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646jili01 Image Small Image Mark Kaufman Body It should come as no surprise that we’ve shifted from an “information economy” to an “attention economy.” Computer scientists and psychologists have been studying attention spans for about 20 years, over which time the average time that a person can focus on any one thing has dropped from around 21⁄2 minutes to around 45 seconds – even less if it’s a lecture you’re listening to. When was the last time you had any time at all free from distractions? Our brains are wired to pick up external cues like sights and sounds, all of which can distract us from the task at hand. Add technology to the mix – the time we spend in front of screens – and you begin to wonder how we ever get anything done. All kinds of things can contribute to a diminished attention span: sleep deprivation, stress, a noisy or cluttered environment, and screen time. Making changes to any one of these factors would help; so would full immersion in a book. There’s little doubt that reading is an activity that you have to consciously make time for, when there are so many other things competing for our time and attention. The challenge, of course, is to find just the right book to capture your attention and imagination, and keep you engrossed. Online, you’ll find algorithms designed to make suggestions based on past purchases. Instead, spend time browsing a bookstore and talk with a bookseller (usually a voracious reader), who will recommend something based on your interests and tastes. You’ll find more than 50 categories from which to choose, from science-fiction to romance, nature to current affairs, personal growth to faith. As the holidays approach, books are the perfect gift that can be opened again and again. You’ll never have to worry about viruses, software updates or changing the batteries. Even if you’re shopping for that impossible-to-please relative, you’ll find something among the 10,000 or so books a bookstore carries, or hundreds of thousands more that can be ordered and available within a couple of days. Author Sandi Richmond (“Milepost 75”) celebrated her 80th birthday by hiking rim-to-rim at the Grand Canyon. Physical activity, sensible eating, and time management all contribute to living longer, healthier lives. You can be sure that Richmond has kept her brain just as healthy. Trading screen time for a good book is a great place to start. Mark Kaufman is the co-owner of Story & Song Bookstore Bistro. mark@storyandsongbookstore.comDylan Hernández: MLS deal with Apple TV could be hurting league's efforts to grow its fan base

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Adventures on special teams made the Washington-Dallas showdown a clumsy affair, yet Joe Davis and Greg Olsen saw to it that the broadcast of the chaotic finish was pure gold. After Terry McLaurin weaved his way past five defenders for an 86-yard touchdown catch from Jayden Daniels to cut the Cowboys lead to 27-26 with 21 seconds left, Fox's No. 2 broadcast crew captured the chaos before admonishing the audience not to count on anything as a certainty on this helter-skelter afternoon. "Lightning strikes twice in Washington!" Davis shouted in an homage to Daniels' 52-yard Hail Mary to Noah Brown that stunned the Bears last month. "They dropped 11 guys in coverage," Olsen marveled. "If they just tackle him inbounds the game is over. I don't even know what to say. I'm absolutely speechless." Not for long he wasn't. Olsen quickly cautioned the audience that "Automatic" Austin Siebert had already missed an extra point along with a field goal Sunday in his return from a right hip injury. "Before anyone in Washington gets too fired up, remember, we've seen a missed PAT already," Olsen said. "Yeah, you hold your breath with anything special teams-related on this day," Davis agreed. After all, this was the first game in NFL history to feature two kickoff returns for touchdowns, two errant extra points and a blocked punt. In the 41-point fourth quarter that erased the game's snoozer status, Washington allowed KaVontae Turpin's 99-yard kickoff return for a score. Earlier, the Cowboys missed a field goal and saw another one blocked along with a punt. Sure enough, the snap was low ... the hold was better ... "It is no good!" Davis hollered. "And the worst special teams day in history has a fitting finish!" Actually, no. More ruckus remained. Siebert's onside kick bounced twice in front of safety Juanyeh Thomas, who gathered it in and returned it 43 yards for Dallas' second kickoff return for a touchdown. If Thomas takes a knee short of the goal line, he effectively seals the Cowboys' win. Instead, the score, while pushing Dallas' lead to 34-26, also left enough time for Daniels and the Commanders for a shot at yet another miracle touchdown. Austin Ekeler returned the kickoff to the Washington 36 and after a short gain, Daniels' Hail Mary was intercepted by Israel Mukuamu as time expired. And that's how what Davis called the "worst special teams day in NFL history" came to an end. "What a wild special teams moment