Month: August 2021

We’re in the midst of an alcohol renaissance in America. Fans of beer have over 8,000 breweries to choose from (compare that to a decade ago when there were less than 2,000). Spirits drinkers have over 2,000 distilleries, including more than 700 that primarily make bourbon and other types of whiskey. In the simplest terms — we have a lot of options when we drink.

This boom in whiskey — and even more specifically, bourbon — has led to states not normally associated with certain spirits surging to the forefront of the conversation. Texas is the perfect example, leading the craft spirits charge with the likes of Garrison Brothers, Firestone & Robertson, Still Austin, and Balcones. While Garrison Brothers was technically the first Texas bourbon, back in 2006, it’s hard to argue that Balcones isn’t the most well-known. Founded in 2009, the Waco, Texas-based distillery uses copper pot stills and often employs heritage blue corn to create Texas single malts and other award-winning whiskies.

With seven expressions on its “classics” collection (as well as the well-known Balcones Texas Blue Corn Bourbon), Balcones has something for every whisky drinker. There’s a smoky whisky, a sweet single malt, a rye whisky, and some of the best bourbon made outside of the Blue Grass State.

So which should you try first? That’s where the blind taste test comes in. Today, I’m nosing, tasting, and ranking the following:

• Balcones Baby Blue
• Balcones Lineage
• Balcones Texas Single Malt
• Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon
• Balcones Texas Blue Corn Bourbon
• Balcones Texas Rye
• Balcones True Blue
• Balcones Brimstone

Let’s get this Texas whisky party started! Click on the prices if you’re interested in trying any of these yourself.

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of 2021

• Our Favorite Bourbon Whiskey From Every Price Point Between $10-$200
• All 19 Brands From The Buffalo Trace Distillery, Ranked
• Here’s Who Won Our Big Barrel Proof Bourbon Whiskey Blind Taste Test
• We Tasted Eight Texas Bourbons Blind And Ranked Them According To Taste
• The Best Bourbon Whiskeys To Drink Neat, From $50 On Up

Part 1: The Taste

Taste 1:

Tasting Notes:

There’s a fair amount of oaky aroma on the nose that’s followed closely behind by sweet corn, caramel apples, and slight spice. The palate revealed a nutty sweetness along with more oak, sweet honey, pipe tobacco, and more caramel corn.

Overall, this is a highly sippable, sweet, rich whiskey.

Taste 2:

Tasting Notes:

At first sniff, the nose is a bit bland. There are hints of raisins, wood char, and slight vanilla, but not much else. Tasting it revealed a surprising nutty flavor along with toasted marshmallows and more oak. It’s not a bad whiskey by any means, but not all that exciting either.

Taste 3:

Tasting Notes:

I’m going to assume that this is the one rye whiskey on the list, as I was immediately struck with fragrances of peppery rye on the nose. This was followed by caramelized sugar and vanilla beans. The palate proved surprisingly light with charred oak, cracked black pepper, and pipe tobacco.

Overall, this is an okay whiskey but nothing to write home about.

Taste 4:

Tasting Notes:

A lot is going on with this expression. I noticed hints of sweet corn, caramel candy, butterscotch, vanilla, and dried fruits. Upon sipping it, I found notable favors of dried orange peel, caramel corn, treacle, and just a hint of spice and oak at the finish. Overall, this is a very complex, highly drinkable whiskey.

Taste 5:

Tasting Notes:

This whiskey’s nose is extremely fruity with hints of ripe berries, dried cherries, and raisins. There’s also a wallop of cinnamon and light corn aroma. Complex flavors of chocolate fudge, sweet corn, oaky wood, and vanilla are present on the palate. The finish is warming, fruity, and sweet.

Taste 6:

Tasting Notes:

This whiskey has a potent nose. There are hints of candied pecans, butterscotch, wood char, vanilla beans, and raisins. The plate is loaded with sticky toffee, vanilla frosting, brown sugar, and slight cinnamon spice. It’s warming, sweet, and rich.

Taste 7:

Tasting Notes:

Oh, boy is this an aggressive whiskey. The nose is like being engulfed in a campfire. That’s about it. There’s a little more going on with the flavor. Sure, the smoky flavor runs throughout, but there are also notes of caramel, vanilla, and dried cherries. The finish is all smoke.

Taste 8:

Tasting Notes:

The nose is all sweet corn. There are hints of caramel corn and subtle spices as well, but not much else. There’s a little more in the palate with the addition of caramel candy, butterscotch, sweet corn, and dried fruits. Overall, not a very complex whiskey.

From my notes: “tastes more like moonshine than an aged whiskey.”

Part 2: The Ranking

8) Balcones Baby Blue (Taste 8)

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $40

The Whisky:

If you’ve only tried one Balcones whisky, it’s probably Baby Blue. The first Texas-made whisky to hit the market since prohibition, Baby Blue is made with roasted blue corn. It’s a very young bourbon (hence the name) and isn’t as nuanced and complex as many of the brand’s other offerings.

