskey Considered by many to be the benchmark of smoky Islay Scotch whisky, Lagavulin’s well-earned reputation is difficult to escape. This peated Scotch classic achieved its status as the King of Islay for balancing that smoky profile with a deft touch of sweetness. The nose opens with bold billows of peat smoke, but as those gently waft away, you’ll notice some meaty undertones with slight salinity reminiscent of savory bacon fat, a touch of smoked honey, sweet sherry, and creamy vanilla ice cream with a touch of cinnamon bark. On the palate, this whiskey remains true to its aroma notes as it opens with enveloping smoke that then introduces the savory bacon fat notes, which then subside, allowing space for the sherry sweetness along with a touch of honeyed black tea and the flavor of crème brûlée. The texture is robust, and it simultaneously coats your palate while also spryly rolling over your tongue, searching for new territory to claim. The finish continues the interplay of savory and sweet with a gentle kiss of smoke as it lingers for quite a while after the final sip is gone, gently and slowly receding as it beckons you to re-fill your glass. While isn’t for everyone, this bottle is sure to sink its hooks into someone. At the very least, it’s a cool idea to bring this classic example of Islay Scotch out for guests to try, but you shouldn’t be shocked if a smaller group of discerning individuals slowly drink the bottle into extinction throughout the night. 11. Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 12, Scene 1 . Though the expression has seen its price creep up in recent years, the enthusiasm around the brand hasn’t abated, making the blend of rye whiskies finished in both Tawny and Ruby port barrels one of the season’s hard-to-find bottles that are worth it. The nosing notes open with the sweetness of the port wine casks as a slight nuttiness envelopes the overall profile before jammy red berries, allspice, cedar, and a faint bit of mint pick up in prominence. On the palate, this whiskey begins a bit austere but soon blossoms to reveal the red berry notes from the nose in lockstep with allspice, mint, and honeyed, toasted multigrain bread. The texture, too, begins a bit austere before unwinding as the whiskey travels toward the back of the palate, revealing ribbons of black pepper and more mint before reaching the finish. The medium-length finish is where black pepper, raspberry compote, and singed mint can be found, along with some vanilla pod flavor and restrained sage. While High West’s Midwinter Night’s Dram offering has waxed and waned in quality over the years, what remains consistent is that this unique flavor profile is a perfect fit for holiday enjoyment. This is an ideal whiskey for Christmas enjoyment with its seasonally appropriate name and flavor profile full of red berries and baking spice. 10. Willett Family Estate Rye Willett Family Estate bottlings are legendary in both the bourbon and rye whiskey world, with high-end expressions in both categories that fetch tens of thousands of dollars on the secondary market. They take choice barrels of rye and bottle them at cask strength for their standard four-year-old expression. The aroma of fresh red grapes and candied green apple is really rich on the nose, with butterscotch, pine needles, and a faint bit of fudge and polished leather adding to the affair. Dark chocolate, savory dates, butterscotch, and some clove come through in a major way on the incredibly dense palate. The whiskey itself just heavy, rolling over your tongue while subtly coating it. A medium-long finish where leather and milk chocolate leaves a welcome impression along with black pepper and, surprisingly... bay leaves? That’s not what you might expect, but it’s there, and it delivers. Willett Family Estate Rye is so polarizing because of the variety that exists under the brand’s banner, but when you find exceptional barrels, you’ll understand the hype. This particular single barrel is full of magic and goes to show why folks say that rye can be truly special, even at only four years of age. 9. The Glen Grant 21-Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky The Glen Grant has no shortage of options in its Core Collection series, and yet it’s this 21-year-old expression that claims the stage as the best Christmas-sipping companion. Aged for 21 long years, making it the third oldest offering in the range, this whiskey hits the sweet spot of the Glen Grant DNA. The Glen Grant’s 21-year-old expression opens with the aroma of golden raisins, Manuka honey, brown butter sugar cookies, and dried apricots. Those notes are buoyed by ripe Golden Delicious apples, white pepper, and a touch of nougat. On the palate is where