The Inside the NBA crew is getting a fresh set of eyes, at least for a few days. Draymond Green, the outspoken leader of the Golden State Warriors who has always been a breath of fresh air whenever he’s been asked to provide analysis on the NBA, will join Turner’s coverage of the playoffs for a few days.
According to a release, Green’s stint with the TNT crew will run from May 31 to June 2, with cameos occurring on studio shows and The Arena.
Green will join Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and host Ernie Johnson for pregame, halftime and postgame analysis surrounding TNT’s Game 4 doubleheader coverage on Monday, May 31 – Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid vs. Washington Wizards and Bradley Beal at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Utah Jazz and Donovan Mitchell vs. Memphis Grizzlies and Ja Morant at 9:30 p.m. Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller and reporter Stephanie Ready will provide commentary for 76ers/Wizards, with Spero Dedes and Greg Anthony calling the action for Jazz/Grizzlies.
Green will join Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Barkley for Tuesday’s studio coverage, while being paired with Johnson, O’Neal and Smith for Wednesday’s shows.
It seems obvious that Green will transition into the studio full-time someday, and although he’s shown signs of aging on the floor, the 31-year-old point forward is still a crucial piece to the Warriors’ puzzle as a playmaker and a defender. Hopefully he gets another stint or two on TV during these playoffs, though, because Green really is one of the best minds in basketball right now.
Mare Of Easttown (Sunday, HBO 10:00 p.m.) — It’s finale time! Kate Winslet returns not only to TV but to HBO (a decade after her award-winning Mildred Pierce turn) to star as a hard-vaping detective in a small town where she both portrays and elevates the “complicated” cop trope. This show will suck you in, and you won’t mind one bit. Also you’ll be wondering about this: what the heck was in that picture?
The Shop: Uninterrupted (Friday, HBO 9:30 p.m.) — LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s barbershop-centered, unscripted show continues with a Season 4 debut featuring Jay-Z, Bad Bunny, Paul Rivera, and Nneka Ogwumike. All topics are fair game, but expect to hear them shoot the sh*t on everything from their respective businesses to, uh, WrestleMania.
These top streaming picks make excellent appetizers:
Cruella (Disney movie on Disney+) — Yes, Cruella de Vil is finally getting her origin story. Even if you don’t agree that she needed one, no one can argue that Emma Stone is the actress who could deliver a damn good time in this role. Granted, the film starts out slow (the runtime’s over two hours) with a protracted childhood era that doesn’t illustrate much about why she villained out and murdered puppies. Yet it does speed up, with lots of mayhem and a cackling Emma hanging off a truck in a billowing dress. Fashion can be evil! Also, the soundtrack feels like a character in its own right.
Plan B (Hulu film) — Oh boy, does this story ever hit home for countless ladies who find themselves driving from drug store to drugstore in the heartland. That’s exactly what happens in this film, after a regrettable sexual encounter sends a high school student (Kuhoo Verma) and her best friend (Victoria Moroles) on a bit of a road trip with the clock ticking to find Plan B in America’s heartland. It’s actually a twist on the teen sex comedy, and it arrives by way of Cobra Kai and Harold & Kumar producers.
Lucifer: Season 5B (Netflix series) — The Devil is still up to no good. Even worse, Lucifer is still plagued by his twin brother, Michael, who’s trying to take his place, and Lucifer also decides that he wants to be God? Alright. Well, God’s apparently retiring, so there’s an opening for that gig. Heaven help us all if this show ever starts to make sense (and Tom Ellis has so much swaggering fun with his lead role), but Netflix’s synopsis promises that “God himself comes to Earth. Secrets will be revealed, heroic sacrifices will be made, and the world will never be the same.” Season 6 will be the show’s final run, and I’m secretly rooting for Chloe to shake off her destiny and ditch the Devil.
And back to the scheduled programming here:
Pause With Sam Jay (Friday, HBO 9:00 p.m.) — The Emmy-nominated SNL writer aims to revamp the late-night talk show format with each episode taking place at Sam’s apartment, where she’s throwing a party. Get ready for some feisty conversations and, hopefully, a sense of understanding between those who hold different perspectives.
A Black Lady Sketch Show (Friday, HBO 11:00 p.m.) — The fast-paced, quick-witted narrative series returns with loads of celebrity guests, but of course, the sketches all happen by the grace of the core cast, including Robin Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, and Gabrielle Dennis with Issa Rae executive producing,
Oslo (Saturday, HBO 8:00 p.m.) — This film may or may not be considered too timely, considering current events, but the movie’s adapted from a Tony Award-winning play and is based upon the real-life negotiations that spawned the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords. Essentially, it focuses upon a peace agreement between Palestine and Israel that’s forged between citizens of both, along with a Norwegian couple.
Fear the Walking Dead (Sunday, AMC 9:00 p.m.) — Weeks after the show brilliantly subverted Negan’s storyline, there’s a gap week here before the next episode, so expect a “Bonus Edition” of the “Mother” episode that includes some behind-the-scenes moments that weren’t previously seen.
The Chi (Sunday, Showtime 9:00 p.m.) — Emmett ‘fesses up to Tiff while Kevin and Jake are weighing their future options, and Jada’s dealing with a surprise. There’s also a podcast and a reunion coming your way.
