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Are you the type of drinker who loves the bright, biting, and vegetal flavors of a good additive-free tequila? Then, you should be drinking high-proof tequila.

If you’ve never experienced a high-proof tequila, imagine your favorite tequila, but… more. It’s more biting, more agave-forward, with a stronger emphasis on the vegetal, grassy, fruity, and earthy flavors, with a more pronounced burn. With a high-proof tequila, you’re trading in smoothness and delicate vanilla qualities, but what you’re gaining is a more nuanced, complex, and natural-tasting spirit.

And while our favorites are all sip-worthy and drinkable straight, we think high-proof tequila is at its best when mixed into a cocktail. The way a high-proof tequila instantly elevates everything from ranch water to a margarita or paloma is a quick and easy way to level up your cocktails, so we’re shouting out our 10 favorite high proof tequilas and ranking them from good to great.

Let’s dive in!

10. Alma Del Jaguar — Nocturna Blanco 101 Proof

ABV: 50.5% (101 Proof)
Price: $64.99

The Tequila:

A fairly new brand on my radar, Alma Del Jaguar’s Nocturna offers a spicy, zesty, and naturally sweet additive-free tequila that packs a powerful punch. It’s also my favorite expression from the brand’s portfolio.

The tequila is produced at NOM 1414, Feliciano Vivanco, with single estate agave cooked low and slow, roller mill extracted, and mixed with local well water.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Very spicy on the nose, I’m getting intense cayenne earthiness, black pepper, and a touch of salt water.

Palate: That spice makes way for warm citrus notes, floral honey, and a lot of agave.

Finish: Warm, long and mineral-rich with a spicy kiss on the aftertaste.

Bottom Line:

An ideal foundation for spicy-leaning cocktails.

9. Alto Canto — High Proof Blanco

ABV: 48% (96 Proof)
Price: $89.99

The Tequila:

A bit on the tamer end of the spectrum, I think Alto Canto’s High Proof Blanco is a great starter bottle for opening up your palate to the wonders of high-ABV tequila.

This additive-free blanco comes in at 96 proof and features a relatively smooth experience despite the higher alcohol content. The tequila is produced at NOM 1636, Tequila El Rocio, using agave cooked in stone brick ovens, tahona extracted, and mixed with natural spring water, which gives it some palpable minerality.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Creamy and a bit lactic with notes of rich cocoa and raw agave.

Palate: Suprisingly soft with a grassy green agave forward quality. As those initial flavors pass the palate, I’m getting some asparagus and green pepper with a tart green apple skin that hovers gently on the backend.

Finish: Buttery with a kiss of roasted agave that produces a gentle heat on the aftertaste.

The Bottom Line:

Buttery and mildly spicy. This is very agave-forward but still delicate. A great starter bottle that’ll help transform your cocktails without making you wince.

8. Cazcanes Blanco No. 9

ABV: 50% (100 Proof)
Price: $91.99

The Tequila:

Cazcanes’ Blanco No. 9 is a bottle that keeps appearing on our lists, and for good reason. This stuff is excellent. It’s highly vegetal, buttery, additive-free, and agave-forward. It hits all the tequila snob buzzwords, but most importantly, delivers big flavors.

Produced at NOM 1614, Tequilera Tap, No. 9 is made from autoclave cooked agave that is roller mill extracted, mixed with spring water, and fermented in stainless steel thanks before being twice distilled through a stainless pot with a copper coil.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Rich layers of roasted agave, leather, cocoa, and sweet pea flowers.

Palate: Vegetal and earthy, with notes of cracked black pepper, roasted jalapeño, and a touch of vanilla.

Finish: A mix of caramelized butter and zesty orange peel.

The Bottom Line:

It’s the sort of tequila that makes your mouth water, which makes it ideal for slow sipping or mixing in a high-end cocktail. If you go the cocktail route, we recommend not adding any heavily-sweetened ingredients, keep it to fresh lime juice and high-quality liqueur.

7. Don Fulano Fuerte

ABV: 50% (100 Proof)
Price: $52.99

The Tequila:

Clocking in at 100 proof, Don Fulano’s Fuerte offers a truly sip-worthy experience. This high-proof has a mellow finish but still boasts a full flavor experience that smacks the palate to attention. It’s a best of both worlds sort of tequila.

Fuerte is produced at NOM 1146, Tequileña, from agave slow cooked for 28-32 hours that is then screw mill extracted, mixed with volcanic spring water, and fermented in open-air tanks for 72 to 96 hours.