this whiskey really opens up and shines. There are pineapple chunks, honey, golden raisins, white pepper, roasted almonds, and blood orange flavors. The mouthfeel is deceptively viscous, with an austere start that keeps you captive long enough for it to reveal just how slick the texture is as it transitions to the finish. The finish is medium-length, and again it’s the texture and robust flavor of honey that stand out as white pepper, well-developed nutmeg, dried apricots, and tropical fruits accent the entire affair. While a bevy of tropical fruits definitely provides the backbone for this whiskey, which may seem odd as a Christmas-themed pour, it’s the healthy helping of raisins, roasted almonds, and nutmeg that makes this an ideal bottle to grab this holiday season. 8. Glendronach 12-Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky Glendronach’s stellar 12-Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky undergoes primary aging in ex-Sherry casks before being finished in American oak. It’s that combination that gives it such sweet base notes, with the American oak providing some spice that makes this balanced, single malt so on-theme in the winter. Glendronach 12’s gentle nuance makes a striking initial impression as the aroma of red berries, vanilla extract, pralines, and rich roasted malt fills the air above the glass. The nose on this whiskey perfectly primes your palate for what’s to come. With your first sip, “gentle nuance” again comes to mind as the liquid subtly seeps into your tongue and envelopes your tongue in the flavor of both ripe and stewed raspberries, dilute honey, hazelnuts, and almonds. From that auspicious start, it continues to evolve with black pepper and a more savory Brazil nuts flavor, laying claim to the back end of your palate as it transitions to the finish. The finish is medium-length and loaded up with freshly baked graham cracker notes to go with the jammy red berries, a prominent infusion of black pepper spice, and a dollop of vanilla ice cream, giving it an ultimately sweet send-off that you’ll want to explore at your leisure. The beautiful balance of sweet and spicy notes calls Santa’s nice and naughty list to mind. As Glendronach deftly appeals to both sides of the flavor spectrum, you’ll revel in the fact that both the sweet and spice notes offer gifts to your palate that you’ll want to unwrap again and again. 7. Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Angel’s Envy Cask Strenght Bourbon, now in its 13th iteration, takes some of the most distinctive barrels in the brand’s portfolio and sees them finished in barrels that previously held both Ruby and Tawny Port Wine. At full cask-strength, this release and the brand’s cask-strength rye are typically the highest-proofed expressions you can expect from Angel’s Envy each year. Nutty port tones create the aroma of umami, chilled black cherries, and freshly polished leather on the nose. It immediately comes across as rich and displays a depth of flavor that draws you into the glass, beckoning an initial sip. The whiskey is at first demure, and it lures you into exploring further until it bursts unexpectedly at midpalate with rich cherry notes, leather, peanut shell, and chewy ginger cookies. The mouthfeel is dense, allowing all of that flavor to fully blossom on a bed of mature oak, cooked apples, vanilla, and black pepper spice. The finish is impressively lengthy, showcasing more of a cherry undertone with dense oak, milk chocolate chips, and clove rising in prominence until it’s all gone. Angel’s Envy Cask Strength is a pricy expression that proves its mettle by plumbing a depth of flavor far beyond the reach of most other bourbons on the market today. By serenading you with a muted siren’s song up front, this whiskey crashes against your palate with syrupy red berries and all of the hallmarks of mature oak, which will leave you floating on waves of lip-smacking flavor. 6. Frank August Case Study: 03 Winter Cover Rye Whiskey For their newest Case Study release, Frank August created nine unique batches, each consisting of three selected barrels of straight rye whiskey, and blended them optimally. Notably, this is the first straight rye whiskey in the Case Study series, which has previously highlighted the impressive rising brand’s bourbon blending prowess. Incredible apple orchard aromas that immediately transport you to a farm in the fall leap out of the glass. There’s some faint cinnamon bark and sage, along with some more distinct honey and muted orange blossom notes that make this whiskey an absolute delight to swirl in your glass and enjoy. On the palate, there’s a ton of vanilla ice cream and clove flavor before the apple and cinnamon notes begin to