Month: March 2021

The 2020-21 season was supposed to be a breakout for the Atlanta Hawks and their third-year star, Trae Young. No team spent more in free agency than the Hawks, bolstering their wing depth with high-priced veterans like Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic, and addressing their point guard depth behind Young by signing Kris Dunn and Rajon Rondo. Clint Capela, finally healthy after being traded to Atlanta last deadline but never appearing before the shutdown, would patrol the paint on defense and serve as another lob threat and rebounder offensively. Add that to a promising young core of John Collins, Cam Reddish, De’Andre Hunter, and Kevin Huerter, and you had all the makings of a team that was ready to become a playoff team for the first time since tearing things down to start over in 2017.

However, with the midway point of the season two games away, the Hawks are just 14-20, currently on the outside looking in for the play-in tournament, much less a firm playoff position. Injuries are a major factor and must lead any conversation about the Hawks, as Atlanta has never had their full roster together and has been constantly without a few key contributors. Gallinari and Rondo are back in the rotation now but have each missed significant time, while Bogdanovic has played just nine games and is working his way back from knee injury. Hunter, who was enjoying a breakout season in his sophomore campaign, likewise has missed half of the season and counting with a knee injury of his own. Reddish has missed 13 games, currently sitting out with Achilles soreness, and when you add it all up it isn’t a shock that this Hawks team hasn’t been able to do anything consistently.

While Bogdanovic seems on the path to being back fairly soon after the All-Star break, Hunter’s absence looms much larger because of the two-way play he was providing. Prior to Hunter’s injury, Atlanta was 10-9, firmly in the hunt for a top-6 seed in the East to avoid the play-in, in large part because their top lineup was mowing opponents down. It’s hard to overstate the importance of Hunter to keeping the Hawks defense together. The best defensive lineup in the NBA this season that has played 200 or more minutes is the Hawks’ Young-Reddish-Hunter-Collins-Capela group, boasting a 99.0 DRtg in 207 minutes, per Cleaning the Glass.

Simply swapping Hunter for Kevin Huerter causes that to plummet to a 122.0 DRtg, the 7th worst among five-man lineups with 200-plus minutes, and that group has had to play 401 minutes together this season.

Even factoring injuries, this has been a disappointing season for the Hawks, because while Hunter’s presence is critical, it can’t be this bad without him.

That was the effort to stop a game-winning dunk by Lamar Stevens in Cleveland last week, one in which at least three if not all five Hawks messed up on the biggest play of the game. Solomon Hill’s trap wasn’t supposed to come that early if at all, which surprised Tony Snell who was not looking to trap, allowing Collin Sexton to calmly dribble out of it and get the ball over to Stevens, who drove unimpeded to the rim despite Trae Young and Danilo Gallinari both having opportunities to step in front and choosing instead not to — Huerter was likewise caught in a bit of no-man’s land behind Jarrett Allen. It was all pretty terrible, and was followed up by a possession where they didn’t even get a shot off to try and beat the buzzer with a game-winner of their own.

They followed that performance up with a drubbing of the Celtics, exorcising some demons in the process, but for every step forward, there have been two steps back in Atlanta this season. They got smacked by the Thunder, a team that plays with a nightly effort Hawks fans could only dream of at this point, because they seemed to think the Boston win had righted all of their wrongs. Then Sunday saw them lose to a Jimmy Butler-less Heat team that has been rather abysmal when their star is out, falling apart down the stretch as Miami went on a 10-0 run to shut the door after it was tied at 95-95 with three minutes to play.

Fourth quarter collapses have been a theme of the season for the Hawks, as no team has been worse in the fourth quarter this season than Atlanta, boasting a league-worst net rating (-8.2) and defensive rating (120.4) in the final quarter. Only the Pistons have a worse record in games that qualify for clutch statistics (within five points on either side with five minutes or less to play), as Atlanta’s 6-13 record in such games is tied with the Timberwolves, who also just fired their head coach in part due to their inability to execute late.

Head coach Lloyd Pierce was the first to take the fall for the Hawks struggles, as he was fired on Monday afternoon in a move no one around the Hawks organization was surprised by, least of all Pierce himself. Coaching a team through injuries is a difficult task, but doing so when you don’t have the full attention of your top star will make that a downright impossible one. Young and Pierce didn’t always see eye-to-eye on where Trae’s next steps should be as a player, with Pierce regularly imploring him to improve when playing off the ball (when they had the personnel to do so) and challenging Young and others to be more assertive on the defensive end. That messaging wasn’t getting through to the young star, and as such there always felt like a clock was on Pierce’s tenure as coach.

Still, a coaching change won’t be a cure-all for this team, and there’s ample blame to be doled out beyond Pierce. Two of the three biggest signings of the offseason have simply not worked, and the front office has to reconcile with that. Danilo Gallinari has struggled to do much of anything other than spot-up and shoot threes. The hope that he would give the Hawks a secondary creator next to Trae Young hasn’t panned out, and his lack of mobility has been a massive liability on defense — please enjoy these two plays from the Heat game in which he is asked to move laterally as a help defender.

Rajon Rondo was also supposed to bring the Hawks a steady hand behind Young, as the Hawks ignored Rondo’s regular season performance in L.A. last year, choosing instead to believe that Playoff Rondo would show up for 72 games. Rondo has battled various injuries, but when he’s been on the floor it has been dreadful, posting a team worst net rating (-10.8) of players who have logged 200 minutes. He provides little in the way of scoring and while his facilitating has been one of the lone positives, he’s also been incredibly turnover prone (21.4 TOV%).

