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Bushmills Irish Whiskey is one of the oldest spirits brands in the world. The brand dates back at least 400 years to practically the genesis of whiskey in general. Fast-forward several centuries and the stills are still running strong. The juice from the North of Ireland has a deep bench of quality whiskeys — both blended Irish whiskeys and Irish single malts — that have become iconic to the whole Irish whiskey style.

Moreover, Bushmills has become part of the whiskey culture in a deep way. And the brand is constantly evolving and pushing ahead, which helped it become Ireland’s largest producer of single malt whiskey and one of the biggest producers of the style outside of Scotland. Their recent collaboration with Peaky Blinders has given us a new Bushmills Prohibition Recipe Whiskey, some cool merch, and some new takes on classic cocktails. All pretty key for the holiday season!

We’re providing some tasting notes on a few of our favorite Bushmills bottles below while giving you an idea of how to use those whiskeys in cocktails — with a look at the special Peaky Blinders-themed gift in between. If you’re looking for a great gift for the Irish whiskey lover in your life (or the Peaky Blinders one), then you’ve come to the right place.

Bushmills Bottle Gifts:

Bushmills Single Malt Aged 10 Years

What’s In The Bottle:

Ringing in at only 40% ABV, the juice is made from Irish barley and matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. The best barrels are married, proofed with soft Northern Irish spring water, and bottled.

Sensory Notes:

There’s a very clear sense of apples (a lot of them), vanilla, pie crust, and chocolate malts on the nose. The palate really delivers on those flavors with spicy stewed apple pie with a buttery yet almost savory crust, plenty of fresh honey, and an underbelly of those almost creamy choco-malts. The finish is medium length, full of apples, dry wicker, and plenty of spicy malts.

Bottom Line:

The accessibility of this pour is evident from the first nose to the last sip. This is the end-of-the-day sipper or mixer that you can take in as you breathe a sigh of relief that the day’s behind you.

Buy Here: $55

Bushmills Single Malt Aged 12 Years

What’s In The Bottle:

This whiskey is the first step up in the single malt line from the 10-Year. The whiskey is triple-distilled malt that spends 11 years resting in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks before it’s transferred into Marsala wine casks for final maturation. That whiskey is then batched, proofed to 40%, and bottled.

Sensory Notes:

There’s a sense of apple blossoms on the nose that’s supported by walnut and almond shells with a hint of spicy malts by way of an apple fritter. The palate leans dry as the apple turns into apple chips with a dry cider vibe next to dark chocolate malts, more of those nutshells, and a hint of leathery apple tobacco leaf. The finish is slightly muted by the proofing water but still shines with applewood, dark chocolate powder, and a mild nuttiness.

Bottom Line:

This is where Irish single malt really starts to pop. This whiskey sings on the rocks or in a really great cocktail.

Buy Here: $73

Bushmills Single Malt Aged 16 Years

What’s In The Bottle:

This single malt whiskey starts off by getting triple distilled. It’s then aged for over 15 years in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. The batched whiskey is then transferred to port pipes for a final nine-month rest before proofing (down to 40%) and bottling.

Sensory Notes:

This starts out with a spicy red berry jam next to a whiff of marzipan laced with bourbon vanilla, a hint of old leather, apple cores, and a light Christmas cake spice on the nose. That almond creates a smooth foundation with more of that spicy red jam alongside an apple/honeyed sweetness and velvet mouthfeel while those wintry spices meld with the malts to create a berry-cinnamon tobacco profile. The end of this one is long-ish as the spice, jammy fruit, and almond paste slowly fade out, leaving you warmed with a sense of malts and dark fruit.

Bottom Line:

This is the subtlest of the mix (and the sweet spot in our humble opinion). The soft nuance of this whiskey is perfect for slow sipping, maybe paired with a cigar or crackling fire, with a drop or two of water to let it bloom in the glass.

Buy Here: $134

Bushmills Single Malt Aged 21 Years

What’s In The Bottle:

The whiskey in this one is made with Irish malts and then aged for 19 long years in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. Those barrels are batched and that whiskey then spends an additional two years maturing in a Portuguese Madeira cask. Finally, it’s proofed down to 40% ABV for bottling.