trickle in. It’s incredibly creamy with crème brûlée enticing the taste buds while gentle oak streaks up the middle of the tongue and floats to the edge of the palate. Black pepper, oak, and burnt sugar find the finish along with some salted caramel sablés This incredibly creamy and well-rounded rye will shock people more accustomed to grassy, peppery takes on the category, but rather than being an imitation bourbon, this expression carves its own lane and leans into the lush apple orchard flavors that will make it a hit at Christmas time. 5. Redbreast 27-Year-Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey This single pot still product of the Midleton Distillery, Redbreast 27-Year, is currently on Batch 5, and it’s artfully aged for nearly three decades in a combination of bourbon casks, sherry casks, and ruby port casks. Redbreast 27’s nosing notes open with sultanas and red berries, vanilla custard, dark chocolate, and a prominent kick of oak and black pepper. Those distinct aroma notes are all really well-developed and bleed into one another for a blend of scents that work together to significantly raise the floor of this whiskey. Once on the palate, you’ll begin pulling notes of butter pecan ice cream and sherry-inflected nuttiness to go with jammy red berries, ripe plums, and faint butterscotch flavor. Overall, the texture is very lush, entering the territory of being decadent while it seeps into your palate and forces you to account for every rich layer of flavor. The finish is impressively long-lasting and reinforces both the red-berry sweetness and subtle nuttiness of the sherry casks used in its production, while gentle oak, faint dark chocolate, and silky hazelnut notes reminiscent of Ferrero Rocher truffles also emerge before it’s all said and done. Everything about this whiskey, from the packaging, the flavor, and, yes, the price, seems fitting for Christmas. It’s a lush and exceptional treat that you’ll want to reserve for special occasions, and what could be more special than December 25th? 4. Premier Drams Rye “Bourb Your Enthusiasm” Premier Drams was sprung from several great American whiskey minds, with Jack Rose’s proprietor Bill Thomas among them. These outstanding ryes come from several sources, all aged at the historic Castle & Key Distillery, formerly the home of Old Taylor. This particular single barrel was selected by Frank Dobbins III (me) and sold exclusively through Seelbach’s. The nose on this whiskey is remarkably rich with honeysuckle, green apple, and mint. Each aroma note is distinct and well-developed, making this rye whiskey a pleasure to raise to your nose repeatedly, as the aromas’ limited extent is an afterthought given the heights they reach. Once on the palate, the same rings true for this whiskey’s flavor wheel, which is limited mainly to honey, mint tea, green apples, black pepper, and oak. It’s a classic combination done well that makes this whiskey so impressive, as none of the notes bleed over into each other, taking turns finding different regions of your tongue to detonate with flavor. The mouthfeel is supple and spry, coating your tongue with ease while encouraging chewing so you can plumb greater depths of richness. The finish is short-to-medium, but thanks to its viscous texture, it doesn’t feel like the party is cut short because it’s so packed with flavor before the finish even occurs. The beauty of Premier Drams isn’t that they offer well-aged American whiskeys at cask strength, what brand doesn’t do that these days? The beauty lies in the brand’s twin virtues of careful cask curation and atypical maturation, which results in much lower proofs, delivering an incredible amount of flavor at exceptionally approachable ABVs. This style of American whiskey was once all the rage, and if the quality offered by Premier Drams is any indication, it’s sure to become en-vogue again very soon. 3. Glenfiddich 30 This stunning whiskey from Glenfiddich comes in equally awe-inspiring packaging. Suppose Christmas is (at least partially) about unwrapping presents. In that case, this recently redesigned expression perfectly fits the bill showcasing whiskey that has spent at least 30 years in Spanish Oloroso and American Bourbon oak. The nose opens with smoked honey, roasted almonds, bacon fat, and canned peaches before black pepper, figs, and dark chocolate seize the wheel and steer the aromas in an altogether darker direction. Once this whiskey hits your palate, its viscous slickness grabs your attention and forces you to pay attention to the robust flavors within. The nosing notes give a good indication of what follows, as smoked honey, tallow, roasted almonds, and cooked peaches make an initial impression on the front end