Month: February 2021

If Republicans are serious about not being “the party of QAnon” — and that’s a big if — they might want to have a chat with Kayleigh McEnany. The former White House press secretary for Donald Trump dipped her toes into the QAnon waters on Wednesday night by twisting President Joe Biden’s words in a pretty disgusting way. Following Biden’s CNN Town Hall where he had a few grandfatherly moments while fielding questions from younger audience members, McEnany capped off the event by making a vile suggestion about Biden’s friendly demeanor with kids, which is something his predecessor lacked.

“Signing off with a final notable quote from Joe Biden during his town hall this evening: Everyone knows I love kids better than people,” McEnany tweeted with the thinking face emoji to put a little mustard on her gross implication.

It’s moments like this that explain why the new White House press secretary Jen Psaki has been greeted so enthusiastically. Right out of the gate, Psaki has pledged not to lie to the American people, which stands in stark contrast to McEnany’s tenure where she was repeatedly caught spreading misinformation from the podium and on Fox News where she often stopped by to defend Trump. McEnany’s questionable relationship with the truth got so bad that CNN’s Jake Tapper refused to even engage with her.

“[She] lies the way that, you know, most people breathe. There was no value in that,” Tapper told his colleague Brian Stetler. “She can’t acknowledge reality. So I am just not going to put somebody like that on air.”

(Via Kayleigh McEnany on Twitter)

After Rick Ross delivered a regal Tiny Desk Concert performance with a live band yesterday, his Atlanta trap compatriot (and 2020 Verzuz opponent) 2 Chainz had to step things up. He does so in more ways than one, performing a mellow set from his Pamper Nail Studio in Atlanta across from his Escobar Restaurant — while getting a pedicure. Talk about hardly working; it looks like 2 Chainz’s office doubles as a spa so he can work and play at the same damn time (no Future).

For the latter two-thirds of the set, Chainz relocates to a more traditional performance space, employing a live band and some moody lighting to perform stripped-down versions of “Good Drank,” “I’m Different,” and “Grey Area.” Unlike Ross, Chainz is well-accustomed to performing with his band, who gets some time to shine in sections of songs that normally feature guest verses. Naturally, much of the set is given over to songs from his new album, So Help Me God, which he’s been further promoting with videos for “Grey Area” and “Southside Hov.” He also plays the fan (and Joe Biden) favorite, “I’m Different.”

Watch 2 Chainz get a pedicure and perform with his live band in a “different” Tiny Desk Concert above.

Ex-President Trump can’t tweet, and he’s going through some serious withdrawals. That much is evident at his first attempt as an aspiring blogger who fired off a lengthy entry to trash former Sen. Mitch McConnell (who arguably lost his Majority Leader seat because of the damage that Trump’s done to the Republican party). Trump must have been incensed at McConnell taking a public stand (albeit a muted one) against Trump before and during impeachment proceedings and, finally, only telling his party that they should acquit Trump on a technicality (that he was no longer president). Trump should essentially be thanking Mitch for dragging his feet for so long on this proceeding, or the technicality wouldn’t exist, but nonetheless and as James Comey told the world, Trump demands absolute loyalty for his performance art.

Trump’s initial, Tumblr-esque statement aimed directly at McConnell — after growing even more incensed by the senator’s Washington Post op-ed that said acquittal was a lot more about the U.S. Constitution, not Trump himself — taking him to the woodshed for “business as usual, status quo policies” and calling him “a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack,” who makes Republicans lose. The argument was not only brutal but poorly written, but it seems that Trump had an editor of sorts. At least, Trump advisor and communications guy Jason Miller “took the lead” in shaping the blog entry’s final statement. Via Politico, things got ugly:

[A] source familiar with the situation said Jason Miller, a top Trump adviser, took the lead in writing the final version of the statement.

A person familiar with the crafting of the statement confirmed that it could have been far worse. An earlier draft mocked McConnell for having multiple chins, the person said. But Trump was convinced by advisers to take it out.

