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Business Wire
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
All-In Podcast Launches ‘The Besties All-In Tequila'
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, All-In Podcast hosts Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Sacks, and David Friedberg – A.K.A. 'The Besties' – launched The Besties All-In Tequila. The All-In Podcast is one of the world's top-ranking podcasts that features insider takes on business, technology, and society. In 2023, The Besties discovered a very rare store of tequila in Jalisco, Mexico that was pot-distilled from 100% Blue Weber agave and aged in white oak ex-whiskey barrels for five years. After sampling directly from the barrels, the group knew they had stumbled onto something special and immediately acquired the entire supply. The Besties worked with a local master distiller to blend the batch to a perfect balance over months of tastings and iterations. The Besties All-In Tequila was born, an exceptional extra anejo featuring a smooth, slightly sweet taste with hints of wood, citrus, dried fruits, butterscotch, vanilla, cacao, toffee, and cooked agave. To match the tequila's exceptional quality, The Besties designed limited-edition packaging. Each bottle is a custom, hand crafted art piece featuring hand painted poker chip accents and an individually numbered medallion for collectors. The interior of the box illuminates upon opening to showcase the complexity of the bottle's design. Each collector's box includes The Besties' signatures. 'It's been wonderful to build this product together. We fight, we argue and then we come back together. You're going to love drinking this tequila and the bottle is gorgeous,' said Jason Calacanis. ' We do these projects because they're fun to do together,' agreed Chamath Palihapitiya. 'The money isn't going to change anyone's life — well, except maybe JCal's.' David Sacks shared the spirited backstory behind the launch, from late-night group chats to tequila tastings in Mexico. 'We found a rare set of five-year aged agave barrels and turned them into something we're really proud of. People are going to be surprised by how smooth and good this tequila is. We wouldn't put our names on it if it wasn't exceptional.' The Besties hosted a private black-tie event at Delilah in Los Angeles, CA to celebrate the launch. The invitation-only event welcomed tastemakers, tech founders, venture capitalists, and entertainment industry elite for an evening of live music performances, tequila tastings, and curated experiences. The Besties All-In Tequila is now on-sale at for $1,200 US plus applicable taxes and fees per bottle. All sales will be fulfilled by Flaviar. Order delivery is expected in late summer 2025. The All-In Podcast delivers conversations worth having. When the pandemic prevented four friends from convening their weekly poker game, they took to the airwaves to socialize and discuss the news of the day. Hosted by Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Sacks, and David Friedberg, the show features insider takes on business, technology, and society and interviews with the world's most influential thinkers.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'We want safety for all users' as finish nears for Greater Grand Forks' streets plan
Jun. 14—GRAND FORKS — The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Metropolitan Planning Organization will be opening public comment on the final draft of its Safe Streets for All Plan on June 16. The plan has been in the works for more than a year to identify community needs, actionable steps and projects that Grand Forks and East Grand Forks can take to address traffic safety. The Safe Streets For All, or SS4A, plan isn't just one by the MPO, but a plan for which both cities applied and received a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to conduct. "A lot of work has gone into this, everything from lots of conversations from various entities and organizations across the region, but also just a lot of engagement," Blue Weber of Bolton and Menk, one of the consultants helping with the plan, told the East Grand Forks City Council on June 10. "It's been a blast." The public will be able to leave comments on the plan's website: . Once adopted by both cities, the plan will open funding opportunities for safe street improvements, along with potentially making grant and other traffic funding applications stronger. The SS4A program was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, which set aside $5 billion in funds between 2022 and 2026 to reduce roadway deaths across the country. "An important part with the safety action plan with the SS4A funding is to try to bundle some of these projects," Weber told the Grand Forks City Council on June 9. "You never want to just go after one, because this is an awesome, huge pot of money that you really want to try to sell this story of implementing safety within your community." Since starting the plan in May 2024, seven public engagement events have been held to allow residents to comment on their priorities for traffic safety and to learn more about the plan. Those ranged from traditional open houses where people could take in information and ask questions to staff and consultants, to more interactive events, like a walking audit of 17th Avenue South in Grand Forks. Final adoption of the plan is proposed for sometime in July or August after public comment and both city councils have met in a joint meeting to provide their input. Another in-person engagement event is planned for later in June to allow for more comments. The plan is split into eight chapters and follows a format similar to other traffic plans that the MPO has created, like the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan. It includes an overview of demographics, peer community reviews, how it was created, data and implementation strategies. Roads like 32nd Avenue South and Washington Street in Grand Forks and Bygland Road in East Grand Forks received some of the most comments from the public about potential improvements. Additionally, creating better pedestrian and bike connections across Greater Grand Forks was desired. "This is a community plan. This is not just something that MPO filed for themselves. Both the communities of East Grand Forks and Grand Forks really had to partake in this," Weber said in East Grand Forks. "One of the biggest things that came out of all our engagement with the community is we want safety for all users."
