8 Reasons to Integrate Cybersecurity Into Core Business Processes

The threat of hacking remains prevalent on the internet. Cyberhackers continue to prey on unsuspecting victims. Isn’t it about time you integrate cybersecurity into your core business processes?

With the ever-growing cases of cyber hacking issues, businesses should start adopting effective cybersecurity measures. It plays a crucial role for a company to succeed. For example, residential proxies from Blazing SEO help prevent data breaches and other types of hacking issues.

What Is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is the process of protecting networks, programs, and systems from digital attacks. It usually targets sensitive information to access, alter, or destroy.

If hackers are successful, they could use the stolen data to blackmail victims for money. They can also disrupt regular business routines.

CocoSign makes your business run more smoothly by assisting with document workflow management and process optimization. Do you want to learn more about the Trinity College Trincoll Exploratory Internship agreement? Continue reading to learn how to quickly and easily sign and fill out your form.

Kinds of Cybersecurity Threats

Cybersecurity threats come in different forms. It can start from various channels, including individual hackers and organized syndicates. Here are different kinds of cybersecurity threats:

Phishing

Phishing sends users shady emails, which resemble those from credible sources. Its goal is to steal sensitive data such as credit card numbers and login details. You can protect your information by utilizing a technology solution that screens suspicious emails.

Download antivirus software or firewall to help protect your computer. Examples are Mimecast, Norton, Vipre, and Malwarebytes, to name a few.

Malware

Malware is a kind of program developed to get wrongful access. It can also cause damage to a computer system. Once activated it:

  • Blocks entry to key network components
  • Builds in additional harmful program
  • Secretly get information through hard drive data transmission
  • Hampers individual parts causing system malfunction

Social Engineering

It’s a strategy that scoundrels use to deceive people into disclosing sensitive data. They can demand money from their victims or gain access to their information. Hackers will send you fake links to click or download malware.

Cybersecurity

Ransomware

It is a kind of deceptive software. Hackers block access to files or computers to extort money until victims pay the ransom. Hence the name ransomware. However, paying the ransom isn’t a guarantee for file recovery or restoring the system.

Denial of Service (DoS)

DoS overwhelms a network or computer, preventing it from responding to requests. The same thing goes with the Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS). However, the attack comes from the computer network.

The botnet is a kind of DDoS that can infect millions of systems with malware. Sometimes called zombie systems, hackers use them to disrupt the target’s processing capabilities. Botnets have different geographic locations, making them difficult to trace.

SQL Injection

SQL stands for Structured Query Language. It occurs when cyber attackers incorporate deceptive code into a server using SQL. The infected server releases the user’s delicate information.

Cybersecurity

7 Reasons

Core business processes revolve around the minimum tasks a business needs to perform to provide the expected output. These could include risk management, information security, and marketing.

Don’t let hackers pry on your business and steal critical data. Start integrating cybersecurity into your core business processes. There is more than one reason why you should.

1. Competitive Advantage 

Solid and adequate internal controls protect against cyber-attacks. It corresponds to brand strengthening, market leadership, and product and service distinction. An example is, businesses use IoT, robotics, and AI to simplify processes.

It also helps boost business performance and ensures technologies are secure. This can increase earnings and invigorate business performance and compels bottom-line performance.  Business people must not only expect cyber excellence but ask for it.

2. Public Safety

Several companies deliver products and services in different areas. Core skills in aligning business operations and cybersecurity are essential for public safety. Cybersecurity helps secure pertinent information that hackers would love to have.

Cybersecurity

3. Regulatory and Legal Compliance

Specific industries need to follow strict regulations on the storage of personal information. It also includes data protection, network security, and privacy.

The United States has Gramm-Leach-Bliley, FISMA, and HIPAA as regulators. Europe has General Data Protection Regulation and NIS Directive to protect people’s data.

Companies need to establish in-depth cyber and risk management throughout their organizations. It’s a need to fulfill the regulations. Failure to meet the requirements impacts the organization’s ability to stay in business.

4. Financial Management

There’s a direct connection between financial loss and cyber-related risk affairs. Hackers can transfer funds from banks to their accounts and divert customers away from your brand. Examples of these are business disruption and damage to reputations.