“There was also a lot of repetitive stuff and definitely something about him having too many chins but not enough smarts,” the person said.

Not good! Yet it’s everything that one would expect from a sitting president who used “Sad!” as a mantra and bullied his way through his job for four years.

(Via Politico)

Today, Time unveiled its second annual Time100 Next list, which Time editor in chief and CEO Edward Felsenthal describes as “an expansion of our flagship TIME100 franchise that highlights 100 emerging leaders who are shaping the future.” There is a strong musical presence on the list, led by Dua Lipa, who graces one of the six covers of the issue. Also included from the music world are Phoebe Bridgers, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Baby, Luke Combs, Chloe x Halle, and Doja Cat.

Kylie Minogue wrote of Dua, “Dua Lipa is a shining star, blazing a dazzling trail through the pop cosmos. Just under four years ago, she released the first of her two albums. Today, she is dancing hand in hand with the zeitgeist, having carved with laser-like precision her place in the cultural landscape. […] Her achievements are all the more remarkable given that she is 25 years of age. She’s kind, cool, and smart. She’s a bona fide pop behemoth. And I, like millions of others, look forward to more, and even more, from La Lipa.”

Killer Mike also offered his thoughts on Lil Baby, writing, “I learned about Lil Baby from my niece — when my nieces and nephews tell me about someone, I tune in. What a rich, bluesy voice. But I became a true fan after hearing Lil Baby in interviews. He spoke with the wisdom of an old soul that’s also apparent in his lyrics. […] Lil Baby will be the tip of the spear that drives Atlanta to the forefront of American — and global — music.”

Elsewhere, Lil Nas X penned some words about Doja: “Doja Cat is one of a kind: a rising superstar, an elite performer, and an insanely hilarious influencer. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, but you know she puts a hell of a lot of work into everything she does. She goes out of her way to be herself at all costs and that’s what truly makes an artist. […] The moment I knew Doja was here to stay was during her run of performances in 2020. It would have been easy for her to give the same treatment to every performance and award show, but no! Over and over, she reinvented herself, each time better than the last. And she kept releasing hit songs too — from ‘Say So’ to her recent feature on Ariana Grande’s ’34+35′ remix. She’s an inspiration to me, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.”

Find the full Time100 Next list here.

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

Nearly four million Texas residents are without power after a brutally cold winter storm blanketed the state with snow and ice, shutting down groceries, gas stations, and hospitals. There are numerous reasons for the outages that have left people without power since Sunday, including historically low temperatures, corporate mismanagement, and the state being isolated from the rest of the country’s grid (everything is more chaotic in Texas). But Governor Greg Abbott is only focused on one: wind turbines.

“This shows how the Green New Deal would be a deadly deal for the United States of America,” Abbott told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Tuesday. “Our wind and our solar got shut down, and they were collectively more than 10 percent of our power grid, and that thrust Texas into a situation where it was lacking power on a statewide basis.” He continued, “It just shows that fossil fuel is necessary for the state of Texas as well as other states to make sure we’ll be able to heat our homes in the wintertime and cool our homes in the summertime.”

Except wind turbines aren’t the issues, and neither is the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez- and Bernie Sanders-backed Green New Deal. Everywhere from Wisconsin to Antarctica uses wind turbines, and they’re able to keep up with electrical demands when temperatures drop below zero. The real issue, according to the Washington Post, is “a financial structure for power generation that offers no incentives to power plant operators to prepare for winter. In the name of deregulation and free markets, Texas has created an electric grid that puts an emphasis on cheap prices over reliable service.” Also:

But while some wind generators did go offline as turbines iced over, the state’s largest grid, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, said the shortage was driven by a failure not of renewable sources but of traditional “thermal” sources: coal, nuclear and especially natural gas. Energy experts said that gas lines supplying gas-fired plants may have frozen or that supplies to the plants may have been limited as gas was prioritized for homes that rely on gas for their heat.

