Latest news with #Absolut
Wales Online
28-05-2025
- Wales Online
Man downed litre of vodka in 20 minutes before throttling partner
Man downed litre of vodka in 20 minutes before throttling partner Grant John's barrister told the court the father-of-five is "ashamed" of what he did Grant John (Image: South Wales Police ) A man downed a litre of vodka in 20 minutes before attacking his partner, a court has heard. Grant John then got behind the wheel of a friend's car and "chose" a parked vehicle to crash into. The defendant's barrister told Swansea Crown Court that the father-of-five was "ashamed" of what he had done and that he wanted the court to know he is a "different person when not in drink". A judge told the 37-year-old defendant that custody was inevitable in the case. Emily Bennett, prosecuting, told the court that on the afternoon of April 2 this year the defendant was at his partner's house in Skewen with a litre of Absolut vodka. She said John proceeded to drink most of the bottle of alcohol in the space of some 20 minutes and began complaining about the way eggs were being cooked in the kitchen. The court heard the defendant's partner was upstairs when she heard "banging" in the kitchen. The woman went downstairs to find the kettle and a cupboard had been damaged, and she asked John - who was "very intoxicated" - to leave the property. The defendant responded by grabbing the woman around the throat with both hands and forcing her into the living room and pushing her onto a table where she cried out for help. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter The prosecutor said John subsequently slapped the woman across the face and left the house, and the victim locked the doors behind him. The woman later heard banging at the door but refused to answer it, and when she subsequently checked she found blood on the outside of the door. The court heard that when police attended the property they found damage to the front door, damage to the hallway where John had punched the wall, and a smashed rear window on the woman's car. The prosecutor said John came to the attention of police again at 10pm the same night after a blue Ford Focus was seen driving along Burrows Road in Skewen at speed before crashing into a parked Suzuki Swift car. The defendant was still at the scene when officers arrived and he told them he had "chosen" to drive into the Suzuki, and he said the Focus he had been driving belonged to a friend in Bristol. The defendant was arrested and a subsequent breathalyser test showed he had 65mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35mg. He made full admissions to his offending during his police interview. Read about a sex offender who carried out detailed surveillance of local children including mapping their movements to and from school Grant John, of Ropewalk, Neath, had previously pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, common assault, assault by beating, criminal damage, drink-driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and driving without insurance when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has 10 previous convictions for 36 offences including three for assault - two of which involved the same complainant as the current case - seven for criminal damage, and seven for driving while disqualified. His last conviction was in July last year for assaulting an emergency worker. Stephen Thomas, for John, said the defendant was "ashamed" of what he had done and was realistic about the sentence he was facing. He said the father-of-five had experienced a "very difficult if not traumatic upbringing" at the hands of his mother which had left him with mental health issues which he had sought to deal with by consuming alcohol. The barrister said John realised he had to stop drinking, and he said his client wanted the court to know that "he is a different person when not in drink". Judge Catherine Richards said John had a history of violent behaviour especially when in drink, and said that issue was something the defendant had himself acknowledged in a letter he had written to her. She said she took the contents of the letter to be genuine, and said she accepted that "when sober and reflective" the defendant is remorseful. but she told him that "actions speak louder than words" and what happens in the future is down to John. She told him that in the meantime custody was inevitable for the offending before the court. With one-third discounts for his guilty pleas John was sentenced to a total of 24 months in prison. He will serve up to half that sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community, The defendant was disqualified from driving for three years with the ban extended by an additional 45 weeks to account for the time he will be behind bars. Article continues below
Bloomberg
17-04-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Pernod Sales Decline, Hit by China Troubles And Late Easter
Pernod Ricard SA sales fell more than expected after Cognac was hit by a duty free block in China and Europe sales were held back by a late Easter. The maker of Absolut vodka said that organic sales fell 3% during the third quarter, which was worse than expected. This was largely due to duty free sales being blocked in China since December as part of anti-dumping measures and declines in Germany and Spain.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘If you're planning a trip to Manchester I've found the restaurant you should go to'