Bottom Line:

I’d be surprised if this isn’t the youngest whisky on this list. It wasn’t a bad sip by any account, it just didn’t taste as mature as the others.

7) Balcones Texas Single Malt (Taste 2)

ABV: 53%

Average Price: $69

The Whisky:

If you’re a Scotch drinker, this is the closest you’re going to get in the Balcones range. This non-chill filtered whisky is made from 100 percent malted barley, copper pot distilled, and is aged for two years in American oak barrels. The result is rich, nutty, sweet whisky.

Bottom Line:

There’s a richness and nuttiness to this whisky that makes it pleasurable to sip, but it’s not as exciting as I would hope from such a renowned distillery.

6) Balcones Texas Rye (Taste 3)

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $39

The Whisky:

Obviously, Balcones is most well-known for its bourbon so it should come as no surprise that it only makes one year-round rye. Distilled using Texas-grown Elbon Rye, this whisky was first produced to celebrate the distillery’s tenth anniversary. It’s aged in a combination of new and charred American oak casks.

Bottom Line:

If you’re looking for a simple, easy to sip, subtly peppery sipper without much else going on, this is a great whisky for you. If you’re looking for something more potent with a more complicated flavor profile, try something else from the brand.

5) Balcones Brimstone (Taste 7)

ABV: 53%

Average Price: $54

The Whisky:

With a name like Brimstone, you pretty much know what you’re in for when you take a sip of this unique whisky. This smoked corn whisky is just that — supremely smoky. It gets its bold flavor from smoking using “sun-baked” Texas scrub oak. The result is a whisky that bridges the gap between Texas and Scotland.

Bottom Line:

If you don’t enjoy smoky whiskies, don’t open a bottle of this expression. It’s like sticking your head inside a barbecue smoker and taking a sip of the air. If you enjoy that (and some do!), you’ll love this.

4) Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon (Taste 1)

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $30

The Whisky:

This is an interesting bourbon. Made with New Mexico blue corn, Texas wheat, and Texas malted barley, this pot still distilled bourbon is matured on new, charred American oak barrels. It’s bottled at 92 proof and is well-known for its sweet corn and caramel flavors.

Bottom Line:

This is one of the most interesting whiskies on this list. It has complex yet simple flavors. Corn is at the forefront, but there’s enough going on to keep it from being one-dimensional.

3) Balcones Texas Blue Corn Bourbon (Taste 4)

ABV: 64.9%

Average Price: $54

The Whisky:

One of the most sought-after expressions from Balcones, Texas Blue Corn Bourbon is an annual release from the distillery. It’s cask strength, bold, and rich. It tastes the way you’d expect a Texas-based bourbon to taste — potent and BIG.

Bottom Line:

This is a great sipper that’s so filled with flavors that it’ll take you multiple tastings to find them all. Subtly spicy, very smooth, and somewhat beguiling thanks to the blue corn, this is a truly memorable bottle.

2) Balcones Lineage (Taste 6)

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $40

The Whisky:

This is a truly global single malt whisky. It’s made using both local barley as well as Simpsons Golden Promise malts from Scotland. It’s distilled in a copper pot still before being aged in a combination of new and refilled American oak barrels.

Bottom Line:

This whisky has everything you’d want in a nice, end of summer or early fall sipper. It’s rich, sweet, and has notable oak and nutty flavors that leave you wanting more.

1) Balcones True Blue (Taste 5)

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $54

The Whisky:

This is like the ramped-up version of Balcones Baby Blue. It’s a 100 proof, bold blue corn whisky. Perfectly suited for mixing or slow-sipping, it’s fruity, slightly spicy, and filled with complex corn notes. It might carry the less-than-respected moniker of a “corn whisky,” but it’s so much more than that.

Bottom Line:

This is the richest, most complex whisky I’ve tried today. It has a nice kick of roasted corn that plays well with various other flavors like butterscotch and spicy cinnamon.

As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

In the aughts, Ann Coulter was one of the great béte noires of the far right, always willing to go farther than most in saying shocking and offensive things. She still does that, but then, so does almost everyone in her party. So how does one stick out in this pugilistic times? By calling Trump mean names and praising Joe Biden. A week after Alex Jones dared call the 45th president a “dumbass” over his (admittedly half-assed) promotion of COVID vaccines, Coulter has gone even further.

The GOP has spent the last two weeks up in arms about Biden withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, following a rollercoaster last 20 years, which ended with things pretty much the same as they were when American troops arrived. Biden has held steadfast on his decision, even as Republicans have called for his impeachment. It’s a complex situation, and even those on the left have been critical of how it’s been handled. But one person who unequivocally thinks he did the right thing: Ann freakin’ Coulter.