of blocked punts, kicks, kickoff returns, blocked field goals," Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. In keeping with the not-so-special-teams theme, there were several foibles in the kicking game across the NFL in Week 12, where the Broncos gave up a 34-yard pass completion on a fake punt that Denver coach Sean Payton swore the team saw coming — and not as it was unfolding, either, but five days earlier. "We met Tuesday as a staff. It wasn't a matter of if, it was when they were going to run a fake punt," Payton said. "You're struggling as a team like this, we had it on the keys to victory, so credit them, they executed it." Thanks to AJ Cole's 34-yard pass to linebacker Divine Deablo that set up a second-quarter field goal, the reeling Raiders took a 13-9 advantage into the locker room, just their second halftime lead of the season. In the second half, the Raiders succumbed to surging rookie QB Bo Nix and veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton in their 29-19 loss. That's seven straight losses for the Raiders, their longest skid in a decade. The Broncos (7-5), who blew a chance to beat the Chiefs in Week 10 when their 35-yard field goal try was blocked as time ran out, also allowed a 59-yard kickoff return that led to Las Vegas' only touchdown Sunday. The Texans (7-5) lost for the third time in four games after Ka'imi Fairbairn shanked a 28-yard field goal try that would have tied the Titans just after the two-minute warning. Like the Broncos, the Vikings (9-2) overcame a special teams blunder and escaped Soldier Field with a 30-27 overtime win against the Bears after allowing Chicago (4-7) to recover an onside kick with 21 seconds left. Caleb Williams followed with a 27-yard pass to D.J. Moore to set up Cairo Santos' tying 48-yard field goal as the fourth-quarter clock hit zeros. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi wrote a religious message on his rainbow armband for a second successive Premier League game despite the Football Association saying it would remind him of its rules on the matter. Guehi wore an armband with the message ‘Jesus loves you’ during Crystal Palace’s Premier League victory over Ipswich Town on Tuesday, which took place during a matchweek to mark the top-flight’s Rainbow Laces campaign. Advertisement The 24-year-old, who is a devout Christian, had sported an ‘I love Jesus’ message on his armband during his side’s draw with Newcastle United on Saturday. The FA said following the Newcastle match that Guehi would be reminded about the organisation’s rules, which states religious, political and personal messages are not permitted on equipment. The Athletic has contacted the FA over whether Guehi will face action for having a religious message displayed against Ipswich. What are football’s laws on religious messages? It is not compulsory for captains to wear the rainbow armband during the Premier League’s Rainbow Laces matchweeks and is instead down to the choice of the individual. However, Guehi’s initial religious message could have seen him punished by the game’s authorities with IFAB’s (The International Football Association Board) laws of the game prohibiting such statements on equipment worn during matches. “Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images,” the relevant section of the laws reads. For any offence “the player and/or the team will be sanctioned by the competition organiser, national football association or by FIFA ,” it adds. What is the rainbow laces campaign? Rainbow Laces weekend is an initiative run by the English top flight in partnership with LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall to promote equality, diversity and LGBTQ+ acceptance. It was introduced in 2013 and takes place across matchweeks 13 and 14 this season. In addition to armbands, rainbow corner flags, ball plinths and handshake boards are provided to clubs by the Premier League to use at stadiums during the two matchweeks. A recent survey conducted by Stonewall found one in four LGBTQ+ people do not feel welcome at live sports events, while one in three Black, Asian and minority ethnic LGBTQ+ people who attended a live sport event in the last year reported experiencing discrimination. The Athletic reported in December 2023 that the Premier League had more than halved its annual funding for Stonewall in its most recent contract with the charity, while Adidas also vastly reduced their own financial commitment. GO DEEPER Rylan Clark: ‘If a gay or bisexual player is thinking of coming out, I'd happily offer advice’ What did other captains in the Premier League do? All 20 captains in the Premier League bar Ipswich’s Sam Morsy wore the rainbow armband during matchweek 13. The 33-year-old midfielder is a practising Muslim and chose not to do so due to his religious beliefs. He also did not wear the rainbow armband against Palace. Ipswich LGBTQ+ supporters group Rainbow Tractors said they had been informed ahead of the fixture of the club captain’s intentions and while “disappointed” they said they will continue to respect his beliefs. What did Oliver Glasner say? Asked