I had dinner at Embankment Kitchen in Salford, Manchester, and I was so impressed that I returned the very next day for breakfast. This experience stood out to me for several reasons. For starters, it was my first proper dining-out experience outside of London or North Surrey. Secondly, this restaurant is part of CitySuites II - a luxury aparthotel in the heart of Manchester - though it's not directly attached. Instead, it's just a 15-second walk from the main building, giving it the feel of an independent, stand-alone spot while still being linked to the hotel. From the moment we arrived, the service was warm and welcoming. We were greeted by friendly staff who showed us to our table beneath a ceiling decorated with tree branches and leaves. The atmosphere was stylish yet comfortable, with a nice balance between modern decor and a relaxed, approachable vibe. We were handed the menu, and it was clear from the start that we were spoilt for choice. Dishes like roasted porchetta and salt and pepper squid made narrowing things down a challenge. In the end, I opted to start with the halloumi fries served with sweet chilli sauce - a classic choice, but one that Embankment Kitchen elevated. The halloumi was fried to perfection: golden and crisp on the outside, warm and soft inside. The sweet chilli sauce added just the right level of zingy sweetness, making it a moreish, satisfying way to kick off the evening. Alongside the food, Embankment Kitchen boasts an impressive drinks menu. I decided to try the butterscotch martini, made with Teichenne, espresso, Absolut vodka and caramel syrup. (Image: Ezekiel Bertrand) I'm not exaggerating when I say it was one of the best drinks I've ever had. Sweet, smooth, and indulgent, it tasted like dessert in a glass with just the right kick. I enjoyed it so much I finished it before my main course even arrived, and immediately ordered a second. For my main, I went with the steak and ale pie, which came with colcannon mashed potato, buttered kale, tenderstem broccoli, roasted parsnips, and a rich red wine gravy. (Image: Ezekiel Bertrand) The pie itself was generously filled and had a beautifully flaky pastry top. The filling was hearty and comforting, with the ale and beef working perfectly together. The mash was creamy with just enough texture from the cabbage to keep it interesting, and the greens were fresh and well-prepared. The gravy brought everything together with a deep, savoury flavour. I will say I wasn't quite ready for how piping hot the pie was, but once I took that into account, every bite was a pleasure. With my meal, I also tried Salford Rum — a spiced rum with rich, warm notes that's a bit trickier to find down south. It had a bold flavour profile, slightly sweet with hints of vanilla and nutmeg, and went down very smoothly. It felt like a nice touch of local flavour, and I appreciated being able to try something I wouldn't normally find in London. Now, I always like to believe there's room for dessert, but on this occasion, I was simply too full. That's not a reflection on the food - quite the opposite, actually. Every course was so satisfying that I couldn't fit another bite. At the time, I told myself I didn't regret skipping dessert. Writing this now, I slightly do — although in fairness, the butterscotch martini might've filled the dessert slot without me realising. It was sweet enough to count, and delicious enough to make up for it. Embankment Kitchen was so great that I returned the very next morning for breakfast. And, if dinner was anything to go by, I had high expectations. I went for the Italian sausage and new potato hash, which came with onions, garlic, spices, a fried egg on top, and a drizzle of fresh herb oil. Once again, I was blown away. The potatoes were crispy and well-seasoned, the sausage was rich and flavourful, and the onions and spices gave the whole dish a lovely depth. The fried egg, cooked just right, brought everything together, and the herb oil added a freshness that lifted the dish. It was a satisfying, flavour-packed way to start the day, and one I'd happily order again. Overall, Embankment Kitchen exceeded my expectations. The staff were consistently friendly and attentive, the food was beautifully prepared, and the drinks were genuinely memorable. For me, what stood out most — beyond the high-quality food and drink — was how relaxed and unpretentious the entire experience was. Whether you're staying at CitySuites or just passing through Manchester, I highly recommend making time for a meal — or two — at Embankment Kitchen. From start to finish, both dinner and breakfast were fantastic, and I'll definitely be returning next time I'm in the city.
Telegraph
26-02-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Vodka has finally grown up – and these are the ones to try
For those whose formative drinking experiences came between 1990 and 2010, one spirit will loom large in the memory: vodka. Lacking the divisive juniper tang of gin or the complex profile of whisky, vodka was a drink without frills. Simple and flavourless, it was the perfect foundation for a generation of cocktails from cosmopolitans to espresso martinis, an unassuming companion to any mixer, or an easy shot for younger drinkers looking for a quick fix on a night out. The downside was that vodka garnered a reputation for being a party drink: a vehicle to transfer alcohol from glass to bloodstream as quickly as possible, without any character of its own. Cheap 'paint stripper' vodkas proliferated in supermarkets, while the best that could be said of the more expensive drinks (Absolut, Grey Goose, Stoli et al) was that they didn't taste of anything. So it feels vaguely antithetical to be sitting in a tasting room with a glass of neat vodka, analysing its 'biscuity' taste and 'creamy' mouthfeel. Yet that's exactly what you get from Eight Lands' cask-aged vodka, a rich flavour of dark fruits and caramel on the palate, which is more akin to whisky than a traditional vodka, albeit lighter and easier to sip. When he founded Eight Lands at the newly created Glenrinnes Distillery in Speyside, Alex Christou knew that creating a quality vodka would be key to meeting the demands of an increasingly discerning drinker. ' Cocktail culture has become a bit like fine dining,' says Christou. 'People want to know what they're consuming, what's going into it, why they're enjoying it and why it tastes the way it does. Having a bit of character in a vodka helps it stand out and gives drinkers something to appreciate.' The flavour profile of Eight Lands vodka comes from the distilling process. The initial distillation is of an organic beer wash made with malted barley, malted and unmalted wheat, and two types of yeast which are blended with a wheat-based spirit and spring water from the surrounding estate. 'That wash gives a slightly biscuity taste and a smoothness which you wouldn't get if you just started with the spirit – it'd taste more generic,' explains Christou. It was partially by chance that Eight Lands' barrel-aged and cask-aged vodkas came about. 'One of our colleagues had a hunch that if we aged the vodka in a muscat barrel we'd get something good, and it really was,' says Christou. 'Given we're in Speyside, it only made sense to try the same process in a whisky cask.' The aged vodkas have already proved popular with tourists who happen upon Eight Lands while on the Speyside whisky trail. 'A lot of people swear they'd never drink vodka, but they find our aged vodkas work for them,' says Christou. 'They understand what barrel ageing can do for whisky, so they can apply that knowledge to see how it would work for vodka. 'Equally, for those who don't like whisky – and there's usually at least one in the groups that come to visit us – it's a bit lighter and has a cleaner mouthfeel so it's a bit more approachable, but they still get to appreciate that craftsmanship and quality.' Though Eight Lands' approach to vodka may have been unusual a decade ago, it's hardly the only distillery whose characterful vodkas are heralding a new and more interesting dawn for the traditionally underrated spirit. Sales data show that consumers are gradually cottoning on to what vodka can be too. Last year, vodka sales dropped by around 3 per cent in Britain, but premium vodka increased its market share by 2.4 percentage points. 'There's so much variety in modern vodka compared to where the category was 20 years ago,' says Steve Dustow, the founder of Colwith Farm Distillery in Cornwall, whose plough-to-bottle potato vodka distillery became the first in the world to be awarded a platinum medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2022. 'Nowadays, in the good wine and spirit shops, there are many beautifully crafted vodkas with amazing character, provenance and uniqueness,' says Dustow. 'Wherever you are, there is vodka with true terroir and authenticity to be found.' Dustow's Aval Dor Barrel Aged Vodka was the first in the UK to be cask-aged and has become a bestseller. 'Barrel ageing has been around for centuries and is commonly known to soften and improve spirit quality whilst simultaneously imbuing flavour,' he explains. 'When you pitch a pure spirit like vodka into a beautiful first-fill American oak Bourbon barrel, the liquid produced is truly novel and unique.' The Lakes Distillery near Penrith is best known for its whiskies and gins, but the lessons applied to the production of other premium spirits have informed vodka making too. 'When it comes to vodka, this includes everything from sourcing the ingredients – high-grade British wheat and pure water from the River Derwent next to our distillery – to taking our time over the distillation,' says master distiller Sarah Burgess. 'Vodka is far quicker to craft than whisky but we make sure we allow the spirit as much distillation time as we believe it needs in order to reach peak quality.' Across the drinks industry, analysts have noted a shift to 'less but better', with consumers not drinking so hard, but opting for better-quality liquids. Until recently, vodka had been shut out of the conversation. Now, a new dawn is rising for Britain's most maligned spirit. Six of the best grown-up vodkas to try We asked Dawn Davies, the buying director at Speciality Drinks, and Will Meredith, a bartender and drinks consultant at Daisy Age Drinks, for their expert picks. Boatyard Vodka
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pernod cuts sales outlook as China's tariffs and weak economy bite
By Dominique Patton and Emma Rumney PARIS/LONDON (Reuters) -Pernod Ricard cut its sales forecasts for 2025 and beyond on Thursday as tariffs, especially affecting its Martell cognac brand in China, weigh on the French spirits maker during an already tough time for the industry. The world's second-largest western spirits maker pulled forward its half-year results to report steep sales declines of 7% and 25% in the U.S. and China respectively, warning of a low single-digit sales decline this year, having previously expected modest growth. Shares in the maker of Absolut vodka and Mumm champagne, however, rose 3%, with analysts saying the results and outlook were in line with their expectations. Pernod's deteriorating outlook was largely attributed to Chinese duties on cognac, which Beijing imposed in response to European Union tariffs on electric vehicle imports, as well as weakness in Asia travel retail, exacerbated by the political situation in South Korea. China remained very weak, it said, with early signs of a very soft Chinese New Year and a significant drop in gifting. The company now also faces the threat of U.S. tariffs on Mexico, Canada and the European Union, which would affect products ranging from Irish and Canadian whiskies like Jameson to tequila and agave brands like Codigo 1530. Pernod said such intense geopolitical uncertainties forced it to revisit its guidance. It said 2026 would be a transition year and guided for between 3% and 6% organic sales growth for 2027-2029 compared to 4% to 7% previously. Diageo, the world's top spirits maker, withdrew its medium-term sales goals entirely earlier this week after facing pressure from investors who saw them as unrealistic. "It is helpful for Pernod to attempt to quantify the next few years however many questions remain," said Laurence Whyatt, analyst at Barclays, saying tariffs in particular clouded the outlook for its upcoming financial year starting July 1. Sign in to access your portfolio