You can cut the risk’s effects by merging business and cybersecurity strategies. Investing in advanced cybersecurity programs can help protect businesses. They can shield sensitive financial transactions from peering eyes and weed out malicious deals.

5.  Business Development

The global cybersecurity market’s value depends on the total delivered products and services. There’s a massive growth possibility on existing patterns.

Also, there’s a sizable economic opportunity in cultivating a commercial ecosystem.  It developed online trusts, such as global trust audit and scoring offerings. Moreover, more companies are obtaining solutions to counter fake news.

6. Mergers & Acquisitions

Due diligence is an integral part of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions. It enables the buyer to verify relevant information. These details include the seller’s finances, customers, and contracts.

The collected information allows the buyer to come up with a better decision. This helps in deciding to close the deal with assurance.

However, a low standard of due diligence can compromise several pertinent pieces of information. Cybersecurity issues may arise, such as data breaches and poor security structure. An example of this was Verizon’s acquisition of Yahoo!

7. Corporate Governance

Based on a 2016 Goldsmiths survey, 90% didn’t read cybersecurity reports. At the same time, they have no preparations to counter such attacks.

More than 40% of executive participants didn’t feel that cybersecurity was their responsibility. Also, they didn’t know that they should protect their customers’ data.

Companies need to include cybersecurity in their agendas. It’s a combined endeavor that begins from the top and across the organization.

Conclusion

The protection of confidential data is an integral part of any industry. While the current digital age has made transactions faster, it also made them prone to attacks. It’s essential to take cybersecurity seriously and take the necessary steps to prevent potential threats.

As a businessman, you are responsible for shielding your clients’ information. Being aware of cyber threats gives you the insight needed to make moves to secure your brand and clientele. Integrating cybersecurity into your core business processes will help protect them and yours as well.

Read More
Mubshar Ethlatic November 30, 2021 0 Comments

3 Major Ways Technology is Changing the Trucking Industry

The trucking industry is changing with the introduction of new technologies. The impact of these changes is not limited to the truck drivers, but also affects shippers, carriers, and brokers.

One major change in trucking is the use of sensors to monitor the health of trucks on the road. This makes it easier for drivers to find out when they need maintenance and for carriers to schedule maintenance before it becomes an issue.

Another change in trucking is the implementation of telematics that provide real-time data about a company’s fleet. This gives carriers more information about their drivers’ performance which helps them make better decisions about hiring and firing employees.

The third change in trucking is that more companies are using artificial intelligence (AI) powered algorithms to monitor and predict

How Technology is Changing How Trucks Operate

Automation is changing the trucking industry. The truck driver shortage has tripled since 2014 and is expected to reach 1 million drivers in the next decade. Robots are being developed to take over the tedious work of long-haul trucking, while other innovations are being made in short-term hauling.

The trucking industry is one of the most important industries in the United States. The trucking industry employs over 3 million people and is responsible for transporting 70% of all freight. Find movers on Shiply that’s right for you is important because they can help ease your stress and make the process easier.

The introduction should include the following:

– The size and importance of the trucking industry

– How technology has changed how trucks operate

How Blockchain & Electronic Logbooks are Transforming Truck Driver Management

Blockchain is a decentralized database that can be used to store data of any kind. It is a type of distributed ledger that maintains a continuously growing list of records known as blocks. These blocks are linked and secured using cryptography.

Blockchain technology has been mainly used for cryptocurrencies, but its potential use cases are endless. Blockchain can also be used in many other areas such as finance, logistics, healthcare, and more.

Electronic Logbooks are another technology that is changing the way truck drivers work and manage their time on the road. Truck drivers can now log their hours with an electronic device instead of paper diaries. This saves them time by not having to physically write down their hours each day or risk forgetting to do it later on when they get home from their shift.

How Advances in Tracking & Monitoring Systems are Improving Truck Safety

Truck drivers are required to take a break about every 8 hours of driving. However, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, truckers may be taking more breaks than they need. This is because of a lack of onboard monitoring systems.

Remote monitoring systems allow truckers to be monitored by their employers from a remote location. This way, they can make sure that the drivers are taking their breaks and not driving for too long without rest. In addition, this will help reduce accidents and improve safety for all parties involved in the transportation process.

Conclusion: The Future of the Trucking Industry Looks Bright With All These Innovations

The trucking industry is currently one of the most profitable industries in the US. With all these innovations, it looks like this trend will not be changing anytime soon.