about Guehi’s armband by Amazon Prime, Palace head coach Oliver Glasner said: “We should keep it calm. Marc everybody knows he is a great player, a great personality. He is a very humble guy. Everybody is about integration, no discrimination and Marc as well. I think we all have the same opinion. In sports, we are all against discrimination, against any kind of abuse. And Marc as well.” Advertisement He added in his post-match press conference: “We respect every player, especially Marc our captain, he had a fantastic game, everyone who knows him knows he is a fantastic player, a great guy and very humble. We should keep calm. He’s very respectful. We are all against discrimination. It’s a great campaign. “We spoke about it quite often. He’s not a child, he’s an adult. His opinion. We respect every opinion. This is the quote of this campaign — being tolerant.” What did Kieran McKenna say? Asked about Morsy’s decision to not wear the rainbow armband, Ipswich head coach Kieran McKenna said: “Yeah I think in line with what the club statement said to be honest. We want to be an inclusive club. The club are working really, really hard in that within the club and within the playing group. “There’s a lot of good work being done and we want to continue that work. But at the same time the club has respected Sammy’s individual decision based on his religious beliefs and I think that’s a fair assessment.” What happens next? It is unclear what happens next and whether Guehi will face any FA charges. According to IFAB’s laws of the game, the defender could have been punished for the initial religious message displayed against Newcastle. The FA opted to contact Palace to formally remind them and Guehi of the game’s kit and advertising regulations but stopped short of any formal charge. (Top photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)Stock market today: Wall Street inches higher to set more records

Herbert suing Vital after ditched partial takeover: Vital wants $214,000 from marina ownerNew York, NY, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright today announced the appointment of New York partner Kessar Nashat as its US Co-Head of Corporate, M&A and Securities. He joins Dallas partner Scarlet McNellie in this leadership role, which she has held for more than five years. Jeff Cody , Norton Rose Fulbright’s US Managing Partner, said: “Kessar is an accomplished dealmaker with a reputation for collaboration across our firm. Scarlet and Kessar leading our Corporate, M&A and Securities practice will allow us to capitalize on both US and cross-border opportunities.” Scarlet McNellie, Norton Rose Fulbright’s US Co-Head of Corporate, M&A and Securities, commented: “Clients look to Norton Rose Fulbright’s corporate lawyers to provide practical and innovative advice related to the evolving global business landscape. Kessar has been a wonderful colleague for many years, and I am excited to work together to guide our outstanding team.” Kessar represents public and private companies on a broad range of corporate legal matters, including mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs and other divestitures, joint ventures and debt and equity investments. He also advises public companies on corporate and securities matters, including SEC filings and other public disclosures, corporate governance and board matters, trading by insiders and equity-based compensation plans. Kessar, who has been listed as a “Recommended Lawyer” and a “Next Generation Lawyer” by The Legal 500 US from 2018-2024 and recognized as a “BTI Client Service All-Star” by BTI Consulting Group in 2021, said: “I look forward to collaborating with Scarlet to lead this remarkable team of lawyers who clients trust to execute their most complex and high profile transactions.” Norton Rose Fulbright’s Corporate, M&A and Securities practice offers strategic, business-oriented legal advice on complex domestic, cross-border and multijurisdictional transactions in both emerging and developed markets. The lawyers who comprise this global team have deep experience across the full spectrum of industry matters. Licensed in New York, Kessar received his law degree cum laude from New York University School of Law and his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University. Norton Rose Fulbright Norton Rose Fulbright provides a full scope of legal services to the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions. The global law firm has more than 3,000 lawyers advising clients across more than 50 locations worldwide, including London, Houston, New York, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg, covering Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East. With its global business principles of quality, unity and integrity, Norton Rose Fulbright is recognized for its client service in key industries, including financial institutions; energy, infrastructure and resources; technology; transport; life sciences and healthcare; and consumer markets. Attachment Norton Rose Fulbright – Kessar NashatThe alleged incident occurred at a special education school in Dutchess