Month: November 2020

Whether you’re having a solo meal this year (safest option) or you’ve teamed up with your quarantine cluster for a socially distanced feast (less ideal), your Thanksgiving 2020 will be significantly improved with a caballito [literally “little horse” but meaning “shot” in this case] of the finest tequila. There’s no better way to reward yourself for surviving the insanity of this COVID-filled year (and resisting the urge to gather!) than a high-quality añejo or reposado served neat.

To steer you in the right direction, we’ve curated a list of some of our favorite aged tequilas that will pair perfectly with fall favorites like roasted turkey, heavy doses of gravy, and all your favorite fixings. This list — populated with both smoky and vegetal tequilas; some sippers and some mixing expressions — will excite the palate, chill you out, and help you drift into a reflective state that pairs well with a holiday centered around thankfulness and food.

So let’s dive into the best aged tequilas to pair with this year’s Thanksgiving dinner.

Expresiones Del Corazón Thomas H. Handy Añejo

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Tequila San Matias de Jalisco
Average Price: $82.99
The Tequila:

If you’re the type that thinks only whisky is good for sipping, you need to try Expresiones Del Corazón’s Thomas H. Handy Añejo. To achieve the golden hue of this ultra-smooth tequila, Corazón’s blanco tequila is rested for 19 months at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Thomas H. Handy whiskey barrels, resulting in a complex tequila with a long and warming finish.

Tasting Notes:

You’ll never need a chaser with this bottle. A subtle, spicy bite makes way for sweet vanilla and rich caramel with a surprisingly bright, almost tropical character that will greatly enhance any dish flavored with citrus or pome fruits.

Bottom Line:

A high-quality tequila that combines the best of the whiskey and tequila worlds. Pairs amazingly with apple pie.

El Tesaro Extra Añejo

ABV: 40%
Distillery: La Alteña Distillery
Average Price: $100

The Tequila:

El Tesaro’s extra añejo tequila begins with Blue Weber agave harvested at peak maturity and fermented in old fashioned wood fermentation tanks in an open-air setting, then aged in American oak ex-bourbon barrels for up to five years, which gives the Tequila a vibrant and appetizing golden hue. The result is simply one of the finest tequilas on the market — sweeping the top honors across this year’s spirits tasting competitions.

Tasting Notes:

Peppery and herbal, with rich and earthy flavors of chocolate and roasted coffee with a tinge of oak courteously of those ex-bourbon barrels.

Bottom Line:

One of the finest bottles of tequila you’ll taste all year, worthy of a permanent place on your own personal top shelf. Pair with your bird and your side of mashed potatoes and gravy.

Hornitos Cristalino

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Tequila Sauza
Average Price: $29.99

The Tequila:

A budget-friendly Cristalino that utilizes Hornitos triple-distilled añejo tequila aged in American White oak casks and carbon-filtered into a crystal clear state, resulting in a spirit with a smooth mouthfeel and warm velvety tannins.

Tasting Notes:

Bittersweet notes of honey and butterscotch pave the way for a warm vanilla finish that lingers on the palate between sips.

Bottom Line:

Affordable enough to shoot and well-made enough to not make you wince.

Patrón Reposado

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Patrón Spirits Mexico
Average Price: $54.99

The Tequila:

Patrón Reposado begins with hand-harvested Weber blue agave that is distilled in small batches at Patrón’s legendary Jalisco distillery and aged for two months in American, French, and Hungarian oak barrels. The end result is an expression that features all of the bright vegetal flavors of Patron’s un-aged tequila with a smooth and luxurious oaky finish.

Tasting Notes:

Fresh agave flavors greet the palate and gently marinate into a floral mix of honey and citrus fruits. The finish leans into the oak, with some nice vanilla at the very end.

Bottom Line:

The best margarita you’ll ever have in your life starts with Patrón’s Reposado tequila. It’s complex enough to be worthy of drinking during a celebration but priced at that affordable sweet spot.

