Latest news with #Vodka
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Rangers enforcer recalls late-night vodka shots and basketball with Artemi Panarin
Ryan Reaves has had a lot of different teammates over his 15 seasons in the NHL. But one of his favorites was Artemi Panarin, from their time together with the New York Rangers. 'He's one of the coolest guys, one of the coolest Russians I've met. Him and his wife are so humble,' Reaves explained on the Cam and Strick podcast. Advertisement The forwards were Rangers teammates for only a season-plus. Reaves signed with the Rangers ahead of the 2021-22 season and then was traded to the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 23, 2022. Panarin is set to begin his seventh season in New York after he signed aa a free agent before the 2019-20 season. Reaves, one of the toughest players in the League, and Panarin, one of the most skilled players in the NHL, make for quite the Odd Couple. But the tough guy from Canada and star from Russia each has an upbeat, fun-loving side. And they hit it off as Rangers teammates. 'He was a cool kid. He'd come over like after we landed (in Westchester) … from a road trip and we had the day off,' Reaves recounted. 'He'd come over like one in the morning; he'd race home and grab a bottle of his Russian vodka, and we'd sit downstairs and take shots of vodka and play basketball at four in the morning. I love 'Bread'.' Good thing there were no late-night or early-morning hoops injuries. Advertisement It should be noted that Panarin had 96 points (22 goals, 74 assists) in that 2021-22 season, his most until two years later when he notched 120 points (49 goals, 71 assists), second-most in franchise history. Related: Why bounce back from Rangers top line key to playoff hopes next season Ryan Reaves recalls being Artemi Panarin's 'secretary' with Rangers James Guillory-Imagn Images Reaves provided more insight into Panarin with another story he shared. '[Panarin] doesn't carry around an iPhone, he's got a flip phone only because people got to get ahold of him,' Reaves explained. 'There's an app we'd get our schedule on and this guy doesn't have this app, so every day I gotta text him 'Hey, we've got a meeting' or 'I'm picking you up.' Whatever it was. But it was constant, like I was his secretary.' Advertisement Reaves, who turns 39 in January, is in the final season of a three-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He appeared in 35 games last season and this could be his final go-round in the NHL. He's enter 2025-26 with 137 points (63 goals, 74 assists) and 1,100 penalty minutes in 912 games for six NHL teams. Panarin's been the Rangers top scorer six straight seasons, including this past one when he finished with 89 points (37 goals, 52 assists) in 80 games. The best free-agent signing in franchise history, Panarin turns 34 on Oct. 30 and has been eligible to sign a contract extension since July 1. Rangers general manager Chris Drury recently sidestepped a question about Panarin's future with the organization. Related Headlines
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First Post
09-07-2025
- Business
- First Post
Quicksplained: Why Russia is making less vodka even though Russians are drinking more
According to data from Russia's Federal Service for Alcohol Market Regulation, the first half of 2025 saw liquor production go down by 16 per cent. Which is strange as people in Russia are drinking more this year compared to 2024. read more Vodka is the drink for every occasion – from weddings to funerals – and is deeply embedded in the Russian culture and psyche. Reuters Vodka has long been associated with Russia. While the origins of the iconic drink comprising ethyl alcohol (fermented grain, rye, wheat, potatoes, or sugar beet molasses) and water are lost to history, we know its name comes from voda – the Russian word for water. It is the drink for every occasion – from weddings to funerals – and is deeply embedded in the Russian culture and psyche. Which is why many would be surprised to know that the country is making less vodka than ever – even though Russians are drinking more. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what happened? What do we know? Why is this the case? Let's take a closer look: What happened As per data from Russia's Federal Service for Alcohol Market Regulation, the first half of this year saw the manufacture of liquor go down by 16 per cent. Which is strange that more people in Russia are drinking this year compared to 2024. The production of Vodka has also taken a hit in 2025. This year, 31.38 million decaliters of Vodka has been produced compared to 33.40 million decaliters of Vodka in 2024. Interestingly, Russians drank more rum in 2024 than in the same period of past eight years. People are also choosing to drink more rum, whiskey, brandey and tequila, according to Russian