Latest news with #SailorJerry
Wall Street Journal
2 days ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
The U.S. Alcohol Industry Is Reeling From Canada's Booze Boycott
Canada's prohibition on U.S. alcohol is creating a headache for American liquor and winemakers. On the shelves of many Canadian liquor stores, bottles of Jack Daniel's, Maker's Mark and Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum are nowhere to be found. Thousands of bottles of U.S. wine and spirits sit in storage across the country. At tastings, Canadian drinkers are turning their noses up at American alcohol.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How WWII brought about the normalization of tattoos
During his third Pacific voyage beginning in 1776, Capt. James Cook recorded in his journal: 'The universality of tattooing is a curious subject for speculation….' Today, however, getting inked as a member of the U.S. military is a borderline rite of passage, so much so, writes J.D. Simkins, that the 'military culture to tattooing is so prevalent that finding an ink-free service member is infinitely more rare than the alternative.' But that is a relatively new phenomenon. The U.S. military — and society's — embracing and liberalization surrounding the stigma and regulations governing tattoos is thanks, in large part, to the Second World War. The vast expansion of Naval personnel at the onset of WWII ushered in a new era of the tatted tradition, helped by figures like artist Norman Keith Collins — also known as Sailor Jerry. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, soldiers, sailors and new recruits alike lined tattoo parlors to receive their permanent symbols of pride, patriotism — and pinups. The emergence of tattoos While Capt. Cook's Pacific voyages exposed Royal Navy sailors to Polynesian body art, such traditions were practiced in early societies in Europe and Asia, and by indigenous cultures worldwide for thousands of years, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command. Cook's exploration of the Pacific, however, did popularize the tradition among his fellow seamen in both Europe and the Americas. So much so that by the 18th century, a third of British and a fifth of American sailors sported at least one tattoo. During the American Civil War, men in both the Union and Confederate navies often were tatted with military insignia motifs and names of their sweethearts back home. After the March 1862 Battle of the Ironclad — the historic clash between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia — requests for tattoos to commemorate the historic engagement were seen on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. By the 1898 Spanish-American War, 'Remember the Maine' was a popular choice to be emblazoned on the chests of sailors who were going off to war. 'By this time,' writes Naval Heritage and History Command, 'these tattoos had already acquired features recognized today as essential elements of military and patriotic tattoos: the curved scroll with a slogan, name, or date; the stars and stripes; or a giant eagle backdrop — many of them proliferated thanks to the newly invented electric tattoo machine.' During World War I servicemen were getting their military ID numbers, and later social security numbers, tattooed on their bodies as a means of identification in case they were injured or killed in service. This practice was outright banned during WWII on the grounds that it might give 'aid and comfort to the enemy.' Despite this, body art remained firmly on the fringes of society well into the 20th century. Tattoos in World War II After the American declaration of war on Dec. 8, 1941, Honolulu and the port of San Diego became major hubs for men, and occasionally some women, to get inked. During the war, Honolulu alone boasted eight parlors and 33 operators gaining 'the dubious title of the world's tattoo center,' according to a June 16, 1944, Highland Recorder article. In particular, 25-year-old Hawaiian native Eugene Miller of 'Miller's Tattooing Emporium' saw his business boom, tattooing over 300 people a day with prices ranging from 25 cents for small pieces to $30 for larger, more intricate art. A large sign above his modest parlor declared him the 'world's greatest and youngest tattoo artist.' Bert Grimm, known as the 'godfather of modern tattoos,' spent over two decades perfecting his craft in St. Louis, Missouri. During the war, the famed tattoo artist — who is rumored to have worked on the infamous Bonnie and Clyde — painstakingly etched symbols of love and belief of God and country onto countless sailors and soldiers waiting to go to battle. But, Grimm noted, the two often sought differing inked motifs. In 1942, Grimm told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: 'The main difference between the soldiers and sailors is that when a sailor comes in to get tattooed, it's always something with an anchor or a battleship, and the soldiers go more for flags and eagles. I've been watching their tastes and drawing new designs to suit them. Oh yes, sweetheart and love designs are going good now, too. [...] And here's a Red Cross Nurse; they lost out in popularity but they are back now. 'The war,' the article continued, 'has also been responsible for shortages of tattoo equipment. All the tattoo needles are made in England... Also, although tattoo artists usually don't mention it to servicemen patrons, most of the darkest and richest tattoo dyes came from Germany.' For servicemen willing and perhaps expecting to lose their lives, tattoos were worn as a badge of honor — giving a sense of comradery and, as Danielle Boiardi, the curator of the Lyle Tuttle Tattoo Art Collection, notes in an interview with the Smithsonian, 'a permanent mark that they could take with them.' Since then, the acceptance and proliferation of tattoos has spiked both in America and abroad, with U.S. Navy remaining the least restrictive among U.S. branches of service in terms of body art. Naval tattoo meanings, per the Naval History and Heritage Command: Anchor: Originally indicated a mariner who had crossed the Atlantic. In the present day, an anchor in one form or another may be the first nautical tattoo a young sailor acquires (often during his or her first liberty from boot camp) and is essentially an initiation rite into