County, New York. A shocking incident allegedly occurred recently involving a staffer and a 19-year-old autistic student that was captured on video. I heard about this story over the weekend and was stunned by the horrible allegations. Also See: The Unique Domes Dispensary Opens in Hudson Valley According to the Anderson Center for Autism website , the school which turned 100 years old this year was founded in 1924. Dr. Victor V. Anderson founded Anderson School in 1924 on a wooded estate overlooking the Hudson River. Dr. Anderson, a Human Resource staff at Macy’s, recognized that children with special needs would benefit from an integrated program that comprehensively addressed their educational, emotional and social needs. He began with one student. A century later, Anderson Center for Autism continues Dr. Anderson’s work; currently serving approximately 500 children and adults with autism, their loved ones and caregivers. New York Post reports that Garnet Collins, 50, is charged with brutalizing the youth at the publicly-funded boarding school run by the private Anderson Center for Autism in Staatsburg, NY. The case worker at the Dutchess County Center for Autistic Students allegedly grabbed a 19-year-old from Queens by his genitals and squeezed them in his grip while dragging the teen as he howled in agony, horrifying video shows, according to the article which also states that the Anderson Center swiftly fired the whistleblower who recorded the video and then alerted the teen’s parents. The video was first published by Fox 5 New York last month and can be seen here . The Fox 5 report also states that Collins was arrested by the New York State Police and charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of an incompetent person, a class E felony, and one count of forcible touching, a misdemeanor. He was released without bail the same day. Although he faces up to a decade in prison, legal experts say he is likely to serve no more than six months, and may even avoid jail time altogether. The father of the alleged victim Anil stated, that when he got the word of the incident, he immediately got in the car, drove upstate, pulled his son out of the residence, and contacted the New York State Troopers. "Every day. Every day. Every day. It kills me to think about the amount of abuse and torture he went through", he said. Take a Look Inside the Abandoned Bowling Ally in the Staatsburg Firehouse The Old Staastburg Firehouse (now Roosevelt Engine Co 5.) houses an abandoned bowling ally. Local Hudson Valley firefighters tell us that they believe the bowling ally was created back in the 50s and was used until the early 90s. Gallery Credit: Kurt Burns Plan an Unforgettable Trip to Hyde Park, New York Whenever I have out-of-town guests, these are some of my go-to spots to entertain in Hyde Park, New York. Gallery Credit: Conor Walsh Take a Tour of The New Hudson Valley Hospice House in Hyde Park, NY The New Hudson Valley Hospice House has opened in Hyde Park, NY right off route 9G and is available to assist Dutchess and Ulster County families. Gallery Credit: Conor Walsh

‘Gene & Gilda’ is a touching, tragic Hollywood love story on N.J. stage | Review

United States Don't miss out on the headlines from United States. Followed categories will be added to My News. An animal-rights activist who was on the FBI’s most wanted terrorist list and has been on the run for more than 20 years has been arrested in Wales, the FBI said. Daniel Andreas San Diego, 46, who was wanted in connection with three bombings in California in 2003, was arrested on Monday, the bureau said in a statement. “Daniel San Diego’s arrest after more than 20 years as a fugitive for two bombings in the San Francisco area shows that no matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said. FBI Assistant Director of the Counterterrorism Division Michael J. Heimbach announces Daniel Andreas San Diego as the latest addition to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List in April 21, 2009. Picture: AFP “There’s a right way and a wrong way to express your views in our country, and turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way.” San Diego was wanted in connection with pipe bombings in California in August and September 2003 targeting a biotechnology company and a nutritional products corporation. He was indicted in July 2004 and has been a fugitive since then. He was added to the FBI’s most wanted list in 2009 and the bureau offered a $US250,000 reward for his capture. Britain’s National Crime Agency said San Diego now faces extradition to the US to face charges. - with Agence France-Presse More Coverage Baldwin may be back in court over Rust shooting Adella Beaini Dark past of Egypt tourist yacht firm as fourth body found Zoe Smith and Emily Macdonald Originally published as Daniel Andreas San Diego on FBI ‘most wanted terrorist’ list arrested More related stories US Election ‘Bulls**t’: Harris aides unleash in campaign blame game As Kamala Harris emerged from a holiday in Hawaii, her campaign chiefs broke their silence on her election defeat, blaming everyone from Joe Biden to the media. Read more Entertainment ‘Corrupt’: Baldwin’s team slams new court move Lawyers for Hollywood star Alec Baldwin have hit back after a major move by the prosecutor in his previous involuntary manslaughter case. Read more