“Trump REPEATEDLY demanded that we bring our soldiers home, but only President Biden had the balls to do it,” she tweeted. She than posted screengrabs of “a few of Trump’s wuss, B.S. – I mean ‘masterful’ – tweets,” all from 2020 and 2019, and each of them about bringing soldiers home.

Keep in mind, Coulter’s reasons for supporting Biden — on this and pretty much definitely this alone — are probably not the reasons others have, nor would want to have. But even though her schtick is shock, this one legitimately threw her many, many detractors of a loop.

Many weren’t sure how to feel about agreeing with someone who once advocated taking away women’s right to vote because so many vote Democrat.

Some wondered if she’s been possessed.

Mind you, this is far from the first time Coulter has gone to the other side. She slammed Trump in 2019, when he shut down the government in the middle of a hissy fit over his Southern border wall. And last year, about a month before he lost re-election, Coulter joined Democrats in excoriating him for skirting on his taxes. But don’t worry, she’ll be back to saying stuff no one outside the farthest right circles agrees with. In other words, you almost certainly will never have to welcome her to the resistance.

Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.

Whatever you might be into, each August brings a new slew of vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of our favorite vinyl releases of August below.

Billie Eilish — Happier Than Ever

Billie Eilish had a lot riding on her second album, and so far, she has delivered. It has spent multiple weeks at No. 1, spawned hit singles like “Therefore I Am” and “My Future,” and has otherwise kept Eilish in the conversation as one of music’s finest. The vinyl edition of the album is one you can feel environmentally good about owning, too, as it’s pressed on 100-percent recycled vinyl.

Get it here.

The Beach Boys — Feel Flows: The Sunflower And Surf’s Up Sessions 1969-1971

The Beach Boys’ defining output came in the mid-’60s, but now they’re honoring a pair of their also-excellent early-’70s albums, Sunflower and Surf’s Up, with a giant new box set. There are 135 tracks in total, with 108 of them being previously unreleased tracks, live recordings, demos, alternate versions/mixes, instrumentals, and a capella tracks.

Get it here.

Foxing — Draw Down The Moon

Draw Down The Moon marked a change in direction for Foxing, who embrace genres like pop and rock like they never really have before in their mostly emo-leaning discography. Now, one of the year’s finer rock albums is available pressed on lovely yellow, blue, and green vinyl, which also comes with a 24-inch by 36-inch poster.

Get it here.

The Knife — Deep Cuts (20th Anniversary Reissue)

The Knife enjoyed a tremendous run as a beloved electronic act in the 200)s, and while they broke up in 2014, they’re celebrating their 2001 sophomore album Deep Cuts. As the record turns 20 years old, it has gotten a limited edition reissue pressed on magenta vinyl, which pairs gorgeously with the colorful album art.

Get it here.

Olivia Rodrigo — Sour

Earlier this month, Rodrigo shared a video of herself in awe as she examined the vinyl edition of Sour for the first time. It turns out that’s an experience a lot of her fans replicated, as Sour had not just the biggest vinyl sales week of 2021 so far, but the second-largest of the past 30 years. So, if you don’t already have this one, the market has shown that it’s worth picking up.

Get it here.

Various Artists — Another Side Of John Coltrane

John Coltrane is a headlining act without question, but throughout his career, he also played a supporting role on works by fellow jazz greats like Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, and Sonny Rollins. Now some of those collaborations have been compiled on Another Side Of John Coltrane, which is available digitally. The 2-LP set, though, has the whole package, as it includes two vinyl-exclusive songs: “Nutty” (from Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane) and “Birks’ Works” (from Soul Junction by the Red Garland Quintet featuring Coltrane and Donald Byrd).

Get it here.

LCD Soundsystem — The Long Goodbye: LCD Soundsystem Live At Madison Square Garden (10th Anniversary Reissue)

It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since LCD Soundsystem’s “farewell” show (which of course preceded the band’s reunion). Now the soundtrack album is back in print as an expansive vinyl edition, made up of five LPs, a print of the original concert poster, and a 10.5-inch by 7-inch full-bleed risograph photo print by longtime band photographer Ruvan Wijesooriya.

Get it here.

Wu-Tang Clan — Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (Reissue)

Enter The Wu-Tang has gone down as one of hip-hop’s most important and influential albums, and now it has gotten a shiny new reissue via the fine record purveyors at Vinyl Me, Please. Pressed on “gold galaxy”-colored vinyl, this edition comes accompanied by an art print as well as a listening notes booklet.

Get it here.

Public Enemy — Fear Of A Black Planet (Reissue)

Vinyl Me, Please was on fire this month, especially in the hip-hop department. They’ve also dropped a new edition of the Public Enemy classic Fear Of A Black Planet, and this version of the group’s biggest release comes pressed on sharp-looking blue and brown vinyl — or “Us and the Damned”-colored, as VMP puts it.

Get it here.

Big Red Machine — How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?