In fairness, Dunn was the contingency plan for Rondo being a lemon and was supposed to bring them some defensive punch off the bench, but he’s yet to be able to play due to his own injury problems. Overall, the entire point of the offseason was to give Trae Young some help and make the team function when he isn’t on the floor, but that simply hasn’t happened.

Young’s usage rate is 37 percent, ranking in the 100th percentile on Cleaning The Glass, and he is, once again, being tasked with doing just about everything for the Hawks offensively (26.5 points, 9.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds on 42.8/36.8/87.8 shooting), but even he isn’t absolved from blame. The Hawks are a good team when Young is on the floor ( and an awful one when he’s not, but he’s struggled mightily in clutch situations this season as defenses focus their efforts on him. Young is shooting just 38.5 percent in the clutch this season and a dreadful 20 percent from three. His propensity for hoisting long threes in key situations has not come with the rewards of his last two years, and his decision-making has left something to be desired. When coupled with his own defensive deficiencies, even for how spectacular he’s been for three quarters most nights, he has to get better in winning time, something he admitted on Sunday night.

Young, John Collins, and Clint Capela have been just about the only constants this season for the Hawks, and the latter two are so dependent on Young to create for them that they don’t provide him the assistance that he needs from a secondary creator to alleviate the pressure on him. Those deficiencies in late game offensive execution seem far more fixable, though, than the defensive problems are. Atlanta is allowing opponents to shoot 52.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three in the clutch this season, the worst and second worst in the NBA. The ease with which opponents are able to create great looks against the Hawks defense is a failure at every level, but when player effort is so obviously poor, that has to be the place you start.

Take this possession against the Heat, which wouldn’t qualify as “clutch” because Miami led by seven with just over a minute to play, but was a possession Atlanta had to have a stop to have a chance.

Huerter and Young put forth what is arguably the world’s softest “trap” in basketball history, as Young barely does anything, just half-heartedly waving his hands in the air four feet away from Kendrick Nunn as Huerter tries to pressure him. The result is an easy pass to the top of the key where Tyler Herro and the Heat are now playing 4-on-3. John Collins comes to the ball, as does Clint Capela, making for an easy read and a swing to the corner where Goran Dragic hits a wide-open three as the dagger, with Huerter chasing out way late from all the way across the court.

Nothing about that was good, as it’s clear guys aren’t on the same page which is in part on coaching, but it’s also just a pitiful effort to execute what they want to do, which is force a turnover with the trap.

Part of the problem right now is there’s just not a lot of good lineups to put together. Gallinari is such a massive defensive liability, that putting him on the court to provide them with much needed shooting, even trying to sub for offense and defense, is playing with fire — the reason he was out there for that Cavs game-winner was he was an offensive sub the possession before, but off the miss and no timeout, the Hawks couldn’t get him back out of the game. Because of that, they almost have to play Huerter and, whether it’s Tony Snell or Solomon Hill — who have actually become critical signings because of all the injuries — out there, they just don’t have the point of attack defense to take advantage of Capela and Collins’ rim protection, because they’re not able to put out every fire, especially at the three-point line.

The Hawks are going to look better if and when they get healthy, simply because it will provide whomever is coaching with actual lineup versatility and, once Bogdanovic is back, some actual creative help offensively for Young. Still, if the Hawks are going to make any noise this season, the players who are on the floor simply have to be better. This team, with the injuries they have, isn’t an awful lot different than last year’s squad, so the record isn’t a shocker, but the way they’ve lost some of these games late is enough to drive fans up a wall and understandably so. It’s why Pierce is out of a job, but a new voice at the head of the bench won’t fix the problems unless players, starting with their star in Young, are willing to take a look inward and make some changes to their effort and decision-making on both ends.

They’re a team that hasn’t been able to catch a break this season, but compounding that with mistakes in key situations is what has made an unfortunate season a disappointing one to this point.

Politics has always been a mixed bag of genuine discussions about governance, inane partisan bickering, and ongoing struggles for power. As much as I wish we could engage in the first more often, it feels like politics in America has become far more of the latter.

Within those partisan power struggles, the language of politics gets skewed and molded to fit specific purposes. Sometimes, phrases are used as dog whistles calling on people’s prejudices. Far too often, the manipulation of words and their meanings—political rhetoric—renders certain terms meaningless as they get tossed around without nuance or context. Ultimately, the repeated use of certain terminology ends up destroying discourse instead of adding to it.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are 10 terms I’d love to see us flush from American political discussions:

1. “Real Americans”

There’s no excuse for anyone ever using this term. To call certain people “real Americans” implies some kind of defining characteristic that some Americans have and some don’t, which is the complete opposite of the country’s diverse reality. And who would get to determine that definition, anyway? Do we go by majority? A full 82% of Americans live in urban areas. Does that mean city people are “real Americans” and the rural minority are not? Obviously, that’s ludicrous—just as ludicrous as the idea that Americans in diners talking about the Bible are “real Americans.” There’s simply no such thing.

2. “Identity politics”

It’s not that politics based on identity doesn’t exist—it’s that it has always existed. The entirety of American history is filled with white, land-owning men creating politics around their own identity and excluding people of different identities from the political process in both overt and covert ways. We are where we are because inequality and injustice necessitate pushing for policies based on identity, but let’s not pretend that the concept is new. It’s just that the identities that are finally getting a voice are those that were kept out by the white, male identity politics that dominated the nation for centuries.