Sensory Notes:

There’s a deep, dark chocolate malt vibe on the nose with flourishes of marzipan, prunes, mulled wine spices, old saddle leather, and a hint of shortbread. The taste kicks in with a rich and buttery dark toffee covered in roasted almonds with a hint of dried fruit and dried choco-malts with a slight twinge of dried tobacco leaf. The end is fairly long and holds onto those dried fruits and bitter chocolate malts while leaving you with flavors of sweet and silky toffee and a very distant echo of applewood tobacco.

Bottom Line:

This is a true special occasion whiskey. The 21-year is the most complex yet nuanced whiskey on the list. But you have to respect that price. This is what you break out on Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, your wedding night, your birthday, or any other truly special occasion.

Buy Here: $269

The Peaky Blinders Gifts:

Bushmills Prohibition Recipe Irish Whiskey Shelby Edition

What’s In The Bottle:

This new release from Bushmills celebrates the sixth and final season of Peaky Blinders. The juice in the bottle is a classic Irish whiskey blend of ex-bourbon casks (aged three to five years) bottled at a higher proof of 46% ABV, which leans into how Bushmills was made 100 years ago.

Sensory Notes:

This opens with a mix of light apple candy with a honeyed sweetness next to a line of dry wood with some floral vibes and maybe a little straw. The palate largely delivers on those notes while adding a nice layer of spice — allspice, cinnamon, clove, some ginger — alongside a hint of vanilla cream and more of that dry straw. The end is short-ish while delivering more apple and honey alongside a warm/spiced maltiness.

Bottom Line:

This whiskey is a bridge between an easy sipper, especially over a rock or two, and a killer cocktail base. There’s a nice mixability to this that really creates a solid foundation to build an array of cocktails in any season, but especially this time of year (which we’ll get to below!).

Buy Here: $42

Peaky Blinders Holiday Sweater

The Gift:

Speaking of Peaky Blinders whiskey, Bushmills just released the perfect gift for the show’s fans and Irish whiskeys fans — a classic ugly sweater. The bold colors — black and yellow especially — accent the infamous Peaky Blinders icons of flat caps and razor blades and knitted versions of the Peaky Blinders Bushmills bottle. The sleeves go a little easier than booze and blades with fir trees and snowflakes, adding to the “welcome to the holidays” vibe of the whole thing.

If you’re looking to go full Shelby style this holiday season and kick it off right, this is the ugly holiday sweater for you.

Buy Here: $70 (comes with a bottle of Bushmills Prohibition Recipe Irish Whiskey Shelby Edition)

Winter Cocktails With Bushmills

Okay, you have your sweater and you have a bottle of Bushmills, maybe even the Prohibition Recipe Irish Whiskey Shelby Edition. That means it’s time to stir up some great cocktails to celebrate, via Bushmills.

Family Meeting

The Family Meeting is a Peaky Blinders take on the classic hot toddy. With this version, Bushmills Prohibition Recipe helps create a soft and therapeutic winter warmer.

Ingredients:

• 0.75 cup of water
• 1.5 oz. Bushmills Prohibition Recipe
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• 1 lemon wheel
• 1 cinnamon stick

Method:

• Boil some water and wash out a clear tea cup to warm it up and then add three-quarters-of-a-cup of boiling water to the cup.
• Add in the whiskey, honey, and lemon and stir until the ingredients are fully integrated.
• Garnish lemon wheel and cinnamon stick and serve.

Taste:

This really hits the spot right now. The light sense of honey apple from the whiskey melds well with the honey and lemon of the drink. The citrus adds a nice counterpoint to the sweetness while adding some depth. The cinnamon stick adds an aromatic edge every time you take a sip, which really rounds out the whole experience.