This tequila is additive-free, so if that’s your jam, this doesn’t disappoint.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: A bit funky, but notes of rosemary, sage, wet grass, and jasmine help it from being off-putting. There is also some warm inviting agave present.

Palate: Lots of minerality and earthy tones, I’m getting fresh clay, raw coca, and a delicate sweet vanilla kiss.

Finish: A long and spicy finish that sticks to the tongue.

The Bottom Line:

If you’re much more interested in sipping your tequila than mixing it in a drink, Don Fulano’s Fuerte is a great candidate.

6. Tapatío — Blanco 110

ABV: 55% (110 Proof)
Price: $57.99

The Tequila:

Recently, we put a bunch of high-proof tequilas to the blind taste test, and Tapatío came in at number one for us. While it doesn’t top this particular list, we still think its an essential high-proof tequila, and considering it’s on the cheaper end, it’s an easy sell!

Produced at NOM 1139, at the distillery that shares the brand’s name, this tequila is made using agave harvested at peak maturity that is slow-cooked in stone ovens, roller mill extracted, and mixed with deep well water.

It is 100% additive-free.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: An herbaceous mix of rosemary and thyme with rich caramelized agave, and a light touch of mint.

Palate: Wonderfully warm and citrusy, with a bouquet of spicy anise, cinnamon, and cooked agave.

Finish: Oily and supple with a strong tongue-numbing spicy kick on the backend.

The Bottom Line:

A rich blend of chili spice, cinnamon, and agave-forward flavor, with a warm buttery finish. Perfect for sipping and mixing.

5. G4 — Tequila Blanco 108

ABV: 54% (108 Proof)

Average Price: $79.99

The Tequila:

It’s been a minute since I’ve sung the praises of G4’s 108, so allow me to say it for the people in the back: do not sleep on this tequila. If you see it at the store, pick it up. Don’t think twice.

This is one of the finest additive-free tequila brands in operation, and G4’s 108 proof helps to put what makes this brand so great into focus. A single slip will slap you in the face with bright agave forward flavor.

G4 is produced at NOM 1579, Destileria El Pandillo, from agave cooked in stone brick ovens for 22 hours. Once roasted, the agave is crushed with a metal tahona, mixed with rainwater, and twice distilled in copper pots.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Raw agave and wet stone on the nose. There is also a lot of heat, enough so that a big whiff will make your eyes water.

Palate: Juicy navel oranges, rind zest, and an intense roasted agave flavor.

Finish: Dry, but with a warm roasted nut quality.

The Bottom Line:

A dusty, zesty, agave-forward tequila that’ll deepen and enhance the flavors of your favorite tequila cocktail.

4. Tequila Ocho — Plata Puntas 108

ABV: 54% (108 Proof)
Average Price: $129

The Tequila:

Released this year, Tequila Ocho’s Plata Puntas 108 is the highest-proof expression the brand has ever produced. I’m a bit torn on this one, on the one hand, it’s very good, and not including it in this list would’ve felt wrong because of just how good it is.

On the other hand, I find it prohibitively expensive right now, and I imagine this $100+ price point will start to fall as soon as next year. Just remember, patience is a virtue!

Plata Puntas 108 is produced at NOM 1474, Tequilera Los Alambiques, with agave cooked in stone ovens, roller mill extracted, and mixed with deep well water. It is then fermented in open-air wooden vats, and twice distilled through a copper pot.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Roasted agave, dry earth and lime, with a hint of green olive.

Palate: Buttery and earthy, with a briny-olive flavor, and a lot of black pepper.

Finish: A nice warm heat with a touch of mint.

The Bottom Line:

Tequila Ocho’s Plata Puntas is ideal for margaritas and palomas. The way its earthy, green, and briney flavors cut through a cocktail is a quick and easy way to get more agave-forward flavor in your mixed drinks. But it’s a shame it’s so expensive, because it might hold people back from daring to mix it.

3. Fortaleza — Blanco Still Strength

ABV: 48% (92 Proof)
Average Price: $66.99

The Tequila:

The stuff of legends, Fortaleza’s semi-rare Blanco Still Strength is a must if you’re already a fan of the brand. In the intro to this piece, I mentioned that high-proof tequilas offer more and Fortaleza’s Blanco Still Strength perfectly exhibits that. This tastes a lot like the regular Fortaleza Blanco, but the flavors are much more intense and rich.