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.Mali arrests top politician for criticizing Burkina Faso's ruling juntaCall for civil disobedience: Talks can’t be held with sword hanging over head: PMLN Ali Zafar urges govt to create conducive environment for talks ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the Senate on Thursday called for confidence-building measures prior to the talks, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) said it was ready but not with a sword hanging over its head, referring to the rival party’s threat of civil disobedience. Taking part in the discussion on the recent PTI protest, PTI Parliamentary Leader in the House Barrister Ali Zafar emphasized that trust in each other and CBMs were critically important for a dialogue to take place, as some members exchanged hot words. Ali Zafar complained that their workers were still being arrested. He urged the government to create a conducive environment for talks and contended how could talks be held in the given situation. The opposition legislator reiterated his party’s major demand for the formation of an independent commission to probe into what had happened on November 26, asking the government to apologise, if confirmed that peaceful protesters had been indiscriminately fired upon. He said his party was ready to fight a legal battle on all the cases registered against its leaders, including Imran Khan, and continue the struggle for fundamental rights of the people. He also claimed that their protesters were peaceful and unarmed. He said to peacefully protest was a fundamental right and the exercise of this right can in no way be branded as terrorism and anarchy. The PTI lawmaker contended that political stability was prerequisite for economic stability, saying there will be no need for protests if the people were given freedom. PMLN Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Irfan Siddiqui, in response to Zafar’s speech, questioned the PTI mantra of peaceful protest, insisting no peaceful protest starts with slogans of jihad or kill, or Panipat war. He wondered how would have Indian or US governments responded, had any state’s administrator led a march on their capital city. “Give one example out of 195 countries, if any protest is carried out with sticks and weapons. This time, no application was submitted for the protest, whereas there are related laws and rules,” he noted. Siddiqui said: “We have never closed the doors; even today we want to talk openly; we are ready for dialogue but do not want a sword hanging over our heads.” “It seems PTI’s point of view has changed towards us. If they (PTI) believe that they can shake hands with thieves and robbers, then talks can happen, then they should definitely do it. But they will have to abandon their old ways of politics,” he argued. He said that even today they want dialogue with an open heart, as things cannot move forward without dialogue. The PMLN legislator said that no formal talks have started with the PTI. “We do not know what the PTI founder’s point of view on talks is.” He said the PTI founder had a lot of burden on his shoulders. “The burden of May 9 is not small, and what he has done on November 26 is also not a small burden. This burden will not be easily removed by holding negotiations somewhere,” he said. Senator Siddiqui also said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman always speaks within the framework of the Constitution and law. PPP Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Sherry Rehman, in her speech, said her party had always talked about dialogue but the PTI remained opposed to it in the past; an offer was made to it even at the time of elections, which was rejected. Without naming former ISI DG Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, she said the ground realities have forced the PTI to talk about negotiations. Taking part in the discussion, PMLN Senator Talal Chaudhry said that parliament had failed the November 26 coup by passing the 26th Amendment. He claimed that before the 26th Amendment, the plan was that if there was chaos, the building next door would automatically take notice, and the government would be put on trial. However, he emphasized, parliament took back its authority. He said the PTI was playing tricks on talks to save Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed. Referring to the opposition party’s demand for a judicial commission on May 9 and November 26 events, he said the commission would be formed from the time PTI became Musharraf’s polling agent. JUIF Senator Maulana Abdul Wasay said that his party was the one running the movement against the 2018 elections, adding that same work that was done by the PTI then, is being done by today’s government. However, he wondered if the PTI was talking about negotiations, then why the government was insulting it.