Patron Extra Añejo

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Patrón Spirits Mexico
Average Price: $89.98

The Tequila:

One of Patron’s finest bottles, this extra añejo is aged for 3 years in small oak barrels with a deep golden hue that will instantly improve the appearance of any tequila-based cocktail.

Tasting Notes:

A full-bodied tequila with subtle notes of crisp fruit and a deep roasted agave body, leading into a bold oak and vanilla finish.

Bottom Line:

The one añejo on this list we’d suggest tossing into a cocktail (a tequila soda, or something equally simple), Patron’s extra añejo is best served alongside a slice of homemade pecan pie or a side of sweet potatoes.

Espanita Reposado

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Impulsora Rombo
Average Price: $31.99

The Tequila:

To reach the resposado state, Espanita rested their blanco tequila in French oak and American white oak barrels for a light honey-colored expression with a velvety smooth finish and deeply complex flavors. This is the perfect base ingredient for a Mexican Mule or a Paloma — so grab this bottle if you’re looking for a mixed drink to sit aside your Thanksgiving feast.

Tasting Notes:

A highly vegetal and zesty flavor evolves across the palate, with notes of kola nut and creamy mashed walnuts with a sweet candied coconut finish.

Bottom Line:

A fairly priced bottle for those looking to take their cocktail making game up a notch without having to actually learn any new skills (palomas are incredibly easy to make!).

1800 Cristalino

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Casa Cuervo
Average Price: $54.99

The Tequila:

Aged in American and French Oak barrels for 16 months and then finished in port wine casks for half a year, this Cristalino serves as a great introduction to the expression for first-timers. Be careful with this one though, it is so smooth that it becomes dangerously easy to overdrink.

Tasting Notes:

The warm notes of roasted agave and white chocolate show up first on the palate and make way for a fruity lift of rich cherry and a vanilla caramel finish with absolutely no burn. Simply one of the easiest sipping tequilas you’ll ever drink.

Bottom Line:

Serve it up on a rock and let the bottle sit tableside with your dinner all night. Just remember to keep count of how many glasses you’ve poured.

Megan Thee Stallion’s ex-friend Kelsey Nicole just dropped a diss track aimed at the rapper. After the ferocious opening to Meg’s debut album, Good News, Nicole has been taking issue with some bars on the song “Shots Fired” which are reportedly aimed at her, along with Torey Lanez.

Things have been tense between the two former friends since Megan was shot back in July of this year. Megan said Torey’s camp was offering to pay her to keep quiet, and rumors began to circulate that maybe Kelsey had taken the money because she wasn’t speaking out on the incident. There were also rumors that Kelsey and Torey were dating, which was why she didn’t want to publicly address the situation. The Megan and Kelsey reportedly unfollowed each other on Instagram shortly after the shooting, a clear sign, in 2020, that a friendship is done.

Earlier tonight, Nicole also went on Instagram Live and addressed her side of things before dropping the track, claiming that Megan had been hooking up with someone Kelsey was seeing first:

In her diss track, Nicole claims that she’s been threatened with the release of a sex tape if she tells the truth, and says that Megan has been lying to her label about what happened the night of the shooting. For her part, Meg seems to have responded:

Listen to Nicole’s track above or on Apple Music here.

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

Berwyn has impressed many during his rise towards acclaim from his UK hometown. Fresh off his Demotape/Vega album, which he released in September, the Trinidadian-born rapper returns with his new “Vinyl” single and video. The track is a melancholy effort that finds him walking through the nighttime city streets as he reflects on his failure to be present for several important moments in his life. “I just pray that time is kinder / Never got to send my granny away,” he says in the song. “Never got to tell you everything was my fault.” He continues to show remorse later on in the song with lines like, “Sorry that I wasn’t there to clap at your graduation / And you wasn’t there to see as my life was changing.”