before it takes a turn toward darker flavor elements at midpalate. It’s there that dark chocolate, figs, and touches of baking spice round things out. The finish is surprisingly lengthy and rich, with the taste of honey, apricots, and hazelnut gracing the back of your palate for minutes after the liquid leaves your glass. Glenfiddich’s flagship range and Grand Series both feature a bevy of impressive single malt Scotches, but in stepping it up to the Time Reimagined collection, we get a glimpse into some of the brand’s most impressive stock of barrels. Though it’s the entry point into this hyper-aged series, the decadent sherry-inflected flavors in Glenfiddich 30 make it a must-buy bottle if you’re looking to splurge on something spendy this holiday season. 2. Westward Milestone Edition 2 American Single Malt Whiskey For Westward’s premium Milestone expression, Master Blender Miles Munroe created a twenty-one-barrel Solera system to continuously age and blend some of the brand’s most precious whiskey in various casks. Two other things that make this release unique? The distillate is slow-proofed in-cask, and new for this year is the inclusion of Amburana barrel-aged whiskey in the solera blend. Rich orange marmalade and cinnamon notes come leaping out of the glass when you run your nose over the rim, with further aromas of malt chocolate and dense French vanilla drawing you in and imploring an initial sip. This is an incredibly lush and smooth whiskey with cinnamon and nougat meshing harmoniously with the orange marmalade, French vanilla, and malt chocolate notes from the nose. The texture is also remarkably creamy, allowing all of those decadent flavors to coat your palate and blossom at length. The medium-length finish gently recedes with orange blossom, Brazil nuts, and cinnamon, leaving the final impression before it escapes your palate. Westward Whiskey’s annual Milestone expression has quickly established itself as a whiskey not to be missed, exhibiting Master Blender Miles Munroe’s expert blending prowess. This expression’s moniker, a sly nod to Mr. Munroe and aptly named to mark Westward’s growth, definitely fits, and the whiskey exemplifies the neck tag’s Latin dictum , the maker’s knowledge. You’ll definitely look like you’re in the know if you share this bottle with your family during the holiday season. 1. Stranahan’s Snowflake Distilled from 100% malted barley and aged for at least 9 years, the 2024 Snowflake, Stranahan’s annual distillery-only release, marks Head Blender, Justin Aden’s second crack at crafting the highly sought-after expression. Named for the fact that “no two Snowflakes are alike,” this year’s “Redcloud Peak” expression is indeed unique, despite hewing more towards longtime fans’ expectations for the offering. The whiskey was aged in American charred oak barrels before being transferred to a variety of Portuguese, French, and Spanish fortified wine casks (Madeira, Port, Sauternes, Pedro Ximénez, and Oloroso) and Brandy casks. The enchanting aroma notes open with honey-drizzled caramelized orange wheels, toffee, milk chocolate, and cinnamon. Further hints of milk chocolate, freshly cracked black pepper, and vanilla frosting add heft to the nuanced structure of the nosing notes. Once this whiskey passes your lips, its richness immediately washes over your tongue. The caramelized orange wheel note rises to the fore along with Rainier cherries, cinnamon bark, and milk chocolate for an alluring melange that causes the edges of your tongue to start salivating as your taste buds welcome the deluge of decadent flavor. The mouthfeel is impressively viscous for such a modest proof point, which enhances your enjoyment of all those well-developed flavor notes. The finish recedes slowly from your palate with bright red cherries, ripe raspberries, and allspice notes clinging to your tongue long after your last sip. Stranahan’s has been pushing the envelope for the American Single Malt category for two decades now, and all of that expertise takes center stage with their exceptional annual release, Snowflake. While last year’s expression received polarizing reviews, this year’s Redcloud Peak offering doubles as both a return to form and a raising of the bar. Not only is the name and flavor profile tailor-made for Christmas consumption, but the fact that you have to travel to the winter wonderland of Denver, Colorado, to get a bottle makes it all the more magical.
