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oakbarrel1 · 11 months

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Whisky and Rum: Unraveling the Differences and Similarities

Whisky and rum are two of the most popular and cherished spirits in the world. Both have a rich history and a devoted following of enthusiasts who relish their unique flavors and stories. Yet, despite sharing some similarities, they are distinct in their production, ingredients, aging methods, and taste profiles. In this article, we will delve into the fascinating world of whisky and rum, exploring their differences and uncovering the common threads that bind these beloved spirits.

1. Origins and History:

Whisky and rum have diverse and intriguing origins, each tied to specific regions and cultures. Whisky, also known as whiskey in some countries, traces its roots back to ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia and Egypt, where distillation techniques were first employed. However, the spirit as we know it today largely hails from Scotland and Ireland, where it was distilled as early as the 15th century. Over time, whisky production spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Japan, each developing their unique styles and traditions.

On the other hand, rum has its origins in the Caribbean. It is believed that rum production began in the 17th century on sugarcane plantations in the West Indies. Slaves discovered that molasses, a byproduct of sugar production, could be fermented and distilled, creating a potent and flavorful spirit. The Caribbean quickly became the heart of rum production, with countries like Jamaica, Barbados, and Cuba gaining prominence as rum capitals.

2. Base Ingredients:

One of the most significant differences between whisky and rum lies in their base ingredients. Whisky is primarily made from grains, typically barley, corn, rye, or wheat. Each type of grain imparts distinct characteristics to the final product. For instance, barley-based whisky, like Scotch, often has a malty and peaty flavor profile, while corn-based whisky, like bourbon, is known for its sweetness and smoothness.

In contrast, rum's key ingredient is sugarcane or its byproducts. The process begins with the extraction of sugarcane juice or molasses, which is then fermented and distilled. The base material and the type of sugarcane used can vary among rum-producing countries, leading to diverse flavors ranging from light and delicate to rich and robust.

3. Fermentation and Distillation:

The fermentation and distillation processes also differ between whisky and rum production. For whisky, the grains are mashed, mixed with water, and then fermented to convert the starches into sugars. The resulting liquid, known as "wash," is then distilled in pot stills or continuous column stills. The number of distillations, the type of still used, and the aging process all contribute to the final flavor and character of the whisky.

In the case of rum, the sugarcane juice or molasses is fermented to create a "wash" that contains alcohol. Depending on the country and distillery practices, rum may undergo multiple distillations in pot stills or continuous stills. Additionally, some rums are distilled to higher proofs, resulting in more robust and concentrated flavors.

4. Aging and Maturation:

Aging is a crucial aspect of both whisky and rum production, influencing their taste, complexity, and value. Whisky is typically aged in wooden barrels, traditionally made of oak. The aging process allows the spirit to interact with the wood, imparting flavors and aromas from the barrel, such as vanilla, caramel, and spices. The length of aging varies widely, with some whiskies maturing for a minimum of three years and others aging for several decades.

Similarly, rum is aged in wooden barrels, which may be made from oak or other types of wood. However, there is more flexibility in the aging process of rum compared to whisky. In some regions, like the Caribbean, rum can age faster due to the warmer climate, which accelerates the interaction between the spirit and the wood. This results in a shorter aging period for some rums compared to whiskies.

5. Flavor Profiles:

The diverse base ingredients, fermentation, distillation, and aging processes contribute to distinct flavor profiles for whisky and rum. Whisky aficionados often appreciate the complex interplay of flavors ranging from fruity and floral to smoky and spicy. The influence of the grains, the type of still, and the characteristics of the barrel all play a significant role in shaping the final taste of whisky.

On the other hand, rum offers a broad spectrum of flavors, depending on the type of sugarcane, fermentation process, distillation method, and aging conditions. Some rums are light and delicate with tropical fruit notes, while others are bold and intense, featuring molasses, caramel, and tropical spices.

6. Drinking Culture and Cocktails:

The drinking cultures surrounding whisky and rum also differ significantly. Whisky, especially Scotch, has a strong association with tradition, history, and sipping rituals. Many whisky enthusiasts prefer to enjoy their spirits neat or with a few drops of water to unlock the full range of flavors.

Rum, on the other hand, has a more relaxed and vibrant drinking culture, often associated with tropical settings and exotic cocktails. Classic rum cocktails like the Mojito, Piña Colada, and Daiquiri have become staples in bars worldwide, appealing to both seasoned connoisseurs and newcomers to the world of spirits.

7. Collectibility and Rarity:

Collecting whisky and rum has grown in popularity in recent years, with enthusiasts seeking out limited edition releases, rare expressions, and vintage bottles. Aged whiskies from renowned distilleries can command astronomical prices at auctions, making them sought-after treasures for collectors.

Similarly, aged and well-preserved rums, especially those from historic distilleries or with unique production methods, have also gained attention from collectors and investors. The scarcity of certain rum expressions and their captivating stories can make them valuable additions to any spirits collection.

In Conclusion:

Whisky and rum are both remarkable spirits, each with its own distinct personality and appeal. While whisky draws on centuries-old traditions and craftsmanship, rum embraces its tropical heritage and diverse regional variations. Both spirits offer a vast array of flavors and styles, allowing enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the nuances of these age-old libations. Whether you're a whisky aficionado seeking out peaty single malts or a rum enthusiast on the hunt for a rich, aged expression, the world of whisky and rum has something to delight every palate. So, raise a glass and celebrate the artistry and diversity of these beloved spirits!

#oakbarrel #craftspirits #whiskylovers #rumenthusiasts #barrelaged #craftdistillery #premiumspirits #drinkresponsibly #spiritscollection #oakbarrelaging

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chadwick211 · 1 year

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Best Christmas Gifts for Spirit lovers

Christmas is right around the corner. And there wouldn't be any celebration without some quality holidays spirit. Buying those Christmas gifts in advance would have been a better idea. However, we are here to assist you.

With the festive season upon us, Sendgifts has gathered some of the best bottles to give as gifts. Whether it's for tequila lovers, Scotch whiskey connoisseurs, or the entire family, you'll find the perfect Christmas gifts. Providing a wide range of liquor for spirit lovers, Sendgifts is a leading online liquor store.

Here's a handy guide to help you come across as the thoughtful person if you're still looking for last-minute Christmas gifts. what are you still waiting for? Pick up your phone and take advantage of our affordable Christmas gifts online.

Christmas gifts ideas

Glenmorangie X Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Glenmorangie has released a new single malt Scotch whisky specially made for mixing. Crafted in consultation with top global bartenders, X by Glenmorangie’s sweeter, richer taste is perfect for tall, simple serves, which promise to refresh the way single malt whisky is enjoyed.

Nose: Honeyed malt with underlying lemon and apple, plus a touch of nutmeg bringing oaky warmth.

Palate: Lots of vanilla and apricot notes, with more apple coming along too. A hint of flaked almond later on.

Finish: The honeyed orchard fruit theme continues on the finish, with a pinch of peppercorn.

Remy Martin Vsop Cognac

Remy Martin V.S.O.P is a well-balanced and multi-layered cognac that embodies the perfect harmony of powerful and elegant aromas. This gold color and versatile V.S.O.P is twice the age of a standard V.S, with notes of vanilla and stone fruit such as apricot.

Aroma: Vanilla, hints of licorice, baked apricots and peaches, violet.

Taste: A perfect harmony of elegant and powerful aromas.

Body: Multi-layered with a silky texture.

Jose Cuervo Gold Especial Tequila Mexico

Jose Cuervo Gold Especial Tequila is a blend of tequilas aged for 1 to 2 months. It has rested in oak for a minimum of two months, which gives it its amber hue better known as gold. The aroma has pleasant agave notes. It is exceptionally smooth tasting, with a hint of sweetness and a rich, well-balanced character of oak, spice, and vanilla tones. It boasts a balanced, short, and smooth finish.

Perfect for margaritas and large party gatherings; we highly recommend that you bring this tequila to your most festive events! It makes the classic margarita, frozen, or on the rocks. Enjoy!

Appearance: Gold.

Aroma: Soft, subtly spicy and sweet.

Taste: Cooked agave, vanilla, oak, mixed spices.

Finish: Short and smooth.

Bacardi Gold Rum

BACARDI Gold Rum is the perfect aged rum that you can casually sip or mix into any number of cocktails. This light-bodied rum is filtered through a secret blend of charcoal, mellowed for one to two years in toasted American white oak barrels, and blended to create a light golden rum with a soft oak flavor. This gluten free BACARDI rum imparts notes of vanilla, ginger root and toasted with a dry and slightly sweet finish. When you are out with your friends enjoying the moment, use this rum liquor to bring depth and character to classic rum cocktails like the Cuba Libre, Ginger Snap or Rum and Cola. BACARDI is the oldest and largest family-owned rum company in the world.

Color: Light golden amber. Given that the rum is quite young and charcoal filtered, the color might result from caramel coloring added to provide a consistent hue.

Nose: Light and pleasant notes of pineapple, toffee, and hints of oak, along with a fair amount of alcohol

Palate: Mild, with vanilla and light tropical fruit notes (pineapple, banana, coconut), along with a slightly harsh astringency, which could come from the charcoal used in filtration or from insufficient aging—Bacardi Gold is less than two years old.

Finish: The oak and char linger in the back of the throat long after the sweeter flavors have faded.

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Whisky

Four Roses Small Batch is created from four original and limited bourbons. Those have been expertly selected and blended by the Master Distiller. Aromas of sweet spice and dried fruit lead to a full, rich palate with mellow notes of ripe berry, vanilla, toffee, and caramel. Flavors of oak and spice linger through the soft, smooth finish.

Appearance: Amber.

Aroma: Spicy aromas with hints of cedar, cloves and cinnamon.

Taste: Lovely flavors of red plums, berries and apples with touches of peppercorn and toasted rye.

Finish: Smooth and soft finish with a slight vanilla end.

Chivas Regal Blended Scotch Whisky

Chivas Regal 12-Year-Old is a blended scotch whisky crafted for a smooth, warm taste and mouthfeel from scotch whiskies that are at least 12 years old. Chivas Regal 12-Year-Old is delicate on the nose with a bouquet of fruit, aniseed, toffee, and wild herbs. Round and creamy on your palate, you experience a bold taste with notes of honey, apple, caramel, and vanilla.

Nose: A creamy, aromatic melange of vanilla custard, hints of aniseed, lemon curd, and butter toffee. Wood shavings and dried banana chips develop with just a hint of cassis.

Palate: More of those banana chips showing through on the palate, this time there’s a creamy hit of barley malt too, pepped up with a little allspice. Notes of ground walnut and caramel.

Finish: Light spice and black pepper on the tail. Lingering notes of cereal sweetness.

Overall: A spicy, beautifully balanced blend. Lots going on here.