Birmingham Lads

Birmingham Lads is a take on an old fashioned that takes this up a big notch. The addition of rum and extra orange flavor notes really takes this drink from “classic” to “wow!” this holiday season.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. Bushmills Prohibition Recipe
• 0.75 oz. Owney’s Rum
• 3 dashes of Angostura Bitters
• 2 dashes of Orange Bitters
• 1 sugar cube
• Orange Twist
• Cherry
• Ice

Method:

• Grab a mixing glass and add the sugar cube and dash the bitters into the cube. Use a muddler to break apart the sugar cube and start to create a base with the bitters and sugar.
• Add in the whiskey and rum and stir until the sugar starts to dissolve then add a large handful of ice and stir for at least 10 seconds, or until the mixing glass is ice-cold to touch.
• Add some fresh ice or a single large cube to a rocks glass. Using a cocktail strainer, pour the cocktail into the rocks glass over the new ice.
• Twist the orange peel over the glass and drop in the cocktail with a cherry. Serve.

Taste:

The rum adds a nice depth of molasses and winter spice that sings with the extra orange and herbal bitters. The overall sensation is lush and full of bright citrus that’s slightly sweet next to orchard-heavy whiskey and a touch of woodiness.

I Don’t Pay For Suits

This classic drink moves between a light whiskey sour (sans egg white) and a classic Gold Rush (sans bourbon). It’s delightfully refreshing and has a nice bite thanks to all the citrus while still holding onto a nourishing vibe thanks to a layer of rich honey sweetness.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Bushmills Prohibition Recipe
• 0.75 oz. fresh lemon juice
• 0.75 oz. honey syrup
• Lemon peel
• Ice

Method:

• Grab a cocktail shaker and add the whiskey, lemon juice, and honey syrup. Top with a handful of ice, affix the lid, and give the cocktail a good shake for about 15 seconds (or until the cocktail shaker is ice-cold to touch).
• Using a cocktail strainer, pour the cocktail into a pre-chilled coupe glass.
• Twist the lemon peel over the glass and drop it in. Serve.

Taste:

This hits the spot this time of year. The lemon and honey really bring everything full circle to a cold and refreshing hot toddy in a fancy glass. The honey and orchard fruit in the whiskey bridges the lemon and honey perfectly while adding a nice honeyed depth to the whole drink. You’ll certainly want to shake up one more of these.

Kim Kardashian has broken her silence on a Balenciaga controversy. The fashion house has been under fire after unveiling a new holiday ad campaign, which featured children in provocative situations that sparked a public outcry. Kardashian, who recently posed for Balenciaga‘s winter campaign and walked in its Paris fashion show over the summer, called the controversial ad “disturbing” and will re-evaluate her business arrangement going forward.

Via CBS News:

The ads, which were said to be to promote Balenciaga’s plush bear bags, were part of the brand’s holiday campaign. The bears, however, are wearing BDSM gear and are being held by children that appear to be no more than 5 years old. In one of the pictures, a child is also surrounded by what appear to be wine and cocktail glasses.

On Sunday evening, Kardashian issued a statement on both Twitter and Instagram where she expressed her concern over the seriousness of the issue. Kardashian revealed that she has spoken to Balenciaga and received assurances that steps will be taken to avoid a repeat of the ad, which has since been pulled.

“I have been quiet for the past few days, not because I haven’t been disgusted and outraged by the recent Balenciaga campaigns, but because I wanted an opportunity to speak to their team to understand for myself how this could have happened,” Kardashian wrote. “As a mother of four, I have been shaken by the disturbing images. The safety of children must be held with the highest regard and any attempts to normalize child abuse of any kind should have no place in our society — period.”

Despite Balenciaga’s assurance, Kardashian concluded her statement by saying her participation with the fashion house is now in flux.

“I appreciate Balenciaga’s removal of the campaigns and apology. In speaking with them, I believe they understand the seriousness of the issue and will take the necessary measures for this to never happen again,” Kardashian said. “As for my future with Balenciaga, I am currently re-evaluating my relationship with the brand. Basing it off their willingness to accept accountability for something that should have never happened to begin with — & the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children.”

(Via Kim Kardashian on Twitter, CBS News)

Megan Thee Stallion is a star: both of her albums, 2020’s Good News and this summer’s Traumazine, peaked high on the Billboard 200 chart, at Nos. 2 and 4, respectively. They also spawned his singles like “Savage,” “Body,” and “Sweetest Pie.” Now, it looks like Meg’s third album and a supporting tour are quickly on the way.