DUNKIRK, N.Y., Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On December 3, 2024, Lake Shore Savings Bank (“Bank”), the wholly-owned federal savings bank subsidiary of Lake Shore Bancorp, Inc. (“Company”) received termination notice of the Consent Order by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), the Bank’s primary federal regulator. The Consent Order required the Bank to correct deficiencies related to information technology, security, automated clearing house, audit, management, and Bank Secrecy Act / Anti-Money Laundering. In addition to the termination of the Consent Order, the OCC terminated the “Troubled Condition” status. “Our primary goal has been remediation of the operational issues identified by our primary regulator,” stated Kim C. Liddell, President, CEO, and Director. “The early lifting of the Consent Order by the OCC reflects the significant and speedy progress our team made. I am proud of the team and their continued focus on serving our customers and communities.” About Lake Shore Lake Shore Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ Global Market: LSBK) is the mid-tier holding company of Lake Shore Savings Bank, a federally chartered, community-oriented financial institution headquartered in Dunkirk, New York. The Bank has ten full-service branch locations in Western New York, including four in Chautauqua County and six in Erie County. The Bank offers a broad range of retail and commercial lending and deposit services. The Company’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market as “LSBK”. Additional information about the Company is available at www.lakeshoresavings.com . Safe-Harbor This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company’s and the Bank’s industry, and management’s beliefs and assumptions. Words such as anticipates, expects, intends, plans, believes, estimates and variations of such words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect management’s current views of future events and operations. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company as of the date of this release. It is important to note that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve and are subject to significant risks, contingencies, and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond our control including, but not limited to, compliance with the Written Agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, data loss or other security breaches, including a breach of our operational or security systems, policies or procedures, including cyber-attacks on us or on our third party vendors or service providers, economic conditions, the effect of changes in monetary and fiscal policy, inflation, unanticipated changes in our liquidity position, climate change, geopolitical conflicts, public health issues, increased unemployment, deterioration in the credit quality of the loan portfolio and/or the value of the collateral securing repayment of loans, reduction in the value of investment securities, the cost and ability to attract and retain key employees, regulatory or legal developments, tax policy changes, dividend policy changes, and our ability to implement and execute our business plan and strategy and expand our operations. These factors should be considered in evaluating forward looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements, as our financial performance could differ materially due to various risks or uncertainties. We do not undertake to publicly update or revise our forward-looking statements if future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized. Source: Lake Shore Bancorp, Inc. Category: Financial Investor Relations/Media Contact Kim C. Liddell President, CEO, and Director Lake Shore Bancorp, Inc. 31 East Fourth Street Dunkirk, New York 14048 (716) 366-4070 ext. 1012S&P/TSX composite index rises Tuesday, U.S. markets mixed
The union representing striking postal workers says most provinces, including New Brunswick, turned down a free offer for its members to voluntarily deliver welfare cheques to those in need at their homes. Critics say the New Brunswick Liberal government’s decision could force hundreds, if not thousands, of the most impoverished people in rural areas to travel many kilometres to get their monthly social assistance cheques from government offices. On Friday, Premier Susan Holt told reporters at the legislature that government staff had worried the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, or CUP-W, wouldn’t deliver the Dec. 1 cheques on time. “Originally, the reason for the rejection was because of the timing. There was concern that CUP-W wouldn’t be able to deliver the cheques in as timely a way as the department felt they could, and there was an urgency to making sure those cheques were getting out to the people who need them.” In the face of criticism, the premier said the department is re-evaluating its position. “They perhaps do have the ability to deliver to the timelines that we want to see and help