3. “Elites”

This word may have had some meaning at some point, but now it gets tossed around to mean anyone who lives in a city, lives on a coast, has above a certain amount of money, or has a college education. I’ve also seen it used as a pejorative to describe experts in a field, which is just silly. While yes, there are uber-wealthy people with undue power in politics who can be rightfully scorned as “elites” for snubbing their noses at the concerns of the rest of us, that’s a very small group of people. Dismissing the entirety of academia or the entirety of the American coasts or the entirety of people with post-secondary educations as “elitist” is a misuse of the word and needs to stop.

4. “Working class”

On the flip side, the term “working-class Americans” has far too narrow a meaning the way it’s usually used. When someone says “working-class Americans” it’s usually meant to conjure up images of generally white farm, factory, or mining workers toiling away somewhere in Middle America. Rarely is the term “working class” used to refer to Black or Latino or immigrant workers in big cities, even though they make up a huge percentage of what’s technically considered working-class labor. Rarely is the economic anxieties of those urban workers utilized in the same way politically. (The term also makes it sound like only certain kinds of jobs count as “work,” which is just weird.)

5. “Blue states/Red states”

The way our electoral system is set up makes the illusion of blue and red states a thing, but it’s really not a thing. All states are mish-mosh of people, and all states are closer to 50/50 than 100/0 when it comes to red/blue, Democrat/Republican, liberal/conservative votes. I wish we could do away with those binary political labels altogether, but at the very least we need to stop assigning them to entire states. (And let’s ditch the Electoral College that perpetuates the illusion altogether.)

There are lots of different versions of maps that more accurately portray the way the U.S. votes, but the truth is that every place is some shade of purple. And our differences are based much more along an urban/rural divide than a state line one.

6. “Career politician”

Yes, some people make a career out of being in government. Yes, there are some people who stay in politics for the wrong reasons or who have been in their positions for longer than they should. But let’s stop saying “career politician” like it’s automatically bad. Experience and expertise in any field is generally a good thing, and that’s as true for public service as it is for anything else. Newcomers add fresh perspectives and voices to government, but there is also value in putting people who know what they’re doing in powerful positions of leadership. We could address the negatives of long-term service by introducing term limits where there aren’t any, but let’s stop demonizing people who dedicate their lives and careers to public service.

7. “Socialism”

This word has a meaning, and it’s not what the vast majority of Americans mean when they use it these days, on either side of the aisle. Socialism is a “social and economic doctrine that calls for public rather than private ownership or control of property and natural resources.” Practically no one is advocating for actual socialism in the U.S. Some people think anything having to do with equality or equity is synonymous with socialism, but that’s not anywhere close to true. Some people think universal healthcare is a slippery slope to a socialist state, even though they’d never think of public education in the same way. Some people just hear “radical socialist agenda” and start foaming at the mouth, even if what’s being described as radical socialism would be considered center-right ideology in most democratic nations we consider our peers. And on the same note…

8. “Radical”

What is often called “radical” isn’t really radical these days. The only reason that some things seem radical—as defined by advocating a sweeping change—is because of how long certain things have been allowed to remain status quo. The idea that anyone who works a full-time job should be able to afford to live is not a radical idea. It’s just common sense. The idea that no one should go bankrupt or die because they have a medical issue isn’t radical—it’s the way people in almost every other country live. The idea that people should be able to live free from discrimination for being who they are is not a radical idea—it’s simply freedom. The word “radical” is used to make any idea sound out-there, no matter how reasonable it might be in reality.

9. “Fascist”

Not everyone who enacts legislation we don’t like is a fascist. Not everyone who pushes nationalism is a fascist. Not even everyone who uses prejudice and fear to drum up populist support is a fascist. Like socialism, this word has been thrown around so often as to have virtually no real meaning anymore. Fascism was a specific form of rule during a specific time and place in history, and though we can point to some similarities of thought or action between politicians now and then, they’re not the same. It’s not likely that an autocrat dictator would find success with actual fascist practices here, and labeling everything that smacks of authoritarianism or demagoguery as fascism muddies the waters. Authoritarianism and demagoguery are problematic enough on their own, and jumping straight to “Fascism!” enables people to dismiss legitimate concerns over them.

10. “Patriot”

A patriot is someone who loves their country and is willing to defend it. A patriot is not someone who terrorizes their own seat of government because they reject reality and don’t like the way the voting went. A patriot doesn’t defend an attack on our Capitol or the attempted overturning of an election. A patriot doesn’t fly the flag of a defeated country that fought with the United States over the right to enslave Black people and nearly split the nation in two. A patriot doesn’t try to keep Americans they disagree with or don’t like from voting. A patriot doesn’t accuse half of their fellow Americans of being demonic pedophiles. If the people who do any or all of those things are the ones calling themselves patriots, then the word is useless.

Words and their actual meanings matter. Let’s discuss ideas. Let’s debate policy. But let’s do so without slinging around buzz words and phrases that oversimplify positions, play on people’s prejudices, and remove the nuance necessary for reasonable discourse.