Big Red Machine is built on collaboration, as the core of the project is the coming together of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and The National’s Aaron Dessner. On top of that, the duo’s latest album also brings into the fold Taylor Swift, Fleet Foxes, Sharon Van Etten, and a host of others, and now they’re all available together on vinyl.

Get it here.

Spice Girls — Wannabe25

Spice Girls know what you want (what you really, really want): They’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of their hit single “Wannabe” with a new limited-edition EP, Wannabe25. Aside from the original 1996 single, this vinyl release also includes a remix of the song by Junior Vasquez (which was originally a bonus track on the 1996 “2 Become 1” CD single), the original demo of the song, and a demo of a previously unreleased track called “Feed Your Love.”

Get it here.

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

Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels, but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.

Every week, Uproxx is rounding up the best new indie music from the past seven days. This week we got the return of My Morning Jacket, the anticipated, Taylor Swift-featuring new album from Big Red Machine, and a roaring, adventurous LP from hardcore heroes Turnstile. Check out the rest of the best new indie music below.

While we’re at it, sign up for our newsletter to get the best new indie music delivered directly to your inbox, every Monday.

Big Red Machine – How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?

On their second collaborative effort under the name Big Red Machine, Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon gathered up a collective of their best musical friends (including Taylor Swift) to create a lengthy, sweeping and introspective LP. All told, How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last is “some of the most approachable and pop-oriented material that Dessner or Vernon have ever produced,” writes Steven Hyden for Uproxx.

Chvrches – Screen Violence

Chvrches certainly aren’t the first band to make a record about the perils of the technology age. But few bands do it quite as well as Chvrches on their latest album Screen Violence. The album is a collection of ten electro-pop gems that Rachel Brodsky calls for Uproxx “some of the catchiest tracks of Chvrches’ career,” channeling horror movies and dark imagery to illustrate the dark underbelly of instant and constant connectivity.

Turnstile – Glow On

Turnstile’s major label debut, Time & Space, gave us a glimpse at what the Baltimore hardcore outfit was capable of, incorporating different genre elements for one of the most unique and exciting punk records of recent memory. Fast forward three years and the quintet’s latest effort, Glow On, has raised the bar once again. Featuring 808s, slick riffs, and not one but two appearances from Blood Orange, Glow On is in a world of its own, sonically and aesthetically.

Indigo De Souza – Any Shape You Take

After her self-released debut album won her slots on tours with the likes of Alex G, Beach Bunny, and more, Indigo De Souza returned to the studio with a newfound sense of purpose and direction. Any Shape You Take feels in many ways like a culminating moment, with De Souza fearlessly pushing boundaries and relaying her journey of self-discovery in a direct and approachable way.

Steve Gunn – Other You

Once named an “indie guitar god” by our very own Steven Hyden, Steve Gunn is back with his sixth studio album. Other You allows Gunn to explore the full spectrum of his musical sensibilities, featuring everything from atmospheric melodies to subdued ballads. Arriving just two years after 2019’s excellent The Unseen In Between, Gunn’s latest serves as another reminder why he’s one of indie’s true power players.

Gorillaz – Meanwhile EP

After inserting some new tracks into their setlist during their 20th anniversary celebration earlier this month, Gorillaz have shared the studio versions in the form of the three-track Meanwhile EP. The first track is also the title track, featuring Jelani Blackman with Barrington Levy, followed by “Jimmy Jimmy” featuring AJ Tracey, and finally a live recording of “Déjà Vu” featuring dancehall performer Alicaì Harley.

My Morning Jacket – “Regularly Scheduled Programming”

After sharing The Waterfall II last year, My Morning Jacket have returned with the announcement of their ninth, self-titled studio album. Along with the new album news came the expansive single “Regularly Scheduled Programming,” which Jim James described in a statement as a response to the overwhelming “need to help each other wake up to real love before it’s too late.”

Porches – “Lately”

The new album from Porches (aka Aaron Maine) still isn’t due for about a month, but the New York artist has been steadily rolling out music to tide fans over. “Lately” is one of Maine’s most straightforward rock-focused tracks in recent memory, though he does make sure to put his vocal through a melodic layer of autotune. The new track continues to set the stage nicely for the forthcoming All Day Gentle Hold !, which Maine said in a statement is “injected with as much love, urgency, and lust for humanity as I possibly could.”

Blackstarkids – “Fight Club”

Blackstarkids are awesome. Fresh on the heels of their excellent 2020 project Whatever, Man, the trio is now readying their proper debut album. Puppies Forever still doesn’t have a release date, but “Fight Club” is another entrancing track to keep us engaged. Featuring all three members trading verses over an homemade beat, “Fight Club” is another shining example of why Blackstarkids are a group to watch in 2021.

Scruffpuppie – “Assignment Song”

Phoebe Bridgers has been picking up all of the best and brightest indie rockers for her Saddest Factory label imprint over the last few months. The latest addition to the roster is Scruffpuppie, aka 20-year-old singer and songwriter JJ Shurbet. The announcement of Shurbet’s signing comes with “Assignment Song,” a power pop barn burner that opens with a subdued lone guitar before adding in a full band to complement Shurbet’s fuzzy vocal performance.