This tequila is produced using old-fashioned methods at NOM 1493, Tequila Los Abuelos, with agave slow-cooked in stone ovens and crushed with a stone tahona.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Roasted agave, vanilla bean, citrus, sea salt, and black pepper, with a bit of green olive.

Palate: Fruity with a mix of pear, lemon, and orange, a nice soothing herbaceousness, and a luxurious mix of caramelized agave and warm rich vanilla.

Finish: Buttery with a bit of pleasing bitterness on the finish.

The Bottom Line:

Bright, citrus-forward, and fruity, with a warm mix of agave and vanilla. Fortaleza’s Blanco Still Strength is one of the finest tequilas on the market, period. Use it to level-up your favorite tequila cocktail.

2. Wild Common — Tequila Blanco Still Strength

ABV: 50% (100 Proof)
Average Price: $85

The Tequila:

Don’t let the minimalist label fool you, Wild Common makes some seriously great tequila and its Still Strength Blanco is the brand’s best expression. Crafted by famed master distiller Chava, this additive-free tequila comes out of NOM 1123, Cascahuin, and is made using old-fashioned methods, including stone oven roasting for 72 hours and stone tahona milling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: A rush of orange rind, cinnamon, anise, and rich agave tones. Agave is a common note to find on the nose of a high-proof tequila, but I don’t think I’ve come across a tequila that offers a warmer representation of note.

Palate: I’m getting high minerality, some sea salt, white pepper, and a mix of citrus, anise, and honeydew.

Finish: A long warm finish with a wonderful silky mouthfeel and a lasting burn.

The Bottom Line:

Wild Common’s Still Strength Blanco offers big and bold flavors and can easily be your favorite if what you’re after is warm, agave rich tequila.

Perfect for slow sipping and mixing alike.

1. Cascahuin — Plata 48

ABV: 48% (96 Proof)
Average Price: $89.99

The Tequila:

Our top pick, Cascahuin’s Plata 48, is the finest high-proof tequila currently on the market. Its price might have you second-guessing on whether you should actually mix this into a cocktail, but as someone who has done it, let me tell you, it doesn’t come across like a waste of a great tequila.

Though, I’d strongly suggest you mix this into something like a ranch water, because you don’t need any added sweetness muddling up the nuance here.

This tequila is produced at NOM 1123, Tequila Cascahuin, with agave slow-cooked in brick ovens, roller mill extracted, and mixed with well water before being fermented in stainless steel tanks and twice distilled in a stainless pot.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: A rush of crushed black peppercorn and juicy citrus zest, with a touch of wet grass, and roasted agave.

Palate: There is a dessert-like quality to this tequila, I’m getting a lot of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, but also natural grassy and vegetal flavors. It’s incredibly well-balanced.

Finish: A mix of butter and zest. The flavors of Cascahuin 48 are incredibly intense, but the finish is surprisingly mellow and dare I say, smooth.

The Bottom Line:

A bouquet of sweet dessert-like tones and grassy natural flavors. Balanced, mellow, and full-flavored, Cascahuin’s Plata 48 is simply the finest high proof tequila you can buy right now.

The Peaky Blinders movie is filming as we speak. Cillian Murphy will return as Tommy Shelby OBE during WWII, and the production will introduce several new characters portrayed by Rebecca Ferguson, Barry Keoghan, Tim Roth, and more. Deadline also recently reported the confirmation of many returning original cast members including Sophie Rundle (as Ava Thorne), Steven Graham (as Hayden Stagg), Ned Dennehy (as Charlie Strong), Packy Lee (as Johnny Dogs), and Ian Peck (as Curly).

Questions have swirled regarding whether Tom Hardy will return as Alfie Solomons, and there’s another mystery on the table because although Joe Cole’s John Shelby is long gone, another Shelby brother could make a return.

Will Paul Anderson Return As Arthur Shelby In The Peaky Blinders Movie?

Unfortunately, Netflix hasn’t spoken on the subject, which is a complicated one. Back in 2022, Steven Knight sat down with Digital Spy to promote the series’ sixth season’s arrival. At that time, the feature film seemed far off into the distance, but when asked whether “Tommy and Arthur” would be part of the franchise’s future, Knight remarked, “It’s impossible to say yet. But the film – yes.”

So, all seemed well from a Cillian and Paul standpoint, at least for a first movie, but the production is now in full swing, and there’s been radio silence on Paul Anderson’s participation. And since that 2022 interview, Anderson fell into some legal troubles, which included a recent Boxing Day arrest for possession of crack cocaine (among other substances), for which his attorney reasoned that he was, ahem, simply stepping back into Arthur’s shoes “to please fans of the show by slipping into character.”