O'Connor scores 17 as George Mason knocks off Tulane 76-64President-Elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan for undocumented immigrants could have wide-ranging impacts across the country, particularly in Florida. But— at the moment— the state’s new leaders said it’s not their problem. While on the campaign trail, the former president regularly vowed to deliver mass deportation "on day one." At rallies, he often made the case by relating it to migrant crime. "When I'm re-elected, we'll begin removing these criminals, these horrible people from our midst," President-elect Trump said at a recent MAGA rally in Wisconsin. "And we'll end up doing it immediately." RELATED STORY | Scripps News/Ipsos poll: Support for mass deportations drops when Americans consider potential consequences Jan. 20 is now fewer than two months away. If President-elect Trump delivers, the changes to the Florida workforce and economy could be wide-ranging, some have even suggested devastating. Even so, Florida House Speaker Danny Perez (R) and Senate President Ben Albritton (R) sidestepped questions about the potential impacts, earlier this week. “Any sort of immigration policy that comes from the federal government is for the federal government to decide," said the House Speaker. "That's a question that you should be asking the president.” President Albritton said something similar, telling reporters Tuesday: “The federal government is the federal government. State government is state government. That's a federal issue." When pressed further about the possible disruptions from mass deportation, Albritton doubled down. “That's up to the federal government," said the Senate President. "We'll see what they do.” RELATED STORY | Trump's mass deportation plan targets specific groups of immigrants Exactly what they will do remains unclear. Trump has confirmed he’ll use the military. Texas has offered up land along the border for “deportation facilities.” Trump’s advisors have even said he’ll seek to again eliminate DACA, an Obama-era program that protects undocumented who arrived as children. Florida Democrats, like Rep. Marie Woodson (D-Pembroke Pines) a Haitian migrant herself — have warned for months what these mass deportations could mean for Florida. Her concern is a rise in bigotry and racial profiling. “For those who are afraid, I’ll tell you this— be afraid of Trump because he has proven to you who he is," said Woodson. “Okay, mass deportation. In mass deportation, you don't know who's going to be in that ‘mass.’ But we know for sure he doesn't want the people who came from the Biden program. Our brothers and sisters in Ohio. He doesn't want them here. He doesn't want the TPS recipient. He doesn't want Haitians in general.” There’s a major economic concern too. The latest data from the American Immigration Council show Florida has one of the highest populations of undocumented in the country, about 1.1 million. They’re about seven percent of the workforce here — with jobs in ag, hospitality, and construction, contributing about $2 billion to state and local taxes alone. The Brookings Institution recently suggested mass deportation could also lead to a decrease in work for citizens. Researchers found for every half million deported, U.S.-born employment dropped by about 44,000. “Occupations common among unauthorized workers, such as construction laborers and cooks, are essential to keep businesses operating,” the report said, in part. "Deporting workers in these jobs affects U.S.-born workers too." Florida’s governor and lawmakers have multiple state immigration laws already on the books, with strict work verification rules for employers. They have said they’re more focused on making the labor market inhospitable rather than mass deportation. "We're protecting Floridians with the full extent of our powers to do that," DeSantis said in May of last year, before signing an immigration reform bill. "But it's sad. It's sad to see what's happened. It's sad to see these images of the lawlessness." A new era may be on the horizon, however. For now, Florida’s lawmaking leaders seem content with waiting to see what happens next before going further. This story was originally published by Forrest Saunders at Scripps News Tampa .Insurgents reach gates of Syria’s capital, threatening to upend decades of Assad rule BEIRUT (AP) — A Syrian opposition war monitor and a pro-government media outlet say government forces have withdrawn from much of the central city of Homs. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. Losing Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Syria’s embattled leader, Bashar Assad. An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look on PARIS (AP) — France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral has formally reopened its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019. The five-year restoration is widely seen as a boost for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline, and brings a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. World leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers gathered on Saturday evening for the celebrations under the cathedral's soaring arches. The celebration was attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelenskyy for their talks PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed Donald Trump to Paris with a full dose of presidential pomp. And they held a hastily arranged meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a day that's mixing pageantry with attention to pressing global problems. The president-elect's visit to France is part of a global a celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire. Macron and other European leaders are trying to win Trump’s favor and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is making threats, traveling abroad, and negotiating with world leaders. He has more than a month-and-a-half to go before he’s sworn in for a second term. But the president-elect is already moving aggressively to not only fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but also to try to achieve his priorities. In recent days, Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, two of the country’s largest trading partners. That led to emergency calls and a visit. And he's warned of “ALL HELL TO PAY” if Hamas doesn't release the hostages still being held captive in Gaza. South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol has avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law. Most of Yoon's ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea. A survey suggests a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party. But the party also apparently fears losing the presidency to liberals. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting opens a door for many to vent frustrations over insurance The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO has opened the door for many people to vent their frustrations and anger over the insurance industry. The feelings of exasperation, anger, resentment, and helplessness toward insurers aren’t new. But the shooting and the headlines around it have unleashed a new wave of patients sharing such sentiments and personal stories of interactions with insurance companies. Conversations at dinner tables, office water coolers, social gatherings and on social media have pivoted to the topic. Many say they hope the new amplified voices can bring about change for companies often accused of valuing profits over people. 2 Pearl Harbor survivors, ages 104 and 102, return to Hawaii to honor those killed in 1941 attack PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — The bombing of Pearl Harbor 83 years ago launched the United States into World War II. Two survivors have returned to the Hawaii military base for a remembrance ceremony on the attack's anniversary. Both are over 100 years old. They joined active-duty troops, veterans and members of the public for an observance hosted by the Navy and the National Park Service. A third survivor was planning to join them but had to cancel due to health issues. The bombing killed more than 2,300 U.S. servicemen. An explosion destroys an apartment block in a Dutch city, killing at least 3 and injuring others THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and fire has rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague, killing three people and injuring other people and destroying several apartments. The cause of the disaster is unclear. Emergency authorities said four people were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital. The mayor said rescuers were no longer looking for survivors but for eventual bodies, but could not specify how many people might still be unaccounted for. Residents of the northeastern neighborhood of Mariahoeve in The Hague heard a huge bang and screams before dawn. Dutch authorities have deployed a specialized urban search and rescue team to find victims. How 'Mufasa' rose with Aaron Pierre and Blue Ivy's voices along with new Lin-Manuel Miranda music SAN DIEGO (AP) — When Aaron Pierre was cast as Mufasa, the weight of following in the late James Earl Jones’ legendary footsteps was enough to rattle any actor. But instead of letting the pressure roar too loudly, he harnessed his nerves to breathe fresh life into his young lion character. Pierre found parallels between himself and his character while filming his leading role in “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which opens in theaters Dec. 20. He took the reigns as the new voice of Mufasa after Jones played the iconic King Mufasa in both the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s “The Lion King.” The prequel offers a fresh exploration into Mufasa’s origin story.