Hand Habits – “No Different”

With the new album Fun House due in two months, Meg Duffy has shared “No Different,” a reverb-soaked folk song with a chorus that feels reminiscent of the most melodic, harmony-focused moments of Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young’s early output. As with many of Duffy’s songs, “No Different” boasts a gorgeous sonic facade to disguise a track about loss, romantic longing, and childhood trauma.

Soul Blind – “Third Chain”

Hudson Valley, New York rockers Soul Blind have signed to Other People Records, who will release their new three-track EP Third Chain in September. The announcement arrives with the EP’s title track, a storming 90’s-indebted alternative rocker that has everything: drawling vocals, distorted guitars, and pummeling percussion.

Geese – “Low Era”

After garnering quite a bit of buzz, Brooklyn outfit Geese have officially announced their debut album, Projector, and shared the official lead single “Low Era.” Where many of the band’s tracks are a bit darker and heavier, “Low Era” takes a lighter approach for a four-on-the-floor dance number. “Once we stopped enforcing certain boundaries, it ended up working out without us expecting it to, and even ushered in this psychedelic 3-D element that ends up appearing throughout the album,” the band said in a statement.

Mini Trees – “Cracks In The Pavement”

Recent Run For Cover signees Mini Trees (aka Lexi Vega) are currently prepping Always In Motion, their first album for the label. “Cracks In The Pavement” is a gorgeous indie pop number that shows Vega’s knack for writing songs that evolve and morph through different styles and tones. According to Vega in a statement, the song’s lyrics detail “a realization that the grass isn’t always greener, and that the discontentment I needed to confront was internal rather than circumstantial.”

Gully Boys – “The Way”

Minneapolis trio Gully Boys cite influences like No Doubt and Hole, and you can definitely hear it on their latest track, “The Way.” Featuring roaring vocals and an impressive modulated guitar solo that brings new life to the nostalgic sounds of ‘90s grunge for a unique and modern rocker that will leave you wanting more from Gully Boys.

Ekkstacy – “In Love”

With a new album Negative due later this year, Ekkstacy has been rolling tracks over the last few months. Each song has been stronger than the last, and “In Love” is no exception. Opening with a sparse, dramatic grand piano and Ekkstacy’s reverb-soaked vocal, “In Love” is a track that reflects on his relationship with an ex. “It was hard to hear from her after so long, so I wrote this after she told me that her favourite song from me was ‘Love,’” he explained in a statement. “So this song is kind of like ‘Love part 2.’”

Annie Blackman – “Glitch”

Witty and tongue in cheek, the latest track from Annie Blackman was written after watching a documentary on simulation theory. Heavy stuff, but “Glitch” manages to pull it off seamlessly to the point that it almost feels fun. The song is currently trending on TikTok, so with any luck, Blackman will be an international megastar in the next 12-16 hours.

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

Christopher Osburn has spent the past fifteen years in search of “the best” — or at least his very favorite — sips of whisk(e)y on earth. He’s traveled to over 20 countries testing local spirits, visited more than 50 distilleries around the globe, and amassed a collection of bottles that occupies his entire basement.

There’s a pretty good chance that much of the whisk(e)y you’ve imbibed in your life has been chill-filtered. While all whisk(e)y is filtered prior to bottling in an effort to remove random impurities, chill-filtering is a more elaborate process used by some distilleries. It consists of filtering the whiskey at low temperatures (hence the “chill”), which isolates larger clumps of cloudy chemical compounds and sediment from the barrel-aging process.

This cloudiness, haze, and random sediment mostly only occurs in whisk(e)ys that are less than 46% ABV. Whisk(e)ys above this threshold tend to skip chill filtration.

So why does anyone care whether their favorite whisk(e)y expression is or isn’t chill-filtered? Because the process, on top of removing extra chemical compounds and sediment, also removes a great deal of flavor. “Non-chill filtered” has actually become a whisk(e)y selling point, especially in the single malt Scotch world.

Below, you’ll find eight of our favorite non-chill filtered single malt Scotches between $100-$200.

GlenDronach 18 Allardice

ABV: 46%
Average Price: $188

The Story:

Named for the founder of GlenDronach (James Allardice), this complex whisky was aged for eighteen years totally in Oloroso sherry casks. First launched in 2009, it’s become one of the most sought-after bottles from the beloved brand.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is totally dominated by fruity sherry scents. After that come aromas of butterscotch, dried cherries, and slight spice. The palate is highlighted by raisins, dried apricots, candied pecans, honey, caramel, and more sweet sherry. The finish is warming, sweet, and fruity.

Bottom Line:

If sherry isn’t your jam, this is definitely not the whisky for you. If you enjoy the sweet, fruity flavor of fortified wine, this may become your new go-to dram.