After eagle-eyed political observers noticed that the stage at this year’s CPAC appears to be an exact replica of an othala rune worn by Nazi officers during World War II, Hyatt Hotels eventually issued a statement denouncing the stage design used by the GOP event after initially defending CPAC’s right to “peacefully express their views.” Of course, that decision only happened after an intense social media backlash against Hyatt for not taking a stand against the Nazi imagery. But as Hyatt is now learning, that pendulum swings both ways, and now, the American Conservative Union is blasting the hotel chain for “disparaging” and “defaming” the event. In a letter oddly titled, “We Will Not Be Canceled” — you can’t cancel an event that already happened, guys — the conservative group argues that Hyatt was well aware of the stage design and had no problems until the social media backlash started. Via the ACU:

For months we have collaborated with your team on logistics, including sharing, reviewing, and approving the stage design that was created by one of our subcontractors. The fact that no one on the Hyatt staff ever raised concerns during the process shows the ridiculous nature of your statements. Moreover, your statements falsely conceal your oversight role. In fact, the Hyatt Hotel, with our organization and subcontractors, approved and worked collaboratively to build this stage. Only after a coordinated far-left assault to destroy our conference arose did you succumb to lies and compound them with your own.

The American Conservative Union also goes on to say that its Jewish Board Members are appalled by the implication that CPAC would include a Nazi symbol in its event. While that seems to contradict the ACU’s earlier argument that Hyatt saw the design and approved it, the hotel chain now finds itself square in the middle of a PR nightmare that foreshadows larger problem down the line for other venues if Republicans continue to tinker with including Third Reich-resembling symbols in their political events.

(Via American Conservative Union)

The Atlanta Hawks were supposed to be the team in the East taking the leap from the lottery into the playoffs this season after a big offseason of spending on some high priced veteran free agents. However, the injury ravaged Hawks have stumbled to a 14-20 start, that most recently saw them fall apart late against the Jimmy Butler-less Heat in Miami.

Lloyd Pierce has been firmly on the hotseat since this offseason when ex-Pacers coach Nate McMillan was brought in as his lead assistant and he didn’t shy away from playoff expectations. While the Hawks have yet to have their full roster healthy for a game this season, that hasn’t changed the fact that the results have been disappointing, particularly in close games. Atlanta is 6-13 in games that qualify as “clutch” this season (ahead or behind by five or fewer inside five minutes to play) and their fourth quarter defensive rating and net rating are the worst in the league.

Add in a fan base that has turned completely on Pierce, and you have a recipe for a midseason firing, which came on Monday afternoon, with a statement from GM Travis Schlenk.

“We would like to thank Lloyd for his work and commitment to not only the Hawks organization but the city of Atlanta. He and his wife, Melissa, are tremendous people who have made a positive impact throughout the city,” said Schlenk. “We have high expectations for our team on the court and we believe by making this change now that we can have a strong second half of the season.”

Pierce went 63-120 in Atlanta as he was brought in to bring the young Hawks through a rebuild, and he won’t get a chance to see that through with a healthy, retooled roster. One would expect McMillan to be the interim head coach, but the Hawks did not announce that officially in the release, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports McMillan is waiting to speak with Pierce before accepting the position.

Pierce was well aware of his likely fate, speaking recently about the season and noting he won’t have any hard feelings towards Schlenk whenever he’s fired. The on court product never quite lived up to expectations, but the fault of that lies on many, with Pierce certainly shouldering some of that responsibility. Off the court, Pierce was a tremendous advocate for the Atlanta community, working with the Georgia Innocence Project among other organizations to give back and be a powerful voice for those who often aren’t afforded one.

Thousands of mask-less conservatives were treated to the best that the GOP has to offer this past weekend. There was the alien cult guy, Ted Cruz cracking jokes, Donald Trump, Jr. ranting about the Muppets being canceled, and of course, the big man himself, who performed all his greatest hits about “The Big Lie” and blah blah blah.

Also in attendance was Missouri senator Josh Hawley, who received a standing ovation for refusing to accept the election results. “On January the 6th, I objected during the Electoral College certification. Maybe you heard about it. I did,” he said, conveniently leaving out the part where rioters stormed the Capitol Building, leaving five people dead.

The Daily Show pointed out the similarities between CPAC 2021 and what happened on January 6 in a tweet on Monday. The video goes from Tom Cotton (R-AR) saying, “We will never retreat… we will never surrender,” to Trump imploring the “Save America” rally that “now is not the time to retreat… We will never surrender.” Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) and Matt Gaetz (R-FL) are also in the montage, as is Cruz. He appears in a split-screen screaming “FREEDOM” alongside (and along with) the QAnon Shaman.

You can watch the clip below.

Though she rose to fame as an actor on the Disney+ hit series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Olivia Rodrigo’s debut single “Drivers License” made her a household name. Since releasing the track, Rodrigo has dominated charts, been in the throes of a teen pop love triangle, received kind cosigns from pop stars like Taylor Swift, and was even name-dropped in a recent Saturday Night Live sketch. Now, continuing with the its success, “Drivers License” is once again at No. 1.

This week, “Drivers License” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the seventh consecutive week. The track is the first debut single to ever spend that long at the top spot on the Hot 100 chart, but that’s not all. “Drivers License” also managed an impressive feat previously achieved by Drake: It’s the first single to spend its first seven weeks at No. 1 since Drake’s 2018 “God’s Plan.”

While the song has hovered at top of the charts for weeks, its apparently continuing to increase in popularity. According to Billboard, “Drivers License” totaled 21.5 million streams in the US and was downloaded 13,000 times this week alone, up 38 percent since last week’s charts. The song also received a healthy boost from US radio stations, as it was spun 67.3 million times on the airwaves, a 13 percent increase from last week.