the naval service. Braided rope/line: Usually placed around left wrist; indicates a deck division seaman. Chinese/Asian dragon: Symbolizes luck and strength — originated in the pre–World War II Asiatic Fleet and usually indicated service in China. Much later, dragons came to symbolize WESTPAC service in general (also worn embroidered or as patches inside jumper cuffs and on cruise jackets). Compass rose or nautical star: Worn so that a sailor will always find his/her way back to port. Crossed anchors: Often placed on the web between left thumb and forefinger; indicate a boatswain's mate or boatswain (U.S. Navy rating badge). Crossed ship's cannon or guns: Signify naval vice merchant service; sometimes in combination with a U.S. Navy–specific or patriotic motif. Crosses: In many variations — worn as a sign of faith or talisman. When placed on the soles of the feet, crosses were thought to repel sharks. Dagger piercing a heart: Often combined with the motto 'Death Before Dishonor' — symbolizes the end of a relationship due to unfaithfulness. Full-rigged ship: In commemoration of rounding Cape Horn (antiquated). Golden Dragon: Indicated crossing the international dateline into the 'realm of the golden dragon' (Asia). 'Hold Fast' or 'Shipmate': Tattooed across knuckles of both hands so that the phrases can be read from left to right by someone standing opposite. Originally thought to give a seaman a firm grip on a ship's rigging. Hula girl and/or palm tree: On occasion, hula girls would be rendered in a risqué fashion; both tattoos indicated service in Hawaii. Pig and rooster: This combination — pig on top of the left foot, rooster on top of the right — was thought to prevent drowning. The superstition likely hearkens back to the age of sail, when livestock was carried onboard ships. If a ship was lost, pigs and roosters — in or on their crates — floated free. Shellback turtle: Indicates that a Sailor has crossed the equator. 'Crossing the line' is also indicated by a variety of other themes, such as fancifully rendered geo-coordinates, King Neptune, mermaids, etc. Ships' propellers (screws): A more extreme form of Sailors' body art: One large propeller is tattooed on each buttock ('twin screws') to keep the bearer afloat and propel him or her back to home and loved ones. Sombrero: Often shown worn by a girl. May have indicated service on ships home-ported in San Pedro (Terminal Island, Los Angeles) or San Diego prior to World War II, a liberty taken in Tijuana, or participation in interwar Central and South American cruises. Swallow: Each rendition originally symbolized 5,000 nautical miles underway; swallows were and still are displayed in various poses, often in combination with a U.S. Navy —specific motif or sweetheart's/spouse's name. Solve the daily Crossword
Press and Journal
16-05-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Major Highland landowner Anders Holch Povlsen sees wealth soar by almost £1 billion
A list of Scotland's richest people shows major Highlands landowner Anders Holch Povlsen has grown his net worth by almost £1 billion in the past year. The new Sunday Times Rich List 2025 reveals he has retained his position as Scotland's richest person. Meanwhile, media and television personality Georgia Toffolo is ranked as the wealthiest person in Scotland under 40, after marrying Brewdog co-founder James Watt earlier this year. The top entrepreneurs from the Highlands, Moray and Aberdeen have been unveiled ahead of Sunday's magazine which will list the 350 richest in the UK. Fashion billionare Anders Holch Povlsen is Scotland's largest private landowner, owning more than 220,000 acres of land – including a dozen of Highland estates. He remains Scotland's wealthiest man with a fortune of £7.7bn. His home, Aldourie Castle, sits on the shores of Loch Ness. Anders' Highland company Wildland Limited posted pre-tax losses of £8.1 million for the year ending July 31 2024. His wealth stems from the Danish fashion retailer Bestseller, founded by his father, Troels Holch Povlsen, in 1975. Anders, 52, is now chief executive and sole owner of the business. He also has a stake in the struggling fast-fashion outfit Asos. He is the 23rd richest person in the UK. Chairman of Moray-based distiller William Grant and Sons, Glenn Gordon is the second richest person in Scotland. The family firm owns brands including Glenfiddich and Grant's whisky, Drambuie, Hendrick's gin and Sailor Jerry rum. The Glenfiddich chief has seen a £779m rise of net worth in the past 12 months. Aberdeen oil tycoon Sir Ian Wood has seen a slight rise to his fortunes in the past year. The third wealthiest in Scotland, 80-year-old Sir Ian was born in Aberdeen and is behind Granite City firm Wood, which is currently subject to a takeover bid. This year, the billionaire picked up the 2025 Significant Contribution Award at the Offshore Achievement Awards (OAAs). Lord Laidlaw is a Keith-born businessman and a former member of the House of Lords who has seen his wealth drop by £11m in the past year. The founder of the Institute for International Research (IIR), which became the world's largest conference and training company. He sold the firm in 2005 for around £770m to Informa Plc and is the 10th wealthiest person on the Sunday Times Scottish list. Georgia Toffolo ranked as the wealthiest person under the age of 40 in Scotland. The reality TV star has seen her net worth soar as the list values hers, and her husband James Watt, wealth as a couple The number of billionaires has dropped for three successive years and now sits at 156. The list of 350 individuals hold a combined wealth of £772.8bn – down by 3% in the 37th edition. Sunday Times Rich List compiler Robert Watts said: 'Our billionaire count is down and the combined wealth of those who feature in our research is falling. 'We are also finding fewer of the world's super rich are coming to live in the UK. 'Homegrown young tech entrepreneurs and those running centuries-old family firms are also warning of serious consequences to a range of tax changes unveiled in last October's budget. 'Our research continues to find a wide variety of self-made entrepreneurs building fortunes not just from artificial intelligence, video games and new technologies but also mundane, everyday items such as makeup, radiators and jogging bottoms.'
USA Today
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Sailor Jerry is a perfectly cromulent rum
Welcome back to FTW's Beverage of the Week series. Here, we mostly chronicle and review beers, but happily expand that scope to any beverage that pairs well with sports. Yes, even cookie dough whiskey. Sailor Jerry always had the look working for it. The rum, established around the turn of the millennium right about when his protégé Ed Hardy became the aesthetic of a decade, seemed cool as hell. There was one of Norman Collins's — Sailor Jerry himself — old hula girl tattoos right on the label. As you drank it, more pinup girls would emerge from the back label, peeking above a brown reservoir of spiced rum. But rum wasn't really my jam. It was an easy mixer at college parties, but we weren't sniffing anything that came in actual glass bottles at that point. When a work trip to Bermuda to cover sailing introduced me to dark n' stormies (I understand, my life is ridiculous), my go-to for at-home imitators was $12 handles from Costco. The fates, seeing a life in which I'd never been adorned in anything Ed Hardy, Von Dutch or (grimacing) Affliction, decided I had not escaped the 2000s just yet. The folks at Sailor Jerry sent me a bottle to review. I obliged, because 20 years ago my back didn't hurt all the time, Arrested Development was still on the air (sorta) and my facial hair was all (mostly) the same color. Take me back, Sailor Jerry. Over ice: B+ My rum experience is mostly limited to mixed drinks. Basic ones, because that's where rum shines (and not because I'm lazy. Totally not that). But any solid barrel-aged spirit should be smooth and complex enough to work on its own, so let's begin there. It pours a proper caramel brown. It smells like sweet vanilla and caramel with just enough of a boozy sting at the end to ensure this is not a dessert drink. But that sweetness lingers through each sip. While there's a bit of a medicinal sting at the end, this is a perfectly sippable spirit. You get light vanilla, solid expressions of caramel and a minor burn as it hits the end point at the back of your throat. That leaves it a bit simple. There's not much to dig for; it's a spiced rum, which makes it a cannonball in a mixed drink and slightly basic on its own. But what it does it does well; it's light for a dark spirit and while I probably won't sip it on its own too often it's still solid as hell for $25 per handle. With Coke Zero: B+ Not much to say here; it's a rum and Coke, and it's good. Well, dang, that's not a great review. Let me dig a little deeper. The caramel of the sugar inside melds effortlessly with a sweet soda. The vanilla shines for anyone who grew up pounded flavored colas (or who loses their mind when they see a Coke Freestyle machine in the wild). It's, again, a little basic, but that's what rum and Coke is supposed to be. Utilitarian. I don't want mixology or subtlety. I want a spirit that enhances my soda and gets me a little drunk. There's some minor, hollow harshness at the end of the sip, but otherwise Sailor Jerry hits that target dead-on. With Barritt's Ginger Beer: A- Well, this would have been a dark n' stormy if my dumb brain could remember to buy limes. Instead, it's just ginger and rum, which is still fine on its own. I love a good ginger beer, but tend to stick to the sugar free variants; just this 7.5 ounce can of Barritt's is 119 calories on its own. That's worth it in small doses; the sugar is rich and leads to a denser, more flavorful and almost bready finish. But, yeah, 12 ounces of that is effectively two hard seltzers of calories even before you add booze. Anyway, the spice of the ginger makes this an even better fit than Coke. While that was sweet-on-sweet, this adds some balance to the mix in a way that lets the vanilla and spice of the rum stand out even more. The contrast helps it pop, but the two work in harmony — two good drinks intertwined in tribute to something better. Which, of course, is an overdramatic way to tell you I dropped a shot of Sailor Jerry into my ginger beer. But here we are. That minor rubbing alcohol sting that lingers in the back of each Sailor Jerry sip remains, but ultimately… pretty good. Would I drink it instead of a Hamm's? This a pass/fail mechanism where I compare whatever I'm drinking to my baseline cheap beer. That's the standby from the land of sky-blue waters, Hamm's. So the question to answer is: on a typical day, would I drink Sailor Jerry over a cold can of Hamm's? On it's own, no — but that's not really what Sailor Jerry is for. Give me some ginger beer and a lime and I'm all in.