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'We want safety for all users' as finish nears for Greater Grand Forks' streets plan
Jun. 14—GRAND FORKS — The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Metropolitan Planning Organization will be opening public comment on the final draft of its Safe Streets for All Plan on June 16. The plan has been in the works for more than a year to identify community needs, actionable steps and projects that Grand Forks and East Grand Forks can take to address traffic safety. The Safe Streets For All, or SS4A, plan isn't just one by the MPO, but a plan for which both cities applied and received a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to conduct. "A lot of work has gone into this, everything from lots of conversations from various entities and organizations across the region, but also just a lot of engagement," Blue Weber of Bolton and Menk, one of the consultants helping with the plan, told the East Grand Forks City Council on June 10. "It's been a blast." The public will be able to leave comments on the plan's website: . Once adopted by both cities, the plan will open funding opportunities for safe street improvements, along with potentially making grant and other traffic funding applications stronger. The SS4A program was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, which set aside $5 billion in funds between 2022 and 2026 to reduce roadway deaths across the country. "An important part with the safety action plan with the SS4A funding is to try to bundle some of these projects," Weber told the Grand Forks City Council on June 9. "You never want to just go after one, because this is an awesome, huge pot of money that you really want to try to sell this story of implementing safety within your community." Since starting the plan in May 2024, seven public engagement events have been held to allow residents to comment on their priorities for traffic safety and to learn more about the plan. Those ranged from traditional open houses where people could take in information and ask questions to staff and consultants, to more interactive events, like a walking audit of 17th Avenue South in Grand Forks. Final adoption of the plan is proposed for sometime in July or August after public comment and both city councils have met in a joint meeting to provide their input. Another in-person engagement event is planned for later in June to allow for more comments. The plan is split into eight chapters and follows a format similar to other traffic plans that the MPO has created, like the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan. It includes an overview of demographics, peer community reviews, how it was created, data and implementation strategies. Roads like 32nd Avenue South and Washington Street in Grand Forks and Bygland Road in East Grand Forks received some of the most comments from the public about potential improvements. Additionally, creating better pedestrian and bike connections across Greater Grand Forks was desired. "This is a community plan. This is not just something that MPO filed for themselves. Both the communities of East Grand Forks and Grand Forks really had to partake in this," Weber said in East Grand Forks. "One of the biggest things that came out of all our engagement with the community is we want safety for all users."
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
11 new spirits for the monsoon: Best tequilas, whiskeys and gins
The rains have arrived early this year — and with them, a sharp new crop of spirits. A legendary Nepali rum has entered the Indian market, there's a pink vodka that leans into fruit and florals, and homegrown distillers continue to push boundaries with aged malts and layered gins. From limited-edition whiskies to additive-free tequilas, here are some recent launches that have caught our attention. Earlier this year, in an interview with this newspaper, Bacardi India MD Vinay Golikeri noted strong traction in the super-premium tequila segment. The Patron El Cielo — Bacardi owns Patron — sold out almost instantly, he said. A similar reception is likely for El Alto, which is set to launch later this week. Endorsed by Punjabi music star Karan Aujla, the luxury tequila is a blend of Extra Anejo, Anejo, and Reposado tequilas. El Alto, which will be priced at ₹29,500 in Mumbai, is made from 100% Blue Weber agave sourced from the Jalisco highlands and aged in a mix of American and French oak barrels. The result is a smooth, layered spirit with notes of cooked agave, vanilla, caramel, and ripe fruit — aimed squarely at the sipping tequila segment. The tequila wave is not just about global giants. It is also drawing in Indian entrepreneurs such as Delhi-based Shivankar Bahl. The hospitality entrepreneur recently launched Las Maracas, a premium tequila, in Delhi with plans to expand to Mumbai, Goa, and Haryana. Produced in Jalisco, Mexico, in small batches without additives, Las Maracas is made from 100% Blue Weber agave and pure spring water. The range includes Blanco ( ₹5,300), Reposado ( ₹6,400), aged for four months in oak barrels, and Anejo ( ₹9,500), matured for 18 months to develop notes of vanilla and oak. Revelry Distillery is a new craft-focused operation in Goa founded by beverage industry professional Vaniitha Jaiin. Its debut release, Vanaha Gin, is positioned as India's first gin to follow a five-step production process, combining copper pot distillation, vapour infusion, steeping, vacuum distillation, and post-distillation maceration. This layered approach, according to the company, allows the distillers to extract nuanced flavours from each of the 24 botanicals used, which include Deodar wood, patchouli, Assam lemon, wild berries, and cacao nibs. Vanaha is described as 'a complex gin with bright citrus top notes, warm spice mid-palate, and a slightly earthy, dry finish.' The gin is currently priced at ₹2,400 in Goa. Amara, a pink vodka from Goa-based Spaceman Spirits Lab, also follows a five-step production method that includes a ruby filtration process. The vodka is made from Bangalore blue grapes and rice from the Deccan Plateau, and includes natural flavours such as strawberries, citrus, rose