A new Forbes feature on Megan concludes with a paragraph about what she has on the horizon, which mentions a new album and tour set for 2023. It also makes note of the first-deal look Meg signed with Netflix in 2011 and a forthcoming “comedy based on her childhood.” There’s also mention of the upcoming Time Studios documentary about her, for which Meg was apparently paid $4 million.

Forbes estimates that in 2022, Megan earned about $13 million “from a combination of royalties, ticket sales, endorsements, and merch.” Of her work ethic, Meg said, “I can’t slow down right now. I’ll take a break when I’m dead. I’m trying to really build something. When I start sitting, I feel like I’m not doing enough or I’m giving somebody else the opportunity to pass me.”

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Let’s state the obvious: Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine is not going well for him. This still-unfolding disaster has led the Russian president to see half of his first deployment killed. He followed up with a massive draft and has reportedly been “very afraid” that he’ll be assassinated if he loses this war, which sparked a “civil war” amid his dwindling supply of allies. Even some of his closest inner circle members have apparently lost hope for a victory, so he’s obviously hoping to turn the tide of public opinion.

On that note, Putin met with a group of women, many of whom were claimed to be “soldiers’ mothers,” to discuss their supposed support of the military conflict. At best, as the New York Times described the pre-Mother’s Day event, this was a “highly choreographed” meeting, in which Putin “said that he shared their pain in an apparent attempt to contain a growing outcry over the Kremlin’s handling of the war.”

Reportedly (and according to the NYT), “[s]ome of the 17 women who attended said they had lost their sons on the battlefield.” However, The Guardian cast a critical eye on the “handpicked cadre” as well while noting that “[o]ne of the women sitting next to Putin was Olesya Shigina, an ultra-conservative Russian poet, film-maker and activist who recently travelled to the Donbas region to direct a pro-war film featuring Russian troops.”

In addition, The Guardian cites “dozens of ordinary mothers” who say they attempted to meet with Putin, and he declined. Instead, Putin apparently met with “the mother of a senior military and police official from Chechnya, and other women active in pro-war NGOs financed by the state.” It’s not terribly surprising, of course, given that the Kremlin does love its propaganda. On social media, the Getty photos have been greeted with hefty criticism and accusations of Putin beefing up his sympathy game with actresses and Kremlin staffers.

Meanwhile, Putin’s war has been ongoing for nine months with no signs of ending.

(Via New York Times & The Guardian)

Nearly every review of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery compared Miles Bron, an eccentric billionaire played by Edward Norton, to a real-life rich “asshole”: “Miles Bron, the fabulously fatuous, self-described ‘disruptor’ whose not-so-subtle resemblance to Elon Musk gives the Knives Out sequel Glass Onion a hissable and timely villain” (The Ringer). “He owes more than a bit to Elon Musk” (Vulture). “… billionaire tech entrepreneur Miles Bron (Edward Norton, doing his best Elon Musk).” (Bloomberg)

But is the character specifically inspired by the Twitter CEO?

“When I was writing, I found that any time I started thinking too specifically about any one person, it got very uninteresting, very quickly,” writer and director Rian Johnson told Yahoo! Entertainment. “Just taking the piss out of a specific person. Not that interesting.” So, Miles isn’t based on one person — he’s based on three, according to Norton.

When asked at the London Film Festival if he “riffed” on anything in culture, Norton offered a knowing “yes” – delivering the answer like a punchline to a joke. The actor goes on to call himself a “blender.” The “smoothie of Miles” comprises three ingredients: “Shmaelon Husk, and Shmelizabeth Schmomes, and ScmadamSchneumann.” For those not fluent in Schmedward Schmorton speak, that’s Elon Musk, Elizabeth Holmes, and Adam Neumann.

Is there an SNL in the Knives Out universe? If so, was Miles asked to host? And did he dress up like Wario? These are questions that need to be answered by Rian Johnson… on Twitter (he can’t escape Miles/Elon, no matter how hard he tries).

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is in theaters (where it made bank) for a few more days before coming to Netflix on December 23).