Black Monday (Sunday, Showtime 9:55 p.m.) — Don Cheadle’s Mo Monroe (and his coke-snorting ways) keep going strong with Mo and Dawn taking a no-holds barred approach to work-life balance. Meanwhile, a near-death sexperience is in store for Blair.
Last Week Tonight (Sunday, HBO 10:00 p.m.) — Please, let John Oliver tackle Ted Cruz again.
Flatbush Misdemeanors (Sunday, Showtime 10:25 p.m.) — Kevin scores a freelance-painting job while Dan’s on the way to a birthday party, but Drew is being demanding, and Zayna’s fending off a terrible rumor.
Ziwe (Sunday, Showtime 10:53 p.m.) — Ziwe Fumudoh’s former status as a Desus & Mero writer will be no shocker for anyone who catches her new variety series. This week, Phoebe Bridgers visits to dig into allyship for minorities.
Here are some more fresh streaming picks:
Master of None: Season 3 (Netflix series) — It’s been (four) years since we’ve seen Aziz Ansari’s brainchild do its thing, and that’s not even (officially, at least) down to the pandemic. Ansari’s been largely out of the public eye following sexual misconduct allegations, although he did emerge a few years ago for an insightful comedy special that goes a long way to show that gazing inward, and this new batch of episodes proves it. Aziz takes a step behind the camera to direct in a season that he cowrote with the Emmy-winning Lena Waithe, whose character moves to the forefront.
Hacks (HBO Max series premiere) — Jean Smart’s not-so-quiet domination of recent prestige TV shows (Fargo, Watchmen, Mare of Easttown, Legion) and other popular shows of late (Big Mouth, Dirty John) has finally culminated with this leading-lady turn in a role she was arguably meant to play. Hacks hails from executive producer Michael Schur and has three Broad City alums in the writers’ room, so get ready for a (Las Vegas) buffet of complex female characters. Smart portrays a legendary comedian who forges a “dark mentorship” to a 20-something newcomer in town. Don’t miss this one.
Friends: The Reunion (HBO Max feature-length special) — The whole O.G. gang is back in one place, which means that Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Monica (Courteney Cox), Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Chandler (Matthew Perry), Ross (David Schwimmer), and Joey (Matt LeBlanc) are all here. Sadly, Paul Rudd is not on the scene, but there’s a buffay (get it?) of guest stars here to reinforce why this pop-culture phenomenon remains popular to this day, and why, oftentimes, friends can become your family.
Hacks (HBO Max series premiere) — Jean Smart’s not-so-quiet domination of recent prestige TV shows (Fargo, Watchmen, Mare of Easttown, Legion) and other popular shows of late (Big Mouth, Dirty John) has finally culminated with this leading-lady turn in a role she was arguably meant to play. Hacks hails from executive producer Michael Schur and has three Broad City alums in the writers’ room, so get ready for a (Las Vegas) buffet of complex female characters. Smart portrays a legendary comedian who forges a “dark mentorship” to a 20-something newcomer in town. Don’t miss this one.
Panic: Season 1 (Amazon Prime series) — This show’s a bit like The Purge in concept, only it revolves around a dangerous game that takes place over the course of a summer for graduating seniors in a tiny Texas town. They compete for a pot of money (while hoping to escape their tiny-town lives, of course), but the stakes are high and risky as players must confront their deepest fears. The story, which is based upon the bestselling novel by Lauren Oliver, will likely hook you, so be ready to binge.
Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K. (Hulu series) — Patton Oswalt’s indisputable knack for voice work recently managed to shock The Boys audience (that’s what happens when you “cameo” as a set of gills for the lead pervert character), and now he’s the leading man in a very adult-oriented animated series. Here, Oswalt’s portraying an egomaniacal supervillain (with a massive, unwieldy noggin) who’s struggling to balance his day job as a bad dude with family life (it happens, even to the most evil among us!). In the process, he’s gotta deal with a certain busybody named Tony Stark/Iron Man, who’s voiced by freaking Jon Hamm. Expect to hear Bill Hader, Whoopi Goldberg, Ben Schwartz, and Nathan Fillion all join the chorus as everyone on this show seems to want to push a bad man down.
The past year has been rough on all of us and while some were able to use the extended economic shutdown to be productive, others were less inspired, finding whatever they could hold onto to help them survive. Bay Area rapper/singer Rexx Life Raj falls partially into the latter category, according to a tweet thread he shared earlier this week. “Over these past months, I haven’t been able to make a lot of music,” he admitted. “But of the few I made these have been on repeat, helping me through these times.” As a gesture of appreciation to fans for their continued love and support, he released the three songs as an untitled EP.
over these past months i haven’t been able to make a lot of music. but of the few i made these have been on repeat, helping me through these times.
3 new songs out now. truly appreciate all the love and support. means the world fareal. thank you.
— solange stan account (@RexxLifeRaj) May 27, 2021
The three tracks include “Silver Linings,” on which he nods to his flaws, but resolutely holds to his virtues and reminds listeners to “check on your strong friends” over a groovy beat. On “Made A Man,” Raj recalls the struggles that have built him up and “forced me to learn to stand on my own” over an acoustic guitar sample and spacey synthesizers. Finally, on “Make It Shake,” he again uses a guitar loop to accompany another motivational anthem on which he prays “for better days, then outside and make it shake.” And despite not making much new music over the past few months, what he has made has been similarly inspirational, including “Bounty” and the encouraging “Bounce Back.”