In other words, the opposite of what Abbott — whose campaigns have been heavily funded by the fossil fuels industry — said. Cool. Speaking as someone who lives in Texas, I am currently warming myself to the roasting the governor is getting on Twitter.

“WAP” is a tough act to follow, but the way Cardi B sees it, with “Up,” she isn’t following “WAP”; While “WAP” was a collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, “Up” is her first solo single since 2019’s “Press.” Cardi hoped to top the success of “Press” with “Up,” and indeed she did, as the new song’s debut at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart eclipses the No. 16 peak that “Press” achieved, which left Cardi pleased with herself.

Sharing the chart on Twitter yesterday, she wrote, “Just landed and my wifi back poppin .I want to say thank you to all my fans and supporters this is BIG for me .I wanted to beat my last solo single number & I over succeeded.First time a female rapper debut top 5 since Lauren.This is pop girl sh*t but I’m not pop.”

She revealed the chart placement was a good pick-me-up after a bit of a low point, tweeting, “At the beginning of last week I was crying because one single post put my confidence down.She needs promo , she’s a flop, she needs help erasing the fact I been constantly winning.I had to brush it off remind myself I beat records wit my last record & now boom .Chart too high.” She went on to thank her fans, writing, “I want to thank my fans with the bottom & top of my heart .Ya remind of me .The underdogs.So underestimated but show the f*ck out when it’s time .I really can’t believe this .I told a couple of yall I don’t care about a number 1 a top 5 is a big win for me.”

Cardi apparently then faced some backlash over bragging, as she tweeted, “Naaaa naaaa Let me talk my big cash sh*t f*ck outta hereeeeee !!!Last Monday when I announced my single ya was in here clockin and talkin sh*t bout my twitter likes as in I’m not most hated on this app.Now that I prove motherf*ckers wrong imma brag on it on GANG !” She then responded to claims that she obsesses over he chart placements: “It’s obsessive when I do it but not when other people brag about it right ? When I win it’s a problem but when other artist discoun’t their sh*t and do hundred things to debut high it’s not chart obsessed.Artist should be happy ass fuk when they debut high ALL OF THEM !

She then concluded, “I was talkin my hot sh*t earlier but on some real sh*t THANK YOU EVERYONE .BARDIgang , GP ,music listeners ,people who listen on their stories ,tiktokers ,artist ,blogs, YouTubers EVERYONE who help my record go #2 billboard .I appreciate it more then ya ever think !”

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

It’s about time Disney gave pop culture’s most famous dog-killing monster a movie of her own. Cruella stars Emma Stone as Cruella de Vil, the girl-boss antagonist of 101 Dalmatians. The film, directed by I, Tonya‘s Craig Gillespie and written by the creators of The Great and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and the writers of Fifty Shades of Grey and The Wedding Date, takes place before Cruella meets Pongo, because Disney made a lot of money with fellow prequel Maleficent, so why not do it again with another Oscar winner? “I am woman, hear me roar,” she says in the trailer above, which shockingly does not include a haunting piano cover of “Cruella De Vil.” Maybe in the actual movie.

Here’s the official plot synopsis:

Academy Award winner Emma Stone stars in Disney’s Cruella, an all-new live-action feature film about the rebellious early days of one of cinemas most notorious – and notoriously fashionable – villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil. “Cruella,” which is set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute, played by two-time Oscar winner Emma Thompson. But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella.

Cruella opens on May 21.

Whenever Britney Spears has offered any sort of public statement about the legal situation surrounding her conservatorship, her words are often vague and don’t offer any real answers. Now, though, some fans think they may have found a hidden goldmine of information: Last night, Spears shared a photo of a Scrabble board full of tiles, which fans suspect contains some sort of covert meaning.

Spears issued her own challenge with the post, writing, “Can you find a word that isn’t actually a word ???? Sometimes it’s fun to make ones up !!!!” Indeed, there are some nonsense chains of letters that aren’t in the official Scrabble dictionary, like “abirv,” “tiuq,” and “pmal.” Fans think there’s more here than that, though, as the comments section of the post is filled with folks discussing (some probably jokingly) potential hidden messages. That spilled over onto Twitter as well, as there’s a lot of clue-hunting going on there, too.