AI technology is helping to make trucks more efficient and safe on the road, which means that they can do their job better. The future of the trucking industry looks bright with all these innovations.

Read More
Mubshar Ethlatic November 27, 2021 0 Comments

6 Post-Pandemic Tech Trends Here for the Long Haul

From work to school to socialization, the pandemic changed nearly every aspect of daily life. Many of us adapted to a trial by fire regarding the technology that has defined the past two years of our lives. Luckily, some of this technology has proven its worth even as the transmission numbers fall.

Since its debut, Google has been an easy, simple, and go-to way for finding information and researching people. If you want to run a smart background check for free, this is the finest option. This method includes an index to the vast majority of information available on the Internet. If you wish to look for a specific person, type their name into the search box, and you’ll get a list of millions of possibilities. However, in order to narrow down the results, you’ll need more background information.

The industry has discovered new horizons of technological development thanks to the past two years. This includes medical image analysis software development services, online medicine, machine learning medical tools and much more. Here are six tech trends that won’t be following COVID out of our lives.

The growing popularity of digital mailboxes

As more organizations become entirely virtual, they’re increasingly turning to digital mailboxes for correspondence management. A digital mailbox service provides a physical address for mail delivery. Using the associated app, mailbox owners can view and manage their mail at any time.

When you digitize your strategy with a service like an iPostal1 virtual mailbox, you can reap the benefits of increased privacy and protection against porch pirates. You can online shop to your heart’s content without worrying about thieves taking your sensitive personal information or your expensive packages. These mailboxes are a no-contact solution that isn’t going anywhere any time soon.

The increased use of telemedicine

Virtual visits between patients and medical care providers saw a 50% increase during the early months of 2020. Experts believe this spike represents a permanent shift as technology companies continue to develop tools to improve telemedicine.

The pandemic illustrated several benefits of telemedicine, including cost savings, more accessible organization of records, and the ability for medical professionals to more easily consult with one another.

Increased reliance on virtual hiring tools

During the height of pandemic lockdowns, many organizations hired and onboarded new employees using entirely virtual processes. Taking these processes online saved considerable time and money for many companies, so companies will likely continue to move in this direction.

Commonly used virtual hiring tools include automated resume scanning, virtual interviewing, and online recruiting events.

Enhanced cybersecurity

As companies continue to grow their presence online, their cybersecurity needs will also increase. Cyberattacks against organizations grew exponentially as more employees worked from home, many on unsecured WiFi networks.

Effective cybersecurity involves both using the right software and training employees in the correct procedures.

AI-assisted business management

The use of artificial intelligence will continue to increase among companies for both internal and external processes. AI can help design products, sort through large volumes of customer data, interact with customers through natural language processing, and more.

Increasing an organization’s reliance on technology adds an element of complexity to many daily business processes, but AI tools can help minimize that complexity through automation.

Using VR and AR to enhance reality

While virtual reality and augmented reality are typically associated with gaming, these tools quickly find essential uses in business, health care, and other sectors. For example, online furniture retailers have started using augmented reality apps so customers can virtually “place” a piece of furniture in their homes.

While previous augmented reality iterations involved lots of bulky gear, today’s phone apps have made XR experiences far more accessible. It’s handy for digital environments where customers or participants already use their smartphones to access the service.

Wrap up

Many tech trends that were already on the horizon saw an unexpected kickstart due to pandemic restrictions. Identifying these emerging trends allows you to hop on the bandwagon early, increasing their effectiveness both personally and professionally.

Read More
Mubshar Ethlatic November 25, 2021 0 Comments

5 Need-To-Know Video Editing Tips for New Business Owners

Have you ever browsed YouTube videos, clicked on something that seemed interesting, then clicked right off because something seemed off?

This is because you’ve got only one-tenth of a second to make an impression. So it’s important to make every frame of your business’s videos count. Otherwise, users will be clicking off your videos too.

In this article, we’ll go over 5 video editing tips you should know as a new business owner.

1. Use Transitions

Going from one shot to another without transitions can be jarring, so don’t skip this tip! In fact, it’s one of our best video editing reel tips, as you can piece together multiple clips smoothly.