#sendgifts #Christmas Gifts #quality holiday spirit #best bottles for gifting #perfect christmas gifts #online liquor store #wide collection of liquor #last minute Christmas gifts #perfect Christmas gifts online at affordable price #Christmas gifts ideas

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treasuregates · 2 years

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Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Runamok Maple, Organic Vermont Maple Syrup, Pantry Favorites Pairing Collection.

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boozehouse · 2 years

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Courage is found when whiskey is around

HOBART WHISKEY

While early distillations used wash purchased from Moo Brew, our goal was to do all of the brewing ourselves. We were able to build up our brewing and fermentation system in 2017, and we have been using it ever since.

Our 1800L Knapp Lewer copper pot still, which is a local product, is the only one we use to make whiskey. Each release is special, hand-distilled, and uniquely sliced with choices made only on the basis of aroma and flavour.

We decided early on in our whiskey journey to mature mostly in American oak former bourbon casks.

This choice was taken for a variety of reasons, including the fact that we adore ex-bourbon matured whisky, which fits in with our philosophy of producing whiskey we love, and secondly, the ex-bourbon gives us a tremendous opportunity to transmit our favourite flavours and traits into the whisky.

We have had a lot of experience maturing products in former bourbon barrels and then finishing them in various other barrels, such as fortified and wine barrels, among others.

This enables us to make sure the whisky ages and is balanced without acquiring an excessive number of tannins or becoming overly flavor-driven and young.

We do have other casks that will mature fully, but it is unclear how we will use them; they could be split and combined with other casks to produce the ideal whisky for us.

We recently achieved a milestone that allowed us to bottle and release Hobart Whisky Signature, a product from our core line.

We have been distributing whiskies one at a time for the past two years. We can release any barrel finish, alcohol content, and number of bottles with our packaging and labelling quite easily.

While this has been really well received, and we plan to keep doing it, there are some restrictions, such as making it difficult for customers, pubs, restaurants, and off-premises retailers to reorder goods they enjoy.

Single malt Hobart Whisky Signature is produced using a combination of small, carefully chosen ex-bourbon casks made of American oak. A delightful light single malt aged in ex-bourbon casks that thrills with a strong malty base, some faint spice, and a long, intricate finish.

Our objective is to ensure that Hobart Whisky Signature is consistently good and easily accessible to you in your preferred bar, eatery, or bottle shop.

Want a sip of the renowned Tasmanian whisky? Bill Lark, the "Godfather of Australian Whisky," founded Tasmania's first authorised distillery since colonial times in 1992, and Hobart is pleased to honour him. At the Lark Distillery Cellar Door next to Constitution Dock, you may sample the whisky that made Tasmania famous throughout the globe along with Forty Spotted Gin and Quiet Cannon Rum.

When Sullivans Cove, a fellow Hobart institution, won best whisky at the World Whiskies Awards in 2014 for its single malt brewed with Tasmanian barley, it created its own whisky waves. During daily tours and tastings at the cellar door near Hobart Airport, sip the fine stuff in addition to their small-batch brandy.

Batch No. 18-001 of the Hobart Single Malt First Release from Devil's Distillery was bottled on August 2, 2018. The entire set comes in a standard Hobart whisky tube, and there is a neck label attesting to its First Release status that is connected by thread.

The liquid is extracted from multiple ex-Bourbon casks of 20 and 40 L. On a rainy Monday morning at the distillery itself, I gave it a try. The golden drop warmed my heart, if not my ice-cold feet, as I was reminded of all those previous distillery experiences in far-off Scotland, sampling with the distiller or the manager.

One bottle will be used for drinking and the other will be stored in the collector's cabinet under the stairs. After all, the distillery is "Sold Out" and the majority of the 423 bottles of the First Release were already devoured. Each bottle's side has information on the expression, including a unique bottle number.

Jim Murray's 2019 Whisky Bible awarded this outstanding whiskey a Liquid Gold grade of 94.

All kind of Whiskey’s are available on BoozeHouse.

Boozehouse is an online alcohol delivery website where there are various liquors.

#boozehouse #boozehouseaustralia

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nwbeerguide · 2 years

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With a focus still on health and safety, Brouwer's Cafe invites you to celebrate 20 years of HardLiver, February 26th and 27th.

image courtesy Brouwer’s Cafe

While maintaining a sense of optimism, but still following health department guidelines, Brouwer's Cafe has shared their list for the 20th anniversary of "Hardliver" barleywine festival. Showcasing some 25+ inspired beers, man over 10% alcohol by volume. For the beloved alehouse in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, it was two decades ago when a group of imbibers met up in another Seattle neighborhood, Phinney.

Originally held in the Phinney Ridge Center as a Bottleworks festival early on before Brouwer’s Café was open, in 2005 when we opened it was with this festival, what a way to kick it all off. In one way or another the festival has continued ever year since. And it will continue.

With beers hailing from as far away as Middleton, England, to beers made just down the street from Brouwer's Cafe, you're invited to stop in today or tomorrow. Plus, to reward the journey, here is the draft list featured Saturday and Sunday, February 26th & 27th.

2022 Lumberbeard BA Barleywine 16.2% ABV

---- Machine House Barleywine in Cask 10.5% ABV

2021 Matchless Ol’Lifewine in Cask 13.4% ABV

---- Midnight Sun The Curse 12% ABV

---- North Fork Dad of Son Of Frog 11.5% ABV

2015 Oakshire Barleywine 10.4% ABV

2019 Old Schoolhouse Brewer’s Reserve 10.5% ABV

2021 Pelican Mother of All Storms 14% ABV

---- pFriem Bourbon Barrel-Aged Barleywine 11% ABV

2019 Reuben’s Brews 3 Ryes Men 13.7% ABV

2012 Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 9.6% ABV

2019 Skookum Barrenwood 11% ABV

---- Three Magnets Old Skook Whiskey Bbl-aged 11.6% ABV

---- Varietal Ritual of Oblivion 12% ABV

2012 Anchor Old Foghorn 9.4% ABV

2019 Big Time Old Wooly 10.3% ABV

---- Boneyard Barrel-aged Mr. Centaur 13% ABV

---- Block 15 Hypnosis 12.5% ABV

2017 Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA 18% ABV

2021 Ecliptic Rye Barrel-Aged Orange Giant 15% ABV

2021 Engine House #9 Sekiu Barrel-aged Barleywine Batch 2 10% ABV

---- Evil Twin Freudian Slip Barleywine 10.5% ABV

2021 Ex Novo Nevermore 12.1% ABV

2019 Fremont Brew 3000 13.2% ABV

2020 Fremont Ye Olde Centaur 10% ABV

2013 Firestone Walker Sucaba 12.5% ABV

---- Fort George Etym 15.1% ABV

---- Fort George Etymology 14.7% ABV

---- Fort George Ology 14.9% ABV

---- Georgetown Magpie Tiny Town 15.3% ABV

2018 Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws 11.5% ABV

2010 J.W. Lees Harvest Ale Calvados EN Cask 11.5% ABV

Besides the preceding barleywines, Brouwer's Cafe will also feature ales and lagers, not associated with HardLiver just in case you're more in the mood for a kriek, a pilsner, or an ipa. For a list of everything on draft or that is edible Saturday and Sunday, visit https://bit.ly/3vkQdL8 for beers and https://bit.ly/3syjKiZ for food. Or, just show up and ask your server. Last, if you do come for the barleywines, you're asked to review the menu itemized numerically, and order by number and glass volume listed in the price breakdown (e.g. number 1 12, or number 16 8).

For more information on Brouwer's Cafe, visit https://www.brouwerscafe.com/.

About Brouwer’s Cafe

We have 64 craft beers on draft, a selection of over 400 bottles from both the U.S. and abroad, an exceptional selection of Scotch and American Whisk(e)ys and a full service bar, and Belgian-inspired cuisine.

Our Belgian-inspired cuisine includes our versions of Belgian classics such as pommes frites (true Belgian fried potatoes), stoofvlees (a thick Belgian stew served on Frites), and the Belgian staple of moules-frites. We also serve a variety of sandwiches, such as our very popular lamb burger, which is ground in house. We also have a selection of salads, desserts, and a rotating specials menu.

We serve Seattle's Fremont neighborhood seven days a week, opening at 11 am. Our "Power Hour" is from 3 pm to 6 pm everyday and boasts a delicious selection of small plates and $1 off all draft beers and well cocktails.

from Northwest Beer Guide - News - The Northwest Beer Guide https://bit.ly/3vmP4mw

#Beer #News #Brewery

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queenofspades20 · 4 years

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Bloodbath & Beyond 1/?

Pairing: Vampire!Loki x Reader

Synopsis: Loki is the original vampire. He has grown bored with the women he’s been with over the centuries. That all changes one day when he takes a second look at Y/N, the owner of a bar. Inspired by the song Bloodbath & Beyond by Ice Nine Kills.

Getting into a Halloween mood, so actually felt like writing. This will likely be about 2-4 chapters total (haven’t quite decided where I’m going with this, honestly). Hope you enjoy!

Word count: about 1.7k.

Warnings: really none this chapter. Probably some gore/angst in future chapters.

As Loki looked around the crowded bar, he tried to find his prey for the evening. The bar was dimly lit by string lights that ran the entire length of the ceiling. There were a few neon beer signs on the walls that helped to cover some of the peeling wallpaper. The booths that were around the room were filled with parties. The room carried the scent of beer and bourbon, the main drinks that were offered at this particular establishment, and was filled with the heat of the bodies that filled it. Loki cradled a glass of Four Roses Single Barrel in his hand. While his diet was comprised mainly of blood, he did enjoy the occasion glass of bourbon, even if it didn’t do anything for him. It also allowed him to blend in with the crowds easier. Loki wore a black suit with a dark green shirt. His raven hair slightly slicked back, reaching his shoulders. As his gaze moved to the back of the room, he saw a blonde woman with her friends. She seemed to be the odd one out, which made her the perfect meal for the night. It had been some time since he fed. Though he had gotten several women to leave with him, when he got to the point of feeding, he simply lost interest and let them go, wiping their memories of their interactions with him.

Loki made his way towards the woman, his eyes never leaving her. She looked up and met his eyes. A blush covered her face as she noticed how his eyes didn’t move from her.

Y/N was standing behind the bar, handing a patron their drink, when she noticed the tall dark-haired man make his way across the room. She sighed to herself. As the owner of the bar, Y/N had noticed the man in her bar a few times before. He always ordered a single glass of bourbon that he nursed throughout the night. He always left with a woman, but never the same one more than once. Y/N had a little bit of a crush on the man, if she was honest with herself, which she refused to be. She found him handsome and he was always kind to her and the rest of the staff. He usually came on the busiest nights, so she had never been able to have a long conversation with him. Y/N wished that one night he would pay more attention to her, but didn’t think it would ever happen. Oh well, Y/N thought to herself. No use wishing for the attention of someone who probably wouldn’t want more than one night anyways. Y/N decided that her staff had the bar sufficiently run and made her way to her office to finish some paperwork.