As sad as that situation sounds, it’s hard not to feel reminded of Arthur’s sixth-season scenes as an inebriated non-Santa, but to get back to the question at hand, nobody knows (or at least, nobody is talking) about whether Anderson will return for the Peaky Blinders movie on Netflix.

One of the talking points of the first week of the NBA season has been about whether the league is good enough as an entertainment product, with much of the focus being on the Boston Celtics and the style of play they’ve adopted and popularized that sees them take an outrageous number of three-pointers.

That’s led to people wondering if the league needs to make rule changes, from pushing back the three-point line, eliminating corner threes, or changing the point values from 2s and 3s to 3s and 4s in order to make the math advantage less. The argument is, the NBA is an entertainment business first and foremost, with most of their revenue coming from TV money. If the product that yields the best results (which is what the teams are focused on) isn’t fun to watch, they need to adapt the rules.

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has apparently heard that argument, and has some different ideas on what rule changes the league should look into. On a recent appearance on Zolak & Bertrand on 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston, Mazzulla made an impassioned plea for the NBA to “bring back fighting.”

“The biggest thing that we rob people of from an entertainment standpoint is we can’t fight anymore,” Mazzulla said. “We should just bring back fighting. You want to talk about robbing the league of entertainment, what’s more entertaining than a scuffle? How come in baseball they’re allowed to clear the benches? How come in hockey they’re allowed to — I just don’t get why some sports are allowed to clear the benches. They have bats and weapons, we don’t, we just have a ball. The other sport has like one of the hardest surfaces and playing instruments in a puck and sticks, and we’re not allowed to throw down a little bit.”

For one, I’m not surprised that the guy with a black belt in jiu-jitsu wants to let the boys rumble a bit more. I think Mazzulla is probably making this point a bit tongue-in-cheek to try and highlight how silly the conversation has gotten, but I also think he does truly believe this and has clearly thought about this a decent bit while watching scrums happen in hockey and baseball. There’s no world where the NBA suddenly allows guys to drop the proverbial gloves and go at it like in hockey, but I can confirm as someone in the ol’ content industry that there are few things people love watching more than when a fight happens in a game.

ESPN’s ‘NFL Live’ crew is never afraid to poke fun at each other, and while discussing Jayden Daniels’ incredible Hail Mary to beat the Bears on Monday afternoon, Marcus Spears decided to take a crack at Dan Orlovsky.

Spears said the Commanders wouldn’t have had a shot at that Hail Mary with Dan at quarterback cause he couldn’t have thrown the ball that far. Later in the show, the research team found Dan’s longest throw of his career was 54 air yards, which Ryan Clark called “a helluva throw” but Spears dismissed as a “wake up”, continuing to throw some barbs Dan’s way. That led to a challenge for Spears to back up his talk by doing it himself, since he and Clark were on site in Pittsburgh for Monday Night Football, and Spears went out and did it on his first attempt, firing a ball 54 yards to Stanford Steve that had the crew stunned.

It should be noted that Spears is an all-time great Louisiana high school athlete in both football and basketball, so it probably shouldn’t be a shock that he can absolutely rip a pass. That said, to do it in a dress shirt with no warm up is wildly impressive. Orlovsky could only chuckle and admit “that one’s tough, man” as his ego took a significant hit. I will say, a recurring bit of Marcus Spears attempting various feats of strength would be a great addition to ‘NFL Live’, but it’d be hard to top this moment.

Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers were one of the surprise stories of the 2023-24 NBA season, as their run to the conference finals was something very few saw coming. Entering the 2024-25 season, the Pacers won’t surprise anyone in the East, and with Pascal Siakam getting a full offseason in Indiana after arriving in a trade from Toronto, expectations are to reach the playoffs once again and see if they can make some more noise from there.

For Haliburton in particular, this summer was a busy one, as he was part of the Team USA squad that won gold in Paris. Going from a deep playoff run to the Olympics shortens the offseason considerably, but that’s a challenge the two-time All-Star is very happy to deal with. Ahead of the start of the Pacers season last week, we got a chance to hop on a Zoom call with Haliburton on behalf of Call of Duty to talk about the release of Black Ops 6, which he and Team USA got to play early in France, what that Team USA experience was like, his excitement for this season, building more chemistry with Siakam, and making his WWE debut earlier this year with Jalen Brunson.