financial auditing firm, Finexpertisa. Why is this happening? Vodka production is on the decline for multiple reasons. This includes the escalating price of alcohol and the ban on Russian exports to the EU and the US in the backdrop of the Ukraine war. This ban has significantly decreased revenue for Russian vodka producers, according to the Strategy Partners consulting agency. Bottles of Russian vodka are displayed at the Russian restaurant and Karaoke club 'Chalet Berezka' in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, May 9, 2024. REUTERS/Rula Rouhana Russian vodka exports generated just $34.6 million in 2024, according to the official RIA Novosti news agency. That's a massive decrease from 2021 when vodka exports earned $168.3 million from Russia. Unfortunately for them, Russia invaded Ukraine the next year. A 2023 report quoted Russian beverage industry executives as predicting those numbers could rise as high as $180 million in the years ahead. They claimed they could increase sales to China, Turkey, India and Vietnam. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD That hasn't happened. The lower sales also comes as Russia's Ministry of Finance in January raised the minimum price of a half-litre bottle of vodka from $2.99 (Rs 256) to $3.49 (Rs 299). Interestingly, Kazakhstan remains the only large market left for Russian-produced vodka. Kazakhstan comprised over 92 percent ($32 million) of Russian vodka exports in 2024. China was far behind with total imports of just $1.5 million. Turkey, South Korea and Latvia comprised the other top importers of vodka. According to reports, Poland has now overtaken Russia when it comes to exports of spirits including Vodka. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
How to build Sakura Bakushin O in Umamusume: Pretty Derby the right way?
(Image via @ Sakura Bakushin O is a purebred short-distance specialist in Umamusume: Pretty Derby. She's fast, flashy, and one of the easiest characters to raise, if you know how to train her right. From stat priority to support cards and skill selection, here's a complete build guide to make Sakura Bakushin O the undisputed sprint queen. Best Stats for Sakura Bakushin O in Umamusume : Pretty Derby Primary Stat : Speed: Always aim to max this out to 1,200. No compromises. She's a sprinter and she needs to bolt out of the gate and never look back. Secondary Stat : Power: Hit at least 400–600. Power helps with quick acceleration and cornering, which are both crucial in short races. Tertiary Stat : Wisdom: About 300–400 is ideal. This improves race intelligence and helps trigger skills consistently. Ignore Stamina & Guts : Short races don't drain stamina much. Anything above 300 is overkill. And Guts? Leave it. It barely matters in sprints. HOW TO build Sakura Bakushin O!? Best Training Focus for Sakura Bakushin O in Umamusume: Pretty Derby Your training sessions should heavily favor Speed drills. Stack training partners with strong bonuses here to boost gains per session. Whenever you get a training burst with Speed + Power, take it. It's the ideal combo for Sakura. Also, consider scheduling rest smartly. A well-timed break keeps her condition optimal, boosting training success and race performance. Top Support Card Setup for Sakura Bakushin O in Umamusume: Pretty Derby Sakura thrives on Speed-focused training, so build your deck accordingly. Recommended Loadout: 4–5 Speed Cards: Preferably ones with good training effects or synergy. 1 Power or Wisdom Card : Pick based on which stat you want to fine-tune. Top Card Choices (if available): Kitasan Black (Speed) Seiun Sky (Speed) El Condor Pasa (Power) Maruzensky (Wisdom) Her training bonuses kick in fast, and with Speed cards stacking, she snowballs quickly. [UMA MUSUME] EASY A RANK WITH SAKURA BAKUSHIN O? Best Skills for Sakura Bakushin O in Umamusume: Pretty Derby Sakura's race strategy is all about one thing: take the lead early and never give it up. Priority Skills Dash-type Skills : Boost her initial acceleration (e.g., 'Concentration,' 'Quick Start') Short-distance Upgrades : Any skills labeled for short-distance boost her efficiency Speed Surge/Overtake : These keep her ahead once she's in front Inheritance Tips Ideal parent picks: Daiwa Scarlet (for Speed boosts) Vodka (Power inheritance) King Halo (Sprinter synergies) Match parent traits that lean toward short-distance and early acceleration. Avoid long-distance genes entirely. Training Tips for Sakura Bakushin O in Umamusume: Pretty Derby Use the Speed training spot every chance you get Watch the condition closely. Keep her in a Good or Excellent mood Hit team races with short-distance tracks to level her faster Use support events to get early skills that complement her sprinter build Sakura Bakushin O is built to blitz. Train her for Speed, load up on explosive skills, and don't overthink stamina. With the right build, she'll crush early events, win fans, and dominate short-distance races with unmatched flair. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
