Good Morning, and Happy Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

A Note from Joel --

Dear Friends,

Apologies for not publishing yesterday, but our computer crashed Monday. Turned out we were the victim of a browser hijacking. By the time I realized what was happening, our tech guy was off duty. He's in California, I'm outside D.C. At 11 a.m. Tuesday, he logged into our computer and 2 hours and 15 minutes later it was as good as new. He had cleaned 2154 cookies, which took up 62.45 MB, and 145256 of browsing history (16,56 gigabytes).

Most of you have IT departments supporting you at work. But if you need low-cost, but very effective computer tech service personally, I can't recommend That Tech Jeff highly enough. And he's reasonable, too. All that work cost just $39.99 as a returning customer.

Now, on to the news ...

Consumers willing to pay 9.7% sustainability premium, despite cost-of-living, inflationary concerns

Consumers are willing to spend an average of 9.7% more on sustainably produced or sourced goods, even as cost-of-living and inflationary concerns weigh, according to PwC’s 2024 Voice of the Consumer Survey.

UK Firms Face Same Threat That Forced Sale of Maker's Mark

Bill Samuels Sr. was 42 years old when he and his wife Margie began developing Maker's Mark. What started essentially as a hobby exploded in popularity when Wall Street Journal reporter David P. Garino had some time to kill and stopped by the Brown Hotel bar. 

If Consumers Want Sustainable Wines, SIP Certified Wants to Help

With a refreshed visual identity and redesigned website, SIP Certified is strengthening the connection between certified winegrowers and today’s sustainability-minded consumers, all while maintaining the independent standards that have defined the program for decades

Highclere Castle Gin's New Flavor: Peach Rose

Highclere Castle Gin, the award-winning super premium gin announces the U.S. launch of Highclere Castle Gin Peach Rose, a new flavored expression expanding the brand's portfolio. 

Lucky One Expands Hard Lemonade Lineup

Lucky One hard lemonade brand expands its lineup with the launch of Lucky One Sweet Tea nationwide. 

Aplós Introduces Dragon Fruit Martini

Aplós, one of the fastest-growing non-alcoholic spirits and cocktail brands, released its newest ready-to-drink cocktail: Dragon Fruit Martini.

Voodoo Ranger Launches "Bet on 11" this March

Voodoo Ranger, America's #1 IPA, is cranking March into overdrive with "Bet On 11", where a can of G-Force Supercharged Juicy IPA turns into a juicy bet during basketball's biggest month. 

Busch Light, Bass Pro Shops Collab on Launch of Limited- Edition Collector's Cans

Busch Light's first-ever collaboration with Bass Pro Shops, North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company, includes the release of special collector’s edition beer cans celebrating anglers everywhere and the iconic outdoor retailer that outfits them. 

Lost Lantern Explores High vs. Low Proof in New Spring 2026 Collection

Lost Lantern, the Vermont-based independent bottler of American whiskey, turns its focus to one of the most spirited discussions in whiskey today: high proof versus low proof.  

Tenuta Luce Releases 2023 Sangiovese-Merlot Blend

Luce, the first wine in Montalcino to bring together Sangiovese and Merlot, has represented a distinctive vision for the territory since its inaugural vintage in 1993.

Cali by Snoop Honors Tupac Shakur with Special Wine

Cali By Snoop drops its most legendary wine yet – 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted, a wine built around a personal tribute from Snoop Dogg to Tupac Shakur, commemorating the 30th anniversary of one of rap’s most iconic collabs.

While You Stand in TSA Lines for Hours, Trump Backs Off 'Unconditional Surrender' Demand

Recall that the bombing campaign of Iran was supposed to last three or four weeks. The idea was Iranians do something never done before in the long and lamentable history of human crime: Rise up and overthrow their oppressors as a result of an aerial assault. That hasn't happened.

Next President Trump demanded "unconditional surrender" from the Iranian regime to end the bombing. That hasn't happened, either. And most experts don't think it will. All the people who could lead such an uprising are dead or have long since fled Iran, they say.

So, now we're at stage 3. President Trump, who takes great offense at the phrase "TACO," shorthand first heard in Wall Street for "Trump Always Chickens Out," told CBS News on Monday U.S. and Israeli forces were “crushing the enemy” and destroying Iran’s military capabilities, and the war was “very complete, pretty much.” But then he said on CBS News also said the U.S. would keep fighting until the enemy is decisively defeated.

If there's confusion on the war front, there's no confusion for travelers – whether you're a bev/al exec traveling on business or a family looking forward to a spring break vacation. The Wall Street Journal reported travelers at Houston’s Hobby Airport said they missed flights Sunday after waiting for more than three hours in long lines that snaked around the length of the concourse. The airport advised passengers to arrive four hours before their flight to allow for TSA delays.

In New Orleans, passengers posted videos of lines that spilled into the parking garage.

The reason for the long TSA lines is Republicans won't accept Democratic demands for legally binding restrictions on immigration enforcement to pass the DHS funding bill. Those demands specifically target ICE and CBP and include requiring judicial warrants for property entry, banning masks on agents, mandating body cameras, and stricter use-of-force policies. 

Thanks for reading. I'll be bad tomorrow. – Joel