Some fans think they have something with “tiuq,” which spells “quit” backwards, perhaps suggesting that Spears wants her father to quit his position as conservator or that she wants to leave music behind. “Pmal,” by the way, is “lamp” backwards, and similarly, “amgod” is also the reverse of “dogma.”

Look for clues yourself in Spears’ Instagram post above.

We write often about whiskey, whisky, bourbon, rye, rum, vodka, tequila, and gin. But when it comes to brandy, we mostly keep our coverage to the holiday season. Its richer, more syrupy incarnations just feel very Christmas-y.

But brandy — a spirit made from wine or fruits — is more than just a seasonal sipper. Applejack feels very summery, and its a type of brandy. Cognac, Armagnac, pisco, calvados… it’s a big style that deserves your attention all year round.

“I love using brandy in a sidecar, and I love toddies with them too,” says Una Green, a United States Bartenders Guild (USBG) bartender in Los Angeles and a West Coast Whiskey Ambassador. “I love to split base a toddy with brandy and whisky — one part D’Usse to one part Aberfeldy 12. Have fun, get wild, it’s all delicious.”

Green isn’t the only bartender who reps hard for brandy. So we asked a handful of our favorite bartenders to tell us the best brandies to sip and mix with to help make the tail end of winter warmer.

Château de Pellehaut Armagnac Tenareze

Austin Zimmer, bartender at Le Prive in New York City

Château de Pellehaut Armagnac Tenareze; it’s distilled and aged in a traditional way and has an interesting combination of different grapes — creating a pear, peach, mandarin, and chocolate flavor.

Average Price: $46.99

Argonaut Fat Thumb Brandy

Jennifer Akin, general manager at Rumba in Seattle

Argonaut Fat Thumb Brandy: Great for winter, but also year-round, this brandy is basically a winter pie in a spirit. Caramelized pear and baked apple pie with baking spice, oak, coconut, and an amazing richness.

Plus, they have Rita Hansen, a badass female master blender.

Average Price: $49.99

Laird’s Applejack

Hayden Miller, head bartender at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila in Miami

Laird’s Applejack is my reach in brandy for mixing at home. Split base with any bourbon or rye and great holiday spice awaits in your so preferred cocktail.

Average Price: $20.99

Chateau de Laubade 1999 Armagnac

Brandon “Habi” Habenstein, bartender at The Kitchen & Bar at Bardstown Bourbon Co. in Bardstown, Kentucky

Get a bottle of Chateau de Laubade 1999. This is a single vintage that is a sleeper at liquor stores. You can find this bottle for about $90 and it is possibly the most complex spirit you’ll ever taste.

If you like earthy flavors in your whiskies, you must taste the rustic flavors of a fine Armagnac.

Average Price: $79.99

Cyrano 25 Armagnac

Josh Curtis, lead bartender at Carbon Beach Club in Malibu, California

Cyrano 25 Armagnac is a lovely brandy from Armagnac, France aged 25-40 years in French Oak Barrels. Its brulee-meets-cacao notes make it a lovely after-dinner tasting.

Average Price: $119.99

Pierre Ferrand 1840 Cognac

Andy Printy, beverage director at Chao Baan in St. Louis

This winter, I recommend the Pierre Ferrand 1840. It’s one of the few over-proofed expressions in the category, but drinks very complex. The nose is light with dry wood and a touch of dry pear. The palate is rich with heat and spice on the front and finishes with light citrus and black pepper.

It’s higher proof and boldness also lends itself to great cocktails such as a sidecar or stinger.

Average Price: $44.99

Copper & Kings Butchertown Brandy

Jack Tillman, mixologist at Rand Tower Hotel in Minneapolis

Copper & Kings Butchertown. Sitting at 124 Proof, the Copper & Kings Butchertown Brandy stands tall and strong. Especially when aided with a bit of water or ice, it reveals some gentle fruit notes under a blanket of oaky proof, provided from being aged in both ex-bourbon barrels and new American oak.