What was your biggest takeaway from the postseason run last year, getting that experience going to the conference finals, seeing what that journey is beyond 82 games, and trying to get deep into the 16-game season and what that takes, for you personally and for the Pacers as a team?

Yeah, I think my biggest takeaway, for me personally, was just that man, winning is hard. It’s not easy, and it’s definitely something that I don’t want to take for granted, because it’s not going to be easy to get back to do that. And I’ve heard that from, you know, a lot of older guys I was with during the Olympics. Don’t take it for granted, because you think when you’re young and you have success, that it’s just easy to repeat. It’s not easy. It’s not going to be easy, but that’s why we play this game. So that was my biggest takeaway, is just understand what it really takes to win, and the physical toll, but the mental toll and all those things on your body to play high level basketball. So all those things are important and it’s somthing I’m taking the account going into this year.

A big difference coming into this year compared to last year is you get a full offseason with Pascal in the building. What is the difference in having that full camp and offseason, rather than having a guy come in mid-season and kind of having to figure it out on the fly? And what are you hopeful that you two can build on in terms of playing together and off of each other?

Yeah, I think people underestimate how hard it is to get traded in the middle of the year and go to a team and have this instant connection and success, when we are both obviously two of the top guys on our respective teams and coming together and having to figure out how to play alongside each other and how to get the best of each other. I think going into a new year where we’ve had a year to be together, we get more time in the summer and more time in preseason to grow that chemistry, it’s really big for us. And I’m just looking forward to this year, because I think we really barely scratched the surface on what our connection could be last year, and I’m looking forward to this year, because I think just more time together will just make things easier and make the connection grow stronger. So I’m really looking forward to the year and playing alongside him for a full year.

He is such a unique player in his skill set, what was it like playing with him? And what were the things that that you saw out of him that kind of excites you about what you two can do in terms of complementing each other’s games?

Yeah, I think just finding where our spots are. Like you said, he’s such an interesting player. He’s one of the most elite post-up players in our game. So a lot of times for him to score, he kind of does it himself, because he’s so good in the post, but I think just figuring out how I can screen for him better, how I can get him open, the plays that I can run to get him in positions to succeed. And then think vice versa, how I can use him and his unique abilities to get myself open, and just how we can get the best out of each other. And honestly, it’s hard to just speak about that and figure it out, and it’s way different than to go through it and understand like, ‘Oh, these are the plays that get us both going.’ So it just takes time, and I think we’ve been allowed that, it’s why I think the relationship will blossom.

You already touched a little bit on it with being on Team USA this summer. And basically anybody that I’ve ever talked to that has been on an Olympic team has talked about how there’s nothing like it. What was that experience like for you?

Yeah, I mean, you kind of alluded to it. There really is nothing like it. I mean, unbelievable experience to play with a lot of guys I’ve looked up to my whole life, and sort of play alongside them and learn from them and get to know them more on a personal level, was a lot of fun for me. And I mean, there really is nothing like wearing USA across your chest and representing something much, much bigger than you. Just a lot of fun being out there with with those guys, and capturing something that’s just very elusive and not many people can say they have done, winning a gold medal. So it was really a lot of fun for me.

What does being on a team with 11 of the other best players in the world for multiple months and working with them and getting to see how they work and kind of getting to pick their brains, do for you as a player? And what are you excited to kind of be able to put in to what you’ve already done to get to this point?

I mean, for any player, and I think that it can help you mature a lot, and can help you see kind of the bigger picture. Because you see how these guys work, and you hear things about how guys take care of their bodies and do all these things, but to be around them, ask them the real why behind it, what they do. And get to know them more on a personal level, because I think at the end of the day, the NBA is a brotherhood and there’s only 450 of us, and so I think guys have no problems sharing their knowledge of the game and passing that on to the next generation. And so for me, just asking a ton of questions, getting to learn a lot, was really important. And I just will take every bit piece from that to give me more success going into this year.

And while you were over there, you got an early look at [Call of Duty] Black Ops 6. What was it like getting an early look at the game and what can you say about this latest edition of the game as it gets set to release this week?

Yeah, we had a lot of fun. Thankfully, we as a team, we were some of the first people in the world to play Black Ops 6 in our in our hotel in our pool play games, and it was a lot of fun. Me and KD sat in there for a while, and he had his boy, and I had my boy, and we’re just playing against each other and talking shit, and getting to just enjoy playing Call of Duty like everybody else does. We had a ton of fun getting to play on a couple different maps and kind of the early beginning stages. My brother is an avid Call of Duty player, so I FaceTimed him and let him watch me play and see, and he was really excited about that. So I’m just really excited for the masses to get to play it, and, you know, for the rest of my life, I’ll get to brag that I was one of the first people to play the game. And I just have a ton of fun with it, because Call of Duty is something that I’ve been playing since I was a kid, and something that’s always allowed me to connect to people and connect with my brother, because we’ve always enjoyed playing the game together. So, it’s something I definitely like to do in my free time, and something that just just always brings me back to my roots.