(Via Yahoo! Entertainment and the Independent)

So far, the shows on The 1975’s At Their Very Best tour have been a spectacle. Matty Healy first prompted raised eyebrows by touching himself on stage, and he was also seen eating raw meat for his audience. Now, he’s just straight-up making out with fans.

As Consequence notes, at the band’s November 25 show in Las Vegas, during a performance of “Robbers” from the band’s 2013 self-titled debut album, Healy and a female fan he had invited on stage swayed in each other’s arms before kissing.

The fan later identified themself on Twitter, explaining that after Healy denied somebody else’s song request by saying, “I can only make out with you,” she held up a sign on her phone that read, “So we making out?” She tweeted, “On a real note I do want to state some facts before we get any farther, i had this on my phone because he mentioned at some point ‘I can only make out with you’. So I did this, he saw it and brought me up, HE ASKED before he kissed me! Also I’m a grown age of 24.”

It didn’t stop there: The next day, when the band performed in San Diego, at the same point in the show, Healy again kissed a fan, a male this time. This isn’t an entirely new practice for Healy, as there’s video of him kissing fans during “Robbers” from as far back as 2014.

So far, Cardi B has just one album to her name: 2018’s Invasion Of Privacy, her debut. As for why she’s yet to come out with a second LP, some believe Cardi is scared a new album will under-perform. Cardi caught wind of that and had some thoughts of her own.

Over the weekend, somebody on Twitter re-shared a TikTok video from @duprii3 in which they say, “This girl has not released an album since 2018. That’s going on six years. Invasion Of Privacy came out in 2018. She’s scared to release, but y’all ain’t said nothin’. At least these other girls out here releasin’ somethin’ whether it sell or not.” They also referenced the rumored low sales projection Saweetie’s new EP, The Simple Life, is facing.

In a now-deleted tweet from November 26, Cardi responded, writing (as XXL notes), “I’m never afraid of numbers honey ….and I don’t gotta put a another album if I want too I EATS GOOD OF MY diamond records alone…. Don’t drag other b*tches to make your point drag the man that’s running their mouth…Grown man !”

However, another fan tweeted, “You can’t get mad that ppl think you’re scared cause if so, what’s the hold up? You been stringing your fans along for years. And is that why you won’t release? You’re content eating off of old records that most don’t care about anymore?” In another since-deleted tweet, Cardi responded, “I am a human baby .when I drop my album I’m touring the world .I gotta mentally & physically prepare myself for all of that .I didn’t have management for 2 years and now I’m feelin ready ..I DO THINGS ON MY TIME MY WAY.”

Cardi later concluded, “You know what ? Let me hush ….Less talking, more action for haters to have a reaction [smiling emojis].”

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Multiple times per week, our TV and film experts will list the most important ten streaming selections for you to pop into your queues. We’re not strictly operating upon reviews or accrued streaming clicks (although yes, we’ve scoured the streaming site charts) but, instead, upon those selections that are really worth noticing amid the churning sea of content. There’s a lot out there, after all, and your time is valuable.

TIE: 10. Welcome To Chippendales (Hulu series)

Kumail Nanjiani plays against both his nerdy and jacked screen types as Somen “Steve” Banerjee, founder of the notorious 1980s stripper empire. The show co-stars Juliette Lewis and Annaleigh Ashford, along with The White Lotus breakout Murray Bartlett, but hopefully, there shall be no paybacks like this in this series (that ain’t sexy no matter how one paints it). Expect drugs, murder, and drama, along with a showcase of the sheer exhilaration from the male dance troupe’s early days.

TIE: 10. Tulsa King (Paramount Plus series)

Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan wrote this role with Sylvester Stallone in mind, and it shows. Sly plays a mafia boss who kept his head down for decades in prison and expected a real party upon his release. However, he instead got shipped off to the heartland, where he has an unexpected blast while shaking down dispensaries and exploring honky-tonk bars and the Center of the Universe. To further add to the pedigree of this production, Terence Winter of Boardwalk Empire fame directs.

