There are dickheads among us - thankfully this one is in jail

The world is full of dickheads - but an American man this week admitted to being among the biggest dickheads out there.

Joshua Lowe from Michigan was sentenced to eight months in prison for making a hoax bomb threat to a cruise line, news portal Travel Mole reported.

He made the threat as he was upset his girlfriend and her family were taking a cruise without him and left him to look after their pets. 

Lowe was sentenced last week in a US court.

Federal prosecutors said Carnival Cruise Line received a January 2024 email stating: “Hey, I think someone might have a bomb on your Carnival Sunrise cruise ship.”

The cruise ship had just departed Miami en route for Jamaica.

Due to the threat, ship crew searched more than 1000 cabins for a potential bomb. 

The US Coast Guard was alerted and the Jamaica Marine Police escorted the ship into port.

Lowe admitted the offence when questioned and said he was upset over his girlfriend going on the cruise without him.

He could have been sent to prison for up to five years but his sentence of eight months was far lower. He will, however, also be required to pay restitution for expenses associated with the hoax.

“Bomb threats are not a laughing matter and are extremely irresponsible,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI in Michigan.

“When individuals make false hoax threats, they divert critical law enforcement resources and spread unnecessary fear.”

Bring back the stocks, I say.  

Not your average bourbon whiskey

 

Master’s Keep Voyage is not your average Wild Turkey release.

Wild Turkey Bourbon this week announced the newest release in the annual limited-edition series of highly sought-after whiskies.

Available in Australia from November 1, the Master’s Keep Voyage was crafted by Master Distiller Eddie Russell in partnership with Dr. Joy Spence, the renowned Master Blender of Appleton Estate rum, combining over 80 combined years of experience in crafting exceptional spirits.

The 106-proof expression of 10-year-old bourbon was finished with a secondary maturation period in Jamaican rum casks, marking the first rum cask finish in Wild Turkey’s history.

This one-off Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey draws inspiration from the Caribbean island of Jamaica .

“Every year, we look forward to the release of Master’s Keep as an opportunity to rethink what our bourbon can be," says Wild Turkey distiller Russell. “Creating Master’s Keep Voyage in collaboration with Joy was a real privilege and I think our shared passion for telling a story through our spirits comes through in this one-of-a-kind whiskey.”

Master’s Keep Voyage is the latest expression in the award-winning Master’s Keep series. First launched in 2015, the annual release came from Russell’s desire to push the boundaries of traditional bourbon-making by experimenting with aging techniques and finishes.

Spence hand selected some of the finest casks from the iconic Jamaican rum house – casks which previously held 14-year-old pot still rum and would best complement Wild Turkey’s extra-aged bourbons.

The casks were then brought to the Wild Turkey Distilling Co. in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, where they were filled with Russell’s batch of 10-year-old bourbon.

“With Voyage, we had a very specific taste profile in mind,” said Spence. “We really wanted to explore how the classic notes of rum and bourbon can work in harmony and create a really rich tasting experience for whiskey and rum fans alike.”

Master’s Keep Voyage will be available from November 1 at Dan Murphy’s, First Choice, Liquorland & selected independent retailers for RRP $350.

Jamaica celebrates a milestone

Next week will be a big one for the Caribbean nation of Jamaica - and for Jamaican expats around the world.

Jamaica will celebrate its 60th anniversary of independence on August 6, with a range of events to mark the milestone.

The Jamaica 60 theme is “Reigniting a Nation For Greatness”.

I only visited Jamaica once - on a short cruise ship stopover - but loved the vibe.

Jamaica is the third-largest island of the Caribbean after Cuba and Hispaniola (shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic).

After a two-year hiatus, Jamaica's popular annual festivals are back this year showcasing some of the country's local talents. The festivals help attract an average of 4.3 million tourists a year.

Signature summer festivals including Reggae Sumfest, Jamaica Dream WKND and MoBay Jerk & Food Festival.

The Jamaica Tourist Board has worked with hotel and resort partners to offer a collection of deals across various destinations in Jamaica, which was ruled by the Spanish and then the British prior to independence in 1962.

Famous Jamaicans include Bob Marley, Usain Bolt and Naomi Campbell.    

Celebrations are also scheduled for Canada, where over 300,000 Jamaicans live - many of them in Toronto.

For details see www.visitjamaica.com. Images: Sonya Kerr, Alejandro Jaramillo, Scop.io.