Who are the guys that you kind of play with across the league or on the Pacers? Like, when you get a chance to sit down and and get on the sticks, who are your go-tos to hop in into a game with?

In terms of guys in the NBA, like, I don’t really play a ton with guys in the NBA, because my time to play the game is a great time for me to get away from them. Does that make sense? So a lot of times, when I get on Call of Duty, it’s literally me, my little brother, and some friends from home that I don’t get to see as much, because that’s really our only time to really connect. So we do that a lot. Cause it’s just a fun way to connect, and you only get so much time in your day to really talk to those guys and guys that really have been with you since the jump. So, we get to play on the game, it’s time for us all to connect, and, you know, give us a little bit of teamwork to win games and stuff like that. So my little brother is the mainstay in my gaming world, but everybody else kind of it comes and goes, and we kind of just feel off the vibe of how we’re feeling.

I feel like with where gaming has gone, and the ability to kind of play anywhere and with anyone — I mean, you mentioned you were in France and could FaceTime your brother and let him see it — how cool is that as an athlete that’s on the road and has kind of a unique schedule, that there are ways it can help you kind of connect with with those folks that you might not get to see on on quite as regular of a basis as maybe you’d like to?

Yeah, that’s the amazing part about it. I mean, when I travel on the road, I always have my game with me. It’s just an awesome thing for me, because, like I said, it allows me to disconnect from the world a little bit and just enjoy myself. You know, it’s kind of a mental release for me, even in the Call of Duty gamesthat can be hectic and there’s a lot of trash talk and competitiveness that comes with it, but I really enjoy it, just because it, like I said, takes me back to my roots, man. It’s really like a mental release for me, even when I’m having awful games, and even when I put the sticks off a little bit and I come back and I’m terrible, it’s still fun for me. And I think that’s the amazing part about gaming, and why so many people can connect behind it is because it doesn’t really matter, you know, what your height, weight, ability, all those things don’t really matter. It’s just, are you good on the sticks? And I think that’s fun part about it, just because everybody can connect behind it.

Another thing that you’ve been a longtime fan of is WWE and wrestling, and earlier this summer, you got chance to get in the WWE ring with Jalen Brunson in MSG. Was that like for you, and not just being a fan, but but being able to get get involved there and kind of feel that that juice in the building?

Man, it means the world. I’m like, I’m slowly starting to check off things in my life that I’ve always wanted to do. Getting in the WWE ring was cool. Would I love to be in a match? Of course, but I don’t know if my pain tolerance can withstand that, and I don’t know if the Pacers organization would necessarily allow that. But just like the relationship I have with WWE has been so amazing for me, because it’s similar to Call of Duty. Like, it’s something that I’ve done my whole life. I’ve been a fan of my whole life, so to be able to do that really means the world to me, and I can’t express that enough. Similar to the NBA as well, because at the end of the day, these are all things I loved to do when I was a kid, and I’m really just a big kid that happens to be a young adult. So that’s just something that means the world to me, and I’m slowly checking off things I’ve wanted to do as a kid in my life. And, yeah, WWE is definitely just a big part of that.

If you were to do a match, what would be your finisher in the ring?

Yeah, it’s a tough question. You know, I think growing up as a kid, it was always like a DDT headlock, like a submission move. But I don’t know if I got the technique for that right now. So I think I would love to jump off the top rope, but I got in the training ring when I was at NXT, and those heights were a little scary for me. So I don’t know, we’d have to figure it out. I think the easiest move right now would probably be a super kick. No, honestly, if Randy [Orton] would let me, I’d steal the RKO, because that move is just classic and fire. So if he let me borrow it for a little bit, that’d be my move for sure.

Is there a move you think you could take? Like, is there one you think you could sell properly, that you’re confident in?

A stunner. I could sell a stunner, high level. I could sell a super kick, pretty well, I think. Nothing off the top rope, because I don’t trust people landing on me. Yeah, nothing getting slammed. I’ll choose a stunner or super kick.