Listen to “Made A Man,” “Make It Shake,” and “Silver Linings” above.
Of her journey from dance star to musician, McRae told our own J’Na Jefferson that she’s still settling into what kind of artist she wants to be. “The crazy thing is that I’m still trying to find my sound,” she said. “I think there are a million different ways that you can play around, and a different million different artists [to work with] that will shoot you in different directions. But I can’t really define what I do [musically]. I think it changes every month… You can do so many things nowadays.”
Today’s release is another example of how versatile McRae can be, her latest release, the gloomy ballad “Darkest Hour,” is from the Amazon series, Panic, adding TV soundtracking to her already crammed full resume. Maybe a cameo in a show is the next move for McRae after this? It seems like she’s got the relationship in place with the streaming giant to make that happen someday. Listen to her new track above.
Larry Nance can’t help but turn into a fan while discussing Chelsea, to the point that a vocal tic that all of us fans can succumb to every now and then.
“Look at me saying ‘we’ as if I’m on the team,” Nance says with a laugh as he looks back on an up-and-down season (or, probably more accurately, down-and-up) season for the London-based soccer team.
It’s hard for any Chelsea supporter to not feel some kind of extra bond to the club this year. Since sacking club legend Frank Lampard back in Jan. 25 and appointing Thomas Tuchel manager, the Blues have been flying, going from ninth at the time of Lampard’s ouster to an eventual fourth-place finish in the Premier League. Oh, and on Saturday, the team will face off against English rivals Manchester City in the Champions League final, with the winner getting to crown themselves the kings of European football.
The task will be a daunting one for Chelsea. City, the champions of the Premier League, are flying thanks to a striker-less style of football that has smothered opponents for much of the year. But in a fun twist, Chelsea have managed to take down City twice since Tuchel came on board, once in the semifinals of the FA Cup and once in the league earlier this month. It’s come with a disclaimer — City did not roll out its strongest lineup in either match — but no other team has beaten the Sky Blues twice this season. A prime example of the phrase “styles-make-fights,” City’s possession-oriented system can be stymied by solid, well-organized sides that have the ability to counter-attack, and Chelsea does this as well as anyone in the world.
Ahead of Saturday’s tilt in Porto, I, a Manchester City supporter, caught up with Nance to discuss our two teams, Chelsea’s season, what he thinks will happen on Saturday, and how his approach in the lead-up to the final has been a bit different than the one employed by fellow Chelsea fanatic Josh Hart.
What are your general thoughts on this season for Chelsea?
Gosh, I feel really good about it, actually. I was optimistic coming into the season — we spent a lot of money in the offseason, but at the same time, it was on some very talented younger players. So I didn’t expect us to win the league or anything like that, just because the average age of our XI is, what, 22 or something like that. So we’re very young, very unexperienced, but at the same time, finishing top four. Obviously hate that Frank had to be a casualty of it, but finishing top four, no matter how we got there, is always a positive thing. And the fact that we are in the Champions League final seems like … it shouldn’t be. So I’m excited about it.
And it’s fascinating that you mentioned Frank because obviously he’s a club legend, but it’s also led to something that … you don’t want to say it was for the better or anything like that, but there’s just been something about them since Thomas Tuchel has gotten in there. What has it looked like to you and what do you think has caused this success to come under him?
Man, I wish I could tell you. I do. I wish I could tell you, but the way we’ve responded … look at me saying “we” as if I’m on the team. But the way the guys have responded to Tuchel has been incredible to see. I mean, I just wish I knew a little bit more behind the scenes of what he’s really saying and doing with these guys to make them do a complete 180, it seems. Because we were … I shouldn’t say complete 180, we were having a good year before he got there, but when he got there, we just totally ramped it up and really got after it.
Yeah. And just from the outside, it seemed like there’s just this air of confidence about them. They’re walking around with their chests puffed out. They’re walking around with their heads held high. That sort of thing. And I don’t know about you, but it’s just been the most impressive part about all of this for me. Just how confident they look after the ups and downs of earlier in the year.
Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, the confidence that they’re showing is crazy. The fact that we’ve got City in the Champions League final, and I feel okay about it, is a testament to the work that he’s done and he’s put in, because earlier in the year we would play Burnley and it was like, “I don’t know. I don’t know how I feel about this one. Burnley could take all three at Stamford Bridge.” But now I’m sitting here feeling pretty good about playing City in Porto to win it all. So I mean, I have no complaints, obviously. This dude knows what he’s talking about.
And it’s always easy for a coach to look like they know what they’re talking about when they have the players. It’s that back and forth — the coach looks good when the players look good, the players look good, the coach looks good. Who are the players that you’ve been the most impressed by this year?
I mean, easy one is Mason Mount. I mean, he’s been ridiculous. Mason’s been incredible this year. You could say his growth, but just his consistency. I mean, he’s been our guy, getting us going from if we need a late equalizer or we need someone to pick up the energy off the bat or out of halftime. He’s been that guy. So just … and at what? Twenty-one years old, 22 years old? Doing that for a team like Chelsea has been just awesome.
Yeah. And then there’s the fact that he’s the guy who I think coming into the season, there were some people who were questioning whether or not he really deserved it or if he was just Lampard’s teacher’s pet, but he’s been magnificent.
Yeah, absolutely. He’s been just awesome. Answered all the critics and then some. Our midfielders as a whole have been awesome. [Mateo] Kovacic when he’s been out. [N’Golo] Kante, having him healthy has been unbelievable. Jorginho’s had a good year. I mean, I think the only other one, I should say two, that I’ve been incredibly impressed with is [Antonio] Rudiger. Rudiger’s had a great year as well, then the signing of [Edouard] Mendy has been just massive. No slight to Kepa [Arrizabalaga], but we needed some help.
So for the final, I’m going to start by making you praise my team. What are your thoughts on Manchester City?
You guys scare the hell out of me, to be honest with you. You guys scare the hell out of me. I would feel better if it were any other team in the world except maybe Bayern Munich. Just so much class from top to bottom. And I’ve actually got my fingers crossed that you start [Sergio] Aguero because I do not want to deal with Pep’s False 9. I don’t feel like dealing with that because that means [Phil] Foden and [Raheem] Sterling and [Riyad] Mahrez most likely are just terrorizing our back lines. I got my fingers crossed you start Aguero.
Funny you say that, though, because you know exactly what I’m about to say. The two teams have played twice in the last couple of months and Chelsea’s won both of those. Is that not giving you, as a fan, some amount of confidence, some amount of faith, or is it just something where you’re wiping it clean? You know an FA Cup match and a league match are a different level compared to the Champions League.
They are an entirely different game, an entirely different game. I mean the squad rotations that were involved in the league games and whatnot, I’m not buying it. I’m not buying it. I hope Chelsea isn’t buying it ,either, because this is for all the marbles. And Pep, and that team, [Kevin] de Bruyne, I just think we’d be silly to overlook that just because we won in the past. It did not mean anything.
Obviously different sports, but you guys beat a team twice before you go into your third match in a year. Do you have, just in basketball, a little more confidence, or is this something where it’s like, past results don’t mean future outcomes or anything like that?
It’s funny, there’s actually a saying that we use quite often. It’s a silly little saying, but it’s hard beating a team three times in a row.
Yeah.
Beating a team three times is tough. Now, you need to beat them twice? No problem. Once? No problem. And I feel like that’s just the rule. Beating a team three times is tough. I don’t know, it doesn’t matter if it’s the best team in the league or the worst in the league. If we won our first two match-ups and we play them again, it’s like, oh boy. This is going to be tough.
Yeah. Because it then becomes the expectation that you’re going to do it that third time.
Exactly. Everybody gets a little bit lax and just, there’s no room for that.
So the game itself, what’s just the biggest thing that you’re going to be looking out for as someone who’s watching this with your Chelsea blue shaded glasses on?
I will say the biggest thing I’m scared of is Phil Foden. I’m terrified of Foden. I think he is the best youngster in the world. I mean, unless you consider [Kylian] Mbappe. I think he’s on that level, I think he’s on that level with Mbappe, [Erling] Haaland, and I think Foden’s right there. I really do. I think he’s terrific.
But at the same time, he’s not as naturally talented or anything like that, but I have to imagine that by now, when you have someone running at Cesar Azpilicueta, you’re going to be feeling pretty good about it.
Yeah, that’s for sure. I mean he’s been rock solid. At the same time, I just think Foden’s top drawer. I really do. Yeah, he’s the one that scares me. Sterling, his year has been up and down, off and on. De Bruyne is De Bruyne. He’s going to be unbelievable, but the one that scares me is Foden. If I were a betting, man, I’d put money on him to score in this game.
The match as a whole, how do you want Chelsea to approach this entire thing?
To be honest with you, I want to see us go for it. I want to see us go for it. I mean, I think if we just sit back and let you guys do what you do, we are going to be in some serious trouble. I think if we go back on the attack as well, and then we just play our game as if we were playing … I was going to say Aston Villa, but I don’t want to use that anymore. If we were playing just a regular league game against whoever it may be.
Take the magnitude of the game out of it and just play free. Have these young guys play free and then be expressive with your game. But I think that would be our best chance instead of trying to throw some shackles of discipline on and say, “Alright, this is a big match. We’ve got to this, this, and that.” I think I’d like to see us go for it.
Yeah. I mean, you guys have so much talent that if Chelsea wants to sit back and absorb pressure and hit them on the counter, you have that. But I can’t imagine it feels good sitting there and watching Manchester City have the ball, even if you know you could go the other way in five seconds and [Christian] Pulisic puts one past Ederson.
Exactly, that’s what I mean. If this were another team, fine. Sit back and let them kind of pass it around, do their thing. But this is city, and at any given time … do we know if [Ilkay] Gundogan is going to be healthy?
He’s good.
He’s good? Yeah. It can come from anywhere with you guys.
For Chelsea, who are the players who you think are ultimately going to decide? Because to me, there is a very obvious Chelsea player who I think is going to decide this one, but I’m interested in your thoughts.