Springbank 15

ABV: 46%
Average Price: $145

The Story:

One of the most well-known Campbeltown distilleries, Springbank has a whole range of flavorful, rich, never chill-filtered expressions. Its 15-year-old single malt features spicy, fruity, nutty, and extremely sippable flavors.

Tasting Notes:

This whisky has a very complex nose. There are aromas of dried raisins, sticky toffee pudding, wood char, brown sugar, and a pleasing fruity scent throughout. Sipping it reveals dried cherries, raisins, buttery caramel, almonds, and pleasing vanilla. It all ends in a crescendo of woody oak and sweet, fruity sherry.

Bottom Line:

While this whisky definitely has flavors that will appeal to sherry-finished whisky drinkers, it’s well-balanced with other flavors to appeal to others as well.

Bunnahabhain 18

ABV: 46.3%
Average Price: $149.99

The Story:

Unlike most of the single malts that come from Islay, this award-winning whisky is un-peated. It’s also non-chill-filtered and matured for eighteen years in sherry casks. Even without the smoke associated with other whiskies from the island, it still has the briny and sweet flavors.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is filled with notes of ripe berries, sweet sherry, and salted caramel, with a touch of spice. On the palate, you’ll find a good deal of sherry sweetness, dried cherries, slight ocean brine, and a gentle, nutty flavor. The last few sips are filled with a combination of sweet sherry, salt, and oaky wood.

Bottom Line:

This sweet, fruity, slightly salty whisky is a respite from some of the potent, rich, peated, and oh-so-smoky whiskies from the sheep-filled island of Islay.

Ardbeg Corryvreckan

ABV: 57.1%
Average Price: $100

The Story:

If you enjoy peaty, smoky drams, you’re probably well acquainted with Ardbeg. While you’ll enjoy its 10-year-old expression, where it really shines is with its non-chilled filtered, high ABV Corryvreckan. Named for a nearby whirlpool, this expression is rich, peaty, and deeply memorable.

Tasting Notes:

Breathing in the nose reveals notes of caramel, slight herbal notes, and a lot of peaty smoke. The palate swirls with dried orange peels, toasted vanilla beans, slight peppery spice, toffee, and smoky bacon. The finish is slightly salty, smoky, and sweet.

Bottom Line:

This is a bold, high-proof, potent whisky that is so filled with rich campfire smoke that you’ll need to sip it extra slowly while you unlock all of the flavors.

Aberlour A’bunadh

ABV: 61.5%
Average Price: $110

The Story:

There’s a reason bartenders and whisky aficionados alike obsess over Aberlour A’bunadh. Aged only in Oloroso sherry butts from Spain, this cask-strength single malt is robust, sweet, fruity, and highly memorable.

Tasting Notes:

This is a very sweet nose. Buttery caramel, dried cherries, and a fruity sweetness take center stage. The palate reveals sherry sweetness, raisins, ripe berries, oaky wood, and vanilla beans. It all ends with a nice mixture of pepper and dried fruits.

Bottom Line:

If you’re looking for an extremely high-proof single malt that still manages to be mellow, sweet, and rich, this is the whisky for you. This is especially true if you love sherry matured whiskies.

Ledaig 18

ABV: 46.3%
Average Price: $150

The Story:

This is an extremely interesting single malt. In many cases, a single malt is either heavily peated or sherried, this whisky is both. This single malt is peated to give it a nice hit of robust smoke and then spends much of its aging process in American oak barrels before being finished in sherry butts.

Tasting Notes:

Complex aromas of smoked bacon, fruity sherry, dried berries, and vanilla are prevalent. The palate is littered with candied orange peels, chocolate fudge, peppery spice, peat, and slight fruit, before ending with campfire smoke and sweet dried cherries.

Bottom Line:

Sherry finished single malt fans looking to get into peat-smoked whiskies should grab a bottle of Ledaig 18. It’s a great combination of the two single malt styles.

Glenfarclas 105

ABV: 60%
Average Price: $100

The Story:

Glenfarclas 105 isn’t the type of single malt that Scotch fans are used to seeing. It’s bold, rich, and ridiculously high proof (120). It carries no age statement, but it’s believed to be between 8-10 years old and is aged in both former sherry butts as well as ex-bourbon casks.

Tasting Notes:

Take a moment to breathe in the aromas of sweet cream, fruity sherry, toffee, chocolate fudge, and a slight nuttiness. The palate is filled with cracked black pepper, candied pecans, dried orange peels, treacle, and just a hint of spice. The finish is a mix of caramel, pepper, and sweet sherry.

Bottom Line:

This single malt is big, bold, and high in alcohol. But it’s not remotely harsh at all. In fact, it’s sublimely mellow, fruity, and sippable.