South Wales Argus
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Newport pubs doing PubLife as Marston's kicks off with Oasis
Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher popped into The Crwys Hotel in Cardiff for a drink on Thursday, July 3, ahead of the band's highly anticipated reunion tour. The appearance was part of a UK-wide '90s-themed celebration organised by Marston's, but all was not quite as it seemed—Gallagher was, in fact, a lookalike brought in to launch the PubLife campaign. John Green, operations director at Marston's, said: "With the Oasis reunion tour kicking off tonight, the UK is really getting back into the nostalgic spirit. "We loved surprising some of our loyal regulars at The Crwys this morning with a visit from Liam and are very much looking forward to keeping locals up and down the country entertained this summer with PubLife. "Whether they bagged Oasis tickets or not, we want as many people as possible to dig out their '90s clobber and head down to their local for some amazing music, entertainment, and classic drinks." PubLife is a summer-long celebration of the '90s taking place in more than 500 Marston's pubs across the UK, including 79 in Wales. Venues will host themed events throughout July and August including tribute bands, Britpop bingo, karaoke, and more. Among the Welsh pubs taking part are Blaina Wharf, Llanwern Bull, and Pen & Wig in Newport. As part of the campaign, Marston's has partnered with Hooch, Pepsi, and Smirnoff to bring back classic '90s drinks including Vodka and Pepsi, Malibu and Pepsi, Bacardi and Pepsi, and Archer's and Lemonade. PubLife is also offering three flavours of Hooch and new cocktails served by the pint or in pitchers to share. For a full list of participating pubs and events, visit the Martson's pubs website.
Scotsman
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Marston's launches UK-wide celebration of Britpop, as locals definitely maybe served by Liam Gallagher ahead of the first Oasis gig
Marston's launches PubLife, a summer celebration PubLife, a UK-wide summer celebration of the '90s will take place in over 500 pubs. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Marston's is giving fans up and down the country the chance to throw it back to the '90s with PubLife, a summer celebration of all things '90s, taking place in over 500 pubs across the UK throughout July and August. Hosting big weekends of activity, including everything from tribute bands and live music to Britpop bingo, music takeovers and '90s karaoke, giving those who missed out on Oasis tickets access to the next best thing. Each participating pub will have a list of events on their websites. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Yesterday, regulars at Marston's pub The Crwys Hotel in Cardiff were surprised when Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher showed up for a pint ahead of the first show of the much talked-about reunion tour, which takes place in Cardiff tonight (Friday 4th July). Liam Gallagher spotted at Marston's pub The Crwys The lookalike was organised by Marston's to launch PubLife after 13 million fans were disappointed on 31st August 2024, when tickets to the hottest anticipated reunion tour, perhaps ever, went on sale, with only 1 in 10 people getting their hands on them. Onlookers couldn't believe their eyes when the Britpop legend walked into the pub and ordered a drink, even challenging locals to a game of darts, before jumping behind the bar himself to pour some pints. A '90s night out wouldn't be complete without some nostalgic drink serves, so Marston's has also teamed up with Hooch, Pepsi, and Smirnoff to recreate 'cocktails' and iconic tipples from yesteryear. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Pubgoers will be able to sip classic mixed drinks such as Vodka and Pepsi, Malibu and Pepsi, Bacardi and Pepsi, Archer's and Lemonade or three flavours of the original '90s icon Hooch, while enjoying the entertainment. To celebrate Hooch's 30th birthday, new cocktails will also be available in pints, or pitchers to share. John Green, Operations Director at Marston's, said: 'With the Oasis reunion tour kicking off tonight, the UK is really getting back into the nostalgic spirit. We loved surprising some of our loyal regulars at The Crwys this morning with a visit from Liam and are very much looking forward to keeping locals up and down the country entertained this summer with PubLife. 'Whether they bagged Oasis tickets or not, we want as many people as possible to dig out their '90s clobber and head down to their local for some amazing music, entertainment, and classic drinks!' To find your nearest participating pub hosting a Pub Life weekend, visit:
