Issue #32 | 12.26.25
Drink
One Two Bottles to Know
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Eminente Cuban Rum (3 Year & 7 Year Reserve)
The Story: Eminente is Cuban rum done right. The 3 Year is solid. The 7 Year Reserve is one of the best rums we've ever tasted. The catch? It's Cuban. You can't buy it in the US. But if you're passing through an international airport with duty free—Mexico, Europe, Caribbean—look for it and grab it. We stock up every chance we get.
The Pour:
3 Year Ambar Claro: 40% ABV. Ginger, apple, earthy spice. Three years in whisky casks. Smooth enough to sip, built for cocktails.
7 Year Reserve: 40% ABV. Dark amber color, velvety texture. Vanilla, caramel, tropical fruit, honey. Oak-aged complexity with subtle spice and a long, smooth finish. This is world-class sipping rum.
The Move: 3 Year shines in cocktails—mix with fresh coconut water and ice - nothing else. Let the rum dominate. 7 Year Reserve drinks neat or with one ice cube. Don't waste it with a mixer.
The Mettle Take: The 7 Year Reserve is hands-down delicious. If you’re lucky enough to find it in duty free, buy it. The 3 Year runs around $40, 7 Year Reserve around $70.
Not the drink they expect. The one they remember.
Food
Salt & Swagger
The Slider that Saves Christmas Leftovers
Leftover turkey and ham are fine for exactly one day. By day three, you're staring at Tupperware full of dry meat wondering why you thought a 20-pound bird was necessary. Stop reheating sad slices. Turn them into sliders people will actually want to eat. 30 minute project for a killer meal.
Ingredients
1 package Hawaiian rolls (12-count) or savory rolls if you don’t like sweet
12 slices Swiss cheese (for ham) or sharp cheddar (for turkey)
Leftover ham or turkey, sliced aprox. ¼-inch thick
4 tbsp butter
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
¼ tsp kosher salt
⅛ tsp black pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Make the butter sauce. Melt butter. Whisk in Dijon, Worcestershire, garlic, salt, and pepper.
Prep the rolls. Slice the entire roll package in half horizontally (don't separate individual rolls). Place bottom half in a 9x13 baking dish.
Layer it. Bottom layer: 6 slices cheese. Middle: ham or turkey, covering every roll. Top layer: remaining 6 slices cheese. Place top half of rolls over everything.
Brush and bake. Brush butter sauce over the tops. Cover tightly with foil. Bake 20 minutes. Uncover, bake 5-6 minutes until tops are golden (watch closely so you don’t burn).
Slice and serve. Cut into individual sliders. Watch them disappear.
Because eating well is never just about the food.
Intel
Truth or B.S.?
Photo Credit: Sam Adams
Sam Adams Released a Beer that is Illegal in 15 States
True.
Samuel Adams Utopias 2025 clocks in at 30% ABV. That's not a typo. It's the strongest beer they've ever brewed—and it's illegal to sell/purchase in 15 states.
Founder Jim Koch's been chasing this number for decades. When asked about the ban? "It makes me smile."
Why it's banned: At 30% ABV, it's stronger than most wine and closer to whiskey than beer. States like Georgia, North Carolina, and Utah cap beer at 14% ABV. So if you live there, you're out of luck.
What it costs: $240 for a 24.5-ounce bottle in a numbered ceramic vessel. This isn't a six-pack. It's a collectible.
What it tastes like: Aged in barrels for up to 30 years. Vanilla, sweet wine, strong kick. Smoother than straight liquor but nowhere near a Boston Lager.
Where to get it: Legal in 35 states—California, New York, Florida, Massachusetts. Available now at select specialty stores.
The bottom line: This isn't a six-pack for the couch. It's a collectible sipper for people who want beer that pushes boundaries—and breaks a few laws along the way.
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Stay Sharp,
The Mettle Team