Most video editing software will have several transitions you can choose from, even if they’re basic programs. So make sure you insert these transitions to give your viewers a more seamless experience.

2. Learn Keyboard Shortcuts

You’ll probably be editing your video for hours on end, so make it easier on yourself by learning keyboard shortcuts right off the bat. This can save your wrist and fingers so you don’t end up with carpel tunnel.

3. Crop Out Visual Distractions

A cluttered background won’t do you any favors. Instead of focusing on the speaker and what they’re saying, users will be looking at that messy table in the back with papers strewn all over it.

If you’ve already shot the video and everything’s perfect but that, not to worry. You can easily use a video crop app to center the footage on just the people, nothing else. If you’re looking for simple video editing tips, then you’ve got it right here!

4. Perform Color Correction

You might’ve had great lighting when you shot the video. But on your computer, it just doesn’t look quite right.

Even if things look perfect, play around with color correction to see if you can make improvements. This is also important to do across multiple clips because some might be brighter or darker than the others. Color correction can make everything look uniform and consistent throughout the video.

5. Always Keep a Backup Copy

While you’re working on your video, always keep at least one backup copy. This ensures that if you mess up or accidentally delete your current file, you won’t lose hours of work.

To be extra safe, you should save one copy on a USB stick, one on the cloud, and one on your computer. That way, if one backup fails, you’ll have an extra to work from.

Outsourcing video editing provides business owners with a range of benefits. It allows them to save time and resources by delegating editing tasks to skilled professionals. This enables the owners to focus on core business activities, enhance productivity, and meet deadlines. Outsourcing also offers access to diverse talent and expertise, resulting in high-quality videos that engage and attract customers.

Try Out These Video Editing Tips

Your videos will make a lasting impression on consumers. So you don’t want them to look sloppy and unprofessional.

By putting just a little extra work into your media, you’ll see a huge difference in quality. With our video editing tips, you’ll be able to make your videos look pristine, which will impress and attract new customers!

If you enjoyed these basic video editing tips, then find more

Read More
Mubshar Ethlatic November 24, 2021 0 Comments

How To Check & Compare Website Traffic and Why It’s Important: A Guide

The eCommerce industry is truly enormous, with sales in the sector expected to reach an astonishing $4.891 trillion globally in 2021. That’s 14.3 percent more than the sales generated in 2020.

With the growth of the eCommerce market, more online businesses continue to spring up every day. But while the digital market space is unquestionably lucrative, the competition can be cut-throat. With about 12 to 24 million eCommerce sites competing for traffic, it takes something special to stand out.

Successful entrepreneurs take the time to track and compare website traffic, and you need to be doing the same. In this guide, we tell what website traffic is and why you need to track it regularly. We’ll also highlight some of the ways you can check website traffic and compare it with that of your competitors.

Keep reading to learn more.

What Is Website Traffic?

Website traffic refers to the number of visitors to a web page. Typically, website traffic is recorded using a traffic checker tool, whose purpose is to track visitors to websites.

Using a website traffic checker, you can track a variety of traffic sources for your site and websites belonging to your competitors. Among the top traffic sources are search engines, email, referral, and PPC marketing. Some of the metrics that give you insights into web traffic include page views, traffic source, bounce rates, and audience demographics.

Why Should You Track and Compare Website Traffic? 

All your digital marketing efforts are aimed at generating sales for your company. But it’s impossible to sell products on your eCommerce site if you get zero traffic. That’s why it’s essential to keep tracking your web traffic and benchmarking it against your competitors’ sites.

Here are three top benefits you stand to gain

You Get to Improve Your SEO Efforts

Through web traffic tracking, you get to see where your visitors spend time, what source they come from, and what pages they land on. This helps you understand how effective your content and keywords are. You get to see whether you’re on the right track or need to revise your entire SEO strategy.

Through web traffic comparison, it becomes clearer which keywords your competitors are ranking for. This information can be helpful in boosting your own SEO efforts.

It’s Easier to Make Website Improvements

Tracking your web traffic reveals the spots where visitors drop off. This way, you can work on those pages to offer a better user experience.

For instance, it may be that most of your traffic drops off once they reach your contact form. Try to find out why this could be the case. Perhaps you need to reduce and simplify the fields on your contact form to realize changes in traffic drop-off.

Check out other better-performing websites and see what their design looks like. Such insights can help you better your own website’s design.

You Get to Adopt Targeted Advertising

A top-notch web traffic checker can give you insights into your visitors’ location, age, interests, gender, and so on. This information can help you build marketing campaigns that are highly targeted, which boosts engagement and leads to better conversion rates.

How to Check and Compare Website Traffic

Checking your traffic is not a big hassle when you have a dependable web traffic checker. But when it comes to comparing web traffic, the challenge is that you don’t have the login details of your competitor’s traffic checker account.

Thankfully, there are some premium tools that can help you make big data estimates as to how their website is performing trafficwise. This helps you perform the much-needed comparison with your own site.

Among the best tools for checking web traffic are:

The HOTH’s Free Website Traffic Checker Tool 

This helpful tool helps you estimate your domain’s traffic statistics, including organic traffic, keyword count, and organic cost. The checker allows you to enter as many as 20 URLs in the box so you can compare statistics between each.

The Hoth’s Free Website Traffic Checker is a quick way to get data on your site’s performance as compared to your competitors’ sites. The tool offers clear data on page rankings, your Adword expenditure, and keyword counts.

Click to learn more on how to get the most out of this tool.

Similarweb

Like Hoth’s Web Traffic Checker, Similarweb is available for free, although there’s a paid version that unlocked more features. For instance, you get access to more data with the paid version.

The tool comes with an optional Chrome extension to help you compare traffic on websites to which you don’t have access.

You can enter multiple sites to see the comparisons of total monthly traffic, pages per visit, the average duration of visits, bounce rates, traffic sources, and much more.

Ahrefs

This premium keyword research and SEO tool help you to compare different organic search traffic volumes. You can enter a domain, URL, or subdomain to see estimates of organic traffic per month, traffic value, organic keywords, backlinks, and much more.

Ahrefs also lets you see the traffic estimates of any keyword. This way, you can estimate the expected traffic of these keywords if you use them on your site.

Keep Checking and Comparing Web Traffic to Stay Ahead

Competition in the online marketplace will always be stiff, but you can still thrive, particularly if you can attract and sustain high-quality traffic. The best way to do so is to ensure your check and compare website traffic continually. This information allows you to come up with ways to engage your visitors better.

Would you like to read more great content like this? Keep visiting our blog.

Read More
Mubshar Ethlatic November 15, 2021 0 Comments

123 Movies Review

123 movies is among the various online movie sites that work by providing users with free movies as long as they have a good internet connection and a laptop or a smartphone. The website has a database of over 38,000 online HD quality movies that can be played at high speeds. 123 Movies is continuing to enlarge the database and aims at having over 50,000 movies soon. It has a dedicated team that works tirelessly to implement the latest features and fix bugs for smoother viewing experiences.

The site enables anyone to access free movies without any account registration. Watching movies online has been made really easy by using 123 Movies website. It’s among the few platforms that you don’t have to go elsewhere when streaming free movies online.

Many users have a lot of praise for this site since it offers different genres. These genres include family, drama, documentary, crime, comedy, biography, adventure, action, romance, mystery, musical, horror, history, fantasy, war, thriller, TV Movie, and Sci-Fi.

With this site, you don’t need to pay any subscription fees, making it cheap and convenient. The videos provided are of high quality and ensure that users enjoy smooth viewing experiences. Whether you’re watching movies alone or with your family, this is the ideal entertainment spot. It doesn’t matter the kind of movies you love watching, 123 Movies has you covered.

You don’t need to scroll all over searching for movies. Access your favorite movies by simply clicking the genre you want and select a movie. Wait for it to start streaming and have fun! The site ensures that users enjoy a memorable and uninterrupted viewing experience. 123 Movies offers movies from across the globe, giving users a wide array of movies. Even though you prefer certain types of movies, there are instances when you want to see change. You choose a movie and enjoy it from anywhere.

A simple movie search on 123 Movies site gives you hundreds of free movies. Don’t use websites that aren’t trustworthy or looks fishy. There are several websites that show many ads and that’s why 123 Movies is a preferred site by movie enthusiasts. You could find various offers on the site but they only provide better experiences to users. We offer free online movies that come with good images and sound quality.

The site is being used by millions of movie lovers and they have nothing but good things to say in their reviews. You’ll find that you can watch almost all new movies and series on 123 Movies site. If you can’t find a certain movie, you’ll only wait for a few days for it to be uploaded. Also, the site has begun adding regional shows and movies that can be streamed online. So, keep visiting the online movie site to enjoy latest and quality movies.

The website has an easy to use interface that’s very clean, making it easy for users who’ve never visited it before. It doesn’t matter your location, as long as your internet is good, you will enjoy the hundreds of movies available on the site.

Read More
Mubshar Ethlatic November 15, 2021 0 Comments

Forex Time Recommends the Best Forex Trading Hours

The ideal time to trade is when the FX (foreign currency) market is most active. During this period, spreads in trading (the difference between bid and ask prices) transform to narrow. In certain circumstances, the market makers that facilitate currency swaps receive less money, leaving more money in the coffers of the traders.

Four Major Foreign Exchanges

The 4 major FX exchanges are based in Tokyo, New York, London, and Sydney.

Forex traders should memorize their trading hours, giving specific attention to the time when two or more exchanges are trading at the same time.

Tip: When many exchanges are operating at a time, trading volume rises, as does volatility (the rate and amount at which share or currency prices vary). For forex traders, volatility may be helpful.

This may appear to be incompatible. In spite of everything, investors are scared of market volatility. Higher volatility, on the other hand, suggests more profit possibilities in the currency market.

Trading Hours on Forex Markets All Over the World

The foreign exchange market is entirely electronic, including Forex Time. Eastern Standard Time on Sunday until 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Friday (EST). Every exchange has its exceptional trading hours from first day of the week, i.e., Monday, to Friday. The 4 most crucial time slots (all in EST) for the average trader are as follows:

  • New York: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Tokyo: 7 p.m. to 4 a.m.
  • London: 3 a.m. to 12 p.m. (noon)
  • Sydney: 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. (midnight)

Despite the fact that each exchange is independent, they all deal in the same asset or currencies. As a result, when both exchanges are operating simultaneously, the traders’ quantity actively selling and buying a currency increases considerably. Bids and asks on one currency market exchange have an immediate impact on bids and requests on all other active exchanges. As demonstrated in the windows below, this reduces market spreads while raising volatility:

  • 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., with Sydney and Tokyo exchanges open
  • 8 a.m. to noon 5 p.m., with London and New York exchanges open
  • 3 a.m. to 4 a.m., with London and Tokyo exchanges open

Forex Trading

The New York’s exchange is particularly important for international investors. The US dollar, which accounts for 90% of global currency trade, is included in its transactions. The dollar’s swings might have a significant influence on markets all across the world.

The overlap of the New York and London markets from 8 a.m. to noon is normally the best trading hour. Both trading centers handle more than half of all FX transactions. On the other hand, trading on the Sydney and Singapore exchanges takes place mostly between 5 and 6 p.m., with substantially less activity than during the New York/London window.

Certain exceptions, and the trading volume, expected, is dependent on the assumption that no notable news will emerge. Military and political crises may considerably enhance volatility and trade activity during normally sluggish trading hours.

On a regular basis, some economic data has the ability to influence the market is disclosed. Unemployment, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), trade imbalances, consumer confidence, and consumer spending are all covered. You can better time your transactions if you know when this news will be revealed.

Trading Hours with a High Volume of Forex Can Be Risky

Forex traders must be cautious since currency trading can include high leverage ratios of 1,000 to 1.8:1. While this ratio offers appealing profit options and opportunities, it also puts an investor at risk of losing all of their money in a single deal.

Only 30% of forex traders (retail) can just break even or earn a profit, according to a Citibank report. Surprisingly, 84 percent of those polled believe they can profit from the foreign exchange market. The essential idea is that newly accompanied forex investors must open accounts with companies that provide demo accounts, which allow users to practice forex transactions and compute hypothetical earnings and losses. After investors have learnt the ropes and obtained enough expertise, they may safely begin actual forex trading.

While there are certain opportunities to make money, there is a lot of money to be lost either, as with many other investments. As a consequence, make learning more a priority.

