Northeast
New Jersey restaurant breaks Guinness World Record for largest tequila, mezcal library
A restaurant has broken the Guinness World Record for the largest tequila collection on Earth — and it’s not in Mexico.
Meximodo, which opened last November in Metuchen, New Jersey, boasts the biggest library of agave spirits in the world. A Guinness World Records adjudicator certified the world record during a celebration on July 24.
The eatery serves over 1,000 different types of agave-derived liquor. In December, LeMalt Hospitality Group senior vice president TJ Pingitore spoke with Fox News Digital about the restaurant’s opening.
TEQUILA AND MEZCAL: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Pingitore’s team was inspired to break a world record after Metuchen garnered national awards, including the recent 2023 Great American Main Street Award.
The Central New Jersey town was also named the birthplace of the 2023 American Girl Doll of the Year, Kavi Sharma.
Left to right, Guinness World Record team members Callie Smith and MacKenzie Berry with Meximodo owner Saurabh Abrol, Guinness adjudicator Andy Glass and TJ Pingitore. (Meximodo)
“Being on the plaza, [with] the anchor business here about to open … we wanted to do something really special, not just for the community here, but also for the tequila enthusiasts all over the U.S.,” said Pingitore.
“And we decided to break the world record for the most tequila [and] mezcal that’s pourable by law in the entire world.”
In December, Mayor Jonathan Busch spoke highly of Meximodo’s opening to Fox News Digital.
NATIONAL TEQUILA DAY: 5 FUN FACTS ABOUT THE CELEBRATED SPIRIT
“The opening of Meximodo is another exciting investment in what has become one of the culinary capitals of Central Jersey,” the mayor said. “We are so excited to welcome Meximodo to our award-winning downtown.”
Customers can walk into the Metuchen restaurant and find a tequila suited to their flavor profile. The agave liquors can taste spicy or smoky, Pingitore said.
Customers can walk into Meximodo in Central New Jersey and find an agave liquor suited to their particular flavor profile. (Meximodo by LeMalt Hospitality Group/Designs by Celano Group)
“When you break down the tequila library, you’re looking at flavor profiles like smoky [and] mild,” he said.
“You’re looking at whether it’s a tequila, a mezcal or another kind of derivative of that in the agave spirit world.”
“Our bartenders are all trained in suggesting the flavor profile out there,” he also said.
“There’s a good 20 or 25 [liquors] that are on the spicier end or have a really jalapeño, habanero type of kick. There’s [tequilas] that you know — and then some small batch distillates that you don’t. And those are just as interesting, too, so we invite everybody to come in and discover.”
Among the 1,000-plus tequila and mescal bottles in Meximodo’s library, Pingitore said his favorites are El Tesoro and Tequila Ocho.
The senior executive also told Fox News Digital that neither of Meximodo’s two competitors for the world record are in Mexico.
The two establishments are located in Las Vegas and London.
The world record had been “right around 600 unique bottles, and we have over 1,000 bottles,” Pingitore said. “So we’ve shattered that record.”
“The pollo con mole is amazing. It’s our chicken.”
Meximodo also boasts an extensive menu with foods developed from the team’s visits to various Mexican villages.
Many of the tequilas pair well with the menu’s dishes.
Meximodo founder Saurabh Abrol (far left) and team members in Mexico. (Meximodo by LeMalt Hospitality Group/Designs by Celano Group)
“The pollo con mole is amazing. It’s our chicken. The mole appears very, very well with kind of our milder, some of our milder flavor profile skills that might have a little smoke to them really goes well,” Pingitore said.
“And then you have our barbacoa — which is delicious, served two different ways.”
One of the most popular dishes at Meximodo is pollo con mole, which pairs well with tequila, said Pingitore. (Meximodo by LeMalt Hospitality Group/Designs by Celano Group)
“Either way you get it, whether it’s in a taco or it’s in the main dish, you can get it with a more smoky tequila,” he added.
“We’d say something on the smokier [side] or even a mezcal.”
For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle
The restaurant’s unique tequila library has been drawing attention from local media, even earning it the title of “most colorful new restaurant” by NJ.com.
Members of the Meximodo team traveled to Mexico as they were developing the restaurant’s menu. (Meximodo by LeMalt Hospitality Group/Designs by Celano Group)
“My new favorite Mexican spot!” one reviewer wrote on Google.
“Everything is beautifully decorated from the minute you walk in, and we could tell there was a lot of love put into this place.”
Said the same reviewer, “I’m usually not a fan of guacamole, but the Pineapple-Mango Guacamole here is fantastic, and we especially enjoyed the street-style corn and the creative cocktails. Will definitely be returning to try the rest of the menu!”
Read the full article from Here
Pennsylvania
Could marijuana be legalized in Pennsylvania next year?