It’s one of two people, really. If Kante has a Kante game, you guys could be in trouble. You guys could be in trouble because he can dominate a game.
And then Timo Werner’s gonna have his chances. He’s going to have his chances, you know what I mean? We’ve seen it time and time again. He’s going to have his chances because he’s fast as lightening and gets into the right positions. But if he decides to take them, then it could be a great night for Chelsea fans. But if not, hopefully we go to [Olivier] Giroud pretty quickly.
Werner’s the guy that popped right into my head because there are three, four moments a game, every single game, where [Kai] Havertz, or Mount, Pulisic, [Hakim] Ziyech create chances for him and then it’s just right there in front of him. And it’s been in his head, I think. But you know as well as I do, when he gets those opportunities and he has that clear head, he’s scoring every time. That’s the avenue where I think Chelsea can win this one.
Right? I agree. I mean, it just depends. It all depends on how he approaches it. It really does. If he’s feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders, we’re in some trouble. I would love to see us, like I said, go to Giroud early if Timo is being Timo.
Yeah, and then just basically have [Giroud] lay it off to those wingers who are going to be flying around.
Exactly. Because we know Christian’s as talented is anyone. We know our wingers — Havertz, Ziyech, whoever we decide to start — we know they’re talented. We’ve got to get our number nine right.
Alright, so thoughts on what’s going to happen?
I truly believe that you guys are going to win it. I do. It’s like, you’re hoping from the Chelsea fan’s perspective, that no, we’re going to win it. But, I feel like we’re playing with house money, to be honest with you.
Exactly.
We shouldn’t be here. We shouldn’t be here, so if we don’t win, I genuinely feel like, alright, we’ll be back within the next 3-4 years. It’s alright.
Yeah, and when you guys had that big summer, I said to a friend who’s a Liverpool fan that I feel like Liverpool’s window is shutting and Chelsea’s about to open. It just feels like you guys are on the cusp of something and you’re ahead of schedule more or less.
Yes, exactly. Exactly. It feels like we’re close.
You and Josh Hart against Alex Caruso, anyone else a Manchester City fan?
In the NBA? Not that I really know of. I know AC is a big City fan. Other than that, I don’t know.
So you, Josh, and AC. How’s the banter been this week?
It’s been great. Obviously, we’re all on the same team in L.A. So, we’ve been at it quite a bit and got our little side bets and everything. So it’s been fun, it’s been fun. But at the same time, I’ve expressed to those two as well that hey, look. I’m going to play in the banter, but I don’t know. I don’t know if I feel great about it.
It was in 2010 that Willow Smith broke into the music mainstream with “Whip My Hair,” when she was just 9 years old. A lot has changed since then: She’s 20 now and she’s going in a more pop-punk direction. She recruited one of the genre’s most revered (and busy) figures, Travis Barker, to assist on her latest single, “Transparent Soul,” for which she has shared a new video today.
The clip follows two narratives, one of Willow and Barker performing the song with her band, and another of Willow encountering a mysterious figure at a show. Willow says of the clip, “I’m so happy that I got to bring these two parts of myself together, this spiritual part of myself into this pop punk angsty world that I wanted to create for the video. I’m so honored and excited for you guys to see it.”
She also previously explained why she was once hesitant to pursue her current musical direction, saying “I never felt like I could sing that kind of music because I was always trained to sing R&B and pop. I realized that it’s not my voice that can’t sing this kind of music. I was afraid to sing this kind of music because I wasn’t sure what people would think.”
Super expensive bourbon like this is an odd category. The bourbon hype machine is real and inflates prices to points of pure absurdity. Where ultra rare and old Scotch whisky reaches these price points thanks to spending three or four decades in tiny warehouses, bourbon often reaches these price points because demand outsizes supply and media/awards-circuit love create mass hysteria.
Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill, in particular, have benefitted from this level of hype. A bottle of Pappy 15, for instance, has an MSRP (suggested retail price) of $119. That bottle is selling for $3,000 on Drizly right now. Arguably, there are bottles of $100 bourbon that still actually cost $100 that are just as good as, if not better, than Pappy 15.
The point of all of this is to say that the below bottles are, yes, very very expensive. They’re also all very good, unique, and special. Are they $1000 special? That’s on you to decide. If you do want to drop a house payment on one of these bottles, click on the price links!
This juice is distilled from Kentucky corn, Minnesota rye, and a touch of malted barley from North Dakota. The whiskey then spent 15 years and four months in oak in three different warehouses on three different floors at Buffalo Trace’s old campus. Over that time, 59 percent of the whiskey is lost to the angels.
Tasting Notes:
Spicy cinnamon and oakiness dominate on the nose. The sip leans into the oak with a smoky edge as the spice really warms your senses. This is an eye-opener of a sip with an underbelly of rich and creamy vanilla to mellow the dram out. A little water reveals light cherry and a note of bitterness. The sip lingers. The fade is warming, soft, and long.
Bottom Line:
This is a bold bourbon. Too bold, for this whiskey writer. That doesn’t mean I don’t get why people love this dram. It’s for the whiskey drinkers who need that punch in the face to feel something.
Pour it over a couple of deep-frozen rocks for the best experience.
This is basically Pappy at ten years old but not “technically” Pappy. Semantics aside, this is the same juice as the 15, 20, and 23-yo expressions. The main difference here is the age, of course, and the proof. This goes into the bottle with only a touch of limestone water, keeping it close to barrel proof.
Tasting Notes:
This expression has those spicy and nutty apple pie filling notes with a hint of vanilla and oak that are subtly sweet. There’s a bit of honey on the tongue that counters a mild peppery spice with more caramel, vanilla, apples, and dark spices. There’s a warmth that’s welcoming and holds as the sip fades back, replaying those flavor notes.
Bottom Line:
If you’re a collector, then this is your entry point bottle into the Pappy line. The juice is great. But what you’re really paying for here is an investment for your vault.
This bottle from the famed wheated bourbon Weller line is a look into the beauty of that brand. The single barrels are hand-picked from the Buffalo Trace warehouses for their deep flavor and texture. Then that soft Kentucky limestone water is added to help make this an incredibly accessible sip of whiskey.
Tasting Notes:
You’re drawn in with this mix of ripe cherry and dark chocolate with an almost brandied center next to a hint of booze-soaked mint leaves. A mild note of discarded vanilla husks pops up that leads towards a dark chocolate thin mint with a touch of cappuccino dusted with cinnamon. The end is long and warming as it leans into the spice.
Bottom Line:
This is the sort of expression you only really spend this much money on if you’re looking to complete your Weller collection. It’s a damn fine wheated bourbon, for sure, but really functions mostly as a collectible now.
This wheated whiskey from 2008 eschews the more common rye and adds in North Dakota wheat. The juice is then barreled and stored in two warehouses where 73 percent of the whiskey is lost to the air and elements. The juice is then bottled untouched and unfiltered.
Tasting Notes:
There’s soft bourbon vanilla that leads towards almond-encrusted toffees inside a pine box with a dark chocolate bonbon hidden somewhere inside all that nutty toffee. The sip leans into a cherry and dark chocolate bespeckled ice cream with a solid vanilla bean base and a dusting of crushed-up walnuts and maybe even peanut. The end is slightly dry and leans more towards cedar and straw with spicy cherry tobacco buzz.
Bottom Line:
This is one of those bourbons that’d be at the top of every single $100 bourbon list. It really is just a wonderful dram that someone how pulls off being both one of the tastiest and easiest-drinking bourbons while also being one of the highest proof whiskeys on the shelf.
This Heaven Hill release is an orphan barrel from Old Fitzgerald’s nearly extinct stocks. The juice is a blend of 12 barrels (from the old Stitzel-Weller distillery) that Heaven Hill inherited when they bought Old Fitz. They aged the whiskey for 20 years, vatted the barrels, cut the juice down to proof, and then bottled it in a unique decanter. Only 3,000 bottles were made.
Tasting Notes:
There’s an almost sherry vibe to the sip, with stewed plums swimming in dark holiday spices next to a slight salted caramel with a creamy vanilla base. The taste leans into the dried fruit and eggnog spices as a touch of bitter dark chocolate arrives with a hint of almost smoked plums nestled in cedar boxes full of brittle, dried tobacco. The end is long yet very silky with a mild dry nuttiness and a slight return to the stewed plums and savory caramel.
Bottom Line:
If you’re lucky enough to come across this bottle, then you’re in for a treat. This is a real gem and a real bourbon rarity. There aren’t going to be any more of these.
This is an interesting wheated bourbon. The “Lot B” moniker on the label denotes that these barrels hit their mark at 12 years and weren’t going to hit the right taste marks for the 15, 20, and 23-year-old expressions. So instead of aging further, they were cut with that soft Kentucky limestone water to bring them down to a manageable 90.4 proof, then bottled.
Tasting Notes:
There’s an orchard fruit sweetness on the nose not unlike a spiced apple pie filling, laden with brown sugar. The palate builds on that by adding in walnuts, dried fruits, and a hint of salted caramel by way of vanilla pudding. The end is medium-length with a hint of oak next to the spices, fruit, and sweet vanilla.
Bottom Line:
This is another bourbon that lives up to the hype in the flavor department. It’s really goddamn tasty. But that price means it’s almost always relegated to the vaults of collectors and not home bars. That’s a shame for a bottle this tasty.
Eagle Rare is largely the same juice as George T. Stagg. Except these barrels spend 18 years and three months in Warehouse P on the first floor, where the juice loses 59 percent of its volume. The bourbon is then blended, filtered, and bottled at a very accessible 101 proof.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a matrix of cherries, vanilla, and oak up front. The sip delivers on those promises with the addition of caramel sweetness, oaky spice, and a touch of espresso bean bitterness with the application of a few drops of water. A slight pepper warmth arrives late as the oak lingers on the slow and gentle fade, leaving you with a mix of spicy cherry pie filling, fresh tobacco leaf buzz, and a hint of green straw.
Bottom Line:
This is an easy bourbon to love at retail. For this price, it’s a little harder to really adore, especially when you can get a bottle of Eagle Rare 10 (which is great) for less than $50…
Parker’s Heritage Collection: Promise Of Hope Bourbon
This yearly release from Heaven Hill is, indeed, rare. The edition from 2013 was a personal mission for Parker Beam. He selected 100 barrels of high-rye bourbons that are at least ten years old for this expression. Those barrels were married and then proofed down to a very accessible 96 proof.