Loki felt the eyes of someone other than his prey on him. He thought about looking for the source, but didn’t want to lose his prey. Even though he had lost his interest in feeding, he knew he needed to feed soon. Unfortunately, as soon as he got the blonde outside, his desire for feeding went away. He sighed as he wiped the memory of the blonde and sent her back to her friends.

“Why can’t I feed?” Loki groaned to himself. Loki felt his frustration grow. He thought back to the feeling he had in the bar. Maybe I should try and find the person who had been staring at me.

Loki made his way back into the bar. He surveyed the area but could not feel the draw from before. He decided to hang around for a bit to see if the person came back. Loki settled in a seat at the bar and ordered another bourbon.

After deciding she had done enough paperwork for the evening, made her way back to the bar. Even though she was the owner, she loved working the bar and making conversation with the patrons. She loved that everyone had a story and the job was never the same night twice. As she exited from the back, she saw her tall stranger sitting back at the bar. He was one that always intrigued her because she never could quite get his story.

“Thought you left,” Y/N said with a bit of humor in her voice. “You don’t usually stick around that long.”

Loki felt the gaze from earlier. He smiled to himself. “I think I forgot something. I was wondering if you would be willing to help me,” Loki said as he turned around in his seat. Across the bar from him was the owner, Y/N he thought her name was. He had always been intrigued by her, but never wanted to pursue her because of his nature.

“What did you forget?” Though they had a few interactions, the stranger rarely said anything to her more than a please, thank you, or his drink order. Y/N decided to take advantage of his chattiness.

“Your name.” Loki decided he wanted to see if anything would come out talking to her. Worst case scenario, he made her forget their interaction and he would move on with his life.

Y/N laughed. “Wow, you’ve been coming here for how long and you forget my name? Ouch.” Y/N placed her hand on her chest in mock hurt. “I must not be very memorable.”

Loki liked this showing of sassiness from her. “Darling, you are quite memorable, but I don’t think we’ve ever actually introduced ourselves.”

Y/N thought to herself for a moment. “I think you are correct. In that case, I’m Y/N. And you are?” Y/N asked with a lift of her eyebrow and a cheeky smile on her lips.

“I am Loki.” Loki reached out his hand towards her, as if to shake hands. When her hand reached his, Loki moved her hand closer him and kissed the back. Y/N felt her cheeks heat up from the contact. His mouth was a bit on the colder side and she felt a shiver run down her back. “A pleasure, Lady Y/N.”

Y/N snorted. “I’m hardly a lady.”

Loki, now stroking the back of Y/N’s hand with his thumb, stated, “On the contrary. You are always gracious in how you deal with customers. You are kind. You are very much a lady."

Y/N just rolled her eyes. “Sure. I’ll take your word for it. So, now that you have my name, is there something else I can help you with?”

Loki looked deep into her Y/E/C eyes. “When do you finish here?”

“Any time I want really. I have a manager and I own the place. I just like hanging out here.”

“Come with me.” Loki used his power of persuasion.

“I don’t think so. You know, I get you’re a smooth talker and all, but I’m gonna pass. I’m not really interested in being just another notch on your bedpost.” Y/N would be lying if she said she wasn’t attracted to Loki, but she also saw how many women he had left with throughout the months he had been coming to her bar. Y/N pulled her hand away from Loki’s.

Loki looked surprised. His powers had never failed to work before. “I. . . I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“You didn’t,” Y/N said matter-of-factly. “I just know what I don’t want.”

“Fair enough. How about I walk you home then?”

“That would be alright, I guess. But why would you want to waste your time with me?”

“It’s not a waste. I find myself intrigued by you and would love to get to know you better. I’m sorry if I gave you a poor impression of me.”

“No apologies needed. Let me grab my purse from my office and we can go,” Y/N said with a smile. Y/N walked back to her office and grabbed her bag. She let her manager know she was leaving for the night and let him know he needed to lock the place up.

Loki was waiting at the bar when she returned. “Ready to go?”

Loki held out his arm and Y/N looped her arm through his. “Lead the way, my lady.”

The walk to the apartment went quickly and Loki found himself sad at the thought of saying goodnight. He tried to think of a way to prolong their time together. He decided to be direct.

“Tell me, Y/N. How can I convince you to spend more time with me?”

“Well, asking is a good start. And I guess also tell me what you’re looking for. I don’t like to waste my time.”

“Would you care to join me for a walk tomorrow night, say around 10?”

Y/N stared at him for a few moments. “Because that doesn’t sound like a serial killer thing to ask. No dinner, just a walk? Where did you have in mind for this walk?” Y/N just continued to stare incredulously at Loki with a single eyebrow raised.

“I understand the time is unconventional, but I am not usually free until about 9pm this time of year.”

“What are you, a vampire?” Y/N laughed.

Loki choked and coughed to try and hide his reaction. He gave a slight chuckle. He didn’t want to lie to Y/N but he also thought it was too soon to tell her the truth of his nature. “I work in customer service. My hours tend to be a bit later, that’s all.”

“I was just kidding, Loki. I mean, I own a bar. My hours tend to be nighttime anyways. We can do a walk tomorrow. You want to meet me here or at the bar?”

“Let’s meet at the bar. We can have a drink beforehand.”

“Alright. Tomorrow night, 10 o’clock, at my bar.” Y/N confirmed the details. “Did you want my number in case you change your mind?”

“There’s nothing that would change my mind about wanting to see you again,” Loki assured her. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. “Here is my card. My number is on there, in case you change your mind.”

“I’m feeling pretty confident in my decision. I’ll see you tomorrow, Loki.” Y/N put her hand on Loki’s shoulder and leaned in. She placed a kiss on his cheek. “It’s a bit cold out. Make sure you stay warm.”

Loki smiled at her. “’Til tomorrow, my lady.”

#loki x reader #loki laufeyson #vampire!loki #vampire!loki x reader

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barunderthestairs · 4 years

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Bourbon Basics; How to read a bottle and generally understand what you are ordering or buying.

How did Bourbon get it's name?

Much like Cognac, Champagne, and Tequila, Bourbon's name originated from the area it was originally made. Bourbon is a county in the state of Kentucky. Why does is sound French? Because it was named after the royal French Family, the Bourbon's, who aided that area of the United States during the revolution for independence from Great Britain. Like many parts of Kentucky, it was named to honor the French who helped them gain freedom from the big bad Brits.

Can Bourbon be made outside of Kentucky?

Yes, but it cannot legally be made outside of the United States. Just like Tequila is to Mexico, Bourbon is to the United States. Of course there are distilleries that try to imitate Bourbon in other countries, but it cannot be sold as "Bourbon". Why not? The same reason why Tequila can only legally come from 5 states in Mexico--quality control. It wouldn't be regulated by the same government imposed laws and practices that Bourbon is regulated by in the US and the quality and reputation of Bourbon would be inconsistent and degraded.

What are the laws and practices that regulate Bourbon?

There are 6 rules that make Bourbon, Bourbon. They are defined by title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations and are acknowledged by Congress. The first came about on May 4th in 1964 and states that Bourbon is a "distinctive product of the US". Bourbon MUST be produced in the US. It's mash bill must be made from at least 51% corn. It must be distilled at 160 proof or below. It has to be put into a new charred oak "container" (this does not specifically mean a barrel). It is put into a container at 125 proof or below. Last, but very importantly, Bourbon shall contain no added substances other than water.

As you see there was no requirement of age for Bourbon. Some Bourbons are bottled and sold at less than a year of age. Often times new distilleries source Bourbon from more established distilleries and create a Bourbon that tastes how they are expecting their aging Bourbon to taste. This is important for new distilleries income and longevity as a company. I personally have enjoyed many different young and sourced Bourbons. It's a testament to a distiller's skill and creativity to nose, taste, and craft a good tasting Bourbon when they only have these sourced and young Bourbons to work with.

Why are some Bourbon's labeled "Straight Bourbon"?

This means the Bourbon was aged a minimum of 2 years. It also has a sub requirement that if the Straight Bourbon was aged less that 4 years the bottle must be labeled with an age statement. If a bottle says "Kentucky Straight Bourbon" or "Kentucky Bourbon" then that Bourbon was produced AND aged for at least 1 year in Kentucky. That is why a Bourbon bottled in Texas can be labeled as Kentucky Bourbon.

What does it mean when a label states a Bourbon is Bottled in Bond?

Due to poor tasting and dangerously low quality alcohols labeled as "Bourbon" being sold around the United States in the 1800s, real Bourbon distillers approached the US government with outrage for the tarnished name of their product. President Grover Cleveland signed the Bottled in Bond Act in 1897 making the government the guaranteer of distilled whiskey. There are 4 rules that allow a product to meet the requirements of a "Bonded" Whiskey. To guarantee that the distillery that sold the product actually made it, the whiskey was made at 1 distillery. To guarantee that the whiskey in the bottle is all the same age, the whiskey was made in 1 season. To prevent excessive watering down of the whiskey, it was bottled at 100 proof. Lastly, the whiskey was aged for at least 4 years in a government bonded warehouse. In today's world, a Bottle in Bond seal will guarantee the Bourbon was made at 1 distillery, bottled at 100 proof, and that it aged for at least 4 years. It no longer guarantees that the Bourbon was made in 1 season.

If a bottle has an age statement, does that mean the Bourbon is all from the same season?

Nope. The age on the bottle refers to the youngest Bourbon that was added to create that batch of bottled product.

What about Bourbon that was aged in a second barrel type?

When Bourbon enters a used barrel or a barrel that not a charred oak barrel, it looses it's status as a Bourbon. If the second barrel the Bourbon was aged in was a charred oak barrel, it is still Bourbon. Legally, a bourbon that has gone through a second barrel aging must have that stated on the label. It really is up to consumers sometimes to keep distilleries honest. The TTB (Alcohol, Tobacco tax, and Trade Bureau) isn't the best at this.

Other common things you will find on the labels of Bourbon bottles that are not required to be stated by law but hint to the Bourbon's beginnings:

A small batch Bourbon just indicates that the bottle is made up by a number barrels of Bourbon. If the bottle claims it's a single barrel, that bottle is made up of Bourbon from 1 barrel (it better be!). A barrel strength bourbon (most of my favorites fall in this category) indicate that no water was added to proof down the Bourbon after it was taken out of the Barrel. Sour mash on a label refers to the mash bill being made up with a percentage of leftover water and grain solids from the previous mash cook. This practice creates consistency to the pH balance of the water and adds important nutrients to the fermentation process. It is a very common practice to use sour mash and it usually isn't stated on bottle labels. A lot of statements on label's we are used to seeing today were created out of competitive marketing.

Why would someone refer to a Bourbon as wheated or high-rye?

Why not? Just kidding. Although the legal requirement of Bourbon states that 51% of the mash bill (grain recipe) must be corn it usually is more 60-75% corn. Malted barley usually makes up anywhere from 5-15% of the mash bill. The last varying percentage of the grains used add distinct tastes to the Bourbon. If most of the remaining mash bill was rye, it would have a little more spiciness to its taste (hints* high-rye Bourbon). If wheat made up the majority of the last 35-10% of the Bourbons mash bill, it would have a sweeter taste as a finished product (hints* wheated Bourbon).