If you’re a fan of bourbon and are curious about making an occasional switch to brandy, this is the place to start.

Average Price: $59.99

Philbert Rare Cask Sherry Finish Cognac

Anastacio Garcia Liley, bartender at Axe and Oak Whiskey House in Colorado Springs, Colorado

My best overall brandy for winter drinking: Philbert Rare Cask Sherry Finish. The oloroso barrels really make this toasty cherry deliciousness. It’s perfect for mixing or sipping neat.

Average Price: $57.88

Korbel Brandy

Kirstin Sabik, mixologist at Sneaky Tiki in Pensacola, Florida

Korbel. This two-time gold medal-winning brandy is produced using 100% of the finest California grapes. With over 130 years of experience, you can indulge in the rich, caramel and toffee taste.

Average Price: $10.99

Bertoux Brandy

Kimberly Basnight, lead bartender at Fins Bar in Nashville

Bertoux Brandy is my favorite because it is great for mixing or sipping. You will get hints of apricot and burnt sugar which makes it a perfect blend. There’s a reason it’s one of the most popular brandies on the market.

Average Price: $42.99

Ciroc VS French Brandy

Sire Negri, lead mixologist at Havana Beach Bar & Grill in Rosemary Beach, Florida

Trending in the brandy world is a newer release from Ciroc, Ciroc VS French Brandy. This release from Ciroc is distilled from French grapes, creating a delicious result. Strong notes of sweet caramel are a perfect accompaniment in a classic cocktail, such as the sidecar or in a modern-style mixed drink.

Average Price: $36.74

Remy Martin VSOP Cognac

Stephen Lasaten, food and beverage manager at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands

If you’re looking for an affordable high-end brandy: Remy Martin VSOP. But it needs to be done right: in a heated glass, served warm. Velvety and sweet on the palate with a warm and strong finish. It’s a nice warm hug to your soul and gives you the feeling of classiness when sipping it from a baccarat snifter.

Average Price: $34.99

Somerset Cider Brandy

Jim Wrigley, beverage manager at Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa in the Cayman Islands

Keeping with the Calvados-vibe, but with another wild card, the English cider brandy from the Somerset Cider Brandy Co. is a delicious slice of boozy home-baked apple pie, complete with a biscuit nose and a spicy finish that will give many more expensive cognacs a run for their money… if you can find it.

Average Price: $50

Hennessy XO

Michele Gargiulo, front of house manager and sommelier at Hampton’s Restaurant in Sumter, South Carolina

Hopefully, someone else is buying this one for me this winter: Hennessy XO.

This is the ultimate cognac, aged for sophisticated nights. Milk chocolate, candied plums, coffee beans, and a hint of jasmine are the dominant flavors. It is exceptional served neat, but also can benefit from being put on the rock — one large is best — which helps to open it up and showcase more delicate floral aromas and whispers of peach and walnuts. I love to drink it while eating dark chocolate and candied walnuts.

Average Price: $199.99

Singani 63

Andres Rairan, lead bartender at The Social Club in Miami

I’m going to go a little off the “brandy grid” here and say that Singani 63 is my favorite brandy for winter. I worked with this spirit last year and fell in love with it. It comes from Bolivia, so the flavors are very unique and completely different from any traditional brandy you’re thinking about.

Because it is clear, working with it in a cocktail is extremely easy. I used a rosemary syrup and added a touch of passion fruit puree to create a beautiful martini last winter and it was one of my top sellers for the season.

Average Price: $32.99

Pierre Ferrand Ambre Cognac

Mark Phelan, director of beverage operations at 16” on Center in Chicago

Many bartenders love Pierre Ferrand Cognac and I’m no exception. Their Ambre bottling is my favorite: a lean, dry Cognac with a long, delicate, almost floral finish that is a work of magic. Old enough to be an X.O., it carries the same complexity, but a youthful profile and friendly price point make it perfect for sipping and mixing.