Read More
Mubshar Ethlatic November 12, 2021 0 Comments

The 11 Best Alchol Bottles in 2021

This was an exceptional year for new releases of spirits in all categories, and so it was an exceptional year for drinking. It’s impossible to cover them all, but here are the best of the best, based on alchol alone, including whiskey, tequila, gin, rum, and cognac. Some are easy to come by, while others are expensive and elusive limited editions. But if a spirit tasted good, it made the list—hype, price, and reputation be damned. See if you can find a few of these to try for yourself before the end of 2019, and here’s to another year (and decade) of good spirits.

Four Roses Small Batch Select

Four Roses consistently knocks it out of the park with its core range, a lineup of dependable bourbon that could be more expensive than it is but usually isn’t (please don’t raise your prices, Four Roses). The new Small Batch Select is sort of a further refining of the Small Batch expression, a blend of bourbon aged for at least six years using six of the distillery’s 10 different recipes. The ABV is higher too, at 104 proof, and the whiskey is non-chill filtered. Expect a velvety mouthfeel and notes of cherry, oak, and vanilla, making this a welcome—and permanent—addition to the portfolio.

Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon

It can be difficult to pick a single barrel bourbon for a best-of list, given that each barrel will be somewhat different. But the move by the underrated Baker’s Bourbon (part of the Jim Beam Small Batch collection) to a 7-year-old single barrel release was a smart one. At 107 proof, the whiskey retains all of the signature Jim Beam nut and grain-forward flavors, along with warmth and a complex bouquet of fruit notes. If you can get your hands on a pair of bottles from different barrels, see for yourself how the flavors compare and contrast.

Bardstown Bourbon Company Goodwood Brewing Company Honey Ale

Admittedly, this is not the most readily available bourbon out there, as it’s a limited regional release. But it’s a damn good one, and works in a way that barrel finishes sometimes don’t. Bardstown Bourbon Company sourced this 11-year-old bourbon from Indiana and finished it in Louisville’s Goodwood Brewing Brandy Barrel Honey Ale casks for about a year and a half, infusing the liquid with rich but not overpowering notes of honey, quince, and vanilla. The two will collaborate again in 2020 with a bourbon finished in Walnut Brown Ale casks, so it will be interesting to see how that compares.

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Cornerstone Rye

It’s hard to beat regular old Wild Turkey; the high quality and low price of the distillery’s bourbon and rye make it an American classic. The distillery has also released several high-end whiskeys over the past few years as part of its Master’s Keep series. The latest is this expensive but excellent rye whiskey aged for 9 to 11 years and bottled at 109 proof. Think of it as a fancier Russell’s Reserve, and enjoy the spice, pepper, and oak notes that pop with every sip.

Old Forester Rye

A good piece of whiskey news for your palate and your wallet this past year was the release of Old Forester Rye, a new addition to the range and the first new recipe from the distillery in a century and a half. The mash bill is 65 percent rye, 20 percent malted barley, and 15 percent corn, softening some of the spice but keeping the floral notes. The high malt component allowed for a “wholly natural fermentation process,” according to master distiller Chris Morris. The whiskey is bottled at 100 proof, making this a great one to use in cocktails as well.

Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Rye

Yes, this is another expensive whiskey, and one that is probably selling for way more than its SRP. But it’s also fantastic, as Michter’s annual release always tends to be. This was the first of this type of whiskey to be released under the watch of new Michter’s master distiller Dan McKee, and he did a great job selecting the barrels for it. The whiskey is spicy, sweet, and full of toffee and caramel. Save it for a special occasion, if you can get your hands on a bottle.

Chattanooga Whiskey CASK 111

This delicious Tennessee whiskey from Chattanooga Whiskey has an interesting mash bill made up of yellow corn and three kinds of specialty malt—malted rye, caramel malted barley, and honey malted barley. This is the cask strength, unfiltered version of the distillery’s Whiskey 91. It’s aged for around two years, but tastes like a whiskey that’s twice as old. There’s a pronounced maltiness, as you might expect, but also warm notes of stone fruit and chocolate.

Wyoming Whiskey Outryder

Wyoming Whiskey has been making good, solid whiskey for years now, something that got the attention of Scottish company Edrington (owner of The Macallan), which added the brand to its portfolio in 2018. Outryder is a bottled-in-bond whiskey that combines two mash bills—a high rye whiskey and a traditional bourbon. It’s aged for seven years and hits all the right notes with banana, cinnamon, and some yeasty bread on the palate.