What other things affect the taste of a Bourbon?

The barrel will most likely determine 60-70% of the Bourbons flavor. The level of the toast on the barrel (cooked portion of wood), the char level (burnt oak inside the barrel), and the size of the barrel all effect the flavors of the Bourbon. The amount of time that the Bourbon ages in the barrel and the environment the barrel is in while its aging will affect the end taste. By environment I'm referring to the temperature, humidity, & seasonal changes of where the barrel is aging.

Is there any particular reason why Bourbon is mostly made in Kentucky?

When settlers made their way to Kentucky, they planted a f* ton of corn & other grains and had more than they could consume or brew perishable beer with. So they ended up preserving a lot of their corn & grains by making Bourbon. There is no real answer for why Bourbon began being aged in charred barrels, other than stories of aging houses catching on fire and other silly stories like that. Who knows, maybe that's true. Kentucky also sits on a bed of limestone which provides natural purified water that contributes to the quality of Kentucky Bourbon. Kentucky also experiences 4 seasons which balances the aging process and it has an abundance of oak trees for cooperages to make barrels from. Personally, I believe the rich history and knowledge that the distilleries in Kentucky have make up a lot of reasoning for why Kentucky Bourbon is so varied, interesting to explore, and well respected. The demand for good Kentucky made Bourbon is continually rising.

There are a lot of distilleries outside of Kentucky that are making really interesting Bourbon products that I respect. I have been extremely blessed to have been able to grow in the presently exploding time of great quality Bourbons and will always feel homey with a pour of my favorite spirit. Give it to me straight, bonded, high-rye, barrel proof, I don't care as long as you give it to me. There is a plethora of great Bourbons out there to adventure through, but I do have the strongest sentiment for Kentucky Bourbon. If I was away from Kentucky long enough I would need some Kentucky made Bourbon to ward off my homesickness as I imagine someone who grew up in Jalisco, Mexico would need some Tequila to ward of their homesickness. In my opinion Kentucky Bourbon is the crowning glory of spirits in the United States. You're free to try and prove me wrong.

I plan on diving further into specific distilleries, Bourbons, and tasting comparison recommendations in posts down the road. I also plan on showcasing some tours I have done and plan on doing in the future. If you are new to the Bourbon world, I hope that this post helped impart you with some basic knowledge to delve deeper into tastings and sparked an interest in you to dive into the history of Bourbon distilleries.

Keep your mind open to all the lovely Bourbon opportunities and don't be an asshole. Bourbon is for everyone (except children).

Thanks for reading,

Sammy

#bourbon #kentucky bourbon #kentucky bourbon trail #whiskey #american whiskey #distilling bourbon #understanding bourbon #barunderthestairs

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angrybabylawyer · 3 years

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Lawblr Themed Beers

So talking about Benevolent Overlord got me thinking about beers that give me Lawblr vibes. Also, I’m avoiding case write ups. Here is my list. These were chosen based on name/description. I hope y’all find these as entertaining as I did. Enjoy. PLEASE tell me what y’all are drinking in these terrible times slash what beers give you lawblr vibes.

ABANDON ALL HOPE - 13.9% Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout

Artwork by R. Land

Abandon All Hope is an overwhelming bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout. Rich notes of chocolate and oak on a pillowy blanket of vanilla come from a year spent in Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, Heaven Hill 10 year, and Jack Daniels Single Barrel Select barrels and aging on fresh vanilla beans. At once overpowering you and lulling you to dreams of a distant past you can’t quite remember in a world teeming with noise and flesh, abandon all hope ye who enter here. Orpheus Brewing

YE WHO ENTER HERE RESERVE - 12.5% Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout

Artwork by R. Land

Menacing in stature, Ye Who Enter Here is aged for 30 months in a single Heaven Hill bourbon barrel with Madagascar vanilla beans, Narino and Ixlama coffee beans, ghost peppers, and guajillo and Puya chiles. At once overpowering you and lulling you to dreams of a distant past you can’t quite remember in a world teeming with noise and flesh, abandon all hope ye who enter here. Orpheus Brewing

THE 12TH LABOR - 13.9% Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout

Artwork by David Hale

Menacing in stature, The 12th Labor is a huge Bourbon Barrel-aged Imperial Stout with intensely layered flavors of dark chocolate, coffee, dark fruit, and wood. You’ll be lulled to dreams of a distant past you can’t quite remember in a world teeming with noise and flesh. With each sip, The 12th Labor is a struggle at the edge of darkness. Orpheus Brewing

Benevolent Overlord - 12.2% Coffee Hazelnut Imperial Stout

We welcome our Benevolent Overlord with this double mash American Imperial Stout. Loaded with coffee and hazelnuts, complemented by flavors of milk chocolate and vanilla. At 12.2% ABV, this boozy beer will impress the most discerning rulers. Monday Night Brewing

PAIRINGS - Pizza, pork shoulder, crème brûlée

Last Will & Testament - 12% Bourbon Barrel Aged English Old Ale

Last Will And Testament is a straightforward, adjunct-free English old ale that has been aging away in bourbon barrels for fourteen months. With Maris Otter as a backbone and plenty of dark malts, this boozy 12% ABV ale has notes of caramel, raisin, and tobacco. This unapologetic liquid pulls delightful notes of vanilla and oak from the barrels, combined with the slow-sipping qualities of a fine port. Monday Night Brewing

PAIRINGS - Roast beef, pumpkin pie, double Gloucester cheese

Tears Of My Enemies - 9.3% Aged Imperial Milk Stout

There is nothing more sumptuous than the misfortune of your enemies. That dark, smoky taste of revenge takes over as it hits your lips, marching upon your tongue like an army towards certain victory. In addition to the smoke and locally-roasted Batdorf & Bronson coffee on the nose. This small batch beer was released in four different versions (one not pictured). 1) aged in rum barrels; 2) aged in brandy barrels; 3) aged in bourbon barrels; and 4) aged for several months in maple cognac barrels. This beer is roasty, chocolately, and, like the tears of your enemies, the most delicious thing you’ve ever tasted. Monday Night Brewing

PAIRINGS - Chocolate, porterhouse steaks, victory

Situational Ethics - 13.8% Aged Imperial Stout

The Situational Ethics series comes to an end this year with three dessert-inspired imperial stouts. One variant is our take on s’mores. Maple scotch barrels bring in smoky flavor while Ghirardelli milk chocolate, Ugandan and Madagascar vanilla beans, graham crackers, marshmallows, cinnamon and coffee transforms this stout into your favorite gooey, campfire treat. One is a tribute to Rocky Road ice cream—melding rye barrels, toasted macadamia nuts, hazelnuts and almonds, Madagascar vanilla beans, and Ghirardelli milk chocolate to mimic the chocolatey nuttiness of this classic ice cream. And the third bottle is an ode to vanilla affogato. With a combination of toasted coconut, Batdorf & Bronson coffee, espresso beans, and Ugandan vanilla beans, we’re able to recreate the beautiful contrast of bold espresso and sweet vanilla ice cream. Best enjoyed on its own or poured over coconut ice cream. Monday Night Brewing

PAIRINGS - Friends, family and great conversation

Note: all of these are local (to me). When the pandemic hit I made the conscious decision to start buying my beer at the breweries around me since that way they got 100% of my monies. Also, the breweries here did legit drive throughs. I order and pay online and drive to the brewery. I show the masked person at the tent my confirmation number, they load my trunk and I drive away. It’s awesome and socially distant.

#beers #real lawblr #what are you drinking?

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greatdrams · 4 years

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Whisky 101

let’s begin

Love whisky but want to know more about it? We’ve got everything you need to know right here.

What is Whisky?

A distilled spirit made from water, grains and yeast. Scotch is whisky that has been made in Scotland. Bourbon, Rye and Grain and all types of whisky made with varying amounts of different grains in their recipes.Barley is most commonly used in Scotch, but rye, corn and wheat are also used.

Different countries have different regulations regarding the production of whisky, for instance in Scotland it has to be made at one distillery (unless it’s a blend) aged for a minimum of 3 years and bottled at 40% ABV or above.

There are several categories of whisky:

Single Malt

This is Scotch that is distilled and matured in one distillery, in Scotland, for a minimum of three years and a day. Legally it has to be made form only barley and water and in pot stills.

Single Grain

This is Scotch that contains more than one grain but is still distilled at a single distillery.

Blend

This is a mix of many different single malts and grains from many different distilleries, all blended together.

Blended Malt

This is a blend that is made of only single malts from different distilleries.

Blended Grain

This is a blend that is made of only single grain from different distilleries.

Where does the word “Whisky”come from?

The word we use today is the anglicise version of “uisgebeatha”, or“usquebaugh”, which means water of life in Gaelic. This language was spoken throughout Scotland and Ireland for a long time and many words from Gaelic are still used today.

There are two ways to spell whisky, with an E or without. The rule goes that if there is an E in the name of the country, then they will use an E to spell whisky. There is no definite way of knowing where this came from or why it became the norm, but there you have it!

How is whisky made?

Whisky typically goes through five different stages to reach the final product: Malting, Mashing, Fermentation, Distillation, Ageing.

Malting: Grains are soaked in water for 2-3 days and spread on a “malting floor” to germinate. Germination produces enzymes and starch that add flavour to whisky. Malting can take place over anything between 8 and 21 days, depending on theseason. The grains are repeatedly turned to ensure there is consistency. They are also dried in kilns. This is often when peated flavours are added to the grains as the kilns are fired by burning peat.

Mashing: This is when the grains are fully dried and ground into a powder called grist. Grist is then added to warm water in a mash tun.The enzymes convert starch into sugars in this mixture and the result is called wort.

Fermentation: Wort is added to a washbackand yeast is added to the mix. Fermentation takes place and alcohol is produced in the resulting reaction between the yeast and the starch.

Distillation: In order to separate the water and alcohol it is put through a process of heating and cooling. Alcohol evaporates at around 72 degrees and water at 100, so the alcohol is collected as it evaporates first. This is where copper pot stills are used, the most common kind of stills used in the whisky making process. In Scotland, the mix is distilled twice but in Ireland and certain American distilleries, the mix is distilled three times for extra smoothness.

Ageing: Distillation results in a New Make Spirit, which is whisky before it is aged. In order to legally be called and sold as whisky, it needs to be matured in barrels. Each barrel will have a certain level of char which imparts smoky flavours to the liquid. The most common types of barrels used for maturation are Bourbon and Sherry barrels, although lots of different types can be used. Ageing and maturation can last any number of years, but must be over three in Scotland.

Finishing: Some distilleries will transfer malt into another barrel in order to bring out or add a little bit more flavour. This is usually for a shorter period or time and in different casks to what was used for maturation. Not all whiskies are finished.

What is a blend?