Average Price: $46.99

Martell Blue Swift Cognac

Jane Danger, national mixologist for Pernod-Ricard USA

Martell Blue Swift is my go-to. It is finished in ex-bourbon barrels to give you the best of both spirits. Cognac shines with fruit and spice, bourbon brings vanilla, caramel, and oak. A bit Martell Blue Swift neat with a winter beer is the new nightcap for the long chilly evenings.

Average Price: $45.99

Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac

Sarah Rexwinkle, key bartender at The Grand Marlin in Pensacola, Florida

Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac is a traditional Cognac from the central region of France that everyone should try at least once in their lifetime. It opens on the palate with floral, fruit, and spice aromas.

Average Price: $3,500

Lepanto PX Solera Gran

Allen Lancaster, master cocktail Craftsman at The Bar at The Spectator Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina

I’ve had the good fortune to visit Jerez de la Frontera in Spain and truly gained an appreciation for Sherry brandies. My current favorite is Lapanto PX Solera Gran Reserva and it generally costs around sixty dollars. Apricot, papaya, and marzipan stand out for this nutty, mildly sweet, and elegant brandy.

Average Price: $74.99

Christian Drouhin Calvados VSOP

Ilan Chartor, head bartender at MILA in Miami

Christian Drouhin Calvados VSOP. Hands down, no doubt. I’ve been drinking this a lot lately. Maybe too much. It’s elegant and fruity with great hints of spice and velvety mouthfeel. A dram of that and a lit fire seems like a match made in heaven.

Average Price: $74.99

There’s no denying we’re getting into really good bourbon now. The top expressions in the $60 to $70 range are quality bottles of juice that deserve your attention and time. All ten of these whiskeys demand the respect of being sipped with a little water to let them bloom, but we’d argue that this is also the high point of bourbons you can mix into killer cocktails.

It should go without saying, but the prices of these bottles are going to vary pretty wildly if you’re standing on one side of a state line or another. All we can guarantee is that the prices are generally in the range of $60 to $70. While we hope you get lucky and find these bottles cheaper than listed, there’s not really anything we can do if they’re more expensive in your neck of the woods.

The ten bottles below are picked according to taste. That’s the only parameter besides the price range. We dig these expressions and think you should give them a shot if you have a little coin to spend on a quality bourbon whiskey.

Knob Creek 12

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

This is classic Beam whiskey with a low-ish rye mash bill of 77 percent corn, 13 percent rye, and ten percent malted barley. The juice is then left alone in the Beam warehouses for 12 long years. The barrels are chosen according to a specific taste and married to create this high-proof expression.

Tasting Notes:

You’re greeted with that classic Beam cherry that has dark chocolate and brandy candy depth alongside clear Christmas spices next to a hint of menthol tobacco. The spirit carries on those paths as it layers in buttery and sugary streusel over tart berries with plenty of that spice next to a nice dose of salted caramels covered in a bit of bitter dark chocolate. The finish is spicy and sweet and fades gradually.

Sound like a lot? As I said, we’re in the complex, good stuff zone now.

Bottom Line:

This Beam expression was a lot of professional’s favorite bottle of 2020. We definitely slept on this one. That being said, it’s really worth the price in every way and certainly exceeds the price point for such an old (for bourbon) bottle.

Bulleit Bourbon Blender’s Select

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

This new expression was created by Bulleit’s Master Blender Eboni Major. The expression is a blend of nine-year-old bourbons that are hand-selected by Major for their precise taste and texture. The juice is then just touched with Kentucky limestone water to bring it down to a robust 100 proof.

Tasting Notes:

Salted peanut shells lead towards soft cedar next to a dose of vanilla and Christmas spices on the nose. The taste embraces those notes while adding a bright cherry sweetness next to dried tobacco leaves, worn leather, rye black pepper, and plenty of buttery toffee. The finish takes its time as it ebbs and flows with those spices, the oak, and all that vanilla.