(WHTM)– Recreational marijuana is not legal in Pennsylvania despite urging from a majority of Democrats in the legislature, but that could change in the new year due to an unlikely advocate.
President Trump issued an executive order last week moving marijuana from a Schedule I drug, which means highly addictive, to a Schedule III drug, which is less addictive with some medical benefit.
Many see this as the president legitimizing marijuana and giving political cover for Republicans, who have been resistant to supporting legalization.
The executive order also called for more solid research on the benefits and harms of marijuana.
John Gallagher, a researcher, addiction specialist, and professor at Alvernia University, voiced support for more research. He said more research is needed and won’t wade into the political debate over whether to legalize it.
He also said the marijuana industry’s claim that it is not addictive is not true.
“I go back to the two things that we know. Without a doubt, cannabis is absolutely an addicting drug for some. And cannabis absolutely has withdrawal symptoms for some people become dependent on it,” Gallagher said.
He added that it’s appropriate that it was re-classified from schedule one to schedule three because its addictiveness is not the same as that of some schedule one substances.
Gallagher suspects Pennsylvania will legalize adult-use cannabis, given all surrounding states have. He also said there hasn’t been enough research on its medical benefits.
Rhode Island
Fourth Brown shooting patient discharged from Rhode Island Hospital
Will the Redditor who broke open the case get the $50k reward?
What officials said about the chances the Redditor who broke open the Brown University mass shooting case will get the $50,000 reward.
Rhode Island Hospital confirmed through a spokesperson that a fourth patient from the shooting at Brown University on Saturday, Dec. 13, has been discharged. As of 11 am on Dec. 22, the hospital has treated nine patients with gunshot injuries. Five are in stable condition and four have been discharged.
“Rhode Island Hospital is working closely with and providing support to all impacted family members and remains in continuous communication with Brown University,” a hospital spokesperson said in a statement.
Vermont
Vermont high school sports scores, results, stats for Monday, Dec. 22
The 2025-2026 Vermont high school winter season has begun. See below for scores, schedules and game details (statistical leaders, game notes) from basketball, hockey, gymnastics, wrestling, Nordic/Alpine skiing and other winter sports.
TO REPORT SCORES
Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.
▶ Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.
▶ Contact Judith Altneu at JAltneu@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
SUNDAY’S H.S. GAME
Girls hockey
Saranac-Lake Placid 5, Burlington/Colchester 1
S/LP: Emma Clark 2G. Kayla Harvey 1G. Emii Colby 1G, 1A. Addison Colby 1G. Stephanie Killbourne-Hill 2A. Lyndsee Reardon 1A. Harper Strack 1A. Allison LaHart 34 saves.
B/C: Austen Fisher 1G. Taylor Davidson 1A. Logan Jewett 30 saves.
MONDAY’S H.S. GAMES
Girls basketball
Games at 7 p.m. unless noted
Lyndon at Lake Region, 6 p.m.
BFA-St. Albans at North Country, 6:30 p.m.
Mount Abraham at Fair Haven
Thetford at Hazen
Burlington at Milton
Spaulding at Harwood
Lamoille at U-32
Montpelier at Peoples
Randolph at Oxbow
Boys basketball
Games at 7 p.m. unless noted
U-32 at Mount Mansfield
Middlebury at South Burlington
Girls hockey
Middlebury at Burlington/Colchester, 4:20 p.m.
Essex at Rice, 5:25 p.m.
Boys hockey
Burlington at Champlain Valley, 5:15 p.m.
Missisquoi at Essex, 5:30 p.m.
Colchester at Rice, 7:30 p.m.
Middlebury at South Burlington, 7:40 p.m.
Spaulding at St. Johnsbury, 6 p.m.
Stowe at Harwood, 5 p.m.
TUESDAY’S H.S. GAMES
Girls basketball
Games at 7 p.m. unless noted
Harwood at Lake Region
Enosburg at Middlebury
Missisquoi at BFA-Fairfax
Vergennes at Williamstown
Richford at Stowe
Essex at Colchester
Winooski at Twinfield/Cabot
Danville at Sharon, 8 p.m.
Mount Mansfield tournament
Rutland vs. South Burlington, 5:30 p.m.
Mount Anthony vs. Mount Mansfield, 7:30 p.m.
Boys basketball
Games at 7 p.m. unless noted
Burr and Burton at Rice
Spaulding at Hartford
Woodstock at Randolph
Mount Abraham at Harwood
Enosburg at Hazen
Stowe at Milton
Rutland at Burlington
Colchester at Montpelier
Lyndon at Lake Region
Essex at Lamoille
Twinfield at Danville
Missisquoi at BFA-St. Albans, 7:30 p.m.
(Subject to change)
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