A blend is a whisky made up of a combination of single malts and single grain whiskies. They are created by highly skilled Master Blenders and Master Distillers who have excellent tasting abilities.

The act of blending is literally the act of combining the whiskies, but it has to be done in a very specific way, otherwise the result will not taste so great. Blends also have to be consistent, which is difficult when mass producing them and that is why master Blenders have to be so well versed in whisky flavours.

scotch regions

Unlike most other countries (with perhaps America as an exception for the “Kentucky” and “Tennessee” categories) Scotland is divided into whisky making regions. The region that a Scotch is made in will usually denote the flavour profile of the whisky, although this is not true for every single distillery.

Speyside

Speyside has around 42 working distilleries, making it the most distillery dense part of Scotland. It is in the northeast, in an area that is sometimes referred to as the Highlands, near the river Spey. It is home to some big names in Scotch, include in Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet, Aberlour and The Macallan.

Malts from Speyside tend to be lighter in body, with big sherry notes. There is plenty of spice and smoke but not so much meat. Fruity, sweet flavours also play a big part in the Speysde flavour profile.

Islay

There are eights distilleries currently on the isle of Islay, but there are more opening in coming years, including the rebirth of Port Ellen. It is not included in the Islands region because it has so many distilleries and because the malt made there is distinctively peated. Distilleries on Islay include Lagavulin, CaolIla, Ardbeg, Bruichladdich, Bowmore, Laphroaig, and Bunnahabhain.

Islay tends to have heavier malts, with lots of peat. Due to the small size of the island and the richness of the peat, there are a lot of sea side notes including seaweed, brine, iodine and salt in these malts.

Islands

Not everyone recognises the islands as a whisky region, often including them in the Highland region. There are several working distilleries on islands, including Jura, Arran, Talisker, Scapa, Highland Park and Tobermoray.

Similarly to Islay, island malts have heavier, peated flavours although the flavours are not as strong as with Islay malts. They are slightly lighter than Islay malts and the smoke is softer.

Highlands

The Highlands is the largest region geographically and includes distilleries such as Oban, Aberfeldy, The Dalmore and Glenmorangie. Malts from here have a broad range of flavours. They can be quite light bodied and floral, with sherry notes and lots of sweetness, or heavily peated with some seaside qualities.

Lowlands

The Lowlands is large geographically but only has four working distilleries, although there are new distilleries planned to open. Distilleries already operating here include Auchentoshan, Ailsa Bay, Glenkinchie and Bladnoch.

Lowland malts have lighter, more earthen flavours and are quite mellow in flavour. They are distinctly herbal and fresh.

Campbeltown

Once the most densely populated whisky region, Campbeltown has fallen off the whisky region radar in recent years. It was once known asthe Whisky capital of the world” but now it is only home to three working distilleries, Glen Scotia, Glengyle and Springbank, Campbeltown malts are similar to Islay malts and have lots of peat smoke and seaside notes. They are wonderfully complex and rich.

The post Whisky 101 appeared first on GreatDrams.

from GreatDrams https://ift.tt/36sQGL9 Greg

#whisky #GreatDrams

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dazzlingfantasiesblogs · 4 years

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You Walked Away

Hey loves here is another story I am working on.

I have so many going, ideas just keep flowling.

Warning: 18+ ONLY. VIOLENCE,smut talk.

Please do not post my wok anywhere else.

Gifs are not mine.

Italics - Flash backs

Bold- Your thoughts

Regular - Deans thoughts

Strike-through - Lyrics

“Nothings that bad, if it feels good..” Dean woke up out a cold sweat. “Dean, you ok?” looking over at his younger brother, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Ye… Yeah..” He had a dream. About her. Again. Three nights in a row. His only true one. She was a leader. She was a force. She was….you.

Taking a shower Dean thought about your face smirking at him as the two of you sprinted out of the dinner without paying. Both running until your lungs hurt, laughing as you hid behind the trees in the forest. He grabbed your face in his hands, pressing a kiss to your lips. The sheer force causing your lips to slightly bruise. “Hey! There they are!” The owner shouted seeing you two from the flashlight that shone in the forest. “RUN!” You Hollard grabbing his hand tightly. Sure to not let go.

“Dean?” Sam asked as he drove baby, going with the curves of the road. “You look like you seen a monster.” “Not a monster..” Dean mumbled. “One of the only two women I ever loved.” Sam knew who he was talking about. Not Lisa. The one who was his ride or die. The one who held Sammy’s hand tightly as they crossed the road to the ice cream shop. The one who pulled a gun on a werewolf who chased him when he was eight.

“Thanks Bobby, This fuckin Wendigo sent me through the fuckin ringer.” You laughed a bit, holding the phone with your chin and shoulder as you changed your oil. “Yeah, I am good. Couple cuts. Nothing huge. Chaz is with me.” You finished tightening the bolt. “Yeah, he is a good dog.” Looking over, you smiled at your white German Shepard who slept on the hay barrel. “Yeah, I will stop by soon. Love you too.” Hanging up the phone, you whistled. Chaz stretched and walked to the side of the car. Lowering the jack to the charger, you opened the door for him. Jumping in the front, he laid back down sleeping. Starting the car, you headed to the next destination.

“Sam, is it Washington?” “Oregon Dean.” Sam shook his head annoyed slightly. His mind was obviously preoccupied. “Well, Imma catch some z’s. We got about seven hours.” Dean nodded staring at the road ahead of him thinking of you.

His lip was caught between his teeth as you danced on the stage in the empty bar you two broke into. Watching as you swayed your hips to the music. A thousand demons could crash in here and he would kill them all if meant you to continue your dance. It was his 20th birthday and you wanted to give him a gift. Walking down the stage you grabbed a bottle of bourbon. Putting it in a shot and gave it to him. Dancing on his lap, he almost choked on the shot feeling you rub against him.

Dean looked down at his jeans. “Fuck..” he gritted his teeth seeing a full on boner. The remember those thick curved that made his mouth water. You where a pistol in the bedroom and had him craving you seven years later. There was always a power force when it came to you. When hell was at its worst, and he was in chains… he thought of you.

Pulling into the hotel parking lot, you grabbed your leash for Chaz. “Sorry boy, regulations.” Jumping out of the car, the dog snorted half asleep. Walking into the hotel, you checked in with ease. After all, no asked questions to a Federal Agent. Opening the door, it was beautiful. Getting situated you open your laptop for a little research. As you looked up the case you where certain it was a djinn.

The next morning you woke up, grabbed your cup of coffee. Your FBI suite was a little more out there than most. It was fitted to well to your body, it caused looks where ever you went. The blue suite with black heels. A crisp white shirt with small blue tie to match. As you opened the door the police station, the young man watched as you walked in. He was handsome, tall and had black hair. He took off his hat nodding to you. “How.. How can I help you mam?” He stuttered slightly. “Hello. Agent Stone with the FBI. I need to see the two bodies that where recently murdered.” Shaking his head he walked you to the morgues office.

“Come on Dean.” Sam hollered as they walked out the door. As they drove, they parked. “Hmm nice car..” Dean looked at the black and red Challenger that sat out of the police station. They walked in to see a young man sitting there. “I am with..” “The FBI?” The man asked confused. “Umm, yes. Agent Smith and Agent Jones.” He nodded. “Your partner is in the morgues office. I’ll walk you back.” Dean looked to Sam confused on who it could be. “Cass?” Dean whispered to Sam. “Not sure.. Maybe Garth?” Shrugging their shoulders, they looked in the office. Dean looked at his phone sending a text to Garth seeing if it was him. Sam patted his arm, stopping out around the door. Dean watched Sam’s jaw drop looking at you. Dean followed his eyes and dropped his phone “Shit..” He whispered. Both men kneeled so they couldn’t be seen through the windows. “Perfect, yeah I would love to take you up on that drink. Hey, I love Karoke!” Dean peered over the window, watching your smile to the corner. You looked so different. Your hair short in a Pixie. He seen your suit and took a deep breath. Your cleavage showing through the white shirt. “We gotta go…” Dean whispered. “NO! you owe her!” Sam growled. “I miss her! She was the only one who rooted me on for Stanford!” Sam went to stand up. Opening the door to the office, you stared at the files, walked passed the men without seeing them. Slipping through the files. Sam couldn’t believe how you had grown. The same confident walk you always had; the rings littered your fingers. He noticed a hand tattoo.

Getting in your car, you peered at the phone number you got. You could afford to let loose a little bit and enjoy your time. After hanging out with Chaz, you took a shower and got ready for your night out. Putting on your dark burgundy lipstick, smokey eye shadow. Wearing tight black jeans that had rips all over. Sliding on your bright red thigh high heeled boots. While most thought they where impractical, you killed more monsters with them than you cared to admit. Sharping the heel, just in case. Wearing a black sequined bra and a white loose shirt hanging over it. Heading to the car, you blasted your music, leaving Chaz with a new bone.

Dean paced back and forth. “We should leave.” “NO!” sam hollered. “We know there is at least 2 or more Djinn that is effecting this place.” Dean nodded sighing. Seeing you shook him to his very core. “Lets go get you some drinks, women, whatever to calm you down.” Sam spoke with a sigh. He knew his brothers vices, one of them used to be you.

“If she leaves I leave!” Dean growled at John. “Wow, you love her.” John laughed a bit shaking his head. “Be careful, they all leave eventually..” Snarling John walked away from his eldest. “I do love her, more than breathing.” “Than… NEVER LET HER GO!” John spoke thinking of Mary. How he missed her, still years later.