Bottom Line:

This is, by far, our favorite bottle of Bulleit. This is one of those blends that you really should take your time with by adding a little water to and thoroughly exploring the depths that are layered within.

Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series #3

ABV: 49.45%

Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

Bardstown Bourbon Company is one of the best blenders/distillers in the game right now. Their Fusion Series #3 release marries their three-year-old wheated bourbon of their own-make (18 percent), a very high-rye three-year-old bourbon (42 percent) also from their stills, and a sourced mid-rye 13-year-old bourbon (the last 40 percent).

Tasting Notes:

Honey really stands out on the nose next to tart apples leaning towards apple cores or seeds, supported by classic notes of vanilla pods, caramel, and light oak. That apple becomes slightly stewed and spicy with the caramel lending sweetness as a hint of walnuts arrive with a buttery crust vibe that’s very apple pie. The end is slightly oaky but sweet in the way that cherry pipe tobacco is.

Bottom Line:

This is a hard-to-find whiskey that’s worth the effort. You’ll need a little water to let it bloom properly, exposing more toffee and cherry as you sip.

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel

ABV: 55%

Average Price: $62

The Whiskey:

Jimmy and Eddie Russell hand-select these barrels from their vast warehouses for just the right bourbon flavor. The juice is bottled with almost no water added to bring it down to proof, making this a really close-to-barrel proof single barrel.

Tasting Notes:

You’re met with creamy depths of vanilla next to pound cake, spicy tobacco, sweet oak, and a clear hit of orange oil. That vanilla really amps up as hints of rose water-forward marzipan lead towards cedar, more vanilla, and a dash of Christmas spices. When you add water, a really deep dark chocolate smoothness arrives with a more nutty almond that’s reminiscent of an Almond Joy straight from a special candy shop.

Bottom Line:

The fact that this costs less than $100 is kind of insane. This bottle is a full-bodied single barrel that is so accessible and enjoyable. It’s also a great bottle to increase your bourbon knowledge without spending too much cash.

Jefferson’s Reserve Very Old Very Small Batch

ABV: 45.1%

Average Price: $64

The Whiskey:

This blendery really hits it out of the park with their sourced juice. The “very old” element of this small-batched blend means that eight to 12 barrels of four unique bourbons were selected to be married, with the oldest clocking in at 20-years-old. That elixir is then proofed with the famously soft Kentucky limestone water to bring it down to a very quaffable 90-ish proof.

Tasting Notes:

Classic. Notes of vanilla meet spicy tobacco, leather, oak, and very buttery toffee with a hint of popped corn and apple pie. The palate holds true to those flavor notes from the nose while adding a mellow cherry with an almost cedar-infused cream soda. The finish is short but full of all those woody, spicy, and apple pie notes again, with plenty of buttery svelte mouthfeel and a cedar box full of rich tobacco leaves.

Bottom Line:

Again, classic. This is the bourbon you give to someone who knows bourbon but wants to take it to the next level by seeing/tasting how distinct those classic notes can be.

Not for nothing, but this makes a crazy good old fashioned and Manhattan.

Baker’s 7 Single Barrel

ABV: 53.5%

Average Price: $64

The Whiskey:

This single barrel expression from Beam aims to phase out their Baker’s Small Batch. The juice is hand-selected bourbon that is at least seven-years-old that is then bottled at near barrel proof.

Tasting Notes:

This is spicy and full of vanilla with a musty oak edge and a lot of green vegetation. That green leans into savory herbs while the vanilla holds on through hints of Beam’s signature cherry and a slight tobacco chew. The finish doesn’t linger, but takes time to hit on the old oak, spice, and vanilla.

Bottom Line:

This was one of our favorite bourbons of last year. What’s interesting is that this expression continues to grow on us in 2021. And for this price, you really are getting something unique, educational, and very drinkable.