9. Warrior Nun (Netflix series)

This show turned out to be about much more than warrior-ing and nunn-ing. Don’t get me wrong, though. There’s a lot of both (invented) verbs happening, given the frequent action scenes and general air of badassery. This season, Alba Baptista returns as Ava, who must rally her Sister-Warriors to defeat Adriel and end his unholy exploits. Man, all Ava wanted was to come of age like a normal young woman, but demons must be duly vanquished, and someone’s gotta do it.

8. Slumberland (Netflix film)

If you’re looking for kid-appropriate fare that will still be entertaining to you as well, this flick’s better than Disenchanted by far. No one ever has more fun than Jason Momoa in life, and here, he’s playing a fun-loving, weird-ass outlaw who goes on a rip-roaring ride through the dreamworld with a young girl who’s dodging nightmares in an attempt to reunite with her late dad. It’s trippy and colorful and a breezy watch.

7. 1899 (Netflix series)

Are you ready for another Lost knockoff? People still can’t quit them, and this show keeps that spirit alive while presenting far more questions than it could possibly answer (at least right away). If you can still stand that kind of frustration in the streaming age, then hop aboard this story about a migrant steamship that stumbles upon a companion ship full of possible supernatural happenings. This show hails from the Dark creators, who know how to deliver a payoff, but don’t expect immediate gratification.

6. The English (Amazon limited series)

This limited series is still going strong because it’s unlike anything else on TV right now. Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer star in this huge swing of a Western to cross 1890s middle America as a badass aristocratic lady and a Pawnee scout, respectively speaking. You won’t have to squint to see the action and the quieter moments, and the show commits to joining the influx of authentic Indigenous perspectives that are long overdue onscreen.

5. The White Lotus (HBO series streaming on HBO Max)

We still don’t know who the hell gets murdered this season or who does the killing, but I hope that Aubrey Plaza’s seething character does the damage. Yet as long as Jennifer Coolidge’s character survives (and doesn’t end up in prison) to join the already announced Season 3, all will be good. I feel like Portia really needs to tell Alfie that she’s not into him, but he hopefully knows this by now. Mike White has perfected the formula for this satiric franchise, in which the wealthiest among us simply cannot manage to be nice enough to not earn poop in one’s suitcase.

4. Dead To Me (Netflix series)

This darkly comedic pleasure returns for one last round, and the relationship between Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini’s character comes full circle with both celebrations and tears. Yes, we have more therapeutic rage metal on display and chaotic James Marsden(s) as well. This show will be profoundly missed, much more than anyone would have ever expected from a show that sparked from a hit-and-run accident, which launched three seasons of homicidal chaos and coverups.

3. The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special (Disney+ movie)

Fortunately, this season’s not only bringing us the more traditional, Santa-focused fare but also the return of the James Gunn-directed Marvel superheroes. Remember when that franchise arrived like a breath of dance-party fresh air? That was before Star-Lord was the worst, but fortunately, this one-off special brings us a seasonally-decorated Groot, so Vin Diesel is here, along with Chris Pratt and Pom Klementieff. Somehow, Kevin Bacon and Maria Bakalova are here, too, so let’s just roll with it.

2. Wednesday (Netflix series)

Both Rob Zombie and Tim Burton decided to wage an Addams Family resurrection this fall with passion-project approaches. In Burton’s case, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán slide into the Morticia and Gomez roles, and Jenna Ortega gives us a Wednesday Addams who’s well worth the reboot. The story revolves around her time at Nevermore Academy, where she’s hoping to hone her psychic talent to solve a 25-year-old supernatural mystery and save her community from a monstrous murderer, all while (you know) coming of age. That’s rough stuff but a treat to watch.

1. Fleishman Is In Trouble (FX series on Hulu)

I know what you’re thinking: can a show starring Jesse Eisenberg as yet another awkward character possibly be sexy? Yes, it very much can. This sleeper series also does a lot more while women throw themselves at this dad-in-the-midst-of-divorce, who couldn’t understand why he’s wealthy by all standards other than those of his estranged wife, portrayed by Claire Danes. His supportive pals are played by Lizzy Caplan and Adam Brody, and it’s not only an enjoyable sleeper series but one that might surprise you by how relatable this story feels. Also, this show helped me give up my itch to try pilates because it now reminds me of insufferable people like Danes’ character. So, Fleishman is somehow a show could save you money in addition to being a smart and enjoyable story. What a win-win situation.