Read More
Mubshar Ethlatic November 9, 2021 0 Comments

The Ultimate Mattress Shopping Guide: Pros and Cons of Different Mattress Types

Buying a new mattress can always be exciting, especially if it’s been a while since you’ve last purchased one. Oftentimes we feel drawn to choosing the best product—one that would offer excellent comfort, durability, and high-quality materials. Although these characteristics matter if we wish to achieve a consistent peaceful slumber, they tend to be very costly.

When purchasing expensive products, we always pause to decide if it is worth buying. The same principle applies when purchasing a mattress. As there are many options in the market, understanding the differences is essential to ensuring your chosen bed is worth the investment. Here are the pros and cons of different mattress types.

Memory Foam

One of the popular mattress types is memory foam because of its comfort and pressure relief, and due to its popularity, there is a high chance that you have at least tried lying on a memory foam bed. These mattresses are made of moldable foam that responds to the contour of your body. If you enjoy the feeling of sinking and being cradled by your bed, this mattress type may be for you.

Pros:

The foam properties of the bed are responsive by adequately distributing your weight and providing a degree of support and comfort. Beyond that, what makes memory foam one of the best mattresses is it also offers a high level of pressure relief, encourages proper spine alignment, has motion isolation properties, is hypoallergenic, and is durable.

Cons:

The responsive nature of memory foam mattresses is its most remarkable aspect, but it can also be its worst. Not all people are a fan of this benefit, especially that it can rather get warm. Also, through time, foam mattresses are known to release harmful contents through chemical off-gassing, leading to health deterioration.

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses are the most common bed type since they have been around since the early 1900s. This product consists of multiple coil springs underneath, topped with mattress foam. The beds you see on televisions when people lie on their mattresses are commonly innerspring mattresses; the bouncy effect is because of the coil springs.

Pros:

Another factor that makes innerspring mattresses popular is it’s budget-friendly. Moreover, they come in various firmness options and are customizable for people with different sleeping positions. Innerspring meds are also lightweight, hence easy to transport.

Cons:

Before you consider purchasing this bed, there are a few setbacks about innerspring mattresses. This bed type can get annoying with squeaky noises when tossing and turning. Light sleepers are not a fan of that. Despite their affordability, they have relatively low durability, making innerspring beds prone to sagging through time.

Latex

Throughout the years, latex mattresses have been increasing in popularity. This is because of its outstanding performance, offering extreme comfort similar to that of a memory foam bed, and is highly durable. Moreover, they are an eco-friendly option as latex beds are made from a natural resource.

Pros:

Your back pain issues will be resolved because latex beds offer the best comfort and pressure relief, encouraging neck and spine alignment. Moreover, since it is made of organic materials, it has hypoallergenic properties. What also makes it a great bed option is it’s cooling feature, no need to flip and rotate to sleep cool constantly.

Cons:

If you are thinking of investing in latex mattresses, know the negative aspects. For starters, they are more expensive than memory foam beds and are much heavier. Also, latex beds tend to retain heat more than memory foam. If you prefer to sleep cool at night, then a latex bed might not be the option for you.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses are one of the top-performing beds in the market. The materials of an innerspring mattress combined with a memory foam result in a more balanced sleeping experience. It’s a best-of-both-worlds type of mattress, as they say. In terms of comfort, hybrid beds deliver excellence by providing pressure relief and promoting spine alignment.

Pros:

Hybrid mattresses are known to resolve couple disputes. It is the perfect bed type for partners with different sleeping positions and still provides the best comfort. It also has antimicrobial features, thanks to the foam material and the extra support that the coils offer. In addition, durability is not a question as hybrid beds are on par with memory foam mattresses.

Cons:

There is, however, a catch with hybrid mattresses. Due to the differences in materials, hybrid beds can have some structural weaknesses. Moreover, even with the foam properties, it may not contour your body well. It also has low-quality motion isolation and may have some slight noise due to the coil spring system.

Takeaway

When investing in a mattress, it is always best to research the differences between each mattress type. As the saying goes, there are always two sides to every coin. Hence, knowing the benefits and the downfalls will be much easier for you in choosing the bed that would suit your preferences.

Read More
Mubshar Ethlatic November 4, 2021 0 Comments