Deanston 18

ABV: 46.3%
Average Price: $129.99

The Story:

If you’ve never strayed away from the big single malt names to try the likes of Deanston, now is the time. This non-chill-filtered expression from the brand is aged for eighteen years in oak casks before being finished in ex-bourbon barrels. It’s known for its slightly spicy, sweet, caramel flavors.

Tasting Notes:

Enjoyable aromas of graham crackers, dried berries, vanilla beans, and fresh hay highlight the nose. The sip brings forth notes of candied orange peels, caramel candy, clover honey, and toffee. The finish is warming, mellow, and has a gentle nutty sweetness.

Bottom Line:

This is the non-chill-filtered expression for drinkers who prefer gentle, vanilla-centric single malts without any smoke or extra sherry sweetness.

As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

It’s hard picking favorites out of the fab fivesome on the about-to-return What We Do in the Shadows, but it’s safe to say this: Everyone loves Guillermo. Harvey Guillén’s long-suffering familiar has arguably always been the show’s secret weapon, as well as a ticking time bomb. For two seasons he’s been hopelessly hoping that his master, Kayvan Novak’s Nandor the Relentless, will turn him into a bloodsucker, and it seems that the third season may find him finally snapping. But things are good, at least for Guillén: He’s about to get his very own show.

According to Deadline, the actor is set to host After the Shadows, described as a “pre-taped, social media talk show” about the show that made him a name. Gullién will “chat with cast, crew, and celebrity fans to discuss their love of the show and to share insight into the making of season 3.” The show will be made available immediately after new What We Do in the Shadows episodes air. The first episode will find Gullién joined by Novak, plus Kristen Schaal, Anthony Atamanuik, Marissa Jaret Winokur, and set decorator Shayne Fox.

The main show’s third season kicks off on September 2, and when it returns it finds Gullién’s Guillermo in a bit of a sticky wicket. His vampire roomies have discovered his horrible secret: that he’s a descendant of no less than Abraham Van Helsing, literature’s most famous vampire hunter, and that he’s bagged a more than a few bloodsuckers in his time, albeit usually by accident. Whatever happens to poor Guillermo, at least the world will be getting double the Gullién.

(Via Deadline)

A lot of people want to send love to Lizzo. This pop star, R&B singer, and rapping icon is already facing the extra challenge of being a Black woman in America — add to that she’s living in a plus size body, and well, haters gonna hate. And hate they have been, to the point that even this breakout star had a breakdown over some of the horrific fatphobic comments that keyboard warriors thought it was ok to leave for her following the release of her brand new single “Rumors” that features Cardi B.

Of course, you already know Cardi had her back, defending Lizzo against what she goes through in the public eye. But other artists have now chimed in too, as T.I. supported her and so did Offset, and now Remy Ma.

In a video from Hollywood Unlocked, the reporter asks Remy Ma for her advice to Lizzo, which was short and sweet. “F*ck these b*tches,” Ma said. “What are you talking about? F*ck them. Don’t care and just keep getting your money. You’ll never see them in real life, ever. They’ll never say it to your face.”

Wiser words have rarely been spoken! Check out Remy’s answer below.

There’s still a week until the first episode of Impeachment: American Crime Story debuts, but the reviews are already in — and it seems it’s as much of a mess as the story it’s telling. The latest in Ryan Murphy’s anthology series about true crime stories (loosely defined) tells the tale of Monica Lewinsky, who as an intern had a fling with the 42nd president of the United States, all of which led to a national scandal. You remember, or at least are aware. And most of the reviews hit the same notes: pretty good performances (well, some of them), slapdash storytelling, and way too much dwelling on ’90s fare (AOL dial-up, pagers, brick-sized cell phones, etc.).

The all-star cast, at least, got mostly good grades. Many reviews single out Sarah Paulson (and her admittedly problematic “fat suit”) for her Linda Tripp, the Lewinsky coworker who broke the news of her affair. Beanie Feldstein is widely praised for disappearing into the role of Lewinsky, who also executive produced and reportedly oversaw every script. Others, like Billy Eichner’s Matt Drudge, were seen as way too broad, emblematic of Murphy’s approach to an event that arguably paved the way for the splintered hellhole that consumes the nation of today.

Some, like The Hollywood Reporter, found that the seven (out of 10) episodes made available to members of the press were powerfully disorganized:

Even as the season zeroes in on the finer details of the story (drawing primarily from Jeffrey Toobin’s book A Vast Conspiracy), it struggles to locate a larger point worthy of the time it takes to convey it. For a star-studded drama about an explosive historical moment, Impeachment feels oddly static.

IndieWire criticized the “staged recreations, showy casting, and lack of insight” which “make this season feel like a tardy version of Saturday Night Live”:

Certain castings are too attention-seeking to carry any weight (like Taran Killam as Paula Jones’ blustery husband Steve, or Billy Eichner playing reporter-dress-up as Matt Drudge). Too many lines are either gross meta jokes (like Brett Kavanaugh’s first remark, “I never like to take no for an answer”) or brazen reminders that Bill Clinton’s scandal opened the door for Donald Trump’s presidency — which, to be fair, could contribute to the series’ historical reframing, except the argument is as thin as the allusions are heavy-handed.