Biggie: I Got A Story To Tell (Netflix documentary film) — The Notorious B.I.G. gets the celebratory spotlight in this documentary that charts his journey from hustler to rap king. It’s an origin story fit for a legend, and although his lyrics were often autobiographical, this film’s rare footage, testimonies, and in-depth interviews will teach you plenty that you didn’t know about the Hip-Hop icon before hitting play. The documentary arrives in collaboration with Biggie Smalls’ estate while looking ahead to what would have been his 50th birthday and as a followup to his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Sean Combs executive produces alongside Biggie’s mother, Voletta Wallace, and the film promises to reveal a side Christopher George Latore Wallace that’s never before been revealed to the public.

9-1-1 (FOX, 8:00pm) — A garage band that ends up rocking out too hard causes disaster, and a man who’s pinned under a Hummer swallows up resources while a “rear window” installment goes completely wrong.

9-1-1: Lone Star (FOX, 9:00pm) — Next up on the Rob Lowe-starring spinoff, an unanticipated dead body crashes a funeral, and an MRI machine goes haywire at a hospital.

Snowpiercer (TNT, 9:00pm) — This week, Melanie’s fighting to survive in the worst of conditions. This season’s introduction of Bean caused the series to gain momentum, so the time is still right to catch this ride.

Beartown (HBO, 9:00pm) — This Swedish crime drama based upon Fredrik Backman’s bestselling novel, and it follows the domination of a junior ice-hockey team upon a small community after a retired pro hockey player, Peter, relocates to Beartown for a fresh start. Given the show’s color palette on display in the trailer, I’m sure having a difficult time resisting Twilight jokes. This week, Peter’s attempting to secure the financial future of the arena and the community while coaching the team to a semifinal win.

The Investigation (HBO, 10:00pm) — This Scandinavian limited drama series follows the real-life investigation into the 2017 murder of a Swedish journalist (Kim Wall) in what became one of Danish history’s most notorious criminal cases (aptly dubbed the “Submarine Case”). The case is finally coming together but without conclusive evidence just yet, so Chief Prosecutor Jakob Buch-Jepsen zeroes in on the apparent motive.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! — Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Alan S. Kim, Madison Beer

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert — Andy Samberg, Clarissa Ward

The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon — John Legend, Jermaine Fowler, Arlo Parks

The Late Late Show With James Corden — Jamie Dornan, Kelly Marie Tran

Late Night With Seth Meyers — Kenan Thompson, Steven Yeun, Julien Baker

Whisk(e)y is one of the fastest-growing industries in the entire spirits game, seeing yet another boom during the global pandemic. But that growth has also revealed pain points — as the need for the industry to diversify gained mainstream, much-needed attention in 2020. It’s a multi-pronged conversation (because whisk(e)y needs to evolve in multiple ways) and has brought a fair bit of controversy along with it.

To continue the discussion about how whisk(e)y is becoming more inclusive, what the future of the industry looks like, and where it needs to head, we reached out to nine well-known women in the industry — distillers, blenders, managers, entrepreneurs, and organizers. Many of these conversations came as part of my whiskey show on IGTV, Expression Session, where these themes are often discussed. Our panel includes:

• Elizabeth McCall, Assistant Master Distiller Woodford Reserve
• Dr. Rachel Barrie, Master Blender The Glendronach, Benriach, and Glenglassaugh
• Nicole Austin, Master Distiller Cascade Hollow Distilling/George Dickel
• Samara Rivers, Founder Black Bourbon Society
• Emma Walker, Master Blender Johnnie Walker
• Diane Farrell, Senior Site Operations Manager Talisker
• Carin Luna-Ostaseski, Founder of SIA Scotch Whisky
• Ann Soh Woods, Founder Kikori Japanese Whiskey
• Maureen Robinson, Master Blender Buchanan’s Scotch Whisky

These are the women who are passionate about building an inclusive whiskey world while also being at the top of the whisk(e)y game, overall. Check their wisdom below.

Since you started working in whiskey (and the wider drinks industry), what have you seen change in relation to women and diversity in the industry?

Elizabeth McCall:

Since I started working in this industry, I have seen women become the rule, not so much the exception. I think the perception is still that women are just now breaking into the whiskey category as consumers, bartenders, writers, connoisseurs, production workers, and distillers, but the reality is that women have been in these roles for years now. I feel that at this point it would be odd to not have women at tastings, events, behind the bar, writing stories, etc.

Women are truly driving the whiskey category.

Dr. Rachel Barrie:

Over the past 29 years, I have been very fortunate to work with both men and women from all over the globe in an industry with incredible reach (more than 200 countries) and where its people are as diverse as the whiskies it makes. Without a doubt, there are more women now involved in the industry. Women are influencing production and marketing, finance and sales, and through diversity, inclusion, and collaboration, a broader audience is being reached, enriching the experience for all.

Nicole Austin:

People in the industry definitely discuss diversity more than before, acknowledging there is work to be done. On the ground, however, I have found there hasn’t been much change. The industry has a long way to go.

Samara Rivers:

I’ve seen more women rise to positions of leadership within the industry. There are several brands that now have female master distillers, brand ambassadors, and are in charge of brand development and innovation. Women and consumers of color are also trending in on and off-premise sales roles.