Chvrches leader Lauren Mayberry has come through with a solo song here and there over the past year or so, but now she’s going all in: Today (October 29), Mayberry announced Vicious Creature, her debut solo album. That’s set for release before the year’s up, on December 6.

Before that, she has shared the new single “Crocodile Tears,” which is an aesthetic departure of Chvrches’ synth-driven sound.

Mayberry says of the album:

“So much of this process has been an exercise in empowering myself to listen to my own intuition — something I really trained myself out of. That’s ultimately why you start making things — because you felt a feeling, and you wanted to articulate that somehow. I think it was important for me to relearn that kind of independence, and recognize what I bring to any table I choose to sit at.”

Listen to “Crocodile Tears” above and find the Vicious Creature cover art and tracklist below, along with Mayberry’s upcoming tour dates.

Lauren Mayberry’s Vicious Creature Album Cover Artwork

Lauren Mayberry’s Vicious Creature Tracklist

1. “Something In The Air”
2. “Crocodile Tears”
3. “Shame”
4. “Anywhere But Dancing”
5. “Punch Drunk”
6. “Oh, Mother”
7. “Sorry, Etc”
8. “Change Shapes”
9. “Mantra”
10. “A Work Of Fiction”
11. “Sunday Best”
12. “Are You Awake”

Lauren Mayberry’s 2025 Tour Dates

01/28/2025 — House of Blues @ San Diego, CA
01/29/2025 — Fillmore @ San Francisco, CA
01/31/2025 — Soundwell @ Salt Lake City, UT
02/01/2025 — Gothic @ Denver, CO
02/02/2025 — Granada Theater @ Lawrence, KS
02/03/2025 — Fine Line @ Minneapolis, MN
02/05/2025 — Thalia Hall @ Chicago, IL
02/07/2025 — Concert Hall @ Toronto, ON
02/08/2025 — Electric City @ Buffalo, NY
02/09/2025 — Newport Music Hall @ Columbus, OH
02/11/2025 — Royale @ Boston, MA
02/13/2025 — Webster Hall @ New York, NY
02/14/2025 — Empire Live @ Albany, NY
02/17/2025 — Union Transfer @ Philadelphia, PA
02/18/2025 — 9:30 Club @ Washington, DC
02/20/2025 — Masquerade @ Hell @ Atlanta, GA
02/21/2025 — The Underground @ Charlotte, NC
02/22/2025 — The Mil at Cannery Hall @ Nashville, TN
02/24/2025 — White Oak Downstairs @ Houston, TX
02/25/2025 — Granada @ Dallas, TX
02/26/2025 — Emo’s @ Austin, TX
02/28/2025 — Crescent Ballroom @ Phoenix, AZ
03/02/2025 — The Belasco @ Los Angeles, CA

Vicious Creature is out 12/6 via Island Records. Find more information here.

(WARNING: Spoilers for Shrinking will be found below.)

Last week’s episode was filled with a whole lot of self-sabotaging, but with a show like Shrinking, that’s to be expected. We see Grace avoid charges from the state for almost killing her boyfriend, but nearly return to him out of guilt. Luckily, Brian and Jimmy help her overcome it and she decides to move to Vancouver with her sister Jennie. Liz tries to be a helpful friend to Sean, but ends up hurting their friendship by pushing Sean to reconnect with his father sooner than he wanted to, if he wanted to, that is. Paul nearly ruins his relationship with Julie by trying to protect her from his future health scares, but the truth is, she’s grown and can make the choices she wants to. The good thing is Paul seems to understand this by the end of the episode. As for Jimmy, well, he’s Jimmy so you know what comes with that.

Here’s when you can expect another episode:

When Does Shrinking Season 2, Episode 4 Come Out?

The fourth episode in Shrinking season two, titled “Made You Look” will arrive on October 30. The episode will be available on Wednesday, 10/30 on Apple TV+ starting at 3am EST/12am PST. The synopsis for “Made You Look” can be found below:

Paul challenges Jimmy to show restraint with Sean. Derek introduces Gaby to a friend. Liz advises Brian about parenthood.

You can check out some highlight clips from the first two episodes from Shrinking episode three below:

Doctorate in psychology, not maturity.

A new episode of #Shrinking is now streaming on Apple TV+ pic.twitter.com/tclUxs5s8V

— Apple TV (@AppleTV) October 23, 2024

Summer school.#Shrinking #AppleTV #AppleTVPlus pic.twitter.com/L8zOmnsq4o

— Apple TV (@AppleTV) October 24, 2024

‘Shrinking’ season 2 episodes arrive every Wednesday at 3am EST/12am PST on Apple TV+. Season 1 is now streaming on Apple TV+.

Netflix‘s The Diplomat isn’t a spooky, Halloween-type bingewatch, but those who know that the show takes wink-wink swings at Keri Russell’s immaculate hair reputation will enjoy the mop-raising spectacle to come.

Russell’s Kate Wyler does not care about that hair because she has much more important things to do like figure out who pulled off a terrorist explosion in the first season finale. The messy hair is also milked for laughs plenty in the upcoming season, which is high comedy for certain people (myself) who live in yoga pants, and if you belong to that camp or at least appreciate that type of wry humor, you might be wondering when this season will drop.

How Does The Diplomat Season 2 Premiere?

All six episodes of The Diplomat‘s second season will stream on Thursday, October 31. Netflix generally releases new seasons at 12:00am PST/3:00am EST, so the time has almost come for Hal to infuriate his wife once more.

Speaking of Hal, do not worry about him. The season’s full trailer already revealed that Hal lives (the dude is a cockroach), which is an honest-to-god fine approach to this season because now we know that there are even more pressing matters to come. Like how Allison Janney might make everybody want to sink into the floor with one withering glance as Vice President Grace Penn. Are you looking forward to it? Good.

The Diplomat‘s second tour comes to Netflix on October 31.

Prior to the start of the 2024-25 NBA season, Netflix released its documentary series “Starting 5” that followed five NBA stars through last season. The series provided a look at the stars off-court lives, as well as some rarely heard audio from in games that goes beyond what we usually see in “Mic’d Up” segments (as those are all approved by team PR).

It was a fascinating look at LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, and Domantas Sabonis, with each giving fans a peek behind the curtain at the ups and downs of life in the NBA. The Netflix cameras will once again be a regular presence in the NBA this season, as they’ll be bringing “Starting 5” back for a Season 2, and on Tuesday we learned what five stars will be getting the Netflix treatment this season, via Shams Charania.

Kevin Durant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, James Harden, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Haliburton are the five players letting cameras into their lives this season, as Netflix once again leans on a mix of established vets (Durant and Harden), rising stars (SGA and Haliburton), and a Celtics star wing (Jaylen Brown). With that group, Netflix figures to have a decent shot at following at least one player through the Finals, as the Thunder and Celtics are the biggest title favorites, while the Suns are a darkhorse and the Pacers were a surprise conference finals squad a year ago. If nothing else, we should get a unique behind the scenes look at one of the all-time great performers: Kevin Durant on Twitter.

When We Were Young is returning to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds next year with another scene band performing their best-known album in full.

Scheduled for October 18, 2025, the emo- and pop punk-heavy festival is headlined by Panic! At The Disco playing all of 2005’s A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out (featuring “I Write Sins Not Tragedies”). Other big names on the bill include Blink 182, Weever, Avril Lavigne, The Offspring, The Used, and Knocked Loose.

The lineup also features All Time Low, The Gaslight Anthem, Yellowcard, Simple Plan, Taking Back Sunday, Jack’s Mannequin, Mayday Parade, The Maine, Story of the Year, The Starting Line, The Story So Far, Sleeping With Sirens, Straylight Run, The Movielife, and Arm’s Length.

Tickets for When We Were Young 2025 cost $325 for general admission, $550 for general admission plus, and $650 for VIP. The pre-sale begins on Friday, November 1, at 10 am PT. You can find out more information here.

Below, check out the full lineup.

When We Were Young 2025 Lineup

Panic! At The Disco
Blink-182
Weezer
Avril Lavigne
The Offspring
All Time Low
The Used
Knocked Loose
The Gaslight Anthem
Bad Religion
Yellowcard
Ice Nine Kills
Motionless In White
I Prevail
Beartooth
Simple Plan
Kublai Khan TX
The Plot In You
Mayday Parade
Loathe
The Cab
Taking Back Sunday
Asking Alexandria
PVRIS
We Came As Eomancs
Jack’s Mannequin
The Story So Far
Never Shout Never
Alexisonfire
We Came As Romans
Story Of The Year
Sleeping With Sirens
Breathe Carolina
We The Kings
Letlive
Plain White T’s
Destroy Boys
Sunami
Crown The Empire
The Amity Affliction
Straylight Run
The Rocket Summer
Never Shout Never
Don Bronco
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Taylor Acorn
The Summer Set
Alexisonfire
Holding Absence
The Movielife
Her Leather Jacket
Arm’s Length

When We Were Young 2025 Poster