This article originally appeared on 05.19.15

More than 70 years after the war, a 92-year-old World War II veteran took to the sky once again.

It’s been decades since her last flight, but Joy Lofthouse, a 92-year-old Air Transport Auxiliary veteran, was given the chance to board a Spitfire airplane for one more trip.

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Lofthouse was one of just a few female pilots to fly for the British during World War II, part of an all-female division nicknamed the “Attagirls.”

Her job as a service pilot was to shuttle planes from the front lines back to factories for repairs. During her time in the service, she flew 18 different aircraft, but one always held a special place in her heart.

To mark the 70th anniversary of the war’s end, she was called on to once again fly in a Spitfire, her favorite model.

In the video, she shows such genuine excitement and nervousness. She tells the interviewer that she’s not as confident as she was when she was younger, and that she is “aware of [her] age.” Still, she couldn’t pass up the chance to fly again.

After landing, Lofthouse just beamed, proving that it’s possible to be amazing at any age.

“It’s very hard to describe the feeling,” she told BBC News. “It almost makes one feel young again.”

It’s true that life never gets easier, and we only get continuously better at our lives. Childhood’s lessons are simple—this is how you color in the lines, 2 + 2 = 4, brush your teeth twice a day, etc. As we get older, lessons keep coming, and though they might still remain simple in their message, truly understanding them can be difficult. Often we learn the hard way.

The good news is, the “hard way” is indeed a great teacher. Learning the hard way often involves struggle, mistakes and failure. While these feelings are undeniably uncomfortable, being patient and persistent enough to move through them often leaves us not only wiser in having gained the lesson, but more confident, assured and emotionally resilient. If that’s not growth, I don’t know what is.

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Reddit user u/G_man252 asked people to share their own life lessons “learned the hard way,” and the answers, though varied, all touched on something useful that everyone can probably relate to. Especially those of us who have had the blessing of living long enough to gain a lot of hard-won knowledge.

Below are 17 of the best lessons that all of us either have learned, are trying to learn or will learn soon enough. Reading them isn’t necessarily the same as experiencing them, but there is still some comfort in knowing they are all part of what it means to be human.

Read. Be enlightened. Or at the very least, be soothed and entertained.

1.

“Not everyone who loves you is good for you.” – @Gulbahar-00

2.

“Back up your data.” – @SomeoneHad2FuknSayit

3.

“You can’t fix other people. Only yourself.” – @Bob_N_Frapples

4.

“It’s okay to put yourself first. Don’t expend all your energy on others and leave nothing for yourself. Understand how to give and take in moderation and that it’s a two way street.” – @Neffili

5.

“Your fear of failure is worse than the failure itself. Take the chance. Now.” – @aerofish_

6.

“Nothing ever stays the same no matter how hard you want it to be … don’t take it for granted.” – @CodyGhostBlood

7.

“Not everyone will like you for doing the right thing.” – @Kaitriarch

8.

“Never take your health for granted. Appreciate every little thing you have that makes you happy.” – @galestrikesback

9.

“Being vulnerable is the hardest thing you can do, but not being vulnerable will make your life much, much harder.” – @thiccdiccboi

10.

“Budget and be financially responsible.” – @QuailandDoves

11.

“If your gut is screaming at you that something is wrong, listen to it.” – @REDDITprime1212

12.

“Time does not heal all wounds. Most days get better but you’ll always have days where you feel it all over again as if it just happened and you can’t do anything about it except for ride it out.” – @Smokey_S

13.

“It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.” – @Karnezar

14.

“Mental illness is very real and will get in the way of your life.” – @NoUsername817226

15.

“It’s okay to be wrong sometimes. Humility really goes a long way in maintaining relationships and being happy.” – @Freezeucriminalscum

16.

“You will inevitably, directly or indirectly hurt people in life.” – @Sinusoidal0360

17.

“Don’t wait until the right time. For most things there is no right time. Perfectionism stalls you.” – @lovelyfallday