Emma Walker:

I often get asked about working in a male industry, but to be honest, this hasn’t been my experience. Our team at Johnnie Walker has a pretty even male-to-female ratio. Plus, there are female Master Blenders at Bell’s and Buchanan’s within Diageo as well. That’s also reflected in the distilleries, and I’m seeing more female operators and engineers at different distilleries and sites across Scotland. The industry is as diverse as the whisky is!

Diane Farrell:

I feel there has been a significant shift in the number of women who work in the whisky industry over the years with considerable effort on the journey to make it a gender-balanced industry — and I see that trend continuing. Women are working across all levels of the whisky industry, which is encouraging to see, and it acts as an inspiration for other women who are considering a career in whisky. I don’t see there being any blockers from within the workplace to support an inclusive and diverse workforce. I’m only seeing positive reinforcement.

Carin Luna-Ostaseski:

I’ve actually found the whisky industry to be welcoming to me and to SIA, and it’s often women who are opening the doors. When it comes to Scotch whisky, there’s a common misconception that it’s reserved for men quietly sipping at home or that it’s too strong for certain palates. SIA was created to welcome more people into the category and has a taste profile built for today’s modern palate, for both men and women alike.

Ann Soh Woods:

We have seen a steady, but slow, increase in women and BIPOC working in a wide variety of positions in the industry. I am particularly pleased to see increased diversity in leadership positions in key distiller, brand creation, and brand management roles. I think it is great that women are now part of the story.

When whiskey comes to mind, people typically think of your dad, your grandfather, and a lot of men. Fairly recently, in whiskey cocktail culture, I’ve noticed that women are now making decisions and deciding which cocktails they want. There is a growing population of women who know their whiskey, are organizing groups, and are becoming extremely savvy and educated on what they are drinking.

Maureen Robinson:

When I first became a blender in 1986, a woman master blender/distiller was unique — I was probably the first woman Scotch blender in the modern era — but in the Scotch whisky industry today there are many women in various roles that historically were carried out by men. In Diageo, 50 percent of the blending team is female and we have many female distillery managers/site operators. This trend is shown throughout the whole of Diageo’s businesses.

What hasn’t changed — that you think needs to — in relation to women and diversity in the industry?

Elizabeth McCall:

The perception that women don’t drink or work in the whiskey industry.

Dr. Rachel Barrie:

Change is happening. The Scotch whisky industry reached a milestone moment in September 2020 through the launch of its Diversity and Inclusivity Charter, which demonstrates the sector’s commitment to creating an inclusive workforce, welcoming and representative of people from all backgrounds, built on equal opportunities, fairness, and respect of differences, across gender, ethnicity, disability, age, and sexual orientation.

Nicole Austin:

I find that my gender is often the first point of discussion, not my work in the industry. I am still interviewed much more frequently for pieces that are about being a woman in whisky than about just my whisky.

Emma Walker:

I can only speak for Johnnie Walker and I am lucky to have had a very positive experience. More generally though, I believe that the world should be a more open, diverse place so everyone can feel comfortable being themselves. I believe we should all have the freedom to express and define ourselves as we want. Some of the changes that Diageo and Johnnie Walker have implemented in terms of diversity and inclusivity have been incredible. It is great to be part of an organization that is so proactive.

Diane Farrell:

I believe there is still the perception that whisky is a “man’s drink” and there is often disbelief when I tell people what I do. I often get asked, “Do you actually drink whisky?” or “Do you actually like whisky?” When I talk about whisky I get, “Oh, so you actually know what you’re talking about!” I see part of my role as educating and breaking down these barriers to normalize women working in whisky.

Carin Luna-Ostaseski:

Scotch whisky is an exciting category because there’s so much to explore. For years, it was seen as a man’s drink, reserved for more intimate moments, such as quietly sipping at home or in small gatherings for special celebrations. We are working to evolve and expand, and to break that stereotype. With the growing number of Scotch whisky drinkers — both men and women — comes a new desire to experience the liquid in different ways.

Ann Soh Woods:

While progress has been made, there is still work to be done in the industry. Women remain underrepresented in the industry and I believe they have much to contribute. What’s exciting is that there is so much to explore in the whiskey category as industry trends are constantly changing. Consumers — both men and women — entering the category are eager to learn and test with unique flavors and experiences, so it leads to more opportunities to help with consumer education and introduce our unique whiskey to those seeking to expand their palates and try new offerings in the category.

What do you do in your day-to-day to help bring about changes to bolster women and more diversity in whiskey?

Elizabeth McCall:

I work hard, I do my job, and am not afraid to get my hands dirty. Having the respect of the Woodford Reserve team is what I hold so close to my heart. They don’t see me as a woman in the role of Assistant Master Distiller. They just see me as “Eli” — a part of their team working to make top-quality whiskey. That to me is what will bring about change, to normalize women in whiskey.

Dr. Rachel Barrie:

Day-to-day, I am dedicated to increasing the accessibility of the industry and single malt Scotch whisky to women and a more diverse audience. On an almost weekly basis, I engage with female aficionados and novices through tastings, whisky judging, and live discussions with media. Through embracing the virtual space, I hope to reach a more diverse audience, connecting people across the world through a common appreciation of our wonderful spirit.

Nicole Austin:

Being visible as a woman in this industry matters is an implicit invitation for others. Working in the day-to-day (and overseeing major decisions!) lets women know that there is room for others like them in the whisky world.