Wilderness Trail Yellow Label Single Barrel Bottled-in-Bond

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $65

The Whiskey:

Dr. Pat Heist is a whiskey magician and Wilderness Trail’s Single Barrel Bottled-in-Bond is a testament to that. The heavily wheated bourbon spends five to six years aging in well-toasted oak before it’s proofed down to the legally-required 100 proof and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

This sip opens with hints of pecan pie with plenty of molasses syrup next to almost dry wildflowers, vanilla, and oak. The palate delivers on those notes while adding a soft leather, light tobacco leaf, and a bit of buttery vanilla cream. There’s a grainy nature to the end that leads back to more soft oak, that pecan earthiness, and sweet tobacco.

Bottom Line:

There’s a depth to this sip that almost feels like a dessert whiskey, in the best way. Then again, the floral notes are very bright. It’s just … interesting and tasty.

What more could you ask for?

Belle Meade Reserve Bourbon

ABV: 54.15%

Average Price: $65

The Whiskey:

Belle Meade, the blending arm of Nashville’s Nelson Green Brier, sources some of the best barrels for their expressions. This whiskey is a hand-selected, marrying of high-rye (30 percent) seven to eleven-year-old bourbons that are bottled at nearly barrel strength (it’s just touched with water when needed) and allowing the juice in the barrel to speak for itself.

Tasting Notes:

Cornmeal that’s been spiked with stewed and spicy peaches, caramel, softwood, and vanilla greet you. The sip really leans into the classic bourbon vibes on the palate with an apple pie with plenty of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg inside a buttery crust with hints of cedar, library leather, and tobacco chew. Hints of raisins and walnuts arrive late in that apple pie as the sip slowly fades, leaving you warmed and wanting more.

Bottom Line:

This kind of feels like that ultimate slow sipper. Please add water to really let those deep buttery apple pie notes bloom in the glass and take your time basking in them.

Alternately, use this in a simple bourbon cocktail. It’ll shine, especially given the high proof.

Pursuit United

ABV: 54%

Average Price: $65

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is a new release from one of our favorite bourbon podcasts and whiskey reviewers, Bourbon Pursuit. The juice is a blend of three whiskeys hailing from Bardstown Bourbon Company in Kentucky, Finger Lakes Distilling out in New York, and an unnamed Tennessee distiller. The blend is crafted to be an accessible whiskey, or well-crafted table bourbon if you will, that’s high proof and very drinkable.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is subtle, with notes of crème brûlée next to warm cornbread dripping with butter and honey and a touch of oak and spice. The taste is bold — hints of soft yet leathery wood, dark chocolate (especially with a little water), honey mouthfeel, light orange citrus, buttered popcorn, and… I want to say, Red Vines. The end is just the right length as the orange becomes jammy and hints of red fruits in pine boxes drop in.

Bottom Line:

This is a really nice sip of whiskey. And no, we’re not just saying that because we dig the people behind the blend. This is made for whiskey lovers by whiskey lovers and, to be honest, they kind of hit it out of the park.

Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2020 Limited Release

ABV: 54.1%

Average Price: $69

The Whiskey:

This limited edition expression from Maker’s Mark takes everything up a notch with a focus on vanilla and caramel, specifically. The whiskey is cask strength Maker’s that’s then re-barreled with two different staves in the barrels. The first is a virgin French oak stave that’s lightly toasted and roasted in a convection oven on medium heat. The other barrels have staves dropped in that are virgin American oak that has been baked in a convection oven low and very slow.

The various barrels are then married and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

This is meant to highlight caramel and vanilla and it sure does — while also adding a slight Christmas spice warmth. The body of this wheated bourbon is like eating the creamiest vanilla ice cream on top of a very caramel and molasses-forward pecan pie with the butteriest crust ever. The whole experience is warm and spicy with hints of cedar next to vanilla pod skins and an almost smoked salted caramel on the very slow fade.

Bottom Line:

You can drink this instead of having that second slice of pie after a big family meal. It really is just a treat and hits on those caramel and vanilla notes precisely and boldly.