“Vinyl” is another great release from Berwyn after he fought long and hard to make to where he stands today. He pushed through “frequent cycles of homelessness and dead end jobs,” as mentioned in press materials. He contemplated a move back to Trinidad but opted for “sh*thole flat” where he lived “on a diet of toast, weed and insomnia” to record his Demotape/Vega mixtape. The video for “Vinyl” also arrives after he shared a visual for “017 Freestyle” from Demotape/Vega a song he said he “gassed” to share with fans.

You can watch the “Vinyl” video above.

Demotape/Vega is out now via Heritage. Get it here.

One of the most tiresome arguments about the NBA is the suggestion that players today are soft compared to previous generations. Old timers love to wax ecstatic about the glory days when men were men and a good hard foul was just and a rite of passage in your initiation to the “No Boys Allowed” league.

Over the years, however, the NBA has wisely cracked down on aggressive actions, imposing hefty fines and mandatory suspensions for anyone who crosses the line and throws a punch. It’s achieved the intended result, which has been far fewer incidences of skirmishes and shoving matches devolving into dangerous all-out brawls.

The other casualty of the new era has been the role of the enforcer, the resident tough guy who had everyone’s back and was ready to take one for the team when the situation called for it. There are few better examples than Kenyon Martin, who definitely earned his reputation as someone you didn’t want to cross (just ask J.R. Smith).

In a first-person essay on BasketballNews.com, Martin talked about what fed into his on-court demeanor and why he wasn’t worried about taking a fine and/or suspension if the situation called for it.

“If we’re just playing basketball and getting physical, that’s fine. When I was on the Clippers, we faced Zach Randolph and the Grizzlies in the playoffs and it was very physical, but there was mutual respect and no bad blood after each game. But if someone is being disrespectful, at the drop of a dime, I’ll slap the shit out of them. Then, I’ll deal with the three- or four-game suspension, whatever the consequence is. Years from now, I’ll forget about those three games I missed due to suspension, but you’re going to remember the time Kenyon Martin slapped the shit out of you.”

Martin’s NBA career spanned 15 seasons and five teams, including an All-Star selection in 2004 and back-to-back Finals appearances with the Nets in 2001 and 2002. His son, Kenyon Martin Jr., was selected by the Houston Rockets with the 52nd overall pick in the 2020 Draft.

This Friday will mark five years since Erykah Badu shared her But You Caint Use My Phone mixtape with the world. The project arrived after a five-year hiatus following her 2010 New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) album. It was also dropped without the knowledge of her Universal label as she released it straight to iTunes before adding it to other retailers the week after. With the anniversary rapidly approaching, Erykah took to Twitter to celebrate the project and announce the return of the phone line that debuted with But You Caint Use My Phone.

The singer made the announcement on Twitter saying, “‘But You Caint Use My Phone’ mix tape Is 5 today. Remember when y’all figured out my # & were FaceTiming me on the trap phone? Well in honor of BYCUMP anniversary and CONTROL FREAQ RECORDS, I’ll be opening up my phone line on Thanksgiving Day… stay tuned.” In addition to But You Caint Use My Phone, Badu also recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of her classic sophomore album, Mama’s Gun, earlier this week.

The announcement comes in what’s been a semi-active year for the legendary singer. Her highlight moment of 2020 came when she joined Jill Scott for a soothing Verzuz battle back in May. She also held a quarantine livestream performance from her bedroom and joined Teyana Taylor, HER, and Brandy for a BET Hip-Hop Award cypher this year as well. On the musical side of things, her only contribution in 2020 came alongside Slingbaum and D’Angelo for their “Behoove” track.

Check out Erykah’s tweet above.

For more than three months, the NBA restart experiment proceeded without any major incidents and, most notably, without a single new case of COVID-19 inside the Bubble in Orlando. That was due in no small part to the comprehensive safety protocols put in place to protect against the deadly virus that sent the country into lockdown.

That doesn’t mean there weren’t a few minor hiccups here and there. A couple of players broke quarantine for food delivery and an unauthorized guest and were forced into isolation for a period of time, while others were forced to depart the Bubble to attend to family emergencies and the like.

Clippers guard Lou Williams was among those who left Orlando to pay his respects at a funeral for a close family friend, the fallout of which provided some high comedy that continues to this very day. Williams, of course, had to undergo another mandatory 10-day quarantine upon his return after it was revealed that he had visited the Magic City gentlemen’s club in Atlanta.

Now, it appears Magic City Kitchen is offering free shipping on his signature dish, the “LouWill Lemon Pepper Wings,” which will run you $109 for a 50-pack. Here’s more from their posting on Goldbelly.

“The notorious, top-selling LouWill wings! To make these wings, naked wings are tossed in honey BBQ sauce and sprinkled with lemon pepper seasoning, just the way NBA star Lou Williams likes them!”

Because Sweet Lou remains perpetually above reproach in our estimation, it only made the whole situation that much more enjoyable when he filed a trademark for the nickname “Lemon Pepper Lou.”

With the country going back on lockdown again amid another surge of COVID-19, Magic City has clearly learned from Lou’s past mishap and is doing the responsible thing by offering customers the opportunity to enjoy their favorite wings without having to expose themselves to others during the pandemic. I can think of few better holiday gift offerings that sending your loved one a 50-piece of lemon pepper goodness.

Out of all the artists in the music industry, Bad Bunny has been one of the most active names this year. The Puerto Rican artist has already released two albums this year with March’s Yo Hago Lo Que Me Da La Gana and May’s Las Que No Iban a Salir. The former became the highest-charting Spanish language album ever after it peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard album charts. While two albums is already quite productive for a calendar year, Bad Bunny isn’t slowing down anytime time soon as the Latin act announced his third album of 2020 would arrive this Friday.

Bad Bunny took to his social media to announce El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo and revealed its tracklist. The singer presents sixteen songs on the upcoming project with guest appearances from Rosalía, Jhay Cortez, and ABRA. The announcement arrives shortly after the singer landed a role on the upcoming third season of Nacros: Mexico.

On a more unfortunate note, Bad Bunny was recently forced to cancel his 2020 AMAs performance after he tested positive for coronavirus. While his appearance was missed, he did go home with two awards in the Favorite Male Latin Artist and Favorite Latin Album categories at the show.

Check out the artwork and tracklist for El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo below.

01. “El Mundo Es Mio”
02. “Te Mudaste”
03. “Hoy Cobré”
04. “Maldita Pobreza”
05. “La Noche De Anoche” Feat. Rosalia
06. “Te Deseo Lo Mejor”
07. “Yo Visto Asi”
08. “Haciendo Que Me Amas”
09. “Booker T”
10. “La Droga”
11. “Dakiti” Feat. Jhay Cortez
12. “Trellas”
13. “Sorry Papi” Feat. ABRA
14. “120”
15. “Antes Que Se Acabe”
16. “Cantares De Navidad”

El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo is out 11/27 via Rimas Entertainment.

The music world is still high on their disappointment with the Grammys after they did not nominate The Weeknd for their 2021 show. The snub left the music world, and the singer’s adoring fans especially, up in arms after The Weeknd ruled much of the year thanks to his After Hours album and the many highlights that came from it. The Weeknd shared a tweet hours after the nominations were revealed that called the award show “corrupt,” a claim The Recording Academy refuted. A day after The Weeknd’s tweet, Drake and Nicki Minaj took to Instagram to call for changes to occur while showing their support for the singer.

“I think we should stop allowing ourselves to be shocked every year by the disconnect between impactful music and these awards and just accept that what once was the highest form of recognition may no longer matter to the artists that exist now and the ones that come after,” Drake said the post to his Instagram story. “It’s like a relative you keep expecting to fix up but they just can’t change their ways. The other day I said @theweeknd was a lock for either album or song of the year along with countless other reasonable assumptions and it just never goes that way.” He added, “This is a great time for somebody to start something new that we can build up over time and pass on to the generations to come.”

Continuing his message in a second post, Drake mentioned Lil Baby, Pop Smoke, PartyNextDoor, and Popcaan as other names who he felt were wrongfully left off the nomination list for the 2021 Grammys. Nicki Minaj showed her support for The Weeknd by reposting Drake’s first message to her Instagram story. This comes after she re-expressed her frustration with losing the Best New Artist award to Bon Iver back at the 2012 Grammys.

You can check out Drake’s message in the tweet above.

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

When you’re a top-flight NBA prospect heading into the biggest night of your life, the sensory overload can be a bit much to handle. There are an awful lot of people sticking cameras and microphones in your face asking you to sound off on any number of topics, and as the old saying goes, if you go on air often enough, you’re bound to say something silly.

For example, No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards, in an interview with ESPN prior to the draft, admitted that he’s “still not really into” basketball and that if the NFL came calling, he’d go do that instead, partially because you don’t get fined as much for celebrating.

But that might only be the second silliest thing he said in that interview. Unprompted, Edwards went on to take aim at Damian Lillard’s rapping ability, explaining that he’s got a burgeoning rap career of his own and implying that he is a better lyricist than Dame. As you might imagine, that didn’t sit well with teammate CJ McCollum. Here’s what he had to say about it during a recent appearance on the Load Management podcast.

“He better work on that jumper… you can’t run in the West.” @CJMcCollum on Anthony Edwards after he called out Dame’s rapping ability.

EPISODE: https://t.co/L8q0OoksRs pic.twitter.com/fttrYoGfUw

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) November 24, 2020

CJ was elusive on the question of whether Dame DOLLA might be cooking up a diss track in response, and we are all free to read what we will into Dame’s conspicuous silence on the subject so far. The Blazers and Timberwolves will meet three times during the regular season, and this should add a little extra spice to the proceedings as the Blazers are surely eager to give the rookie his Welcome-to-the-League moment.

Rina Sawayama’s thrilling year is about to come to an end, but the rising pop star isn’t going to conclude it without some new music. She’s already released her beloved Sawayama debut album and on Wednesday she added on to it with her brand new single, “Lucid.” The track is one that would thrive on the dance floor as the club-ready single also finds Sawayama pushing the limits of what we know as pop. Along with the new song, the singer also spoke about “Lucid” in a statement.

“It’s about living a different life through dreaming, whether it’s to be with the dream girl or to be the dream girl,” she said. “Me and Lauren Aquilina wrote this together on the floor of my tiny rented living room back in early 2018.” She added, “I’ve kept this song secret for 2 years so I’m so excited to finally release it to the world! 2020’s been a tough year so I wanted to finish it off with a dance bop to take us into a more hopeful 2021.”

In addition to the new single, Sawayama will also share a deluxe version of her debut album next week. The new release presents a Bree Runway guest appearance and eleven additional tracks to the album’s original thirteen songs. The deluxe will arrive on December 4 with the album’s original songs appearing on disc one and the new additions appearing on disc two.

Listen to “Lucid” above and take a look at the disc two tracklist below.

01. “LUCID”
02. “We Out Here (Bonus Track)”
03. “Bees & Honey (Bonus Track)”
04. “Love It If We Made It (The 1975 Cover)”
05. “XS (Live)”
06. “STFU! (Acoustic)”
07. “Bad Friend (Acoustic)”
08. “Chosen Family (Acoustic)”
09. “Comme Des Garçons (Like The Boys) [Pabllo Vittar Remix]
10. “XS (Remix)” Feat. Bree Runway
11. “Bad Friend (Dream Wife Remix)”

Sawayama (Deluxe) is out 12/4 via Dirty Hit.