Samara Rivers:

Everything! From consulting with brands on ways to be more diverse in their marketing efforts or within their companies to using my social media platform to highlight women and diversity within the space. My entire career is built on D&I [diversity and inclusion] in that space.

Emma Walker:

We make our whiskies to be enjoyed by everyone and that is at the heart of everything we do — no one is excluded. This year, I was part of the Craftswomen campaign, celebrating the pioneering women who make some of the best spirits in the world. For that campaign, we launched Jane Walker by Johnnie Walker, which I am very proud of.

Diane Farrell:

I educate and normalize the conversation. I have an all-female management team, but what is key for me is that they are the right people for the role irrespective of their gender. They are strong women who deliver great improvement for the business and I am proud of what they do.

Carin Luna-Ostaseski:

SIA has always believed in supporting female entrepreneurship, and for nearly a decade we have donated a portion of all our sales towards organizations that help women start and run their own businesses. I give major credit to the amazing women who make something out of nothing, and especially to those in the Scotch whisky industry who have worked very hard for the distinction of Master Blender, including Maureen Robinson, Caroline Martin, and Emma Walker to name but a few.

I’m also always keeping an eye out for new women-founded distilleries.

Ann Soh Woods:

I am proud to be a woman in this business and hope to inspire other women that they too can navigate and thrive in a typically male-dominated industry. Most of my team are women and we definitely celebrate diversity at Kikori Whiskey.

I’m aware that there are not nearly enough Asian-American women in the spirits industry, let alone women in the industry. I wasn’t aware that a female founder in the spirits industry was such a rare thing but it only fueled my motivation. I try to speak up when I can on behalf of women and BIPOC in the industry and want to help break down barriers whenever possible.

Maureen Robinson:

This is a thought-provoking question. I like to think of myself as a mentor to all the members of the team especially the newer ones which recently have been mainly female. From a consumer and cultural perspective, I think it is known in this industry that if you have a passion, then you should follow it.

What can the average whiskey drinker do to not only celebrate but bolster women and BIPOC in the whiskey industry?

Elizabeth McCall:

Don’t assume that women don’t want to drink whiskey. Don’t act surprised when you see a woman order a whiskey drink or purchase a bottle of whiskey for themselves. Maybe strike up a conversation with the woman to see what it is about that particular whiskey that made them order or purchase it.

Dr. Rachel Barrie:

I would encourage whisky drinkers to appreciate the diversity of people working in the industry and enjoying whisky all across the globe. We make the most diverse spirit in the world, after all, so let’s celebrate the richness of this diversity!

Nicole Austin:

I would encourage whisky drinkers to vote with their dollars! Buy whiskies and show support to companies who bolster women and BIPOC in the industry.

Samara Rivers:

Be an informed consumer. When purchasing whiskey, drinkers should prioritize what brands are doing for the BIPOC community just as much as they prioritize the flavor notes behind their preferred spirits. Know the “why” behind the brands that you drink.

One bourbon that I love was founded by a German immigrant who overcame major obstacles, I.W. Bernheim, who created I.W. Harper Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Bernheim arrived in the States with $4 and a dream for a better life. Today, I.W. Harper is working towards ‘redefining excellence,’ meaning they are celebrating Black and Brown entrepreneurial spirits who have made a name for themselves through hard work and dedication in their industries.

Emma Walker:

As I say, we make whisky to be enjoyed by everyone. I think if whisky drinkers celebrate and enjoy whisky in the same spirit that we make it, then people will have done their little bit. There may have been a time when there was a perception that whisky should be consumed in a certain way by certain people … but that is not something that has ever been in the mind of the team at Johnnie Walker. We know that our whisky is consumed all over the world by lots of different people and that is something that we think about when crafting our whiskies.

Diane Farrell:

For me, it is breaking down the perceived barriers that still exist in pockets. The whisky industry is changing — from who drinks whisky, to how and where we drink it — and I think educating others on this is where the biggest shifts will come from. We can all play our part.

Carin Luna-Ostaseski:

The best way to celebrate women in whisky is to support their products. Familiarize yourself with brands that are female-founded, purchase them from retailers as a gift for yourself or for others, and request that your bartender use them in your cocktails. The Women’s Cocktail Collective is a great starting point to learn more about these brands and the amazing women behind them.

Ann Soh Woods:

In SoCal, you have a very receptive, open-minded culture where people are familiar with different cultures. So when I first entered the market, women were already part of the fabric here in L.A., as it should be. I think expanding this mindset for whiskey drinkers to become aware of female and BIPOC-founded brands and trying these liquids in cocktails will go a long way in celebrating diversity in the industry.

Maureen Robinson:

When enjoying your whisk(e)y of choice, don’t be afraid to impart your knowledge or reasons why you are drinking it. I think there are still some myths out there that you have to be a connoisseur to enjoy these products but that is not true. We create these wonderful spirits for everyone to enjoy.

In your estimation, what do you think the whiskey industry will look like ten … even 20 years from now?

Elizabeth McCall:

That is a tough question. I do think the whiskey industry will still be going strong. I know Woodford Reserve will be a globally recognized brand, and we will no longer be talking about women as outliers in the whiskey industry. It will be as common to see women working in the whiskey industry and consuming whiskey as it is to see men. It will be beautiful!

Dr. Rachel Barrie:

In ten or even 20 years from now, the whisky industry will have grown and become an even more wonderful place to work, with increased creativity and collaboration in the workforce and connectivity with the consumer. With each generation, I think the appreciation and value of diversity will become second nature in how we all live and work.

Nicole Austin:

I think the future of the whisky industry will definitely be more diverse — both the whiskies created and the people creating them.

Most recently at Cascade Hollow Distilling Co., I’ve had the chance to flex my creative muscles with our new Cascade Moon Whisky Series. For the first edition that we launched this fall, I was inspired by gose-style craft beers and wanted to create something that was unusual and rare, feeling different from everything else in the whisky category right now. Stay tuned for news about new releases in the series, but each new whisky will be inspired by something a little different and have a unique backstory!

Samara Rivers:

Over the next ten, even 20 years, I think the industry will embrace the use of technology as we adapt to a “new normal” in post-COVID life, particularly through the execution of virtual consumer events and engagement. Whiskey brands will still rely on and support bars and restaurants, but I hope they will prioritize working with organizations such as Black Bourbon Society and other membership organizations that bring everyone together — and emphasize diversity and inclusion — in a virtual, safe way.

Emma Walker:

It’s amazing to think that it is 200 years since our founder John Walker first opened the doors to a small grocery store in rural Scotland, starting this incredible journey. As a team, we know we’re playing a part in a long tradition of flavor exploration and craft, and that’s something that excites me and inspires us all. It is my belief that that spirit of innovation will bring many fascinating discoveries and push the boundaries of what is possible in whisky.

So do I know what the next ten years will bring? No. But am I excited to see what it will bring? Very much so.

Diane Farrell:

There won’t be any need to talk about the topic of women in whisky anymore. It will be normal and exist without bias.

Carin Luna-Ostaseski:

Scotch whisky popularity in the U.S. is expanding and new generations of whisky drinkers are branching out across flavor profiles and brands. Consumers are continuing to look for new experiences. We have an incredible opportunity to continue to introduce more men and women into the Scotch whisky category because our whisky has such an approachable, easy-to-enjoy flavor.

Consumers today are also seeking out brands that represent their values. Being one of the first women to ever create a Scotch whisky company, I hope this paves the path for more to do the same, in this or in any other industry.

Ann Soh Woods:

Look at the current demographics of whiskey drinkers and you can see the future. The whiskey category attracts a diverse group of consumers with a very sizable increase in women enthusiasts. I believe this trend will continue and we will see the diversity of whiskey drinkers continue to grow. The current trends are a leading indicator of what I expect to see throughout the industry in the years ahead.

Maureen Robinson:

Over the past few years, whisk(e)y has become more popular and I think that is because the industry recognized that the way these types of drinks were portrayed had to change. These are very versatile products and are for everyone. I think there was a perception out there you had to be a certain age, or only drink them neat or with a dash of water. We have started that journey of change and I see it continuing as each generation comes along and as expectations change.

Route 66 has long been a symbol of Americana, the idea of The Heartland and wide-open country which is central to pop culture ideals of the United States Midwest. However, in Jack Harlow’s “Route 66” video from his debut album That’s What They All Say, Jack and guest rapper EST Gee give a tour of their Louisville, Kentucky environs that won’t include any famous landmarks name-checked by Bobby Troup and Nat King Cole.

Harlow himself, however, is rapidly becoming a fixture of pop culture thanks to the success of his song “What’s Poppin” and the resulting abundance of television appearances and brand partnership opportunities coming his way. In March alone, he’s billed to perform on Saturday Night Live and play 2-on-2 basketball with 2 Chainz and Quavo for Bleacher Report’s B/R Open Run at NBA All-Star Weekend in Atlanta. It’s not the first time he partnered with a brand to play hoops; in November last year, he participated in TikTok’s basketball tournament as well.

Before that, he had a ton of guest spots including ones with French Montana, Saweetie, and TDE’s Reason, while racking up TV performances on The Tonight Show, the MTV VMAs, and BET Hip-Hop Awards.

Watch Jack Harlow’s “Route 66” video featuring EST Gee above.

Jack Harlow is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

With the release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League only a few weeks away, the director has been spilling all kinds of details about the unprecedented project and the road that led to his “Snyder Cut” debuting on HBO Max. While sitting down for IGN Fan Fest 2021, Snyder fielded questions on the making of Justice League and what parts of the movie he’s especially glad to see restored. One of those items is Superman’s black suit, which Snyder has been very adamant about including in his original version. Warner Bros., on the other hand, was not so keen on seeing Superman in anything but his classic blue and red suit, which led to some friction between Snyder and the studio. Via IGN:

“I was a big advocate [of the black suit],” Snyder explained, “they were not so much, and we would go back and forth. I said, ‘Okay, let me just at least do some tests to see if I could put him in the black suit and what it would look like.’ We devised a method in which we could easily turn the suit, using the existing suit, to the black and silver suit that you see in the movie. We knew exactly how to do it when we went into it and, as I say, it was always my intention to have him in that suit and it’s glorious he’s in that.”

Obviously, the black and silver suit is featured in the Justice League director’s cut trailers and promo images, which is a testament to how Warner Bros. truly gave Snyder the room to complete his vision for the film. That said, the studio recently announced that it’s hard at work on a Superman reboot from writer Ta-Nehisi Coates, so Warner Bros. is having its cake and eating it, too. Let the fans get one last hurrah with Cavill and Snyder’s Superman, and then on to the future.

(Via IGN)