Tasting Notes:
Imagine a still-warm apple pie full of spices, brown sugar, buttery crust, walnuts, and maybe even a raisin or two topped with the richest vanilla ice cream scoop you’ve ever had and you’ll be on the right track. This smells and tastes like home on a summer day with that perfect apple pie vibe that mellows towards a stack of pancakes smothered in browned butter and maple syrup as a note of tobacco chew warms up the back of your throat. The end is very long and full of a sweet maple syrup tobacco buzz.
Bottom Line:
These are getting pretty far and few between these days. If you’re collecting all the Parker’s Heritage bottles, this is a centerpiece expression.
Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Amaranth “Grain of the Gods” Bourbon
E.H. Taylor, Jr. whiskeys are where Buffalo Trace really plays around with the format of bourbon and rye. In this case, they’ve replaced the rye in the mash with Mexican amaranth grains, which bring a unique foundation of flavors to the bourbon.
Tasting Notes:
There’s an almost green cherry fruitiness next to a strong mint tea cut with floral honey on the nose. That mint tea starts to lean into a black tea bitterness as rich vanilla oils from the barrel arrive with a soft edge while a hint of red berries, more honey, and a touch of cedar linger on the tongue. The end is pretty short all things considered, with the floral notes leading towards a minty tobacco chew.
Bottom Line:
This is a pretty special dram thanks to that amaranth in the mash. Does that make it worth nearly $1,000? Probably not. Still, this is very unique and particularly well crafted.
This release from Dixon Dedman “celebrated” the 100th anniversary of the Volstead Act that outlawed alcohol in America. The juice was painstakingly hand-selected from sourced barrels by Dedman. The barrels were between 12 and 17 years old and only yielded 2,000 bottles.
Tasting Notes:
The nose on this bourbon dances between candied orange peels, salted caramel drizzle, brittle toffees encrusted with roasted almonds, a dash of vanilla, and a hint of soft cherry wood. The palate is so well-rounded, it’ll leave you kind of speechless. The subtle eggnog spices mingle with the rich creamy nature of the vanilla custard while the orange reminds you it’s there in the background with a plush, almost cashmere-feel to the whole sip. The end leans into the spices and citrus and leaves you with the warmest of Kentucky hugs.
Bottom Line:
This is dialed bourbon to its core. While this is very rare and very collectible, it’d almost be a shame not to crack it open and spend the next few years celebrating birthdays, holidays, and big events with it. Don’t let it get dusty on the shelf. Enjoy it!
As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.
After slightly opened the door to returning to Star Wars in the wake of his comments calling out the franchise for failing its POC characters in the sequel trilogy, John Boyega is now signaling that he’d come back for another live-action film if the proper people are involved. In a new Twitter video posted by the user Palpamemes, Boyega reveals his conditions for reprising the role of Finn, which would require the involvement of the head of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy and director J.J. Abrams. Boyega also mentions the “team,” and it’s open to debate whether he’s referring to Daisy Ridley and Oscar Isaac reprising their roles as Rey and Poe, or the overall creative team from the sequel trilogy.
“Whichever way, I am open to the conversation as long as it is Kathleen, J.J., and maybe someone else and the team, it’s a no-brainer,” Boyega said via Entertainment Weekly.
It’s notable that Boyega mentions Kennedy because shortly after he criticized Star Wars for failing the characters of Finn and Rose, Boyega revealed that he had a “very honest” and “transparent” discussion with a top Disney exec. That exec was later revealed to be Kennedy, so it’s significant that Boyega says he’d be open to returning to Star Wars if she’s involved. Clearly, their conversation was as productive as Boyega described.
Of course, Star Wars fans are sure to latch onto the fact that Boyega specifically mentioned coming back to work with Abrams and not Rian Johnson. However, this development isn’t entirely surprising. Back in 2019, Boyega shared his honest feelings on The Last Jedi and said it felt “a bit iffy for me.” In an interview with Hypebeast, the actor said he personally told Johnson, “I pretty much fundamentally disagree with every choice you’ve made for this character.” So this latest slight by Boyega could end up being more fuel for the online flame war that continues to rage over Star Wars.
Seven children survived a car crash in El Centro, California in 2018, but tragically, their parents did not. It was another devastating moment in the lives of the children who had been raised in and out of homeless shelters because their parents were addicts.
A few months later, a ray of hope shone in their lives when they were the focus of a segment on foster children on CBS 8 News in San Diego. The emotional segment went viral and Pam Willis, 50, watched it several times on Facebook.
“I can’t explain it — I just knew I was supposed to be their mom,” Pam told Today Parents.
She even tagged her husband in the comments.
via Facebook
At the time, the Willis’ fifth and youngest child was a senior in high school and the couple were about to be empty-nesters. “I saw seven and thought ‘oh my goodness.’ The first thing I thought of was, ‘No one’s going to have room for them.’ And the second thing I thought was ‘I have room for them,” she told CBS.
“I thought Gary was going to tell me I was wacko — we were getting ready to retire,” Pam admitted. But, after seeing the video, Gary felt the same way.