petals, and cherry blossom. The premium vodka is currently distributed across India by Tilaknagar Industries, which owns a stake in Spaceman Spirits Lab, reflecting a broader trend of larger alcobev companies investing in craft startups to diversify their portfolios and appeal to younger, premium-seeking consumers. The vodka, priced between ₹2,500 and ₹4,500, is available at select premium retail stores, high-end bars, and luxury hotels across Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. Piccadilly Distilleries has just released a limited edition 11-year-old single malt under its Indri label, matured in ex-Bordeaux red wine casks. Only 1,100 bottles are available globally. The whisky is bottled at 50% ABV for India and 58.5% ABV for international markets. It is described as a robust single malt with dark fruit aromas and a palate of spices, vanilla, and oak-derived sweetness. The GlenJourneys Pioneer edition, launched by actor Ajay Devgn and spirits entrepreneur Moksh Sani, is another whisky worth keeping an eye out for if you are travelling. Limited to just 600 bottles, the 21-year-old whisky is aged in American oak casks and bottled at 48% ABV. The whisky is available through select international travel retain outlets. In August, the brand also plans to introduce a Cask Series, featuring non-age-statement expressions matured in rum, bourbon, and sherry casks, priced between ₹7,500 and ₹9,000. Paul John Whisky has added two new expressions to its Select Cask range: the Port and the Madeira. Both are unpeated single malts, matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in fortified wine casks sourced from Portugal. Each is bottled at 48% ABV. The use of fortified wine casks adds layered sweetness and complexity, and one can expect a burst of luscious flavours and aromas. These expressions are currently available in Goa ( ₹8000), Karnataka ( ₹7,700), and Maharashtra ( ₹18,000). With sales of 1 million cases for two consecutive years (2022–23 and 2023–24), Radico Khaitan's Morpheus Brandy is a bonafide best-seller. Building on this success, the company recently launched the Morpheus Super Premium Whisky, blending imported Scotch malts with Indian grain spirits, matured in bourbon barrels, and bottled at 42.8% ABV. Priced between ₹1,200 and ₹1,500, this marks Radico's entry into the premium whisky segment. If you've been to Nepal, chances are you've had some Khukri Rum. Launched in 1959 in Kathmandu by three Parsi businessmen, Khukri, named after the traditional curved dagger of the Gurkhas, is the country's most famous rum. About a month ago, Kathmandu-based MCKT Beverages introduced India to the rum, which is aged in Shorea robusta (sal wood) casks, an uncommon practice in rum production. The rum is available in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Goa in three expressions: XXX, Spiced, and White. The Khukri Coronation, which comes in the iconic dagger-shaped bottle, is also being readied for launch. The XXX Rum is priced at ₹1,765, while the Spiced and White variants retail for ₹1,975 (Maharashtra). A Danish non-alcoholic beverage made with a blend of up to 13 organic teas, Copenhagen Sparkling Tea is now available in India through Bebida Hospitality. The drink occupies a growing niche between wine and tea, and is positioned as a complex, celebratory option for those avoiding alcohol. Three blends have been introduced in India: Lyserod, a rosé-style with hibiscus and red berries; Lysegron, with citrus and green tea notes; and Bla, which features jasmine, chamomile, and Darjeeling First Flush. The launch comes at a time when interest in low- and no-alcohol beverages is rising, particularly among younger urban consumers exploring 'sober curious' lifestyles. Priced at ₹3,500, the sparkling teas are being stocked at luxury hotels and are also available for direct purchase online.
Hypebeast
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Tequila Don Julio Unveils a Multi-Sensory Tasting Experience at Mercer Labs in NYC
Tequila Don Juliohas teamed up with New York City'sMercer Labs Museum of Art and Technologyto presentPor Amor: An Immersive Tasting Experience,which takes you on a journey through the Blue Weber agave harvesting process,the history and legacy of founder Don Julio González and more — using proprietary technology to reimagine how tequila is experienced and celebrated through art and technology. Mercer Labs is a cultural institution that bridges the gap between art and technology, and this is the museum's first-ever full brand takeover. Tequila Don Julio continues to honor its long-standing tradition of pushing boundaries through innovation with this first-of-its-kind experience, which invigorates the expressions and flavors of the spirit. As guests enter the four-day only installation, they will be met with the sounds, flavors and rhythms of Mexico, which will be personified through interactive rooms that tap into the five senses. Tequila Don Julio tells the story of its founder, as well as its aged expressions — Tequila Don Julio Reposado, Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Cristalino, and Tequila Don Julio 1942 — through 4D spatial sound, LED mirrored infinity rooms and volumetric light displays, fusing its passion for innovation with Mercer Labs' capacity for boundless creativity. As visitors are enveloped by the sounds of Mexico and the rich scent of roasted agave and oak, they will also have the chance to craft and sip on their own signature Tequila Don Julio cocktails using fresh ingredients and artisanal tools. Mexico is the home of Don Julio, so the brand wanted this project to encapsulate the magic of the region and connect visitors to Mexico in a deeper way. 'Don Julio González devoted his life to crafting tequila of the highest quality,' said Karina Sánchez, Global Brand Ambassador for Tequila Don Julio. 'This experience honors his unwavering spirit of innovation—a place where tradition and imagination converge, inviting guests to celebrate the extraordinary that can be achieved when passion fuels every step of the journey.' The experience will take place from June 12-15, and complimentary tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis
