Latest news with #October2023
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Matthew And Camila McConaughey's Pantalones Tequila Goes Global
The three expressions of Pantalones Tequila. Pantalones Tequila When Matthew and Camila Alves McConaughey, the Hollywood power couple known for their carefree nature, launched Pantalones Organic Tequila in October 2023, they did it their way by focusing on the joy of sipping tequila. Their cheeky pants-free launch campaign quickly went viral due to its humorous and irreverent spots. But it wasn't just ingenious marketing that catapulted the brand to the forefront of the tequila market; it was the product inside the bottle. It's an organic tequila with no additives that underwent significant research and tastings by its founders before it was deemed worthy of their seal of approval. Perhaps even more critical, it eschewed the temptation to tag its three expressions with the eye-watering prices that are becoming increasingly common in the market these days, especially celebrity-backed tequilas. Forbes discussed the brand's success with Pantalones co-founders to find out what has propelled them forward and what's next. "We're proud of the momentum since launch," says Andrew Chrisomalis, co-founder and chairman of Pantalones Organic Tequila. "At our core, Pantalones is a premium, USDA-certified organic tequila offered at an affordable price point. That, paired with the fun we're having with our marketing, has truly resonated. Matthew and Camila help bring massive awareness, but it's the quality and taste of the liquid inside the bottle that keeps people coming back." Matthew and Camila McConaughey, the co-founders of Pantalones Tequila. Pantalones Tequila The numbers tell the story. In just over a year, Pantalones has become a top-three selling 750ml tequila at Total Wine, trailing only Don Julio and Casamigos. In 2024 alone, it sold more than 100,000 cases and expanded distribution to over 10,000 accounts across 44 states. That kind of growth doesn't happen solely on hype. "We're a playful brand with serious liquid," Chrisomalis says. "That helps us stand out in a crowded category. We also launched with strong strategic partners and a clear go-to-market plan, which helped us scale quickly and show up in all the right places." "Plus, no one forgets a tequila named Pantalones," adds Matthew. While some spirits brands chase lineage and legacy, Pantalones leans hard into being the life of the party. Its fun-first identity is part of the draw in a market flooded with solemn storytelling and dusty barrels. "A lot of brands out there lean into heritage or mystique," says Matthew. "We leaned into having fun. We're organic and award-winning, but we're also lighthearted and have an irreverent energy that invites people in." But don't mistake levity for lack of substance. Pantalones has racked up an impressive roster of awards in under two years. Their Añejo tequila recently won Double Gold at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, outperforming legacy brands sold at much higher price points. "We're incredibly proud of this win!" Camila says. "From the beginning, Matthew and I set out to create an organic tequila that didn't just taste great—it had to stand tall next to the best of the best. We believe great quality should be accessible, and this award is a nod to that mission." Camila's role at Pantalones is far more than ceremonial. While Matthew brings the big ideas and branding flair, she is deeply embedded in the day-to-day operations, helping with tasks such as managing logistics, supply chain, and other key aspects. "Fortunately, this isn't my first time starting a business," she says. "But it's the first time for Matthew, and we've gone face forward in this together. I thrive working on accounts, logistics, the numbers, and the behind-the-scenes business side of things. We take Pantalones seriously, but at the same time, we're having so much fun together. It's really special to us. This isn't just us putting our names on a bottle. It's much bigger than that." That balance of business acumen and high-wattage charm has positioned Pantalones for success well beyond its initial splash. In early 2025, the brand began pushing into international markets with launches in Canada and Australia. In June, it officially entered Europe, rolling out in the UK with nationwide availability at Tesco and premium placement at all 40 Cosy Club locations. Andrew Chrisomalis, co-founder of Pantalones Tequila. Pantalones Tequila "This year, we're focused on expanding our footprint on- and off-premise throughout the U.S., and even internationally," says Chrisomalis. "We've also got exciting new campaign content rolling out and more menu placements for consumers to try Pantalones in their favorite cocktails. As for next year? Expect innovation with some things we can't quite reveal yet." That includes a limited-edition expression scheduled for release this holiday season. While details are still under wraps, it signals the brand's ambitions to grow beyond its core trio of blanco, reposado, and añejo. Yet even as they scale up, the Pantalones team remains committed to the idea that quality tequila shouldn't require deep pockets. "From the start, we wanted to make something great that people could actually afford to enjoy regularly, not just collect or try once," says Chrisomalis. "While costs have gone up across the board, we've stayed focused on efficiency and delivering value to consumers at an accessible price point." That discipline may be essential as the spirits market faces new headwinds. Global tariffs, inflation, and shifting consumer spending habits all loom large. "Like anyone in the spirits world, we're keeping a close eye on global trade policies and the economic climate," Chrisomalis says. "We are building the brand with agility and scalability in mind. By staying nimble and maintaining strong distributor and retailer relationships, we've been able to navigate the challenges." If anything, the chaos has only made Pantalones more confident in its identity: fun, accessible, and uncompromising in quality. Its latest marketing push, the "Official Tequila Of…" campaign, leverages that positioning while establishing the brand through lifestyle partnerships across food, music, and hospitality. As a young brand, they're just getting started and seem poised to become a major player in one of the hottest spirit spaces out there these days. They have achieved this by refusing to take themselves too seriously and instead delivering a quality product at a great price point that is good to sip, whether wearing your pants or not. Follow here for the most up to date information about the ever changing beer, wine, and spirits industry. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes How To Read A Bourbon Label By Hudson Lindenberger Forbes Athletic Brewing's Non-Alcoholic Beer Boom: Big Growth Ahead By Hudson Lindenberger Forbes The World's Best Vodkas—According To The 2025 International Wine And Spirit Competition By Hudson Lindenberger Forbes The Best Wheated Bourbon In America—According To The 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition By Hudson Lindenberger
The Verge
07-07-2025
- The Verge
Windows 11 has finally overtaken Windows 10 as the most used desktop OS
Microsoft has finally crossed an important milestone for Windows 11, months ahead of Windows 10's end of support cutoff date. Stat Counter, spotted by Windows Central, now lists Windows 11 as the most used desktop operating system nearly four years after its release, with 52 percent of the market, compared to 44.59 percent for Windows 10. Windows 11 became the most popular OS for PC gaming in September, but overall adoption had still been lagging behind Windows 10 until now. Leaked data in October 2023 also revealed Windows 11 was used by more than 400 million devices at the time, a slower adoption pace than Windows 10 — which took just a year to reach 400 million devices compared to Windows 11's two year period. Part of the slow adoption is down to Windows 11's hardware requirements. While Microsoft offered a free upgrade to Windows 10 users, millions of machines have been left behind due to stricter CPU and security requirements. Microsoft has been trying to convince the owners of these machines to upgrade their hardware in order to get Windows 11, sometimes with a full-screen prompt. Windows 10 is due to reach end of support on October 14th, and Microsoft recently revealed it would give away a free year of extra security updates to consumers if they were willing to enable Windows Backup and sync their Documents folder to OneDrive. If you don't want to do this, you'll have to pay $30 for a year of updates, or redeem 1,000 Microsoft Reward points.
The Guardian
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
My cultural awakening: a Marina Abramović show helped me to stop hating my abusive father
On an unseasonably warm day in October 2023, I arrived, ahead of the queues, at London's Southbank Centre for a conceptual art takeover by the world-famous Marina Abramović Institute. I had recently read Marina's memoir Walk Through Walls, which had resonated. So, when I'd seen the event advertised – hours-long performances by artists she'd invited, curated and introduced by Marina – I bought a £60 ticket and waited for my time slot to enter the Queen Elizabeth Hall. I hadn't seen performance art before, and this was due to include her well-known work The Artist Is Present with an artist sitting, static and silent, in a chair all day, as Marina once did for an accumulated 736 hours and 30 minutes at the Museum of Modern Art. I felt certain that it would affect me, I just wasn't sure how. It came at an interesting time in my life. I was raised in a fundamentalist Christian family, the daughter of a priest who was physically abusive. I'd been in therapy for years, but my experiences still affected me and I'd recently cut contact with my father with my family. So, when I entered the first room at the Southbank where Marina was to spoke and introduce around a dozen artists, I was still coming to terms with this new way of dealing with my past. I was immediately drawn to one of the artists, a man from Myanmar who was to perform the chair piece with a cloth sack over his head. We heard how he'd been part of an organisation in Myanmar that opposed violence and therefore risked death if he was publicly identified. I was moved by what he was risking for his art. I also knew it was a hard piece; Marina wasn't going to give it to just anyone. As people moved between performers, I saw him, seated in the atrium, with a large crowd; I waited for a quieter moment to return. When I finally stood before him, I was overcome. I felt an urge to sit down in front of him and didn't care what others thought. I was compelled to do it for myself. I can't say how long I sat there, maybe an hour. In that time, I rewrote my definition of 'strength'. I used to think my father's aggression made him strong but now I saw someone using his muscular arms and legs to be still, for peaceful protest. I imagined the loss he must have experienced in war and the mental strength to sit there. I thought of what I'd read in Marina's book; how pain set in three hours into sitting still. I cried: the good tears, where you let part of your past go. It felt cleansing. When I left, I felt lighter. I decided that this would be my father figure now: this person who had strength but did not hurt me, who had reasons to be aggressive but did not direct his anger towards a six-year-old whispering in her brother's ear or disturbing his preaching, as my father had. It unlocked something in me. It gave me a positive male figure to replace what had gone before and helped me not to hate my father or men. It also unblocked the creativity that had laid dormant within me, an artistic side that had reminded me too much of my father's similar creative charisma. I started drawing: comic-books and illustrations. I'm an atheist but I believe there are spiritual moments you can choose to embrace: this, for me, was one. I think of it often. I even have the poster from the takeover in my toilet, serving as a daily reminder. I'm 41 and throughout life I've learned to expect the unexpected. Usually, when I go to see art it's to learn something new, and this was a big one. This changed me as a woman, as a soul, an immigrant, a creative, a child. That man gave himself to us as an artist and I accepted his gift. You can tell us how a cultural moment has prompted you to make a major life change by filling in the form below or emailing us on Please include as much detail as possible Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you include other people's names please ask them first.
The Sun
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Two popular apps loved by millions to shut down forever in DAYS – and you might be owed some cash
TWO popular apps used by millions of mobile users are set to shut down next week - and it might mean you're owed some cash. Mobile apps Pocket and Glitch will both close on 8 July. 3 Pocket was removed from app stores in late May, when sales of subscriptions also stopped. But Pocket's Premium subscribers may be owed refunds for the remaining time left on their subscriptions. A subscription for the read-it-later app costs $4.99 per month or $44.99 (£32.99) per year. So if you paid for an annual membership that will not be fulfilled, you should expect some money to be deposited back onto the card you used for payments. Mozilla, which owns the app, said annual subscribers will receive their refunds after 8 July. No action is necessary - just wait for the money to land. It's worth noting that while the app will shut down next week, users will have until 8 October to download their saved data before all Pocket data is permanently deleted. The Glitch app, aimed at web developers, is also handing out refunds to its subscribers. Those who forked out $96 (£70) for an annual Glitch Pro subscription and have paid time left will receive a refund. Users have until the end of the year to download their projects before all the data is wiped for good. Huge Global Data Breach: 16 Billion Accounts at Risk 3
The Guardian
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
My cultural awakening: a Marina Abramović show helped me to stop hating my abusive father
On an unseasonably warm day in October 2023, I arrived, ahead of the queues, at London's Southbank Centre for a conceptual art takeover by the world-famous Marina Abramović Institute. I had recently read Marina's memoir Walk Through Walls, which had resonated. So, when I'd seen the event advertised – hours-long performances by artists she'd invited, curated and introduced by Marina – I bought a £60 ticket and waited for my time slot to enter the Queen Elizabeth Hall. I hadn't seen performance art before, and this was due to include her well-known work The Artist Is Present with an artist sitting, static and silent, in a chair all day, as Marina once did for an accumulated 736 hours and 30 minutes at the Museum of Modern Art. I felt certain that it would affect me, I just wasn't sure how. It came at an interesting time in my life. I was raised in a fundamentalist Christian family, the daughter of a priest who was physically abusive. I'd been in therapy for years, but my experiences still affected me and I'd recently cut contact with my father with my family. So, when I entered the first room at the Southbank where Marina was to spoke and introduce around a dozen artists, I was still coming to terms with this new way of dealing with my past. I was immediately drawn to one of the artists, a man from Myanmar who was to perform the chair piece with a cloth sack over his head. We heard how he'd been part of an organisation in Myanmar that opposed violence and therefore risked death if he was publicly identified. I was moved by what he was risking for his art. I also knew it was a hard piece; Marina wasn't going to give it to just anyone. As people moved between performers, I saw him, seated in the atrium, with a large crowd; I waited for a quieter moment to return. When I finally stood before him, I was overcome. I felt an urge to sit down in front of him and didn't care what others thought. I was compelled to do it for myself. I can't say how long I sat there, maybe an hour. In that time, I rewrote my definition of 'strength'. I used to think my father's aggression made him strong but now I saw someone using his muscular arms and legs to be still, for peaceful protest. I imagined the loss he must have experienced in war and the mental strength to sit there. I thought of what I'd read in Marina's book; how pain set in three hours into sitting still. I cried: the good tears, where you let part of your past go. It felt cleansing. When I left, I felt lighter. I decided that this would be my father figure now: this person who had strength but did not hurt me, who had reasons to be aggressive but did not direct his anger towards a six-year-old whispering in her brother's ear or disturbing his preaching, as my father had. It unlocked something in me. It gave me a positive male figure to replace what had gone before and helped me not to hate my father or men. It also unblocked the creativity that had laid dormant within me, an artistic side that had reminded me too much of my father's similar creative charisma. I started drawing: comic-books and illustrations. I'm an atheist but I believe there are spiritual moments you can choose to embrace: this, for me, was one. I think of it often. I even have the poster from the takeover in my toilet, serving as a daily reminder. I'm 41 and throughout life I've learned to expect the unexpected. Usually, when I go to see art it's to learn something new, and this was a big one. This changed me as a woman, as a soul, an immigrant, a creative, a child. That man gave himself to us as an artist and I accepted his gift. You can tell us how a cultural moment has prompted you to make a major life change by filling in the form below or emailing us on Please include as much detail as possible Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you include other people's names please ask them first.