get those cheques to people as soon as possible. So the conversation is happening.” The day before, the minister of social development, Cindy Miles, told reporters at the legislature she didn’t know why her department had turned down the offer, but insisted that welfare recipients could visit with their case workers to get the monthly social assistance cheques in person or set up automatic bank deposits. When it was pointed out that some of people in rural New Brunswick live very far away from government offices, she said civil servants could travel to the recipients in person to deliver their cheques. The revelation about the spurned offer raised concerns in question period on Thursday, with opposition Progressive Conservative critic Margaret Johnson demanding answers. “We’re talking about serving our vulnerable populations who struggle with transportation and financial insecurity. How could the department ignore this reality?” Johnson is the Tory MLA for Carleton-Victoria, a sprawling riding in the northwest of the province. She said for many poor people, it would be tough to get to a provincial office. “For some in my riding, getting their cheques means finding a way to get from Juniper to Woodstock or Perth-Andover – that is 71 kilometres or 53 km – and then back home again,” she said Thursday in the House. “If they live in Plaster Rock, that means driving 39 km and back. If they’re in Nackawic, they have the choice of 64 km to Fredericton or 47 km to Woodstock and back home. “As I said, we’re talking about serving vulnerable populations who struggle with transportation and financial insecurity. “Gas costs money. We all know that, which is why it causes me to shake my head.” In an open letter sent to supporters last week, the CUP-W’s Atlantic national director, Jeff Callaghan, said the union’s striking postal members had delivered cheques to communities around the country, as outlined in the “Socio-Economic Cheque Memorandum of Agreement” with Canada Post. The document states that unionized workers have agreed to voluntarily process and deliver government payments to senior citizens, low-income people and others who receive pension cheques and other forms of social assistance. “Despite our offer to continue this service during the strike, there were no provincially issued cheques included in these deliveries from the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, or Prince Edward Island,” Callaghan wrote. “Canada Post reached out and offered the Socio-Economic Cheque service to all provinces and territories. Only three accepted, and one has since backed out.” Brunswick News contacted the union’s Atlantic office to learn more details, but no officials were made available. Miles provided no insight as to why the provincial government turned down the offer. “That’s something I’d have to get back to you on,” the Liberal minister told reporters on Thursday. “I don’t know what that conversation looked like. But as I said before, relationships are so important. And folks have relationships with the folks in the central office or their regional office. There will be accommodations for folks in order to receive their cheques that they so desperately need.” Miles said she’d speak with her staff about the possibility of allowing the union workers to deliver the cheques. She also said special arrangements could be made for government employees to travel to recipients who have no vehicle or gas money. “We can have staff go out and meet them where they are at.” But such a task would be a logistical nightmare if every welfare recipient wanted their cheque delivered personally to them. The latest statistics for November show that 24,709 cheques went out, helping more than 37,500 people and their families. Green Deputy Leader Megan Mitton also criticized the Liberal government’s decision to turn down the offer. “That’s unacceptable. It’s putting the burden on the most vulnerable to travel to get their cheques. I think that’s wrong.” In a news release on Wednesday, the Department of Social Development said that due to the postal strike, December’s social assistance payments had been sent to its regional offices for preparation by staff. The release also encouraged clients who do not receive their monthly payments by direct deposit to pick up a form at their local office to set it up. About 55,000 Canada Post workers went on strike Nov. 15 over wage and benefit demands. The two sides – Canada Post and The Canadian Union of Postal Workers – are said to be far apart on the issues. Negotiations broke down Wednesday.Prepaid meter drama: Tech owner disputes Eskom's R12 000 replacement threatNorth Carolina hires Bill Belichick: Ranking 15 NFL head-coaching candidates for 2025 cycle