Walking into the bar, you went straight to the bar. Three shots of tequila down and whiskey for a chaser. “Love a woman who can handle her whiskey.” The corner spoke smiling at her. “Hey Jesse!” You smiled at the handsome man. “I spoke with your partners after you left. I gave them case files too.” Looking at him slightly confused, your ran through all the hunters you knew. Bobby? No. Garth? Maybe it was Garth. However he implied more than one. Ignoring the thought you started to get on the dance floor. “Are you going to sing?” Jesse asked with a smile on his face. “Sure..” You nodded. “Oh there are your partners!” You looked at the door seeing two men walk in. Your heart beating irregularly. You felt the bar in close on you slightly. “I.. I am going on stage!” “Sure, I will go say hi!” You walked to the stage, grabbing the mic picking the song. “Perfect!” You grabbed the microphone and took the stage. You always seemed to know how to command an audience. “This is to someone who needs to fucking hear this song.” You spoke on the mic. Watching you seen the elder Winchester look at you grabbing the drink he got and walked towards the stage. The music started and you seen two dancers next to you. “We get paid to dance with the karoke singers” the young woman said. Her blonde hair in a pony tail. “Get ready for one hell of a performance.” She smiled annoyed. They probably all said that. “I wanna start this out and say . I gotta get it off my chest . Got no anger, got no malice. Just a little bit of regret . Know nobody else will tell you .So there's some things I gotta say Gonna jot it down and then get it out. And then I'll be on my way” You sang the song by Halsey. This song always making you think of Dean. You swung your hips holding onto the microphone. “No, you're not half the man you think that you are. And you can't fill the hole inside of you with money, drugs and cars. I'm so glad I never ever had a baby with you. 'Cause you can't love nothin' unless there's somethin' in it for you” Dean listened to the lyrics. His heart was turning at the lyrics. He watched as you took off your white shirt, twirling it over your head. Jumping off the stage in front of him, landing perfectly. You stood toe to toe with him. “Oh, I feel so sorry I feel so sad. I tried to help you. It just made you mad. And I had no warnin'. About who you are. I'm just glad I made it out without breakin' down. And then ran so fuckin' far. That you would never ever touch me again. Won't see your alligator tears. 'Cause, no, I've had enough of them” You shoved his shoulder slightly to have him sit on the stool. Walking away, your ass jiggled as you walked. You grabbed Jesses tie, pushing him against the Colom winking at him to relax him. “Let me start this off by sayin'. I really meant well from the start Take a broken man right in my hands. And then put back all his parts. But you're not half the man you think that you are. And you can't fill the hole inside of you with money, girls and cars. I'm so glad I never ever had a baby with you. 'Cause you can't love nothin' unless there's somethin' in it for you” Jesse put his hands on your hips as your sang. He looked at your tattoos and licked his lips unintentionally. You turned around, swinging your hips against his. The whole bar watching intently as you put on a show for them. Walking to the table Dean had his drink on, You jumped up on the cherry wood table, kicking his drink off of it. “Oh, I feel so sorry (I feel so sorry). I feel so sad (I feel so sad). I tried to help you (I tried to help you) It just made you mad. And I had no warnin' (I had no warnin'). About who you are ('bout who you) Just glad I made it out without breakin' down. Oh, I feel so sorry (I feel so sorry). I feel so sad (I feel so sad). I tried to help you (I tried to help you). It just made you mad. And I had no warnin' (I had no) About who you are ('bout who you). 'Bout who you are” A wild child at heart was your call, especially when it came to the man who crushed you more than any god could. As you danced on the table, Dean looked up at you shocked. You pointed at him slightly as you sang. Looking him straight in the eyes. “Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. 'Cause you're not half the man you think that you are And you can't fill the hole inside of you with money, drugs and cars. I'm so glad I never ever had a baby with you. 'Cause you can't love nothin' unless there's somethin' in it for you. I feel so sad. You should be sad. You should be. You should be sad. You should be. You should be. You should be” When the song ended a roar of an applause happened. “Encore” was yelled over and over. Walking to the bar you looked at the bartender pleading. “Bottle. Patron. Glass, ice.” The man nodded you put your card down. Feeling hands on your hips you seen Jesse behind you. “Who the hell are you? A Rockstar/FBI” Laughing slightly you took a shot. You felt HIS gaze on you. It was burning you into the wood slab you stood on.

Dean sat frozen in his seat. Everyone dancing to the music that played after your performance. The whole time he couldn’t believe every word you spoke. He seen you sing Karaoke millions of times. Your voice was that of an angel, well.. better than that. The way you took your shirt off, the outfit you wore. The tattoos that covered your body. You had changed, you had grown. He looked over to see you talking to him. The corner. He seen red, getting up. Sam grabbed his shoulder pushing back down on the seat. “No! We talk to her tomorrow Dean.” He said in Deans ear so he could ear. “Bullshit.. She is about to go home with this fucker!” “And? You fucked that up!” Sam yelled back.

Walking out with Jesse out the back he grabbed your hand tightly. “Sorry love.. your beautiful but I don’t shack up with hunters” Your grabbed the sharpened branch in your boot. Jesse went to inject you with sleeping medicine. Easily evading him “Man.. I was hoping it wasn’t you… It is always the corner.. you where cute..” you spoke grabbing the branch pushing into the Djinn. Hearing a large door close you seen Dean and Sam walk out. Grabbing the Djinn body you held him up, making it look like you where walking to your car. Grabbing your keys you needed to burn his body. Opening the back seat you pushed the man in. Turning around you seen Dean, he trapped you against the car. “Get away from me asshole.. Sam talk sense into your idiot brother..” You looked at the taller, but younger Winchester. “We miss you.. Both of us.” Sammy walked towards you. Your beef was not with him. You loved Sammy, as much as you loved Dean. “Wow Sammy, you got tall..” You looked up at the now man in front of you. His smile took up his face, scooping you into a huge hug. Feeling him secure you tight against his chest, you sighed slightly and hugged him back tightly. He pressed a kiss on the top of your hair, pulling away slightly. “I love your hair like this.” He spoke pulling a small clump of the short hair. “Remember I am still your elder Sam.” You shot a smile back to him. “Well it was pleasant seeing you SAM. I gotta head out, there is more than one Djinn. I got it covered fellas.”

Dean watched as you interacted with his brother. So gentle and sweet like you had done years before. Age had been kind to you, that is for sure. The way you smiled at Sam and hugged him, was like when you where kids. Only difference was that Sam towered over you now. Like he did everyone else. “We can help you Y/N.” Sam spoke pleading with you to spend more time near you. It broke Deans heart, seeing how much Sammy missed her too. “Sam..” She sighed a bit, stepping away, putting her fingers through her short hair. “You know.. I can’t be here if HE is here..” Dean seen you nodded towards him. Holding up your white shirt Dean looked at you. “You forgot your shirt..” He grumbled walking towards you. He seen as you held out your hand for the shirt. “Put it on before you get cold.” Dean hated seeing men passing by staring at you. The same hunger and lust he always had for you. “No. I am warm. Thanks for the fake worry thought.” Your voice was venom when it came to him. He knew he fucked up. He deserved anything you threw his way.

“Anyways boys, I gotta go check on Chaz. He probably needs to eat.” “You have kid?” Deans word left his mouth before he could stop them. You could tell by the shock on his face. “No, my dog. Guess he is like a son though. You two choose. Take care of the Djinn or let me. Either way I need to smoke this bitch before he stinks up my beautiful.” You nodded towards your challenger. “Please Y/N. I never got to hunt with you fully..” You watched the puppy dog eyes Sam gave you. Everything in your head was screaming for you to get the fuck out of there. Your heart on the other hand missed the Winchesters. “Fine. Dean doesn’t get to speak to me. I am staying at The Wolf Hotel. Room 125. Here is a spare key Sam. Also, don’t come tonight. I gotta go find another lay since this one, well was a Djinn..” you sighed stretching your arms. Your turned to get your keys out of your pocket once again. Dean and Sam seen a huge scar from your lower back to the top of your shoulder. The diagonal cut looked like the same width of an angel blade. You felt fingers pressed to your back. You knew those hands. The rough pads of Deans fingers out lined the scar. The feeling burned your skin, letting out a slight gasp. “What is that from?” Dean asked angrily. “None of your fucking business. Now gotta go.” “No.” Dean stopped the door before you closed it. “I am not going to let you go sleep with someone random to get back at me. What is that scar from?” “Dean..” Sam grabbed his arms stopping his brother from making any other move. “That is from an angel blade.. From when I was protecting another angel by the name of Castiel.” You seen Deans eyes grow wide. “You.. you’re the huntress Castiel talked about.” Deans voice was dark, something was off about him. “ For some reason he calls me that.” “NO! For some reason all hunters call you that! I had no clue it was you.. No one knew you real name..” “I never told them. No need too. If I died in a hunt, no one would look for me anyways. No reason to know my fucking name.”

That hit Dean like a pile of bricks. “Y/N..” He whispered looking into y/c eyes. “Truth is what it is. Like I said we can meet up tomorrow.” Shutting the door on the boys, you started the car and drove off. Dean watched as you raced down the street. “She.. is” “Lost.” Dean spoke before Sammy could.” “No Dean, she is hardened.” Sam knew that would bother his brother. “Let’s get back to the Motel.”

It was two in the morning. The idea of you laying with another man drove him nuts. He knew you said it twice to piss him off. Another man between those thick, sexy thighs of yours. He tossed and turned in the bed. The image kept burning into his brain was not pleasant. He looked over to see Sam knocked out for the night. Going into Sams wallet he grabbed the room card to your hotel room. He needed to talk to you. Sneaking out the motels door, he got into Baby and sped off.

Sleep was something you rarely got. Mostly because of your back pain and nightmares that every hunter had to deal with. Afterall it was part of the job. Chaz woke up to someone opening the door. A loud howl was hurd, stopping Dean in his tracks. Soon he seen a white dog rushing towards him. He braced himself for impact getting thrown to the ground by the large dog. Chaz going to bite down on his exposed neck. “Heel Chaz..” you spoke tiredly sliding your gun behind your pajama pants. Chaz growled at Dean, looking him dead in the eyes. “That dog could have..” “Killed you?” you cut him off before he could speak. “More than likely. He has taken down larger prey than you.” Rubbing Chaz head the dog walked back to the bed and laid on it. His eyes still fixated on Dean. “ I would be careful if I were you. Any sudden move and he will go after you.” You spoke sitting in the comfortable chair that stretched out. “Can we talk?” Dean asked sitting across from you. Chaz getting up, sitting between you and Dean. He sat facing Dean, sitting like a statue. “He REALLY does not like you.” You laughed a bit. “What do you want? Where is Sammy? I gave him the key card.” Glancing over at the card on the floor that he dropped. “I wanted to talk about.. our past.”

That dog did a number on Deans back. He sat slightly twisted trying to ease the pinched nerve. He looked at your face, wondering what you would say to him. “No.” His face fell at your reply. “There is no us. I try and forget about that part of my life. THANK. YOU. VERY. MUCH.” The attitude that dripped of your lips caused Dean to stir a bit. God did he love that venom tongue that could eat anyone alive. “Y/N.. I have thought about you everyday since I left..” “Sure Dean. Like you thought about Lisa? At least she lasted longer. From what I can tell, she wasn’t a whore. However how did all those one night stands go?” “How did you know about Lisa… and others..?” Dean asked confused. “Well, Bobby told me about Lisa. However, I didn’t know about the one night stands till now.” You sighed a bit. You head falling into your left hand. “Dean go back to the motel and sleep.. I am exhausted and as you know, I don’t sleep well in general. Especially after being thrown around and tortured by an angel..” Groaning you stood up. Chaz quickly going close to you. “Y/N L.N. Enough.” Dean spoke, harshly. “Dean now is not the fucking time! I am running on no sleep, I didn’t get to fuck the cute guy and I am emotionally exhausted. If you don’t wanna drive back to the motel, take the damn pull out couch!”

#dean #dean winchester #dean winchester x reader #SPN #SPN Family #supernatural #bobby #bobby singer #garth #garth spn #castiel #CAS

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jjonassevilla · 4 years

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How to Create the Ultimate Lead Capture Page: 11 Tips for 2020

I created my first lead capture page four years ago when I started my business. Let me confess to you now: I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. I wanted to advertise my services, grow my brand, build an audience, and land clients. And I thought I’d created a campaign that would do all that and more.