7 siblings who survived a crash which killed their parents celebrate first Mother’s Day
Pam called the adoption agency and it said they had already received thousands of requests to foster the children. Two months later, Pam and Gay were matched with Adelino, 15, Ruby, 13, Aleecia, 9, Anthony, 8, Aubriella, 7, Leo, 5, and Xander, 4.
During the screening process, the Willis family learned the children had endured a lot of trauma during their chaotic upbringing and still had psychological and physical scars from the accident.
The older children were reluctant to form a bond initially.
“It was easy to connect with the little ones. They were just desperately craving permanency,” Pam said. “The older two were a little trickier.”
“I think they didn’t quite trust that we were real. Like maybe we were going to go away,” Pam said. “I think it’s so hard to trust when so much has been taken from your life. Ruby didn’t know how to be a kid. She had to be a mother figure at a very young age.”
But last August, the adoption was final and the seven children had a virtual adoption ceremony with their new siblings, Matthew, 32, Andrew, 30, Alexa, 27, Sophia, 23, and Sam, 20.
The oldest child, Adelino, is grateful for his new parents.
“Thank you for everything,” he said. “You took us out of a really difficult, difficult time and honestly, I probably wouldn’t have been here now if it weren’t for you guys. Thank you.”
After the adoption, Pam and Gary’s oldest daughter made an Instagram video about the couple that went viral, even catching the attention of actor Kristen Bell who shared it on her page.
Pam hopes that her story will inspire others to foster and adopt children, too.
“There are so many children in need of homes – as you know from doing your stories – and I feel this huge responsibility to make people aware of that,” Pam said. “I think it’s a whole world people don’t understand or know, but if they did – would have a heart for it.”
The internet can be a complicated place, but when you dig beneath social media’s problematic elements, there are so many gems of joy to be found. From personal triumphs to adorable animal encounters to delightful moments caught on film, here are 10 things guaranteed to bring a smile to your face this week.
1. Woman celebrates becoming a published author at age 83.
Mary V. Macauley said she couldn’t even send an email a short time ago, and now she’s officially a published author in her ninth decade of life. It’s never too late to follow your dreams, kids. (You can find her book “Free to Be Me” here.)
I am now a published author at 83.
Not too long ago, I couldn’t even send an email.
Very proud of myself!
— Mary V. Macauley (author at 83) (@MaryVMacauley) 1621957143.0
2. Daughter surprises her parents with her optometry school acceptance letter, and their reaction is priceless.
Her dad reading “Dear Gurjiv, COMMA” is just pure delight. So much joy in this family.
so i told my parents we were making a video for extra credit but what they actually read was my first acceptance in… https://t.co/sMfUVsnO8o
4. Groom swats his bride’s face mid-wedding ceremony, and it’s actually hilariously sweet.
He was saving her from a bee! His expression after the instinctual swat is precious, their mutual laughter is adorable, and the officiant’s “There was a bee” clarification for the people in the back is just perfectly timed.
5. Woman shared a sweet story of beloved children’s author Eric Carle’s unexpected response to her missing cat poster.
Eric Carle, the creator of more than 70 children’s books including “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” didn’t just help a stranger look for her cat, but also supported her emotionally through the whole ordeal. She didn’t find out until afterward that the kind man who had helped her was famous children’s author. (Read the whole story here.)
Lara B. Sharp
6. The same judge who gave a drug dealer a second chance swears him in as a lawyer 16 years later.
Judge Todd Russell Perkins saw something in Edward Martell when he showed up to his court as a drug dealer 16 years ago. Martell got his life together and became a lawyer this month—a beautiful story of second chances and redemption. (Read the whole story here.)
7. Disabled man celebrates overcoming obstacles to achieve independent living
Reddit user u/A-a-ron98 shared his celebratory announcement that he’d moved into his own place, living 100% independently. “Adulting” is hard for many, but for people with disabilities, being able to live independently can be a significant challenge. The support on Reddit for this win was beautiful to see (in addition to the education of folks who didn’t understand that a disabled person can have a job.)
8. A woman who died at age 97 had her fudge recipe engraved on her tombstone.
There are people who take their secret recipes to their graves, and then there’s Kathryn Andrews, who had her fudge recipe engraved on hers. “She really loved people,” her family said. “She would take fudge whenever people got together.” Gonna have to try out this recipe now! (Read the whole story here.)
10. Microscopic image shows that grass is always happy to see us.
Okay, so they’re actually “vascular bundles” that look like they’re smiling at us, but still. How fun is this? The image originally came from naturalist Phil Gates, who shares wonders of the microscopic world on his blog “Beyond the Human Eye,” and was shared by computational biologist Dr. Bethany Nichols on Twitter. Amazing.
This is what a blade of grass looks like under a microscope. Next time you take a walk outside, know that the grass… https://t.co/pSbS4QW4ua
— Bethany Nichols 🌿 Fronds with Benefits (@DrBethNichols) 1621853852.0
As we work on our individual and collective challenges, let’s also remember to celebrate the best of humanity wherever we see it. Joy is energizing, and the more we focus on what’s good in the world, the more vitality and strength we’ll have to confront the problems that need fixing to make it a better place for everyone.
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