Variety took issue with the tone, among other things:

Taking itself too seriously to be camp, but not seriously enough to avoid some of TV’s most obvious traps, the series struggles so hard to juggle every storyline it tackles that the scripts often force characters to be the most obvious versions of themselves. Given the chance to portray people who continue to have outsized influence on politics and the world today, “Impeachment” rarely resists the opportunity to remind the audience of that fact with lines so clunky they might as well be said through winks aimed directly at the camera.

TV Line says it’s simply too Ryan Murphy:

Impeachment also falls victim to Murphy’s worst storytelling instincts: shallow characterization, shock value substituting for genuine surprise, and dialogue that tells instead of showing. The characters here say exactly how they feel and what they’re thinking — and loudly. (“Stop worrying about Whitewater!” one White House official yells to another.) The whole project has a gloomy, bad energy to it, feigning gravitas with ponderous cutaways to presidential portraits and justice statues. Murphy takes a backseat to Burgess in the credits — she wrote four of the first six episodes — but his fingerprints here are unmistakable.

Not everyone is underwhelmed. Entertainment Weekly says it “deftly avoids ‘both sides’ equivocations or overtly partisan shading,” though even they agree with others that the show is overly dense, and that following it is “made more complicated” by a lot of jumping around on the timeline.

You can judge for yourself when Impeachment: American Crime Story debuts on FX on September 7.

A report on Tuesday indicated that Ben Simmons let the Philadelphia 76ers know he has no intention of ever suiting up for the team again. After weeks of rumblings that a trade could be on the way, Simmons apparently met with the Sixers’ decision-makers and told them he wants out, going as far as saying he will not report to training camp.

Apparently, a potential Simmons trade might include another member of the roster. According to Jason Dumas of KRON4 News, Simmons’ agent, Rich Paul, would like it if Tyrese Maxey, who is also a Klutch client, also left the team.

Dumas went on to say that Maxey has a handful of events with groups in the city that have been canceled, as Paul wants to make sure he’s gone before he has the opportunity to get fully established in Philly.

A former five-star recruit and a standout at the University of Kentucky, Maxey went to Philly with the No. 21 pick of the 2020 NBA Draft after a slight fall. While he faced a pretty common issue for rookies on a good team and didn’t get consistent run, he showed some pretty promising flashes and averaged eight points in 15.3 minutes per game.

The minimum wage has been one of the most hotly debated political issues in the country over the past decade. Those that are against raising the wage claim it will lead to unemployment and business closures.

Supporters of an increase in the minimum wage believe that it will not only benefit workers but help small businesses by increasing consumer spending, spurring productivity, and lowering workplace turnover.

Business owners tend to be against raising the minimum wage because it raises the cost of doing business. However, a small business owner and chef in central Mississippi raised the minimum wage at his company and things couldn’t have gone better.

It’s a great lesson on how people will provide you even more value when you show they’re valuable.

Two weeks ago, Kevin Roberts, the owner of Fit Chef Catering in Vicksburg raised the entry-level wage from $9 an hour to $11 across his entire company.

While many in the U.S. are fighting to raise it to $15, Mississippi has the lowest minimum wage at $7.25 an hour, so the rise to $9 is considerable. Plus, Mississippi has the lowest cost of living in the United States. Hawaii, which has the highest, has a minimum age of $10.10.

Roberts didn’t just give a lot of people a raise, but some great perks as well.

“This new payscale structure also includes a free daily meal, monthly tip outs, monthly performance bonuses and options for employer based group medical insurance,” he wrote in a Facebook post that has gone viral.

All of these new incentives meant he had to raise the price of his products by 11 to 13% which adds up to about $.50-$.75 per meal.

After improving his employee’s compensation, he noticed that there were eight very positive changes to his business.

1. Employee tardiness is down
2. Callouts have been reduced
3. Employee morale is at an all-time high
4. Teamwork is at an all-time high
5. Product quality is at its absolute best
6. Employees are stepping up in leadership
7. We have more applications on hand than in the last three months
8. Production is at an all-time high.

“And, since we are a business,” Roberts wrote. “Last week was the HIGHEST grossing sales week we have had as a company since opening 3 years ago. And we are expected to have a growth of near 30-40% about to occur in the next month with the opening of a new location.”

The whole experience has changed the way Roberts sees himself and his business.

“The best thing I ever did for my company was take a long hard look at how I was leading and began working on my leadership,” he wrote. “I went from leading with an ‘iron fist’ to now a compassionate heart. Needless to say, the results speak for themselves!”

The Fit Chef Catering story shows that there doesn’t always have to be an adversarial relationship between business and labor. It proves that sometimes raising wages can be a win-win for everyone involved.