But I’ve learned a lot since my first campaign—and what I know for sure is that I did almost everything wrong.

So whether you’re just starting your marketing journey or trying to improve your conversion rates—aren’t we all?—here’s what I wish I knew when I created my first lead capture page. Follow these 11 tips to bring in more prospects and overachieve your campaign goals.

What’s a Lead Capture Page?

A lead capture page is a type of landing page that offers your audience something in return for their email address or other information. This means that any page with a form on it can be considered a type of lead capture page—including ebook download pages, demo request pages, or newsletter sign-up pages.

Unlike other pages on your website, a lead capture page only has one goal: exchange a lead magnet (or reward) for your visitor’s info. Get this exchange right, and you’ll be able to turn more of your fans and observers into full-fledged leads and customers.

11 Tips to Create Better Lead Capture Pages in 2020

Know Your Goal

Create a Compelling Reward

Pick the Right Form Fields

Consider Your Traffic Sources

Craft a Message-Match Headline

Use Social Proof

Keep Your Copy Short and Clear

Write an Actionable Call to Action

Apply Conversion-Centered Design Principles

Optimize Your Form

Create an Incredible Post-Conversion Experience

Tip #1 – Know Your Goal

Your lead capture page has one job to do (and it needs to do it well). So before you plan a fantastic design or write a catchy headline, decide what your page needs to accomplish. What’s your one goal?

Start creating your goal by thinking about which audience you’re building the lead capture page for. There are three main types of audiences when it comes to lead capture pages:

Leads – Leads are the new people to your audience. They don’t know you well, but they’re intrigued by what they’ve seen and would like to learn more. You’re basically strangers who have just been introduced, and it’s your job to start the conversation and become best friends.

Prospects – A prospect is somebody who’s already some interest in your product, offering, or service, but who hasn’t yet converted into a customer. They’re likely in your CRM, nurtured with emails, blog posts, and social media posts. If this were a relationship, you two have been dating, but aren’t official… yet.

Current Customers – Current customers need attention and relationship building as well. They may be in love with your product or they could be cold and considering churning. An offer created just for them could be the thing they need to pique their interest. Keeping the relationship metaphor going—you’re married, but it’s still important to go on dates to keep the romance alive.

Once you know who your lead capture page is for, you’ll want to decide what it’s going to do. Create clear and measurable targets based on previous campaigns or industry averages. Do you want to generate 50 new leads a month? Or have a 12% conversion rate? Decide what metrics you’re aiming for before you begin, and you’ll better be able to track how the lead capture page is performing.

For example, this lead capture page from Arrive does a great job of choosing one specific audience and making it very clear who this guide is for—New Canadian residents looking for help on their taxes.

Target your lead capture page with a specific audience in mind.

Tip #2 – Create a Compelling Reward

The lead capture page is all about an exchange—they give you information, and you give them content. While that sounds like a no-brainer, most people don’t trust companies on the internet. You have to make the reward or offering so enticing that visitors are willing to trust you with their personal info.

There are lots of types of rewards and each has a special appeal to a particular segment of your audience.

Ecourses – An ecourse helps you showcase your knowledge and expertise while being helpful to your audience. This type of content is so versatile any of your audience segments could find it an intriguing offer.

Reports/Whitepapers – A whitepaper is a great B2B reward for prospects and leads, with over 82% of buyers saying they rely heavily on whitepapers to make purchasing decisions.

Ebooks – An ebook or a comprehensive guide can help your leads and prospects learn more and take the step to become customers.

Webinars – 60% of webinars can take your audience from lead to prospect. Webinars provide great value and they’re another tool that helps you teach your audience while establishing authority.

Product Demos – Your product demo can be a great reward for the bottom of the funnel to help you attract interested prospects.

Free Trials – A free trial lets your prospects and leads try before they buy. Usually, they’re between seven and 30 days, depending on the product or service.

Challenges – A free challenge is another way to give short term access to your services or product. Nathalie Lussier used a free challenge to grow her list to over 55,833 subscribers in just four years.

Newsletters – Newsletters nurture your audience. Ideally, they’re sent out with some regularity and focus on a theme. Depending on the content of your newsletter, this reward would appeal to all segments of your audience. Newsletters allow your subscribers to become familiar with your brand, voice, and subject matter expertise.

Checklists – A checklist can be a simple offer to help beginners. You can quickly design a PDF page using Canva and put it out as a helpful resource for your audience.

Templates – Later created social media templates to help social media managers and small brands with their social media reports. Visitors find templates like this valuable because they help you save time.

Check out the full customer story to see how Later used landing pages like this one to capture over 100,000 leads.

Tip #3 – Pick the Right Form Fields

The form field is the first place of friction your audience will feel. This is where they’ll ask themselves, “is it worth it?” or “do I really want this?” When you ask a lot of questions (and get a lot of answers), you’ll have some well-segmented data and qualified leads to work with. But how many prospects or leads did you lose by asking too many questions?

Remember, your lead capture page has one goal, so figure out the least amount of info you need from visitors to make that goal a reality.

A few things to consider when choosing how many form fields you put on the page:

If your content only targets marketing managers from early-stage startups, do you really need to know the “Title” of the person filling out the form?

If your goal is to increase your list size 10% each month, do you have to know the person’s phone number or company name?

Research by Hubspot shows that more form fields resulted in fewer conversions.

If all goes well, this won’t be your last time to learn more information about your audience. Each email and offer can help you learn more about who they are and what they need.

The Bruery, for example, has been brewing bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout for ten years and is growing a list in a straightforward way: they only ask for an email address. No need for names, phone numbers, or addresses—they know they can gather that information at checkout.

Right now, they want to capture their audience while they have a little bit of their attention. The team can nurture their prospects later on, while the next batch ages in the barrels.

One-field lead capture pages tend to see higher conversion rates.

Tip #4 – Consider Your Traffic Sources

There are multiple ways someone can discover your offer. When you create a lead capture page, think through all the best ways to attract your target audience.

Common traffic sources include…

SEO – This is a standard Google search. The people that find your page by a search engine are looking for something in particular, but they may not be aware of all of the solutions. Lead capture pages don’t typically drive a ton of organic traffic, but you may want to do some keyword research to see if there are any opportunities. Consider using a related piece of content (like a long-form blog post on the same topic) to try to rank higher in the search engine results, and then promote your lead capture page by linking from that post.

PPC (Pay Per Click) – These ads are the first results on Google or the ads you see when visiting a website. When you click on the ad, the business pays a certain amount per click. When using PPC traffic sources, your audience probably doesn’t know much about you or your offer. The rewards that will be the most helpful to an audience is usually educational, like an ebook or webinar.

Social Ads – Ads on social media will allow you to use filters and the social media platform’s demographic data to target exactly the right type of audience. But even with all of this targeting, your reward must be compelling for prospects and leads who click through.

Email – Your email list is a powerful traffic source with incredibly high conversion rates. Optinmonster found that every $1 you spend on email marketing earns around $44 in return. You might be able to leverage email as a traffic source if you’re hoping to capture more information from leads already in your CRM.

Organic Social Media – Apart from paid ads, you can (and totally should) post your lead capture page to your own social media pages. This audience follows you already and is interested in what you create, share, write, or build. Traffic from this source tends to be warmer and more likely to convert.

Tip #5 – Craft a Message-Match Headline

You’ve done the audience research and quality reward work, and now it’s time to put the lead capture page together. Your headline is the eye-catching phrase that, in a few words, will tell the audience exactly what it is they’ll be getting when they sign up.

Keep your messaging consistent across the customer journey from ads and emails to the lead capture page itself. A consistent message keeps things simple and clear for your audience. For example, this is how Taboola advertises a lead capture page for their ebook on how to launch a content discovery campaign.

And here’s the lead capture page itself. Notice how the messaging is simple, clear, and consistent.

By staying consistent, you’re signaling to visitors that yep—they’re in the right place. “This is the ebook you’re looking for.” It’s a simple but important principle that will almost always get you a higher conversion rate on your pages.

Tip #6 – Use Social Proof

Every lead capture page should use some form of social proof. Why? Because a Bright Local survey found that 91% of consumers are more likely to buy when they read positive reviews. Sharing testimonies, partner logos, or even the numbers of people who have previously signed up will show your audience that what you have to offer is valuable.

This example from Do You Yoga does a fantastic job integrating their social proof into the design of the page. Right below the “Join Free” CTA they let you know that 18,902 other people have already decided to sign up. It’s subtle—but super effective. (Because you know you’re in good company if 18,902 other people have already signed up!)

Tip #7 – Keep Your Copy Short and Clear

You want every word and phrase to have a purpose. Your copy has a short amount of time and space to convince the reader to sign up. Make sure your copy is benefits-driven, meaning you’re telling the reader exactly how signing up will benefit their life. Show precisely what they can expect after they hit the call to action button.

Pared’s headline and subhead nail it by describing the who, what, and why of their app in just a few short sentences.

Tip #8 – Write an Actionable Call to Action

The call to action is the button on the page that invites the reader to take the next step in the process. This little button’s copy may not seem important, but the right tweaks to CTA buttons can increase your CTR by up to 90%. Your CTA needs to invoke action. ‘Learn More’ might be fine, but ‘Get Your Ebook’ tells the reader exactly what clicking that button will get them. In our template gallery, we have tons of actionable CTAs for any type of campaign or lead capture type.

If your page is for a SaaS product, ‘Choose Plan’ or ‘Sign Up’ could be the best option for your CTA.

Webinars would require a different action than an ebook or checklist. Each offer should have a unique CTA that guides the reader to action.

Tip #9 – Apply Conversion-Centered Design Principles

Check out all the conversion-centered design principles to optimize your lead capture page.

Conversion-centered design means that every aspect of your funnel from the ad to the form on your lead capture page is thoughtfully placed. You want to guide the prospect toward conversion and retention.

Unbounce has a seven-principal framework that will help keep your campaigns focused and successful. The conversion-centered design framework goes deep on each principal, so if you need a more comprehensive lesson, I encourage you to check it out.

The TL;DR Conversion-Centered Design Key Takeaways

Consistent design – Make sure you’re giving your prospects all the information they need to make a decision and convert. Your messaging, design, and copy needs to flow seamlessly from pre-click (your ad, email, or social post) to post-click (the lead capture page).

Keep the design simple – Stay focused on your one goal, and you’ll see a higher conversion rate. We experienced this first-hand on one of our landing pages—by eliminating all other distractions, we increased visits to the next page in the funnel by 172.1%.

Credibility – To be seen as a credible business, you need to show as many sources of credibility as you can. Certificates, testimonials, reviews, and privacy policies are all effective ways to convey your trustworthiness.

Tip #10 – Optimize Your Form

To optimize your lead capture page, think through each tiny detail, and ask if there is an easier way to get the same result.

Any tweak you can make that reduces the amount of work, thinking, or reaching for a wallet your prospect has to do will help increase your conversion rate. In fact, Wp Forms found that 67% of site visitors will abandon a form if they have any complications. Enabling auto-fill fields helps reduce the number of things your prospect has to do before clicking the CTA. So, do the heavy lifting for them and use auto-fill fields for name, email, and credit card number.

Multi-step forms may sound like an oxymoron to optimization, but experiments have shown that using multiple forms can increase conversions by 300%.

Multi-form best practices say:

Only ask one or two questions on a page.

Provide a visual for where the lead is in process, like a page/question count.

Don’t ask more than 10 questions in total.

Provide immediate value after they submit the form.

Tip #11 – Create an Incredible Post-Conversion Experience

Your post-conversion experience is every interaction your prospect has with your brand/company after they click the call to action. When you create an incredible experience that meets the needs of your customers, they tend to stick around longer and purchase more.

Remember our relationship metaphor? The post-conversion experience would be like going on a fun date, and then never texting or reaching out again. (Rude.) You both had a great date, and now’s the time to build a real long-term relationship.

How to Create an Incredible Post-Conversion Experience?

Set up an automated email campaign – If your lead magnet teaches new gardeners how to grow giant tomatoes, then you know that your prospect is looking to learn more about gardening. You could create an automated campaign that sends them a tip of the week. This tactic helps them and builds their trust in you at the same time.

Explain the next steps – Let your prospects and customers know what to expect next. Will they get their download in their inbox or will the reward open right after they click? Are they being subscribed to a newsletter, or will you only email them once with the reward?

Build their trust – Trust and relationships have become the cornerstone of the post-conversion experience. Your prospects want to trust you before becoming customers, so to build their trust, be reliable and honest with their information. If you say you only need an email address to send the reward, then don’t add them to every newsletter automatically.

Test and iterate – The best way to ensure your lead capture page is serving your audience is to test and improve. Think about your one goal and the metrics you wanted to meet and ask yourself, “is the page performing the way I wanted?” Where are there improvements to be made? Consider tiny details such as button color, or swapping all the “I”’s for “You.” You can even use Smart Traffic to test multiple variants at the same time and get results faster.

How to Create a Lead Capture Page Quickly

Building lead capture pages in your website can be a tedious process that puts a limit on your creativity and choices. That’s why Unbounce has a ton of high-converting templates to help you build and customize fast.

We know these tips and best practices lead to success, so we’ve baked them right into each template design. Choose the templates that serve your needs best, then filter by tool, campaign, type, or special features.

from Marketing https://unbounce.com/landing-pages/how-to-create-the-ultimate-lead-capture-page/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

#SEO

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jhsbrat · 5 years

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stories that never were pt. 6

this ain’t a whiskey drowned ballad, there ain’t nothing here that’s valid

genre: stories that never were pt. 6, sweetbitter au

word count: 1.7 k

warnings: mentioned drug use

It started just like how all beautiful beginnings do. With a bang.

Or rather, in truth, with a clash. Two people crashing into each other, like celestial bodies colliding, one going this way, one going the other. The contact knocks them both off course and sends everything flying. Clatter. Clang. Crack. There’s total silence for a split second. Then, the explosion.

“Watch where you’re fucking going, newbie!” The other back waiter snaps at you, still managing to balance a trio of dishes precariously in his hands. The same couldn’t be said for the ones you were previously holding, now strewn in smashed pieces across the kitchen floor along with pieces of halibut and shrimp scampi.

You’re frozen, cheeks aflame as the man brushes past you and onto the dining room floor, bleached blonde head there one second and gone the next. There’s wetness in your eyes, which snap up in that moment at the sound of a snicker. In the corner, Momo and Nayeon are huddled together, hands covering their wide grins as they laugh to themselves at your embarrassment. Next to them is Jin, ever stoic and ever calculating, waiting to see what you do next. Evaluating. Judging. Assessing. You can’t breathe.

“Let’s fucking go, newbie, I got dishes that need to go out,” Yoongi, the sous chef, snaps from his station, where his deft hands have already moved to fry up another cut of fish.

Your lungs expand with air and then you’re moving, grabbing the broom and sweeping away from the floor the shards and gory remnants of what was to be table four’s meal. Your brain has shut down and your body moves mechanically through pure muscle memory, not giving yourself a second to freak out over your major gaffe. There are dishes to run, ice buckets to fill, plates to bus, pans to clean, drinks to pour, and food to sell to too rich people who’d love to spend too much money on too little food.

“I got the halibut and the scampi round 2, I need a runner,” Yoongi calls out, already turning back to the grill to fire up the next dish. You go to grab the plates but he tuts, back still facing you. You’re secretly convinced he has a second set of eyes in the back of his head, hidden behind tufts of black hair and his white bandana.

“Not you, butterfingers. Momo, get over here.”

The girl comes forward, picking up the hot plates carefully and balancing two on her left forearm with ease, grabbing the last one with her right hand. She turns to smile at you, thin lips lifted up in a petty smirk, before whirling out through the kitchen’s double doors. You resist the urge to roll your eyes, only because Jin is still watching to see if you’ll keep your cool.

Instead, you breathe in deeply, once, twice, then turn to start scraping off food from the bin of plates Taehyung just bused in. Piles of unfinished meat and vegetables, worth hundreds of dollars on the menu, begin to mount up in the trash can you’re staring into. There’s some sort of metaphor to be made about the irony of waste and wealth you’re witnessing, but you’re just trying to make it through the night.

Nayeon hip checks you on her way back into the kitchen, pausing at the back shelves to take a swig of her water bottle.

“Nice moves, newbie. If you wanted to get his attention, you could have just asked for his number.”

Your back is to Jin this time, so you let your eyes roll in response. Plop. Splat. Squelch. You watch more food fall from the plate in your hand into the depths of the garbage below. The wet spinach is starting to congeal with the lard from the duck and the smell makes you want to retch. You grab another plate.

Nayeon smiles and sidles closer, hand reaching out for a plate herself and joining in. “Or maybe you really are that clumsy and don’t care about Jimin at all.”

You glance up then. “That’s his name? Jimin?”

Nayeon’s grin turns positively wolfish and she leans in, nose brushing against the tip of your own, lips close enough for her breath to slither from her mouth to yours. She whispers and it smells like the shot of bourbon she downed before the doors of the restaurant opened that night.

“He loves the whole innocent schtick, you know, and you’ve got virgin written all over you.”

You feel your face heat up and you jerk away from the other girl, twisting to grab another plate. “I’m not.”

“Not what? A virgin?” Nayeon slowly straightens back up and dumps her still dirty plate into back into the bin, hands reaching up to tighten her ponytail. “Honey, you could have fooled me. You’ve got that small town hick, first time in the big city, blushing Mary look down.”

You bite the inside of your cheek before daring to glance over your shoulder, in the direction of where the man named Jimin is standing with the other busboys. He’s in the middle of laughing at a joke Taehyung made, probably something vulgar judging by the way the other boy is wagging his tongue, when he pauses and turns to look back at you, as if he heard you call his name.

Eyes widening in shock, your mouth opens, then snaps close, and you twist back to stare determinedly into the Hefty bag of rotting food. Nayeon giggles and leans back in, her fingers twirling around a lock of your hair.

“He’s still looking.”

The music is loud, some trashy Euro trance beat, and you can’t breathe again. But this time, it’s because there are too many bodies and too little air. You push past the throngs of people, heart starting to beat faster from whatever Momo had you take earlier. You could have asked what it was, but it’s unlikely you would have known anyways.

You stumble past the table your coworkers are currently sitting at and hear their voices call out your name, but their faces are a blur and your focus is singular.

Barreling through an emergency side door, you make it outside into the alleyway beside the club and slide down to sit there on the pavement. Someone probably recently took a piss there, or puked, judging by the smell, but you’re too preoccupied with taking gulps of fresh air to care.

“That’s concerning.”

You roll your head around to look deeper into the alley, a slender figure with a bright halo striding closer until you have to strain your neck to look up at them. You want to ask if they’re an angel before the figure squats down and Jimin’s face comes into focus, bleached blonde hair mussed and clothes wrinkled, as if he had just thrown them on moments before. Then your mind registers that he said something.

“I’m okay just-“ you exhale, rubbing at your bloodshot eyes. “Just needed air.”

The man straightens back up to look down at you with a bemused look in his eyes. “No, I mean the door. It’s supposed to ring an alarm if someone exits through it, but I don’t see any people evacuating, so it must be faulty. Concerning.”

You blink, brain lagging behind a few seconds, mouth unable to formulate a response other than garbled speech. You’re really going to have to ask Momo what you took because you’ve never felt this spaced out before.

Jimin sighs and grabs both your arms, yanking your body up to lean against him. “C’mon, newbie, let’s go.”

He all but has to drag you to the curb, one arm wrapped tightly around your torso to keep you upright while the other flags down a cab. Your hands creep up to his shoulders, clutching the silk there like it was a lifeline, and it makes it difficult for him to separate from your grasp long enough to buckle you into your seat. The ride passes by in a blur of twinkling city lights and then the motion ends and you find yourself at your apartment’s stoop, the door unlocked and pushed open after Jimin wrestled the keys from where they were tied around your wrist.

He pries your fingers off from their clutch on his shirt collar, fabric forever wrinkled by your insistent tugging for him to follow you inside, and he turns to walk back to the curb. You huff out a breath in frustration and the words tumble out your mouth before you can reel them back in.

“You’re such a fake.”

“What?” Surprise colors the man’s features and he stops trying to hail another cab to turn and look at you in disbelief.

“You strut like-“ your eyes squeeze shut because the world decides to twirl a little faster at that exact moment. “Like you’re some kind of bad boy. You’re not.”

“Yeah?” The disbelief slides off his face and is replaced with that smugness he wears so well. The corner of his mouth lifts and you want to tear into that smirk.

“Yeah. If you were really bad, you’d just come in with me.” You try to make your voice sultry, but your body betrays you, swaying in the non-existent wind.

Jimin steps away from the curb and slinks toward you, smirk still there. “What would you know about bad boys?”

You’re not sure where the words are coming from, probably somewhere inside you where greed and lust and jealousy are born. You let them spring forth anyways, not caring about the consequences of speaking with a tongue that doesn’t belong to you, but to the chemicals pounding through your veins.

“Come closer and I’ll tell you.”

He listens and you silently rejoice in that small victory. He smells like citrus, sharp scent cutting through your senses and you’re drunk off it. When the warmth of his body comes close enough to envelop your own, Jimin stares down into your eyes and you feel the hold of his gaze down to your beating heart. He opens his mouth and you open yours, coming close enough for your lips to barely graze, your breaths mingling, belonging to neither of you and both of you. Eyes fluttering shut, you inhale him in.

Then, with his eyes locked on your own and mouth still just barely on yours, he speaks.

“I don’t fuck strung out girls who can barely walk on their own,” he straightens up, twirling to walk back down the street. “See you tomorrow, newbie.”

It’s only later you realize you never told him your address.

e/n: listen to “shiver” by maroon 5 and you’ll get it

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