President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction

Spurs travel to Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday reeling from a disappointing home loss to Ipswich before the international break. The club’s problems have multiplied during the past fortnight with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur handed a seven-match domestic ban on Monday and Cristian Romero (toe) joining a lengthy list of absentees. However, Postecoglou remains bullish about Tottenham’s progress and acutely aware of the scrutiny set to come his way if they stay 10th. “Christmas is a joyous occasion, irrespective, and I think it should be celebrated. If we’re still 10th then people won’t be happy, I won’t be happy, but we might not be 10th,” Postecoglou pointed out before nine games in 30 days. “Certainly for us I think it’s a significant period because you look at those games and we’ve got the league where we’ve got to improve our position and a couple of important European fixtures that can set us up for the back half of the year, also a Carabao Cup quarter-final. “At the end of that period we could be in a decent position for a strong second half of the year, so for us it is an important period. “You know there’s no more international breaks, so the full focus is here. You can build some momentum through that, or if things don’t go well you could get yourself into a bit of a grind. Ready for #MCITOT 👊 Go behind the scenes of training ahead of our trip to Manchester 🎥⤵️ pic.twitter.com/4jFZTCIwSz — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 22, 2024 “Of course if we had beaten Ipswich, we’d be third and I reckon this press conference would be much different wouldn’t it? “I’m not going to let my life be dictated by one result, I’m sorry. I take a wider perspective on these things because I know how fickle it can be, but we need to address our position for sure. “And if we’re 10th at Christmas, yeah it won’t be great. There’d be a lot of scrutiny and probably a lot of scrutiny around me, which is fair enough, but that’s not where I plan for us to be.” Tottenham’s immediate efforts to move up the table will require them ending City’s two-year unbeaten home run in the Premier League. The champions have lost their last four matches in all competitions, but have some key personnel back for Saturday’s clash and will aim to toast Pep Guardiola’s new contract with a victory. Postecoglou was pleased to see Guardiola commit to a further two seasons in England, adding: “I love the fact that there’s a massive target out there that can seem insurmountable. “I look at it the other way. I go, ‘imagine if you knock him off, that’d be something’. “I’m at the stage of my life where I’d rather have the chance of knocking him off than missing that opportunity. “When greatness is around, you want to be around it. And hopefully it challenges you to be like that as well.” Saturday’s fixture will be Postecoglou’s 50th league game in charge of Spurs and he knows what is required to bring up three figures. A post shared by Premier League (@premierleague) “No European football, significant player turnover, change of playing style. Where did I think we’d be after 50 games? God knows. “It could have been a whole lot worse, but when you look at it in the current prism of we’re 10th, you’re going ‘it doesn’t look good’ and I understand that and we have to improve that. “But over the 50 games, I think there’s enough there that shows we are progressing as a team and we are developing into the team we want. “The key is the next 50 games, if they can be in totality better than the first 50? First, that means I’m here but second, I think we’ll be in a good space.”For survivors of strokes, the device implanted in her chest could be a game changer in recovery.ERIE, Pa. (AP) — Alex Chaikin's 20 points off of the bench helped Lafayette to a 77-73 victory against Mercyhurst on Saturday. Chaikin went 7 of 8 from the field (6 for 7 from 3-point range) for the Leopards (5-5). Justin Vander Baan added 13 points while shooting 3 of 5 from the field and 7 for 9 from the line while he also had six rebounds and five blocks. Andrew Phillips had 10 points and shot 4 of 6 from the field and 1 for 3 from the line. Shemar Rathan-Mayes finished with 21 points and four assists for the Lakers (5-6). Aidan Reichert added 18 points, six rebounds and three steals for Mercyhurst. Jeff Planutis also recorded 13 points. Chaikin scored nine points in the first half and Lafayette went into the break trailing 38-31. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .